Page 26 - Have Faith

Day 29 & 30 Press on towards the goal to win the prize...

The Goal... Proverbs 3: 5-6
How easy is it to score a goal on a football got frustrated, angry, felt like giving up so
pitch? When you have nothing in front of many times but something just kept pushing
you, it is easy. Dribble the ball straight down me forward. I made a lot of mistakes along
the pitch and then tap it in. You don’t even the way, some worse than others but every
need to get out of breath. The thing is, once mistake taught me a valuable lesson that
you’ve scored, there is no real feeling of gave me the tools to succeed. I failed many
achievement. It is empty, almost false as if times. Each failure made me try a little
you’ve cheated. But put a team in front of harder and made me more determined.
you and it suddenly turns in to a real struggle. When I finally made it happen and I achieved
Players trying to tackle you, the slow, drib- my aim. The feeling was incredible. This is
bling straight line to goal turns in to a zig zag definitely the road God had put me on. He
of sprints and huge effort just to get to the needed me to fail, he needed me to make
goal. When you get there, there is a keeper mistakes, he needed me to suffer in the way
in the way who is hell bent on stopping you I have done so this final goal, which will help
from scoring. But when you finally hit the so many, could be achieved properly. When
back of the net, you’ve done it!! You’ve strug- I look at how St Paul viciously persecuted
gled through, didn’t give up and scored. Christians, had innocent people stoned and
Every week, we see this happen. 90 minutes imprisoned just for being Christian, I see the
of hard work with maybe one or two goals to road that God had put him on. If he hadn’t
show for it. It’s funny, I don’t even like foot- done these things, he could not have been
ball. In our lives, we find the same struggles. chosen to become the apostle that he turned
Our personal goals are seldom easy to into. He understood more than most be-
achieve, when they are easy, they rarely cause he had seen both sides of the fence
leave us with a sense of achievement. Over and fought to turn his life from bad to good.
the last few years, I have been determined to We read St Paul’s letters throughout the new
get realistic help for other veterans in my testament and we believe what he has to say.
area. Every direction I turned lead to a dead Just a though springs to mind, would you
end or another barrier I had to climb over. I have believed him 2000 years ago?

Elephant Sandwiches... Proverbs 3: 5-6
One of the best army officers I ever knew would still like to remind you of them. The
used to say to me ‘Paul, take small bites out first is ‘Your future is built on the strength you
of elephant sandwiches.’ I used to laugh to have gained in the past’. This is all about
myself and consider calling the men in white having faith in yourself, trust in your abilities.
coats but what I didn’t realise is that he would You have been given them for a reason. The
always see when I was getting a little second is from the Bible. ‘Those who trust in
stressed and flustered. He would say this to the Lord will find new strength’. This is from
me to get me to take small bites out of a huge Isaiah 40: 31. A very basic and short piece
task. That way I would always finish the task. of advice but so true. Just trust in him, he will
These days, I have taken on this saying and guide you, strengthen you and help you to
call on it every time the task ahead seems the end of your journey. Worth remembering
daunting. There have been similar sayings that one. Finally, I have to say that I will
such as ‘One day at a time...’ or ‘Never bite never forget that old crazy saying from my
off more than you can chew...’ They all mean army boss. He taught me how to finish tasks
the same thing but at the end of the day, I in a very realistic and eccentric way but it
suppose it’s what helps you through. How- works. But most of all trust in yourself and
ever there are two phrases I have come your own abilities but most importantly trust
across which I’m sure you all know but I in God in everything you do.

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