Twice a month, I teach our entire staff a Leadership Lesson. This week, I taught on the subject of momentum. I taught this lesson because we have it! We need to keep it and we need to increase it. Momentum is the hardest thing to get and the easiest thing to lose.

Here are the seven facts that I taught about momentum:

1.            Momentum is created, it doesn’t happen by accident.

2.            People perform better with momentum on their side.

3.            Momentum is the greatest of all change agents.

4.            We must appreciate and protect momentum.

5.            We must find ways to increase momentum.

6.            It is easier to steer momentum than to start it.

7.            Without momentum, the simplest tasks seem insurmountable.

Seven things that hinder momentum:
1.    Doubt – Questioning your ability to do the job. Self-confidence is lost; worry and confusion take over.

2.    Procrastination – Putting off important decisions, hesitating to take risks, hoping the problem will take care of itself.

3.    Pride – Surrendering to egotism and status seeking; coveting the job title instead of concentrating on better ways to do the job; desiring to be well-thought-of instead of legitimately productive.

4.    Compliancy – Surrendering to the inner urge that almost everyone has to “take it easy;” being satisfied with “good enough” instead of “excellent.”

5.    Loss of purpose – Failing to make concrete plans for going anywhere else. Reaching the initial goal becomes the end of the career, instead of another beginning.

6.    Lousy attitude – Your attitude will make or break momentum. You must always be on your guard to watch your attitude.

7.    Making Really Bad Choices – It only takes one really bad decision to halt momentum. Look at the life of David.

Four things that causes momentum:

1.    Anointing of God

2.    Attitude of the leaders.

3.    Atmosphere of the organization.

4.    The accomplishments of the people.

Are you lacking momentum in your life? Maybe in your family life, your organization or church? Call a time out and regroup, refocus and practice the steps I have just outlined for you. In every sporting event, the opposing team calls a time out when the other team has momentum. Call a time out! And create some momentum of your own!

Napoleon said that “impossible is found only in the dictionary of fools.”

Jesus said, “nothing is impossible with God.”

If you watch any kind of television, then I am sure you have seen the AT&T commercials. AT&T has challenged us to re think ‘possible.’ The idea behind their marketing campaign is to help us discover that technology has made that which was once impossible, possible. They tell us to re think possible. AT&T tells us to “expand our boundaries of can’t” “to see what’s on the other side of ‘too far,’” “outsmart can’t,” “put a restriction on limits,” and then they leave us with a reminder that “before it could be done, it couldn’t.”

There is no question technology has caused us to “Rethink Possible.” Who would have imagined 20 years ago that we could have a device that fits in the palm of our hands that allows us to communicate to the world with the touch of a button? They tried to re think possible…and have greatly succeeded!

As you think about your life and the dreams you possess, or maybe once possessed, you too need to re think possible…maybe you think, “I’m not good enough, I’m not skilled enough, I don’t have enough resources, nobody will support me or believe in me, I’ve made too many mistakes in my life, or I don’t have what it takes.”

Basically, you think it’s impossible. Excuses keep you from the life you desire most. Setbacks and failures paralyze you in fear and prevent you from trying. So you sit, you wish, and you never dare. Consequently, you miss out on what could be because the belief of what should be has been drowned out by what you perceive is the hopeless despair of what is.

What is it right now that you are facing in your life that you have attached the word, “impossible” in front of? Maybe it’s a job situation, maybe it’s a family situation or maybe it’s something in your church.

Today, I want you to have more faith that A T & T, more faith than Apple, more faith than Microsoft…today, I want you to believe the impossible because we serve a God that spoke the word into nothing and made everything!

NOTHING is impossible for Him! 

I have had the amazing opportunity to attend many shows on Broadway. I have also seen many off Broadway shows. I love live theater. I would rather see a live performance anyday than go to a movie.

A few months ago, my wife and I went to see “Wicked“, one of the most popular Broadway hits around. It was spectacular! If you are a fan of “The Wizard of Oz”, you would love this show.

The best shows escalate the excitement as the story is told and the first act concludes with a bang. The second act is when everything comes together…the pieces finally fit. I have seen many shows that follow this pattern but I have also seen a few that had a really rocky start. They began very slow but came together and the second act was incredible. I’ve seen a few where the first act had all the bells and whistles and the second act was a dud.

So there are three scenarios.:

1. Start strong and finish bad.

2.Steady start and a steady second act.

3. A little shaky at the beginning and then a spectacular second half.

I’m not sure what scenario your life falls into but let me encourage you to make the second act of your life the best. No matter if you started strong and you have experienced great success, dream more and believe God for more. Do something that makes the first half seem mundane. Don’t rest on your past laurels, GO FOR IT and make your second act amazing!

If your first half has been nothing to talk about, then step up and step out…make the second act your priority. Find your purpose and live out your destiny!

If you are like most people, our first half may not have been our best performance. We have experienced some bumps and even some crashes along the way. We have even felt like quitting at times. Listen to me, Change directions! Start a new course! The curtain is rising, the second act is just starting.

Don’t just sit there moaning and groaning over past failures, past regrets, or what “could have been.” Begin your second act and make it spectacular. The crowd may not cheer you on but your Heavenly Father is cheering for you. Just as we read in Acts, chapter 7 that He did for Stephen, Jesus will give you a standing ovation!

You have so much more to do and the stage belongs to you. Begin your second act with confidence and determination to make it amazing!