Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus,(2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Location 400). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. When we have too high an opinion of ourselves we can look down or disregard other people.    Everyone is here to take care of me of my needs of my wants and my desires.   The opposite is also true.   If I don’t value myself then I am afraid of other people.   I don’t even want to talk to them let alone give them any value.   I feel that I don’t have anything to give. But each one of us has the potential for great worth and great value.   And it comes from adding value and worth to others.   We are instruments of God to reach out and make a difference in other people’s lives, to show them they are special.   We don’t do it to get it but we get it because we do it. How do you see yourself?   How do you see other people?   Jesus said that we are to love others as we love ourselves.   Jesus gave His life for us.   He did

A thought by John C. Maxwell, (2012-10-02) from his book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential (p. 55). Center Street. Kindle Edition. I wonder how many of us would have seen that we were headed in the wrong direction if we would have just stopped and spent some time to think and to evaluate?    The problem was we didn’t think we had the time.   And that can be dangerous. Margaret and I have made some major changes in our life in the last 18 months.   We have lived in New York, Florida and now California.   At one point in our time in Florida it looked like Margaret’s job was going through a major change and if we would have stayed doing what we were doing we would have been in a very difficult situation. One day we were traveling to a horse show about two hours north of where we lived in Seminole, Florida and we decided to spend some time in reflection.   That two hour trip brought us to some changes that brought us to Pasadena, California

A thought by John C Maxwell,. (2012-10-02) from his book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential (p. 6). Center Street. Kindle Edition. Mistakes go along with trying.   It is one way you learn.   The need to be perfect keeps many from growing and learning. Now in many endeavors perfection is the needed result but there must be trial and error in order to get there.   But in individuals perfection is not possible here on earth but growth is and there will be mistakes in growing.   That is a part of learning and growing. My son took his California driver’s license test this past week.   He only missed one but the only one he will remember is the one he missed.   That was the one he went back to see what they said was the right answer.   It was the only answer we all discussed There is so much to learn in trying and maybe in making a mistake.   There is nothing to learn in not trying.   The mistakes tell you that you are trying. Have you

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. 40). Zondervan. Kindle Edition . I go to a downtown Starbucks and read two newspapers every day.   That is my routine and I do it seven days a week.   Now I jokingly tell those people going to work on Monday through Friday that I am retired and I am always retired and I never have a day off and it took a lifetime for me to get this job.   An older successful business man this morning said that he was looking forward to the day that he could sit in my other chair and not have to go to work.   That is what he is looking forward to. But the first six months of my retirement were very difficult.   Not having a significant reason to get up every morning was difficult until I found my purpose or really extended the purpose that I have had in my life.   My purpose has been to make a difference every day in some individual, in my community an

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Location 1048). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I have found that sometimes it is difficult to tell the truth but I have also found that it is more difficult to remember a lie.   I have lived the truth.   All I have to do is remember what I have done but I haven’t lived a lie.   I just made it up and I then have to remember it.   To tell a lie makes life more complicated. One of the reasons why I write this blog is to encourage you in your life.   I want you to really enjoy your life.   Today my purpose is to encourage you to tell the truth. What do you want to be known as, a person they can trust or someone they can’t?   What if you are filling out an application for a job you really want?   It is your dream job.   You have the ability to do it but you have to put down some references of people who have worked with you and who really know you.   Now it is a job that

A thought by Jonathan Martin, (2013-04-19) from his book, Prototype: What Happens When You Discover You're More Like Jesus Than You Think? (p. 24). Tyndale Momentum. Kindle Edition. I feel that on my self-focus days.  But the reality is I have just as much as I ever have.   I have this day, no more no less.   I may think that I have less time at 66 than I had at 26 but that isn’t always true.   There are some 26 year olds who don’t have more days ahead than I have.   None of us know how much time we have.   The key is today is what I have so I must make use of it.   It is God’s gift to me and I shouldn’t waste it on feelings of what I have lost or don’t have. I have what I always have.   I have today. Somehow that sets us free.    Life is today and all of its opportunities and privileges.   It is God’s personal gift to me.   And how I use it my personal gift to Him. Jesus as a human is a clear example of this.   He used each day here on earth to its fullest.   He did

A thought by Seth Godin, (2010-10-13) from his book, Graceful (Kindle Location 365). New Word City, Inc.. Kindle Edition. That is what keeps so many people from stepping out and taking responsibility.   They don’t want the pressure.   They fear the negative.   They are afraid of being blamed for something going wrong.   They just want to accept things the way they are.   There also are some who don’t want to take responsibility so they can point the finger.   They want to be the blamer but I say that is really being lame.   That is being a coward. But there is another side, responsibility also gets the credit.   That is why some don’t want to give it; they don’t want to share the credit.   But it seems like taking responsibility and also giving it to others is really the way to make a difference.   And that to me is the best thing about responsibility, the making a difference part and that means living life to its fullest.            Now I have taken responsibilit