Failure

Sometimes we don't get it right. Sometimes we completely miss the mark. Sometimes our best laid plans fall flat and don't do what we expect.

I am not a big fan of failure. In fact, I avoid doing some things in my life because of the "what if I fail" thoughts that go through my mind. I don't know what it is that I am so afraid of. Being frozen in life over such an irrational fear is frustrating. I know deep down that by not doing what I am called, I am sitting stagnant, neither able to fail or succeed. Everyone must fail.

At some point we all will fail. We need to learn from failure. We need to know what it means to deal with the disappoint. We have to grasp that all failure is the step in a process of becoming who we are intended to be.

Timothy failed. Not in a huge way, but he went out to Corith carrying Paul's message. Corinth didn't really respond.

^{1 Corinthians 4:14-17} I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Here is a man that was loved by God and by Paul and yet he still didn't accomplish what he was sent to do. Do you think this had an effect on Timothy? I am sure it did. Just as the failures in my life have changed me. The older I get the more I understand the need to grasp my failures as strongly as my successes. Learn from them, allow them to build on my character and try again. Timothy was sent out many times and Paul continued to trust and guide him.

May I encourage you today to take the step you are afraid of. May I remind you to pick up friends that may be in the midst of failing and give the guidance and encouragement they need. Don't give up on yourself or others when failure is part of the plan.

Disappointment, Day 3

Forgive me for being late with today's devotion. My ISP wasn't running like they should be, a little disappointing.

If we take another look at our Olympian from yesterdays devotional there is a lot to be learned from her experience in regards to disappointment. She competed again on Tuesday night and again will go home with the silver medal in the event. When you watch her performance, you know that she has trained and endured the pain and joy of committing a life to a specific goal. This gymnast will go home with 4 silver and 1 gold. An extraordinary accomplishment. But, maybe disappointing to her. Do you think for a moment she will regret a lifetime of training because she got silver?

Life and our Christian walks can be paralleled to the Olympians. Our goal in this race is to do the will of God, live a life as an example of his grace and freedom so that all men may be saved. Sometimes there are disappointing moments.

It is inevitable that a friend will say something hurtful. A spouse won't be home on time. A child won't obey. A sibling will let you down. A good Christian will sin. A pastor will fail. You won't accomplish everything you planned to do.

Don't be afraid of the disappointment. Be afraid you will look back and regret not even trying. The race you are running, you have already taken gold. Eternal Life is an amazing prize. Stand up with the knowledge that you are a child of God, ready to endure a little sacrifice to see what great things God can do through you in the process.

When I watch the Olympics it always seems pretty ovious who the true contenders are for the medals. You just know that they believe they will win. They have experienced the sting of failure at some point. Somewhere deep down they believe in their abilities. They have faith in their coaching and training.

Deep down, do you believe your God and His promises? Because it shows. When people see you get knocked down as a Christian and get back up, you show your faith to all who are watching.

One of my favorite sayings comes from my pastor. This won't be exact, so this is an imperfect quote but one that has motivated me to stand up and do a few more things with my life for God.

"Have the faith to dream and plan with the idea that they will only succeed if God intervenes."

Please continue to pray for Annemarie M this week.

Disappointment, Day 2

I am a huge fan of the Olympics. Last night I was watching the women's gymnastic competition. Amazing athletes that have committed every piece of themselves to be perfect at what they do. When you see on one of their faces the disappointment of not winning the gold medal, you want to cry for them.

Failure to meet expectation. It happens to all of us. Someone disappoints us or we fall short of those expectations ourselves. It is even harder to deal with failing at the things we have set out to perfect in our own lives. There is not a solution that makes disappointment easier. In fact, I think the more heart and soul you put into something with hopes of success can hit the hardest when they don't work out as we plan.

Take the gymnast for example. She had performed to the peak of perfection but due to things out of her control she now holds the silver medal in her event. While you and I see the blessing in the silver, she sees the failure in not wearing the gold. Perspective has a lot to do with disappointment.

In Romans we are told we are hemmed in with troubles. Okay, that doesn't sound good. So, no matter how hard I try, will I fail, will people fail me? No, that isn't it. Sometimes though there are things in this world that will cause pain and disappointment. Although many of us like to think that we can control everything, we really can't. If you think for a moment that you can, I am thankful not to be hemmed in with you and your troubles. We are not suppose to dwell in our pain, we fight the good fight and learn the lessons of patience that becomes virtue. If you continue to attempt control, disappointment will become despair because nothing will ever meet your expectations. Dealing with disappointment in this life prepares us for the promises of God. With Him we will never be "shortchanged" but blessed generously by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:3-5 There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Heavenly Father, I praise your name for all that you are and the beauty of your majesty. I read your inspired words in Romans 5 this week and I am weak with the knowledge of your gift. Lord I find myself holding back from challenges and relationships because I don't want to feel the pain of disappointment. Lord, the next time I am given the chance to love a little stronger or try a little harder remind me that when the disappointment can be great that the gift is more amazing and greater then anything I could imagine. May I never store up my blessings but share them with those you wish to see you. ~Your precious Holy Name.
Please Continue to pray for Annemarie M this week.

Prayer Request: Hello, This Saturday a family, the Brewers, in our church lost their home to a house fire. They were not home when the fire started and they were not able to recover anything but 2 Bibles. They are a young family with 3 children, 6, 4 and 2 years of age. Today they are coming back to town to share with their children why they are not able to "go home". Please pray for them as they have lost everything they have ever worked for. They are thankful that they are safe and have each other. Praise God that our church has come through and that they may have a place to stay and temporary comforts, but the grief and the loss is hard. Please pray for them. If there is anything you would like to do or if you would like to encourage them, please forward on to womenofworship1@gmail.com and we will make sure to let them know. Mostly though, the prayers will be needed, so thank you in advance.