Sometimes on this journey
I get lost in my mistakes
Do you focus on the negative? Do you find yourself hearing the criticism louder than the praise? The other day I read through a stack of evaluations from my students. I walked away sad, disappointed, down on myself. You see, two or three students had said some pretty negative things. Had rated me pretty low in a couple of categories. Never mind the other 20 evaluations that were full of compliments to my teaching, to my caring, to my methods of instruction. There were three students who felt like I didn't know what they knew and didn't care when they were confused. And I got lost in those negatives. Lost in my mistakes.
What looks to me like weakness
Is a canvas for your strength
When we are weak, God works. When we feel inadequate it is an opportunity for Him to shine. For us to know that it was truly Him. So, I took a deep breath, and dug back into those negative evaluations. Where were they feeling like I was missing, what were they suggesting that we should do differently? And how do we do that? How do I let God's strength shine in my weakness?
And my story isn't over
My story's just begun
And failure won't define me
'Cause that's what my Father does
My failures don't define me. My story isn't done. I am not my accomplishments, I am His accomplishment. And with His help I will move forward, making improvements, implementing things that will help those students be reached. But really, it's not about that. It's about what He thinks of me. And it's about remembering what He says to me.
Check your shame at the door
'Cause it ain't welcome anymore
Ooh, you're in the Father's house
It's ok to hear criticism and make changes. It's good to say "Oops, I failed that, and I need to improve and with God's help I will." Where we run into trouble is when we get so fixated on the thing we failed that we live in shame. Shame renders us incapable of improving, because shame says "you did a bad thing, you're bad" and makes us believe that we can't ever be good enough. The Father says shame is not welcome in His house, and then He invites us to dwell in His house forever.
Arrival's not the end game
The journey's where you are...
Failure's never final
When the Father's in the room
Friends, here is the good news. The Father is ALWAYS in the room. Failure is not final.
Miracles take place
The cynical find faith
Love is breaking through
When the Father's in the room
Remember that you live in His room.
Sometimes on this journey
I get lost in my mistakes
What looks to me like weakness
Is a canvas for your strength
And my story isn't over
My story's just begun
And failure won't define me
'Cause that's what my Father does
Yeah, failure won't define me
'Cause that's what my Father does
Ooh, lay your burdens down
Ooh, here in the Father's house
Check your shame at the door
'Cause it ain't welcome anymore
Ooh, you're in the Father's house
Arrival's not the end game
The journey's where you are
You never wanted perfect
You just wanted my heart
And the story isn't over
If the story isn't good
Failure's never final
When the Father's in the room
Failure's never final
When the Father's in the room
Prodigals come home
The helpless find hope
Love is on the move
When the Father's in the room
Prison doors fling wide
The dead come to life
Love is on the move
When the Father's in the room
Miracles take place
The cynical find faith
Love is breaking through
When the Father's in the room
The Jericho walls are quaking
Strongholds now are shaking
Love is breaking through
When the Father's in the room
love is breaking through
When the Father's in the room
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