TRUE SUCCESS

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I would bet that you are caught in the same trap

that I often am.  We are not satisfied with the results

of our service for God.  He has done so much for me

and I want to do more for him.

Consider this.

One time Jesus Christ sent out seventy "preachers".

Things went great for them.  They came back a happy

bunch.  We read:

"The seventy returned with joy saying, 'Lord, even

the demons are subject to us in Your name.'"

(Luke 10:12 NASB)     

   Can you top that?

Of course you can not or have not.  If you had you 

would have let the world know about it.

But how did Jesus respond?

"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits

are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are

recorded in heaven."

(Luke 10:20 NASB)

Do you catch that?

Christ is more concerned about our relationship

with him than our service for him.

I need to spend more time loving him and

less "slaving" for him.

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"The secret of my success?  It is simple.

It is found in the Bible, 'In all thy ways

acknowledge Him and He shall direct

thy paths."

-George Washington Carver

MEASURING SUCCESS

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I had just completed a project that did not work out the

way I wanted.  It seemed that all the time and effort

put into it was wasted.  I just told God that I had done

it for him, so it was up to him to use it however he wanted.

Shortly God brought something to my mind.  He does not

look at success like we do.  He then brought "the widow

and her "two mites" to my mind .   In Luke chapter 21 we 

are told how a poor widow put her "two cents" into the

offering at the temple.  And many rich people put in large

sums.  But Christ said she put in the most.

Why was her's the most?

The rich people put in what was surplus to them.  It may

have been large sums, but they could do without it.  But 

the poor widow put in everything she had.

God looks at what our gift or our effort costs us.  How

hard was it to give or do it?  It is the degree of sacrifice

on our part that he rewards.

If we have been living for God, when the time of our

rewarding comes -it is possible that some poor little

old feeble person might receive a far greater reward

than some of us who think we are doing something.

SECRET OF THE KING'S SUCCESS

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King David was one of the greatest kings that ever lived.

What was the secret of his success?

The Scriptures tell us time after time that God was with

David in all that he did.  Now that is what I need.

How about you?

The Scriptures tell us that king David was a man after 

God's own heart.

What made David a man after God's own heart?

A.  David realized that the help of man was useless.

One place he said:
"O grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the help of man!"
(Psalms 60:11 RSV)



B.  King David realized that any real help could come from
God alone.

He said:
"For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him."
(Spams 62:5 RSV)

If king David needed God's help too succeed,
how much more do you and I need to seek
God for his help.

WHEN THE END COMES

"There is a way which seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death."

(Proverbs 14:12 RSV)

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How many are the times people climb their ladder of 

success or life - only to find it leaning against the wrong

wall when they get to the top or the end of life?

When the end comes, it is impossible to regather the

wasted years or turn the clock back.

For most the result will be a life that was 

"an exercise in futility."

Photo courtesy of:www.bigfoto.com

While there is still life in our old bodies, even if it is only hours,

we would do well to consider changing, ladders, tracks or paths

as necessary.  The correct direction was best expressed by an

old French monk called "Brother Lawrence".

His simple statement was,

"Your only business in this life is to please God;

anything else is folly and vanity."

(Brother Lawrence)

A LESSON IN SUCCESS

I have a friend. I know. You find that hard to believe. But actually there are several. This particular friend is unique among my friends. He is totally successful in his field of endeavor. We all have different aspirations. Thus success could be different to each of us. But by diligent application this friend has succeeded in an outstanding way. That is, in his field of endeavor. Independence.

  This young man - in his early forties - like no other, demonstrates his independence. No one is going to run over this man. No one is going to take advantage of this man. No one is going to tell this man what to do. His diligent application of these principles has given him a simply amazing string of successes.

 One of the earliest, I am aware of, is his release from ALL duties and responsibilities with the Army. He was sent on his way to pursue his dream of Independence. I did not see the paper work. But would assume it has such a glowing adjective on it as "insubordination". This has given him the opportunity for a great deal of adventure. He simply migrates around the country. He migrates through this area about every six or seven years. 

On his last migration through this area he shared with me his list of all the places he has lived. Back then, he would have been in his mid thirties, he had lived in sixty six different places. Some of these multiple times. His adventures in independence has put him in the hospital several times. Every one did not share his enthusiasm for his independence.

I have noted, over about a twenty year span, there have been a multitude of employers who have had the opportunity to learn from this man. That is. They are not going to take advantage of him. They are not going to push him around. And he does not have to work for them. He can go to where the pastures are greener.

In fact. Due to his consistent application of independence, I do not know of him ever spending more that a few days, or weeks at the most, in jail. Can you boast of record like that?

By his diligent application of his independent nature he is able to keep his responsibilities to a minimum. He does not have to worry about a wife. He does not have to worry about children. He does not have to worry about a house. In fact he has managed to keep his responsibilities down to a thirty two year old vehicle to sleep in. Several changes of cloths. And a cat.

 The other day he confided in my wife that he was thinking of getting rid of the responsibility of the vehicle. Indeed. My friend's success in pursuing his ambition of independence has led him to the point that about the only true worry he has is - where is the next meal coming from.