Failure Can Be a Good Thing

Sometimes the best medicine we need to cure us from the illness of complacency, arrogance, stagnation, and routine is failure.  That's right ... failure.  Why? When we fail at something we have pursued, worked at rigorously, and invested a lot of time, energy, resources and effort, it stuns us to know that we fell short of achieving our goal.

But here are three reasons why failure can be a good thing:

1. Failure keeps us humble. If we are always ranked #1 in our own minds or in the minds of others, that produces arrogance. No one wants to be around an arrogant person.  
2. Failure keeps us hungry. It's like a professional boxer who gets punched in the mouth and drops to the ground.  He gets angry about that, gets up, and aggressively goes after the one who knocked him down.  
3. Failure helps us focus.  When we realize that we can't always win, there's a reality check that we experience.   It puts things into proper perspective.  There's always going to be someone faster, stronger, smarter, bigger, more handsome, more beautiful, younger, more experienced, more talented and more liked than us.  That's the reality, folks! The sooner we accept these truths, the better off we become. 

Consider these famous quotes from highly successful people in their own right ...

"It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure." - Bill Gates (Microsoft co-founder and Philanthropist)

"Winning is great, sure, but if you are going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose.  Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday." - Wilma Rudolph (Olympic Champion) 

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas A. Edison (Inventor of Light Bulb) 

The Bible reminds us that none of us does the right thing all of the time - Romans 3:23.  What does that mean? It means that we have all failed God spiritually at some point in our lives by sinning against Him.  We have missed the mark or standard that He set for us. What can be more debilitating than digesting that reality? The Good News, however, is that God has compensated for our failure by sending His Son Jesus Christ to make all of us ETERNAL WINNERS!!! Through the BLOOD of Jesus Christ, we have access to God the Father and a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe! 

GOD WANTS YOU!!! 

When Life Makes No Sense

Sometimes life makes no sense.  This can happen when it seems that everyone is against us, when we've lost a job, or our health is in jeopardy, when we experience relationship problems, or maybe our friends abandoned us during difficult times.  When these series of negative events happen, it seems like life makes no sense. 

The Good News is that God doesn't abandon us! 

"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." - Psalm 46:1 (NLT). 

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. God doesn't back down from a challenge or crisis! He embraces hardship, suffering, obstacles and difficulties because He knows that He has the power, resources, ability and wisdom to overcome anything that confronts Him.  This is why it is important for us to always be aligned with God, in both good times and bad times.  We need to anchor our lives upon the One who can lead us into triumph and victory!

GOD WANTS YOU!!! 

What is True Success?

<sup>Living in 21st Century America is a privilege in many ways because this country is so prosperous, wealthy, abundant, and filled with opportunities to become successful in life. But what is success? Who or what defines success, and how do you know if or when you have achieved success?

Some people define success by making a lot of money, driving the best cars, living in the best neighborhoods, being able to travel around the world at the drop of a hat, or sending your children to the best schools in the country.  How do you define success? What are you sacrificing in your life in order to obtain what you think is successful?

The Holy Bible has its own criterion for defining success.  After Moses died, God ordained Joshua to lead the Hebrews into the Promised Land of Canaan. Joshua was scared initially, but God encouraged him and spoke these words:</sup>

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:7-9

According to this passage, Joshua's success and prosperity would be measured by how well he incorporated God's commands into his everyday life. God instructed the Israelites how to live healthy lives, how to love Him, their neighbors, and even foreigners.  The LORD instructed His people how to worship Him, how to take care of their new land, how to conduct themselves in marriage, and other close relationships. Adherence to these divine commands would mark true prosperity that would count into the ages.

In the New Testament, John writes a letter to his friend Gaius, and pens these words:

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." ~ 3 John 2

This verse reveals the essence of true prosperity and success. Not only is good physical health important to enjoy a good life, but taking care of our souls (our spirituality) is even more important, because it is our relationship to and with God that will transcend time. 

What are you working toward in your life? Are you wearing yourself out to obtain that which is destined to perish in a few short years, or are you investing in those things that will last beyond this world?

REMEMBER .... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!

Which Path Do I Take?

Early this morning I received a phone call, and was informed about some news that prompted me to get away for a little while. So I decided to go exercise at a local gym in my neighborhood in order to clear my head.  After I worked out for some time, I took a walk around the neighborhood, and went into a wooded area.  At some point in my journey through the wooded area, I faced a fork in the road, and realized that I could go either right or left.  I took that time to stand in the middle of the pathway while calling out loud to my God.  I thought, reflected about my life; where I have been, and where I would like to go.  I felt confused, at a loss for words, but amazingly clear after considering some things. 

When God closes a door, He opens another door.  When opportunity is lost, another opportunity is gained.  Things started making sense to me.  Interestingly enough, it also made sense to me which pathway through the wooded area that I should take.  I realized where I had parked my car, and so I decided to go left because that was the pathway that would lead me back to my car.

The question comes up frequently during a lifetime: "Which Path Do I Take?" In our lives, we are faced with countless decisions that we must make.  The decisions we make can greatly affect us in either positive or negative ways.  I am mindful of the great Biblical Proverb that says:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

God desires for each of us to ultimately choose a path that points us in His direction, so that we may draw closer to Him!

Remember ... GOD WANTS YOU!!

The Problem of Debt

For most of us in this country, not having enough money is not the real problem.  The real problem is not handling or managing the money we do have effectively.  What do I mean? Many Americans are overwhelmed by personal debt. A man earning $35,000 per year with no debts is far better off than a man earning seven figures who is over his head in debt. Facts are facts, folks! We are in a much better position financially when we don't owe anything to anyone! We can be more free to give generously to those who are really in need, we can save, we can invest wisely, and we can leave a financial legacy to our children.

The Bible speaks powerfully on these points. Consider these passages about debt:

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender" - Proverbs 22:7

"Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you." - Proverbs 22:26-27

God wants us to be free from debt so that we can better testify of what it means to be a good steward (manager) of everything He has given to us.

Let us beseech and pray earnestly to the God of heaven to release us from the bondage to debt, so that we as a people can be liberated to live as our Creator has intended us to live.