Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Rick Warren from his book. God's Power to Change Your Life (Living with Purpose) (p. 55). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) And that is what we want, isn’t it?   We want the easier way. Rick says, “If I act as if I’m enthusiastic, I will soon begin to feel enthusiastic. If I act as if I’m happy, before you know it I will feel happy. Try right now putting the biggest smile on your face that you can muster up; then make yourself laugh — really laugh inside. At first it will seem forced, but dig deep and create the body movement of laughter. You will begin to feel happier. If we begin to act lovingly, we will soon feel loving.” That is so true.   I wonder how that person at work or that relative you will see during the holiday season would respond if you began to act lovingly toward them rather than the way you feel about them?   You might say that is dishonest.   No  that is the way...

A thought by Rick Warren from his book. God's Power to Change Your Life (Living with Purpose) (p. 54). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) There are a lot of hurting people who are out hurting people.   Maybe that is true of you on both sides. Rick says, “If someone is hurting you, that person is doing so because he or she is hurting. We need to look beyond people’s faults and see their needs. Then we can learn to love. “Have you discovered that the most obnoxious people and the least lovable people are those who need love the most? The people we would rather ignore are the very ones who desperately need massive doses of love. Everyone needs love. If a person can’t get love, he will strive for attention. And if he can’t get positive attention, he will work at attracting negative attention. Subconsciously, he is saying, ‘I will be noticed, one way or another.’” Rick then says, “We cannot change our feelings, bu...

A thought by Rick Warren from his book. God's Power to Change Your Life (Living with Purpose) (p. 52). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) And for so many their love is divided. Rick says, “And a bitter heart is a divided heart."  Maybe that is you. Rick goes on, “You may be thinking, ‘I can’t love my spouse. He is a wonderful person, but I just can’t love him.’ You are probably still reacting to your past and harboring resentment against someone. That is what is keeping you from loving your spouse. And that is not fair to your spouse. “Many people have a just cause for their anger. For example, I heard a news report on the radio that one out of every three women and one out of every seven men will be abused during their lifetime. But we have to let go of the past to get on with the present. To begin loving people today, we must close the door on the past. And that cannot happen without forgiveness! Forgi...