Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Christine Caine from her book, Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith, Embrace the Adventure (p. 96). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But it is so easy to believe that to be true, isn’t it?  But it doesn't need to!   But w e all have at one time in our life been hurt by someone. Christine said, “Imagine if I’d let my broken heart hold me back every time it has been broken. I certainly wouldn’t have been whole enough to be the kind of mother Sophia needed that night when she poured out all her hurt to me. And in my marriage, I wouldn’t be the kind of wife that I’ve learned to be. I would be making Nick pay for things he’d never done because my actions toward him would all be rooted in past hurts and abuse inflicted by other people—some going all the way back to kindergarten. ”   She continues, “Isn’t that what we do when we have unresolved relational wounds? We carry them from one re

A thought by Christine Caine from her book, Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith, Embrace the Adventure (p. 87). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But it does happen, yes it does?   Christine says, “People fail us—and we fail people—repeatedly. It happens in our childhood and continues all the way through our adulthood. Our lives are intertwined with everyone around us—just as God designed—but we are all a part of a flawed humanity. None of us ever arrives, so it stands to reason that every time we open our hearts to one another, every time we’re thrown together into each other’s worlds, we will, quite possibly, hurt one another. “Whether it occurs in our dating, marriage, work, or friendships, it is going to happen. I’ve heard so many stories from women who started out their careers full of enthusiasm and talent only to be devastated by life-altering criticism that postponed or derailed their succe

A thought by Christine Caine from her book, Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind, Move Forward in Faith, Embrace the Adventure (p. 76). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But I thought that if I trusted Him once in my salvation then that would take care of my future.   There is also a continuing part. Paul the writer of Philippians 2:12-13 in the NT in the Bible says, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Disappointed Christine says, “Trusting God is a series of choices, not a one-time event. And it requires something of us, which is why Paul calls it ‘work.’ It means choosing, again and again, and again, to: • Stay connected to God and his process. Daily. • Process disorientation through God’s