Common Miracles...Shalom Arush

"Nature" is another name for the miracles that are so commonplace in our lives that we take for granted and have grown used to seeing them.

--Shalom Arush

Don't Give Up...Fannie Flagg

"Don't give up before the miracle happens."

--Fannie Flagg, I Still Dream About You

Do You Believe In Miracles?...Mike Ericksen

I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, or we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection.

For me, I’m going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the views of eternity and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice.

--Mike Ericksen, Upon Destiny's Song

https://flic.kr/p/9EXzZr

The Miracle of A Genuine Opportunity...Rue Allyn

An opportunity is a miracle waiting to happen.

--Rue Allyn

“I know your deeds. See, I have placed
before you an open door that no one
can shut.” -Revelation 3:8

Image credit: 
http://www.loritwichell.com/the-year-of-open-doors/

#LeadershipTuesdays: Great Miracles Come In Great Moments of Opportunity

"Great Moments Are Born From Great Opportunity!"

--Coach Herb Brooks, 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team Coach

"Perhaps you have come to this place, to this moment, to these people, to this challenge, for just such a time as this.” (The Bible)*

Jefferson Building, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.

In 1980, Coach Herb Brooks coached a hockey team of rival college players to victory in the Winter Olympics over the favored and what many believed unbeatable Russian hockey team. The movie, "Miracle", tells the story of how Coach Brooks trained and led his team to play and win for the "U.S.A." letters they wore on their chest and not their own college team that hated their teammate's college. As long as they identified with their college team above the letters on their jersey, they could never play as a cohesive team and win for their nation. 

This is a very divisive moment in U.S. history. It's not the worst, but I believe that history will record these moments as one of the worse times in the post-Civil Rights era. I am stunned by how much hate and even micro-aggression toward our fellow Americans go unchallenged everyday. How some people feel above the law. How some even feel comfortable using social media, a communication tool that has broken down the barriers of telecommunications, as a tool to spread vitriol, hate speech and white supremacy. How can we win against foreign hackers and terrorists when we consider each other the enemy? We can't unite as a team against hate and evil forces if we harbor hate and ambivalence that alienate our own country men and women who look and may have different beliefs than us. We have so many challenges in need of good leaders. What will inspire us to work together for great solutions? Do we have leaders who will faithfully accept the challenge and opportunity of this moment?

As we approach Christmas, may we each reflect on the miracle of love that caused a divine baby to be born outside of the royal family and priesthood to an unassuming young unmarried mother who accepted her challenge and opportunity to be the mother of the baby we Christians now call Savior. May her example lead us to consider who we are and our purpose in this moment in time. Maybe we have been born to bring change for such a time as this. Maybe we have been called to this moment, to this challenge. May you be refreshed and replenished during this Holiday Season for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Merry Christmas,

--Nona Ogunsula, Founder, womenatliberty.com

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. To view part one of a two part profile of April Reign, an attorney, activist, social media strategist and the creator of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, click here.

For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, go to: womenatliberty.com.

*The excerpted quotes and inspiration for this writing are from: Great Moments Are Born From Great Opportunity

A Sacred Miracle...John Green

"Love is always a miracle, everywhere, every time. But for us, it's a little different. I don't want to say it's more miraculous,...It is though. Love is the most common miracle."

--John Green

https://flic.kr/p/iaEZAw

Spiritual Force...Franklin D. Roosevelt

Physical strength can never permanently withstand the impact of spiritual force.

--Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Path To The Miraculous...Shannon L. Alder

“You will face your greatest opposition when you are closest to your biggest miracle.”
 
--Shannon L. Alder

Expect A Miracle...Frederick Buechner | +Plus Song!

A miracle is when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A miracle is when one plus one equals a thousand.

--Frederick Buechner, Author, The Alphabet of Grace

Check out this inspiring song by the Clark Sisters, "Expect A Miracle"!

Expect The Unexpected!...Heraclitus

If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail.

 --Heraclitus

If you do not the expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail - See more at: http://quotationsbook.com/quote/13262/#sthash.NxzmyKpV.dpuf

Expect Miracles!...Wayne Dyer | w/Inspirational Song

“I am realistic – I expect miracles.”  

--Wayne W. Dyer

The Clark Sisters, Kim Burrell, and Donnie McClurkin
singing "I Expect A Miracle"