“You’ll never get that kite to fly….you know why?  Because you’re Charlie Brown!” stated Lucy with a smirk on her face.  Our latest family movie night choice was, you guessed it, the round-headed kid with one curly strand of hair and that unmistakable yellow shirt.  In my years of reading the Sunday comic strips Charlie Brown has always suffered from, as he put it, “…a serious case of inadequacy.”  He never felt good enough.  Whether attempting to fly a kite, kick that football, talk to the new girl, learn to dance…….every action ended in an accident or mishap.  BUT–regardless what others said or what he believed, Charlie Brown never gave up.  When he didn’t succeed he just tried again.  Have you ever felt that way?  Too fat, too skinny, too tall, not tall enough, not enough money, not smart enough, not beautiful/handsome enough, you don’t have the right job, you’re always making the same mistakes…..the list goes on and on.  Seems like you’re the President of your own fraternity/sorority aptly named Phi Theta Failure.  There comes a time in all of our lives that we have to decide whether to ignore the hype— whether positive or negative — or entertain it.  If we buy into the ‘stuff’ other people (or ourselves) are spewing–again, whether positive or negative– we may just be setting ourselves up for failure.

Take Peter, for instance.  He is one of the Bible’s biggest failures and successes all balled into one.  He was brave enough to ask Jesus to allow him to walk on water.  Once he gets within arm’s length he loses his confidence and begins concentrating on the environment rather than the fact he walked on water.  Then, when Jesus is being crucified he denies even knowing Him—not once, or even twice, but THREE TIMES.  Once he realizes his mistake it’s too late.  Then there’s Judas.  Yeah-the guy who sold out Jesus for roughly $300-$600 US dollars (values vary according to who you ask but the range is between those two amounts).  The guilt from the mistake Judas makes leads him to take his life.  Rather than wallowing in his own self-pity, Peter becomes one of the most influential apostles ever known.  He used his mistakes as fuel to do better….to be better—not for personal recognition but for kingdom purposes.  Two different men.  Two different situations.  One uses his mistakes to his advantage.  One allows his mistakes to consume him.  In his own words Peter states, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” [1 Peter 1:7]  This coming from someone who had experienced it for himself.  Our struggles are perfecting our faith in our Savior.  Of these two men-whose example will you follow?

Closing remarks and encouragement:  Our successes or failures don’t define us.  Our identity in our Savior does.  Choosing to ignore the Lucy’s in our life will be the best decision we will ever make.  There’s only One whose opinions we need to worry about. I think we all know who He is.

Have a blessed week, my friends!!!