"Problems always bring opportunities, and opportunities always bring problems."

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2013-10-08) from his book, Sometimes You Win--Sometimes You Learn:Life's Greatest Lessons Are Gained from Our Losses (p. 156). Center Street. Kindle Edition.

There is a reason why God gave us a brain. He gave it to be used. For some Christians the knees are all they use. Prayer is very important but so is thinking. Problems give us so many opportunities to learn and grow. They also give us the opportunity to soar.

John give a tremendous illustration of this in the way an eagle meets the challenge of turbulent winds. He says, “Turbulent winds cause the eagle to fly higher… Turbulent winds give the eagle a larger view… Turbulent winds lift the eagle above harassment... Turbulent winds allow the eagle to use less effort… Turbulent winds allow the eagle to stay up longer... Turbulent winds help the eagle to fly faster.”

Think about how you can solve the problem and how you can use it. The problem that I have had in gaining weight has gotten me to step out of the rut that I had gotten into. I have changed my way of doing things and found a better more challenging way to live my day. I had gotten away from my extended times of walking and not listening to podcasts from great speakers. I am now being challenged again. I am stretching and learning and losing and enjoying. The problem kicked me out of my rut.

My Dad had a sermon whose theme was that God sends contrary winds that blow us to His designed destination. I have remembered that and striven to live by that for over fifty years.

Those turbulent, contrary winds in your life have a purpose behind them. Use your brain and your knees to find the reason for them.

What is the reason for the problem you are facing today?

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“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...

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A thought by Timothy Keller (2016-10-25) from his book, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (p. 21). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I’m glad you stopped to catch a glimpse of what this thought really means. Tim says, “Advice is counsel about what you must do. News is a report about what has already been done. Advice urges you to make something happen. News urges you to recognize something that has already happened and to respond to it. Advice says it is all up to you to act. News says someone else has acted.” He then gives an illustration, “Let’s say there is an invading army coming toward a town. What that town needs is military advisers; it needs advice. Someone should explain that the earthworks and trenches should go over there, the marksmen go up there, and the tanks must go down there.” That’s advice He goes on, “However, if a great king has intercepted and ...

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