Q & A With The Author

Q & A with Jerry

• Often times we hear from frustrated Christians who desire to follow God’s plan for their life but are unsure exactly what it is they are being called to do. What advice would you give those who are still unsure of their calling?

[Jerry Meek] First ask yourself do you want to live your life by design or by default.

What do you love to do? What do you do that makes you feel the "wind is in your sails" and you are unstoppable - as though you could accomplish anything? This is the stirring of the gifts God has placed within you. Nurture and develop these things and place yourself in an environment that will help you grow these opportunities. Take a look around you. Are you in an environment where you can nurture the gift within you?

Keep moving forward - Focus on becoming more, and use what is in your hand today to help others. And most of all; keep knocking and seeking and never give up on God or yourself!

"Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!" Luke 6:31 The Message Bible

• In the book, you mention greatness does not necessarily equal a large income, popularity, or many of the other things we tend to associate with success. How should we define greatness and how can we reconcile what it truly means to be great in God’s eyes with our earthly desires?

[Jerry Meek] God puts the desires in our heart. For me it came down to perspective. Instead of asking God to bless what I was doing, I asked God what did He want me to do. When we pursue the desires God puts in our hearts "all things will be added" to us. Once we determine that everything is the Lords and we are stewards, it takes the pressure off. I sincerely believe that God wants to bless us in every area of our lives.

Apart from your possessions, who are you? If it was just you and God, who would He say you are?

“Keep company with God, get in on the best. Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done: He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” Psalm 37: 4-6 The Message Bible

• All too often we see those who have achieved greatness become prideful, arrogant, and even egocentric. What is the secret to achieving greatness and still remaining humble? Why is it important to do so?

[Jerry Meek] Staying focused on why God gave us our unique greatness in the first place. It is so we can help others succeed. Pride and arrogance come in when we think our achievements are from what we personally accomplished. We should take our eyes off the gift and focus on the Giver. Humility in part is being grateful for what we have achieved and not to become self- indulgent. Statistically speaking, the more one attains the less they give back. Remember that we are a steward of what God has given us and made us to be. Apart from Him, we are nothing.

• The book includes several inspiring stories of people who have blazed their path to greatness and lived exemplary lives. Do you have a personal favorite? What story inspires you the most?

[Jerry Meek] This is a difficult question for me to answer. This is like being asked which of your children do you love the most. I love my children for their uniqueness - not more or less than another. The stories have inspired me by what each person achieved and where the failure happened. As noted, do you want your life to be common or for special use? Do you want your life and legacy to be an example or a warning? I love each story uniquely based upon each season of my life. The stories have motivated and encouraged me that no matter what the past is - life is more about where we are headed than where we have been.

Allow God to enlarge your vision from His perspective instead of the limited vision we have with what we see and know.

T he stories of 911 revealed who every person was. Tough situations don’t make us they reveal us. We jump in and do what needs to be done without even thinking about it - a natural response. Who we truly are within, is revealed in difficult times.

We should all be looking forward and seeking God to help us "become greater on the inside than on the outside."