Turning Failure into Success

In many regards I’m sure that there are quite a number of people that will look back on 2020 and see that all of their hopes, dreams, ambitions and plans have been dashed due to the Covid-19 pandemic that continues to create havoc for many people and countries around the world.

With that may come a sense of loss, regret and anxiety for all the things that might have been. And as we approach 2021 there may even be a sense of fear and apprehension of what the New Year will hold as we continue to deal with the ongoing effects of a virus that a little over a year ago we knew nothing about.

While the chips are down for some, there are also those that are turning failure into success, getting creative and finding ways to keep calm and carry on regardless of what they face.

For Annette & I this year we have seen and experienced a fair few challenges along the way and yet again we find ourselves being characterised as failures for the second year in a row – ‘foster failures!’

After accepting a call to foster an adorable little kitten about a week or so prior to Christmas we sent him back to the SPCA to get his latest dose of medications and the snip only to pick him up the very next day.

For “those who have not heard the expression before, foster failing sounds terrible. How could someone who has opened their home to a homeless pet be a failure?

But any foster who has ended up adopting a pet that was intended to stay for a short period of time, will quickly tell you they failed.” Richmond Animal League.

For this adorable little fella that we called Blue due to the colour of his eyes when we first got him, (or maybe it was just the reflection of the Christmas tree decorations) being a foster failure is a huge success as he is returning home to a family that he’s not only become familiar with, but a place where he is also accepted and loved for who he is.

According to Ephesians 1:5 God has adopted us as His children; “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (New Living Translation)

What a joy and a blessing it brings to each and every one of us to know that we are loved by a God that wants to adopt us warts and all as His child. A God who wants to turn our failures into success.

Regardless what the coming year brings let’s embrace it and trust that God has everything in control.

As Jeremiah 29:11 espouses; ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope — never forget that!“‘ (The Voice)

So as we look forward to 2021 let’s hand over all of our hopes, dreams, ambitions and plans to Jesus. Allowing Him to redirect our thoughts and time to accomplishing what it is that He would have us do. Not only in our lives, but also in our churches, so that we can bring others into a loving relationship with a Father that longs to adopt even more children. 

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Health Update #4

As I shared last month, this year has certainly been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Annette & I due to my autoimmune disease diagnosis (Scleroderma & Raynaud’s) approximately two years ago, and the subsequent tests, medications and treatments to date.

On top of the Scleroderma and Raynaud’s I have also got some permanent lung damage. This is something that the specialists are wanting to ensure doesn’t get any worse by giving me a dose of Cyclophosphamide (Chemo) once every four weeks over a period of 6 months. This’ll also help with controlling the Scleroderma to some degree 🙂

At this stage I am still tapering off of the steroids that I am on, although at a much slower rate than was initially planned as I had some complications just prior to my last appointment at the Medical Day Stay at Hutt Hospital. The respiratory specialist doesn’t want me on them long term however as they can have significant side effects.

All in all I think I am coming right, and thankfully I haven’t had any adverse reactions to the medications to date. Although I will never be 100%, as the lung damage will limit some of my physical abilities.

Every now and again I have days when I feel as if I’ve been hit by a bus and can’t even make it out of bed.

The frustrating part of this is that there appears to be no sight nor reason why or when this happens. Sometimes I can be beavering away doing nothing of significance and still feel as if all I can muster is a trip to the loo and back to bed.

While other times I can be just as busy as the next person and the next day I’m ready to take on the world all over again. Or there will be days when I know that I’ve crammed way to much into the day and it’ll take at last a couple of days to get over it.

For years we’ve been told to “find balance in life“, I feel a Tui Ad coming on 🙂

Now, if you’re from New Zealand and of a certain age you’ll probably understand that aside, but I digress.

“Balance in Life” you know get things in order and you’ll be right – I think the reality is anything but and it would appear that some of the life coaches and wellness specialists are finally realizing that life is more about rhythms, stages or seasons.

Victor Hugo writer of the 1862 book Les Misérables which has been turned into a musical and numerous films once said; “To put everything in balance is good, to put everything in harmony is better.“

There are of course certain things where we can create a balance, but so many other things we just have to deal with the best we can. We have to experience the ups and downs of life so that we can be of benefit to others that are going through similar struggles and or challenges in life so that we can help them on life’s journey.

We have to learn to be content as the Apostle Paul teaches in Philippians 4:11-13 and we need to live harmonious lives – We were created by a loving Triune God “three harmonious characteristics of God living in One” who longs for us to live harmonious lives; firsty with Him and secondly with others.

This is at the heart of the Great Commandment; “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (New International Version)

Am I content that I have this disease? On the one hand absolutely not! I’d be lying if I said otherwise, maybe that’s why it is called a dis-ease. Is my life in balance? How can it be when I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

However, on the other hand if I can use this experience for His glory and show others that you can remain relatively happy in the face of whatever we have to deal with and look on the bright side of life; living for the most part harmoniously with God and others, knowing that ultimately God is in control and that is all that matters – All we have to worry about is facing the various rhythms, stages and seasons with our faith in tact, relying on a God that has never let us down.

2020 may have been a roller coaster for many and I’m sure that 2021 will have its ups and downs – But we will get through this for God is on our side

You can read previous health updates by clicking on the relevant link; Health Update, Health Update #2, Health Update #3

To find out more about Scleroderma & Raynaud’s check out this page as it has a number of links to groups and organisations that are raising awareness of this rare disease.

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Church Online: 6pm (NZ Time) – Sunday 27 December

Today at 6pm (NZ Time) we are hosting ‘Church Online’ as a facebook live video event via our Wellington City Corps and Wellington Citadel Band pages. (Link below also).

This week we are using some of the musical offerings that have been used previously throughout our Church Online Services; Looking back on a year that has had its ups and downs as we have grappled with lockdowns, various alert levels and numerous other challenges along the way.

Throughout it all we here in New Zealand have bandied together and through God’s grace are blessed to be able to do what so many other countries are unable to do. Something that we should not take lightly and something that we should be extremely grateful to God for.

The musical offerings feature both the Wellington Citadel Band and the Wellington City Worship Team. We pray that you will be blessed as we continue to minister in these unprecedented days; not only for our local community who are unable to join us in person, but also to enable others around the world that are currently unable to worship in their own local faith communities.

May God bless you each as you head into the coming week 🙂

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Church Online: 6pm (NZ Time) – Sunday 20 December

Today at 6pm (NZ Time) we are hosting ‘Church Online’ as a facebook live video event via our Wellington City Corps and Wellington Citadel Band pages. (Link below also).

This week we are presenting “Christmas Sing-a-long with the Sallies” which was held last Sunday.

This was a community focussed event which was held in our auditorium and was well attended by young and old alike. It featured both the Wellington Citadel Band and the Wellington City Worship Team, along with our Just Brass programme.

We pray that you will be blessed as we continue to minister in these unprecedented days; not only for our local community who are unable to join us in person, but also to enable others around the world that are currently unable to worship in their own local faith communities.

May God bless you each as you head into the coming week 🙂

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The Latest Covid-19 Social Impact Dashboard Report

The latest Covid-19 Social Impact Dashboard & Report for 2020 was released at the end of November on the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga & Samoa Territory’s webpage, which you can check out here or by clicking on image.

Links to the previous reports that have been prepared by the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit (SPPU) are also available on the page, so that you can get an idea of how things are continuing to impact people within New Zealand.

The proverbial dust has settled from the lockdowns that brought our country to a standstill and the General Election has been finalised. As such the new Government is moving ahead with their policy agenda. In this context, The Salvation Army propose some specific policy ideas and positions to contribute to the public discourse. And invite all and any government ministers and MPs to engage in real dialogue with The Salvation Army, especially as we serve in our communities and work towards our mission of caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society by God’s power.

If you live in the Inner City of Wellington and are in need of assistance please do not hesitate to give us a call at the office (04) 801 9278, or visit the Corps @ 92 Vivian Street during office hours, or email wellingtoncity.corps@salvationarmy.org.nz

If you want to know more about what we do at The Salvation Army Wellington City, what we are about, and how you can partner with us:

Check out our facebook page.

The Salvation Army continues to be on the front line of helping those less fortunate than ourselves so if you are able – Please click the link below to donate online.

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The Christmas edition of the War Cry is now available…

The Christmas edition of the War Cry is now available from your local Corps, or you can download / view a copy online here.

This online service is made available by the team at Issue.com and you can view or download a copy right to your computer.

Why not help get the word out there by sharing this post via facebook, or forward the links on to others 🙂

As always there are an array of different articles and features within the War Cry which will inspire people of all ages and stages in life

You can also view / download previous publications here.

 

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