Always a Winner

I heard this quote last Sunday.  The obvious point of it is that Job, having apparently lost everything, still understood he hadn't lost more than he had been given.  He still praised God.  Yet, if you can see that life isn't about temporal gain at all...you will understand that even in the worst suffering...he never stopped gaining.  It's all about attitude.  Adversity will shape you or break you.  If you can be grateful even in the most difficult of times, you grow.  You effectively take ownership of the life God gave you.  You no longer are affected by what you gain or lose...what happens for you or against you.  You praise God and celebrate the good times.  You grow and shape into greatness during the times of adversity.  With gratitude and seeing the big picture, you never lose.  Christ in all his suffering of the sins of the world sought only that the Father's will be done.  Thusly, he withstood it all...even things that were not his doing, and glorified his father.  He owned it...all of it, and His perfect love never wavered.  What an example.  To see Job emulate this concept even on a small, human level is also a tremendous example.  In your life...consider the pain and sorrow, or loss of temporal gain you bear.  Is it going to break you?  Or is it simply opportunity?  Opportunity to look to God, to give thanks, to realize even with the experience gained you have much more than you ever had when you entered this life.  That even if you are to enter your grave having lost every possession...you have still gained richly the things which you take with you.  Experience, love, and character gained along the way.  God has made you richer than you could ever imagine.  Be grateful in all circumstances.  "Blessed be the name of the Lord"

Leadership

Life's a Beach

It's so ironic how many view themselves as being better than others simply because they have status of some kind.  Money, intelligence, title, occupation, education, popularity...the list goes on.  Yet, if we could see just how perfectly flawed all of us are in comparison with God, we would all be humbled in a split second.  We are all like grains of sand.  We may, in the opinion of others, be a fine example of a grain of sand.  But God is the beach...and if we are to aspire, we should do it with the understanding that it must be done collectively.  Seek greatness not for yourself, but for all...and remember where credit is due.