Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Max Lucado from his book, Every Day Deserves a Chance: Wake Up to the Gift of 24 Hours (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But that is what we do so much of the time, isn’t it? Max says, “We do to our day what I did to a bike ride. My friend and I went on an extended hill-country trek. A few minutes into the trip I began to tire. Within a half hour, my thighs ached and my lungs heaved like a beached whale. I could scarcely pump the pedals. I’m no Tour de France contender, but neither am I a newcomer, yet I felt like one. After forty-five minutes I had to dismount and catch my breath. That’s when my partner spotted the problem. Both rear brakes were rubbing my back tire! Rubber grips contested every pedal stroke. The ride was destined to be a tough one.” He goes on, “Don’t we do the same? Guilt presses on one side. Dread drags the other. No wonder we weary so. We sabotage our day, wiring it for

A thought by Max Lucado from his book. Trade Your Cares for Calm (p. 62). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Do you need to hear that today?   Do you need to know it? Max says, “And ’If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans 8:31). From his perspective, you are worth the death of his Son. You are valuable, purposeful, and important. ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine’ (Isaiah 43:1 RSV).” Max goes on, “If God is for you, shouldn’t you be for you? Does it make sense for you to be against you? You are against you when you call yourself dumb, ugly, or poor. You are against you when you tell yourself that there is no solution, hope, or promise in life. You are against you when you decide that you have no talents or friends or future. “So how do you begin to see yourself as God does? “ Remember that your words matter . You are either your worst critic or greatest

A thought by Max Lucado from his book. Trade Your Cares for Calm (p. 32). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) We have so many problems in enjoying our daily life because of worry.   Wouldn’t you like to stop?   Max gives here eight worry stoppers.   Let’s go through them. He says, “ 1. Pray first. Don’t pace up and down the floors of the waiting room; pray for a successful surgery. Don’t bemoan the collapse of an investment; ask God to help you. ‘Let him have all your worries and cares’ (1 Peter 5:7 TLB). “ 2. Easy, now. Slow down. ‘Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him’ (Psalm 37:7 NASB). “ 3. Act on it. Become a worry-slapper. Treat frets like mosquitoes. Give them the slap they deserve. Be equally decisive with anxiety. The moment a concern surfaces, deal with it rather than dwell on it. “ 4. Compile a worry list . Over a period of days, record your anxious thoughts. Then review them later. How