Pat's View: Inspirational Stories

There is a very popular belief that “Thoughts make your feelings. Feelings make your actions. Actions make your life.” And for many people that is completely true. We hear stories about people that are destroyed by following their emotions in the news everyday. While I believe thoughts can create my emotions and I believe they can fuel my actions, I think there is a better way to live than allowing my fickle emotions to fuel my actions and choices. Jesus did. Jesus made decisions from purpose, values and truth, not emotions. Even as a child when Jesus stayed behind at the temple, his mother was surprised that Jesus’ divine purpose, “doing His Father’s will”, had fueled Jesus’ actions. In Hebrews 12:1 the Apostle Paul paints a vivid picture of a passionate runner, running to win the race. You run very different when you run to win; you strip off every weight and tie your shoelaces so you don’t trip. I am so glad that Paul continued by telling us how to “run to win” spiritually. “2We do this by keeping our eyes