Rise Again

In the 1800s, A printer decided to earn some money by printing lithographs of a young and beardless president Lincoln.  It took awhile to print them and before he had the chance to sell the first one... it was revealed that Lincoln had grown a beard.  This printer had a stack of beautiful photos that no longer looked like the president.  What did  he do?  Instead of letting his failure define him, he went a completely different direction to earn money.. he invented a game... Checkers.  You may recognize this young printer’s name... Milton Bradley.  He went on to become a huge success as the father of board games worldwide.

Failure does one of two things... it either defeats us or it makes us more determined.  In the Bible, Micah gives his reaction to failure in chapter 7  “Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again.”  Is that you today?  Have you been hit with a failure?  Change course, stay focused on God, and never give up!   And you, just like Micah, will rise up and enjoy future success!

The Speed of Life

TRUST 

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

    do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

    and he will show you which path to take.”

The head of the Nevada Highway Patrol once said, “‘At 100 mph you’re not driving a car, you’re aiming it.’" So true.  At that speed, you aren’t really in control... You don’t feel the rocks under your tires or see any of the passing scenery.  It’s just an exercise in staying between the lines and avoiding major obstacles.

Sound like your life?  Fast?  Out of control?  If you’re in a season like that, Proverbs 3:5-6 has some advice.  Trust God.  The verse says to count on Him completely... and He’ll direct your path.  He will get you to where you need to go regardless of life’s pace or what comes your way.  You may not get to pick the speed of your day... but you do get to choose Who does the high-speed driving through the challenges.  

Tied Down?

If you’ve ever gone to the circus, you know the size of the mighty elephant.  But did you know that when they are behind the scenes, they are kept in place by tying a tiny rope from their leg to a small stake in the ground?  How does this work?  Simple.  When they were baby elephants, that same small rope used to hold them securely.  Sure, they could easily break it now... but because it used to be strong enough, they’ve become conditioned to believe it always will be.

Many of us are the same way.  A mistake early in our life ties us to the post of failure.  We think... why bother trying to break free?  We’re just like that elephant that stops trying to tug on what used to hold them in place.  Fact is, you aren’t bound by your past to a lifetime of defeat... If you know Christ as Savior, you have His strength to break free.  In Philippians 3, Paul tells us that he has forgotten the past and is focused on the future.  Do the same!  Pull against that tiny rope of your past mistakes and watch it release you.  It’s time to be the person God tells you that you are!

Display Only?

I was shopping in the mall last week and saw a shirt in the window that I was interested in.  I went inside to talk to the clerk and told her that I would like that particular shirt in my size.  Her reply?  We don’t have it in stock.  I checked the shirt in the window... and sure enough, it was my size!  I told her, “I’ll just take this one!”  She quickly told me that it wasn’t for sale... that the shirts in the window were for “display only”.

That got me thinking about Romans chapter 2... “And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.”  What in my life...or your life... is “for display only”?  Are we being genuine, real, authentic... or is there something we are trying to keep a secret from those around us?  Take a few minutes today and look at your life... at your “store window.”  Is what you’re showing others really “in stock” or just “display only”  Let’s do our very best to be the people we tell others we are.  

Cheering Others On

Fishermen know that when they go out to sea to catch different types of crabs, they don’t need to put a lid on their capture bucket.   Why?  Because once they’re caught... crabs never try to escape.  Not because they are unable to.. but because when one tries, the others drag him back down.  It’s what is called the “crab mentality.”  If we all can’t escape... nobody can.  

Sadly, some people are the same way.  They just can’t stand to see others happy.  If they can’t be filled with joy... neither can you.  If they can’t succeed... they’re keeping you down there with them.  The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:3 to do nothing selfishly... but consider other people as better than ourselves.  Want a cure for the “crab mentality?”   Resist the urge to keep them in the bucket... instead encourage their growth, cheer them on when they win, and help them over the hurdles of life.  God will bless your selflessness.  

Your Greatest Competition

A former chaplain of the US Senate, Richard Halverson once said... "Want to be a winner? Compete against yourself, not somebody else. Outrunning your rival doesn’t mean you ran your best race. You can win over another and still not fulfill your potential. It’s true in all of life. To be your best, you must compete with yourself. It’s life’s biggest contest.”

In Galatians 6, the Bible says, "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions.".   One of the biggest barriers to personal success is the comparison of ourselves to others.  You are the only one qualified to be you... and that’s what God made you to do!    Are you ready to move forward and improve?  Stay in your lane, check your own motives, work on improving yourself, and remember... your only real competition is the you of yesterday.  Keep moving forward!

Time to Change

In 2005, former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs shared this thought at Stanford University’s graduation ceremony:  "For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I knew I needed to change something."  

It’s been said that the only person who likes change is a baby with a dirty diaper.  Some avoid it because it makes them feel uncomfortable...others fear it because they get used to a routine.  Fact is, change is sometimes necessary. Feel like you aren’t using your God-given gifts?  Make a change.  Doing something good instead of something great?  Change your priorities.  Ecclesiastes 3 says that there’s a season for everything... but those seasons don’t last forever.  Find yourself doing something unfulfilling?  Feel like you’re time could be better spent for God?  Ask Him to reveal what isn’t working... and be bold enough to make the necessary changes to help you reach your destiny.