Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Location 2388). Kindle Edition. Have you read the story in the New Testament of the man who gave talents to three of his servants and told them to invest them and make a difference with them?   Two of them did what he said but one of them hid his.   When the man came back he was upset with the man who hid his and doubled the two who invested theirs. Every one of us has been given talents, has been given potential.   Many do all they can to strive to live out their potential and are rewarded but some don’t even try.   They live in the, I have no talent, no abilities; life is not fair so why should I try, world of hiding.   Granted in the story the man gave 10 talents to one, 5 to another and one to the third but he did give talents to all of them and he had expectations for each one of them.   The same is true of each one of us. You have a potential even though you d

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Locations 2410-2411). Kindle Edition. I read at least two newspapers every day and for the last while I have been reading about the two high school football players who had been at a party drinking and who had raped a 16 year old passed out girl.   Well this weekend they were found guilty and these two boys and their parents took it pretty hard.   There was one father of one of the guilty boys who had been an alcoholic in front of his son and who said with deep emotion that he was to blame.   He felt responsible because he had not been a father figure. Now many alcoholic fathers will say, “I’m not hurting anyone but myself” but this sad story shows that it isn’t the truth.   Our influence as parents goes a long way in the development of those around us.   Now of course this young man is responsible for his own action but the father was an influence.   There are so m

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Location 843). Kindle Edition. That is one of the main reasons we are given the opportunity of taking on God-sized challenges, He wants us to depend on Him.   When we can do it on our own then we don’t need Him and someone else. We do that so we won’t share the credit and also many times so we won’t fail.   The need to not fail drives us more it seems than the need for faith.   But to Him without faith it is impossible to please Him.   To please Him or bring Him glory is the reason why we are alive.   Somehow we need to really get that into our life view and live it. Now I know there is fear in faith but there is also fear in failing.   Failure takes something out of you and faith puts something in.   I can point to many God-sized challenges in my life but I think that retirement has been one of the most challenging opportunities that God has ever given me.   For a

A thought by Les Parrott, (2012-08-02) from his book, You're Stronger Than You Think: The Power to Do What You Feel You Can't (p. 76). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition. Who me?   I don’t have an anger problem, What do you mean I drink too much?   I can stop any time I want too. What do you mean I’m too negative?   I’m a realist. What do you mean I don’t spend enough time with the family?   Who is going to pay for all of this? What do you mean I need to get up and make getting a job my job?   There just isn’t anything out there. What do you mean I’m too friendly with that girl at work?   I still always come home to you. What do you mean I’m too friendly with that guy at work?   But my husband never listens to me. What do you mean I’m always depressed?   You would be too if you lived my life. What do you mean I am too difficult to live with?   If you would do what I want there wouldn’t be any problems. What do you mean I need God in my life?   What has

A thought by Leonard Sweet, (2012-03-13) from his book, What Matters Most: How We Got the Point but Missed the Perso n (Kindle Locations 2119-2120). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition. Maybe it is from our own fathers.   I’m so fortunate that I don’t serve a God like that because I had a father who wasn’t like that.   So many times our view of God comes from our view of our own father and for so many that is so tragic. I tell you the abuse that is handed out to so many children from someone who is their father is atrocious.   That is the most unbelievable, horrible thing that a man could every do, to abuse a child, especially if they are their father.   This world is so messed up in its relationships.   It’s no wonder that people have problems with serving a God that we call father.   Could you ever please your father?   If you are a father can your kids ever please you?   That is so tragic.   Well, let me tell you can please God.   Yes there is a prodding sometimes to

A thought by Leonard Sweet, (2012-03-13) from his book, What Matters Most: How We Got the Point but Missed the Person (Kindle Locations 2653-2654). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition. That is where love comes in, at least the love that comes from a relationship with Christ.   Now each relationship has a two-sided story and God’s loves strives to listen to their story and connect with their story.   That is where the hardening or softening comes in.   His love strives to listen, understand and forgive and in turn keeps one’s heart soft.   It’s in making it a one-side story in which you have been wronged that it can turn hard. My story has a period where my heart became hard.   I was looking at everything from my needs, my desires and my wants and not acknowledging that Margaret, Brett and Stefanie had stories of needs, desires and wants.   My self-centered living brought great pain into my family and eventually a protected hardness in my wife.   It didn’t change until we chang

A thought by Leonard Sweet, (2012-03-13) from his book, Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival (p. 84). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition. Do you ever look at a person’s face and wonder what their story is?   Do you ever ask them? Have you ever wanted someone to ask you?   I mean your life has had a difficult turn or a fantastic turn and you would just like to share it but no one asks.   It is so easy for us to walk through life afraid to look at people’s faces.   We are just so busy and we really don’t want to see their faces, we really don’t want to listen to their story because we don’t have time to get involved.   But it is different when we are on the other side. The business of life has made it difficult to connect with people but just a moment of time can make a major difference for them and for you.   I usually sit at Starbucks right by where the drinks come out.   It usually takes a couple of minutes to get their drink mixed so I usuall