“Jesus did to Peter what encouragers do. He summoned the best. He built Peter up. With the skill of rock masons, encouragers stack stones of affirmation and inspiration.”- Max Lucado Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in […]
“God places a premium on encouragement. Encouragement comes when we ‘come alongside’ and ‘call out.’ At least that is the impression we get from its Greek definition. The noun paraklesis is the combination of para ( by the side) and kaleo (to call). Jesus modeled this.”- Mac Lucado “He said to them, ‘But who do […]
“You can’t control your genetics. You aren’t in charge of the weather, the traffic, or the occupant of the White House. But you can always increase the number of smiles on our planet. . . . You — yes, you — can help people to sleep better, laugh more, hum instead of grumble, walk instead […]
” . . . something pilfered our happiness. It can seem like such a fragile thing, this joy. Tomorrow scattered by the winds of a storm. Still we keep searching for it, this sense of contentment and well-being.”- Max Lucado In Chapter 1 (“The Unexpected Door to Joy”) of How Happiness Happens: Finding Joy in […]
“We are living in a grace period, every one of us! Certainly there are blessings you’ve already received, for which you are eternally grateful. But isn’t it awe inspiring to know that God is currently preparing blessings for you and you for blessings? And, I might add, blessings beyond your ability to ask or imagine!”- […]
“Optimists . . . [focus] on future-tense reward, believing that the best is yet to come. Optimists live openhanded because they are openhearted. The optimists’ mantra is Jonathan’s mindset: ‘Perhaps the lord will act on our behalf.’ It’s a ‘go big or go home’ approach to life that trust God right down to the jot […]
“Peripheral vision is seeing what lies at the edges, which means those who are most marginalized. Anatomically, our range of vision is approximately 150 degrees, while our horizontal field of vision is 210 degrees. Anything outside those parameters is invisible to us, and that’s often where the blessing is hiding.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson concludes […]
“A true hero is someone who selflessly sacrifices for someone else’s benefit. It’s someone who goes the extra mile. It’s someone who takes personal responsibility when thing go wrong and gives credit to others when things go right. . . . Heroes are not always recognized as such during their lifetimes, but their courage echoes […]
“The world measures success by how much money you make and how many people serve you. In God’s kingdom, it’s the exact opposite. Success is measured by how much you give and how many people you serve.”- Mark Batterson, citing Dr. Robert Rhoden “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life […]
“Takers take credit , while givers give credit. They are we people, not me people. Nitpicking about pronouns may seem overly analytical, but pronouns reveals what’s in our hearts. Jesus said, ‘The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.’ “- Mark Batterson As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 14 of Double Blessing, he revisits the […]
” . . . you may think your savings account is your safety net. But it may be the very thing keeping you from flying. Or you may be safeguarding your time instead of volunteering it. Perhaps it’s time to let go of your time, talent, and treasure in greater measure and see what God […]
“An ex nihilo blessing is a surprise blessing or spontaneous blessing. It’s a blessing that comes out of nowhere, a blessing that seems to materialize out of thin air.”- Mark Batterson “When you enter the home, give it your blessing. If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it […]