Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Max Lucado (2011-05-02) from his book, Cure for the Common Life (p. 94). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I want to live a life that makes a difference for God.  Do you? Max says, “…I remind you that we have two bosses: one who signs our checks and one who saves our souls. The second has keen interest in our workaday world. What if everyone worked with God in mind? Suppose no one worked to satisfy self or please the bottom line but everyone worked to please God.” He goes on, “Many occupations would instantly cease: drug trafficking, thievery, prostitution, nightclub and casino management. Certain careers, by their nature, cannot please God. These would cease. Certain behaviors would cease as well. If I’m repairing a car for God, I’m not going to overcharge his children. If I’m painting a wall for God, you think I’m going to use paint thinner?” Max tells a story, “When Michelangelo was in his early

A thought by Max Lucado (2011-05-02) from his book, Cure for the Common Life  (p. 88). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Max continues this thought by saying, “But when you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel. Your Bible overflows with examples of those who did.” “In his gospel, Matthew mentions his own name only twice. Both times he calls himself a tax collector. In his list of apostles, he assigns himself the eighth spot. John doesn’t even mention his name in his gospel. The twenty appearances of ‘John’ all refer to the Baptist. John the apostle simply calls himself the ‘other disciple’ or the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved.’ Luke wrote two of the most important books in the Bible but never once penned his own name.” Max goes on, “Paul, the Bible’s most prolific author, referred to himself as ‘a fool’ (2 Cor. 12:11). He also called himself ‘the least of the apostles’ (1 Cor. 15:9). Five years later he claimed to b

A thought by Max Lucado (2011-05-02) from his book, Cure for the Common Life (p. 71). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is the truth.   Max says, “Not eye sight, a matter of distorted vision that lenses can correct, but I-sight. Poor I-sight blurs your view, not of the world, but of yourself. ”   He goes on, “Some see self too highly. Maybe it’s the PhD or pedigree. A tattoo can do it; so can a new truck or the Nobel Peace Prize. Whatever the cause, the result is the same. ‘I have so many gifts. I can do anything.’”   He then says, “And don’t we also know the other extreme: ‘I can’t do anything’?   Forget the thin air of pomposity; these folks breathe the thick, swampy air of self-defeat. Roaches have higher self-esteem. Earthworms stand taller. ‘I’m a bum. I am scum. The world would be better off without me.’” And have you at one time felt each of these poor I-sights?   “Two extremes of poor I-sight. Self-

A thought by Max Lucado (2011-05-02) from his book, Cure for the Common Life (p. 70). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I love a story that Max tells.   He says, “The bank sent me an overdraft notice on the checking account of one of my daughters. I encourage my college-age girls to monitor their accounts. Even so, they sometimes overspend. What should I do? Let the bank absorb it? They won’t. Send her an angry letter? Admonition might help her later, but it won’t satisfy the bank. Phone and tell her to make a deposit? Might as well tell a fish to fly. I know her liquidity. Zero. Transfer the money from my account to hers? Seemed to be the best option. After all, I had $25.37. I could replenish her account and pay the overdraft fee as well. Besides, that’s my job. Don’t get any ideas. If you’re overdrawn, don’t call me. My daughter can do something you can’t do: she can call me Dad. And since she calls me Dad, I did what d