Mr ey Sie Tete James Langston www.thewilltosucceed.homestead.com‘Embrace each day with Words of Encouragement, your daily dose of inspiration and motivation for life ‘© matter your role—whether you're a parent, a schoolteacher, a bus driver, a plumber, N: fast-food worker, or a Corporate Executive Officer (CEO)—this book is designed to seamlessly fit into your busy schedule. Within its pages, you'll discover nuggets of wisdom to help navigate the multitude of challenges life presents each day. Equipped with this knowledge, you can become a better listener and a source of reason for those facing life’s hardships. Contrary to popular belief, words hold immense power. Whether they're brief or lengthy, words have the potential to inspire or discourage, to evoke love or hatred, to cause pain or offer forgiveness, and even to hold the keys to resolving conflicts and alleviating suffering One day during a brief moment of reflection, a singular thought persisted in my mind: “People often go to sleep angry and wake up the same, Why not offer them something to ease their distress and anxiety? It could truly be the highlight of their day.” And thus, Words of Encouragement was born While the content may not be revolutionary, I believe readers will find it helpful and enlightening. Whether you're in elementary school, middle school, high school, college, or pursuing a doctorate, there’s something here for everyone. Each page is infused with common sense, reflections, life experiences, triumphs, and the positivity gleaned from countless individuals who have crossed paths with me throughout my life journey Without their influence, I would be hard-pressed to address you as a fellow traveler on this well-trodden highway. In my 65 years of life, I've learned a few invaluable lessons: —Prolonged sitting for 4 10 6 hours often leads to numbness in the lower extremities —Patience is indeed a virtue, truly worthwhile endeavors do not blossom overnight —Writing is an investment, a long-term one. Therefore, invest your time, energy, and efforts judiciously iiiAcknowledgement: ‘Gratinude fills the pages of Words of Encouragement, with heartfelt appreciation for those who inspire nce my wife and I first ‘bumped’ into each other some 45 years ago, I've marveled at Se remarkable knack for choosing just the right words, timing them perfectly, and delivering them with artful precision. One particular memory stands out: In 1987, we both held high expectations that I would be selected as a Chief Petty Officer (E7) However, when the final section of the Naval Administrative Message (NAVADMIN) was printed, my name was conspicuously absent. Needless to say, I was deeply disappointed. Eventually, 1 mustered up the courage to disclose the results to her. However, I was determined not to reveal my pouting and sulky side, so I made an effort to mask my disappointment with humor. Despite my clumsiness, she remained composed, patiently listening to me for approximately fifteen minutes. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke. As I gazed into her eyes and felt her profound love for me, I couldn't suppress my emotions any longer; I wept like a small child. Observing this, she simply reached out and embraced me tightly against her chest. Amidst my sobs, I heard her whisper, "You will forever hold the position of my Chief." In that moment, the sting of rejection faded away. | realized that there would be other opportunities, and despite my initial disappointment, life would go on. And you know what? The following year, my name did appear on the list! One of my favorite verses, Matthew 12:37, reminds us: “For by your words. you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned’ This verse underscores the importance of not only how we speak but also the impact our words can have on others, In life, it’s not about how you start but how you finish, That’s what people will remember most. So, keep the faith, trusting in God to lead you toward success in your endeavors, even when failure seems imminent.West “Welcome to Words of Encouragement, where daily inspiration ignites the courage to face life's challenges” VENIMUS! VIDIMt CIMUS! live came! ... we saw! ... we conqueredit O™ you embark on this literary voyage, you'll quickly discern that it’s precisely what you've been yearning for—a source of upliftment during moments of scarcity and a refreshing tonic when weariness sets in Are you weary of confronting the endless cycle of ‘morning blues’? Do you find yourself exasperatedly attempting to reignite your enthusiasm, only to discover it’s vanished? If'so, then this book will breathe new life into your spirits. “1 December” Jc Eareckson Tada struggled with the issue of healing for a long time, As she recounts in her book “Joni”, she sought physical healing of her quadriplegia In her words, “I certainly believed. 1 was calling up my girlfriends saying, “Next time you see me I’m going to be running up your sidewalk. God's going to heal me”. Yet, forty-five years after the accident that left her paralyzed, Joni is still in a wheelchair. However, her perspective remains one of great Faith: “God may remove your suffering, and that will be great cause for praise. But if not, He will use it for a deeper healing” Feeling overwhelmed? Take solace, you are not alone. I strongly believe that by committing yourself to faithfully reading Words of Encouragement for a month, you will discover practical and straightforward solutions to many of life’s dilemmas. Just five minutes every morning is all it takes—that amounts to a mere 1,830 minutes or 6.5 hours per year! Considering that we typically spend an average of 45 minutes per day or 4.5 hours each week on shopping, it is a modest investment. As you delve into your daily readings, you will come across these symbols (Bxh)9}8), They represent “Words of Encouragement” in simplified Chinese characters.ami Tn the beginning, God created the Heaven and the earth [Gen emarkably, a new year has dawned once more! Ree marks the time when many individuals begin crafting resolutions to transform certain aspects of their lives. Year after year, people usher in the New Year with aspirations to live differently in some capacity. Indeed, for some, this may be their second, third, fourth, or even fifteenth attempt to break a habit In light of numerous past failures, what motivates them to try again? It’s a valid. question, Let’s delve deeper by pondering a few additional inquiries. Imagine if every spring, the flowers simply surrendered to not blooming. Picture the local birds, having migrated to distant lands, opting to remain on their tropical island perch. Envision the sun choosing to stay obscured behind clouds throughout the summer months. Or, worse yet, contemplate a reality where Christ never descended to earth as an infant or failed to rise from the dead Undoubtedly, change presents its challei s. However, as we embark on this journey towards freedom in the New Year, let’s maintain our focus on the One who guides us: ChristMarch Rm And that frst slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow [1 Samuel 14:14] s incredulous as it sounds, people sometime ask God for a sign not because they want A. discover God’s will but because they do not like what He has already revealed. There is a general misconception that doing the will of God means living “happily ever after” and avoiding all kinds of failure and pain. If we adhere to this fallacy, we may find ourselves trying to use signs as a talisman or a good-luck charm to protect us from ever experiencing problems, The Bible has many examples of people doing exactly what God wanted them to and yet they went through hard times, persecution and even death. When Jesus Himself was nailed to the cross, He was fulfilling God’s perfect plan for Him. God’s idea of success may be radically different from what we have in mind. His plan may include some painful times and dry seasons. If we are serious about doing God’s will, we need to be willing to stick to His plans even when doing so hurts,‘1 September} ami So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the Kingdom of God is almost at hand (Luke 21:31] n the past 80 years, since 1914, we have seen two wars so great that they came to be Ine “World Wars”, World War I surpassed in destructiveness the sum of all the wars of the preceding 2,400 years! Then World War II was four times more destructive than World War I! It ended with the nuclear annihilation of two cities, Following World War I came the greatest famine in all history. During the worldwide Depression of the 1930's Stalin engineered death by starvation for millions of his own countrymen, After the Second World War, a fourth of the world was left starving! Jesus had already said that the signs of the end, most of which are woes, would stand out and be easily seen against the background of history. Essentially, Jesus is saying that, once the events of the end times begin, they will happen quickly. The age of grace has continued for a very long time, But when the time for judgment finally arrives, things will be wrapped up posthaste. This concept of God’s drawing things to a rapid close is echoed in many other passages of Scripture (Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20; Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). “. . Even so, come, Lord Jesus”. {Revelation 22:20]Peeree ls ami A; any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; andl let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord Yames 5:14] ‘oni Eareckson Tada struggled with the issue of healing for a long time, As she recounts J in her book “Joni”, she sought physical healing of her quadriplegia. She prayed and fully believed that God would heal her In her words, “I certainly believed. I was calling up my girlfriends saying, ‘Next time you see me I’m going to be running up your sidewalk, God’s going to heal me”. Yet, forty-five years after the accident that left her paralyzed, Joni is still in a wheelchair However, her perspective remains one of great Faith: “God may remove your suffering, and that will be great cause for praise But if not, He will use it, He will use anything and everything that stands in the way of His fellowship with you, So let God mold you and make you, transform you from glory to glory That's the deeper healing” The question we need to ask in any given situation is what does God want? Someday, all sickness and death will be eradicated (see Revelation 21:4). Joni Eareckson Tada will walk again, Until then, there is a greater healing; the cleansing of sinful hearts, that God performs every dayJ Langston, an ordained minister and senior pastor, epitomizes dedication both in his spiritual calling and personal pursuits, With a career spanning over 27 years in the navy, he served his country faithfully until his retirement in 2003. His naval journey traversed diverse terrains across five continents, offering him profound experiences that shaped his worldview. Beyond his military service, James is a multifaceted individual with a passion for various activities. An enthusiastic jogger, web designer, gardener, baker, and bowling aficionado, he finds joy in a spectrum of endeavors. Reflecting on his naval adventures, James highlights Enewetak Atoll as a particularly enchanting locale, with its remote yet pivotal position in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Inspired by his high school history teacher, who ignited his love for literature, James pursued writing as a creative outlet. Encouraged by her words, he embarked on a journey toward becoming a published author. His debut novel, “Grandmama’s Prayers,” holds a special place in his heart, marking the inception of his literary endeavors. Throughout his military service and writing endeavors, James acknowledges the unwavering support of his wife, Cecilia, Her steadfast presence and commitment to their family provided him with the strength to persevere through challenges. Celebrating over 45 years of marriage, the Langstons share a deep bond and are blessed with six children and fifteen grandchildren James Langston’s life story is one of resilience, passion, and the profound influence of love and family. Whether preaching from the pulpit, crafting captivating narratives, or tending to his garden, he continues to inspire others through his unwavering dedication and zest for life