"Oh Wow!"

That is exactly what came out of my mouth as I flipped to the last page of this book. I will say that James MacDonald spoke very plainly. He didn't say anything new. He had the courage to say it out loud, so to speak...and I think that is what grabbed my attention. He had a tactful way in some parts and in other parts he was blunt. It has taken me a week to go through this book once...but it will take much longer to meditate on the thoughts and submit to the changes that need to be made. I now know several of my weak spots. Correction...I've known...I just haven't been called out on all of them! Now God can and will hold me accountable for what has been clearly pointed out...I know it and I know He knows it! How stupid I can be...He has known it all along! And to think I thought I was dealing with things ok...is laughable...well, not really...but you understand what I am trying to say.
I was given this book..."to be an encouragement to you especially in relationship to what you have been going through and dealing with." When I looked at the cover, I thought, "Yikes! I'm doing something wrong if my friend told me to read this...and double yikes...she spent money to buy it for me."
But I know my friend and she truly meant this as a healing ointment. She has heard my heart and has felt my hurts. She has prayed for me. She knew that I needed hope and a healing balm. As I read, the tears flowed and with them came that healing...
a realization that there is always hope in God...I don't have to stay in the wilderness!
I read the Scripture passages. I read the thoughts and challenges of this man and thought, "We don't hear preaching like this from the pulpits anymore." It is too bad...because we need it now more than ever...
but I guess preachers are scared of the fall-out. In stubborness and guilt...we lash out...before we seek God's forgiveness!
If you are a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, or friend...and you think you have it all together...you are fine just as you are...can I tell you...you are not!? And everyone around us...knows it. Why do we think we are fine? It is a lie from Satan! He likes stagnant, apathetic, angry Christians.
He can use them for his purposes!
I thought I was doing ok..."handling things pretty well, considering...". I am consistently reading my Bible and dealing with things that come up...but at the same time...excusing some of my thought patterns. "After all...it is not all my fault."
"Attitudes are patterns of thinking formed over a long period of time. I choose my attitude!"
You know, the attitudes that we never verbalize...
but show to everyone around us with the facial expressions, tears, eye rolls, body language, and silence (because "If I don't say it, I won't have to apologize for it.")
After reading this book and dealing with some of my attitudes...there are still several that need attention...
all I can say is, "Oh Wow!" I get it now...preachers have quit preaching about these kind of attitudes...because they would get nailed to the door frame that they stand next to after every service...
to shake hands with those of us who think we are doing ok...
after all...
"There is nothing wrong with my attitude...it is everyone else who..."
"Oh Wow!"
I wonder what the children of Israel would tell us now...
standing next to the preachers in the door ways Sunday after Sunday...ready to shake our hands.
"You'd better watch out! Your attitude...is showing!"