“You’ll never be ready! If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll be waiting till the day you die.”

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2015-10-06) from his book, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities (Kindle Locations 3331-3332). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Mark continues, “And you’ll never be set. Sometimes you need to just go for it.”

There are so many examples in life that prove that true… marriage, having kids, retiring. I know, a lot of you think, retiring should be easy but the truth is there is a major adjustment in making retirement be your friend especially if you are someone who strives to make a difference everyday. It really was a very difficult decision for me to make and the truth is I wasn't really ready for it.

Mark goes on, “Now listen, you certainly need to count the cost. Count twice! But don’t just count the actual cost, count the opportunity cost.”

He then says, “Honestly, I think many people operate out of the opposite mentality, thinking, ‘Perhaps the Lord won’t act in our behalf.’ They let fear dictate their decisions. They get stuck maintaining the status quo. They live as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Change your sequence! Go. Set. Ready. Why? Because if God is for us, who can be against us?”

Yes, there was a risk in my retiring when I did but it was one of the best things that I have done. God has opened so many doors in our lives that we could never have imagined if I had still been working. And don’t let me start on being married to Margaret and having Brett then Stef. And then of course that led us to Marissa, then Andrew then Ashlyn, Addison and Harper. I am so glad that I didn’t wait.

The question I want to end with is one that Mark asks, “What if you were more afraid of missing opportunities than making mistakes?”

Comments

"Jesus comes in the midst of the torrent."

A thought by Max Lucado from his book, You Are Never Alone (p. 60). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) We all have storms in our lives, don't we? Max says, "No one gets through life scot-free. At one point or another the sky will darken, the winds will rage, and we will find ourselves in a modern-day version of the Galilean gusher." John 6:16–18 (NIV) says, "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough." Max goes on, "The hearts of the followers began to sink as their boat was certain to do. Their skin was soaked, throats hoarse, eyes wide. They searched the sky for a break in the clouds. They gripped the boat for fear of the waves. They screamed their prayers for help. But they heard nothing. "If only Jesu

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life. It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed. Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life. Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you. You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good. Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because God is good He will use e

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident. In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose. In other words you are not an accident. I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth. In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man. And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ” Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like? Like that characteristic is a curse or something. Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God. Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Jesus did answer the question about the blind

Just Continue That Thought...

Search This Blog