Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Craig Groeschel (2015-10-27) from his book, # Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World (p. 208). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) We also know this as the Golden Rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6: 31).   Always a good thought to start a new year, isn’t it? Craig says, “When you think about how you like to be loved online, it’s easy to know how to treat others. For starters is the obvious. You can Like someone’s post. You can retweet what they say or reply with a kind word or two. You can offer a sincere and uplifting compliment. You can comment positively on something they said or posted.” He goes on, “You can refrain from saying something hurtful to others, being antagonistic, or always ignoring what they do or say. As a general rule, I try not to post things that are negative and critical. Enough people are doing that. I want what I say and show to be uplifting an

A thought by Craig Groeschel (2015-10-27) from his book, #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World (p. 207). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) This is such a good thought to focus on as we end 2015 and start 2016.   Craig says, “We’re tempted to think we’re okay because we do the church thing on Sundays. Then during the week, we do the work thing, and on the weekends, we do our own thing. But in reality, because our lives belong to God, everything we do should be God things. Everything.” Here is what Paul said in the New Testament and he said it clearly, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3: 17). Craig continues, “He should be first in all we do. If we’re watching television, going to the grocery store, studying for an exam, asking someone out on a date, updating our Facebook status, or tweeting about

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