Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2012-09-04) from his book, Greater: Dream Bigger. Start Smaller. Ignite God's Vision for Your Life . (p. 153). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book Have you found yet that the Enemy is constantly trying to get us off track to living the adventure that God has given to each one of us?   He tried two times with me within a last 2 hour period last Friday. The first time was in the bank.   I was there writing a check and for the first time that day I realized it was Friday the 13 th .   I went up to the teller and said that I had been having a very good morning but I just had found out that it was Friday the 13 th and I wasn’t sure how the rest of the day was going to turn out.   But I said it with a smile but the truth is a lot of people and some of them are Christians are lost their momentum in life las Friday by this superstition. But I reflected on the fact that “Th

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2012-09-04) from his book, Greater: Dream Bigger. Start Smaller. Ignite God's Vision for Your Life . (p. 162). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Back when I stepped out of pastoring into the adventure of retiring I knew there would be some difficult challenging days. Any new adventure no matter how great it is has some daily struggles.   Steven says it this way, “Life’s daily demands exert a strong downward pull into the tyranny of the ordinary.”   And that was true for me in those beginning days of retirement.  I no longer was a Pastor but to God retirement wasn't to be ordinary for me. We had moved to Long Island in New York State so I went looking for a set a friends who would be a new group of friends.   I found my Starbucks close to home and then started making friends.   I don’t always tell people that I am a minister or now a retired minister.   That always gives them a different way they look at me.   Well w

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2012-09-04) from his book, Greater: Dream Bigger. Start Smaller. Ignite God's Vision for Your Life. (p. 156). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I know.   It is those daily struggles that can rob you of your passion as a Christian.   They seem to rob you of your joy, your confidence, your perspective.   They have a tendency to get you to the place you even wonder if what you have is real.   Are you at the place right now? I like what Steven says, “The next time you lose your momentum in daily life as you’re chasing after God’s best for you, don’t give up and conclude that it’s over. The greater life hasn’t ended for you. It’s only out of sight under the waters of the ordinary. And God can resurface it, supernaturally, as many times as it takes. As many times as you’re willing. Cry out to God. Ask yourself, “Where did it fall?” Then go back to that place, pick i

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2012-09-04) from his book, Greater: Dream Bigger. Start Smaller. Ignite God's Vision for Your Life . (p. 149). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I am so glad to realize that God is going to be with me in those, as Steven puts it, “epic showdowns and life-altering crises.”   Those are those times that we can’t do anything, we need someone greater than us to be there, to bring us through.   But it is also important to realize that He is also present in those day to day struggles. Steven puts it this way, “He’s also superintending my everyday struggles. No detail or circumstance in my life falls outside His concern. He cares about little frustrations that can cause me to come unhinged. And since most of our spiritual momentum is gained or lost in the everyday affairs of life, it’s good to know that God is actively involved in them.”   And those little frustrations

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2012-09-04) from his book, Greater: Dream Bigger. Start Smaller. Ignite God's Vision for Your Life. (p. 46). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Are you that kind of person?   I mean, I will do, God, whatever you want me to do but could you let me know a little more about what I am getting into?   Steven continues, “Your Father is the micromanager of the universe. If He schedules the worm for the bird and clothes the flower in designer dress, how much more will He do for you? Approach the greater life knowing God has worked it all out in advance. He’ll give you the day’s orders when you show up at the job site because He’s more interested in your full obedience than your full understanding . It’s just the way He likes to work.” Is it important for you to be understood and for you to understand?   If I understood what it is and where it is and when then I will have no problem in going and doing.   But is that real o

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2012-09-04) from his book, Greater: Dream Bigger. Start Smaller. Ignite God's Vision for Your Life . (p. 43). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. I really haven’t had a problem with this until I have retired and I have tended to become a worrier about my future.   And I don’t like it and that is why I find this thought to be a good reminder that depending on God is the key to life no matter the age. I can make some goals for tomorrow, strive to save money for when Margaret may retire but I am in no way in control of my future even though I want to be.   What I’m in control of is who I’m going to trust for my future and if I will be obedient in a moment’s notice to where He leads. Steven says, “He will be faithful to His end of the bargain. He’ll do the showing if you will do the going. You can’t think too far ahead about where you’ll end up…the simple, uncomplicated word go is not the Father’s plan to disorient you bu

A thought by Steven Furtick, (2012-09-04) from his book, Greater: Dream Bigger. Start Smaller. Ignite God's Vision for Your Life . (p. 32). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) He then says, “Even though you don’t have a clue what He’s up to. Just because you haven’t heard God call your name or tell you specifically what to do with your life doesn’t mean He’s not conspiring great things for you. I guess you could say God likes to sneak up on you.” Over in the OT Elijah the prophet was getting old and God had already picked his replacement out.   Elijah knew who it was but Elisha the replacement didn’t.   Go over to 1 Kings 19 and read the story. As I face my life today I can see how this was happening for me.   Back five years ago I retired from my fulltime job as a Pastor.   Margaret and I moved to Long Island, New York to help our son in building a great church.   That was our plan but it