No one wants to fail, or to be called a failure.  


I love this quote by Theodore Roosevelt "The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."


So, in order to fail, we have to take action, and even though we fail at times, those failures should not keep us from our effective service for God.  I know with myself, most of my failures have brought me to another level of faith.  I call it a 'growth tool.'  We learn from our failure, we confess it to God and then we use this experience in an even greater way.


Our failure is not the end of an effective life with Christ.  We should rest in the grace of God and use the failure as a backdoor to success through growth and understanding.


We'll all fail at some point.  Get back up and be even stronger in Christ for it.


Psalm 73:26 - "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

We all love it when we accomplish something great, whether in our jobs, at home, or some personal achievement.  But, do we recognize the significance of the accomplishment?  Are we taking credit for the work God has done in our lives?  Are we hogging the spotlight?


Be careful, friends.  Always acknowledge the Creator when something out of the ordinary happens.  He created us and He has plans for our lives.  He knows what's going to happen before it happens.  Don't forget this.  Give God the glory for your accomplishments.  Praise Him always!


Proverbs 25:6-7 - "Don't work yourself into the spotlight; don't push your way into the place of prominence.  It's better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted." 

Most Christians go around acting like there will not be a judgment day.  They live sinful lives, not realizing there will be consequences to those sins.  Yes, God is a loving God, but He is also a just God.


The fact that God is just and will judge between right and wrong gives ultimate moral significance to our lives and makes us accountable for our actions.


Some may wonder why do we see so much injustice on earth, it is because the world is at the hands of men, not of God.  God is patient, and He wants nothing more than for everyone to turn away from sin and turn to Him.


God will show His mercy without compromising His character.  We can trust Him.  He does not tell us one thing and then act like another.  


There is coming a day, my friends, that God will judge the earth again.  Just like he did with Noah and the Ark.  


Be ready.  Stay close to God's word and obey His commands.


Luke 6:27 - "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you."

For those of us who were blessed with children or those who are blessed to be an aunt or uncle, you know the feelings of watching kids grow, both physically and mentally.  It's amazing for me to just sit and watch my two grandkids when they're either interacting with each other, or they're concentrating on something they're doing.  And the best part is to continually see how they grow maturely and emotionally.  


The same is true with spiritual, or Christian growth.  I've recently been watching someone in my life that has gone through some difficult trials and he is now on the other side of those trials.  His level of spiritual growth has matured visibly within the last few weeks.  It's quite amazing when we look back on our own lives and see how much we have grown as a Christian (at least I hope you can say that about yourself).


But, we didn't all get there overnight.  We may have been met with difficulties, heartaches, and even tragedies.  But, if we had not had our faith in God or the holy spirit inside us, we would have not come out so unscathed.  Walking in the holy spirit is allowing God to fill you, control you and guide you through each day.


Sit back and watch someone grow in Christ. It is truly an amazing event.  Or, better yet, start watching and paying attention to your own growth in Christ.  You will be blessed!


Hebrews 6:1 - "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,"

Grief is a natural, healthy process that enables us to recover from terrible emotional wounds.  Grief is a necessary part of God's pathway to healing.  


With some people, it could take years, even decades to grieve, while others take less time.  Usually holidays will trigger some intense grief, especially the first year.  But grief is a necessary part in growing.  If we're not able to grieve, it could lead to serious depression, anxieties, alcohol or drug abuse, or other serious problems.


After all, Jesus is the best role model for combining faith and grief.  Jesus has already experienced all of our pain.


With Jesus in your life, you can combine grief with hope.  He doesn't want us to go around sad and grieved all the time.  He wants us to look to Him for comfort. 


He does heal the brokenhearted.  He will comfort you today if you're grieving.


Don't miss out on His miraculous peace He can give you during this time.


Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Faith is abandoning all reliance on my own efforts and putting my full confidence in Christ, His Word and His promises.  


Every time I feel fear, I pray to God, confidently knowing that He will give me a solution to my problem.  Trust is the key. I can know that God is with me, but trusting that whatever way this situation turns out (God's Will), that it will be the best for me.


Fear and faith cannot occupy the same space and prayer is definitely the key.  


We don't have to walk around in fear.  God will always equip us with the skills and strength to do what He has called us to do.


Don't sweat the small stuff.  When you feel fearful, replace it with 'the peace that surpasses all understanding.'


Replace that fear with faith!


Psalm 11:7 - "For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face."

I'm currently in a Genesis Bible study and the story of Abraham and Isaac is so powerful. For those of you who haven't read it, read it now.  The story basically takes you through Abraham's life, showing time and time again how God wanted to show Abraham his own faith.  God knew Abraham had the faith, he just needed to confirm it for himself.


Have you ever had those days when you're trusting God with your plans, your life, and nothing is happening?  But then there are times when your faith is tested and you fully trust God to take control.  You know in your heart that you, yourself do not have the power to change this situation or control the other person.  Then, something miraculous happens!  God does what He says He will do!  


This happens time and time again in scripture, and it begins as early as Genesis.  You see, if you read the scripture below where Abraham trusts God so much that he was willing to kill/offer his son, knowing that God had already promised Abraham's seed to multiply the nations.


This is the faith we all need today.  Trust God with the little things.  Trust God with the hard things.  God never fails.  His promises are forever.


It's the same story told throughout the Bible, and it always points to Jesus and his life, death and resurrection.


Genesis 22:2 - "Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love - Isaac - and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you."

We all have disappointments in life.  We get disappointed with ourselves, disappointed with other people, disappointed in what life is throwing at us.  But, we can overcome these feelings of disappointment.  But, only if we let Christ into our daily lives, leaning on His guiding and trusting His plans for our life.
 
While we can't all avoid disappointment, we can effectively deal with it.  Jesus even tells us in John 16:33 that 'in this world you will have trouble.'  So, even though we find it hard to deal with disappointments, we are told in the Bible to trust God in His promises to us.  The hardest part is trusting Him when His plans don't make sense to us.

The alternative is to be miserable and to give into worry and depression. 

When we can recognize God's goodness, even in our disappointment, we begin to really know God.

It all comes down to a choice.  Trust God or worry and be in misery.

Disappointment will come.  Don't let misery take over.

Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."