Don't Be Discouraged

This little story came to me in an email this morning and as I read it I thought of several people who might need to know they have not even received their bat yet. So many times we let Satan beat us down before we even step up to the plate, we let him talk so much smack to us that we just turn around and walk out of the park never realizing God has the game in his hands. Revelations 21:3,4.

On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. As I sat down behind the bench on the first base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. "We're behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile. "Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very discouraged." "Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet."

Think About This

I received this in an email this morning and thought it was insightful

Every morning I pour coffee in my favorite cup which has a verse on it which says:

Excellence can be attained if you . . .
Care more than others think is wise . . .
Risk more than others think is safe . .
Dream more than others think is practical . . .
Expect more than others think is possible.

In this world where negativism is constantly bombarding our everyday lives it can be difficult to be and stay positive, especially when we are striving to reach your goals and dreams. Henry Ford put it this way, "If you believe that you can or you believe that you can't, you are right".

In your life you will need to make decisions on which path you will want to take, the path that leads to freedom or the path that leads to bondage. That path can only be determined if you make a decision on what you want your destination to be. If you have no destination you will definitely get there: nowhere.

There is one statement from President Abraham Lincoln, which I believe we should realize applies to everyone: "People are as happy as they make their mind up to be." So it is up to you to decide what you want to do, how you want to be and where you want to go in life. It is your life, so make a decision!

NEVER, NEVER, QUIT!

The Abraham Lincoln Story

In 1814 he had to work to support his family after they were forced out of their home. 1816 His mother died. 1818 Failed in business.1831 Was defeated for legislature. 1832 Lost his job and couldn't get into law school.1832 Declared bankruptcy and spent the next 178 years of his life paying off the money he borrowed from friends to start his business. 1833 Was defeated for legislature again.1834 Was engaged to be married, but his sweetheart died and his heart was broken. 1835 Had a nervous breakdown and spent the next 6 months in bed. 1836 Was defeated in becoming the speaker of the legislature. 1838 Was defeated in becoming elector. 1840 Was defeated for Congress. 1843 Was defeated for congress. 1846 Was defeated for Congress again. 1848 Was rejected for job of land officer in his home state. 1849 Was defeated for Senate. 1854 Was defeated for Vice-President... Got less than 100 votes. 1858 Was elected president of the United States.



Worthwhile goals and aspirations take time to accomplish. It took Abraham Lincoln 30 years to achieve his dream of becoming the President of the United States. Even though President Lincoln faced a multitude of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, he never thought of giving up. Yes, he didn't quit no matter what happened. So you shouldn't quit either no matter what challenges you're currently facing or what obstacles you'll encounter while traveling on the path to achieve your dreams.

Change

Change Begins With Choice

Any day we wish we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish we can start a new activity. Any day we wish we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the starts, but in ourselves."

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life - If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life - and it all begins with your very own power of choice.

By Jim Rohn

Failure is nothing to fear

Don't Be Afraid to Fail

You've failed many times, although you may not remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn't you? 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.



Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.



Author unknown.

The Price of Success

This came in my email today and I thought it was worthy of a copy/paste, the author is unknown apparently :)




THE PRICE OF SUCCESS IS....
1. To use all your courage to force yourself to concentrate on the problem in hand; to think of it deeply and constantly; to study it from all angles; and plan ahead.

2. To have a high and sustained determination to achieve what you plan to accomplish, not only when conditions are favorable to its accomplishment, but in spite of all adverse circumstances that may arise.

3. To refuse to believe that there are circumstances sufficiently strong to defeat you in the accomplishment of your purpose. Hard? Of course it is! That's why so many never reach for success, they yield instead to the siren call of the rut and remain on the beaten path that is for beaten people. Nothing of note has ever been achieved without constant endeavor, some pain, and ceaseless application of the lash of ambition.


THAT'S THE PRICE OF SUCCESS... Everyone should ask themselves: Shall I accept the uneasy and inadequate contentment that comes with mediocrity? Or am I willing to endure the pain of this struggle for the rewards and glory that come with achievement?

In the Midst

Last night when we got home from Camp Meeting we received word that one of the most influential couples in mine and Christina's lives were in this area and wanted to see us before they left to head back to Fort Bragg. I have been struggling with a lot of stuff over the last few weeks and have felt like I was not going to make it out of this particular jungle, knowing full well that God has me in his hand it has still been so hard. Just walking around campus talking with him refreshed me in the battle even though not once did I mention how much of a God send he was to me. Then at lunch she said "Wade I remember praying for you before I ever really knew you and I knew then that God had a call on your life which is now confirmed." My heart jumped for joy to know that God had placed me in such a special person's heart even before she really knew me. So I am refreshed and ready for the next battle because God sent his messengers to me to let me know that he is working in our favor even in people that don't know us we have prayer partners.