we are not in control of our destiny

We believe that it is our striving and effort, our sweat and tears which determine our destiny. We equate that destiny with success.

But we are not in control of our destiny. We never have been.

The truth is that God determined our destiny before we drew a breath. Our striving and sweat and tears are a response to His gift of life. Our efforts are merely a part of God's plan for us. God determines the results. It is His plan after all.

Our contribution, and the only measure of success, is our response to God. The paradox-mystery of life is that our results are insignificant. God knows and is responsible for the results. His results are the only results of significance. And His results often look incredibly different than those we would expect, choose or work for.

We can either live in fear that we are not going to be successful, or we can be courageous in our response to God's gift of life...

Give, Love, Sacrifice, Persist, Resist, Rejoice, Forgive, Survive, Hope, Try, Fail, Fall, Get up, Try again, Believe and Have Faith.