Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Max Lucado (2012-02-06) from his book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear (p. 38). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But Max doesn’t stop there.   He then says, “And nothing fosters fear like an ignorance of mercy.”   And that is where so many people live.   And maybe that is true of you. He goes on, “May I speak candidly? If you haven’t accepted God’s forgiveness, you are doomed to fear. Nothing can deliver you from the gnawing realization that you have disregarded your Maker and disobeyed his instruction. No pill, pep talk, psychiatrist, or possession can set the sinner’s heart at ease. You may deaden the fear, but you can’t remove it. Only God’s grace can. “Have you accepted the forgiveness of Christ? If not, do so. ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1: 9). Your prayer can be as simple as this: Dear Father,

A thought by Max Lucado (2012-02-06) from his book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear (p. 25). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Do you feel that way?   Do you fear that you don’t matter?   Do you?   Listen, it is a very powerful fear.   It really is. Max says, “The fear that you are one big zero will become a self-fulfilling prophecy that will ruin your life. It works like this.” He goes on, “You’re slugging away at a menial job that pays poorly and saps your energy. The salary covers the bills but nothing more. Your God-given abilities languish like unwatered roses. But then you read of a job opening that capitalizes on your skills, maximizes your abilities. So in a moment of uncharacteristic courage, you submit your application. The employer invites you in for an interview. That’s when the mentality of the Tribe of the Too Smalls returns. ‘I’ll never impress them,’ you moan. ‘I’ll look stupid in the intervi

A thought by Max Lucado (2012-02-06) from his book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear (p. 9). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Fear can be a horrible thing if carried too far, can’t it?   Have you ever been controlled by fear?   Are you now controlled by fear? Max says, “Fear creates a form of spiritual amnesia. It dulls our miracle memory. It makes us forget what Jesus has done and how good God is.” Is that where you are right now? He goes on, “When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life. Can the safety lover do anything great? Can the risk-averse accomplish noble deeds? For God? For others? No. The fear-filled cannot love deeply. Love is risky. They cannot give to the poor. Benevolence has no guarantee of return. The fear-filled cannot dream wildly. What if their dreams sputter and fall from the sky? The worship of safety emasculates grea