IF YOU CAN START YOU CAN FINISH

When we embark on the journey towards reaching our destiny, we must also realize the journey along with its ups and downs, trials and tribulations, moments of victory and defeat are all part of our destiny.

If we were never down we would never appreciate being on top. There will be times when we may take baby steps and there will be times when we may not take a step at all. It is during these times that we may question our destiny, ask ourselves if we are heading in the right direction. We may even take a break, or pause for a period of time, but then we feel that unction in our spirit that reminds us that we must go on and that we will not be satisfied until we reach the pinnacle of what God has created us to do.

The funny thing about our destiny is that is does not end until all of our work here on earth is finished. We may have completed a project or reached what we may feel is a milestone, but just as we do God places another idea in our spirit, something else that He wants us to accomplish for Him.

I find it interesting that we always seem to know when God has something else in store for us. We start feeling empty even though we may have just completed what seemed to be an insurmountable task. We are able to accomplish the task by the grace of God, we are excited and joyous because it’s behind us, but it’s not enough and we begin to wonder what’s next.

As each of our lives are predestined God has already determined everything we will do. When we look at the life of Joseph we see his brothers wanted to kill him, they led their father to believe he was dead, they sold him into slavery. He was accused of rape, served time in prison, placed in the second highest position in the land and saved those same brothers from famine that wanted him dead.

If Joseph knew what the end was going to be it may have made his journey a little more tolerable. Sure he had some good times during the bad times, but there were also times knowing he had done nothing wrong that he may have wondered why me.

We must think about Joseph as we walk through our predestined paths. We don’t know what our end will be. We will experience trials and tribulations because God told us we would. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us out of them all. He also said our latter will be greater than the former. Our last days will be better than our first days.

God has instilled in us a desire to have everything He has promised us, that is why we have what seems to be an insatiable desire to serve Him. The desires, visions, ideas that He has placed in us are the service He has called us to. We need to worship Him. We need to praise Him. We need to seek Him and we need to fulfill His plan for our lives.

During our fleshly times of weakness is when we may stray off of His path, but God already knew we were going to stray, so He nudges us and gets us back on track. What a mighty God we serve! Even when we want to give up He gives us just want we need to keep moving.

I recently took a stress test. For those of you who have never taken one you are placed on a treadmill while connected to an EKG machine. Your heart rate and blood pressure are monitored during the test. The incline and pace are increased in intervals. By the time the test was almost over I was thinking what would happen if I just stop. I felt like I could not continue but I did.

God has already provided everything we need to accomplish everything He has ordained for our lives. What we endure is because we are on the mission He has placed us on.When you feel like giving up that is when you must remember 2Corinthinians 12:10 therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Oftentimes the greatest victories occur just as we are feeling we can’t go on. If I’d stopped while on the treadmill I would have failed the test and would need to reschedule. How do I know I would be able to complete the test the second time if I would have quit the first time? I could tell myself I would practice, but would I? Probably not.

Rather than quit when you are almost there push! Give it your best shot! You will never cross the finish line if you stop just short of it. If you start you can finish. Finishing is the end that God has predestined for you. It may not be what you think it should be, but it will always be what He has chosen and what He has determined as completion.

 

 

 

Divine Appointment

Have you ever given thought to how you arrived at your current status in life? Whether you are in a position of authority, high importance, in a job that you and perhaps others think you are not qualified, or maybe you are not where you want to be. You may have lost loved ones, financial status, material things or employment and feel like you can barely make it from one moment to the next yet alone one day to the next.

Whatever your status and wherever you are God knew before you were born that you would be in this place at this time.

Oftentimes when we are not in the most desirable situations or circumstances we think to ourselves this can’t be God. But if we look at our Lord and Savior and what He endured for us, we have to bite our tongue. Some of you may say well that was Jesus. Yes it was Jesus, but when he was on earth He was in the form of a man. He was just like you and me. He felt pain and emotion just like we do. As a matter of fact, He did all of this so He would understand everything we will have to face during our temporary time on earth.

Our most difficult circumstances pale to compare with what He bore for us, and the price He paid for our sins, our total wellbeing and of course the opportunity to spend  eternity with Him. But Jesus wasn’t the only one in the bible that endured trials and tribulation. It bothers me when people refer to the people in the Bible as characters. Would you like to be referred to as a character? Everyone that we read about in the bible was flesh and blood, human beings.

The bible is a wellspring of knowledge and information. One of my favorite books of the bible is the book of Esther. There are so many life lessons contained in this book including jealousy, rebellion, gossip, lying, vengeance, sacrifice; love, just to name a few, and of course as the title of this blog reads divine appointment.

The book of Esther begins with a feast being held by king Ahasuerus for all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces. Queen Vashti who was the wife of king Ahasuerus was hosting a feast for the royal women of the king’s household when she was summoned by the king’s chamberlains to appear before the king and his guests. Queen Vashti refused the invitation.

Angered by the Queens refusal of his invitation the king consulted the wise men around him which was their custom, to determine what should be done to the queen because of her refusal. The King was advised once other wives got wind of the queen’s behavior they would begin to behave the same way and show contempt for their husbands so he was advised to send her away and find a new queen.

Rather than cover the entire book of Esther I will bring you to the point I am making. Queen Vashti’s dismissal opened the door for Esther to become queen. Esther was not Persian as was the king and former queen. Ordinarily she would not have ever been eligible to be queen. But God moved Queen Vashti and replaced her with Esther as queen to save the Jewish people from destruction. Esther’s reign was not without trials. She actually had to go against tradition endangering her own life to save the life of her people.

Each of us has a purpose and a divine appointment. What sometimes may seem as an injustice is all part of your destiny. I don’t like to say God’s plan for your life because we make our own choices although He already knows what choice we will make. Even if they are bad choices He may allow us to make them. These choices are learning experiences for us as well as those He brings into our path as a testimony of what He has brought us through.

When you are experiencing a valley moment know that you will not be there always and that your valley may enable someone else to stand atop the mountain. Are we not all servants? Conversely when you are on the mountain top know that not only did God place you there, there may be someone in the valley that is looking up at you and you will be challenged with reaching down towards that person as they reach their hand up to you and by the Grace of God and as He says not by might, nor by power but by His Spirit will both of be able to stand on top of the mountain and reach your divine appointment.

Dare To Be Different

Most of us during sometime in our youth did something we should not have done just because our friends were doing it. Somehow our parents would be made aware of our indiscretion. It may have been through a report by a neighbor, the local police if we did something really crazy or the tale tale sign of an injury to our body. Then we would hear those legendary words “if your friends jumped off of a bridge would you jump too?”

There are a couple of responses I would like to examine here. Most of us would respond no, we wouldn’t jump off of the bridge.  We may still have had our moments of disobedience but for the most part we would do the right thing the next time.  The daredevil would think hmm if I’m positioned in just the right place I could jump and survive.

We read in Romans 12:2 and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. We are in this world but we are not of this world. 1 Peter 2:9 reads but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

As Christians we are to set an example. We are not to be the same way we were as children following the ways of the world. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11 when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Are you following the ways of the world because it’s the comfortable or acceptable thing to do? Are you trying to fit in with your friends even though you know what you are doing is against Gods will for your life? Have you heard the voice of God but rather than step out of your comfort zone and follow Him you conform to those around you so that you won’t be noticed, persecuted or left out the plans of the people you count as your friends? Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

I’m not advising you to do anything drastic, or am I? As a matter of fact I am. As children we stepped out and did things we should not have done. There were consequences for our actions but we did them anyway.  I am telling you that now is the time to step out and do what God is telling you to do. Are there consequences? Yes, but is it worth it? My response is a resounding yes. You may lose a friend but the Kingdom may gain a soul. Be bold. Don’t follow the crowd. Dare to be different. If God has given you a vision, plan, dream, idea or directive follow it.

The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Are you part of the harvest or are you a laborer?

Change

We have all heard the only thing that is constant is change. Change occurs all around us. Sometimes we are forced to change. When there are changes in our workplace whether we agree or disagree, whether we resist or embrace them they still occur. We determine our reaction.

But what about self-initiated changes. Have you ever wondered why when change is forced on us we adapt because we have to but when the change is self-initiated it may not occur?

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples. In today’s economy many companies are requiring mandatory furloughs. Employees take unpaid or partially paid time off. Furloughs are implemented as a cost saving measure for the company. Although the impacted employees do not agree they do not have a choice. They are not allowed to work and will not be paid.

Although forced upon an employee, whenever possible the employee should try and use this time off to their advantage. It can be used for personal appointments which may prevent them from having to take time off of work in the future. It can be used for volunteer work if desired. It can also be used to work on a personal business venture or project they may have been putting off.

Not let’s take a look at a self-initiated change. A change that has crossed the mind of a great majority of people is weight loss. We hear weight lost mentioned as New Year’s resolutions, in preparation for vacations, class reunions, weddings, special events or a life style change.

This is a self-initiated change and involves our will. It’s not forced upon us. We can go through with it or we can decide not to. It’s our choice.  Unfortunately for some of us we do not move forward with our change. We have one excuse or another, whatever the reason because it is not being forced upon us, and it is not required but a choice, it may not occur.

A self-initiated change starts as an idea. In the weight loss example. A person may look in the mirror or try on an article of clothing that fit’s a little snugly and think about losing weight. Sometimes the thought goes no further. If it does it becomes a desire. Once the idea or thought becomes a desire implementation will begin. A person may start exercising or change their eating plan but before reaching their goal they may quit. This is where it ends for many people. You have an idea. Your idea becomes a desire. You implement a plan, then for one reason or another the plan comes to an end before reaching your goal.

Why is it so difficult make a self-initiated change? It’s because you have a choice, so the question becomes how do you stick with your choice? How do you prevent yourself from quitting? Think back to the company mandated change. It may have been uncomfortable but it was necessary so you complied. Your job may have been at stake. Even if you resisted in the beginning you accepted the change, and it became part of your lifestyle.

A self-initiated change may be uncomfortable. You are doing something you have never done before. Is it necessary? It is if it is your desire, and you want to succeed. What do you do? You act as though it is required just as the mandated change is required. You act as though you don’t have a choice. You commit yourself to it. You do whatever it takes. Hold yourself accountable, or if you are challenged with accountability ask a friend that believes in your success to be your accountability partner if you do not have a Life Coach.

Record and report your progress. Do something every day towards your goal. Celebrate your progress as encouragement. You can make a change but you must be committed. It’s your choice. Choose to succeed.
 

 

 

Who’s In Your Corner?

I have viewed a few boxing matches on television and wondered about the roles of the people in the fighters corner which led me to do a little research.

There are usually four people in a fighter’s entourage which include a manager, a trainer, a cut man and a corner man who enter the fighter’s corner during the one minute intervals between rounds.

The manager is responsible for the direction of the fighter’s career. The trainer works with the fighter on a day to day basis. He is responsible for developing the fighter’s technique, physical conditioning and tactics. He provides motivation and tactical advice as the fight progresses. The cut man obviously is responsible for providing first aid as needed for the fighter. The corner man may also be the fighter’s trainer and in most cases is the physical support system during the fight. He wraps the fighter’s hands to protect them during the bout and has a deep knowledge of the physical mannerisms of the fighter. If he believes the fighter is struggling or at risk of physical harm should the fight continue can signal the referee to stop the fight by “throwing in the towel”.

Our corner consists of the trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one as we read in 1 John 5:7. Our entourage leads and guides, teaches and trains, knows our moves before we make them and protects us from our opponents.

In boxing the battle is waged by the fighter alone. As a Christian the battle is God’s as we read in 2 Chronicles 20:15 and the victory is ours as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:57 which prevents the need for ever “throwing in the towel”.

Who’s in your corner? Are you trying to fight your own battles or are you casting your cares on the Lord as instructed in 1 Peter 5:7?  Are you laboring and heavy laden, or are you following Matthew 11:27:28-29 which reads come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Why fight a battle that is not yours and has already been won? Rely on your corner.