set up to fail [+] Monday E-Devotion

Have you set yourself up to fail or to feel like a failure? Far too many people, Christians have done just that.

It is one of those cases, at times, where you "can't see the forest for the trees." Your situation seems endless, like a train wreck and there is no way out. Yet right in the middle of your problem, worries and pain God shows up and shows off by giving you a huge blessing.

The problem is not your pain and situation. The problem is your perception. 100% of time God is working (you might not be watching) 100% of the time God is speaking (you might not be listening). 100% of the time God is blessing you (but you don't think you deserve it or that God isn't good any more).

Take a look with me at some key verses THAT OUGHT TO CHANGE the way we deal with ourselves.

Ephesians 1:3 (nlt) --- All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

We are blessed. Say it, "I am blessed." All the time. Every day. Some are big and some are small, but God is sending His blessings."

Jeremiah 29:11 (nlt) --- "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

God has set us up. You guessed it. No fault of your own. The time has come to give in and see it the way it really is. God has set you up with HOPE and SUCCESS. Failure is NOT an option. Get that!

Proverbs 15:22 (nlt) --- Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.

Don't do life on your own. That is a set up to fail!

Proverbs 22:17 (nlt) --- Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

Believe God. Take Him at His word. Don't do that, it is a set up to fail!

Joshua 1:7 (nlt) --- Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

Faith is not easy. It takes preparation to be a person that sets themselves up see success. But God has prepared us for that. Are you in on success or failure? Are you set up to fail or to succeed?

PS --- Praise God for The Community Fellowship. We announced yesterday that we are hiring our 2nd full time staff member, Susi Fulcher. Susi will be working with administration, children and big events. Welcome her by e-mail sfulcher@thecommunityfellowship.org (she officially begins the week of May 25th).

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

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Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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