Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Craig Groeschel (2015-10-27) from his book, #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World (p. 201). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I don’t know how you are finishing this year and what you are carrying into the new year.   Is it the same thing that you started 2015 with?   Craig gives some great advice.   Oh I know.   My dad used to say that advice not asked for stinks.   I know that can be true.   But this thought could make all the difference in the new year ahead.   Here it is, “It’s time to stop making excuses and start getting well.”   That is very good stuff. Over in John 5:8-9 we find Jesus looking at a crippled man and He said to him, “‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.”   Maybe that is what he is saying to you at the end of 2015. Craig said, “Jesus didn’t heal the man a month later; it happened immediately. In the same way, w

A thought by Craig Groeschel (2015-10-27) from his book, #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World (p. 198). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is the truth! Back a few years ago I got tired of weighing 260 lbs. so I with God's help did something about it and I went through a slow process of losing 50 lbs.   That was great.   But I have slowly gained 25 lbs. back and I know that I cannot change until I’m not willing to tolerate the weight gain and do something about it.   Do you have anything in your life that you are tolerating? Craig says, “If you just sort of don’t like it, the problem won’t go away. Not ever. If you’re willing to put up with it, things will never be different. You have to get to the point where you’re no longer afraid of what you might miss out on. You have to refuse to miss out on what— and who— is right in front of you.” He goes on, “Addictions are rarely easy to overcome.

A thought by Craig Groeschel (2015-10-27) from his book, #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World (pp. 186-187). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Relationships are so important in our lives.   As Ruben Welch said, “We really do need each other.”   We really do.   So how are your relationships going?   How is your God relationship going?   Craig says, “If you neglect your time with God because you keep allowing yourself to be distracted, you’re missing out on an intimate connection with him. Your relationship with God is similar to other relationships in your life. If you neglect the important people in your life because you keep interrupting your time together, then you’re hurting them.” He goes on, “If you’re checking your fantasy football results while trying to have a conversation with your wife, she will feel slighted. If you’re checking Facebook or blogging instead of helping your kids with homework,