I thought you were my friend, maybe I was wrong this whole time. 

 ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

 ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 ⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

 ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

 ¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Corinthians 3:10-13

Abraham Lincoln’s life, how encouraging and inspirational it is. Did you know that Abraham Lincoln had two business ventures fail, lost 8 different elections and had a complete nervous breakdown before becoming president in 1816? His story is a great inspirational confidence story in that he shows how if you just keep moving towards your dream, you will eventually make it. Abraham Lincoln overcame great setbacks and obstacles on his journey. Take a look at the synopsis of his life and see whether you would have had the courage to continue on.

1809 Born February 12

1816 Abraham Lincoln’s family was forced out of their home and he needed to work to support his family.

1818 His mother passed away

1828 His sister dies

1831 A business venture failed

1832 He ran for the State Legislature. He lost.

1832 In the same year, he also lost his job. He decided he wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.

1833 He borrowed money from a friend to start a business. By the end of the year, he was bankrupt.

1834 He ran for the State Legislature again. This time he won.

1835 The year was looking better as he was engaged to be married. Unfortunately, his fiancee died and he was grief stricken.

1836 This was the year he had a total nervous breakdown and for 6 months was bedridden.

1836 He sought to become Speaker of the State Legislature. He was defeated.

1840 He sought to become Elector. He was defeated.

1842 Marries Mary Todd. They have 4 boys but only one would live to maturity.

1843 He ran for Congress. He lost.

1846 He ran for Congress again. He won and moved to Washington.

1848 He ran for re-election to Congress. He lost.

1849 He sought the job of Land Officer in his home state. He didn’t get the job.

1850 His son, Edward, dies.

1854 He ran for the Senate of the United states. He lost.

1856 He sought the Vice Presidential nomination at a national convention. He got less than 100 votes.

1858 He ran for the Senate again. He lost again.

1860 Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States

1862 His son, Willie, dies at age 12.

1865 On April 14, Abraham Lincoln is assassinated. 

myths are public dreams, dreams are private myths.

My Uncle originally sent me this excerpt from the life story of George Mueller. It speaks very personally to me in continuing to discover God’s will for my own future. This is how Mueller discerned the will of God. Don’t rush through this—take time to think deeply about each point and personalize them.

Mueller listed the following steps he believed were necessary in determining God’s will regarding any decision. I thought they might be helpful to others:

• “I get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to any particular matter.”
• “I do not leave the result to feelings or simple impressions. That can make one open to great delusions.”
• “I seek God’s will through, or in connection with, His Word. If you look to the Spirit without the Word, you open yourself to delusion.”
• “I consider providential [God-controlled] circumstances.”
• “I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me.”
• “I make sure I have a clear conscience before God and man.”
• “Every time I listened to men instead of God, I made serious mistakes.”
• “I act only when I am at peace, after much prayer, waiting on God with faith.”