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Faith & Hope
THE
KEY TO SUCCESS
DON'T
QUIT - TRY AGAIN
by
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
THE
KEY TO SUCCESS - DON'T QUIT - TRY AND TRY AGAIN
This
life doesn’t offer many free lunches or instant successes. Our journey
on Planet Earth is mostly a series of trials, errors and hard work, and
gaining success is hard to accomplish but not impossible.
Often
success only comes on the heels of disappointment and failure. The
only people that end up succeeding are the very ones who have failed and
failed, but refused to quit. We live in a real world, with very few born
into instant money, privilege and position.
But
hard work has never hurt anyone and a little strain, stress and sweat is
really quite healthy. And hard work is the only key to
successful, without hard work and perseverance you will not become
successful.
IF
AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED - TRY AGAIN
The
old saying goes like this, “If at first you don’t succeed, try,
try, try again”, is good advice indeed. Do not give up, do
not quit, but try and try again, until you finally are successful.
Abraham
Lincoln ran for public office several times and was defeated. He did not
give up and finally was elected President of the US and became renowned
as one of America’s greatest leaders.
Theologian
Dr. Kenneth Taylor sought in vain for a publisher to print his new
paraphrase of the Holy Bible. He organized Tyndale House Publishers and
has sold more than 35 million copies of the Living Bible.
Science
fiction writer Frank Herbert who authored the galactic epic Dune was
turned down by 20 publishers before his manuscript was finally accepted.
His book has sold more than 12 million copies.
If
we turn our mistakes and failures into stepping stones rather than
stumbling blocks, the experiences we go through are reversed from
negative to positive.
But
if we take the low road of complaining, sulking and blaming people, it
becomes a long-term aggravation that eats like a canker.
The
Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”. Here’s a
poem that reinforces that truth.
ALL
IN THE STATE OF MIND
If you think
you’re beaten, you are; If you think you dare, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but you think you can’t, It’s almost a cinch
you won’t.
If
you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost, For out in the world you find,
Success begins with a fellow’s thoughts, It’s all in the state of
mind.
If
you think you’re outclassed, you are; You’ve got to think high to
rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before, You can ever win a prize.
Life’s
battles don’t always go, To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or later the man who wins, Is the fellow who thinks he can.
St.
Paul stated emphatically: “I can do all things through Christ, which
strengthens me”. (Philippians 4:13)
And
Jesus said: “All things are possible to him that believes”. (Mark
9:23) “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With me it is impossible, but
not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)
IN
ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE MUST BELIEVE, WE MUST HAVE FAITH
We
must come to God, in simple faith, believing that Christ’s victory over
Satan, death and Hell has purchased our freedom.
The
Bible says, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death
He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”.
(Hebrews 2:14)
Jesus
said: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock
and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asks receives; and he
that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened”. (Matthew
7:7-8)
Here
are four things that most people are concerned about!
PEACE
OF MIND: This comes through the knowledge of salvation, with the
forgiveness of sins and the removing of guilt. Jesus said: “My peace I
give unto you”. (John 14:27; Romans 5:1; 8:1)
PROTECTION
OF ONE’S HOME & FAMILY: The Bible says: “There shall no evil
befall you and no plague shall come nigh unto your dwelling”. (Psalms
91:10) The angels of God protect His people. “Many are the afflictions
of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalms
34:19)
SECURITY
FOR ONE’S JOB - The Bible tells us not to be concerned about
tomorrow for He shall bless us with abundance. If we put Him first, He
has promised to prosper and bless the work of our hands. (Matthew 6:33;
Luke 6:38)
CONTINUED
GOOD HEALTH - When Jesus died on the cross, He purchased our healing,
for the Bible states: “He was wounded for our transgressions ...and
with His stripes we are healed”. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
“When
the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with
devils: and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed all that
were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the
prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16-27)
The
key to succeeding and becoming successful in anything we do, is in not
giving up. We must keep trying, we must keep faith. We must ask God
in prayer for our needs, seek the Word of God for answers and keep
knocking till we receive. That’s real faith! And that is
the key to success.
HOPE & FAITH
RISING
FROM THE ASHES
OF DEFEAT
by
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
LEARNING
FROM MISFORTUNE
"And
he (Prodigal Son) arose, and came to his father. But while he was
yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and
fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20)
Life
is like a race, with winners and losers and plenty of obstacles and
pitfalls, as well as rewards.
IT
TAKES FAITH & HOPE TO WIN
Winning
doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of preparation, discipline and
hard work, as well as faith in your own ability and those who work with
you. LOSING - often a bitter disappointment - doesn't need to be
the end of a career, business or marriage. It can be turned into a
rich learning experience!
Life
is made up of good and bad times with ups, downs and surprises.
Most everyone has gone through some hurtful experience like business
failure, marriage breakup or the loss of a loved one. Trials and
testing, however, can be utilized to build our faith in God and
strengthen ties with family and friends, rather than destroy and estrange
us from one another!
THE
PRODIGAL SON: A PICTURE OF SO MANY
Jesus'
parable of the Prodigal Son has a message for us all, because of the
inherent sinful nature, with which we were born. It's important to
know that we were all sinners by birth, by nature and by choice.
The
Bible says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him (Jesus Christ) the
iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) "All have sinned
and come short (fallen) of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23);
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23); "As it is
written, There is none that is righteous, no, no one." (Romans
3:10)
In
Canada's humiliating Ben Johnson Olympic drug scandal, and the bribery
scandals that continued for years within the Olympic leadership and the
judges, we see a perfect example of the dilemma so many face.
Recently, the criminal activities of dishonest CEOs and accountants
involved with the Environ, Worldcom and ImPlone scandals have sent the
Corporate World into a serious tailspin.
CAN
ONE LEARN FROM MISTAKES? IS THERE HOPE FOR CHANGING THINGS
How
can one rise from the ashes of shame, disgrace, guilt and failure?
In other words, is there hope beyond defeat? Does a person deserve
another chance? And what about God's unmerited favor? Does
not his 'prevenient grace', whereby He reached out to us long before we
felt the need to reach out to Him, have significant meaning? Of
course it does !
THE
GOSPEL OF CHRIST OFFERS HOPE & MERCY
The
gospel of Jesus Christ offers mercy, forgiveness and an opportunity to
change. Where would anyone of us be, without an opportunity to
rewrite a failed test, break a bad habit, make amends for mistakes or
repair broken relationships?
Everyone
should be given another chance to right wrongs make amends and try again!
Those who have done the crime, however, must do the time! Of
course, there are those who cannot be allowed back into society because
they are incorrigible rapists, pedophiles or murderers!
They,
however, also need an opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and
be converted from a life of sin and changed through His death and
resurrection. We must never give up on anyone, regardless of how
evil and wicked they are or have been!
St.
Peter asked Jesus, how many times a day should he forgive someone who had
wronged him and later repented. Was seven times enough? Jesus
answered, Not seven times, but seventy time seven." (Matthew 18:22)
In
dealing with our fellow man, it is easy to judge and hold grudges, but
like the old proverb says: "They that live in glass houses should
not throw stones."
It
is well to remember the words of Jesus from the 'Sermon on the Mount':
"They that are merciful will obtain mercy." (Matthew 5:7)
Again He said, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with
what judgment you judge, you will be judged." (Matthew 7:1-2)
GOD'S
HAND WAS ON CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
On
Christopher Columbus' historic voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, he
crew rebelled, demanding that he turn back. But, Columbus rallied
the deck hands with his undaunted cries, "Sail on, sail on, sail
on."
An
amazing fact about Columbus and his times, adds even more suspense to his
achievements. Contrary to public belief, there is strong evidence
that Columbus was a Spanish Jew whose family had settled in Genoa.
SAILS
OF HOPE
In
his book, 'SAILS OF HOPE: The Secret Mission of Christopher Columbus',
Simon Wiesenthal states that Columbus was not a Genoese's patriot, but
that he fought with the Portuguese against Genoa in 1476. He always
wrote in Spanish and preferred the Spanish form of his name, Colon,
rather than the Italian, Columbus.
It
seemed less than coincidental that the year Columbus sailed to discover
the new world (1492) was the year that all Jews were expelled from Spain.
According to his journals, however, Christopher Columbus relied on the
Holy Scriptures and believed that the Lord led him on his voyage to the
new land!
He
wrote: "It was the Lord who put it in my mind. I could feel
His hand upon me, the fact that it would be possible to sail from Europe
to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with
laughter, ridiculing me. But there is no question that the
inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays
of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures."
Since
his first name Christopher means 'bearer of Christ', Columbus was
convinced that God had given him that name because he was called to take
the gospel of Christ to the heathen he knew he would discover.
some
of above taken from 'Christ for the Nations' newsletter~~
WINSTON
CHURCHILL: The Man Who Rallied Britain
On
June 4, 1940 at the WSC House of Commons, when Europe was in grave danger
due to the victories of Germany's well-oiled and superb Nazi War Machine,
Winston Churchill gave a much heralded speech, rallying the British
people and much of the world!
President
Kennedy said of Churchill: "He mobilized the English language and
sent it into battle." It is not well known that Churchill
battled a fear of 'public speaking'. In 'Churchill and Oratory',
Robert Courts states: "That this should be the case is, however,
something of a paradox, for the man who has been hailed as the greatest
speaker of modern times was anything but a natural orator. He
frankly admitted, 'For many years, I was unable to say anything....I
had not written out and committed to memory beforehand.'
Churchill
suffered from a slight lisp and a voice that was not that of a classic
orator: rather high pitched and weak in tone, he was not able to blast
speeches at audiences the way Gladstone could.
"His
inability to speak impromptu was a more serious problem. His maiden
speech took six weeks to prepare and was completely memorized.
However, after a horrific incident in 1904 where he forgot his speech
entirely, he was never able to speak in public again, without copious
notes. Although Churchill was brilliant in conversation with small
groups, he was so nervous speaking to large audiences that he had to
resort to notes."
Here
in part, is the great speech that stirred the free world.
"Even
though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen
into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of NAZI rule,
we shall not flag or fail.
We
shall go on to the end; We shall fight in France, we shall fight on
the seas and oceans; We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight
on the landing grounds; We shall fight in the fields, and in the streets;
We shall fight in the hills; We shall never surrender.
And
even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part
of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas,
armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle,
until, in God's good time, the new world, with all its power and might,
steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."
He
challenged his listeners with these powerful words: "I have nothing
to offer you but blood...toil....tears...and sweat" His
famous speech at Harrow School in 1941 carried this powerful admonition:
"Never give in. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER....never give in,
except to convictions of honor and good sense."
England
also got help from Almighty God, who miraculously provided 'fog cover'
and stilled the rough waters of the English Channel, so that hundreds of
thousands of allied soldiers - who were pinned down in Dunkirk - could
get back to Britain. Satan also inadvertently helped the allies, by
hooking the German demagogue on occultism and clairvoyants who gave him
dumb advice. It was Hitler's insane pride and demonic recklessness
that drove him to invade Russia, at the very time he could have conquered
Britain.
Although
Winston Churchill was one of England's greatest leaders, soldiers and
politicians, we was primarily a writer and historian who won the Nobel
Prize in literature and became a millionaire through the use of his pen.
He overcame a major problem, to deliver some of the greatest speeches the
world has ever recorded.
DAVID
FOUND FORGIVENESS
Kind
David found forgiveness for his many sins, and so can you my dear friend.
He prayed: "Have mercy upon me....blot out my transgressions.
Wash me....cleanse me...purge me...create in me a clean heart, O God; and
renew a right spirit in me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and
take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy
salvation...." (Psalms 51:1-12)
That
answers some age old questions: "Can a failure make good? Can
a backslider come back? Can a wicked sinner ever be saved? Is
God still reaching out to the unreachable, the unlovable and the
incorrigible?"
The
fact that the Holy Spirit was still with David, after he had committed
adultery with Bathsheba and had he husband Uriah murdered, proved God's
unfathomable grace and unspeakable love to us all.
Understanding
his precarious position, David begged God for forgiveness and mercy:
"Don't cast me away from Your presence, and don't take Your Holy
Spirit from me." God answered his prayer in compassion, love,
mercy and grace. And God will do the same for you, my friend.
St.
Paul, who had dropped John Mark from his missionary work because he
judged him undependable, later requested a visit from him and commended
him for his contribution to the ministry. (Acts 15:37-40; 2 Timothy
4:11) And the great Apostle writing to Philemon on behalf of the
runaway slave Onesimus, appeals for mercy and forgiveness, on his behalf.
"I
beseech thee for my son Onesimus, which in times pasts was to thee
unprofitable, but not profitable for thee and me: Whom I have sent
again: thou therefore receive him, that is mine own heart. Not now
as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me,
but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?"
(Philemon 1:10)
"But
they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil which some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through was many
sorrows."
St.
Paul warns, "But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou
art called......" (1 Timothy 6:10-12)"
"For
God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and
of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of
our Lord, nor of me His prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God." (2 Timothy 1:7-8)
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Faith
- Hope - Success - Determination 
