Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 37). Zondervan. Kindle Edition . It starts with forgiveness.   We ask Him for forgiveness for living our life by our self and messing it up and He forgives us and gives us a fresh start.   That is also what He wants us to do. He wants us to give those people around us who have messed up with us and maybe hurt us a fresh start when they ask us to forgive them.   He will give us strength to forgive them.   Now I know we don’t always want to do that.   We don’t think that is fair.   I mean they hurt me.   They don’t deserve a fresh start, they deserve justice but that is also true of us.   But God forgives us even though justice says He shouldn’t. Our problem is we want a fresh start but we don’t want them to have one.   We think we deserve it and they don’t but it doesn’t work that way.   The truth is justice says it must go both ways

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within (Kindle Location 222). Kindle Edition. I find it so interesting to hear people who say they are Christians say that now that I am a follower of Christ there will be no pain and suffering in my life.   If there is it means I don’t have enough faith.   But what that really means is they haven’t read the story of Christ.   If they read His story and the story of those closest to Him they would see that they had great pain and great suffering. Yes they had pain and suffering and yes they had meaning and purpose and fulfillment and reward.   They had a reason to live and they understood the reason for the suffering.   They were serving Christ not Him serving them.   They lived for a cause that was great than themselves.   And that is what real living is all about. So what are you living for, no pain or suffering or meaningfulness?

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. 134). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition. I could share right now ten blessings in my life.   I would have no problem doing that but I know that that wouldn’t benefit you.   My blessings are different than your blessings. I do have problems in my life and I deal with them and strive to solve them but I don’t dwell on them or count them.   That would be discouraging to me.   I find it more beneficial to look at my blessings.    I find that is where my power comes for me to face my problems because I see how God is blessing and not Satan is defeating. As I said, I do deal with my potential problems before they become major problems.   To me solving is better than sobbing.   Sobbing gets me nowhere except defeated.   Counting blessings keeps me encouraged.   It’s all in the focus.   Solve the problems you can and count your blessin

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life ) (p. 50). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. That is so true from so many standpoints.   Right now my son and his family are living with Margaret and me.   I go out every morning to Starbucks and when I came home today my two granddaughters (Addison, 3 & Ashlyn, 6) were excited and saying, “apple, apple.”   We have a daily ritual of eating an apple together and when I was done today I said, “My work is done here.   They love apples.”   When my kids, Brett and Stefanie were young and at home they were excited when I would come home with donuts.   I wish I would have started the apple business with them instead of donuts.   I love donuts, probably more than apples and at that time of my life I wasn’t thinking long range but the here and now and that wasn’t healthy for any of us. Now Margaret and I did deal with the important issue which was their

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. 132). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition. So many think it is the opposite of that.   My life is totally what happens to me and I have no control over it.   I am a victim.   But it is so liberating to believe that that isn’t the case. I mean so many sit and dwell upon their past and live in such a helpless, depressing way in their life.   I can’t be happy, I can’t make a difference, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t but the truth is they are saying I won’t because they have given into their circumstances.   But God didn’t create us that way.     Of course there is a part of our life that is controlled by what happens, 10 perfect.   But most of it is controlled by how we respond to it.   Do we give in or get up and do something?   Jackie Robinson was born black.   He couldn’t change that. He was also born with unlimited potential.   No

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. 92). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition. When our kids were young and still at home, when they were sick or had been hurt they would naturally run to mom.   I have spent many nights in a bed by myself because the kids wanted to sleep with mom when they were hurting.   She was great in giving comfort and nurture in their time of need.   I also had my place in those times too. But have you noticed that society takes over as we get older and says that you need to hide your pain?   You don’t need anyone.   I know that one of the reasons for this is the fear of rejection when we get older.   But the truth is we are not weaker because we need help but we become weaker when we don’t ask for it. Here is the point, God doesn’t want any of us to be alone in our pain but Satan wants you to be.   Satan wants to put false thoughts into your mi

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. 57). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition. Now most irrational beliefs are negative and they come from a false idea.   I hear so many of them and I see how they control people. I can’t do anything. I’m too short. Nobody will ever love me. I’m not smart. I’m ugly. I have problems taking tests. Nothing ever goes right for me. What about a rational belief… I can do all things through Christ. God created me exactly the way He wanted.   He doesn’t make junk. God loves me.   Everybody is smart in some area.   I am smart at… I think my smile/hair/eyes/friendliness is my best feature. I have studied and I can do this.   I know I can. All things work together for good. There is a rational belief that counteracts each irrational belief.   So the choice is which belief you will dwell on which leads you to worry