F is for Failure ~ by Brenda J. Wood

 

Face it. Failure is part of life. But if you are a writer, failure is more painful because so often we bear it alone. We don’t want to tell our friends that our novel was rejected for the third time. We hate that the magazine editor wants a second rewrite. We hide the fact that we have another job just to pay our bills. We are Writers! Why can’t we make a go of it?

Why? Because failure is part of life. Take a look at these fine folks and tell yourself that you are in good company!

Abraham Lincoln failed to be elected as a land officer, a U.S. senator, the vice president, and again the U.S. Senate AND YET… kept trying and against all odds, became president of the United States.

Louisa May Alcott wrote out of necessity. Her family was desperately poor, and her education sketchy. She even did laundry and taught school to help support the family. She declared many of her most popular works to be emotional pap! And yet…

Winston Churchill was a poor student, but excelled in sports. Some of his war campaigns were huge mistakes. For example, his World War I attack against Turkey, the World War II defense of Norway. And yet, we remember other huge victories during World War II.

And then there is Walt Disney. We hear the name Disney now and we think success and Mickey Mouse. Most of us don’t know that Walt’s background included bankruptcy, a mental breakdown, a strike and even loss of control over some of his cartoon creations.

Harry Potter creator, J. K Rowling submitted her Harry Potter work twelve times before it was accepted. At one point, this single mom had no job, lived on welfare and thought of suicide.

And yet----everyone of these failures kept on following their passion and saw the results of perseverance. Will you do any less?

“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston S. Churchill

Brenda J. Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

Come Again by Susan Barclay

 

What Jesus says...

In January, I talked about how God's invitation to me this year was to "come and worship." I planned to start reading a 30-day devotional by Adam Palmer based on the Tim Hughes' song Here I Am to Worship. I planned to do a 7-week workbook by David Sherbino called Reconnect: Spiritual Exercises to Develop Intimacy with God. I planned to start the day with worship music, scripture, and prayer. 

How did all this planning pan out?

Not so well, honestly. I completed the 30-day devotional, but didn't get far with Sherbino's book. I started the day with music, the Word, and prayer...for about two-and-a-half months. I forget what happened mid-March, but something got in the way of my routine and I never regained my footing.

One thing I read in the first month was John Piper's definition of worship on the Desiring God website. He says,

 The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things. And then that deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God overflows in demonstrable acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ.”

From this I discerned the following "action steps":

1. be in His Word and spend time with Him in prayer, silence and solitude so that I get to know Him (experience Him, hear from Him, gain a better understanding of His character and what He wants/desires/expects of me);
   
2. value, treasure, prize, enjoy God, and put Him before anyone and anything else; 
3. praise Him with my words and songs; 
4. serve others in Jesus’s Name. 

This year, it's been hard for me to experience silence and solitude. It's been hard to enjoy God and put Him first. I've been sporadic in Bible-reading, more consistent in prayer, certainly able to praise and worship Him in word and song. I've spent a lot of time serving others, whether in Jesus's Name or not, I can't say, but only in His strength and with His ability to persevere. I have not always served with patience and a smile. Trials, struggles, and the demands of life, however, have set my face toward the cross and drawn me closer to God. I cannot do without Him.

I'm thankful that when He says, "Come, now is the time to worship," and I then fail in my efforts, I am not defined by my failure. "In Christ, [my] failure can redefine [me]" (Don Miller, quoted in Emily Freeman's Grace for the Good Girl). When I fall short of my own expectations, Jesus reminds me that He still loves me. He invites me to come again, to lift every burden in His presence and to receive His mercy and peace. How can I refuse such kindness?

Lord, I come. I come again.

______________________

For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com

A Word is a Word - Marnie Pohlmann

“You know you are a testimony, don’t you?”

Inwardly, I shrunk away from the thought.  This wasn’t the first time someone had said that to me, and it wasn’t the first-time regret, disappointment, and even shame were my responses.

Yes, I was a testimony - a bad testimony.

Over the last few years circumstances have pulled me into a deep vortex of darkness. Physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually; every piece of me has been shaken and overwhelmed. I relate well to Job in the Bible, who had one catastrophe after another spin his life out of control. And while Job did angrily tell God it would have been better if he had never been born, he still, in the pile of mourning ashes, agreed that God is God, even when Job didn’t understand His ways.

In our Christian walk, there will come a time when we must realize God is not only loving but also just. God divides right from wrong. God decides good and bad. While God wants to and does give His people good things, He does so even in what we would consider “bad” ways. God is not mean, He is holy. God is not a “genie in a bottle” who gives us what we want, He is our Father who provides all we need as well as the desires that He plants in our hearts.

And like a rebellious child, we sometimes don’t like the life God leads us in.

A popular worship song speaks of the way we as Christians are encouraged to respond to God throughout our life.

“You give and take away.

You give and take away.

And still, my heart will say,

Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

                                                         (Blessed Be Your Name - Tree63)

Even in difficult times, we worship a God who redeems our struggles. He makes dry bones dance. He waters the desert places. He surrounds us when flames of disappointment burn our soul.

And this is where my testimony fails.

I want to be that faithful Christian who always praises God. And in public, with my hair combed, makeup covering sleep-deprived eyes, and a smile pasted on my face, perhaps it appears I am just that. One doctor commented, “You look very put together for someone who is so depressed.”

It’s not that I am trying to be something I am not or that I put on a mask. God knows who I am when I am with others or alone. And while I may look “put together” in my faith on the outside, I am still truthful about my struggles. Anyone who asks will know what is really going on with me.

I don’t believe I have lost faith in God. I still believe.  Yet I have a difficult time being thankful for the path I continue to stumble along. I do not always feel joy, even knowing there is an eternity beyond the dark moments of despair.

Yet, even though I can be honest and admit I did not actively live my faith during these years, I can also see how God redeems my failure.

I can say I believe but I struggle in my belief.

I can say I believe, and I struggle in my belief.

Do you see the difference?

but… or and…

Both are conjunctive, joining two parts of a sentence. The two parts of the sentence say the same thing, so that little word in the middle is what makes the difference in how I say this.

A word is a word is a word. Right? Or is it?

As much as it may be important to choose a word or phrase that will focus your determination towards your actions each day of the year, it is also important to lay aside any word or phrase that holds you back from moving forward.

While on long-term disability from work, I was assigned a counselor who was to help find practical ways I could handle anxiety in my life so I could return to work. She spoke about rephrasing, which my education in communication and counseling had already covered. Catch your thought, recognize the lie, and change that thought to the truth. There is great power in rephrasing. Scripture teaches it as “renewing the mind.” What this counselor shared about rephrasing, though, was a small difference that can have a great impact on me.

But - a word that often begins an excuse, a reason why something will not work or cannot work. But is often used as a word of defeat. “I can go for a walk, but it is cold outside.” But negates the walk because it is cold.

And - this word offers a choice. There are two sides, equal in truth or importance. “I can go for a walk and it is cold outside.” Two truths to consider. One does not negate the other. I can go for a walk and because it is cold outside - I will dress for it. Or I can go for a walk and it is cold outside - so I will use the treadmill.

Struggling in my Christian walk - or in life - is not the failure it feels like. The truth is my struggle is included as part of my testimony. The past few years have been difficult, and I have lost many of my healthy habits, both physically and spiritually. Basic things like breathing, eating, sleeping, journaling, and even reading Scripture have become areas that need to be relearned. I’m glad I was encouraged to memorize Scripture as a child, so God’s word is never far away.

So, I think my word for 2020 needs to be and. I am not in control of all areas of my life, and God is in control of all areas of my life. I still struggle and I have choices.

A word is a word and one small word, whether thought, spoken, or written, can make a difference.

Quotes to Motivate Me - Tandy Balson

I read a quote from Jack Canfield that sums up my writing goals for this year.  He said, “Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.”

Failure is a scary prospect for me.  I need to remind myself that everything that has the risk of failure also carries the possibility of success.

That being said, my goal for this year is to write and submit articles for publication.  I haven’t been able to say that out loud.  Does putting it in print count?  My first step is to believe in myself.  Here’s another quote that speaks to this point. “Self confidence is the most attractive quality a person can have; how can anyone see how awesome you are if you can’t see it yourself?” – Unknown

To expand my sphere of influence I’d like to have more publishing credits.  This won’t happen unless I write something of quality and submit it to the proper publications.  Finding the right fit for my words can be a daunting task.  Am I up to it?  This quote should help me, “When you say “It’s hard”, it actually means “I’m not strong enough to fight for it”. Stop saying it’s hard. Think positive!” – Unknown

In order to be a better writer I need to attend conferences and workshops.  There are online trainings that I’ve started but never completed.  I told myself working on them took time away from writing.  Looking back, maybe I didn’t believe in myself enough to keep going. This quote should help motivate me to move forward, “Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.” Vince Lombardi

As motivating as these quotes may be, I know a better place to look for the strength and confidence I need. That is why I rely on the promise found in 2 Corinthians 12:9;   But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

I believe that God has called me to write. In order to do this I’m relying on his promise found in Psalm 32:8; The Lord says, “I will instruct you.  I will teach you the way that you should go.  I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.”  

No matter where my writing journey may take me this year, I trust that God’s plan is better than any I may have.  I have decided not to limit him with my expectations.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3