Wrong paths?

Wrong pathways? (11.08.21–Bad Choices--Good Endings!) –Acts 8: 18-25)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When we make mistakes, especially critical ones that affect not only ourselves but the lives of others, is it critical to make the right decision at the right time?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

There's an old East Texas saying: "It doesn't matter how much milk you spill just so long as you don't lose the cow." To put it into even simpler terms: mistakes don't make failures, mismanaging those mistakes can. The great performer and comedian Charlie Chaplin put it this way: "No matter how desperate the predicament is, I am always very much in earnest about clutching my cane, straightening my derby hat and fixing my tie, even though I have just landed on my head." No one likes making mistakes. And, once we discover the mistake we are usually overtaken with embarrassment. With embarrassment comes the natural human tendency to step into denial. Finally, when the inevitability of the mistake become undeniable, it is easy to slip into shame and despair. "How could I make such a mistake?" So, what's the process for avoiding the shame and despair?

Here's a story: "A biology professor took a small group of young biologists into the desert for intensive study; miles from civilization, the vehicle in which they were traveling broke down. The group set out on foot on an estimated three-day trek back to their campus. After two days of hard travel, they reached the summit of a huge sand dune. Thirsty and sun- burned, they looked around them. Far off to the right was what appeared to be a lake with small trees surrounding it. The students jumped and screamed for joy. But the teacher, who had often been in the area before, knew they were seeing a mirage. He presented the bad news to them, sharing the facts as best he could. But, insisting their eyes could not deceive them the students rebelled. Unable to convince them of their error, the professor permitted them to head off in the direc- tion of the alleged 'lake,' while he would take another course. He made them promise that after they discovered it was a mirage, they would sit down and wait for him to return with help. Three hours later the students arrived at a plush new desert resort that had four swimming pools and six restaurants. Two hours after that they set out in a Land Rover with rangers to search for their teacher. And he was never found." (Charles Sell, The House on the Rock)

When we make mistakes, especially critical ones that affect not only ourselves but the lives of others, it's critical to make the right decision at the right time. It's that first step that matters and on which all else depends. If we choose wrong we could end up getting lost taking the wrong path at the wrong time. If you have made a mistake like this in your life, be quick to admit it, repent of it and ask for prayer on your behalf. In so doing, a lesson will be the product of your error rather than a failure. Clutch that cane, fix that tie and straighten your hat. A lesson learned is right around the corner.

We pray. Heavenly Father, when we choose wrong and end up getting lost taking the wrong path at the wrong time, help us to find our way back to what You want us to do. Forgive us when we make mistakes in our life and help us to be quick to admit it, repent of it and ask in prayer for Your your forgiveness. We know that a lesson will be the product of our error rather than a failure when we repent. A lesson learned is always right around the corner when we abide in Your grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Wrong paths?

Wrong pathways? (11.08.21–Bad Choices--Good Endings!) –Acts 8: 18-25)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When we make mistakes, especially critical ones that affect not only ourselves but the lives of others, is it critical to make the right decision at the right time?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

There's an old East Texas saying: "It doesn't matter how much milk you spill just so long as you don't lose the cow." To put it into even simpler terms: mistakes don't make failures, mismanaging those mistakes can. The great performer and comedian Charlie Chaplin put it this way: "No matter how desperate the predicament is, I am always very much in earnest about clutching my cane, straightening my derby hat and fixing my tie, even though I have just landed on my head." No one likes making mistakes. And, once we discover the mistake we are usually overtaken with embarrassment. With embarrassment comes the natural human tendency to step into denial. Finally, when the inevitability of the mistake become undeniable, it is easy to slip into shame and despair. "How could I make such a mistake?" So, what's the process for avoiding the shame and despair?

Here's a story: "A biology professor took a small group of young biologists into the desert for intensive study; miles from civilization, the vehicle in which they were traveling broke down. The group set out on foot on an estimated three-day trek back to their campus. After two days of hard travel, they reached the summit of a huge sand dune. Thirsty and sun- burned, they looked around them. Far off to the right was what appeared to be a lake with small trees surrounding it. The students jumped and screamed for joy. But the teacher, who had often been in the area before, knew they were seeing a mirage. He presented the bad news to them, sharing the facts as best he could. But, insisting their eyes could not deceive them the students rebelled. Unable to convince them of their error, the professor permitted them to head off in the direc- tion of the alleged 'lake,' while he would take another course. He made them promise that after they discovered it was a mirage, they would sit down and wait for him to return with help. Three hours later the students arrived at a plush new desert resort that had four swimming pools and six restaurants. Two hours after that they set out in a Land Rover with rangers to search for their teacher. And he was never found." (Charles Sell, The House on the Rock)

When we make mistakes, especially critical ones that affect not only ourselves but the lives of others, it's critical to make the right decision at the right time. It's that first step that matters and on which all else depends. If we choose wrong we could end up getting lost taking the wrong path at the wrong time. If you have made a mistake like this in your life, be quick to admit it, repent of it and ask for prayer on your behalf. In so doing, a lesson will be the product of your error rather than a failure. Clutch that cane, fix that tie and straighten your hat. A lesson learned is right around the corner.

We pray. Heavenly Father, when we choose wrong and end up getting lost taking the wrong path at the wrong time, help us to find our way back to what You want us to do. Forgive us when we make mistakes in our life and help us to be quick to admit it, repent of it and ask in prayer for Your your forgiveness. We know that a lesson will be the product of our error rather than a failure when we repent. A lesson learned is always right around the corner when we abide in Your grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.