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Keep Moving Forward

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26

Faith moves forward. Don’t always try to figure out exactly what God is doing or wants to do in your life before taking action. The bible says, for the just shall live by faith, not by sight. Trust in God, knowing that He has a plan and purpose for your life. Don’t try to figure Him out with your finite mind for He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or think. Don’t lean to your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Don’t get stuck in the in the paralysis of analysis by over thinking a situation. Be willing to step out on faith. Give God something to work with and watch Him turn your natural into something super.

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Henry David Thoreau

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Be Fearless

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:17

Jesus said, “In the world we will face trials and tribulations, but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world.” This is not always easy to do as our flesh and spirit are in a constant battle. His Word tells us to be strong and courageous, but our circumstances scream run and hide. Its okay to feel afraid as fear is a natural emotion, but we miss it when we allow ourselves to be paralyzed by fear. The enemy wants us to allow the “what ifs and maybes” to cause us to abort the mission that God has placed in our hearts to carry out.
In order to overcome his deceitful trap we must keep moving forward in faith trusting God will equip us with the weapons we need to overcome the lies of the enemy. We must fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. Even when we feel overwhelmed by fear we must face that fear and do it anyway. Step out of your comfort zone today and begin that thing God has called you to do. Starting a business, writing a book, recording a CD; whatever it may be, take the first step. Be true to God’s calling in your heart and watch as he gives you the strength and courage to press through your fear and realize your purpose.

“Don’t allow the fear of failure outweigh your desire to succeed.”
-Jordan Bernstine-

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Don’t Give Up

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

God the Father has promised us the victory in Christ. This doesn’t mean that we won’t face challenges in this lifetime, but what it does mean is that if we endure hardness as good soldiers whatever He brings us to, He will bring us through. He encourages us to be at peace knowing that for every situation we face in life He has already made a way of escape. Nothing surprises Him. Before the foundation of the earth He knew you. He formed you in your mother’s womb and knows the exact number of hairs on your head. He promised to never leave or forsake you. Even in knowing these things it is still not always easy to face the challenges the world brings, but understand that it is okay to feel afraid, but don’t be afraid. Fear is a natural emotion, but how you respond to it will determine the level of victory you experience. No matter what challenges lie before you face them boldly knowing that His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in your weakness. As promised, He has overcome the world and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

“Failure is inevitable, but quitting is optional”
-Unknown_

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Never Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is strange with its twists and its turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit!

Anonymus

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IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

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It Couldn’t Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

By Edgar Albert Guest