Just Continue That Thought...

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...

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 3). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Now this is one of the worry lies. Louie says, "We’ve all been tormented by this lie. Throughout the day, as we are confronted by different situations, we too easily tilt to the negative extreme and assume something bad is going to happen. But really, only a fraction of the things we worry about come to pass. A 2019 study from Penn State showed that roughly 91 percent of the things we worry about never even happen. 1 But worry wants to convince you of what feels like the inevitability of every possible negative outcome. It tries to guarantee that your situation will end in the worst-case scenario. "There’s a quote often attributed to French philosopher Michel de Montaigne, who framed this lie well when he wrote: 'My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.' Louie contin...

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 1). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Ok, that is interesting. Louie says, "Worry is an Enemy tactic—a strategy built on lies that are designed to rob you of peace and tear your mind to pieces. "That’s why it’s crucial that you are able to spot the lies worry tells." He goes on, "Not long ago while on safari in South Africa, Shelley and I were really wanting to see a leopard in the wild. Early and late on our game drives our eyes were set on every tree limb, bush, grassy hill, and river path in hopes of finding one of several leopards that were known to frequent this particular area. But here’s the thing: leopards aren’t bright orange with tall, sparkly antennae on their backs. They are designed to blend into the surroundings, like the bark of a baobab tree where they might be lounging on one of its mighty branches. "In the same way, ...

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. ix). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Worry is a difficult mental problem in the world in which we live. It really is. Louie says, "Like barnacles on the bottom of a boat, worry has a way of subtly attaching itself to our thoughts. Worry often starts below the waterline, out of sight, out of the forefront of our thoughts. At first it’s just a simple what if . . . "What if I get to the reception late and miss the moment?  What if I don’t know anyone when I get there?  What if my supervisor hates my idea?  What if it rains next week on the night I’ve planned the outdoor party?" He goes on, " Before you know it worrying becomes a way of life. And just like those barnacles on the bottom of a boat add weight and resistance and therefore slow down the vessel, worry slows down your progress and corrodes your quality of life. "Ove...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book,   Mind Shift  (p. 41). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Now that is a very interesting thought. Erwin says, "Leaders create clarity, raise standards, and call people to more. By definition, this creates a dividing line. Great leaders are not afraid to define what it means to be on their team, organization, or movement. They know their vision isn’t for everyone, and they recognize those with a shared vision. Great leaders also know that great teams form when there is a sifting process." He goes on, "For years I allowed those most resistant to change to have the most influence on our rate, pace, and scale of transformation—even though this went completely against my natural inclination. I was an idealist. I genuinely valued people, and I thought that meant that I should act as if every person could thrive in our new reality. What I didn’t realize is that mo...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book,   Mind Shift  (p. 35). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Erwin says, "You can be great and never be famous. You might be a scientist who discovers the cure for a disease, for example, but science doesn’t play well on TikTok, so you may end up living the rest of your life in obscurity. You might be a great mathematician who unlocks the mysteries of the universe and at best become a household name among a handful of physicists. Maybe your grandfather worked the coal mines, or the assembly line, or the front lines, all to create a better life for his children and grandchildren. Is his greatness any less great for the lack of fame?" He continues, "Here’s the key: Don’t try to keep up with those who use all their energy pursuing fame. They are on the fast track. You need to play the long game. But know that if you do this, it might not go well for you in the sh...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book,   Mind Shift  (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And that is what we want and need. We look at our lives and realize there are some things that need to change. Going back, Erwin said, "When you make the mind shift that it’s not all about you—it’s all about the people whose lives change for the better because of you—it is transformational." He then continues, "What does this shift look like in practice? It’s choosing to be kind. It’s tipping well when people serve you. It’s taking time to acknowledge the people around you and remember their names. It’s speaking well of people when they are not in the room. It’s remembering who helped you when you needed them, and returning the favor. It’s making time for friendship. It’s refusing to have the mentality that it’s not personal, it’s just business. It’s making sure it’s always personal. It’s listening. ...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book,   Mind Shift  (p. 21). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And that is so important for us to comprehend, to understand and to live out. Here is what Erwin says around this thought. He says, "I have friends who made the conscious choice to put their relationships on the back burner while they built their personal empire. There is a lot to be said about that kind of intentionality. "The danger, of course, is that you can become blind to the importance of the people in your life. No one succeeds alone. Yet some people take all the credit for the success in their lives. Success is far richer, more meaningful, and more sustainable when you build it in the context of healthy relationships. People must never be a means to an end. Relationships should never be simply utilitarian." Doing it together, whatever it is, can be, as he says, "more meaningful and mor...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book,   Mind Shift  (p. 18). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) That is a thought that we really do need to realize is true, don't we? Erwin starts chapter 1 by saying, "The longer you live, the more you come to realize that it is inevitable that you will lose things." Later he says, "The best way to lose your life and look back with regret is to never mature past the mindset that life is all about things. We need to be careful that we’ve not simply replaced fighting over the LEGOs in the nursery with fighting over who has the most Lamborghinis. We cannot accumulate enough things to make our lives worth living. A Lamborghini He goes on, "Eventually, most of us transition into the second stage of development. For people in this stage, life is no longer about things but about experiences. Often it’s filled with firsts. Our first crush. Our first date. Our ...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book,   Mind Shift  (p. 9). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) That is a very challenging thought, isn't it? Erwin continues, "Life is an unpredictable and beautiful journey filled with both adventure and danger. That is, of course, if you choose life rather than existence. Life doesn’t just happen. If your life is happening by accident, you are only existing. If you are living beneath your potential, you are only existing. If you’ve surrendered your uniqueness for acceptance, you are only existing. If you are living for pleasure and profit rather than love and purpose, you are only existing." In other words "We were always just one choice away."   Maybe you are in those young years and you are striving to figure all of this out. Or maybe where I am in my older years and realizing that I still have choices. That I am not limited by my years. No matter wh...

A thought by Ed Stetzer in his book,  Christians in the Age of Outrage: How to Bring Our Best When the World Is at Its Worst (p. xv). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)  It really is, isn't it? Ed continues, "We are living in a day—and this is indeed our moment—when we need to live like Christ, as gospel Christians in the midst of shouting, anger, and hatred. And it’s going to get worse. "To be sure, there is a lot in this world that is outrage inducing. Terrorism, sex trafficking and exploitation, systemic racism, illegal immigration, child poverty, opioid addiction . . . and the list goes on. These issues deserve a measure of outrage, don’t they? They certainly deserve our anger." He goes on, "And this is part of the problem. What do we do when the anger becomes too much? When our righteous indignation at injustice morphs into something completely different? How do we know when righteous ...

A thought by John Eldridge in his book,  Resilient  (p. 34). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) It really is. Earlier John says, "It’s almost shocking when we realize how spun up we’ve been. 'Don’t freak out' is essentially what Jesus was saying. This advice is drilled into every form of military training and survival course—when things get hot, don’t freak out. Keep your cool so you can make good decisions." He says, ". . . a simple, satisfying step is to get your head out of the 'wars and rumors of wars' and back into the story God is telling. For example: the story of God should get more of your 'attention time' than any other media. "If you spend thirty minutes a day consuming what is called news (this includes all social media), then you need to spend more than thirty minutes—maybe twice as much—in the Scriptures or listening to biblical podcasts. Instead of using your downtime to sc...

A thought by John Eldridge in his book,  Resilient  (p. 22). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) That is very interesting. John continues, "This is one more example of how deeply story is woven into the fabric of reality. "Story is the way we orient ourselves in the world. Story is how we figure things out, bring order and meaning to the events around us. The story we hold to at any given time shapes our perceptions, hopes, and expectations; it gives us a place to stand. In this mad hour on the earth, what story are you telling yourself—or letting others tell you?" He asks, "Is it a political narrative? We just need to get the right people in power!   "Is it a social narrative? The issue is injustice! We need justice!  "Is it about the economy? A new era of prosperity is coming!   "Most importantly, is it the story God is telling?" Good questions. He goes on, "We are living in a story, fr...

A thought by John Eldridge in his book,  Resilient  (p. 13). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And that is so true but let's go back to set this thought up. Earlier John said, "When the human heart and soul experience month after month of disappointment and loss, death rolls in. Dr. Richard Gunderman described the progressive onset of disillusionment as the accumulation of hundreds or thousands of tiny disappointments, each one hardly noticeable on its own. The loss of hope and dreams suffocates the Primal Drive for Life. He says, "But our God has provision for us! "I know, I know—most of you think that what you need right now is three months at the coast. Walking on the beach, drinks on the deck, and with all my heart I hope you find that. But for most of us, a sabbatical in some gorgeous refuge is not available. What is available is the River of Life, God himself, in ways we have not yet tapped into." He ...

A thought by John Eldridge in his book,  Resilient  (p. 1). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And we do have that longing, don't we? John continues, "It has slumbered in the depths of our souls ever since we lost our true home. For our hearts remember Eden. "Most of the time this beautiful, powerful longing flows like an underground river below the surface of our awareness—so long as we are consoled by some measure of goodness in our lives. While we are enjoying our work, our family, our adventures, or the little pleasures of this world, the longing for things to be good again seems to be placated." He goes on, "But when trials and heartbreaks wash in, the longing rises to the surface like a whale coming up for air, filled with momentum and force. This is especially true after times of severe testing, because during the testing we are rallying. But when the storm subsides, the longing for things to be good ...

A thought by John Eldridge in his book, Resilient  (p. xii). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Let's go back a bit.  In talking about what we have been going through during the Covid-19 pandemic,  John says, "Follow me closely now. To be suddenly stripped of your normal life; to live under the fear of suffering and death; to be bombarded with negative news, kept in a state of constant uncertainty about the future, with no clear view of the finish line; and to lose every human countenance behind a mask—may I point out that this is exactly the torment that terrorist regimes use to break down prisoners psychologically and physically?" He says, "Folks, this had a traumatic effect, and we’ve got to plan for our recovery and find new resilience. " 'At least we can get back to our normal lives,' one friend said. But that’s not true either. I know you want it to be true, but events are converging that preve...

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book,  Talent Is Never Enough  (p. 37). HarperCollins Leadership.  Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book. John says, "One of my roles as a motivational teacher is to try to help people reach their potential. For years, I tried to inspire passion in audiences by going about it the wrong way. I used to tell people about what made me passionate, what made me want to get out and do my best. But I could see that it wasn’t having the effect I desired—people just didn’t respond. I couldn’t ignite others’ passion by sharing my own. "I decided to change my focus. Instead of sharing my passion, I started helping others discover their passion. To do that, I ask these questions:  What do you sing about? What do you cry about?  What do you dream about?" He goes on, "The first two questions speak to what touches you at a deep level today. The third answers what will bring you fulfillment tomorrow. The answ...

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book,  Talent Is Never Enough  (p. 36). HarperCollins Leadership.  Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book. John says, "What carries people to the top? What makes them take risks, go the extra mile, and do whatever it takes to achieve their goals? It isn’t talent. It’s passion. Passion is more important than a plan. Passion creates fire. It provides fuel. I have yet to meet a passionate person who lacked energy. As long as the passion is there, it doesn’t matter if they fail. It doesn’t matter how many times they fall down. It doesn’t matter if others are against them or if people say they cannot succeed. They keep going and make the most of whatever talent they possess. They are talent-plus people and do not stop until they succeed." He later says, "Loving what you do is the key that opens the door for achievement. When you don’t like what you’re doing, it really shows—no matter how hard you try to pre...

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book,  Talent Is Never Enough  (p. 26). HarperCollins Leadership.  Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Does that make sense? John says, "That may seem obvious in the physical realm. Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. However, in the human realm, many people don’t make the connection. They simply hope for good results. Hope is not a strategy. If you want good results, you need to perform good actions. If you want to perform good actions, you must have positive expectations. To have positive expectations, you have to first believe. It all goes back to that. Radio personality Paul Harvey observed, 'If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it.' It all starts with belief." John continues, "A popular activity for tourists in Switzerland is mountain climbing—not the type of climbing that the world-class mountaineers do to s...

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book,  Talent Is Never Enough  (p. 26). HarperCollins Leadership.  Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Our expectation can make such a difference in our life. John continues, "It just doesn’t happen. I once heard a story that I have not been able to confirm about an aviation pioneer who built a plane the year before the Wright brothers made their historic flight in Kitty Hawk. The plane sat in this inventor’s barn because he was afraid to fly it. Maybe it was because it had never been done before. Maybe it was because he expected it to fail—I don’t know. It’s said that after the news reached him about Orville and Wilbur Wright, the man flew his plane. Before then, he didn’t believe in himself enough to take the risk." John goes on, "There are two kinds of people in this world: those who want to get things done and those who don’t want to make mistakes. The Wright brothers were of the first type. T...