LAY THE SHOVEL DOWN…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Several part lesson)
1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
We can see the Bible never tried to hide the failures and sins of the people that God used. God chose to use less than perfect people. God handpicked people that told lies, struggled with sin, faced obstacles and hardships and were less than perfect to accomplish HIS PERFECT PLAN. GOD USES FAILURES.
LET US CONSIDER THE METAPHOR: LAY THE SHOVEL DOWN… LAY DOWN THE SHOVEL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!
THE SHOVEL SPEAKS OF OUR WORDS, ACTIONS, ATTITUDES, NEGATIVITY AND OUR MENIAL DAILY CHOICES…
2 Chronicles 15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
Are you still moving? Are you still breathing? There is still HOPE! Why are you digging your grave so deep? This obstacle, this trial, this problem does not have to destroy you… LAY YOUR SHOVEL DOWN… QUIT DIGGING…
Come with me and let us consider a person is digging a deep and wide grave. They have the shovel and keep digging. The grave gets deeper and wider. There is no way out of this pit. A person come along sides of the deep pit and places a 12 feet long ladder down in the grave. The person just keeps digging deeper and deeper. They rest a while and see the strong ladder reaching out of the pit. They return and grab the shovel and keeps digging. The digger gets very tired but they are angry, bitter and stubborn pondering HOW DID I GET IN THIS HOLE? WILL I DIE HERE? WE FEEL SO COMFORTABLE IN THE HOLE, SO WE KEEP SHOVELING…
ARE WE ALL TALK? THIS IS A STORY OF YOUR HABITS AND ATTITUDES! YOU ARE VERY DISILLUSIONED YOU THINK YOU CAN KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME OLD WAY AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT OUTCOME? GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET OUR ATTENTION BY OBSTACLES AND ADVERSITY.
I WILL KEEP THE FORK SHOVELING FOOD IN MY MOUTH… My anger and big mouth gets me in trouble? Nothing taste right without salt? High blood pressure? Crash diets? I know I should not eat this candy bar, but no one will ever know… I know someone lost their toes, half foot, leg? I will refuse to forgive and I am looking for bitter revenge.
Your family is DYSFUNCTIONAL so you stay on the computer and cell phone for someone you will never meet? The same idea… I will sit on the couch and watch TV, I know I should exercise? WE TEND TO NEVER EVALUATE HOW WE GOT HERE? THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY…
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
NEVER FEAR THE WINDS OF ADVERSITY… ADVERSITY IS PART OF LIFE… I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE ADVERSITY HURTS AND IT IS VERY PAINFUL UNTIL YOU SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE OF LIFE. HOW WILL I DEAL WITH CRITICISM FROM OTHERS AND SELF-CRITICISMS? WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S WORD…
REJECTION MAY BE THE THORN THAT GOD MANEUVERS US TO WHERE HE WANTS US… LIFE IS ABOUT CHOICES. WE WILL APPROACH THIS TROUBLE AS A STUMBLING BLOCK OR AS A STEPPING STONE… THIS IS A DAILY BATTLE WE MUST OVERCOME. The suffering today must not define my total being. I will become a SUM TOTAL OF MY MENIAL DAILY CHOICES. DAVID WOULD HAVE STAYED A SHEPHERD BOY HAD HE NOT FACED GOLIATH.
If we have the wrong attitude we see adversity and rejection in a bad light. REJECTION and ADVERSITY can bring disappointments and shortcomings as mean and cruel. Beware DESTRUCTION FOLLOWS THE TRAIL OF BITTERNESS, HATE, CRUSHING AND CRUEL STRESS. THERE IS A REAL LESSON HERE!
THE SHOVEL WILL FOCUS ON PAIN, FAILURE AND HURT… YOU MUST LAY THE SHOVEL DOWN… COME LET US DEVELOP A CLEAR VISION TO FOCUS BEYOND THE OBSTACLES AND SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND IMPROVE… IF I FALL, GOD HELP ME FALL FORWARD…
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
GREAT PEOPLE FACE ADVERSITY AS AN OPPORTUNITY. THIS PROBLEM CAN OPEN DOORS… CAN I BE HEALED IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY? HOW DO I COPE WITH FAILURE AND DEFEAT? FAILURE MUST NEVER HINDER US.
GREAT PEOPLE OVERCOME GREAT OBSTACLES AS OPPORTUNITIES.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
WALT DISNEY was terminated from his job for the KANSAS CITY STAR as a cartoonist. HE WAS TOLD THAT HE LACKED IMAGINATION AND HE HAD NO GOOD IDEAS. Walt created Mickey Mouse, Disney World and changed history, all because he was rejected.
GREAT LEADERS REALIZE TRIALS AND TROUBLES WILL EITHER MAKE ME OR BREAK ME.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
LEE IACOCCA made great advances in the FORD MOTOR COMPANY. There were several clashes with HENRY FORD JUNIOR. When it all came to a head IACOCCA lost his high paying job. Another opportunity occurred. CHRYSLER /PLYMOUTH/DODGE was in a crisis. IT IS SAID: IACOCCA WAS FIRED TO GET FIRED UP.
OPRAH WINFREY WAS CRUSHED BY CRITICISM… SHE WAS FIRED AND DOORS WERE OPENED.
Oprah Winfrey worked at a TV station in Baltimore, Maryland. Her producer thought she was not that good and had a bad personality for television. Oprah was so sad and disappointed. Today Oprah is known all over the world as the greatest TV Talk show hostess. She is listed as a billionaire.
SPORTS HAS MANY FAILURE-SUCCESS STORIES.
BILL BELICHICK coached the New York Jets, and Cleveland Browns and he was disgraced when he was fired by the Baltimore Ravens. He failed. He went to the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AND WON SIX SUPER BOWLS. Bill is considered the most successful NFL coach in history. He never quit! He was hurt but he continued forward.
YOU CAN OVERCOME IF YOU REFUSE TO QUIT AND LAY DOWN THE SHOVEL.
STEVE JOBS learned conflict hurts. He was fired from his own company. His job at APPLE. Jobs founded the APPLE COMPANY. Steve refused to allow this ugly mess to hinder him. He made a famous comeback and became one of the richest men in the world.
MADONNA got a job at DUN KIN DONUTS. On her first day she accidentally squirted donut jelly all over one of her first customers. She failed in the fast food joint. MADONNA thought she was a failure. This event launched her into the music industry. She would have never known fame if she was still working in a donut factory. Today Madonna is wealthy and famous.
MARK CUBAN worked at a computer sales outlet. He was late for work and he was terminated. Today Mark is worth $3 billion dollars.
LADY GAGA was signed by a major record company just to be dropped. She kept on singing and she has had many hits and is often at the top of the Billboard awards.
J.K. ROWLING got fired from AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL because she day-dreamed too much. J.K. was crushed and heart broken. She started writing. Today we know her as the world famous writer of HARRY POTTER. Her crushing caused her to refocus. I understand she is richer than the QUEEN OF ENGLAND. Her crushing was the turning point that drove her to writing.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF ALL THESE PEOPLE HAD NOT FAILED AND WAS DRIVEN TO NEW AREAS OF LIVING?
WINNIE THE POOH IS SPEAKING TO PIGLET AND SAYS:
* IF THERE IS A TOMORROW WHEN WE ARE NOT TOGETHER, THERE IS SOMETHING YOU MUST REMEMBER.
YOU ARE BRAVER THAN YOU BELIEVE, YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU SEEM. YOU ARE SMARTER THAN YOU THINK.
BUT THE IMPORTANT LESSON IS EVEN WHEN WE’RE APART, GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU!
I HAVE A PERSONAL GOAL: IT IS MY DESIRE TO TOUCH THE UNTOUCHABLE! I MUST SOMEHOW TEACH THE UNTEACHABLE. GOD HELP ME REACH THE UNREACHABLE. GOD CAUSE ME TO LOVE THE UNLOVABLE. Every person you meet is in some kind of a battle.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
LET US BE HONEST: COURAGE MAY NOT ALWAYS LOUDLY ROAR. SOMETIMES COURAGE WHISPERS THE DAY MAY BE OVER, BUT I WILL REST AND I WILL TRY AGAIN… AND AGAIN.
* ERWIN LUTZER OF MOODY BIBLE SCHOOL WROTE IN A BOOK: FAILURE IS GOD’S BACK DOOR TO SUCCESS. KNOW WHEN YOU FAIL IT IS POSSIBLE TO BOUNCE BACK.
FEAR OF FAILURE IS THE WAY THE ENEMY CONTROLS YOU!
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
There was this beautiful young lady that watched the terrible national news. Fear grew deep in her heart. She would then read the newspaper and watch the local news. She watched the local news and heard of the sexual crimes and drug abuse was raging. There was shooting in schools. Several banks failed. Washington D.C. was shutting down. There were threats of gangs. Illegal aliens were taking over the neighborhoods. She hired a construction firm to place heavy bars every 6 inches over the windows. Her fear was so great she had the windows nailed shut. She had all the doors welded shut but one. She had sat in a dark room watching the news channels with horrible news. She started watching all the YouTube videos of preachers speaking of the doom and gloom of the collapse of everything known to man. She was so afraid of c
ccovid and diseases. She studied the computer of the dangers of the injections. She ordered all her groceries to be delivered to her garage. She cried all day and all night. Her fear was her phone was bugged by the government. She talked to no one. Her fears enlarged more and more. She started taking more and more pills. She heard voices and began hallucinating. She locked herself in an inner room in great fear. One night in the darkness she smelled smoke. She could not see how to escape. Everything was locked up so tight. The neighbor called the fire department. The fire fighters tried to save her. The house was so secured they could not save her. Her fear became a reality. The smoke and the fire ended her fear.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
CONCLUSION: THE VALLEY LOOKS SO DIFFERENT FROM THE VIEW ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP. QUIT TRYING TO CHANGE EVERYBODY YOU KNOW --- QUIT DEBATING AND ARGUING… LAY THE SHOVEL DOWN AND BE KIND AND LOVE --- THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD. Resolve to never GIVE UP. NEVER QUIT NO MATTER WHAT LIFE THROWS AT YOU. These circumstances don’t have to define you.
Jeremiah 31:16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
SURE DAVID HAD A VICTORY WITH GOLIATH. DAVID HAD A DEFEAT WITH BATHSHEBA… COME LET US CELEBRATE.
Nehemiah 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
SO YOU MADE A BIG MESS? GET UP! THIS FAILURE COULD PROPEL YOU TO GET VICTORY. LAY THE SHOVEL DOWN AND QUIT DIGGING. MAYBE JUST THROW THE SHOVEL DOWN.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Several part lesson.
