One very valuable truth I learned in 2010 was that failure is not the end! A good friend gave me the following about failure that has enlightened my heart in so many ways:
FAILING
Try again, fail again, fail better
We are all failures, at least, all the best of us are
Failure seldom stops you, what stops you is the fear of failure
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat
Failure lets you begin again, more intelligently
Every strike brings me closer to the next home run
If it's worth doing, it's worth doing poorly
Failure is the condiment that gives success it's flavor'
We only think when we are confronted with a problem
Learning starts with failure!!!
Armed with this new attitude, I began January 2nd with new purpose to focus on my endeavor and succeeded! Not only succeeded but enjoyed it very much! I caught up and was surprised when I came to the place that said my assignment was ended! I downloaded the Kindle version of THE BIBLE IN 90 DAYS which makes it so easy to stay on track. It has many helpful tools such as highlighting and note apps. I was surprised how many notes I took as the Kindle app was very user friendly to do so.
So far I've read from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 28:20....
I guess the main thing that has come through so far is GOD's amazing compassion and faithfulness for HIS children. As we fail HIM and repeatedly ask for HIS help again and again, HE is always ready to bring us back on the right path. Jacob not only once but twice lied about Sarai being his wife! Jacob's son Isaac did the same thing and lied about Rebeccah being his wife also.
Did GOD say "I've had enough of your dishonesty....I give up on you!" ?
Not the case!!! HE patiently continued to forgive, love and provide for HIS children!!!
Another thing I noticed throughout my reading is how fear tempts us to make the wrong choices or just plain paralyzes us so we don't take the steps needed to follow GOD's instructions. I was impressed again with how GOD understands this and makes provision for us with HIS loving and faithful mercy and grace.
A beautiful example of this is with Jacob's nephew Lot. When Jacob and Lot parted ways Jacob gave Lot a choice of which land he would take. Lot with usual human brokenness and greed chose the best for himself -he mistakenly thought! When he looked out and saw the 'well watered plains' he chose them not considering the evil in Sodom and Gemorrah. When it came time for Sodom and Gemorrah to be destroyed GOD sent HIS angels to help Lot escape but Lot was so overcome with fear he hesitated. GOD responded with compassion and HIS angels dealt with Lot's fear and hesitation by taking his hand and leading him to safety!
Genesis Chapter 19
15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”
16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”
