The Potential of Your Life: Dream It…Believe It…Live It.

By Aubrey Morris

Potential of Your Life is a motivational book loaded with spiritual and practical insight to equip you and leave you passionate about life, as you exercise your potential and live out your God-given purpose. It will show you how to bring out the best in you and be a person of significance. Some of the subjects covered are: Understanding Potential and Purpose; Releasing Potential; Ingredients for Greatness; Successful Living; Forward Thinking; Gifting and Character, Choice and Influence; Finishingand much more. Be inspired to create the life you imagined! It is your God-given privilege. Dream itBelieve itLive it!

This book eloquently defines and unpacks the meaning of potential and purpose and goes further to reveal the ingredients for greatness with a precision and exactness I have rarely come across. Of great relevance to me and you the reader, is the fact that this book is biblically based, and the many scripture references are absolutely relevant, adding value and depth to the thought patterns that Aubrey manages to unfold with sublime ease.

(Wayne Thring, Pastor and MP: South Africa)

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491852347

Aubrey Morris

Aubrey Morris is an accomplished teacher, business owner, musician, motivational speaker and author who has a natural ability to inspire hope, joy and purpose in others. He resides in Ireland with his family.

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© 2014 Aubrey Morris. All rights reserved.

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/08/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-5236-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-5235-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-5234-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014901011

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Author photo, used by permission. Copyright © Sue and Shane Huckfield.

Family photo: Pixifoto, Ireland. Copyright © released to author.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Preface

Chapter 1    Releasing Potential

Chapter 2    Some Ingredients For Greatness

Chapter 3    Gifting And Character

Chapter 4    Forward Thinking (Past Versus The Future)

Chapter 5    Successful Living

Chapter 6    Choice & Influence

Chapter 7    Investment

Chapter 8    Finishing–Point Of Destiny

DEDICATIONS

I dedicate this book to God. Thank you for endowing me with the ability to pen this Kingdom tool. I owe You my life. I also dedicate this book to my precious wife, Auriel and sons, Dillon and Levi. Life is a joy with you all so close to me.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to my beautiful wife, Auriel and sons, Dillon and Levi, who have been my greatest supporters. Thank you for allowing me the many hours in prayer, study and writing. We are truly blessed, sharing this fulfilled dream!

To Pastor Wayne Thring (Joy Chapel Ministries, and Member of Parliament, South Africa). Thank you for leading me to Christ. My life has been greatly impacted through the years. Your integrity, passion for God, and your friendship have been a joy to me. I am honoured to have you foreword this book I have penned under God’s guidance.

Thank you to all my family and friends and churches in South Africa and Ireland. It is an honour to serve God alongside you. My life has been enriched. If I had the space I would pen all your names!

To Pastor Mike and Roberta Holohan and my church family at Newry Christian Centre, Ireland; it is an absolute blessing to serve together with you all in the Kingdom of God.

Thanks to Sue and Shane Huckfield for your friendship and superb skill with the author photo. Also thanks to PixiFotos for the excellent family photo.

Thank you to Kieron Farrelly, Muyiwa Oguntoyinbo, Tara Rice, Isekhua Evborokhai, and Pastor Gerard Chimbganda (Praise Tabernacle Church, Dublin); for your encouragement, prayers, practical assistance and legal advice along the way.

Thank you to AuthorHouse. Your professionalism and expertise are appreciated. You have made the publishing process a joy. I would like to acknowledge the following people: Shelly Kim- my Publishing Consultant; Shane Villamor- Check-in Co-ordinator; Vera Carter- Marketing Consultant; Vanessa Green- Design Consultant; Dominique Meade and Mandy Allison- Publishing Services Associate.

To Catherine Doyle Lynch and all the staff at Grásta Christian School; It is a joy and blessing for us to be shaping the lives of students, and helping them realize their potential.

Last, but not least, I want to acknowledge my parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Morris, for their sacrificial love and investment in my life. We will meet in Heaven. To my 12 siblings, you are all precious. To my brother Leon Morris, you shone even in your great trials. You encouraged me and many others. See you in Heaven.

FOREWORD

By: Wayne Thring

I count it an honour and privilege to introduce this book by Aubrey Morris entitled; The Potential of Your Life, and I recommend this book as a must read for those seeking to unlock their God-given potential, in the first instance, and in general, for those seeking to grow from their already established positions in God’s Kingdom.

For as long as I have known him, Aubrey Morris has always endeavoured to unlock the potential residing within him. I have had the privilege of teaching Aubrey in high school, assisting in leading him to the Lord in 1990, played a role in mentoring him over the years, and in that time have seen him always strive to be the best that he could be for Jesus. Aubrey showed this character trait in his studies, among the youth, in praise and worship and indeed, even in the arts. As a great man of God, he has walked the path, before asking others to do so.

This book eloquently defines and unpacks the meaning of potential and purpose and goes further to reveal the ingredients for greatness, with a precision and exactness that I have rarely come across. Of great relevance to me and you the reader, is the fact that this book is biblically-based, and the many scripture references are absolutely relevant, adding value and depth to the thought patterns that Aubrey manages to unfold with sublime ease.

Aubrey Morris is an inspiration, with an amazing ability and insight to deliver his message clearly, profoundly and more importantly with an anointing, deposited on him by his Creator alone.

As the Church of the new dispensation, ushers in the next millennium, and prepares as a bride for the coming of the Messiah, the contents of this book will guide you in; understanding the importance of your gifting tempered with Godly character, breaking free from a hurtful past so that you can claim your space in the future, living successfully by making the right choices, and investing for eternity so that you may finish your course strongly.

Live the life you imagined!

Take a firm hold on life

and live on purpose

Let God draw out the greatness

He placed in you

It is your life . . . Dream it . . .

Believe it . . . Live it . . . !

PREFACE

POTENTIAL is having the capacity to develop into something in the future. It is a person’s latent (hidden) abilities or qualities that can lead to future success or usefulness. There are hidden treasures within us waiting to be discovered. They are waiting to be activated. God put potential in us for a purpose.

PURPOSE is the reason why something exists or why something is done. Purpose helps us set goals and organize our lives. It gives meaning to life. God created us with purpose. He did not create us and then wonder what to do with us. He is a God of purpose. He is never haphazard and pointless in His work. He is meticulous. Purpose is attached to His actions. In Isaiah 46:11 God says:

I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a wasted life without purpose.

Purpose is the reason why we do the things we do. There is a reason why we are on planet earth. For example, there is a reason for making a bed. It is so that we have something to sleep on. The idea, function or purpose was determined before the construction of the bed, or whatever else people make. God operates the same way. We are like Him. He determines purpose before creating. When an artist starts to paint, draw, sculpt or fashion something, he or she has already done it in his or her mind. They have already determined, form, design, and function of what is being developed. Out of purpose comes the function of a thing. We need to consult with our Creator with regards to His general and specific will for our lives. God knows best, and He wants the best for us. He has mapped out every detail of our lives. He knows our beginning from our end. We are predestined with purpose. We are chosen in God before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

What is it that we really live for? What really drives us? Where do our passions lie? If it is not for what God intended, then how can we be truly satisfied? How can we be truly fulfilled in life?

The suction of oxygen and consumption of food are not what we live for. These necessities keep us alive so that we can live for the purposes for which God created us. He wants us to know that we are purposely created to live on purpose. God values us and has a high calling on our lives. We are privileged to have God care so much about our lives. He did not create us to live out an empty, colourless life. God does not have boring and mundane plans for our lives. The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a wasted life without purpose. Purpose is God’s heartbeat for mankind. Nothing really makes sense without purpose. That is why the Bible tells us that God aims to fulfil His purpose for us. We have help.

"The Lord will perfect (accomplish) that which concerneth me . . ." (Psalm 138:8).

God is not about to abandon us. He has not abandoned the planet, as some people feel or believe. Knowing that God cares and is merciful and loving should make us realize that He will never leave us, nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Still others feel like God has forgotten them, especially when things seem to go wrong; or when they have been let down or disappointed by fellow humans. God made two significant statements in the book of Isaiah. From these two statements it is quite obvious that He remembers us and pays attention to us. After all He is the One who planned our existence. Here is the first statement:

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee (Isaiah 49:15).

God is saying that it is unthinkable that a mother would abandon or forget her baby. God says He is better than that, in that, even if a mother does forget or abandon her baby, God says He will never forget. It is a promise to mankind.

Here is the second statement or promise God makes:

Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me (Isaiah 44:21).

I believe that God made this statement to Israel, but with us the church in mind as well. In this Dispensation of Grace, God has extended His hand of mercy and grace towards us. Jesus cares. He said we are to cast our cares on Him, for He cares for us. God says what He means and means what He says. So we can take Him at His Word.

He is a very present God who has an outstretched hand ready to help (Psalm 46:1). He has not changed His mind about us. He will not change His original plans for us. When people think they know it all, and do not need God or His instructions, then failure and misguided efforts become the order of the day. Jeremiah 10:23 emphasises this point:

Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

In the book of Genesis, and several other books of the Bible, we see God revealing to us why He created us. I have identified 6 different purposes found in the Bible:

Purpose 1: Populate

Genesis 1:26-28 tells us that God created mankind to fill the earth with offspring (populate it). This is all encapsulated in Genesis 1:28:

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth . . ."

Children and families were God’s intention or purpose. It was His desire. This is the reason why he commanded mankind to replenish the earth with offspring (children). Psalm 127:3 says:

Children are a heritage (special gift) from the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Procreation is a God idea, not a man idea. Any idea of God is a good idea. How do we know God’s ideas are good? It is because He said so (Genesis 1). When God created Eve for Adam, He was signifying that a family unit was about to be established. Out of families come communities, and then the nation. Every person came out of a family. However, not every child has had the joy and privilege of being raised by their biological parents, for whatever reason. But nevertheless they want to be loved and cared for and have a sense of belonging. They desire that family experience; a place they can call home. Thank God for foster parents and orphanages. Thank God for adoptions. There are hundreds of children who have been adopted and given a loving environment, which they would not otherwise have. Family is a place where love, unity, fellowship, learning, safety and warmth should be practiced and maintained. God did not create families or communities or nations to be at war and disunity with each other. The family aspects were supposed to be carried and preserved in the nations, where people love, serve and respect each other.

Purpose 2: Dominate

Mankind was created to have dominion and authority on the earth. Genesis 1: 28 says:

". . . subdue it (earth): and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

Mankind was given power and authority in the earth by God. Notice, God ordained us to dominate the earth, not each other. Aspects of governance and authority are to help keep order and for accountability, as well as protection. People who use their power or positions to enslave or oppress others are guilty of abuse, and have lost the real meaning of that power or authority given. Power and authority should be a help to mankind, not a burden and means of oppression. People have always rebelled against cruel leadership. People cannot truly thrive under oppression or undignified and cruel treatment. God never intended for any person to be oppressed or stifled by another. We see this in history, and evidently in the book of Exodus where Egypt oppressed the Israelites for many years. God had to step in and bring Israel out from under cruel and ungodly Egyptian rule. Life is a gift, so is freedom. No one has the right to take our life and freedom. God used Moses to lead Israel out from under Egyptian cruelty. God said to Moses:

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:9-10).

We must influence society with things of value and benefit. We use our abilities to dominate our sphere of influence. Dominance and authority are best put to use when they build us, encourage us, help us, and not break us down. When the earth was dark, formless and void (empty), God used His power and authority to bring about the good He wanted. Thank God He dominated the chaos. May God help those in power and authority and places of influence to bring about good with the power they have. We are designed to dominate chaos by bringing and maintaining order.

The authorities on earth are God’s idea, whether authority in the home,

Reviews for The Potential of Your Life

[rajivc_18 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like this book a lot. First, I like the quotations a lot, and I think that they are very relevant to each section in the book. It is the kind of book that you can go back to from time to time, and you will gain something new from the book each time you read it.Resistance, as Steven Pressfield mentions, is the first and major stumbling block to achieving anything. What I like is how he highlights the many manners and forms in which resistance creeps into us, and saps our soul. The thing with resistance, is that it can keep coming back, and keep coming back. The path to creativity is not so well defined, however, and this is something that each of us must find for ourselves. I like that he uses personal examples, and this does go a long way to highlight how each of us needs to dig a bit deeper into our own stories to find the strength to go forward. In general, a very good book.

[whiteberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very useful as a therapeutic guideline for struggeling artists. Especially the thoughts on Resistance are spot on.

[iralell_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For anyone who can't seem to sit down and write that novel, start that business, stick to the exercise plan, this book will be the last you'll ever need.

[reddnas1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great book for writers and other artists. Helps explain writer's block and how to stop it.

[brothajohn_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

REgardless of your profession or belief, this book is an absolute must-read for all human beings. As necessary as food. Cited by David Allen no less (of GTD fame) as book that really "got it right"(para).

[darcy36 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a must-read for motivation to take those first steps towards pursuing a dream. Excellent tips and advice, and every word stirs you to take action!

[hhavig · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A flowery worded book about how to battle procrastination. It's short, so it's an easy first step for those trying to break the cycle. My concerns with the book are that few chapters are more than a full page; he talks in terms of metaphysics and fantasy; every page contains the same point. Shut up, sit down and get to work. Nothing new here much better books available

[sylliu_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The War of Art, by Stephen Pressfield will motivate you to do creative work and identifies the things that are holding you back (including, among other things, the fear of success, your ego, etc). I highly recommend it. Parts are a bit new agey but the basic message is, get your butt in the chair, do your work every day, know that there are many forces that conspire against creativity, but doing the work for the love of the work will let you overcome many of those things.

[acgalaga · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I rarely read 'self help' books, but this was a gem. I'm glad he decided to write it as a self help book rather than going with the trend of the times and writing a philosophical fiction.Maybe it's time I read it again.

[danstratton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have heard good things about The War of Art for many years. Several of my friends sing its praises. It had been on my list for a long time. Finally, after nearly a decade, the time was right. I needed to read it this week. Had I read it when I first heard of it, it may not have had the same impact on my life.Steven Pressfield is the author of bestseller novels, including The Legend of Bagger Vance. He departs from his normal fiction to write this small book on winning the inner creative war. He discusses how he came to break from his "normal" career and embark on his journey to create novels. However, the book is much more than that story. It is how to break free and have the courage to create.Pressfield begins by naing the force that keeps us from starting something creative - Resistance. It is the force that causes us to doubt and put off what we long to do. It feeds on fear and magnifies it to crippling heights. Resistance, in literary circles, can be known as writer's block. In others, it is procrastination. It is most happy when we do things that are not creative. In short, often one page mini-essays, he defines Resistance in detail so we can recognize it out our life.In the second section of the book, Pressfield describes way to combat Resistance. He calls this "turning professional." He talks about the discipline of creating art. He details his habits in how he lives each day, structured and rigid so as to provide space for his muse to direct his writing. He discusses how the amateur will write when the feeling strikes. The professional treats it as a regular habit, beginning at the same time each day, much as the rest of us start our jobs. He describes the attributes of the professional, such as seeking order, demystifying process, acting in the face of fear and not taking failure and success personally. Again, the format is in short essays.The final section is about going beyond Resistance, examining where art comes from. Pressfield admits he is a spiritual man, firmly believing in angels and muses. He believes God puts us on Earth to be creative, not drones. Therefore, to fulfill our destiny, we must learn to create, take off the blinders on our souls and invoke angels and muses to aid us.I understand the concept of Resistance. It keeps me from writing here as often as I desire. I have many creative ideas circling inside my head, eager for space to land and take root. Resistance keeps me from letting these ideas out to the light. Doubts, fears, poor choices and other excuses have bottled me up for years. As I read this book, I found the naming and descriptions helped me relax and gain confidence in myself. I haven't fully overcome Resistance yet, but I have been breaking down the walls I have built over the decades. It isn't easy to overcome the habits I have built.I highly recommend this book, especially if you have feelings of creativity that are being suppressed for whatever the reason. Pressfield kindly doesn't condemn, but shows the way - the way to win the War of Art.

[weedge507 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Great book...very inspirational. definitely made me want to go out and paint more.

[tfhetrick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In my Top Five of Creative Inspiration category. All of you with a creative soul, do yourself a favor: Read. This. Book. You're welcome.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Not a fan. The whole premise discounts many of the road blocks people face when it comes to pursuing a creative dream.

[shannonkearns · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

such an amazing book. recommend it to anyone who is trying to start a new venture or change a habit. amazing.reread august 2010

[cliffordanderson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Neither a full-blown, systematic approach nor a manifesto; more a serialized collection of anecdotes. Poetic and well-crafted. I found it motivating, but don't know if I'll refer back to it much.

[red4yardbird · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Short and brief. I liked the idea behind it. A constant war against 'resistance'. Might pick it up again one day

[phildec_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Easy to read and inspiring book. Tells you that you have to understand and fight your natural resistance to free your creative instincts. Then creation is a demanding professional task that you need to consider as such.

[chriszodrow · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Main theme: Don't make excuses, get to work. Profound, subtle, robust? Hardly. Comparing this to Tzu is like comparing my desk-lamp to the sun. Please.

[eeknight · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book for authors, or anyone in a creative field, who need a kick in the butt. Written in tiny, almost aphorism length vignettes. Pressfield subscribes to the "get your rear in the chair and inspiration will come" school, one I largely agree with.

[deldevries · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The beginning of the book is outstanding. I think it trails off a bit after the first third. But it was worth a reread a couple of years later.

[janesteen_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Where I got the book: I won a bunch of stuff from a blog a couple of years back and this was in it.If you're a writer, you probably know just how problematical it is to stick your backside in a chair and write. Other creative endeavors are dogged by the same undermining factors of fear and avoidance, which Pressfield calls Resistance. I picked up this book because like many writers, I'm struggling to become the writer I want to be. Not in terms of writing quality, although that's always important and no good writer ever stops thinking about HOW they write; but in terms of being consistent, persistent, professional and organized about my work.Pressfield was in that difficult place, he says, when he finally decided to get serious. He shares his thoughts about Resistance and how to overcome it in 160 or so pages which mostly contain just one paragraph, sometimes even just two or three lines. You could, I suppose, use the rest of the page to add your own notes, but if you're looking for a whole bunch of words to inspire you, you're not going to be happy about the amount of blank space.On the other hand, there are nuggets. I like the idea of the forces stacked against the writer being summed up in the word Resistance. Pressfield covers the symptoms of Resistance, spends some time analyzing what professionals do to overcome Resistance, and then meanders to rather a mish-mashy, New Agey finish by talking about angels, Kabbalah, the Muse and so on. Once we start straying into people's personal philosophy of life, you usually lose me.I probably wouldn't recommend this as a buy, but if your library has it, go ahead. I've seen worse books about getting going with writing.

[timferris_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I needed to get the hardback, which came to me from England. I had lent out the paperback and never gotten it back. The person to whom I lent it is still using it and quotes from it occasionally on Facebook, and I don't have the heart to repossess something that someone's enjoying.

[clyde7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is about how to overcome resistance.

[bordercollie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dove-tailing nicely with Eckhart Tolle's works, this little gem about Ego's Resistance to the creative process is informative and inspirational. He also talks about hierarchical and territorial aims; the first is to impress others, the second is what we would do if we were the only person on earth. A definite keeper to be read again and again.

[tandah_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I get that lots of people have been inspired by this book - I bought it on the recommendation of people I admire. I also get that simple messages are often the most profound, but this book is just not written in a way that speaks to me.

[jpsnow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The War of Art is outstanding. Pressfield demonstrates the writing mastery he's developed through years of following his own purpose. More importantly, he inspires the rest of us to follow that path for ourselves. Much of this book is about resistance: those forces that hold us back or distract us, as often generated from within as by any outside force. Moreover, he argues that it's only by following our own unique purpose that we can be healthy and fulfilled. I finished the book and immediately found myself tackling new creative endeavors I had put off for so long.

[dbookbinder-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pressfield's concise assault on Resistance and his distinction between the professional and the amateur helped me break through some substantial blocks along the way to creating my book 'Paths to Wholeness.' Highly recommended.

[seschend · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rereading this and realizing it's even better as a kick in the mental pants than it was at first read.

[rrkreads · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It was a book on what is resistance and why we procrastinate, it gives the anatomy of resistance but nothing much beyond that. I was hoping for some tips or tricks or tools that will help us procrastinate less instead we only get to acknowledge resistance as a real problem. Breezy but disappointing read.

[lukegoldstein · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My friend lent me this book and I found it to be an integral part to any battle against procrastination and creativity blocks. It acts like the angel on your shoulder, giving you the power and ammunition to battle through those tough times and salute yourself on the other side for all the amazing things you created.