Never Quit!
Active Christians cannot fail! I didn't say, Christians never fail. As a matter of fact being a Christian doesn't guarantee success. It is the active Christian that always wins in the long run. The word "active" means "engaged in action". Being a Christian, we all know, isn't about inertia. For this blog I will specify that I am talking about being active in your faith and pursuing a Godly vision in life.
It hit me recently with great impact that I have never seen a Christain lose who didn't quit! I ran back my mental calendar about 40 years and I couldn't remember a single Christian who ever lost or failed that didn't quit. I couldn't think of a single one! Now, I have seen many who became discouraged and had a season of battle as well as setbacks. But for the one who continued and never quit, they always came out a winner in the end. You may say, "well, that didn't work for me"! I would say with all due respect, "you had to have quit". You gave up. You threw in the towel. I have always loved to tell people, "hanging in there is about 90% of it!"I truly believe it. I have been beaten by all kinds of circumstances. I have seen failure of projects, the loss of reputation, personal disaster of all kinds and yet, something on the inside would never let me quit! Of course that "something on the inside" is "Someone"! Jesus is the Champion of never quitting. Aren't we all glad He didn't quit at the cross. He didn't quit in the grave. He didn't even quit when He returned to heaven. He hasn't quit to this day and He never will! A major part of "looking unto Jeuss" is following His example of "never quitting".
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Marriage Maintenance
Teresa and I have now enjoyed well over 42 years of marriage. I hear of people who have been married for a long time filing for divorce and I think, "what in the world?" How is that possible? One of the common comments you hear in those cases is, "we just grew apart". I am convinced that every marriage can be healed and every marriage, if neglected could fail. There are several things that happen here. First, people stop working on their marriage and begin to take it for granted. In almost all of life's activities you continue to strive to improve. In marriage people often think that it either is or it isn't. Like everything else, marriage must be maintained and there has to be this awareness and an effort at improving it or it will deteriorate.
Another reason marriages falter is because there is some truth to "growing apart". In actuality, we all have idiosyncrasies and from these come intolerance and especially as we grow older. A good marriage sees our differences as God's balance for safety and growth. If you aren't careful as you grow older you will see them as hindrances. This is a tragic mistake. As I said earlier the big killer is taking a relationship for granted. There has to be this awareness and a sensitivity to the condition of the relationship. Then there has to be this ongoing desire to not only fix potential problems but make the relationship better. I am convinced that unmaintained marriages can fall apart and fail no matter how many years you have been together. I heard T.D. Jakes say, "just because you have been together for 50 years doesn't mean you have been happy." Marriage is intended by God to be a place of joy, a shelter from the storms of life and an arena of victory. Marriage should be a place of agreement that the enemy of our souls cannot penetrate. Why don't we take time to stop and honestly evaluate our marriages. It can change and like everything else, it only works if you work it.
Teresa and I have now enjoyed well over 42 years of marriage. I hear of people who have been married for a long time filing for divorce and I think, "what in the world?" How is that possible? One of the common comments you hear in those cases is, "we just grew apart". I am convinced that every marriage can be healed and every marriage, if neglected could fail. There are several things that happen here. First, people stop working on their marriage and begin to take it for granted. In almost all of life's activities you continue to strive to improve. In marriage people often think that it either is or it isn't. Like everything else, marriage must be maintained and there has to be this awareness and an effort at improving it or it will deteriorate.
Another reason marriages falter is because there is some truth to "growing apart". In actuality, we all have idiosyncrasies and from these come intolerance and especially as we grow older. A good marriage sees our differences as God's balance for safety and growth. If you aren't careful as you grow older you will see them as hindrances. This is a tragic mistake. As I said earlier the big killer is taking a relationship for granted. There has to be this awareness and a sensitivity to the condition of the relationship. Then there has to be this ongoing desire to not only fix potential problems but make the relationship better. I am convinced that unmaintained marriages can fall apart and fail no matter how many years you have been together. I heard T.D. Jakes say, "just because you have been together for 50 years doesn't mean you have been happy." Marriage is intended by God to be a place of joy, a shelter from the storms of life and an arena of victory. Marriage should be a place of agreement that the enemy of our souls cannot penetrate. Why don't we take time to stop and honestly evaluate our marriages. It can change and like everything else, it only works if you work it.
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