A Lost Dream

     I was watching a cooking show called, "Chopped" last night. The basis of the show was that four chefs were completing for a position to compete for $50,000.00 in the final round. One small, feisty female chef was focused and seemed driven to win, yet when asked what she would do with the money, she said, "I don't know I haven't thought about it yet. A win is momentary, learning is for a lifetime." She used her previous $10,000.00 winnings to travel and learn more about food in other cultures. When she didn't make it to the final round and was cut from the competition she said, "This day didn't make me and it won't break me. I'll go on to learn more."
     This little woman was an inspiration to me! Sometimes in my life when I haven't done well and felt like a failure, I've beaten myself up and thought, "How can I go on from here?" I watched a show about the lead actress, Rachel Ward, on the television miniseries called, The Thorn Birds. This series aired in 1983 and according to Ward, she received some awful reviews. The Thorn Birds was 30 years ago, but when I listened to her speak, she teared up and was bitter about it even today. She quit acting after the miniseries due to the embarrassment and hurt from the words of her critics. A lost dream.
     I wonder how many people have given up on God-given dreams, due the ugly comments of people speaking the words of the devil: "Who do you think you are to dream this dream?"or "What makes you think you can do this, look where you grew up?" The Bible tells us to "stand firm" against the wiles of the devil. We aren't to try to take him on or even give his comments time in our minds (like the critics in Rachel Ward's life). We are to claim the day in the Name of the Lord, the Holy God Almighty, and He will avenge us according to His goodness, power, and might. Amen!

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.