Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Mark Batterson (2014-09-02) from his book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible (p. 113). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But the problem is, we really don’t want to.   Oh we may wish to but want to is a different thing. Mark says, “No matter what goal you’re trying to achieve or problem you’re trying to solve, you have to want it more than the pain that will be inflicted upon you in the process of trying to attain it. That’s where nine out of ten of us fall short, according to Dr. Edward Miller, the thirteenth dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. More than one and a half million Americans undergo a coronary bypass graft every year. And while angioplasty effectively relieves many of the symptoms of clogged arteries, it’s a temporary fix. Without a change in eating and exercise habits, the health benefits are short-lived. And patients are told that...

A thought by Mark Batterson (2014-09-02) from his book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible (p. 94). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever thought about the fact that one of the main ways that we can limit God working in our lives is by our not asking Him too?   Too many times when we have a problem and we are doing all we can to solve except we don’t stop to pray about it.   That shouldn’t be our last resort that should be our first. We really don’t realize the power of our relationship with God and the real difference it can make in our daily life.   Do you connect with God on a daily basis?   When my kids were in school I would pray for God’s protection each and every day.   I still do.   I live in Pasadena, California, Brett lives in Studio City, California and Stef lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.   I still pray for God’s protection on their li...

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book,  The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For ? (p. 432). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) This is such an important fact to remember.   Happiness is a choice.   I choose to be happy.   But so many people live in such despair because they are looking to please someone who is unpleasable.   It is impossible to please some people.   And that is their problem not yours.   Rick says, “It is a fact of life that on our broken planet filled with broken people, there will always be those who will demean how you look, dislike what you do, disapprove of what you believe, dispute what you say, and disrespect who you are. But they cannot control your emotions unless you let them. Disapproval doesn’t have to devastate you.” I love this verse in Psalm 27: 10 (NLT). “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.”...

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book,  The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For ? (p. 420). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) There are phrases that are there for us to say that are phrases that don’t need to be said.   Like the phrase, “Life isn’t fair.”   Of course it isn’t.   But that is not where we need to dwell. Now I start each day with the phrase, “God is good.”   That gives me the focus that everything that happens to me may not be fair or may not be good but as it goes through a good God then it is changed into something that happens for my good. But it is so easy to hit the “live isn’t fair” button. Rick says, “Anytime I accuse God of being unfair, I am foolishly implying, ‘God, I’d make a better god than you, because if I was God, I’d be more fair than you are.’   The next time you start to rant about God’s unfairness to you, remind yourself of the...

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book,  The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For ? (p. 411). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is a tremendous thing to realize and to come to grips with.   We want everyone to do it our way, to think like we think.   I understand the way we sometimes look at our kids and someone will say that they are just like you but is that a good compliment?   God only creates original masterpieces.   And that is where acceptance comes in. But too many times envy and rejection can come in.   We envy someone else for what they look like.   I wish I could be tall like them.   Or we reject them because they are different than us.   But as Rick says, “God distinctively shaped you for a life unlike any other. Only you can be you. Only you can live the life God designed you to live. But it’s also true that you cannot live a life that G...

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2014-09-02) from his book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible (p. 68). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) And I don’t always get an A on this test.   I don’t always react well.   Mark says, “It’s relatively easy to act like Jesus. It’s much harder to react like Him.” I was reading in the 26 th chapter of Matthew this morning of when Jesus was taken to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest where He was unjustly put on trial.   They were trying to find something false against Him so they could kill Him.   Many people came and told lies about Him.   In verse 62 (NCV) it says, “Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Aren’t you going to answer? Don’t you have something to say about their charges against you?’   But Jesus said nothing.”   And then after all of this they eventually took Him and put Him on a cross ...

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2014-09-02) from his book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible (p. 57). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But we want to be the star.   But it doesn’t work that way. Mark puts it this way, “Nearly every miracle recorded in Scripture involves a supporting cast. The two blind men were operating on the buddy system (Matthew 20: 30). The paralytic had four friends drop ship him through a hole in the ceiling (Mark 2: 1– 12). Without those extras, the miracle doesn’t go down.   And what about the boy with five loaves and two fish?   He isn’t even named in the credits, but talk about fifteen minutes of fame! He was the supporting actor in one of Jesus’ most amazing miracles (John 6: 1– 14).   If you want the starring role, you’ll miss the miracle.” What could God do through us if we didn’t have to have the credit?   But I’m so insecure a...