Sometimes, if you don’t succeed initially, the second time you attempt it is a charm. Such is the case for Howard Jones, whose rerecording of the song No One is to Blame produced by Phil Collins peaked at #4 of the Billboard Hot 100. If failure causes you to quit prematurely on any goal or task, there is no one else to blame but yourself.
Despite this reality, people are still following in the footsteps of Adam, looking for someone to be the scapegoat. “Surely its someone else, not me,” brushing off responsibility by passing the buck to God and his wife, Genesis 3:12. Subsequently, lame excuses linger, grasping at straws to point the blame in another direction.
In the end, there is no escape clause as the Bible is clear, Romans 1:18-20. Between sunrise and sunset, God’s invisible qualities are on display. Thus, the onus is on you, to take ownership of the choices you make. Therefore, the next time you make a mistake, don’t look around to pass judgment for there is no one else to blame.
There are certain individuals which possess gravitas, tempting family, friends and followers to place them up on a pedestal. These dynamics personalities make it hard not to jump on the bandwagon as some become held in high regards as a cultural hero. However, when you choose to place someone up on a pedestal, its a matter of time before you will experience disappointment.
According to Romans 3:23, no one is perfect. Regardless of your efforts and motives, sooner or later will you fail, mess up or make a mistake. This blunder often shatters the image of your fans, causing many to jump ship. In the aftermath of sin, its difficult to come with terms with the failures of leaders. The painful reality of this disappointment will make you think twice before placing another treasured soul on a pedestal.
The relational aspect of life makes people vulnerable to pain. Perhaps, a growing number of adults are forgoing marriage to avoid the heartbreak of unfilled vows. While you may believe this is a good idea, there is only One who is worth placing up on a pedestal, Hebrews 4:14-16. Don’t blame the creator for imperfect people. Rather, lift up the only One who is worthy to be praised, Romans 5:8.
Earlier today, I began to feel like Job, pondering when my recent streak of trials will end. While attending a friend’s concert this evening, enjoying the Raymond Lee Band, I sensed an answer coming from the Holy Spirit. If victories out numbered losses, individuals would not learn essential life lessons. Therefore, God allows losses to outweigh victories in life so that humility produces teachable moments.
As I read the book of Psalms, it appears King David does more complaining than celebrating. In the tough times. people are forced into a corner, revealing their true character. Behind the sadness and tears, rough circumstances leads troubled souls to trust in the Lord. Without failure. you don’t truly appreciate the good things in life.
Perhaps, this is the main message of James 1:2-4. After the storms of life fade from the horizon, souls are left to pick up the pieces. Subsequently, wisdom is gained through maturity and perseverance. Winning is nice, but sometimes victory hides flaws and imperfections. Thus, the Lord places losses in life more than victories so that Jesus’ power might be displayed in our weaknesses, 2 Corinthians 12:9.
You don’t have to be in high school to discern whether or not you belong. Based upon your personality and the people you encounter, conversations and friendships can quickly turn into tug of wars, seeking control. My own defense mechanism causes me to begin cautiously, often listening more than talking before opening up. However, once I feel comfortable in a certain setting or group of individuals, my true identity shines through.
However, there are many things which wage war against your soul in this life, making victory elusive, 1 Peter 2:11. Depending upon your motivation or degree or perseverance, many give up, throwing in the towel before they taste success. When you add this factor to the excess baggage people carry from their past, reaching the summit of John 10:10 seems unrealistic. Spirits of doubt, failure and pessimism imprint a loser mentality upon the souls of many. Instead of claiming the promise of Philippians 4:13, a lack of faith prohibits these bystanders from obtaining joy.
So how can someone establish a foundation for victory? What must one do to turn their fortune from failure to celebration? A Calvinist will say you don’t have a prayer; you’re either chosen or not. The Arminian will disagree, claiming everyone has a shot. While God’s grace does play a major role in victory, Ephesians 2:8, there is more as acts of contrition and penitence demonstrate whether or not someone is on the right track, James 2:26. From my own journey, below are essential ingredients which have put me into position to achieve victory.
1) Like Jesus, you need to find a quiet place, seeking solitude daily to get your heart and mind in the right place, Luke 4:42.
2) You need to find and or develop friendships which elevate your self-esteem and spiritual hunger, Acts 2:42-47.
3) Fill your idle time listening to uplifting music whether through Pandora, Radio Stations or You Tubes that will get you through each day, filling your mind with wholesome lyrics and thoughts, 1 Samuel 16:23.
4) Try to read a chapter of the Bible daily which will enhance your faith while transforming your mind, Romans 10:17.
5) Spend time each day in some form of recreation, whether running, working out and investing in a hobby which makes you happy, providing a sense of accomplishment daily, 1 Timothy 4:8.
6) Once a week, write down, preferably in a journal, goals that you want to fulfill before the day, week or month is over. This exercise provides needed vision for the future, Hosea 4:6.
7) Devote time once a month either helping, serving and volunteering within your church or community. It’s better to give than receive.
May these ideas inspire you develop your own daily/weekly disciplines and practices which will lead you toward a foundation for victory. May God honor the commitments you make to better yourself in 2014!
Back in 2012, the National Football League and Budweiser teamed up for an ad campaign on superstitions. As the writers became more creative, this slogan took on a local market feel geared toward all 32 NFL cities, “It’s only crazy if it doesn’t work.” Whether its your favorite location to watch a game like Buffalo Wild Wings, a certain jersey you wear on game day or find a chair or place in your house where your team does the best, these traditions breed superstitions.
This concept is nothing new as Tom Cruise illustrates a similar point in the 1992 film A Few Good Men. Preparing for the defense of his 2 clients on trial for murder, Lieutenant Kaffee appears to think better when he is holding his baseball bat. When Demi Moore cleans up after a long strategy session at Kaffee’s home, placing the bat in a closet, Tom Cruise freaks out, warning her to never touch his bat again. While retrieving the bat, Cruise has a flash back from the crime scene providing the perfect argument for the case. One must ask the question; Was it the bat or the location the bat was in?
This morning while reading Exodus 28, I was left to ponder, “Is God superstitious?” According to Exodus 28:15, the Lord gave Moses directions to make a special garment for priests. Whenever a priest had to make an important decision about Israel or on their future, Aaron, Moses’ brother would put on this breastplate to improve his thought process. In Jesus’ day, another notion developed about touching the tassels worn by rabbis. According to legend, the tassels attached to a rabbis cloak contained special powers and if touched like the woman in Luke 8:43-48, healing would result. Knowing this mindset, Jesus wanted to make sure this woman knew that it wasn’t his cloak, it was her faith that brought healing.
Despite this information, human beings are extremely superstitious. I fell prey to this while playing professional golf. I noticed that whenever I wore certain shirts, I played really good or horrible causing me to believe it was the lucky or unlucky shirt that dictated how I played. Even today, I’m embarrassed to say that I may not wear a shirt to church, sit in a certain place or go watch a game where failure and losses have occurred in the past. When you want something to happen this badly, its probably not a good thing.
As for the question is God superstitious, I believe the Lord embraces obedience, order and special places. Jesus found God’s voice easier to hear in a quiet place, free from earthly distractions, Mark 1:35. Although some individuals may appear lucky on the surface, maintaining blessings from God is dependent upon obedience, Deuteronomy 28:1-2. Finally, as I study the book of Exodus, I am beginning the realize God’s sense of order and purpose the ark of the covenant, tabernacle, temple and articles which enhance worship. In the end, God is not superstitious, He is simply supernatural!
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section of my blog.
A failure reaches this status when one does not attain success, failing to meet their goal or objective. Once expectations go unfilled, disappointment consumes individuals, often leaving souls in a state of depression. Effort is good, but sooner or later a team has to win, proving they have what it takes. If not achieved, coaches and individuals will begin to doubt their God given abilities. Like a lowly carp, bottom dwellers are left to feed on the scraps, the leftovers other fish don’t find appealing.
In Luke 23:32-43, Jesus finds himself stuck between 2 failures. Placed in the middle of 2 criminals, subject to a cross due to evil deeds such as being a murderer or robber, Jesus couldn’t leave, nailed to a cross listening to their insults, Matthew 27:38-40. However, one of these wicked man had a change of heart after Jesus’ words of forgiveness, Luke 23:34. While one failure continued to hurl hurtful comments Jesus’ way, the other began to contemplate his life, Luke 23:40. The more this man thinks about his life, God begins to work a miracle in his life, Luke 23:41. With time ticking away on his life, this humble failure throws up one final request to Jesus, Luke 23:42, hoping for the best, with nothing to lose.
The words of Luke 23:43 should give hope to any failure who still has time on their side. “Today you will be with me in paradise” is proof that someone about to die can receive Jesus into their heart, obtaining eternal life despite living a life full of sin. Hebrews 10:26-27 indirectly suggests someone who fears the judgment of God can be swayed from hell to heaven like the criminal mentioned in Luke. Therefore, if you’ve been deceived by the devil to believe that you’re damned, remember the promise of Luke 23:40-43. In Jesus’ eyes, it’s never too late for a failure to receive eternal life, John 3:16-17.
On March 2nd, 2010, the residents of Lajamanu, Australia must have felt like they dreaming when perch began to fall from the sky. Located 400 miles south of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory, this remote desert town is several hundred miles from the nearest body of water. However, on this day, a water spout likely collected these fish, sending them up into the atmosphere. When the high winds finally died down, hundreds of spangled perch fell back to earth, most of them still alive. This bizarre occurrence conjures up images of Jesus feeding 5,000 people in John 6:1-15. Perhaps a similar weather system brought fish to the mountains of Israel after Jesus prayed.
According to Richard Shears, this might not be as far fetched as once thought. Pliny the Elder wrote about storms that brought frogs and fish to the Middle East during the first century. In 1794, near Lille, France, French soldiers witnessed toads falling from the sky during a heavy rain storm. An unique weather front in Lake County, California brought 2 days of sugar crystals as big as quarters 60 years later. Meanwhile, other reports include meat tasting like venison falling to earth over Kentucky in 1876, a Russia tornado raining coins from the 16th century and the most recent, raining blackbirds and pigeons over the skies of San Luis Opisbo, California during a 2 day storm in 1976. Although, these events may not be entirely God ordained, it does give people hope that the Lord has the power to bring blessings into a deserted region.
The expression “all good things must come to an end on earth” is inaccurate, especially for those individuals who have not experienced or tasted goodness to this point in life. Thus, misery loves company as the disappointed, failures and unfortunate revel in their negativity, suffocating anyone who wishes for sunny days ahead. Maybe this is why the apostle Paul adds 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 to middle of his chapter on the resurrection. If you surround yourself with doubting Thomas’, you will likely desert your beliefs. Therefore, the best way to turn disbelief into faith is by coming to your senses, flee from sin and acknowledge the signs of a living God. When this process is complete, the Lord has the power to send blessings into a previously deserted faith.
The advent of reality television has spawned a different kind of gold rush as contestants, individuals and a select few are willing to risk everything, even their reputation to strike it rich. According to the Writers Guild of America in an article written by Charles Slocum, Allen Funt can be credited as the founder of reality television through his 1948 series Candid Camera. One year prior, Funt’s radio project entitled Candid Microphone has inspired the recent rage in reality programing featured on nearly every cable channel. Whether this new fad fizzles out soon is unclear, yet one thing is certain, people will continue to endure embarrassment as long as a pot of gold exists at the end of the rainbow.
The Bible provides an alternative perspective on striking it rich. Prior to his death, the apostle Paul shares words of wisdom to a young pastor in a chapter to Timothy. Paul’s first advice is to develop the right mindset, 1 Timothy 6:6, focusing on what you have rather than allow envy to steer your attention toward what others have acquired. Next, Paul urges this teenager to listen to the right voice, 1 Timothy 6:9. The Greek word used for desire means to have an unshakable thirst for more; thus Paul recommends the message he shared to believers in Rome, Romans 8:5-13. Finally, if you are blessed with money in this life, maintain the proper attitude described in 1 Timothy 6:17. By doing this, you can strike it rich spiritually.
Unfortunately, applying these words takes sacrifices, time and a world of adjustment. While some may be called to a life of poverty like Mother Teresa, others have squandered their wealth like the prodigal son, Luke 15:13-17. Meanwhile, many have simply buried their talents, afraid of disappointment, failure or rejection, Matthew 25:24-28. The words of Moses still ring true today, a guide for those hoping to strike it rich, Deuteronomy 30:15-16. If beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, then riches dwell in the hearts of those who store up treasures for the after life, Matthew 6:19-21. Begin your pursuit today!
As a child, everyone has moments where one day dreams of an ideal career, goal or vision of a bright future. Something about the energy of youth, inspires one to climb the ladder of success, striving to be the best you can be. Unfortunately, somewhere between adolescence and adulthood, a Debbie downer, glass half empty person or realist brings you back to earth by reminding you of all the obstacles standing in your way. It is here, where imagination becomes imprisoned, held captive by fear.
On the corner of Average and Great, at the crossroads in life, choices dictate the path you follow. Will failure lead you to turn around toward the Lane of Shame? Does money inhabit your chances to reach for the stars? Or do you suffer from paralysis by analysis, standing on the curb, still trying to decide? My imagination has designed 2 dozen golf courses, composed nearly 20 songs, several games, a complete movie script and a novel in the works. However, currently, my imagination is in captivity, with a few disks, documents and notebooks full of potential, yet void of success.
At these moments in life, one must call on the wisdom of Solomon, 1 Kings 3:4-9. If I am to rescued from these chains, I need God to send me wise men or women to show me how to display the potential I possess. When patience is tested like Abraham, waiting 18 years for God to give his wife a child, the true heart of man is exposed. If Thomas Edison can attempt 9,999 ways how not to make a light bulb, I guess I can endure a few more days, weeks, months or years in captivity. May God grant me a spirit of perseverance so that one glimmer of hope will lead to a spiritual light within me for the world to see. In my mind, I can see freedom, faith and a finished product. Until then, “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!”
With the recent success of modern art, beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. This same logic can be applied to self-esteem. If an individual attains success in academics, athletics or socially, this person may feel like a bouquet of roses. On the other hand, if one experiences a regular dose of defeat, failure and setbacks, they might feel like shattered glass, trying to pick up the pieces of their life one day at a time.
While most people think of David as the second king of Israel, he spent several years in isolation, warned by his best friend Jonathon to flee from his jealous father, King Saul. In the psalms, David pours out his heart to God, trying to make sense of the pain he was enduring. This is where we feel David’s raw emotion, “I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery,” Psalm 31:12.
Depression is an unfortunate circumstance of life. God allows people to experience trials in life so that they may become mature and complete, James 1:2-4. However, this process includes mess ups, mistakes and unfulfilled expectations. Though you may currently feel like a piece of broken pottery, the Great Potter, Abba Father, has eternal plans to hold you together, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. May the power of Holy Spirit be the spiritual glue to fix our bodies comprised of broken pottery.
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