January, 2010
God stories are important. The Bible is a collection of stories of how God worked in people’s lives and in history. It is not only important to read and study about what God has done in the past, but it is also important to hear how God has changed people’s lives today. Every believer has a God story – a testimony – of how God has worked in their life. Some God stories may be dramatic. Other God stories may be just what a particular person in a particular situation needs to hear. God stories help to show the reality of the Christian life in such a tangible way. This week, pray and ask God to give you an opportunity to use your God story for His glory and honor. There is someone that will be drawn to Christ by hearing your God story.
posted by Dr. Phil January, 2010 8:12 AM Short Thoughts comments (0)
In 1 Timothy 4:16 Paul's words to Timothy were to "Get a hold of yourself. Make your own spiritual life a priority." In other words, we have to be careful that we don't get so busy that we forget we have spiritual needs too. It's so easy to get distracted by other things that scream for our attention. However, if our relationship with God suffers because we are trying to help everyone else, it will just be a matter of time until we run dry, lose our energy and passion, and have nothing more to offer. This is exactly what was happening to Timothy! If he was to continue serving as an effective minister to other people, he had to set aside some private time to develop his own relationship with God.
I have discovered that it is essential that I make my own spiritual life my first ... >> full...
posted by Dr. Phil 8:14 AM Short Thoughts comments (0)
John Gardner once pointed out that, by their mid-thirties, most people have stopped acquiring new skills and new attitudes in any aspect of their lives. When I read that it stunned me. Stop and think, of you who are over thirty, how long has it been since you acquired a new skill? Or how many brand-new attitudes have you adopted---personal, political, social, spiritual, financial since you turned thirty? Do you drive to work the same way every morning? Are you compelled to approach a problem the identical way every time? Does a maverick (even wild) idea challenge you or cause you to retreat into the security of your shell? Have you lost that enthusiastic zest for discovery and adventure?
As I grow older (not getting old) I am discovering that living and learning are linked. So are existing and expiring. Each day delivers a totally new set of ... >> full...
posted by Dr. Phil 11:32 AM Short Thoughts comments (0)
Several years ago I remember a friend talking to me about education. At the time I had just finished taking my GED test and receiving my diploma. It was in my heart to continue to train and equip myself to be the best husband, dad, pastor, and leader I could. As I begin to take college courses online, my friend made this statement:
"The trouble with educated people is that learning goes to their heads and not to their hearts.”
I have never forgotten that statement. The heart is something of a prophet. It is only with the heart that one can see correctly; what is required is invisible to the eye. Does the path you’re traveling capture your heart? God has sent you into this world to do something into which you can pour your heart. Throw your heart over the fence and the rest ... >> full...
posted by Dr. Phil 1:19 PM Short Thoughts comments (1)
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