“A few years ago I issued a gratitude challenge to our congregation. The challenge? Thank God for the things you typically take for granted. The gratitude challenge requires an extra measure of mindfulness, revealing just how much we take for granted. . . . And while some may think this exercise borders on overkill, maybe […]
“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”- G. K. Chesterton “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”- 3 John 1:2 (NIV) In Chapter […]
“Some [obstacles] seem like unscalable mountains, and it’s awfully tempting to go around them. My advice? Go through them, with God’s grace. And when God gets you to the other side, the mountain will have become a level path. The obstacle will have become the way.”- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 7 of Double […]
“It’s the mountains we overcome that make us who we are! The inclination is to curse the mountains in our path or try to avoid them altogether, but we don’t know enough at this point to recognize whether the obstacle is a blessing or a curse. . . . Don’t be too quick to curse […]
“If you’ve ever had a dream detoured or delayed, you know how discouraging a dream deferred c an be. But it’s often when we’re just about to give up that God shows up.”- Mark Batterson So [the angel] said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by […]
“God is not a helicopter parent. Just like Joseph, Esther, David, and Daniel, we will experience personal setbacks and seasons of suffering. The good news? It will be for our good and God’s glory.”- Mark Batterson In Chapter 7 (“Blessings in Disguise”) of Double Blessing, Mark Batterson notes that Abraham Lincoln once described himself as […]
“When you take offense you start playing defense with your life. . . . You let skepticism and cynicism seep into your soul. If you don’t deal with it, taking offense festers in your spirit until it turns into bitterness. And bitterness doesn’t just rob us of our joy; it steals the blessing.”- Mark Batterson […]
“One of the best ways to keep our sense of perspective is by prophesying our praise. It’s not just praising God for what He has already done, past tense. It’s praising God by faith for what He will do, future tense. Instead of focusing on your circumstances, it’s declaring the character of God, the promises […]
“According to legend, when the knights of the Round Table returned to King Arthur’s court after battle, they were carefully examined. If their bodies did not bear any battle scars, they were sent back into battle with an exhortation: ‘Go and get your scars!’ “- Mark Batterson Mark Batterson continues Chapter 6 of Double Blessing […]
“God blesses those who are willing to break a sweat for what they believe in. . . . You can’t just pray like it depends on God. You also have to work like it depends on you. The blessing of God doesn’t just fall into our laps.”- Mark Batterson As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 6 […]
“[The persistent widow] . . . had what I would call a sanctified stubborn streak. Folks like her don’t take no for an answer, but they don’t take yes for an answer either. Why? Because they’re always believing God for something bigger, something better.”- Mark Batterson “But this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going […]
“Ritual reminders of God’s blessings are mission critical. . . . [take] inventory of your blessings so you can flip them. Suffice it to say, you’ve got to establish blessing rituals that fit your spiritual rhythm.”- Mark Batterson “Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless […]