No Fear of Failure

by Charles R. Swindoll

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
---Proverbs 28:1

When will we ever learn that there are no hopeless situations, only
people who have grown hopeless about them?

What appears as an unsolvable problem to us is actually a rather
exhilarating challenge. People who inspire others are those who see
invisible bridges at the end of dead-end streets.

There was a Cabinet meeting in London during the darkest days of the
Second World War. France had just capitulated. Prime Minister
Churchill
outlined the situation in its starkest colors. Quite literally, the
tiny British Isles stood alone.

Grim faces stared back at him in stoic silence. Despair and thoughts
of
surrender were written in their looks. The visionary statesman
momentarily remained silent, lit a cigar, showed a hint of a smile,
and
with a twinkle in his eye, responded to that dispirited company of
officials, "Gentlemen, I find it rather inspiring." . . .

What a great line! No wonder people followed the man. Fear of failure
never entered his mind!

Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Wisdom for the Way (Nashville: J.
Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001). Copyright ©
2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by
permission.

Real Riches

by Charles R. Swindoll

In [Christ] are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
---Colossians 2:3

From the looks of things, you're pretty impressive. You've got a nice
place. And I suppose your neighbors would agree that you're a hard
worker . . . climbing right on up that ladder toward success, right? .
. .

Your salary is good and your material possessions are growing in
number, but . . . the truth is you are empty on the inside and you're
faking it on the outside. Not one thing you own in your "kingdom" has
brought you the happiness you long for.

So you're thinking, "Maybe if I could land that better job," or "get
into that bigger house," or . . .  or . . . .

But don't allow the smoke screen of more money to blind your eyes to
the truth. There's a lot more to being rich than making more money.
Seneca, the Roman, was right: "Money has never yet made anyone rich."

Do you want riches? Then listen to Jesus: But seek first His kingdom
and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you
(Matthew 6:33).

For the real riches, try switching kingdoms.

Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Wisdom for the Way (Nashville: J.
Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001). Copyright ©
2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by
permission.