FAILURE'S NOT AN OPTION. NEVER GIVE UP

FAILURES NOT AN OPTION:
NEVER GIVE UP!

So often we miss out on God’s best because we give up too soon.

As you all know, I'm going through a very difficult time in my life right now. Not a day goes by when I don't feel like throwing in the towel and just giving up. But when I sit still and quietly meditate, it comes to me that the life I'm living is the life I've been given by a God. So, I pray for His Favor and the strength to move on past my hurt and pain so I can receive the Miracles He had planned for me that I'm not able to see right now. So I keep the Faith, decide not to give up, and turn myself totally over to The Lord.

We don’t realize how close we are to our victory. Just another few days of believing, another few weeks of doing the right thing, or another few months of staying in faith is all you may need to see His promises and miracles come to pass.

When I was conducting Astronaut and Crew training for Space Shuttle Missions for NASA, the Mantra we would all chant in unison before each mission was "failure is not an option." This reminded me that the only way we will fail is if we quit - give up. So in my most challenging times, my boss would tell me to "press on toward the goal."

About year or so ago, My beautiful and talented granddaughter, Alexis Marie, was about to have her America's Got Talent audition. Nervously, she asked me "paw paw, what if I don't make it in this competition?" I told her that this is just one step toward her goal as a professional recording artist. I told her to stay with it, keep positive, be persistent, and never give up on her goal.

My Samurai Bill message today is on Persistence. When we are persistent, we will eventually see the rewards God as planned for us.

Of all the factors that lead to happiness and success—such as class origins, intelligence, personality, character, looks, luck, race,—the one that typically makes the most difference over time is persistence. Knocked down ten times, you get up ten times.

If you keep going, you might not reach your goal—but if you stop, you’ll never reach it.

We respect people who persist. There’s a magic in determination that draws others toward it and elicits their support.

And you just don’t know when your day will finally come. There are so many stories of “overnight success” that actually arrived after many years of effort, often including some failures. Just be assured that your day WILL come.

Pressing on Toward Your Goal

* Make sure your goals are worthy of your perseverance. You can be determined to a fault. Don’t “keep going” down a tunnel with no cheese. You might want to read that former best seller, "Who Moved My Cheese." Consider the collateral damage: are you winning battles but losing the “war” of overall health, well-being, integrity, and welfare of others?

* Know the feeling of tenacious persistence. It could be fierce, strong, stubborn, unyielding, clear, inspired, surrendered, on-mission, purposeful, focused, committed—or all of these. Recall a time you had this feeling, and know it again in your body. Call it up whenever you need to draw on resources inside to keep going.

* Take the step that’s right in front of you—one after another. I’ve done a lot of rock climbing in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. And, the one thing I observed about beginners is that they will often have one foot down low and one foot at knee level, on solid placements, plus two good handholds, yet they can’t find any new holds, so they feel stuck. But when they simply stand up on the higher foothold—taking the step that’s available—that brings higher handholds and footholds within reach.

* Find the pace you can sustain; life’s a marathon, not a sprint.
When I was in High School, I was on the track team. My events were the 440 sprint, and the 440 relay. These events were all about speed. I was determined to beat our High School 440 record. I came very close but never was able to beat the record. One day my coach approached me about becoming a long distance runner, so he had me train to become a three miler. This is when I realized that life is like a marathon and not like a sprint. While running 16 miles a day to get in condition for my three mile event, something magical happened to me. I found my pace, my breathing became regulated and in sync with my pace, my legs went numb, a euphoric feeling came over me, and I could run forever. So, its important to find your pace, Press on, Don't look back.

* Keep going in your mind even if you can’t make any headway in the world. Maybe you’re truly stuck in some situation—a job, an illness, a certain sort of relationship. But at least you can continue to reflect on what’s happening, learn to cope with it better, and love the people around you. And over time maybe things will improve. As Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going. And my good friend, Bridgette, told me to love that person from a distance.

* Have faith that your efforts will pay off. And remember we live in a physical world that is engulfed in a supernatural world of Angels and Demons. You may have heard this teaching story:
A man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out. A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there in that pit." An objective person came along and said, "Well, it's logical that someone like you would fall into that pit." A Christian scientist came along and said, "You only THINK that you're in that pit." A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits." A mathematician calculated how he fell into the pit. A news reporter wanted an exclusive story on his pit. A fundamentalist said, "You deserve your pit." A Calvinist said, "If you had been saved, you would have never fallen into that pit." A Wesleyan said, "You were saved and still fell into that pit."A charismatic said, "Just confess that you are not in that pit." A realist said, "Now THAT'S A PIT." A geologist told him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit. An IRS man asked if he was paying taxes on his pit. The county inspector asked if he had a permit for the pit. An evasive person came along and avoided the subject altogether. A self pitying person said, "You haven't seen anything until you've seen MY pit." An optimist said, "Things could be worse." A pessimist said, "Things will get worse." Jesus seeing the man reached down and took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit. Don't become a victim and get trapped in the physical world. Keep the Faith and let Jesus give you the GIFT of His Favor so you will see the Miracles He has for you. He'll get you out of your pit.

All the miracles God has planned for you are ahead not behind you. Pray for His Favor daily preferably in the morning upon awakening. Pray for the Expectancy of a His favor in ALL areas of your life; health, finances, work, relationships, and more. When doing this daily and specifically, you will become more Aware of a His Favor and will soon see the Miracles He has for you.

The only way you will fail is if you give up.
Keep the Faith. Be Positive. Look towards the future. Be aware of the Lord's Favor. Never look back. Just remember the precious words my granddaughter shared with me below.

"Where you're going is more amazing than where you've been."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPW2Ah_DbR8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKrflNBZNg0&sns=em

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