Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by John C. Maxwell, from her book,  Leading in Tough Times  (p. 5). Center Street, Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) It is a choice that will make a difference. John says, "The difference in the way they approach it depends on how they see it. Performance psychologist Jim Loehr says, 'Champions have taught us how to take an experience and essentially write the story of its effect. If you see a failure as an opportunity to learn and get better, it will be. If you perceive it as a mortal blow, it will be. In that way, the power of the story is more important than the experience itself.' " He goes on, "If you respond right to adversity, you see it as something that can help you to become better than you were before. I read a poem years ago by James Casey called 'Climb the Steep.' The first stanza says,  "For every hill I’ve had to climb  For every rock that bruised my feet  For all the blood and sweat

A thought by John C. Maxwell, from her book,  Leading in Tough Times  (p. 3). Center Street, Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) It sure does. John says, "It causes us to stop and look at our situation. And at ourselves if we have the courage. Adversity creates an opportunity for self-discovery. As the great Egyptian leader Anwar el-Sadat said, 'Great suffering builds up a human being and puts him within the reach of self-knowledge.' This I believe is true—if we embrace it." "One of my favorite books is As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. My father required me to read it when I was in my early teens. One of the ideas that left the strongest impression on me as a youth was this: 'Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.' " John goes on, "Adversity comes to us as a teaching tool. You’ve probably heard the saying 'When the pupil is ready, the teacher will come.' That is not necess

A thought by John C. Maxwell, from her book, Leading in Tough Times (p. 1). Center Street, Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Well, it is, isn't it? John says, "This is particularly a problem in America today. We expect a smooth and easy road to success. We expect our lives to be hassle-free. We expect the government to solve our problems. We expect to get the prize without having to pay the price. That is not reality! Life is hard." "He goes on, " In Life’s Greatest Lessons , Hal Urban writes,  "Once we accept the fact that life is hard, we begin to grow. We begin to understand that every problem is also an opportunity. It is then that we dig down and discover what we’re made of. We begin to accept the challenges of life. Instead of letting our hardships defeat us, we welcome them as a test of character. We use them as a means of rising to the occasion." John continues, "This reality is especially importa

A thought by Christine Cane, from her book,  How Did I Get Here?   (p. 47). Thomas Nelson, Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And there is a so much to learn. Christine says, " And I’ve learned that when triggers happen and expose another tender place, we need to invite him in once more. God promises to heal us each and every time—whether it’s a wound that heals quickly or in stages—and he always keeps his promises: 'He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds' (Ps. 147:3)." She goes on, "For those moments that have surprised me, those triggers that just seemed to pop out of nowhere, I have learned to be thankful because when we aren’t healed of our invisible wounds, whether big or small, they invariably seep—and seeping is always a telltale sign that we are drifting. That we have quit going to the Healer for healing. That we have lost sight of pursuing Christ and anchoring ourselves in him the way he intended.&qu

A thought by Christine Cane, from her book,  How Did I Get Here?   (p. 34). Thomas Nelson, Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) So important to understand. Christine says, " It’s a gateway to deeper trust. It is a declaration, 'Yet I will trust you . . . yet I will praise you!' Have you ever been in church, worshipping with all your heart, and poured it all out on the altar and said that to God? I have so many times after I’ve suffered loss, betrayal, disappointment, failure, heartache, and even sickness. In those times, what has resulted has not been anti-faith or anti-hope—quite the opposite. It has led me to greater faith, greater hope, and greater trust. It’s been how I’ve rediscovered my joy in a time when I didn’t have any. "Still, I wonder if we have been led to believe that to be a good and nice Christian, we need to be in control of our emotions all the time, though the Psalms show us that God wants us to pour them all o

A thought by Christine Cane, from her book,  How Did I Get Here?   (p. 32). Thomas Nelson, Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) It's great when you have someone. Christine says, " I don’t know who you turn to when you need a listening ear, when you’re trying to make sense of something that’s happening, and you want to walk in even-if faith, but you are finding it difficult to do. When my mind is racing and I need to get something off my chest, I typically turn to Nick or to one of my dearest friends, as they are the ones who have helped me the most when I’ve needed to look to Jesus and set my anchor once more. Maybe for you that’s your mother, a favorite aunt, or your BFF. For me, what’s been especially hard, though, has been the times when what was weighing on me was so deep, so painful, or too hard to understand that I needed more than what Nick or my friends could give me—like when I wanted to ring the bell. In those times, I’ve needed

A thought by Christine Cane, from her book,  How Did I Get Here?   (p. 30). Thomas Nelson, Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And that is what I want. Christine says, " Even if! That’s the kind of faith God wants us to have all the time. Even-if faith is what keeps us tethered when we are in the midst of a crisis, when we do not understand what is going on, when our situation is painful, confusing, demoralizing, disheartening, disappointing. Even-if faith keeps us from drifting. It anchors us. It’s now faith! It’s faith for the present moment and for whatever fiery trial we’re going through. Maybe you’ve learned you can’t graduate on time. Maybe you have been given a grim diagnosis. Maybe you’ve lost a dear friendship. Maybe you have lost your savings or your business. Maybe you’ve lost someone you loved deeply. And the pain you are feeling is something you’ve never known and something you never want to feel again. The only kind of faith th