Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Bob Goff, from his book, Dream Big (Kindle Locations 626-627). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) And we need to do what we can to find it. Bob said, “You may not even know about these places or have taken the time to explore them. Answering the question Who are you ? requires we stop entertaining ourselves building snowmen on the surface and get under the ice cap. That’s the only way to figure out what’s really going on underneath our actions.” He goes on, “If we can learn what the core motivations behind our actions are, we can figure out where they came from and take the action necessary to make progress forward. Not a course around them but through them. It can sometimes be weird and ambiguous work to access our big ideas, and headway is often made through small openings. Yet this work is absolutely necessary if we want to make some bold moves toward those few ambitions that will be worth t...

A thought by Bob Goff, from his book, Dream Big (Kindle Locations 586). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Striving to understand is so very important in life especially when it is us. Bob says, “A few years ago, someone I loved had a stroke. This is a cruel medical problem because often, in addition to causing physical limitations, it robs its victims of some of what they cherish the most—their memories. The doctor explained how the brain attempts to knit itself back together and recreate the pathways and circuitry disrupted by the stroke. The doctor recommended photographs be up on the walls of the hospital room to help jog her memory as her brain reconnected with itself. She would stare long and hard at the walls and point. One by one, she figured out the photographs. ‘That’s my husband. That’s my daughter. This one is our dog.’ It took a while, but eventually she figured out every photograph—except one. It wa...

A thought by Bob Goff, from his book,     Dream Big (Kindle Locations 519-520). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) No he didn’t. Bob says, “He didn’t tolerate rookies who pretended to have gone All-Pro and have it all figured out but were just faking it. Once we get real with where we actually are and our desperate need for God’s help, He’s got a person He can do something with, and He’ll drop the people you’ll need in your path to help. Your job is to find them.” He later says, “Start with acknowledging that deeper longing within you. If I had to take a guess, that’s why you’re here. You can feel it. I don’t even have to define what it is—you know exactly what I’m talking about. It is that ‘something more to life’ rumbling around in your gut, that tug drawing you toward a scary, audacious dream. It nags you when you feel stuck at a job you once wanted but have since outgrown. It fuels the late-night ...

A thought by Bob Goff, from his book,     Dream Big   (Kindle Locations 449-450). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is the truth, isn’t it? Bob says, “We smoke or cuss or dress or act like someone we really aren’t to gain acceptance from people we don’t really know. We’re all going to make mistakes. Some are premeditated and weirdly intended to be self-destructive. Others just arise simply because we don’t understand what is happening around us. Those are the mistakes that remind us of our humanity and help us be truthful with ourselves about the fact that we don’t have it all figured out.” Later he says, “I used to think that we had to have our act together for God to use us and for our ambitions to be attainable, but I don’t think that anymore. Here’s the incredible thing: I couldn’t even take my own temperature, but God still finds a way to use me. He’ll use you, too, if you’re will...

A thought by Bob Goff, from his book, Dream Big   (Kindle Locations 391-392). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)   That’s an important thought, isn't it? Bob says, “It’s not found in familiarity or approval or popularity either. It is discovered somewhere far deeper within us. Maria (his wife) lives her life solely and sacrificially for our family and a handful of friends. She not only helps us better understand the complex world we live in, but she also helps me get ready each day so I don’t leave the house with one pant leg tucked into my sock. “I’ll admit, it’s a lot of work to live with a guy who acts like he’s sponsored by Red Bull. They call my drink of choice at the local coffee stand ‘Goffee.’ It’s two shots of energy drink and three shots of espresso. I may die young, but I’ll be wide awake when I do. Sweet Maria likes to say I’m the balloon and she’s the string. This beautifully describes...

A thought by Bob Goff, from his book, Dream Big Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is an interesting thought that I didn’t know. Bob says, “I’m glad they did because I’ve erased in my life much more than I’ve kept. We all get to do this. We take what we’ve written about ourselves, what we truly believe God thinks of us, and decide what to keep and what to erase. We’re not the only author of our lives either. Like the ones who have signed the pages of a high school yearbook, other people who have intersected our journey have written over us too. Some of what they said is true and beautiful and lasting. Other things not so much. ‘Never change’ was written in my yearbook by at least a dozen people. It’s the worst advice I’ve ever received. We’re supposed to change constantly—into kinder, humbler, more faithful versions of our old selves. This change and growth happens when we sort out the truth from the lies in...

A thought by Henry Cloud, from his book, The Secret Things of God: Unlocking the Treasures Reserved for You (p.30) Howard Books.  Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) And that is so true. Henry says, “Through trust, we connect with God in a way that shows our reliance on him and our surrender to him. This is what he desires most from us. He wants us to trust him and depend on him more than any other thing. In fact, he says that without trust, or faith, it is impossible to please him, to have a relationship with him, or to receive anything from him. (See Hebrews 11:6) Trust is the essence of ‘faith,’ and it opens you up to all that you need from God.” He goes on, “Learning to depend on God will make your life larger than you could ever imagine and better, in every way. As you trust, you will step out in faith and receive blessings you never would have received and accomplish things you never thought possible. It is the way...

A thought by Henry Cloud, from his book, The Secret Things of God: Unlocking the Treasures Reserved for You (p.24) Howard Books.  Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Now, the him that Henry is talking about is God.  And he starts by saying, “Whenever we seek him, we are responding to his stirring something in us. So, respond to that little voice inside, those thoughts, those wonderings. Talk to him; tell him that you are looking for him. Talk to someone who can help you.” Henry goes on, “ If you do know him and cannot find him right now , hear this: that is normal too. Even if you feel that you are going through a ‘desert’ experience and that God seems far, far away, know that in reality, he is always near. Either there is some reason he is not doing anything at that moment, or he is doing something and you cannot see it. Though it may be distressing, it is a normal part of the spiritual life. The psalms are full of...

A thought by Lisa Bevere, from her book, Be Angry, But Don’t Blow It (p.24) Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) This is so important to see. Lisa said, “… if I was disappointed with the way I had handled my children during the day, I pressed the issue very heavily: I should be more patient. Then I would allow guilt to weigh on me until I felt hopelessly horrible, and in this despair and self-loathing I would go to sleep. My hope was to wake up feeling so bad about my impatience that it would not be replayed. Instead, I would wake up feeling hopeless and like a failure. This would weigh me down and make me feel overwhelmed, which made the challenges of the day seem that much more taxing. I had set myself up to fail again. I have learned both self-loathing and anger are destructive. Inflicting guilt does not reform our relationships with others, nor will it work on you.” She goes on, “Jesus understood that the ...

A thought by Lisa Bevere, from her book, Be Angry, But Don’t Blow It (p.22) Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Lisa says, “Patterns are established through positive or negative reinforcement. We learned what worked or got us attention, and we repeated it so often it became a habit.” And habits can control us, can’t they? She continues, “Some of you may have made the dangerous decision to go to bed angry in ignorance as I did as a child. Others of you may have known the truth yet chose your own wisdom. Still others of you don’t go to your bed angry at another individual. No, your anger is leveled at yourself. You go to sleep disappointed and upset with yourself and imagine by punishing yourself throughout the night you will awake changed and different. But this is not true. The nightly punishment will not be constructive but destructive. “You are mistaken to think anger is only destructive when vented on ...

A thought by Lisa Bevere, from her book, Be Angry, But Don’t Blow It (p.17) Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) And we must let go, don’t we? Lisa says, “Perpetuating anger perpetuates sin, which perpetuates unforgiveness, which intensifies the anger response. You no longer are dealing with each infraction of displeasure; you are dealing with an accumulation of many infractions against your person. You are repeatedly scraped by the same offense until it is no longer the site of a single injury but a multiple stab wound.” She goes on, “Let’s probe deeper into the part of Ephesians 4:26 that says, ‘Do not let the sun go down on your anger.’ There is a very important spiritual and physical principle here. When you go to sleep upset, you wake up upset. When you have not extended mercy the night before, it is hard for you to embrace God’s mercy in the morning (Ps. 59:16). “In Psalm 4:4, David warned of the dan...

A thought by Lisa Bevere, from her book, Be Angry, But Don’t Blow It (p.13) Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) It may not be enough time. Lisa says, “It’s worth noting again: Our first response when angered should be to turn away momentarily, mentally or physically, so we can separate the offense from the offender. The old-fashioned rule of counting to ten is good, but often the time frame is not adequate. Once we have stepped aside from the conflict, then we need to ask, ‘Why am I so upset?’ ‘What is really going on inside me?’ ‘Do I need to take some time to answer these questions?’” Ephesians 4:6 (NIV) says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” She goes on, “The idea of anger being temporary also corresponds to God’s admonition ‘Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.’ This is not because of some problem with the dark. All of us have found ourselves upset after the sun...

A thought by Lisa Bevere, from her book, Be Angry, But Don’t Blow It (p.12) Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) He is to be our example. Lisa says, “Too frequently we live in a constant state of flare-up punctuated by brief interludes of happiness. God models the healthy type of anger for us: ‘For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime’ (Ps. 30:5 NIV). “The ratio of anger to favor is very low. David described God’s anger as lasting but a moment. David should know; he experienced the anger of the Lord firsthand. He lost his son when the anger of the Lord was kindled against his secret sins of adultery and murder. David could have become embittered against God and viewed His anger as lasting a lifetime and His favor as momentary. Did not the sword continually visit his house? Yet David had caught a glimpse of God’s character and nature. Through repentance, he clung to God’s loving-kindness...

A thought by Lisa Bevere, from her book,     Be Angry, But Don’t Blow It    (p.9) Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Now, what is she talking about? Lisa says, “The first part of Ephesians 4:26 is easy enough: Be angry . Most of us can accomplish this without even trying. It happens without warning. Someone cuts us off on the highway and careless words are hurled into the air, never to be retrieved. . . This verse seems at first a contradiction. It clearly grants us the right to feel anger. Be angry . There is not even a preceding disclaimer, like ‘If you absolutely have to get angry, then okay . . . be angry.’ Just a simple Be angry . The NIV translation reads, ‘In your anger do not sin.’ It seems to further validate the experience of anger, assuring us there will be times of anger, but telling us not to sin during them.” She goes on, “God gives us permission to be angry. He k...

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book,     Start Where You Are.    Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Yes, it does. Charles says, “Almost imperceptibly, you become a person with keener sensitivity, a broader base of understanding, and a longer fuse. Patience is a by-product of pain. So is tolerance of others and obedience to God. For lack of a better title, let’s call the whole package ‘wisdom.’ “For too many years in your life, you have operated strictly on the basis of knowledge—human absorption of facts and natural reaction to others. But affliction has now entered your life, and even though you would much prefer to have it over with, it has not ended. Difficult though it may be for you to believe, the pain you are forced to endure is reshaping and remaking you deep within. ” He goes on, “Human knowledge comes naturally, is enhanced by schooling, and enlarged by travel. But ...

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book, Start Where You Are. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) We want God to take of this virus right now!!! Charles says, “We like quick turnarounds, instant changes from sickness to health. We much prefer accounts of miracles to long, nonsensational stories of slow recoveries. In fact, we tend to grow impatient with those who can’t seem to take our advice and ‘snap out of it’ or ‘get well soon,’ like the greeting card urges (pushes?) them to do. “But like it or not, more often than not, the wise words of Hippocrates are true: ‘Healing is a matter of time.’ ” Charles goes on, “The one who needs time to heal—perhaps months or even years—often becomes the recipient of resentment. Instead of being affirmed and encouraged to press on through the pain, allowing sufficient time to get better, the sufferer encounters resentment and impatience. Uninvited advice, drippi...