" GROW FROM FAILURE "

Well here we are once again, another week has past.This week we will be looking into "Failure." "FAILURE" is defined like this: Non-performance; a failure; want of success; Failing: Fault in character or disposition. Fail: to become extinct; not to produce the effect; to be unsuccessful; to be guilty of omission or neglect; to cease or omit to afford aid, or strength to; Just being honest, why do we take the Lord My God for granted? Being nonchalant about the wonderful and yet magnificent things that he has done for me and you is not a good thing. I confess that failure is not something that I am a stranger too. As human beings we're not perfect so failure is something that will happen every now and then. An example from the past, now God wasn't exaggerating when he said that the Israelites had already failed ten times to Trust and Obey Him. Here is a list of their ten Failures: (1) Lacking trust at the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:11-12); (2) Complaining over bitter water at Marah (Exodus 15:24);(3)Complaining in the wilderness of sin (Exodus 16:3); (4) Collecting more than the daily quota of manna (Exodus 16:20); (5) Collecting manna on the Sabbath (Exodus 16: 27:29); (6) Complaining over lack of water at Rephidim (Exodus 17:2-3); (7) Engaging in idolatry with a golden calf (Exodus 32:7-10); (8) complaining at Taberah (Numbers 11:1-2); (9) more complaining over the lack of food (Numbers 11:4); (10) failing to trust God and enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:1-4) Question; Do you remember the accounting of when Peter denies knowing Jesus? Well it's vital that we recognize our failure(s) so that we don't end up like Judas. He couldn't handle his betrayal and took his own life, while Peter did just the opposite. Peter wept bitterly, not only because he realized that he had denied his Lord, the Messiah, but also because he had turned away from a very dear friend, a person who had loved and taught him for the last three years. Peter had said that he would never deny Christ despite Jesus' prediction (Mk 14:29-31; Lk 22:33-34). But when frightened, he went against all he had boldly promised. Unable to stand up for his Lord for even 12 hours, he had failed as a disciple and as a friend. We need to be aware of our own breaking points and not become overconfident or self-sufficient. If we fail him, we must remember that Christ can use those who recognize their failure(s). For this humiliating experience Peter learned much that would help him later when he assumed leadership of the young church. Until Next Time... Jim,