Failures Will Quickly Fade

To put a number on the number of failures I've had in life would be difficult to count. From failing a conversation to a test to personal hopes, I've failed. Once nice thing is that most of the ones that I have failed at, I hardly remember. They tend to become a blur as I deal with the here-and-now and not think about the other failures.

If I were to guess, I'd bet you would have the same types of "memories" as I do. That brings us to this week's quote...

There are no more committed people on the planet than surfers. We fall down a lot. We turn around, paddle back out, and do it over and over again. Unlike anything else in life, the stoke of surfing is so high that the failures quickly fade from memory. - Surfer, Gary Sirota

I would guess that with each outing a surfer goes through, there are going to be about a 5-1 ratio of falls to "rides." That is just a wild guess, since Kansans do not do much surfing. However, to think about how many times they go out and how many times they fall off, there has to be a huge number of times the fall happens. However, I doubt they think about it much, for they just get back on and paddle out.

For you and I, to have times in our lives where we simply fail, we are challenged to get back on the surf board, paddle out and ride the wave again.

I challenge you to not give up, but rather keep getting back on the surf board and looking for the next wave to ride. It may be the biggest one that's ever been ridden, yet!

HANG TEN, DUDE!

Now it's your turn...You may know nothing about surfers, but what do you think about their commitment?

E-mail Encouragement: Becoming a Prophet

Some may define it as a pessimist, where others, a realist. Either way, unfortunately, I tend to look at some things in such a way as to not get my balloon popped. I am thankful that my wife is an optimist and can keep me from being a rut when it comes to goal setting.

With that being said, this week’s quote hit home with me…

If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of becoming a prophet. ~ Isaac Bashevis Singer

Recently, I gave a group of people an article that starts off with the sentence “Fear kills vision!” When it comes to doing things for God, if we have fear about it, then we will stop looking for the possibilities it will bring if we do it. If there was someone you were wanting to share Jesus with, but you kept saying negative things about trying – you wouldn’t have the vision to see past your fears. It would also make you a pretty good prophet – because you would talk yourself out of trying.

Who will be in your path today that you can share Jesus with (in whatever way)? The answer for most is “I don’t know.” The response, then, is to pay attention to everyone you come in contact with – they may be the one you were meant to share with that day. But, if you say bad things about sharing with someone, then you will most likely, and unfortunately, become a prophet!

Especially in this case, don’t become a prophet by saying negative things about the opportunities God gives to share about Jesus! Instead, say positive things about those opportunities, and become a prophet that way!

May God richly bless the end of your week!!!

Looking forward to today’s open doors ~

E-mail Encouragement: Try It, You May Like It

We tend to be more reserved than adventurous. Sometimes it may be because we have been “taught” that the things we want to do aren’t going to work. Other times we may simply doubt our own abilities. Whereas, still other times we are not in a place to follow through or there may not be the resources available to make it seem like it can happen. When this quote came into my “inbox” this week, I was so thankful because I knew it was what I was going to use for this week’s quote…

Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires...courage. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let’s focus on critics, rather than resources. Just Tuesday, my wife and I watched a movie called “August Rush”. The movie deals with a boy who was raised in an orphanage and has a keen ear for sound. His mother was a cellist; father a guitar player and singer. He has music in his genes. The kids at the orphanage tease him because he tells them that he is going to find his parents and that “the music will lead him.” He is labeled a “freak”. Without giving away too much of the movie, he makes his way, despite being encountered by many critics and obstacles, to find his mom and dad. There were many points which he could have quit – after all he’s an eleven year old. Instead of quitting, the young man continues on – mapping out his course – in courage to make his way toward his destination/goal.

What are you seeing in your future? Where would you like to be/go? What does 2008 bring to you? Do you have plans to do something (short or long term) and have critics putting the idea down? Or is the Enemy himself telling you it won’t work? Someone out there will always have a difference of opinion to say “you’re wrong”, but don’t be tempted to believe that. Map out what steps it takes to get to your goal (don’t forget to start with prayer, bathe it in prayer, and end with prayer!) and GO FOR IT! Even if there are many stops between point A and B, enjoy the journey of knowing you are going toward your goal – despite the critics!

Ready for Christmas? Only a few days left!!!

Have a great rest of your week!

Merry Christmas!

E-mail Encouragement: Just One More Time

I hope your week has gone well so far. I hope that you’ve been able to do some “tilling” into people’s lives this week. Or maybe it has been some “working” of the soil. Or, even some “fertilizing.” Whatever it is, I hope that you have seen God in your days in ways that have surprised you. I know that I’ve had some moments which God has used my “weakness” for His glory. God definitely shows up when you least expect it. Just tonight, I was thankful that God put in my path someone who’d I least expected. It was just a “working of the soil” moment! That is not even mentioning all the “working of the soils” that was done when I was at the school on Wednesday.

Thomas Edison, known for the invention of the light bulb (among other things), like most inventors, failed many times during his life as an inventor. From his experiences, offers up this great quote…

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” ~ Thomas Edison

How many times have we failed at something, and then to just give up? I am sure a number of times. Where there are tangible consequences, then we are less likely to give up (i.e. doing school work for a grade, rather than doing the work to simply “learn”). If you have ever tried to share Jesus with someone (whether it be an invitation to church, a note of encouragement, an attempt to be evangelistic, etc.) and failed, you are probably not real eager to try it again. You feel like a failure. What about thinking that it wasn’t the right time for that person to be open? Or, maybe you could just tweak your approach to make it better. Or, maybe you just didn’t “see” the right person to approach, and it really is the next person that is open and ready. However, if you stop after either one of these, you could be preventing a huge wave of people who you were going to influence. Just like if Thomas Edison would have stopped with a few failures, he would have never let his “light” shine on so many other people. If the first few attempts of a glass bulb that encased filaments and gas would have prevented him from going on, he would have missed a huge wave of people to influence.

Who will you shed your “light” on this week? Don’t limit to how few, but to the many!!! Don’t have a goal of 1, 5, 10, etc., have an attitude of EACH person that I come in contact with I will be a light to them…not giving up! Remember, even if you fail, just try one more time – that may be the one who needs your “light” the most!!!

How has God surprised you lately?...