Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book,  Win the Day   (p. 27). The Crown Publishers Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)   And they had an interesting accomplishment. Mark says, "I’m fascinated by an ancient group of archers from a tribe known as the Benjamites. Their ambidextrous ability to shoot arrows and sling stones sounds like it’s right out of a Marvel movie." 1 Chronicles 12:2 (NLT) says, "All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin." Mark goes on, "Their ability to use both hands equally well raises a few questions. Switch hitters are commonplace in baseball, but there is only one switch pitcher in Major League Baseball! I’m going to make an assumption that the Benjamites were not born this way. Only 1 percent of the population is born ambidextrous. In other words, thi...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book,  Win the Day   (p. 24). The Crown Publishers Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) No, there are aren't! Mark says, " When you’ve been enslaved for centuries, it takes time for your identity to catch up with your new reality. The battle is against the people and the powers actively working against your freedom—and the voice of doubt that calls your God-given dignity and identity into question. In the case of the Israelites, it took forty years. There are no shortcuts. There are no cheat codes. What God says about you has to become your signature story. It wasn’t until the Israelites possessed the Promised Land that they finally saw themselves for who they really were—not slaves but God’s chosen people." He goes on, "Many of us see ourselves or see others the same way, according to some old code. There are plenty of people who want to remind us of those old narratives. You’ve got t...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book,  Win the Day   (p. 23). The Crown Publishers Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) No we don't and yes we do. Mark says, " We don’t see the world as it is . We see the world as we are . If you want to win today, you’ve got to start by rewriting yesterday." Earlier Mark said, "The story of the Exodus is Israel’s signature story. It defined their identity as a free people. Even their calendar revolved around the day God delivered them. The anniversary of the Exodus, the Passover, was a day celebrated unlike any other. God delivered Israel in a single day, but they didn’t possess the Promised Land until forty years later. Did you know that the entire journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land was supposed to take eleven days? (Deuteronomy 1:2) But they traveled for forty years ! That’s 14,589 days longer than their original ETA. What the heck happened?" He goes on, "Gett...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book,  Win the Day   (p. 21). The Crown Publishers Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Yes, we better! Mark says, " Especially if it doesn’t fit within your natural gifting! It’s like tilting the treadmill to a steep incline. You’ll have to work a little longer, a little harder, and a little smarter than everyone else. It will be harder than you hoped and take longer than you imagined. So be it. If you keep walking in the right direction, you’ll get where you’re going sooner or later!" He goes on, "History is replete with people who have defied incredible odds to accomplish unbelievable things. If you’re one of those long shots like John Bertrand or Bo Eason, this book is for you. The stories I share and the studies I cite will redefine what is and what is not possible. But winning the day starts with redefining who you are and, more importantly, whose you are. "For better or for wor...

  A thought by Mark Batterson from his book,  Win the Day   (p. 19). The Crown Publishers Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) So what does he mean? Mark says, " The day God healed my asthma is one of those ever-after days. A signature story usually centers on a day that begins like any other day; then that day rewrites the rest of your life. I actually keep a running tally, numbering the days I’ve been inhaler-free." He continues, "I have no idea how your story reads right now. I don’t know whether it’s comedy, drama, or action and adventure. If you don’t like your story line, God can change it. He can redeem the loss, recycle the mistake, and rewrite the pain. He can do so in a single day, no doubt. That said, don’t wait until your circumstances change to start living your best life!" He then says, "Despite suffering from severe asthma for forty years, I have biked century rides and run in triathlons. Did I menti...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book,  Win the Day   (p. 16). The Crown Publishers Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) So what are the dots? Mark says, " You are capable of more than you imagine, and I wrote this book to help you prove it to yourself. Your brain has no idea what your body is capable of, and your body has no idea what your brain is capable of. Once you connect those dots, all bets are off. Following Jesus is less about minding your p’s and q’s than it is about taking your cues from Christ. What did Jesus say? 'With God all things are possible.' (Matthew 19:26) When you give complete editorial control of your life to Him, possible becomes the plotline." He goes on, "I’d better offer one disclaimer to my hypothesis. Please note the word almost . If you’re five foot seven, genetic factors call into question your dream of playing in the NBA. Be that as it may, may I remind you that Spud Webb won the ...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book,  Win the Day   (p. 15). The Crown Publishers Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Yes it is. Mark says, " God doesn’t waste days, especially bad days! My life coach helped me identify forty-four defining moments. Some were as dramatic as the day I almost died from ruptured intestines. I was surprised, however, at how many defining moments were as subtle as the subconscious. Identifying those subplots is one key to flipping the script, so I’ll share a few of mine." He shares, "When I was kid, I was playing Kick the Can with my friends when my mom rang the dinner bell. That’s how we texted before cell phones! We sat down at the dinner table, and I remember saying, 'We’ve got to hurry up and eat because my friends are waiting.' I wasn’t having a panic attack, but my sense of urgency was acute. We couldn’t eat fast enough! Why? I didn’t want to keep my friends waiting. I wish it ...

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book,  Win the Day   (p. 8). The Crown Publishers Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And the stories we tell make a difference. Mark says, " True or false, those stories become self-fulfilling prophecies. If you tell yourself the wrong story, you live a lie. If you want to change your life, start by changing your story." He later says, "What stories are you telling yourself? And where do they come from? Are they helping you or hurting you? Are they accurate or inaccurate? Are they carefully crafted or off the cuff? And who is narrating the story? You? Your parents? Your doubters? Your haters? Or have you given editorial control to the Author and Perfecter of your faith? (Hebrews 12:2} He then say, "'Every person is composed of a few themes,' observed C. S. Lewis. 1 Those life themes reveal themselves in a wide variety of ways. Sometimes it’s during the regular routine of li...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 48). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Yes they do. Norman shares, " Jesus said, 'A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of' (Luke 6:45)." Norman says, "No one has to be a helpless victim of their thoughts—even if they were stamped on their minds thirty years ago. Again, look at the promises in Scripture. Paul wrote, 'God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]' (2 Timothy 1:7 AMP, brackets in original). Scriptural teachings about our thoughts aren’t just informative, the...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 47). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)   Yes there is! Norman says, "Our thoughts can also create a calmness that helps control our emotions and rein them in before they spin out of control. Every positive or happy thought spurs our brains to action, releasing chemicals that make us feel good. These help us become a today and tomorrow person and break loose from the past. Take this statement: 'I am a today and tomorrow person,' and repeat it out loud ten times every day. We’ll experience a difference in mood and attitude." He goes on, ".. thoughts follow specific pathways in the brain. They don’t bounce around randomly landing somewhere. Each pathway was created for a specific purpose. God created our brains to function this way. This memory stage is similar to a library. It’s responsible for the first emotiona...

  A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 45). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)   It really can be. Norman says, "We get caught up in the 'what ifs.' Perhaps we’re interested in what can go wrong in life. We’re fascinated by the possibilities. And when a possibility is discovered, we latch on with all of the 'what ifs' our minds can create." He continues, "Worry is a special kind of fear. To create it, we elongate fear with two things—anticipation and memory. We then infuse it with our imagination and feed it with emotion. Then we become 'our own creation.' In its positive sense, anxiety is a God-given instinct that alerts us to fearful situations and prepares us to respond appropriately. But worry can also be like a car alarm system that won’t turn off. "Pastor Earl Lee illustrates the difference: Worry is like racing an automo...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 43). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)   Yes, they do! Norman says, "To change thought patterns is not a simple step-by-step process or an overnight event. Our brains weren’t designed to make sudden, permanent changes. "The brain follows patterns of established neural connections (habits) built over the years. This unique organ of the body—with its billions of neurons and millions of pathways, circuits, and memory cells—doesn’t erase or 'write over' what it’s stored. So when we begin changing patterns, we should expect the old ways of thinking and talking to challenge the new ways. Change is possible; it just takes time and effort. He goes on, "Our thoughts influence our character, shape our attitudes, determine our behavior, affect us spiritually, and even influence our immune systems. Our thoughts create emot...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 42). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And it's not easy. Norman says, " We’ve tried different approaches or programs, prayed about it, been prayed over, and so forth. But we still struggle. It’s not that easy." He goes on, "If a new thought coincides with what we already believe about ourselves, it will be accepted by us with open arms. If it doesn’t, it will have a difficult time finding a place to fit in and be accepted. Isn’t it interesting how we even resist thoughts that are new, positive, and in line with biblical thinking? We resist giving up old mental messages because we’re comfortable with them, even if they’re not the best, not true, not helpful, or keep us stuck in the past. Sound familiar? I’m guilty of doing that. In my office I have filing cabinets filled with files. In my mind, I probably have hund...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 39). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Our thoughts are so very important in making our life enjoyable and productive. Norman says, " They’re glimpses of ideas. Whether you choose something to think about or you don’t, your brain is always on. If you don’t choose your thoughts and direct them somewhere, your thoughts will wander. Thoughts are simple. They’re basic, but it’s hard to measure them. They direct our lives. They impact our mind, our body, and our emotions. Long and involved or short and direct, they influence our lives." He goes on, "What we think affects our bodies. In fact, in the next minute what I’m asking you to think about will create a response in your body. Take a couple of breaths and relax. Now, think of a lemon. Imagine cutting the lemon in two. Scrape out a couple of the seeds. Hold the lemon up ...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 23). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Parent memories is one kind of memory that really can impact us.  Norman says, " I’ve talked with too many people who have denied the impact of their past, which limited their ability to heal and move forward. As our parent memories unfold and are identified, life changes can occur. These memories affect the way we relate to others, how we see ourselves, and how we perceive God. "Memory is made up of bits and pieces of our experiences. They are not just factual events. It’s more like a jigsaw puzzle that includes feelings, images, perspectives, and fragments. We spread them on a table and piece them together for our life story. This history can be used to help us make sense of our lives. It doesn’t matter who our parents were; it matters who we remember they were." He goes on, ...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 20). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Yes, we are! Norman says, " Memories of having been loved. Memories of having been a success. Memories of pleasure. Without these and other healing memories, we remain raw and broken. Very often, a victim’s answer to the question 'When were you last happy?' is 'Never' or 'I don’t remember.' The fact that their lives can be different from the brokenness and pain of the moment isn’t remembered or realized; therefore, achieving that pain-free state isn’t considered an option. The task of healing, then, is in part recovering memories that are healing in nature.( 1 )" He goes on, "Memories are not just random thoughts. They exist for a reason. The bottom line is their purpose is to positively influence the present and future based on what we’ve experienced in th...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 19). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) But is that possible? Norman says, " I’ve been asked, 'Can’t you do something about these memories to get rid of them?' My clients want me to function like a giant eraser. Short of severe trauma, I don’t think there is such a thing as a memory eraser. Memories can be dulled by chemical substance use, but that is temporary and eventually causes more problems. Some individuals vacillate between a 'rid the memory' agenda to a 'just forget the past' agenda. Within some Christian circles, a common response to people dominated by the past is Paul’s admonition recorded in Philippians 3:13 (NLT): 'Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…' I like what Robert D. Jones said about what is possible since our goal as believers is Christlikeness: 'The...

A thought by H. Norman Wright from his book,  When the Past Won't Let You Go   (p. 15). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) This thought is so true! Norman says, " This phrase is used throughout Scripture as a turning point, a line of demarcation between peril and rescue, chaos and control, fall and redemption, hurt and healing. "• The psalmist in Psalm 73:26 NLT: 'My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.' "• Jesus in Matthew 19:26 NLT: 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.'  "• The apostle Paul in Acts 13:29-30 NLT: 'When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. But Go d raised him from the dead!" Norman continues, "Once we were dead in sin, but God made us alive. Once we were captive to ...