Resilient People

We are hard pressed...2 Corinthians 4:8 NIV

When a back injury paralysed Angela Madsen from the waist down, she vowed to do whatever it took to get back up. As a result she started training to be the first woman with a disability to row across the Atlantic. Journalist Denise Foley writes: "Madsen is what researchers call 'resilient' - able to rebound from whatever life brings. She's one of those people who make us wonder how we'd fare if our mettle were tested. Would we bounce back?" Paul writes, "We are hard pressed… but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV).

Resilient people:

1) Take control of their lives:

Drs. Steven & Sybil Wolin write, "It's easy to blame others for your problems and wait till they fix them. But then you never get to rise to the occasion… When you see yourself as a problem-solver life goes very differently. Identify your strengths. Recall those moments when you triumphed over adversity. Focus on what you can influence instead of what you can't."

2) Surround themselves with the right people:

The Psalmist said, 'They… treated me badly all my life, but they have not defeated me' (Psalm 129:2 NCV). Ned Hallowell grew up with a bipolar father, an abusive stepfather, an alcoholic mother, and two learning disabilities - a history that's often a precursor to jail or a mental institution. Today he's a prominent psychiatrist, a happily-married father and a successful author. It happened largely because at boarding school he attached himself to teachers who cared about him and took him under their wing. So in tough times, lean on God, take control of your life, and surround yourself with the right people.

3) They allow pain to spur growth:

At the peak of her career when photographer Linda Joy Montgomery learned she was going blind, an inner voice said, "This isn't the end; it's the beginning." She began writing poetry, discovered her calling as a motivational speaker and created the True Vision Institute, teaching kids to tap into their inner resources. The Bible says: "Though good people may be bothered by trouble… they are never defeated… (Proverbs 24:16 NCV).

Finding purpose in your pain isn't a new idea. Survivors of life-threatening illnesses, natural disasters and the Holocaust, and parents of chronically ill children continually demonstrate how over-comers find the proverbial silver lining by reinventing themselves. Paul talks about being "battered by troubles, but… not demoralised… thrown down, but [not] broken" (2 Corinthians 4:8 TM). Meeting challenges helps develop confidence and a can-do attitude that says: '"I've been there, done that, and I'll survive." Michael Jordan once said, "I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career… lost over 300 games… 26 times I've been trusted to make the game-winning shot, and missed. I've tried and failed over and over again. That's why I succeed."

4) They insist on changing what they can:

Paul says: "Whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord… (Ephesians 6:8 NKJV). Workers digging through the rubble to help rescue survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing, though understandably distressed, showed fewer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder later on. In concentration camps POW's who routinely gave away their last morsel, proved that you can choose your attitude in any given set of circumstances. How? By drawing strength from God and learning to control the one thing you can control - yourself.

Be Blessed

Note: The article above is taken from daily devotion email from The Word for Today brought by TheVine in association with The Rhema Broadcasting Group Inc, New Zealand and UCB International Ltd

Smart but not so bright!

Intelligence can only bring us halfway to success. It is only one of the two sides of our ability. Strong character needs to be combined with it. The person without a good character will fail in achieving stature in his career, community and friendships.

In the spring of 1995, scandals were rocking the Ivy League universities. A Yale student, a month away from getting his diploma, was discovered to have forged his admittance transcripts. The college planned to not only to expel him but also to press larceny charges. Meanwhile at Harvard, the administration was rescinding an offer of admittance to a young woman who was discovered to have bludgeoned her mother to death with a candlestick five years previously. She had lied about this incident during her interview.

There is no doubt that both of these students were brilliant. The girl had an IQ of 150. The guy had been a mediocre student at his community college yet maintained a B average at Yale. Neither problem was a question of intelligence but of a character.

Similar character issues haunt the reputations of some of the most brilliant people who ever lived. Character related matters come to light about public figures on a regular basis - sex scandals, suicide, greed and the like.

We cannot allow ourselves to be deceived in a similar manner. You can have the IQ of a genius. You can be a straight "A" student and high achiever at work. But that's just half of the challenge. If you don't also strive to be a person with an impeccable reputation and a reputable character, then you're just plain wasting your superior intelligence.

Begin to act boldly!!!

Early in the 20th century, Sir Ernest Shackleford made a voyage to Antarctica. He had a dream of crossing the 2100 miles of the icy continent by dog sled. Shackleford's ship, however, ran into an ice pack nearly 200 miles from land, and sank.

He and his men trudged across drifting ice floes to reach land, and then continued on to the nearest outpost, nearly 1,200 miles away. They pulled the only supplies they were able to salvage from their sinking ship in a lifeboat - a ton of weight - behind them as they made their way on foot.

When they reached waters clear enough to navigate, they faced waves as high as 90 feet!! They finally reached South Georgia Island and were told later that the expanse of water they crossed had never been crossed before.

Seven months after they set sail, the group finally reached their destination, the chosen point for beginning their trek across Antarctica. They were so bedraggled that their friends didn't even recognize them.

When asked about their experience, each man said that he had felt the presence of One unseen, who had guided them. Each man had a sense that he was not alone and that he would survive.

Hebrews 4:16 says "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Today, if you feel lonely, be rest assured that you are never alone. Begin to act boldly. The moment one definitely commits oneself, heaven moves in his behalf. You will make it.!!! Take a bold step of faith, and watch what God will do.

Be Blessed.

Doing God's Work God's Way

Good works... God prepared in advance for us...Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Any time you ask, "What on earth am I here for?" the Bible answers "to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). God created you for a prearranged mission. You're a conscript, not a volunteer. You don't get to decide your calling. And it's a mistake to try and duplicate somebody else's calling.

Remember Moses? God calls him to deliver Israel from Egypt but he tries doing it his own way. Killing an enemy to save an ally's life, he winds up a forty year fugitive. After living in the wilderness and learning his lesson he returns to do God's will - God's way. All of us, not just ordained ministers, are called to do God's work God's way. "But how do I know what my calling is?" you ask.

1) Work with your spiritual gifts. We all receive gifts from God, who "gives them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:11 NIV). Let God show you through your deepest desires and core competencies where you're best suited to serve.

2) Submit to godly leadership. Your pastor can help equip and guide you. God "gave… pastors… to prepare God's people for works of service… (Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV). We all need help; we can't get there by ourselves.

3) Commit your abilities and resources to building up your local church. God designed our gifts and callings "so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Ephesians 4:12 NIV).

4) Develop a servant spirit. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others… (1 Peter 4:10 NIV). Don't know your gifts? Start serving, and God will reveal them to you.


Note: The article above is taken from daily devotion email from The Word for Today brought by TheVine in association with The Rhema Broadcasting Group Inc, New Zealand and UCB International Ltd

Shallow men believe in luck...Strong men believe in cause and effect !!!

A story is told of a farmer who told a friend that he had decided he no longer needed to work. He said, "God will do it for me."

"Oh really?" the friend said...."What makes you think that?"

The farmer said "Well do you remember that old barn I used to have? I have been planning to tear it down for years but lightning struck it last month and burned it down to the ground and then the wind came up and blew away all the ashes."

"And on what basis of that, you're going to let God do all your work?, the friend asked.

"Oh no," the farmer continued. "Last weekend my wife asked me to wash our car, but a big rainstorm blew in before I got to it and then rain washed the car clean."

The friend shook his head in dismay and before he could say anything further, the farmer asked, "Do you know what I', doing out here on my porch right now?"

The friend said, "No, what?"

The farmer replied, "I am waiting for an earthquake to shake my crop of potatoes out of the ground!"

Many time we can relate ourselves to the story of the farmer. We expect things to happen without putting in effort. Galatians 6:7 says "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap". Someone once said that "The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without the work". Ephesians 4:28 says ".....rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give him that needeth".

Let's do our part by giving our very best in everything that we do and let the continue to enable us to be a blessing to others.

Be Blessed.

True grace begin in our hearts.

We toss the word "Grace" in our everyday walk. Sometimes we fail to realize that "Grace" need to have a genuine action in order for it's effectiveness to be demonstrated to a dying world. Many of us speak grace and don't make much of an effort to integrate them into our personal lives.

In 1987, a pastor's son in Connecticut was shot and killed by another man. When the killer was sentenced to five years in prison, the pastor complained that the judgment was not severe enough. But after the killer publicly apologized, the pastor had a change of heart. The pastor began to correspond with the killer and even appealed to have his sentence reduced. The killer was released in 1991 and wanted to get married in 1994. He asked the pastor to perform the ceremony, which he did. That's GRACE !!!!

The pastor eventually gave the other man his love, acceptance, and a new start at life - things that many of us might not think the man deserved. Sometimes we try to practice grace without actually feeling gracious. We act civilly toward someone, yet in our minds are scenes of what we really would like to see happen to the offending person. Some of us have probably also blasted someone for an offense, only to find out too late that we are accusing the wrong person.

Someone once said that grace isn't the little prayer that you chant before a meal. It's a way to live. I believe true grace should begin in our hearts and flow out through our actions. In fact our willingness to show grace is even likely to become a secret of our success. When grace becomes genuine and frequent, it can be truly amazing.

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration !!!

Thomas Edison was an well known inventor, scientist and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb.

A story was told that one day Thomas Edison was invited as guest of the governor of North Carolina. As they talked together, the governor complimented Edison on his inventive genius.

"I am not a great inventor", said Edison. "But you have over a thousand patents to your credit, haven't you?" the governor asked.

"Yes, but about the only invention I can really claim as absolutely original is the phonograph", said Edison. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean," replied the governor.

In reply, Edison say, "Well, I guess I'm an awfully good sponge. I absorb ideas from every course I can, and put them to practical use. Then I improve them until they become of some value. The ideas which I use are mostly the ideas of other people who don't develop them themselves."

We do not necessarily need to do something original in our life in order to succeed. We only need to do something well.

So think about it......Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

Have a great day ahead.