Tips for Struggling with Discouragement (Part 3)

During the last two weeks we talked about . . . 

When we get discouraged, it's often because our EFFORTS don't meet up with our EXPECTATIONS. When that happens, we'll either give up or want to give up. 

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton's first experience of the polar regions was as third officer on Captain Scott’s Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, from which he was sent home early on health grounds.  

In 1913, he planned another expedition, and he ran this ad in the London Times:

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."

Legend has it 5000 men applied for what Shackleton defined as a great adventure.

The book of Acts is a Believer's call to adventure, call to be worldwide storytellers of Jesus.  The book of Acts also tells readers about real people who went on an adventure. So far we talked about being spiritually self-disciplined and being ready for war because spiritual attacks will come.

3. Be able to handle rejection!

The hard and fast truth is not everyone will be receptive to your story--the testimony of what God has done in your life. (Maybe even the book you wrote.)

That someone rejects the story you've told doesn't make you a failure. Paul and Barnabas faced this big time on their missionary journeys. When they were rejected, they "with joy" went on to someone else. How could they have joy in the midst of the rejection? 

• Because they were obedient to God. 
• Because every time they told their story, they RE-LIVED their experience. 
• Because they knew somewhere out there was someone else just waiting to hear their story.

As Jesus-followers, we are called to tell our story how God changed us . . . how He gave us joy amid the despair . . . and how He turned our sorrow into gladness. Too many times we fall into the stinkin' thinkin' that being a Christian is an easy life. It's not. God never planned it to or He would have zapped us up to Heaven the moment of salvation.

There's a line in The Princess Diaries when Joe the Bodyguard tells Mia: 

"No no has the power to make you feel inferior 

without your permission."

Remove "inferior" and substituted any other emotion you are feeling.

Whatever our goal, we need to re-adjust our expectations while continuing to give our best efforts. Because only when we re-adjust our expectations will we begin to gain victory over Discouragement.

Always be ready to offer a defense, humbly and respectfully, when someone asks why you live in hope. Keep your conscience clear so that those who ridicule your good conduct in the Anointed and say bad things about you will be put to shame. ~1 Peter 3:15 (the Voice)

Albert Einstein Quote

"God Almighty does not throw dice." 

~Albert Einstein

Tips for Struggling with Discouragement (Part 2)

Last week we talked about . . . 

When we get discouraged, it's often because our EFFORTS don't meet up with our EXPECTATIONS. When that happens, we'll either give up or want to give up. 

Shackleton's adventurers

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton's first experience of the polar regions was as third officer on Captain Scott’s Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, from which he was sent home early on health grounds.  

In 1913, he planned another expedition, and he ran this ad in the London Times:

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."

Legend has it 5000 men applied for what Shackleton defined as a great adventure.

The book of Acts is a Believer's call to adventure, call to be worldwide storytellers of Jesus.  The book of Acts also tells readers about real people who went on an adventure. Last week we talked about being spiritually self-disciplined.

2. Be ready for war--spiritual attacks will come!

Scripture says you will know them by their fruit. 

We tend to view that into recognizing a Believer. If you're a Christian, then the Fruits of the Spirit will be evident in your life. But that biblical truth goes beyond the common assumption.

If you're oozing discouragement, anger, resentment, jealousy, despair, etc, then, hear me now, those aren't from God. And it time to quit blaming the hormones. Those negative, critical thoughts in your head aren't yours and certainly aren't from the Holy Spirit. It's time to take a stand against them. Choose to quit living in the "Oh, woe is me" muck.

Tips for Struggling with Discouragement (Part 1)

When we get discouraged, it's often because our EFFORTS don't meet up with our EXPECTATIONS. When that happens, we'll either give up or want to give up.

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton CVO OBE, (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. His first experience of the polar regions was as third officer on Captain Scott’s Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, from which he was sent home early on health grounds. Determined to make amends for this perceived personal failure, he returned to Antarctica in 1907 as leader of the Nimrod Expedition. In January 1909 he and three companions made a southern march which established a record Farthest South latitude at 88°23'S, 97 geographical miles (114 statute miles, 190 km) from the South Pole, by far the closest convergence in exploration history up to that time. For this achievement, Shackleton was knighted by King Edward VII on his return home. (source: Wikipedia)

In 1913, he planned another expedition, and he ran this ad in the London Times:

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."

Legend has it 5000 men applied for what Shackleton defined as a great adventure.

The book of Acts is a Believer's call to adventure, call to be worldwide storytellers of Jesus.  The book of Acts also tells readers about real people who went on an adventure. What can we learn from them?

1. Be spiritually self-disciplined!

In Acts 13:1-3, worship, fasting, and prayer preceded the "going." 

Yet how many times do we get to "going," only to stop and pray, worship, or even fast when the going gets tough? Seek God first, then consider your needs.

Bertha Smith was a missionary to China for 40 years. Prior to going, she had a overwhelming yearing to get married and have children. Then one day she took her eyes off her own "need" and focused on God. She got to the point where she told God, "I want to enter into an agreement with You..."  What did she agree? That she would have a love in her heart for the people of China as if they were her own flesh and blood. They would be the children she longed so desperately for.

Are we spending more time regurgitating what someone has taught us about Jesus . . . or learning directly about Jesus ourselves? When was the last time we had a fresh revelation from God? When was the last time God brought you to the point of a spiritual/emotional/mental change?

Worst or Best Excuse

“Sorry, I don’t have my receipt. My 9-month-old ate it.”

Oh yes, the customer service chick (actually she was more of a hen) believed me, but why wouldn’t she? I didn’t lie. My child really ate the receipt for the lightbulbs I was returning. Well, she ate half of it before I reminded her that paper is not one of the seven major food groups.

What's the worst/best viable excuse you've ever used? Did it work? 

Why Visit Detroit Michigan?

Detroit Skyline

The only mission trip I've ever gone on was one to Detroit, Michigan. Our church's youth group did neighborhood surveys for a local church. They also held sports camps in the afternoon, did concerts in the evening, and after dinner, passed out 9V batteries to be used to replace the old ones in smoke detectors. My "mission" was to feed our 3-month-old, watch the 4-year-old, and occasionally wash dinner dishes. 

On the last night there, hubby loaded up the students and our four-too-young-for-youth-group-children and took us all to a spot in downtown Detroit where we could see Canada across the river. Would you believe Canada looks very much like the US?

Bridge and View from Detroit to Canada

From there, we drove to some outlet mall in Northern Detroit. All 66 members of our group sat down for dinner in the Rainforest Cafe. Cool place. Really really nice manager. Our waiter was nice too. And that came in handy when I waved my hand to show Middle Child where his drink was and ended up hitting the cup of steamy hot marinara. Hand burn. 

Nice Waiter kindly brought out some burn cream and a huge band-aid. Since my right hand ached, I had to eat my dinner with my left hand. Not an easy task.

The Adorable Three-Year-Old decided she wanted to eat one of her daddy's shrimp skewers. I didn't know she liked coconut shrimp, but she did. (Back then she liked what everyone else was eating . . . except salad, which she called "leaves.") I decided to adjust her shrimp so she wouldn't eat the tail and ended up sticking the skewer into my finger. Once again, we appealed to Nice Waiter for a band-aid.

I left the restaurant with a throbbing right hand and a throbbing left pointer finger.

Ever had an experience forever turn you off to something?