Robert H. Schuller is an American treasure. For fifty years, he has been providing encouragement and guidance to both the millions of television viewers of the Hour of Power and the readers of his distinguished collection of bestselling books. For the first time, this daily companion offers the best of this extraordinary pastor's words of wisdom. Dr. Schuller has handpicked these 366 meditations from such notable works as Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do; Life's Not Fair, But God Is Good; If It's Going to Be, It's Up to Me; Move Ahead with Possibility Thinking; Be Happy Attitudes; You Can Become the Person You Want to Be; and Turning Hurts into Halos and Scars into Stars.With each day, you will discover the enduring wisdom of Possibility Thinking and learn how to make every hour of every day count. Filled with uplifting motivation and sage advice, this attractive collection is an ideal gift and the perfect yearlong companion as you strive to become the person you are meant to be.

The author of more than thirty books, Dr. Robert H. Schuller is the founder of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, a congregation he started over fifty years ago in a drive-in movie theater, and the host of the Hour of Power, a weekly television show that has grown into the most-watched religious television program in the country.

Hours of Power
My Daily Book of Motivation and Inspiration

January 1

Born for Eternity

There was a Western farmer who on a mountain hike found anegg lying in the grass. He picked it up, took it home, and put itunder the hen that was sitting on chicken eggs. Eventually the henhatched the egg along with the other eggs. But what came forthwas the most awkward, crude, ugly-looking creature the farmerever saw. He called the neighbors in and asked if they knew whatit was but they could not tell. Nobody had the slightest idea whatthis peculiar creature was. It developed wings that became a heavyburden on the little body -- big, oversized, clumsy wings that weretoo big for him. And its legs developed deformed crooks thatlooked like claws, and the beak, instead of being straight andsharp, was crooked. It survived and it grew until one day, above thebarnyard, there was a shrill scream and this awkward bird lookedup and he saw gliding slowly in great circles above the farmyard ahuge bird; and for the first time, his instinct told him what he was.He was an eagle -- bred for the mountains, born to fly, and destinednever to be happy while earthbound in a barnyard.

Ah, that's it. Why do human beings have such frustrations,such disturbances, such mental problems? We may have legs andwe may have mouths and we may have eyes like animals. But weare bred for heaven. And so, St. Augustine said, "No human beingis really at peace until he has come to God by faith." We instinctivelyfeel the call of eternity, like the wild, domesticated animalwho hears the call of the wild and must respond. One wisephilosopher said that when God wants to prove something to peopleHe puts it in their instincts. So that is Christ's first word onthe subject; we are born for eternity.

January 2

For Spiritual Awareness

Too often, O God, the sacred calm of your still small voice isoverpowered by the roar of the traffic, the moan of ambulances,the wail of sirens, the growl of buses, the rude interruption of thedoorbell. Jet airplanes, trucks, trains, television, telephones fillmy everyday world with noises my ears were never designed totolerate.

An irritating assortment of unnatural sounds drowns yoursilver-soft voice, Lord, which whispers through the trees. Oh, myLord, there are birds winging and I do not see them, childrenplaying and I do not hear them, flowers blooming and I do notenjoy them, clouds sailing silently through the soundless sea ofspace and I do not see them!

God, you are living and moving and I do not feel you! Increasemy awareness of the throbbing reality of the dynamic,spiritual universe around me, Lord. God! You are moving inmighty thoughts and feelings within me now! I am surroundedwith an awareness of you that gives me a new lease on life!

Thank you, God. Amen.

Hours of Power
My Daily Book of Motivation and Inspiration. Copyright © by Robert H. Schuller. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

---

Excerpted from Hours of Power: My Daily Book of Motivation and Inspiration by Robert H. Schuller
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.