Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2010-09-21) from his book, Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible (p. 30). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition . It is really difficult when a child is sick especially when they are a baby.   Right now our daughter, Stef and her husband, Andrew’s little seven old daughter, Harper is very sick.   She is in the hospital going through a lot of testing to find out what is wrong.      It is in those times when we can do nothing that our faith really comes into play.   I don’t understand how people without a relationship with God can handle those times.   It is difficult when you do have faith.   I mean those who believe totally in their ability to do whatever needs to be done must have real problems when they can’t do anything. I am so glad that I have a faith in someone who can do everything.   He is someone I totally trust.   He created us so He knows everything about us.   He also gave knowledge and abilities

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 90). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I have a friend who can look at a menu and taste each item on it in anticipation.   He can enjoy his food without eating it.   His food pallet is that refined. Have you ever stood in a line to ride a rollercoaster?   Now you were either scared to death or excited and ho you anticipated it went a long way to whether your thrill was exciting or not.   I was watching the US Open in golf this past weekend and Phil Mickelson was looking at a very difficult shot that he had to make and he was picturing or anticipating the outcome.   Now many people would look at the shot and anticipate missing it and of course they would.   But Phil was anticipating how he was going to make it.   He didn’t make it but it was an impossible shot and he came very close. I read a Psalm every day in the Old Testament in the Bible.   David is o

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 89). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I found that to be true.   I was driven in Las Vegas by a dream that wasn’t accomplished but it held me steady for 15 years so other things could be accomplished.   Dreams are very important.   God knows us and knows we need them.   He built us that way. I am today living out the benefit of living 15 years in Vegas.   I had never lived more than five years in any one place until Las Vegas.   Because of my dream we stayed 15 years there and we needed to stay there that long for the other things in our life to be accomplished.   He used it for His purpose and for our betterment and other people’s betterment.   Now I did have to deal  emotionally for a period of time with the dream not being accomplished.   I didn’t go back to Vegas for over four years but I now see what has been accomplished because of the dream.   It is di

A thought by Leonard Sweet, (2012-03-13) from his book, Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival (p. 125). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition. What do you know for certain?   It seems like it is only what is in your past.   So nothing from this moment on is certain so it has to be lived by faith.   Oh you think you know but you don’t really. I know so many people at my age are living from the certainty that what will make them happy is retirement.   I mean they are working long hours so that they will have enough in their retirement fund to be secure in retirement.   That is their total focus to have enough to live on but really that desire for certainty is robbing them of peace and adventure that comes by living by faith.   They are certain that they will be happy if they have $500.000 saved for their retirement then they can have fun living without any responsibilities. But to me certainty has a boredom factor in it.   And there is no excitement, no ad

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2011-01-18) from his book, Soulprint: Discovering Your Divine Destiny (p. 140). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition . That is such a life-giving thought.   So many people just want to die because of some mistake that they made.   They can’t forgive themselves and so they live in such despair but they don’t have to. Yes that mistake may be there and your marriage is over or you can’t work in that job but life isn’t over.   The story of Zachariah in the gospel of Luke in the Bible is a good place to look. An Angel came to him one day and told him that God had heard his prayer and that his wife, Elizabeth was going to have a son.   But Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this?   I’m now an old man and my wife is an old woman.”  He must have been praying this prayer for a long time.  But  because he didn’t believe him that it was going to now happen the angel took his ability to speak away from him.   He blew it and suffered s

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 79). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I know some people that all they hunger for is to retire.   To just stop working so they can do nothing.   Now i did go through a time of real adjustment when I retired because I loved what I was doing so I decided to adapt and to keep at it but without pay. I have found that deep inside me is a hunger to grow, to learn, and to do.   The reason why it is there is because that is the way I was built and that is the way you were built.   I am so glad that I had parents who understood that.   My mom still at 85+ craves to learn and to do.   I love that about her.   I know it is frustrating sometimes to those around her.   They wish that she would just sit down and sleep and stay out of their way but I love it.   That’s not my mom. You see to stop doing what you are designed to do means you’ve died.   I’ve met some people

A thought by Kyle Idleman, (2011-05-24) from his book, Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (p. 135). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. I love my son, Brett and my daughter, Stefanie.   I really do.   There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for them.   Now I know that they love me but in one sense there love for me was kind of forced on them.   I mean Margaret and I acted on a desire we had and nine months later they each were born.   It all happened through no chose of theirs.   They each woke up one day and there we were.   But Margaret is difference.   She definitely chose to love me.   I wasn’t forced on her.   She didn’t have to love me, she just does.   Now there have been some difficult days in our life together but she still chooses to love me.   She doesn’t have to love me but she does and she didn’t have to marry me but she did.   I really do love her.   Now Brett and Stefanie made their choices of loving Marissa and Andrew and making their lifetim