#2choices Have Consequences: Try Harder Series

#2 CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES

TRY HARDER, TRY AGAIN

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.

Kyfingers@aol.com

Part #2 of 3 The Choice? I QUIT! Consequences.

TEXT:

Deut.30:19... I call on heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that you and your children may live.

Joshua 24:15 ... CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE?

Today, I ponder CONSEQUENCES OF QUITTING?

Galatians 6:9, warns: AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, if we faint not.

2 Timothy 2:3: ENDURE HARDNESS AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS!

#2The choice... I QUIT!

We are pondering, quitting.

I wish I were smart enough to understand: WHY PEOPLE QUIT?

I am not.

I will start with the sound premise, THAT QUITTING NEVER MAKES BETTER PEOPLE, BETTER FAMILIES, NOR BETTER CHURCHES.

It is always too soon to quit!

I will also work from the conclusion, that quitting is contagious and easier to do, than to find a solution.

Practice makes perfect, the more you quit, the easier to continue quitting.

Quitting can become habitual and an accepted way of life.

One reason many quit, is there is a constant search for OZ, that great place beyond the rainbow --- UTOPIA.

If I could just be over there, I would be happy?

If I just had that, I would be fulfilled?

We long for a place of ideal perfection, and we can’t realize, OZ IS IMAGINARY.

If you found Utopia and moved there, it would not be Utopia any more?

We long to be free!

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the salaries are beyond dream?

We long to be free from obligations, where choices have no consequences? That place does not exist.

Where there are people, we must learn to persist!

How do you finish this line... When the going gets tough, ... ???

If you say when the going gets tough, the tough gets going, you haven’t been to church in a long time.

I know people --- when the going gets tough, they QUIT, resign, give up. Could resigning be an act of acknowledging defeat?

Answer me!

May I warn you, quitting is a demonic game?

I was told that 50% of all pastors, that started in the ministry in their 20’s, would leave the ministry by the age of 50.

70% of male school teachers will leave teaching.

In a 5 year period, if 50% of the congregation still worships together you are breaking the national norm.

Churches have trouble keeping leaders in office.

Why? We have lost the shame of quitting!

We have many fancy names for quitting, BURN OUT, tired, exhausted, misunderstood, apathy, stress, frustration, weariness, under paid, under appreciated, human.

Do you want to quit? Why?

Galatians 6:9, warns: AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, if we faint not.

Fainting means, I QUIT!

I ask you in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ, Don’t quit.

Don’t forget heaven!

Don’t look back!

Dream again! Press on! Don’t resign!

2 Timothy 2:3: ENDURE HARDNESS AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS!

One day the old preacher took his pen in his frail hand and penned this words ...

"I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.

O, God, may these words be penned on my tombstone, or at least, in the memory of those that love me.

We must run, flee at all cost, the giant of the QUITTING SPIRIT!

Kill that giant, cut off his head!

Matthew records some last day events, one alarms this old man.

Matthew 24:10 --- many shall be offended, they shall betray one another, --- hate one another.

My heart knows, this is a warning to church people, don’t fall into the game of bitterness, hurt, and disappointments ruling your spirit.

The demonic intention is to get you to quit!

Watch other people?

Throw up your hands and say, what is the use?

Stand up and refuse to quit!

Don’t doubt in darkness what God says in the light.

Don’t forget the benefits, Psa. 68:19.

Don’t forget heaven!

Of course people will be self-centered and unreasonable, forgive them anyway!

Of course your years of building efforts can be demolished in a few minutes, but you have to build anyway!

For whom are you working? Why are you working?

Who is your KEEPER?

I love this illustration, how I long for readers, to ponder these thoughts and that will share and teach others? I have so few? But that is not my job, my call is to speak and write, then trust the seed find rich soil.

Pretend with me...

Two frogs are playing leap frog, there is a five gallon milk can before them.