DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS

The pruning process of setbacks is a healthy process of sustainable growth, development and achievement.  You prune back plants, shrubs, trees, etc. so the nutrients that are going into the sprouting branches of growth is redirected into filling out the plants with leaves and fruit otherwise the branches are barren and the plant eventually dies.  A setback is the opportunity for redirected growth and development.  Setbacks are still part of the sustainable success process.  The key is how you perceive the setback and what you do with it.  In developing a building the structure will be seen to come up very quickly and then look like the building process has stopped.  But once the structure is in place the necessary development of the components that will be added to the structure to make it a viable and useful building must be put into place.  

STAYING IN CONTROL

Your definition of "being in control of your life" needs to be correct. People normally think of being in control as a direct sustainable response to an event that will contain and direct that event in a specific direction. This definition will take away your motivation when adversities strike. But when you have a correct definition of "control" you will always be motivated to move towards your dreams. Let me give you this example that is easy to see what the correct definition of "control" should be. A sailboat will not go anywhere without wind. Sailboats may have an engine on them to move them when there is no wind. Before engines existed sailboats used people in the hull of the ship to row the ship when there was no wind.  No wind means the sailboat is going nowhere. A sailboat travels easily in the direction of the wind. And as long as this wind is moving the sailboat in the direction of the sailboat'€s destination it travels very quickly and easily. But if there is a change in wind direction and the wind begins to blow against the sailboat in the opposite direction what happens? It will come to a halt in its pursuit of its destination and even start going backwards unless the sailboat makes adjustments. Without adjustments, the wind is in control, but with adjustments the sailboat can stay in control of its destination. Instead of a direct approach, the sailboat maintains control of its destination by adjusting its sails and traversing in a zigzag motion. It will not be as quick and as easy, but will still be possible to reach its destination against the winds of adversities. In life, when winds of adversity change direction on you and move against you do not give up on your dreams. Make your adjustments and stay in control of your destination. The "control over your life" will not be as before but "control over your destination" is still possible. Make necessary adjustments. Go after your dreams. Never ever quit. Keep moving in some way or another towards your dreams. Your dreams are God given for your life. Keep moving and trust God for the miracle. Remember, you need wind to move you. Without wind you will go nowhere. Let the wind of adversity awaken and energize you. When driving on a farm road at 25 m.p.h. you will not be as alert to your driving as you would be on a major interstate in the middle of a major city during rush hour traffic. The environment awakens and energizes you to meet the demands it is putting on you. If you do not rise to the occasion you will find yourself in a wreck. What does it take to fly a kite? You can have a kite and wind but it still will not fly without string attached to it to provide resistance against the wind. The stronger the resistance against the wind (adversity) the higher the kite will fly. When the winds of adversity come against you take advantage of them and apply resistence to soar to your next level of destination. Increase the resistance and soar even higher. "The invisible things are clearly seen and understood by the things that are made," Romans 1:20. Jesus taught the laws of His kingdom by teaching the laws of this world. The farmer who sows and reaps. The fisherman who casts his net to bring in the fish. The laws of sailing and flying a kite also apply to your life. Apply them. Make them work for you, not against you.  When things get out of control – “fly the plane,” don't get distracted from what you need to do to get to the destination of your dreams.  Life happens and events around your life can become distracting to keep you from staying focused on what you need to be doing.  When flying a plane your “good” instructor will drill into you “fly the plane.”  Don't get completely caught up in trying to fix the problem and forget to fly the plane.  Stay in control – fly the plane; do the basics.