She was a weak woman. She had been battling with sickness for more years than she wanted to count. She had been to physician after physician, tried remedy after remedy, with no success. Her money was gone, but her sickness was not. Everyone had failed her. I'm sure she was ready to give up. But in one last attempt to find help, she mustered all her remaining strength and went to find her last Hope for health. But even in this her efforts seemed but futile. There were so many people crowding the street that it was just about impossible for her to make her way in the right direction. Then it happened, her moment of opportunity, and with all the determination left in her body she reached forward and grasped but the hem of Jesus' garments, but in that moment she was made whole. He just wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short. It's almost laughable, such a small issue, but in that moment it was one of his biggest challenges. People crowding the streets making it impossible for him to see anything. I'm sure he wanted to give up. What's the use. It's not like he could make himself grow! But determination seized the opportunity and made circumstances his helpers. He climbed a tree and not only caught a glimpse of Jesus but received Him as a guest into his home. What will determination get you? “Johnny Fulton was run over by a car at the age of three. He suffered crushed hips, broken ribs, a fractured skull, and compound fractures in his legs. It did not look as if he would live. But he would not give up. In fact, he later ran the half- mile in less than two minutes. “Walt Davis was totally paralyzed by polio when he was nine years old, but he did not give up. He became the Olympic high jump champion in 1952. “Shelly Mann was paralyzed by polio when she was five years old, but she would not give up. She eventually claimed eight different swimming records for the U.S. and won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. “Lou Gehrig was such a clumsy ball player that the boys in his neighborhood would not let him play on their team. But he was committed. He did not give up. Eventually, his name was entered into baseball's Hall of Fame. “Woodrow Wilson could not read until he was ten years old. But he was a committed person. He became the twenty-eighth President of the United States. “At the age of seven, he had to go to work to help support his family. At nine, his mother died. At twenty-two, he lost his job as a store clerk. At twenty-three, he went into debt and became a partner in a small store. At twenty-six, his partner died leaving him a huge debt. By the age of thirty-five, he had been defeated twice when running for a seat in Congress. At the age of thirty-seven, he won the election. At thirty-nine, he lost his reelection bid. At forty- one, his four-year-old son died. At forty-two, he was rejected for a land officer role. At forty-five, he ran for the Senate and lost. At forty-seven, he was defeated for the nomination for Vice President. At forty-nine, he ran for Senate again and lost again. At the age of fifty-one, he was elected President of the United States. During his second term of office, he was assassinated. But his name lives on among the greats in U.S. history--Abraham Lincoln.” (Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 43-44) “In 1962, Victor and Mildred Goertzel published a revealing study of 413 "famous and exceptionally gifted people" called Cradles of Eminence. They spent years attempting to understand what produced such greatness, what common thread might run through all of these outstanding people's lives. “Surprisingly, the most outstanding fact was that virtually all of them, 392, had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become who they were.” (Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 134) Determination. How much do you have? When faced with challenges, obstacles, limitations, hindrances, what do you do? "Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances." (COL 331.4) What kind of determination do you have? Think of the biggest physical challenges you face. Are you determined to press on despite them? To Succeed anyway? Or do you just want to give up? What’s the point? It’s hard. Does a “I can’t” mentality plague you? “Imagine getting through your busy day without hands or legs. Picture your life without the ability to walk, care for your basic needs, or even embrace those you love.” (lifewithoutlimbs.org) What would you do? How would you cope with life? {SEE VIDEO BELOW} "Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances." (E. G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 331) “…the Christian, as he nears the goal, will press onward with even more zeal and determination than at the first of his course.” (E. G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 311) “True Christian character should be marked by firmness of purpose, an indomitable determination, which cannot be molded or subdued by earth or hell.” (E. G. White, 4 Testimonies, p. 543-544) How determined are you?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
SolominaEverything in life has meaning. There's a lesson in every object, every situation, every process. I want to go deeper, in a higher way. I want to listen, to understand, to know. Archives
June 2023
Categories
All
|