Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Divine Direction: 7 Decisions That Will Change Your Life (p. 128). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Here are two other thoughts by Craig that hit me while reading this morning:   1. “Serving isn’t something we do. A servant is who we’re called to be.” And 2. “The phrase ‘I can’t find a church that meets my needs’ is one of the most unbiblical statements any Christian could utter.” Now here is the whole today's focused thought, “We forget that we are not made to be spiritual consumers. God has called us to be spiritual contributors. And the church does not exist for us. We are the church, and we exist for the world.” He goes on, “When my mind shifts from being a spiritual consumer—it’s all about me, what I want, what I get, what I prefer—to becoming a spiritual contributor, everything changes. I am here to serve God and to love people. I exist to make a difference. Go...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Divine Direction: 7 Decisions That Will Change Your Life (p. 113). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But what about your best decisions? Craig says, “But your best decisions are usually much more difficult. They may cause you to struggle between what feels safe and comfortable and what seems risky and uncertain. They may challenge you because you face several good options but struggle to know which one is best. Or they may carry a steeper price than other, easier options. Your best decisions may defy logic or occasionally go against the recommendations of those around you.” And I have found that to be true. He then says, “However, there’s no need to panic. If you’re walking closely with God, he will guard your steps and guide you. Even if you stumble into a ditch, take a detour, or get stuck, he can redeem your bad decisions with positive outcomes. Our God is that good.” ...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God (p. 15). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Noise is all around us.   The purpose it seems is to keep us from thinking or even listening and that is a problem. Mark earlier said, “When our lives get loud, with noise filling every frequency, we lose our sense of being. We run the risk of turning into human doings rather than human beings. And when our schedules get busy, we lose our sense of balance, which is a function of the inner ear. “Can I go out on a limb? Your life is too loud. Your schedule is too busy. That’s how and why and when we forget that God is God. And it takes very little to distract us. ‘I neglect God and his angels, for the noise of a fly,’ said the English poet John Donne. The solution? Stillness. Or more specifically, His still small voice.” Mark then says, “ Silence is anything but passive w...