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more on success // Tuesday E-Devotion

Proverbs 16:9 (nlt) --- We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Luke 11:28 (nlt) --- ...blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

My precious wife and I were blessed with tickets to see Michael W. Smith in concert this past Friday in Lynchburg. It was good. For 1/4 of a century this man has impacted lives and talked about Jesus in places few of us will have the opportunity to lead from. People talk about Smitty (his nickname) in all kinds of directions. I say this gentleman who loves God is a great worship leader and is authentic. He is a leader to those in the music community and in many other ways.

His length of time in the music business and doing it all in the name of Jesus is a mark of true success. Would you agree? The time we keep on keeping on says much about our character and about how much we will give toward our success. God blesses our commitments when He is lifted high.

Cudos to Michael W. Smith, and thank you for the awesome music and inspiration since my childhood years...

This past weekend one of our church's leadership team celebrated with his parents their 50th wedding anniversary. That is awesome. Again, here is a mark of success. Jay's parents are an example for us and so inspiring. Others can make it to. I am sure they have had tough times (as well as tough kids to raise, haha), but they have been successful as well. My own parents will celebrate 47 years together in July.

Cudos to Mr and Mrs Gilbert, and thank you for the great example.

Success is not always what the world says it is. Success has more to do with our heart and our character and how we deal with people. Keeping at something for a long time it tough. It is straining on relationships, on resources and on everything around you. Yet God blesses our commitments when we give them to Him and lift Him up within the commitments we make.

Smitty and the Gilberts teach us to stick it out and watch God work. In my reading of Proverbs this morning I came across some verses about more success. As you read these, may God enrich us by letting our commitments grow strong and show our God directed and God given success.

Proverbs 15:22-24 (nlt) --- Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind.

I would say the people we talked about in this devotion are Heroes. May God build more heroes out of us by the example of these special people!

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