Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Attitude - Difference maker or difference breaker to Success...yet....what is success....?

I just finished a book recently by John Maxwell called The Difference Maker. There were a number of great points in the book that made me think or encouraged me to assess my daily attitude and outlook on life. I have always considered myself an optimist. I consider myself thankful for the grace of God, salvation, my home, provision, family, health, friends and life experiences that I can reflect on when things arent the most positive. One of my favorite quotes of all time that I have shared with hundreds of people I expect is that "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it." If we have success, does it go to our head, do we rely on it rather than staying sharp to remain effective...if we fail, does it knock us down, put us in an emotional gutter and leave us there (been there), or do we use the failure as a learning tool and stepping stone to success in the future - making us more resilient and tenacious and determined. Attitude is key and it is very, very biblical. Being positive and dwelling on the things that are of greatest importance, greatest value and greatest optimism is echoed through scripture. Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. A positive perspective, a godly perspective, an eternal perspective is what really matters and yet so often seems near impossible to attain. Why, well because it is impossible in our own volition. Man, lost and without God can have a positive attitude and outlook and attain tremendous success by tbe worlds standards. Yet in that same token, the success attained - be it wealth, fame, power are all empty imitations of man ultimate soul search - communion with God and the peace of eternal security as His child. The Christlike eternal perspective cannot be gained in our own strength but in our own death, death to self. In the past few months I have seen a famous actor killed in a 90+ mph joyride, another famous actor found dead in his apartment with a needle still stuck in him from an "accidental overdose" and the unraveling of a teenage music "sensation" with multiple arrests, reckless behaviour and involvement with the same poisons that will likely land him with the hundreds of others like the "accidentally overdosed" actor. Even in the past two days there have been the deaths of Sid Caesar and Shirley Temple who lived long lives and died in their 90's...yet what is the conclusion of the whole matter for them I wonder (I truly have no idea of their standing with God, I certainly hope at some point in their lives they trusted Christ)? The point of my rambling... I am writing this with much on my mind and 2 things are striking a cord of my meditation. 1) To please God, I must be obedient. Optimism is obedience, remembering what I was saved from and what I was saved to, what I have to look forward to and what I am charged to focus on here. Lord, help me be positive in the midst of storms that every person (saved and non) must face. 2) What am I striving for? What is the goal, what is the focus, what is the priority? - to get through another day - to reach a promotion in the workplace - an upgrade of a vehicle or home - a nestegg to retire with - to reach a certain handicap in my golf game NO...there is merit in duty, in faithfulness, in diligence, in integrity, in character, in work ethic, in self improvement etc and certainly there is much stronger biblical and emotional attachment, desire and duty related to family yet the ultimate charge by God is first and foremost an individuals relationship with Him - to love HIM with all our heart, soul, mind and strength... and our neighbor (wife, children) as our self (as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it). I have lived many stages of life at this point - youth in church, learning, saved young, up and down in level of zeal and commitment - rebellious in late teens into adulthood, away from God - had conviction but chose flesh over spirit fairly consistently. - broken, surrendered and zealous - fervent, active, trained and dedicated to the cause of Christ and missions - failed, hurting, lost emotionally and directionally, wondering what...if anything is next - missing the involvement, the satisfaction of realizing the potential of a person that God is using and the maximization of His gifts He bestowed for his use. This little book was a bit of a help in reminding me to maintain the attitude that Phil 4:13 teaches - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me... discouragement, problems and failure are cited as 3 of the 5 most challenging obstacles or attitude changers - they are certainly the ones that have impacted me. Yet Romans 5 teaches that triblation worketh patience and patience, experience and experience, hope and hope maketh not ashamed... because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost... Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to them that love GOD... CHECK THAT... it says AND WE KNOW that all things work together for good. - that is saying that experiences in life will have to take place that will teach us... so that we may say.... AND WE KNOW... I pray that God will break me, truly and completely... it feels like I have been as low as I can go, I feel as if I have been humbled, shelved, broken, dejected and shamed as low as possible, yet as time ticks on and the memories of use fade I still am not as low as it seems I need to be...so as much as it hurts...GOD, please finish the work... Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil 1:6 Some other learnings from this book Environment influences attitude - our upbringing, be it stability or instability, deaths, divorce, siblings or no siblings, positive school atmosphere or otherwise has a huge influence on our outlook and attitude for life. In the same way, the expressions of others have that influence. Those that are hurting because they have been hurt will often hurt others - whether intentionally, inadvertently or even being oblivious to it. In the same way, positive words and actions can have positive impact on the lives of others (Prov - A word fitly spoke is like apples of gold in pitchers of silver) Other things like peers, your self image, your beliefs, your choices - these all impact your attitude. Fred Smith said "You are the way you are because thats the way you want to be. If you really wanted to be any different, you would be in the process of changing right now." There are factors outside of everyones control based upon current situations - resources, obligations, aptitudes, etc etc. but the point is good though, change what you can change or dont say you want change in the first place. Done rambling, not proofreading, not reorganizing, its not a sermon, its a musing of a scattered mind that needs to put thoughts to paper...or keyboard...

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