Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Dare to Drop the Pose (p. 153). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) He does, he does.   And that is so encouraging, isn’t it? Craig asks, “So what have others told you that you can’t do? Be an effective teacher? Start a business? Raise great kids? Lead an organization? Get out of debt? Write a book? Lead a Bible study? “God uses the unlikely.   He may do through you what others say can’t be done. He loves to use people who others don’t believe are ready. God has put more in you than those around you can see. And He looks past what the world looks for. God isn’t searching for great looks, a full head of hair, the perfect figure, or the smartest or funniest person. “God is looking at what He put in you: quiet faith, untapped courage, dormant gifts. Others look at the outside. God sees His perfect work on the inside.” Craig goes on, “One...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Dare to Drop the Pose (p. 150). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I’m sure there is a time that all of us parents have felt that.   Being a dad is a very difficult task, isn’t it? Craig says, “As hard as I’ve tried, even today I haven’t shaken those feelings.” He goes on, “Years ago, when I was a timid, young pastor starting our church, a good friend, Dennis, told me something I’ll never forget. After one of my days of particularly deep insecurity, Dennis sensed my struggle and boldly said, ‘God doesn’t choose the prepared. He prepares the chosen.’ “I love that. You don’t have to be ready for God to use you. In fact, you might never feel ready. When God calls you, He’ll prepare you with on-the-job training. With each step, He’ll lead you. If you are unsure of yourself, you’re in great company, and you’re at the top of God’s ‘Potential Disciples’ li...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Dare to Drop the Pose (p. 127). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) OK, what is the difference?   I want to know! Craig says, “James (in the NT of the Bible) reflected this truth when he wrote, ‘You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder’ (James 2:19). Demons know God is real, but they obviously don’t serve Him. For years I tried to believe in God without fully believing Him.” Craig goes on, “There are at least three types of faith on the spectrum between ‘believing in’ and ‘believing,’ and I’ve experienced them all. The first kind of faith is held by the person I call, the casual believer . Such a person believes in God but hasn’t fully surrendered to Him. He may be a church attender, and possibly a very moral person. Even though this person believes in God, he lives his life as if God doesn’t really exist—a confes...