“We wear busyness as a badge, like an honor roll bumper sticker.”

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2015-10-06) from his book, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities (Kindle Location 1628). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

That is so true in this city, Los Angeles, that Margaret and I live in. It is so fun to sit in my one lane on the freeway and watch people move in and out trying to get ahead. I use the app WAZE to make sure we get to where we are going the fastest time possible. Even as a retiree, it seems that I am busy.

Mark says, “Come on, isn’t it rather ironic that we get incredibly frustrated when a cross-country flight is delayed ten minutes— a flight that travels at one hundred times the speed of a covered wagon and gets us to the other side of America with beverage service? For the love of Lewis and Clark, quit complaining about minor travel delays!”

He goes on, “Our patience has worn thin, and it affects every arena of life. We want what our parents spent decades working for and saving for, in a fraction of the time, with a fraction of the effort. We’re so driven to get ahead that one of the hardest commands to keep is keeping the Sabbath holy. After all, we can’t afford to fall behind. But that’s how we fall and fall behind.”

So true. He then says, “Nothing slows us down like trying to get ahead of God. Remember when Moses tried to expedite God’s plan by killing an Egyptian taskmaster? That little shortcut backfired into a forty-year delay! Listen, I’m as driven as they come. I want to get as far as I can, as fast as I can, and I want to get there yesterday! But we’ve got to enjoy the journey too, by God’s grace. After all, the journey is the destination.”

It really is. There is so much out there to enjoy and to experience but it probably will take some slowing down.

So what is pushing you today?

Comments

“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...

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book, Winning the War on Worry (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...

“The gospel is good news, not good advice.”

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 ...

Just Continue That Thought...

Search This Blog