Vision, Action, Daydreams & Nightmares

Daydream with action = Vision achieved

“Vision without action is a daydream.  Action without vision is a nightmare.”

~ a Japanese Proverb

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A Series of Meaningless Destinations

“Life is a journey, not a series of meaningless destinations”

~ John C. Maxwell,
Author, Speaker & Pastor

She Soars Like an Eagle

“A kaleidoscope of colors, you can toss her round and round
You can keep her in your vision, but you never keep her down
She’s a lover, she’s a mother, she’s a friend and she’s a wife
And she’s a sparrow when she’s broken
But she’s an eagle when she flies”

~ Dolly Parton,
Singer-Songwriter, Instrumentalist, Record Producer, Actress, Author,
Businesswoman, Humanitarian, Grammy Awards (8X), Grammy Nominee (46X),
Academy Award Nominee (2X), Country Music Association Awards (10X),
Academy of Country Music Awards (7X), American Music Awards (3X), &
Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award

Know What You Want?

“Decide what you want. Write it down. Make a plan and then work on it every single day.”

~ Author Unknown

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We’re Designed for Special Purposes

“My Creator, my Maker, I thank You for designing me for a special purpose. I know that You have given me the tools and the competence to fulfill that purpose. Lord, help me not to be distracted or derailed from that purpose. Help me to keep my vision focused on Your greater plan. I accept Your love and Your grace, today, and every day. Amen.”

~ Jetola E. Anderson-Blair
Author, Entrepreneur & Bilingual SPHR Certified Senior HR Professional

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Thinking Forward in Faith

“To think forward, in faith, keep your focus on God’s plan for you and your family.”

~ Marilyn Hickey,
Founder – Marilyn Hickey Ministries International
& Today with Marilyn & Sarah

We Won’t Ignore Their Cries

“People with mental problems are our neighbors. They are members of our congregations, members of our families; they are everywhere in this country. If we ignore their cries for help, we will be continuing to participate in the anguish from which those cries for help come. A problem of this magnitude will not go away. Because it will not go away, and because of our spiritual commitments, we are compelled to take action.”

~ Rosalynn Carter
First Lady of the United States (1977-1981), Author, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (1998- ), National Women’s Hall of Fame (2002), Presidential Medal of Freedom (1999), Mental Illness Foundation Dorothea Dix Award (1988), Georgia Woman of the Year Award (1996), Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged (1996), United Nations Children’s Fund International Child Survival Award (1999), Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health – Institute of Medicine (2000), United States Surgeon General’s Medallion (2000) & American Peace Award (2009)

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Failure is a Possibility, So is Success!

“”You must accept that you might fail; then, if you do your best and still don’t win, at least you can be satisfied that you’ve tried. If you don’t accept failure as a possibility, you don’t set high goals, you don’t branch out, you don’t try – you don’t take the risk.””

~ Rosalynn Carter
First Lady of the United States (1977-1981), Author, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (1998- ), National Women’s Hall of Fame (2002), Presidential Medal of Freedom (1999), Mental Illness Foundation Dorothea Dix Award (1988), Georgia Woman of the Year Award (1996), Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged (1996), United Nations Children’s Fund International Child Survival Award (1999), Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health – Institute of Medicine (2000), United States Surgeon General’s Medallion (2000) & American Peace Award (2009)

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He Works with Unusual People, Too

“God is in the business of using unusual people.”

~ Wilfredo ‘Choco’ de Jesús
General Treasurer – Assemblies of God (2019-Present), Lead Pastor – New Life Covenant Church (2000-2019), Author, & Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in the World Award (2013), District Youth Director – Midwest Latin District (1989-1996), Executive Assistant – CEO of Chicago Public Schools (1997-1999),

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Prayer Manifests Action

“Prayer must convert to action. || Prayer, yes… But we must act. || With revelation comes responsibility.”

~ Wilfredo ‘Choco’ de Jesús
General Treasurer – Assemblies of God (2019-Present), Lead Pastor – New Life Covenant Church (2000-2019), Author, & Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in the World Award (2013), District Youth Director – Midwest Latin District (1989-1996), Executive Assistant – CEO of Chicago Public Schools (1997-1999),

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Storm-Proofing

“Storms make trees take deeper roots.”

~ Dolly Parton,
Singer-Songwriter, Instrumentalist, Record Producer, Actress, Author,
Businesswoman, Humanitarian, Grammy Awards (8X), Grammy Nominee (46X),
Academy Award Nominee (2X), Country Music Association Awards (10X),
Academy of Country Music Awards (7X), American Music Awards (3X), &
Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award

 

The American Revolution’s Highest Glory

“The highest glory in the American Revolution was this: that it tied together into one indissolvable bond the principles of civil government and the principles of Christianity.”

~ John Quincy Adams,
Statesman, Diplomat, Lawyer, Diarist, Abolitionist, United States President (1825-1829) & United States Secretary of State (1817-1825)

 

Secure Liberty in the People’s Hands

“The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people’s hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice.”

~ John Quincy Adams,
Statesman, Diplomat, Lawyer, Diarist, Abolitionist, United States President (1825-1829) & United States Secretary of State (1817-1825)

 

Assuring the Survival & Success of Liberty

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

~ John F. Kennedy,
35th President of the United States (1961-1963)

What You Were Supposed to Do

 

“Success is not what you have done compared to what others have done. Success is what you have done compared to what you were supposed to do.”

~ Tony Evans,
Founder & Senior Pastor – Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship,
Founder & President – The Urban Alternative,
Former Chaplain – Dallas Cowboys, Chaplain – Dallas Mavericks,
Radio Broadcaster – The Alternative & Television Broadcaster

Warring Against Breast Cancer

“In the war against breast cancer, we have the ability to arm ourselves with knowledge, and education is a powerful tool. By taking action and doing something positive, fear is replaced with hope.”

~ Diahann Carroll,
Actor, Advocate, Dancer, Model, Singer, Author, Philanthropist,
Tony Award (1962), Golden Globe Award (1969) & Television Academy Hall of Fame (2011)

Beauty Born of Our Actions, Aspirations & Kindness

“True beauty is born through our actions and aspirations and in the kindness we offer to others.”

~ Alek Wek
Model, Designer, Missionary – World Vision International & Author

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Be Stubborn About the Vision

“Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision.
Visions don’t change, they are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same, and are scrapped or adjusted as needed.
Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan.”

~ John C. Maxwell,
Author, Speaker & Pastor

Consider How You Want Your World to Be

“The more closely you get in touch with your dreams, the more able you are to make them real. The more vividly you consider how you want your world to be, the more real and effective tools you will have for making it so.
Dare to visualize a world in which your most treasured dreams have become true.”

~ Ralph Marston,
Author

The Seeds of Change

“Dreams are the seeds of change. Nothing ever grows without a seed,
and nothing ever changes without a dream.”

~ Debby Boone
Singer, Actress, Author, Spokesperson, Academy of Country Music Award (1977), Dove Awards (2X),
Grammy Awards (3x), Music City News Award (1978), Record World Awards (7X)

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Having It All

“The secret to having it all, is knowing that you already do!”

~ Egypt Sherrod,
Multi-media Personality, Author, Real Estate Expert & Philanthropist.

All He Asked You to Do Was Write It

“Don’t worry about who’s going to pay for it.
Don’t worry about who’s going to execute it.
Don’t worry about who’s going to stand in agreement with it.
All He asked you to do was write the vision and then, read it.
Remind yourself of what you said. Remind yourself of where you’re going.”

~ T. D. Jakes, Sr.,
Bishop/Chief Pastor of The Potter’s House,
Author & Filmmaker

Trying to Keep Up with Others’ Goals

“People who race against other people always stumble, because you cannot run forward looking sideways.”

~ T. D. Jakes, Sr.,
Bishop/Chief Pastor of The Potter’s House,
Author & Filmmaker

The Inspiring Dad

“I’ve said it before, but it’s absolutely true:
My mother gave me my drive, but my father gave me my dreams.
Thanks to him, I could see a future.”

~ Liza Minnelli,
Actress, Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, Philanthropist,
American Theater Hall of Fame inductee, Best Actress Academy Award,
BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, David di Donatello Career Award,
Grammy Award, Grammy Legen Award, Primetime Emmy Award & Tony Award

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My Greatest Achievement

“I would say my greatest achievement in life right now –
my greatest achievement period is – and I’m still trying to achieve it –
is to be a wonderful father to my kids.”

~ Bo Jackson,
Baseball and Football Player (1983-1994)
Co-Owner & CEO of Bo Jackson Elite Sports Complex,
Co-Owner of The Burr Ridge Bank and Trust;
Heisman Trophy (1985)