A Small Step?

by Tom Norvell
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Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6 TNIV).

Progress and positive change takes time. Maybe you've been there. Maybe you are there. You are convicted that a change needs to occur and you take the initial steps that produce a sense of exhilaration about what lies ahead, then progress slows. You begin to feel frustrated, you get impatient, and before long you begin to question the need for change.

When that happens here's a simple principle that might be helpful. Remember: A small step is still a step. Here's what I mean:

• You know you need to lose weight. Not notice that some of your clothes are a bit snug, but assume the clothes were left in the dryer too long. Then, you are looking through a box of old family photos and you ask, "Who is that?" Your wife says, "It's you." Then, to make matters worse your doctor gently reminds you, "You gotta lose some weight!" You agree and confidently say, "I'm going to do it!" You set your goal. You buy new exercise clothes and shoes. You pick a place and a time and start running. You run about half a block when you realize that you are out of breath and every muscle in your body hurts. You think you are going to die right there. You question your sanity. You want to quit. Please don't. Remember: a small step is still a step.
• You and your spouse are not getting along. In fact, you both admit that you cannot remember the last time you were happy. In the heat of an argument one of you uses the word divorce. It scares you both. You agree to see a counselor. You tell your story to the counselor and she lays out a plan to improve your relationship to save your marriage. You both agree and commit to do the hard work. The first week goes well, but about midway in the second week you have another argument. "We're right back where we started!" You both get so discouraged that you wonder if there is any hope. There is. Remember: a small step is still a step.

• You decide the best thing for your career is to go back to school and finish your education. You get the catalog. You apply. You are accepted. You buy your books. You begin going to class. Then, everything piles up on you. Going to school and holding down a full-time job is too much! You feel like you are getting behind and losing ground. In the middle of another late night of studies you say to yourself, "What in the world am I doing?" You doubt whether you'll ever finish. You think about dropping out. Please don't. Remember: a small step is still a step.
• Someone you love has passed away. The holidays are approaching. You are not sure what you are supposed to feel. You are not sure what you are supposed to do. All that you know is that there is an ache in your soul that will not go away. Nothing you do makes the pain any less. You pray for strength, you get out of bed and somehow you make it through the day. The next day you do it again. Remember: a small step is still a step.
• You decide to learn to play a musical instrument. You buy the instrument. You take a lesson or two. You set aside time for practice. You work hard for several weeks, but then you begin to feel like you are not making any progress, so you set it aside and try to forget about. Please don't quit. Remember: a small step is still a step.
• A group of spiritual searchers agree that something has to change. One more Sunday of the same old stuff is not acceptable. Dreams of what could be are shared. Plans are made. Decisions are made. Then, the opposition strikes. Criticism escalates. You wonder if this really is what the Lord wants. You entertain the thought of going back to the way it was. Please don't. Remember: a small step is still a step.

Everything we do begins with one small step. The idea. Sharing the dream. Walking around the block. A baby learns to walk by taking a small step. We learn to ride a bike with a small step. Businesses are built because someone took a small step. Ordinary athletes become great athletes by taking a small step. Addictions are conquered by one small step at a time. Churches develop great ministries by taking a small step. Couples celebrate anniversaries because they take small steps that turn into years. Remember: a small step is still a step.
When Jesus was beginning His ministry and preparing for the coming of the Kingdom, He selected a small group of men and challenged them to take one step: "Follow me." They did. The world was changed. Our faith walk begins with a step of faith: "I believe." We are not sure what all is involved or what it means, but we are willing to take the small step in faith. Without that small step, nothing changes.
Are you facing a crossroad in your life? Are you wondering if the dream you have is possible, if it is worth the effort, if you even want to continue the pursuit? Are you wanting to see change, but it's happening too slow? Remember: a small step is still a step.

Remember: a small step is still a step. Don't give up. Take the small step.

My day so far..

Dear Lord Jesus,

So far today Lord, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, “cursed,”
or lost my temper. I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish,
or overindulgent. I am really glad about these things.
But, in a few minutes Lord, I’m going to get out of bed, and from
then on I’m probably going to need a lot more help.
Thank you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Tired (Dear Lord)

Dear Lord I want to ask You a question ’bout my life…
The struggles and the trials and the pain and all the strife;
I just can’t see an end you know, heaven seems so far away;
Dear Lord would You hurry up and bring the judgment day?
All I want is to go home and see my Savior there;
I know it must seem selfish when lost souls are everywhere.
But Lord, You know I’m homesick and I’m tired and worn out;
This world of sin is so mixed up, Lord, what’s it all about?
Did You ever feel this way when You lived as a man?
Did You ever tell the Father You’d had all that You could stand?
Did You ever for a moment wish You weren’t so all alone?
Did You ever want to give it up and just go on back home?
I know You know just how I feel and to admit it is no sin;
So is the battle ever over and do Christians really win?
Is the master of deception ever really bound in hell?
The lies he’s told about me are too numerous to tell.
Will anyone ever like me or even think that I’m ok?
Enemies are everywhere there’s a new one every day.
How can I go on like this and hold my head up high?
Lord, You surely don’t expect me to go on and try.
Dear Jesus, did you ever find it difficult to pray?
Or did You ever scowl at the dawn of a new day?
Or did You resent the fact that you hung upon a tree,
And died the death of a criminal to save someone like me?
Dear Lord help me remember when things get really tough,
And all I think or pray about is that I’ve had enough;
Please remind me that You were shamed but didn’t hang Your head;
And please remind me that it was also for your enemies You bled.
Dear Jesus please remind me in Your gentle loving way
That you never once complained about the price You had to pay.
And please keep my heart in tune to all You want to do
In the lives of my enemies who need to know You too.

Melody Powell Rindfuss
Copyright@1995

Hobbies for Success

Do not try to reach the success if you want it, just do what do you like most and believe then success will come to you. It’s a word from David Frost. I’ve admired every rich man in my family, I always want to be like them. But, I choose the wrong path. I ended up by doing what they’ve done. I supposed to choose my own path, not just based on what another people’s path. It looks easier to walk on another people’s path but its not fun. You’ll get depressed, and then you will stuck in your works and become their slaves.

Why don’t do what you like most and keep training and exercising until you become an expert, you won’t get depressed because its your hobbies after all and you have additional surplus. You know how to do it better, do it your way because you have your own taste.

Why don’t you try to think about it in WisdomDojou ::
Do not try to reach the success if you want it, just do what do you like and believe most then success will come to you

When Does It Start?

Probably there is something that you want to do or working on? A passion to do something that you’ve dream about it. When does it start? Why not today? Today is the perfect time to start. Than all of the days in your entire life, there are no other times as perfect as today.

Do you want to start when your preparation has complete? Whoa.. You’ll never ever start (trust me). Fix it one by one along the road and what you’ve been dreaming will come true. A masterpiece doesn’t created in one shot.

Do something is very easy. Everything is in your reach, including today. So what are you waiting for?? The most important thing is start right know because, it belongs to you.

Why don’t you try to think about it in WisdomDojou ::
When does it start?

Can Still Smile

Have a bad day? This little article might help you out. I am in bad day too, do not ask about the problems just to compare your problems to mine and bragging about how difficult your problems are. People just love to doing that, they bragging about they problem. Stop that!!

Why don’t you smile and keep that stance for about 1 minute? And see your face in the mirror. You can see a friend smiling at you. If you can do that, then you know your problem not as big as it used to. Yell this out to your friend in the mirror who smiles to you : ‘Its not that bad, coz I can still can smile!!’

Why don’t you try to think about it in WisdomDojou::
Stop bragging about your problem, but brags about how you solve it

The Real Failure

I am an ordinary person. In fact, it’s lower than ordinary person. I have done a lot of mistakes, and failures are something that always in my days. The feeling when what I was doing are failures makes me depressed and frustrated. I even get scared to doing it again, and it makes the job never done.

There is a movie that I have watched. This movie told me that I have to keep trying even though I have failed once, twice or more. Because the real failure is when I stop trying. I found it right because sitting, crying and terrified just don’t solve the problem. When you start to give up, there will be nothing except an empty space in your life, not the red of failure or the green of success. Its better to keep trying according to me especially if you don’t have anything else to do or if the result is worthy.

Why don’t you try to think about it in WisdomDojou ::
The real failure is when you stop trying