This morning completes our discussion regarding success or failures. I know we all have had many along the way. In Christ we should abound in every good thing!
SUCCESS OR FAILURE that is the question!
We had our car worked on towards the end of 2008 and the auto repair shop gave us a 2009 calendar, called "Motivations". On each month there is a motivational statement that I find motivational. However, I couldn’t find who wrote them, except for a thank you note to ‘The Disabled & Handicapped Workshop; http://www.tdahworkshop.com./ Last Monday, you read the first of four different devotionals that I had written. They all deal with life! All were successful situations because I like to live in the positive, but each one could have had super bad consequences except for the attitudes that are implied.

The month of February, my calendar said; "Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve. "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible"; Matthew 19:26 In April it says; "The art of being yourself at your best is the art of unfolding your personality into the person you want to be". "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them"; Ephesians 2:10.

In June it says; "Trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed". "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" Psalms 31:24 One more is found in March; "Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s levels of aspiration and expectation". "Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that. As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." Jas 4:15-16

In 1988 Ann Landers received a clipping, from a reader, that had been posted in the Wall Street Journal by United Technologies Corporation. I have kept it all these years and in writing today’s blog, Jim reminded me of it. It is called ‘Don’t be afraid to fail’! "You’ve failed many times, although you don’t remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot. R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on. English novelist, John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books. Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times but he also hit 714 home runs."

Many times our failures eventually turn into successes but we need to wait. Many times our successes turn into chaos but then again success is success. Mom’s success was her many children who grew to know and love the Lord; Jim’s presence of mind saved the day; Adam’s determination even at such a young age gave him the edge he needed to win the game. My Dad’s total acceptance of God during his total desperation brought total freedom. The unexpected in my life brought the satisfaction I found wanting even though God’s blessings seemed to walk with me daily.

Successes and failures come and go! Review your life since your failures. Can you see where the pit falls were merely steps on a ladder that has brought you little and big successes along the way? "He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful"! 1 Corinthians 1:8-9a; Ellen, a follower of Morning Glory reminded me of a declaration God made several times in the Old Testament. My favorite is; "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9; If this was important for God to mention at least five times in days of old, it is important for today.

Yes, success rises from risks, but waiting upon the Lord is where we should be as we walk daily in Christ. The attitude of gratitude can be our measuring stick, but being obedient to God's word is our rule of thumb; taking life one step at a time! Jane Ann