Does God Mean It When He Says Bear One Another’s Burdens?

We all experience and come in contact every day with fellow believers that are burdened down. They may be under the load of a physical, relational, vocational, or even a financial burden, or maybe it is something else.

When we encounter a fellow Christian that is burdened down, what do we do? Do we just thank God that we are burdened down by the same thing that has them burdened down? Or, do we ignore it and hope that someone else will assist them? Or do we do our part to alleviate the burden they are under?

How we respond is important to them, to us, and to God. Our response reveals whether we really believe the word of God or not and whether we are serious about being obedient to what God has instructed us to do.

Some friends of ours lost their son this past week. He was only 3 years old and was a great joy in their lives. They, of course, are devastated by his much too early passing. They are Christians (in fact he is one of the lay preachers in his church) and part of a large church family. My wife, Holly, called the mother a couple of days ago to see if there was anything we could do to be of assistance to them during this difficult time. She offered to cook, clean, or whatever they needed someone to do for them.

To our amazement the lady said to my wife, “thank you so much for calling. I have been so depressed the last few days I haven’t been able to get out of bed.” I can understand where she was coming from. She went on to say, “You are the first person that has called to offer our family help during this time. You need to be out there telling others what they should do when someone goes through something like this.”

I have to admit I was shocked and saddened when I heard that no one in their church family had offered to help them in this time of need. I was blown away by the lack of regard or common decency that others in the Body of Christ have shown to this family. This should never be the case. When the Apostle Paul was writing about the church, he compared it to the human body. While the human body is made up of many members they all work together for the good of the whole.

The Bible is explicit when it gives us instructions as to how we are to bear one another’s burdens. Yet when the rubber meets the road, in most cases, we simply disregard what the word of God teaches us to do. I fear that many times we fall into the same deception that Cain fell into when he said to God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

We make all kinds of excuses; some are even spiritual in nature (or should I say sound spiritual), as to why we don’t help our brothers and sisters in Christ when they are going through difficult times. One of the most common excuses I’ve heard is “well I’ll pray about it and see what God leads me to do.” This sounds spiritual, but in actuality it is very carnal. Why you ask? Because you don’t need God to give you a special word from Him as to whether you should help, you have a command. “Bear One Another’s Burdens.” Another excuse is “Let the government help.” It never was God’s intention for the government to bear the burdens of its citizens. It was always His plan for His people to help His people.

This must be of great disappointment to God. Why? Because, nothing in our actions, if we don’t do what we know we should do, displays the love of God that dwells in us as His children.

Let me share a few verses of scripture and some spiritual insight with you that may help you in assessing where you are when it comes to being obedient in this area.

Galatians 6:2 teaches, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Have you even taken the time to ask someone what they are struggling with? What is the law of Christ? It is to love. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” What kind of love did Jesus demonstrate? He was willing to lay down his life for his brethren. His was a sacrificing, giving, love. When you bear the burdens of another you are fulfilling the law of Christ.

1 John 3:16-19 declares, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” Notice what John penned to the church. If you see your brother with a need and you have what he needs yet you shut up your heart and do nothing how can you say the love of God abides in you? That is a very pointed yet powerful question. He goes on and says we are not to love in word only but also in deed. If you really have the love of God residing in your heart, and you are obedient to what His word says, when you see a need you won’t just talk about it, or pray about it, you will do something about it.

Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” When you read this verse in context with verses 6-10, you come to realize that this whole passage on sowing and reaping is concerning giving. In verse 6, Paul says we are to give to support those that minister to us. In verse 10 he says we are to also give to those of the household of faith. Sandwiched between these two verses Paul makes it clear that when we are giving to others, we are sowing good seed. He also makes it clear when we do not grow weary or get tired of giving to ministries and members of the Body of Christ, we will reap if we faint not. Who in the ministry needs? What are you going to do about it?

James 2:14-17 states, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Do you know someone under a tremendous financial burden, and you have the resources to help them, yet you have done nothing but pray for them? According to these verses the Bible says your inaction profits nothing.

To answer the question Cain asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” the answer is yes you are.

Let me challenge you today to allow the Holy Spirit to point out to you areas where you have been missing the mark in this regard. Also, let me challenge you today to begin to do what the scriptures teach and begin “BEARING ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS.”

Written By: G Samuel Verret

Real Change

For the caterpillar to become a butterfly it must change!

Real change, lasting change does not come from any outside source, including your will power! It only comes from a deep inner change within your heart and mind! It comes when you determine in your heart that you have a purpose, that you have potential, and that God has a plan! When you understand those three things you will begin to understand that only an inner transformation can produce the results you want in your life!

Several years ago I was a teacher in a private Christian school.  The annual auction was just around the corner and they didn’t have any entertainment for the event.  They approached me and asked if I could take on this responsibility.  At first I hesitated because I had never done something like this before and I didn’t see how I could accomplish such an incredible task.  I went home that afternoon and prayed about their proposition.  As I sat there God reminded me of His ability to do the impossible, His willingness to provide everything I need, and His power to create something out of nothing with just a Word from His mouth!

Every time I gave a reason why it couldn’t be done I felt a prompting from his Spirit countering my thoughts of inferiority.  I kept thinking, “I am not a director.  I am not a song writer.  I am not a choreographer.  There is no way!”  But just as I was finished silently speaking a mental list of my inabilities, the tune to a familiar song came to mind, and a picture of some of the students came into my mind’s eye.  I took out a sheet of paper and a pencil and began writing.  Before I knew it I had written the words to a song that went with the theme of the auction to the tune of the song that had come to mind.

When I finished I thought of a close friend who loved to dance and knew how to do choreography.  I called her and asked if she would be interested in helping me with this venture. She quickly agreed.  The next day I approached the students and they were excited about the idea.  We met in the gym that day and for several days after, working on the project.  The next week we presented the idea to the auction committee and they loved it!

As the day of the auction approached I was excited and nervous at the same time!  On the day of the auction I was praying and reading the Bible.  I read four Scriptures.  Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”  Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Luke 18:27, “But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”  And Isaiah 43:19, “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

An inner transformation had taken place in me over the course of those few weeks!  What I thought was impossible became possible!  What I thought I was incapable of doing, I accomplished!  Nothing from the outside changed my beliefs or abilities!  It was my willingness to allow God to do a work deep within my heart and mind; revealing His purpose, my potential, and His plan!  These three things produced the results I desired!  And because of my willingness to listen and obey thousands of dollars were raised that night, the people were entertained, the students were inspired to pursue more acting and singing opportunities, and my faith was strengthened!  This kind of inner transformation is available to everyone if you are willing to listen and obey!  

What is God calling you to do?  What is your purpose?  What limiting beliefs do you need to release in order to discover your potential?  Spend time in prayer and the Word asking God to reveal His plan and then be willing to make the changes necessary so you can accomplish it!

written by Holly True Verret

Faith it Till You Make It

   There are two powerful forces that you can choose to live by.  One is fear the other is faith.  One is negative the other is positive.  One will defeat you the other will cause you to succeed.

     Faith is the belief in a positive outcome.  Fear is the belief in a negative outcome.  Faith expects the best.  Fear expects the worst.  Neither is disappointed.

     Henry Ford once said, “If you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re right.”  Jesus said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to them that believe.”  This is true in both the negative and the positive sense.  You get what you believe.

     The Apostle Paul wrote, “God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.”  God’s best is for you to face life with faith, confidence and positive expectation.  No wonder the Bible teaches us “The just shall live by faith.”

     Everything you do in life is either from a position of fear or faith.  Whether it is looking for a job, managing your money, your relationships with others, or anything else. 

     It is possible to see if a person is operating in fear or faith by what they do.  The old adage, “Action speaks louder than words,” is still true.  People operating in fear are constantly trying to protect what they have.  They are suspicious of others and their intentions.  They refuse to take a risk even if it’s a safe one.  As a result they are miserable, frustrated and easily defeated.

     People operating in faith on the other hand, are always looking for and expecting positive results.  They have the ability to believe in and trust others.  They are risk takers.  As a result they have positive outcomes.

     In order to experience success in life you must become a person of faith.  The Apostle Paul taught, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  (Romans 10:17)  As you spend time in God’s word, focusing on what He has made available and promised to you, your faith grows.  By knowing what is available to you as a believer, and seeing what God has done for others that have believed, you are able to release your faith to receive positive results.

     While the world lives by the credo, “Fake it till you make it.”  Christians should live by the credo, “Faith it till you make it.”  The fact is if you live by faith you will make it!

How to faith it:

Faith must be grounded in God’s word.  Romans 10:17  “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”   Faith comes by hearing, understanding and receiving the promises that are in the word of God. Your faith is not to be grounded in your experiences or the experiences of others.  It is not grounded in what the so-called experts have to say.  Faith must be grounded in what God has said and promised in His word.  I choose to believe what God say over what the circumstances look like or the opinions of others.  Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man that He should lie."  God is a God of integrity.  What He says is true.  Begin today to ground your faith in the integrity of God's word.

Claim as yours what your faith has embraced from God’s word.  The Bible is a book filled with God’s promises to you.  In fact it is calculated that there are over 7000 of them.  They cover everything from health for your body, provision of your daily needs, success in all areas of your life as well as heaven after this life.  They are yours for the claiming.  Because you are a part of God’s kingdom and family you have a right to everything He has promised in His word.

Faith is released through words.  Proverbs 18:21 says,  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  Your words have power.   God spoke faith-backed words and created the world.  Your faith is released through the words you speak.  Mark 11:23 says, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.”  Jesus plainly teaches in this verse that faith is released through the words you speak.

Faith is released through actions.  James 2:17 declares,  “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”  A person’s faith is seen not in what they say but in what they do.  There is no such thing as success without action.  Our faith is released when we obey God's principle's and instructions.  "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land."

Faith sees what can be, not what is.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Notice, faith is the substance or assurance of things hoped for.   According to Strong’s Dictionary of New Testament words, the word “hope” means, “to anticipate, usually with pleasure, expectation or confidence.”  Hope then, is the vision of your faith—the end result.  So then faith is the inner image of the finished product.  It is seeing things as they can be not as they currently are. 

Faith plus patience equals results.  Hebrews 6:12 says,  “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Patience is not the ability to put up with something, but rather the ability to continue in faith until you see the reality of what you are believing for.  It means being steadfast, continuous plodding toward a goal, with no faltering or turning aside or stooping to take a break.  By being patient we are promised great rewards or results.  Hebrews 10:36  “For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.”

Seven Keys to Advancing in Adversity

     In life you will face much adversity.  Everyone does.  No one is immune to trouble.  The Old Testament character, Job, said, “Mans days are short and full of trouble.”  Jesus said, “In this world you shall have difficult times.”  It is a fact you can’t escape it.  You can run but you can’t hide.  Sooner or later trouble will catch up with you.

     I speak from experience when I write about adversity.  Over the past year I have experienced the most adversity I’ve ever had in my health.  About six months ago I had a mild heart-attack, followed by a stroke two months later.  I spent almost a month in the hospital and had to learn to walk again.  Fortunately the stroke didn’t occur in the part of my brain where my ability to think, speak, remember, or reason are contained.  It affected by balance and equilibrium. 

     Not only was my health affected but as a result of the lingering effects of the stroke, I have not been able to either work or travel speaking as I was doing before the stroke.  This of course has affected our finances, however despite these setbacks and adversity I refuse to quit or give up.  I have decided that I have a lot left to do and I am going to do it however I have to.  I still have the ability to speak, write, and encourage others to not allow adversity to stop them in their tracks and cause them to give up on the purpose for which they were created.

     Through these trying times I have learned that it is possible to advance in adversity.  It may not be easy or fast, but it is possible.  I also know that God is with me during this adversity and He has promised in His word to restore my health and heal all my wounds.  I choose to believe what He says and know the best is yet to come.  Rober Schuller said, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”  My toughness is not of my own making.  It is the result of spending time meditating on the word of God and spending time in His presence.  My strength (toughness) comes from Him.  The writer of old said, “Let the weak say I am strong.”  As Paul wrote, “We are strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

     Look at the lives of all highly successful people and you will soon see they too have had to face and overcome great adversity.  There is no such thing as an easy road to success.  Success usually comes as the result of facing and overcoming difficult times.

     How you deal with adversity in life determines whether it will make or break you.  You can either allow adversity to make you either bitter or make you better.  It can motivate you to advance or retreat.  The choice is yours.

Seven ways to advance in adversity:

1. Believe in your bounce-back-ability.  Never underestimate your ability to bounce back.  Make your setbacks the beginning of your comeback. God created you to be resilient.
2. Believe what God’s word says.  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver him out of them all.” This and many other scriptures point to your ability to advance in adversity.
3. Put your faith in God. Develop an unshakable confidence in God.  Believe that God is with you and that He will empower you to get through this. 
4. Develop a plan for bouncing back.  Rather than having a pity party and feeling sorry for yourself, as soon as adversity arises, develop a plan to turn it around.  Commit yourself to an aggressive strategy for winning over the adversity.
5. Turn lemons into lemonade.  Find the hidden opportunity in the adversity.  For example: Losing a job can give you the opportunity to pursue the idea for a business that you've had for a long time.  You can also learn from the adversity.  Not only can you learn what caused it and how to overcome it, but also you can teach others going through similar things how they can advance in the adversity.
6. Develop a support system.  Network with family and friends.  Allow them to assist you in conquering the adversity.  Follow the good” advice they give you.  Don’t hibernate—reach out to others for their help.  After the stroke I had to learn to walk again.  It wasn’t something that I had to do alone.  I had a great support system of family and physical therapists that gave of their time and effort to help me get back on my feet again.
7. Don’t quit.  It is easy to give up when adversity arises.  Make up your mind that you will not quit until you win.  The rewards for those who do not quit far exceed the pain that must precede the victory.   When I was growing up, my mother always told me, “Quitters never win and winners never quit.” You are not a failure when you fall down.  You are a failure when you give up.  

Get With It, or Get Out of the Way

       As children most of us learned, or at least heard it said, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”  Many fall way short of their potential in life, not because they don’t have great ideas, abilities and desires, but because they are caught in the habit of procrastination.  The road to success is littered by people that had great intentions.

     There can be no success without focused effort.  Procrastination is the result of inaction not action.  High achievers are not just dreamers they are doers.  Cavett Roberts said, “A constructive life is built on things we do—not the things we don’t do.  Never forget that the only material that can be used in building a life is positive action.”

     I read an interesting chapter title not long ago.  It simply said,” you can’t get to the top, until you get off your bottom!”  The message is clear, there can be no success without action.

     Nolan Bushell, the founder of Atari, was once asked what made him a success.  His response is worth repeating.  “The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something.  It’s as simple as that.  A lot of people have ideas, but there are few that decide to do something about them now.  Not tomorrow, not next week, but today.  The true achiever is not a dreamer but a doer.” 

     The Bible is full of admonitions for us to be people of action.  Faith is not sitting around waiting for something to happen.  When you truly believe in something you pursue it.  What too many Christians call faith, God calls slothfulness or laziness.

     In my study of human achievement, I have found there are four types of people.  There are the ones that make it happen, those who watch it happen, those who wonder what happened, and those who keep things from happening!  Everyone falls into one of these four categories.  Which are you?

The following tips will help you overcome procrastination and become more productive:

Recognize procrastination for what it is.

     It is a thief.  It robs you of your time, your treasure and your talent.  It takes form you the joy of accomplishment and the thrill of success.  It robs you of your ability to be productive.  It causes you to miss out on great opportunities.

Make the decision to be a person of action.

      Accept personal responsibility for your life.  If you are going to live your purpose and enjoy succcess in life you must take responsibility for your actions.  No one else can make you a success.  It is your responsibility to do what must be done in order to experience it.   There is no growth or productivity without action.  The Bible says “Faith without works is dead being alone.”  Believing you can achieve something without taking the necessary actions is valueless.  You must be a doer not just a talker.

Analyze why you procrastinate.

     What are the underlying factors that cause you to put off until later what you know you should do now?  Is it a lack of information, lack of talent, lack of resources or fear of failure?

Make a list of things that need to be done.

     Write down everything you have put off doing.  List the reasons why you have put them off.  Every night before you go to bed you make a list of what you need to do the next day.  In the morning you should review the list.  Start with the hardest thing first.  The motivation you have after having done the hardest thing first will carry over into what else needs to be done the rest of the day.

Commit to being a doer.

     A lot of people talk a big talk yet never make the decision to walk the walk.  Nothing great is ever accomplished without positive action.  Commit to doing what has to be done to have the results you desire to have. Make the decision to begin doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.

Work on one thing at a time.

     Don’t try to do everything on your list at once.  Trying to do too much causes your focus to be scattered and you to be less productive than possible.  Multi-tasking sounds good, but most people don’t have the ability to do to many things at once.  I once tried juggling.  As long as I was only juggling two balls things were all right.  When I added a third ball I looked as though I was having some kind of fit.  I didn’t have the concentration or the skill to keep three balls in the air.  The same is true, for most of us, in all areas of life.  When we try to do more than we are capable of we lose concentration and end up not completing any task that needs to be done.

Don’t over commit.

     This goes along with the last point.  You are only one person.  You can’t do everything.  Recognize your personal limitations.  Don’t say you will do something unless you are certain you can.  One of the most important words you can use when others are wanting or demanding more of you than you are capable of, is the word “NO!”  Sometimes you have to say no to what seems to be urgent in order that you don’t fail to do what is important.  Refuse to commit to tasks you are not sure you can do or have the time to accomplish.

Get help.

     Enlist the assistance of others.  Find others that are strong in areas you are weak.  Believe it or not, most people when asked for assistance are quick to help.  Part of getting help is learning to delegate.  Allow others to use their skills and knowledge to assist you in accomplishing what you need to get done.

Building on Your Strengths

E

veryone has both strengths and weaknesses.  The difference between great achievers and those that aren't is that great achievers have learned to capitalize on their strengths and not be limited by their weaknesses. 

     In order to begin to experience success it is important to take personal inventory of your life.  Make a list of your strengths (what you are good at) and of your weaknesses (what you aren't good at).  By having a clear picture of your strengths you have an understanding of what you can build on.

      While it is important to seek to improve your areas of weakness, it is more important to continue improving your strengths.  Great athletes have learned this secret.  One reason Tiger Woods is such a phenomenal golfer is because of his burning desire to continue to improve his skills.  After winning the 2000 U. S. Open, by a record margin, he was talking about things that he needed to do to improve.  This is what sets him apart from his peers.

     Michael Jordan became the greatest basketball player of all-time by continually striving to strengthen his strengths.  The reason he could pull off seemingly impossible feats on the basketball court are because in practice he worked on developing his strengths.  While some viewed his accomplishments under pressure as being lucky, the truth is they were the results of much practice and preparation.  If he was lucky it was because he created his own luck by doing the right things consistently.

     You too can enjoy extraordinary results if you will begin to spend more time developing your strengths than your weaknesses.  Take your strengths and begin to improve them until they are stronger.  In doing so you will begin to accomplish greater things then you ever expected.

Practice, practice, practice!

By continually working on your strengths you are constantly improving what you are good at.  Just like Tiger Woods you become great not because you are lucky but because you work hard at improving what you are already good at.  By honing your skills in practice you are insuring peak performance when the pressure is on.  In the heat of the battle you will naturally do what you perfected in practice.

Don't focus on your weaknesses.

You will always go in the direction of your dominant thoughts.  If you focus on what you aren't good at you will insure failure or defeat.  However, if you begin to focus on what your strengths are you will move towards success.  Simply put, "accentuate the positive!"

Find a coach or mentor.

Gain the assistance of someone that's "been there, done that!"  Allow them to teach and train you.  Learn from their experience and expertise.  Let them motivate, inform, and correct you as necessary.  Make yourself accountable to them.

Determine to do your best.

Always give yourself 100% to what you are doing.  Make the decision to do the right thing the right way consistently.  Demand excellence of yourself.  Don’t settle for anything less than your best.  Constantly seek to improve.  Keep raising the bar of what you expect of yourself.  You will be amazed at the outcome.

Believe you are created for greatness.

You have incredible potential and possibilities.  There is no reason why you can't excel in life.  God has given you the abilities you need to work with in order to succeed in life.  You are made in God's image and likeness; therefore you have the right to greatness.   You have the right to be a success.

Your Best Days Are Ahead

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” Wilma Rudolph

Born in 1940, Wilma Rudolph’s life started with challenges that would keep many people isolated in a lifelong prison of self-pity and despair. As if being born 4 months premature, with one leg shorter than the other, were not enough, at age 4 Wilma contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever. Wilma’s mother spent the next several years nursing her through one illness after another: measles, mumps, and chicken pox.

When she was 6 years old, her family discovered that her left leg and foot had become weak and deformed. She was taken to the doctor where it was discovered she had contracted the crippling disease of polio. In those days there was no cure for polio and she was told she would never walk again. For two years her mother and other family members spent their time massaging her leg and taking her twice a week for physical therapy some 50 miles away from home.

At age 8 Wilma was fitted with a leg brace enabling her to walk to school like the other children. It was then she discovered her love for sports. She could usually be found spending her afternoons shooting baskets with her 19 brothers and sisters. Through her “never say quit” attitude, Wilma never allowed her disability keep her from having fun. The daily exercise proved to be not only pleasurable but good therapy as well. At age 12 she was able to discard her leg brace and walk and run normally.

Undaunted by her lifelong health struggles, Wilma went on to become an outstanding student athlete in both high school and college. Her love for running led her to track and field. In 1956, as a 16 year old high school student, she competed in her first Olympics where she won the bronze medal in the 400 yard relay. She returned to the Olympics in 1960, where she became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in one Olympics, setting one world record on the way.

With all the setbacks and challenges she faced as a child growing up, how was she able to accomplish what she accomplished?

As a young girl facing all these difficulties, her mother always encouraged her by singing songs to her about God’s love, and telling her that God had created her to do something special in life. It was during these times that Wilma began to dream of doing something great and actually believe she would. She worked hard at overcoming her setbacks and disabilities. She worked hard at developing her athletic skills. She believed that regardless of what she had experienced, and what she had gone through, through faith in God and hard work, her best days were ahead of her.

In life we all face things that can break us or make us, cause us to become bitter or drive us to be better. The choice as to whom we become and what we accomplish is ours. One of my favorite Ann Landers quotes is, “Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become."

Maybe you’ve experienced a setback such as, the loss of a job, health problems, divorce, rejection of friends, mistakes you’ve made, etc. Perhaps you feel like the guy I was playing golf with one day. He couldn’t hit a good shot or make a putt all day. By the time we got to the 14^th hole he was so frustrated and negative, he started talking to himself or anyone that would listen. It culminated in him declaring, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all,” and then throwing his clubs as far as he could throw them, and storming off the course!

In my 50 years of life I have discovered that life isn’t always fair. As the scripture says, “It rains on the just and the unjust alike!” Things don’t always go as we would like them to go. Sometimes we feel like the Old Testament Patriarch Job, who said, “Mans days are short and full of trouble.” If anyone knew that truth, he did. In one fell swoop he lost everything he had, including his health. However, what’s interesting about Job is, he never quit believing for better days, even when his wife and friends encouraged him to do so. The Bible says he maintained his integrity towards God, maintained his faith in a better day, and in the end God blessed him by restoring double all he had lost.

Regardless of what you have experienced in the past, you’ve got to believe your best days are ahead of you. History is filled with two types of people, those who give up when the going gets tough, and those who refuse to quit. You can read the accounts of the lives of those who kept on keeping on; no one remembers much about the ones that quit.

Your best days are ahead of you. Days of success and not failure. Days of abundance and not lack. Days of health and not sickness. Days of purpose and not confusion. Days of joy and not pain. But, you say, “You don’t understand how tough things are for me right now.” Maybe not, but this I do know to be true, if you can believe for better days, and diligently work towards them, you will begin to experience them. Jesus taught, “I you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” The first step to enjoying the better days that are ahead of you is simply believing they are yours.

Action Steps:

1. 1. What setbacks have you allowed to stop your forward momentum?
2. 2. How is your faith? What do you really believe for?
3. 3. What steps can you take to begin to overcome the setbacks and negative circumstances in your life?
4. 4. Decide today to spend at least 30 minutes a day reading or listening to inspiring stories of others that have faced similar circumstances as you, and how they overcame.

I'm Starting Over!

Have you ever wished you could have a do over in life? I mean, if I could just start all over from the beginning things would really be different in my life. Someone once said to me, “Live each day so you have no regrets tomorrow.” I wish now I had paid more attention to such sage advice.
I must admit, I’ve done some things in life that I regret doing. I’ve acted in ways that were unbecoming to me and others. I’ve treated others badly. I’ve been way too critical and judgmental of others. I’ve been too self-centered, concerned only with my own well being and not the well being of others. Finding fault with others, yep I’m guilty. I could go on but I think you get the point!
Have you ever heard someone say, “If only when I was younger I would have known what I know now, things would be way different in my life?” If I know anything about humans, you no doubt have said, or at least thought, the same thing.
Here’s kind of what it sounds like when we start looking back over our lives and taking a real hard look at what we’ve done, where we’ve been, and what we have accomplished with our lives. See if you can identify with any of these statements:

• I wouldn’t make the same bad choices, or do some of the things I have done.
• wouldn’t have associated with some of the people I did because they were toxic to my life.
• I would have handled finances differently if I could just go back to yesteryear.
• I wouldn’t have treated others that were important to me the way I did.
• My priorities would have been different if I could just go back.
• I wouldn’t have burned some of the bridges I burned.
• I wouldn’t have just lived as if I were going to live forever.
• I would have been more intentional with my life.
• If I could just go back I would treat my body better. I would eat right, get more exercise, and more rest.
• I wouldn’t have taken some of the foolish chances that I took.
• If I could just go back I would show more compassion, be more merciful, extend kindness more, been concerned with others and help them with their struggles.
• I would forgive more.
• I would love more.
• I would be more grateful.

Unfortunately, none of us can go back to our childhoods and start over. However, that doesn’t mean things are hopeless. No. In fact we can start over. It doesn’t matter how many mistakes you’ve made, how many times you have blown it, how many times you have fallen down. What separates “True Christianity” from all other world religions is God gives us the ability to start over.
First, starting over begins with a recognition and admittance on your part that you need to start over. Most people are too proud to admit they need a do over.
Second, you need to make the decision to start over. Everything in life hinges on the choices and decisions you make. It is impossible to start over until you make the decision to do so.
Third, you need to repent. To repent means to have a change of mind, a change your heart, and a change of attitude. It means to get rid of the “stinkin thinkin” that’s brought you to where you are right now. To repent is to renew your mind to how God feels about you, what Jesus did for you at the cross, and who God says you are in Christ. (More on this later in another posting.)
Fourth, you’ve admitted you need to start over, you’ve made the decision to start over, you are beginning to change the way you think, now you need to have a made up mind that you are going forward in a new way. Don’t allow anything to distract, dissuade, or discourage you from following through on your new path.
Fifth, ask God for help. He is willing and able to assist you in starting over.
Sixth, find someone you can trust and allow them to mentor and coach you as you move forward.
Seventh, don’t stop. Even if you fall down, get back up. When it seems like you aren’t making any progress don’t give up.
Conclusion: We should all strive to be all that God intends us to be. My strongest desire is to be the man God made me to be. To do the work God has called me to do. To lift and encourage others that are struggling in their lives. To be a better husband to Holly and a better father to all my children. To exemplify Jesus in my life. To not be judgmental or critical of others that may have lost their way. I want to offer hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless. I want to turn my pain into power for the purpose of ministering God’s love, mercy, and grace to others.