Swift Straw Blog

Last week at Purpose on Tap I had the privilege of hearing a message from Jim Reese, CEO of the Atlanta Mission. Here are a few thoughts after reflecting on his message: 

From Jesus Calling: 

Make friends with the problems in your life. Though many things feel random and wrong, remember that I am sovereign over everything. I can fit everything into a pattern for good, but only if you trust me. Every problem can teach you something transforming you little by little...

From Jesus Calling: 

“Bring your prayers and petition with Thanksgiving, saying, 'Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust you more.' Though the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost. I have promised to keep you in perfect peace...

A conscious focus on gratitude is proving to have major emotional and interpersonal benefits. Oprah Winfrey keeps a gratitude journal. Mark Zuckerburg writes one thank you letter per day to counteract his critical nature. Tony Robbins starts each day with 15 minutes of gratitude reflection.  

A...

In Romans 5:3-5, Paul tells the Romans:

“Not only so, but we^[also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the...

Trusting our God is the golden path to heaven.  Trust allows you to live above your circumstances.  In a world full of mysteries beyond human understanding, relying on your own strength and understanding will only weigh you down.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.  Proverbs 10:9

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38-39