stop & think

This year I have said every Sunday and more often that we must “stop and pray”.  It is my heart to be known for leading a church and people who pray, who seek God and who see God do incredible things.  To be connected to God is a powerful thing, and pray is our best link.  Prayer is conversation with God.  Prayer is our lifeline to staying humble and continuing to trust God.

We must pray.  Often there are times that make me stop and think.  Those times will lead me to pray too.  Maybe that is a prayer of asking for wisdom, or asking God to provide, or it could even be a pray for simply listening to God.  You heard me right.  Listening is part of prayer.

God speaks.  He speaks in our times of prayer.  God speaks through the Bible.  God speaks through nature, through music and in many different ways.  He also speaks through the people we listen to.  I’d like to share some quotes that have literally made me stop and think.  They have led me to seek and to hear from God.

I pray some of these thoughts, without any extra commentary from me, will allow you to hear from and spend time with God.  Press on, my friend!

Joy comes from knowing that people are better off because of the value you have added to their lives.  – Matthew Barnett, The Cause Within You

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. ― Mother Teresa

The church is not the way to heaven; the church is the sign that points to heaven. – Adrian Rogers

Your investment in your relationship with God is the best investment you can make in the pursuit of your cause.  – Matthew Barnett, The Cause Within You

Before any great achievement, some measure of depression is very usual. – Charles Spurgeon

The urge to quit is strongest just before breakthroughs occur.  Those are the times when it's most important to stay focused and committed.  – Matthew Barnett, The Cause Within You

God doesn't require us to succeed; He only requires that you try.  – Mother Teresa

Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter. – Francis Chan

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. – C.S. Lewis

Those are big thoughts.  I challenge you to choose one or two.  Spend time thinking about and praying through them.  You might even write them on a notecard or put it somewhere you might see it often.  Put it as the wallpaper on your computer or on your phone.

I pray that God will help us to stop and pray as we stop and think!