Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Kyle Idleman, (2011-05-24) from his book, Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (p. 82). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. It might be very enlightening to know what Jesus really thinks is important.   I know a lot of people think they know by what they are griping about on Facebook.   That is one reason why I am reading and rereading the Gospels.   I want to really know what Jesus thinks is important then I want to do it or not do it. Now I’m not really sure why we spend so much of our Facebook time on how the government deals with Health Care or the other issues like the taking Christ out of Christmas.   Maybe it is because that makes us feel Christian without doing Christian.   We seem to think all of these stands we take are the Christian way. But is it really? When I read the Gospels I find that His Kingdom in us is important, taking care of the sick is important, feeding people is important, right priorities in the church is important

A thought by Seth Godin, (2011-03-01) from his book, Poke the Box (p. 80). AmazonEncore. Kindle Edition . I’ve heard it many times that when we are waiting on God to tell us to start, He’s waiting on us to start.   He’s given us the idea and He wants us to do it but we think there has to be a voice from heaven to tell us to start.      Now one reason why we may wait for permission is to be able to blame someone else when something goes wrong.   Let me tell you, even if it is something from God, something will go wrong.    That is a part of the process.   But Seth also said, “Not starting is far, far worse than being wrong.   If you start, you’ve got a shot at evolving and adjusting to turn your wrong into a right. But if you don’t start, you never get a chance.” I don’t think being wrong is the worst thing in life.   Not trying is.   So I accepted the opportunity to start writing today.   I didn’t need permission, I just needed to start.   He gave me the desire, the

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 76). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Does that make sense to you?   It does to me. I am reminded in myself some times of what I have failed to accomplish or where I blew it.   The truth is there is pain there.   I also know that if I stay there my potential to live life at its fullness is over. I was reading today the last few chapters of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible of Jesus death on a cross.   Can you imagine how those who had followed Him were feeling?   I mean everything they believed in was hanging on that Cross as a failure.   What fools were we to believe that He was more than a man.   But that was Friday and so many of us live in the Friday’s of our lives.   We are fired, our marriage falls apart, we gave in again to that temptation, we followed the wrong person, we failed.   It is horrible to live in the Friday existence of failure.

A thought by Craig Groeschel, (2012-04-24)from his book, Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World (p. 120). Zondervan   Kindle Edition . . I know this isn’t a new thought but it is an important reminder.   It is all about this matter of comparison.   If I look at someone who has more I can get discouraged.   But if I look at someone who has less I can get proud.   Both are not God accepted qualities. Now I understand the need to strive, to not accept mediocrity in ourselves but I also understand the need to be thankful.   God is so good.   He gives us so much in each day but He also gives us so much potential.   He is so very good.   Enjoy what He has given you, both what you have today and the opportunity for tomorrow. I love my life, both the good in it and the difficult.   They are both there for my good.   He has taken a special interest in my life and a special interest in your life.   He didn’t create me for your life; He created me for my life.   He creat

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book,  Uprising: A Revolution of the Sou l (Kindle Location 240). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . I understand the desire that we have to live in a free country.   The USA came in existence because of a desire to have religious freedom and we will do all we can to keep it.   It seems that some of those freedoms are slowly being taken away from us.   But if you read the book in the New Testament called the Acts of the Apostles you will see that the church was born under the rule of the dominion of a pagan empire. That is what this thought by Erwin was talking about.     Now I said that to say that we need to be careful to live with an expectation of God to provide us with this freedom.   We are no better than those Christians who live in the Peking Jerusalem Corridor who are under persecution every day.   God loves them just as much as He loves us.   We need to be thankful every day that we have this privilege but we al

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Locations 237-238). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. There are so outside situations that can stop us from living free.   There are people who live in Red China who are living freer than people who live in the United States.   There are people who are poor who are living freer than people who have wealth.   There are people who are sick in bed who are freer than those who are young and healthy.   There are married people who are living freer than single people.   The Apostle Paul was free while in prison.   He wrote a big part of the New Testament.   The Apostle John was free on the Isle of Patmos. He wrote 5 books of the NT including the Revelations.   Jesus was free on the Cross.   He was free to save us.   Corrie Ten Boom was free in a Nazi Concentration Camp.   Her story has transformed so many people’s lives. Your situation doesn’t make you free, your Savior does

A thought by Darren Whitehead, Jon Tyson and Bill Hybels, (2011-07-19) from their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About (p. 33). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. That is true with the world but not God.   Yes it seems like I am wearing out each day but the best is yet to come.   My mind isn’t wearing out.   My love for my wife, Margaret isn’t wearing out.   My anticipation to see my kids and grandkids grow to God’s full potential is not wearing out.   My passion to make a difference with God isn’t wearing out.   My wisdom from God isn’t wearing out.   My experience isn’t wearing out.   My excitement for life isn’t wearing out.   My challenge to see people come to their full potential isn’t wearing out.   My desire to serve Jesus isn’t wearing out.   My yearning to share with you each day is not wearing out.   My longing to learn isn’t wearing out.   My wonderment of what is around the corning isn’t wearing out.     My craving to know more ab