Bob Russel tells a story about a farmer who once grew discontent on his farm.* The lake needed to be stocked and managed and the farm itself was an incredible amount of work. It was hilly, the cows needed tending, and the fences needed mending. He decided he was unhappy and wanted to move somewhere … Continue reading What you’ve already been given
gratitude
You and gratitude vs. worry
This week we’re talking about worry. Unfortunately, much like water damage, friends who turn their back on you, or health problems, worries are often a difficult and deflating part of life. To counterattack the onslaught of worry, practice gratitude proactively. Consider the famous Psalm 23:1: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in … Continue reading You and gratitude vs. worry
Comparing highlight reels to your behind-the-scenes
More and more of us are spending time on social media. And before you think I’m anti-social media, I’m not. I just think we should be realistic about the role it plays it our lives—both positive and negative. One of the negative things is that it can depress us. I’ve read about a few studies … Continue reading Comparing highlight reels to your behind-the-scenes
He wants your whole heart — and your heart whole
Your mental health and well-being is critically important to your overall well-being. It matters to you, the people around you, and God. Max Lucado says that God “wants not only your whole heart; he wants your heart whole.” But mental health doesn’t get talked about very much. There’s a lot of misunderstanding. Maybe it’s because … Continue reading He wants your whole heart — and your heart whole
Guarding against the noose of envy
Being thankful is harder than it seems. But it’s worth it. It can exponentially improve your outlook. And, as I’ll explain on Sunday, intentional gratitude can even play a significant role in improving your mental health. But a part of the reason it can be hard to cultivate an attitude of gratitude is because there … Continue reading Guarding against the noose of envy
Radical gratitude, fleas and Nazis
Corrie ten Boom was able to find radical gratitude in a concentration camp. Her experience can teach us a lot, and improve our perspective on life...
Give God the credit
If your friend fixed your garage door for free, and then someone came over the next day and complimented it, what would you do? You'd give your friend the credit. Why don't we do the same for God?
The more instantly gratified you are…
We live in a time of instant gratification. But what if giving in to our immediate wants actually made us LESS satisfied?
Writing ‘thank you’ on every bill?
Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” A lot of people discount this verse for a whole host of reasons. It makes them uncomfortable. But even though governments are made up of flawed humans who often miss the mark, I … Continue reading Writing ‘thank you’ on every bill?
Rockefeller’s insight (and warning)
The famous businessman John Rockefeller was asked, “How much money does it take to satisfy a man?” He replied, “Just a little bit more.” His answer was insightful—not only about how a lot of people think about money, but about how a lot of people think about life in general. ‘If only I had better … Continue reading Rockefeller’s insight (and warning)
