WE’RE AT WAR and our army of the willing is always looking for more soldiers to add to its ranks.  For those who would dare to join us, I invite you today to consider doing the following on your respective journeys through this thing called life.

Make a point to regularly take captive and subdue every uplifting and redeemable thought and idea and fully express them with pen and pencil on paper.  Make an effort to capture each moment of clarity and record it for prosperity and make all available to the masses so that they may hear and read your words and thereby be changed for the better.

Consider it a labor of love and never cease or grow weary of doing good in this world because evil never rest or takes a day off.  History shows and tells us that few will commit and submit to this task and undertaking but the world needs us now more than ever before to be vigilant and steadfast in our daily duty. 

Our writings and creative expressions will dictate how the current generation sees their today and the next generation envisions their tomorrow.  Our articulated words and phrases have the power to condemn and tear down or empower and build up.  With complete confidence today we choose the latter and show that we can be counted on and not counted out.  We enthusiastically choose to rank among those fearless few who make up the army of the willing.  We commit to never stand by idle letting evil go unabated and unchallenged wreaking havoc on our airwaves, radio waves and internet highways.  The world needs us to step up and play our respective roles to an Oscar caliber.  Let’s not let them down.  Not today.

So join us in writing words of inspiration and encouragement and speaking words to uplift and empower others.  No huge income potential here but in the hereafter the reward is immeasurable.  GREAT DAY!

“The Least of These” as referred to in the “Good Book” (bible) strolled into my life yesterday as I sat in the lobby of a local Christian school chatting with my friend, Donna.  He was brilliantly disguised as a homeless man and outcast of society with a black duffle-bag draped over his shoulder and a cane in his hand as he walked with a limp over to us with a look of desperation on his face.   I’d seen his type many times before tattered and dirty clothes, ratty and matted hair and a toothless grin so we greeted him with a smile and kind words.

Most people would probably have been turned-off by his appearance and demeanor, but I was actually turned-on and eager to hear his story, but there was just one small problem.  He couldn’t speak or write.  Ughhhh!!!  Definitely a challenge on our hands I thought.  I’ve been here many times before but never with an individual that couldn’t speak or write. 

He put his bag down, handed me his California Identification Card and began in his attempt to communicate his desires to us.  Forrest was his name and it was clear that he was going through some significant struggles in his life.  “How can we help you?” was the question we asked and after several minutes of grunts and different hand gestures in a futile attempt to communicate, we all started to become a bit frustrated. 

We offered him some cold, bottled water, some cookies and a short prayer for his safety but I wasn’t content to just send him on his way.  So I grabbed his bag and walked with him to a local park.  100 degree, summer Bakersfield, California weather with no clouds in the sky, yes it would’ve been easier for me to drive him in my vehicle but I wanted to walk a mile in his shoes with him (so to speak).  As we walked on the hot pavement in the sweltering heat no words were exchanged, but I felt some type of strange connection and bond being established between us.  I can’t really explain it or put it in words but I felt like a quiet whisper was saying, “This is good,” and we were being smiled upon in the moment.  Hmmm…

Once we reached the park we shared a park table-bench with four strangers, Destiny, Daniel and Elder Wilson and Elder Furlough from a local Mormon Church.  I introduced my new friend Forrest to them and we all engaged in a casual conversation while Forrest listened in.  Several minutes later the others left and it was just me and Forrest again.  I lightly banged my fist on the table and voiced my frustration of not being able to communicate with him adequately.  Then it hit me.  “Charades!!!” I said to myself.  “I can find out more about him with charades.”  So the game began. 

I spent the next several delightful minutes with Forrest uncovering some interesting facts of his life.  A seventy-year-old, homeless, 10 year military veteran just passing through Bakersfield looking for a cool place to lay his head for a couple of hours before he moves on.  I gave him a few words of encouragement followed by some sincere words of appreciation for his service to our country.  I then took the opportunity to bless him with a few dollars and some bus fare and sent him on his way with a smile.

I shared this story with you today in hopes that it will spark something in you that reminds you to seize the opportunity to be kind to the “least of these” in the world around you when the opportunity presents itself.  I hope that you can see yourself modeling similar behavior that brightens someone else’s day in an awesome way.  You never know, we may be the only face of the faith they see. 

I can’t pretend to know what the future holds for Forrest, but I do know who holds the future for all of us and He wants to partner with us on our journey through this thing called “life” to make it great. 

So, I encourage you today to keep the faith or join the faith and let’s continue in our best efforts to make it GREAT while helping others to do the same.

www.CedricCrawford.com
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

Life experience has taught me that over time most people won’t necessarily remember exactly what you did for them and what you said to them, but they will always remember how you made them feel whether good or bad.  So if this is true, then what kind of feeling and impression are you making and leaving with people you meet?  Hmmmm…

Kindness is definitely the gift that keeps on giving.  I invite you to consider making a point to leave people in a better physical and emotional state than you found them.  Bless people with a smile and some casual conversation from time-to-time, doing this may even brighten your day too.  I know this first hand because I’m a licensed, self-proclaimed kindness and smile expert myself and I’ve had years of private practice.  🙂   

Let’s make this weekend so AWESOME that last weekend gets insanely jealous.

www.CedricCrawford.com
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

It is my belief that if you can truly convince a man that he is inferior or less-than others, you won’t have to tell him to seek out an inferior position in life he’ll do so automatically.  He will probably tend to speak only when spoken to when in the company of strangers and when he does so he will not make eye contact.  There’s a good chance that he will typically walk at a slower pace and will speak with questionable conviction.   Furthermore, he probably won’t really stand for anything but most likely fall for just about anything.  He will be easily persuaded by others and very seldom have an opinion about anything that he would care to voice openly in public.

I believe that such a state of any human being is a tragedy, but take heart my friends for if the above is true then the contrary is also true.  If you can truly convince and inspire and motivate a man to believe that he’s powerful and capable of great things, you won’t have to tell him to seek out and pursue great things he will do so automatically.  He most likely will speak with complete confidence in the presence of others with his head-up with a posture of power.  Even the pace and speed in which he walks will probably be slightly quicker than the average man.  He will stand on his principles and beliefs and values and not be easily jaded and persuaded by others and he’s certainly not shy or apprehensive about voicing his opinion.

The difference between the two men is simply what they were convinced to believe about themselves.  The reality is that this belief starts in the home at a very young age and our parents, coaches, care-takers and teachers are tasked with what’s actually installed into our mental computers.  Then after we leave the confines of our childhood, it becomes our sole responsibility to convince ourselves.  It may even become necessary for us to fire some of our old coaches and teachers and remove the outdated mindsets and began some de-programming and serious reprogramming.  Hmmmm… 

This may be a bit harsh today but it’s absolutely necessary if the old software in your mental computer is outdated and is in serious need of updating.  Time for an upgrade today?  No need to respond, just get-it-done.  Let’s continue to make it GREAT!

Pre-Order My Book:   “Make it GREAT”
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

I was talking to a good friend today about some new developments in her life.  She had just received word about a couple of individuals who have resurfaced in her area and have been known to cause drama in her life in the past.  She was a bit frantic about the idea of them colluding together to find her and her husband so that they could work in concert to exact some more drama into their life. 

“What do you think we should do?” she asked.  I politely responded, “If drama makes an attempt to find you, just be nice.  Be nice until it’s no longer appropriate to be nice then ask for help from the proper authorities.  In the meantime don’t start freaking out and let hypothetical and potential problems of the future negatively affect your joy and happiness in the present.” 

Simply put, don’t waste time worrying in advance about future negative possibilities that may never become reality.  I further reminded her that “Worry” is a cunning, sneaky, professional thief that is highly proficient at accosting individuals and robbing and depriving them of their joy and happiness in the present moments of life.  She immediately voiced her understanding and gratitude and agreed to hold on to her happiness in the moment.

Honestly, it’s conversations like these that really fire me up and get my juices for life flowing.  These types of conversations serve as a reminder for me as well.  I call them “Power-Chats”.  I sincerely believe that power chats on a regular basis with other individuals that are “goal-getters” and “dream-driven” and are looking to better themselves is an absolute must to keep your edge and focus in this “Life” thing.  Trying to brave the storm of life by yourself can be a daunting task to say the least.  Life has shown me that the constant noise of negativity and drama of the world around us can beat us up and cause severe damage to one’s psyche if left unchecked by an occasional power chat. 

So I invite you to consider forming a strategic alliance relationship with several like-mind and quality friends and family members that can serve in the role of mutual encourager.  A relationship where you both are mutual champions of each other’s success and wellbeing.  A relationship that mutually nourishes and uplifts and affirms each other in the best of times and the not-so-best of times.  When it comes to combating pervasive drama and negativity there’s definitely safety in numbers. 

So let’s grow our strategic alliances and leverage the potent power and possibilities of the prolific “Power-Chat” on a regular basis.  Now you have no excuse not to make it GREAT!

Pre-Order My Book TODAY:      “Make it GREAT”
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com