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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nActs 16: 31a \u201cAnd they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One rainy Saturday afternoon, I had on videos of the last few minutes of Family Feud episodes. Margie said, \u201cYou always smile when they win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I love to see people win and succeed. I was an industrial arts teacher. One project students loved to build and I loved to teach, was the building of lamps. They learned the principles of metalwork, wood, plastic, and electric circuitry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had the thrill thousands of times in seeing young faces when they flipped the switch and the light came on. One great memory was of a young boy with his lamp. I\u2019ll never forget the expression on his face when he said, \u201cI\u2019ve never made anything before; I\u2019m proud of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Success was written all over him. The last I heard of that young man (twenty years later), he was a Captain in the U.S. Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not being a serious sports fan, I can occasionally watch half a ball game or a few minutes of the Olympics. Of course the winners are elated but the thought of how hard the losers have trained mentally and physically and the heartbreak of losing, breaks my heart for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But everyone can\u2019t win in sports. In ball games, racing, even in trap shooting, there are losers. If there were not losers, winning would not be rewarding to the serious athlete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mirajj Thaker said, \u201cYou never lose. Either you win or you learn.\u201d Without a doubt, when we lose there is learning taking place. To not make the same mistakes a second time is a worth greater than gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The belief that education teaches us how much we do not know is also teaching us of our shortcomings. We are reminded of how hard we must study and work to improve ourselves and become winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life itself is a challenge. To be constantly in a state of self-improvement is a lifestyle and a habit. To be satisfied or complacent is dull and can lead to physical and mental problems. Previous generations often heard the term \u201ccouch potato.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To think of one\u2019s self or call another a \u201ccouch potato,\u201d was insulting and intended to be. Such a one was considered lazy, unmotivated and not having desire for improvement. The individual was seen as one that \u201cif everyone was like him\/her, we would still be living in caves or trees and eating grubs and tree bark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The longing for self-improvement accompanies a longing for God. Romans 12: 2 \u201cAnd be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being successful is within the individual mind. The accumulation of wealth and things has become the measuring stick for success in America and much of the western world. A question heard after someone\u2019s death was, \u201cHow much money did he leave?\u201d The answer: \u201cEvery bit of it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The value of our relationship with and our connection to our Savior cannot be described or measured. To appreciate the significance of eternal life requires a faith based heart and mind. Some things money cannot buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proverbs 16: \u201cCommit thy works unto the lord and thy plans shall be established.\u201d Can humanity ever learn that eternity is forever and this life is temporary? We can all be winners in this existence and our future existence. That victory is in the Gospel of Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of my favorite Gospel songs is \u201cVictory in Jesus\u201d By E.M. Bartlett. One verse that especially captures my attention is: \u201cHe sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood. He loved me ‘ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t every think you can never be a winner. One of the most powerful words in the Bible is in John 3: 16. The word \u201cwhosoever\u201d includes all of us; all of the eight billion on earth. You can assuredly say, \u201cI am whosoever!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippians 4: 13 \u201cI can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength.\u201d The choice and action are yours. He gives us a power not realized from any other source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joshua 1: 9 \u201cHave I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.\u201d If this doesn\u2019t give us a winning attitude, I cannot imagine what would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John 14: 6 \u201cJesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.\u201d The Biblical certainty given by our Jesus should give everyone a feeling of victory for all eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Could we possibly focus on helping everyone to win? In the least we could present the opportunity for all to be winners. If individuals choose to follow the truth of the Bible, that remains to be their choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Condemnation and accusations are tools of the devil and none of us has the right to judge anyone. Judging is God\u2019s job and I have no desire to interfere with His preferences. The priority of the Christian must be to fulfill the mandate of what we refer to as The Great Commission (Matthew 24: 18-19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Timothy 2:3-4 \u201cFor this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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