Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book,   Start Where You Are,   Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) It still does. Charles says, “The classic case in Scripture is Job. Here was an upright man who worked hard, dealt honestly with people, reared a fine family, and walked with his God. Then suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a whirlwind of multiple tragedies drove the man to his knees. “It was bad enough to lose his livestock and all other means of income, but on top of that he lost each one of his children, and finally . . . his health. With hardly a moment between these calamities to catch his breath and gain a measure of equilibrium, Job was reduced to a painful hulk of humanity, covered from head to toe with oozing skin ulcers. “Exit: compassion.  “Enter: thoughtless counselors of blame. ” He continues, “One man after another pointed a long, bony finger into the face of the sufferer, fr

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book,  Start Where You Are.   Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) For some of us, maybe change is what we need. Charles says, “A man can wear out a particular part of his mind by continually using it and tiring it, just in the same ways as he can wear out the elbows of his coat. There is, however, this difference between the living cells of the brain and inanimate articles: One cannot mend the frayed elbows by rubbing the sleeves or shoulders; but the tired parts of the mind can be rested and strengthened, not merely by rest, but by using other parts. It is not enough merely to switch off the lights which play upon the main and ordinary field of interest; a new field of interest must be illuminated.” He goes on, “It is no use saying to the tired mental muscles—if one may coin such an expression—'I will give you a good rest.’ ‘I will go for a long walk,’ or ‘I will

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book, Start Where You Are.   Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) And there may be many areas in our lives where we want a fresh start. Charles says, “To get somewhere else, it’s necessary to know where you’re standing right now. “That’s true in a department store or in a big church, on a freeway or on a college campus . . . or in life, for that matter. Seldom does anybody ‘just happen’ to end up on a right road. The process of redirecting our lives is often painful, slow, and even confusing. “Occasionally, it seems unbearable. ” He goes on, “Consider Jonah, one of the most prejudiced, bigoted, openly rebellious, and spiritually insensitive prophets in Scripture. Other prophets ran to the Lord; he ran from Him. Others declared the promises of God with fervor and zeal. Not Jonah. He was about as motivated as a six-hundredpound grizzly in mid-January. “Some

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book, What if…God Has Other Plans?: Finding Hope When Life Throws You the Unexpected (p. 178). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Now there is some misinformation out there about God's view of work. Charles says, “As Scripture opens, God is at work in Creation, creating the world and everything in it. In fact, He had His work cut out for Him, since the Bible declares, ‘The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters’ (Genesis 1:2). Basically, before God began His work, the earth was uninhabitable. No life could exist in such a realm. So He went to work, creating light and separating light from darkness, separating water from land, creating sky, shorelines, and wide-open plains, which the Bible calls ‘dry ground’ (see Genesis 1:3-10). “Genesis 2 opens with a summary statement on God’s creative work. It’s here we find the ori

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book, What if…God Has Other Plans?: Finding Hope When Life Throws You the Unexpected (p. 171). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) So, let’s see what it is! Charles says, “It works in most situations where not everyone agrees but where all desire harmony rather than conflict and strife. I suggest you memorize it and then put it into practice: In essentials . . . unity. In nonessentials . . . liberty. In all things . . . charity. “All those who join our church, Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, are united in the doctrinal essentials. But there are many other issues that are not essential. Members may not always agree with every jot and tittle of our policies and ministry strategies, but those are nonessentials. So, we have the liberty to have differences of opinion, as long as we support the overall ministry with humility and Christlike se

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book, What if…God Has Other Plans?: Finding Hope When Life Throws You the Unexpected (p. 152). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) In our lives, there may be many thorns. Charles says, “Focusing your thoughts beyond your present situation stimulates fresh hope in what is yet to come. Instead of staring at the current thorns, focus on the ultimate fragrance. Hope is like the fragrance from blooms on a rosebush. Suddenly you’ll be enveloped in that fragrance, and the aroma will diminish your anguish. You’ll rarely even notice the thorns because you’re so enamored by the beautiful smell all around you.” He goes on, “Few virtues are more encouraging than hope. Consider these uplifting words from someone who learned to focus on the Lord rather than the struggle of human limitation: ‘Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of f

A thought by Charles R. Swindall, from his book, What if…God Has Other Plans?: Finding Hope When Life Throws You the Unexpected (p. 151). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) This is for us to believe, no matter what. Charles says, “Week after week in the church I serve in Texas, I look out at a congregation of faces, many of whom are struggling to grasp this transforming truth. Again, what is it? That God’s strength is revealed in our weakness—in our fears, in our struggles, in our pain, and in our limitations.” He goes on, “By this I mean turn your heart toward the Lord. Consider this: what you are enduring is part of His gracious and loving plan to make you rely completely on Him. He wants you to experience the wonder of His all-sufficient grace and power. “From God’s point of view, your pain or your loved one’s pain, including your limitations, is no accident. Accept the fact that this