Archive for the ‘Acceptance’ Category

Sexual Temptations

Posted: December 3, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, Uncategorized
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Sexual Temptations are difficult to withstand because they appeal to the normal and nature desires that God has given us.  Marriage provides God’s way to satisfy these natural sexual desires and to strengthen the partners against temptation.  Married couples have the responsibility to care for each other; therefore husbands and wives should not withhold themselves sexually from one another, but should fulfill each other’s needs and desires. 

1 Corinthians 7:3-6 – The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.  The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband.  In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.  Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.  Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.   

A preacher once said “People say that the grass is not greener on the other side, well it depends what side is being water the most”.  Do not lead each other into temptation, because that is exactly what you are doing if you are denying each other of sexual attention.

Spiritual Training 2 December 2010

Posted: December 2, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, Uncategorized
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Romans 2:17-24 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; If you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are  instructed by the law, if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written. “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentles because of you. 

 

Those of us who have grown up in Christian families are the religiously privileged of today.  Paul’s condemnation applies to us if we do not live up to what we know.  Paul explained to the Jews that they need to teach themselves, not others, by their law.  They know the law so well that they had learned how to excuse their own actions while criticizing others.  We face this today in our daily walk.  We need to remember that we cannot please God without a proper relationship with him.  As Jesus pointed out, even withholding what rightfully belongs to someone else is stealing, and looking on another persons with lustful, adulterous intent is adultery. Before we accused others, we must look at ourselves and see if that sin, in any form, exists within us. If we claim to be one of God’s people, our life should reflect what God is like.  When you disobey God, you dishonor his name.  People may even blaspheme or profane God’s name because of you.  What do people think about God from watching your life.

Spiritual Training 01 December 2010

Posted: December 1, 2010 in Acceptance, Battle of the Mind, Beliefs, Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fear, Fear of rejection, Fellowship, Happiness, Healing, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Justice, Security, and Happiness, Money, Money Issue, Personal Growth, Scripture Memory, Security, Self-Talk, Uncategorized, winning
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Coming up my Mother always taught me to never let things control you, but you stay in control. Those words were some of the great things that were taught to me by her. You see, a person is a slave to whatever controls him or her. Many believe that freedom means doing anything we want. But no one is ever completely free in that sense. If we refuse to follow God, we will follow our own sinful desires and become enslaved to what our bodies want. If we submit our lives to Christ, he will free us from slavery to sin. Christ frees us to serve him, a freedom that results in our ultimate good. Thank you Mom

2 Peter 2:19 – They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Spiritual Training 23 November 2010

Posted: November 23, 2010 in Acceptance, Battle of the Mind, Beliefs, Bible Study, Churches in Maryland, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fear, Fear of rejection, Fellowship, Happiness, Healing, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Justice, Security, and Happiness, Maryland Churches, Personal Growth, Security, Uncategorized, winning
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James 1:2-4 States consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James doesn’t say if you face trials, but whenever you face them. He assumes that we will have trials and that it is possible to profit from them. The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain, but to have a positive outlook (consider it pure joy) because of what trials can produce in our lives, James tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning. Tough times can teach us perseverance. We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and complete. Not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with us in our rough times. Ask him to help us solve our problems or to give us the strength to endure them. Than be patient. God will not leave us alone with our problems; he will stay close and help us grow.

Straight up FEAR

Posted: August 2, 2010 in Acceptance, Battle of the Mind, Fear, Fear of rejection, Inspiration, Security
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In 1 Chronicles 28:20 we read:(Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Don not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.   David advised Solomon not to be frightened about the size of his task as King and builder of the temple.)  Fear can immobilize us.  The size of a job, its risk, or the pressure of the situation can cause us to freeze and do nothing.  One remedy for fear is found here, don’t focus on the fear, instead, get to work .  Getting started is often the most difficult and frightening part o a job.

Fear of Rejection

Posted: May 8, 2010 in Acceptance, Battle of the Mind, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fear, Fear of rejection, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”- James 5:16

Thursday, May 6, 2010

You won’t get anyone to say yes unless you’re willing to take the risk that they’ll say no. To get the answer you seek, you must ask.

When you ask, there is the possibility of rejection. And though rejection may seem like something to avoid, is it really so bad?

What’s much, much worse is to live in fear of rejection. When you never even ask, the answer is always no.

What if you could simply let go of that fear of rejection? The fact is, you can.

Some people will value what you say, what you do, what you seek, and other people won’t. Keep reminding yourself that’s their concern, not yours.

Choose to do what you know is worthy and what you know is best. Let go of the useless and limiting fear of rejection, and feel the freedom to truly soar.

— Ralph Marston

The Church Family

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Inspiration, Personal Growth, winning
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A church family is a laboratory for love
by Rick Warren
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)

You are not the Body of Christ on your own. You need others to express that. Together, not separated, we are his Body.

A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation. The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God’s family. It is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love.

As a participating member you learn to care about others and share the experiences of others: “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor.” (1 Corinthians 12:26 NCV)

Only in regular contact with ordinary, imperfect believers can we learn real fellowship and experience the New Testament truth of being connected and dependent on each other. (Ephesians 4:16, Romans 12:4-5, Colossians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 12:25)

Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. God expects us to give our lives for each other. Many Christians who know John 3:16 are unaware of 1 John 3:16: “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (NIV)

This is the kind of sacrificial love God expects you to show other believers—a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you.

Show you believe by belonging

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Fellowship, Happiness, Inspiration
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Show you believe by belonging
by Rick Warren
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 (NLT)

The Bible says a Christian without a church home is like an organ without a body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an unnatural state. The Bible says, “You belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” (Ephesians 2:19b LB)

Today’s culture of independent individualism has created many spiritual orphans—”bunny believers” who hop around from one church to another without any identity, accountability, or commitment. Many believe it is possible to be a “good Christian” without joining (or even attending) a local church, but God would strongly disagree.

The church is so significant that Jesus died on the cross for it. “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” (Ephesians 5:25 GW)

Except for a few important exceptions referring to all believers throughout history, almost every time the word church is used in the Bible it refers to a local, visible congregation.

The New Testament assumes membership in a local congregation. The only Christians not members of a local fellowship were those under church discipline who had been removed from the fellowship because of gross public sin. (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1-5)

The Bible offers many compelling reasons why you need to be committed and active in a local fellowship.

A church family identifies you as a genuine believer. I can’t claim to be following Christ if I’m not committed to any specific group of disciples. Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)

When we come together in love as a church family from different backgrounds, race, and social status, it is a witness to the world. (Galatians 3:28 MSG; see also John 17:21)

Trusting God when I don’t understand

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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Trusting God when I don’t understand
by Rick Warren
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

When the children of Israel were finally set free from Egypt after 400 years of slavery, they started marching out to freedom and the first thing they came to was the Red Sea. There were impassable mountain ranges on two sides of them, the sea in front of them.

Behind them, in hot pursuit, was the Egyptian army because the Pharaoh had changed his mind about letting them go. The path before the Israelites looked like a dead end.

But God knew exactly what He wanted to do. He had not made a mistake. He could see what they could not see. He opened the Red Sea and they walked through to safety. Years later, the Israelites looked back and sang, “Your road led by a pathway through the sea—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19 LB).

You may be facing a dead end right now—financial, emotional, relational—but God can see a path that you don’t know about. If you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, He will make a way.

It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day” (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path He specifically chose for you.

What do I do in the meantime? You do what Proverbs 3 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” What does He mean “don’t lean on your own understanding”? You don’t need to try to figure it out. In truth, you’re not going to understand most of the things that happen in your life until you get to heaven.

Be patient. God knows what He’s doing. God knows what’s best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays — all the things that make you ask “why” — one day it will all be clear in the light of God’s love.

But for now, we’re learning to trust God.

Demons Confess Jesus Christ

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Uncategorized
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Rob Henry, Under Gods Command in the Army of Christ

Luke 4:40-41 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.  Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.

(Whey didn’t Jesus want the demons to reveal who he was? (1) Jesus commanded them to remain silent to show his authority over them.  (2) Jesus wanted his listeners to believe he was the Messiah because of his words, not because of the demons’ words.  (3)  Jesus was going to reveal his identity according to God’s timetable, and he would not be pushed by Satan’s evil plans.  The demons called Jesus ‘Son of God’ or ‘the Holy one of God’ because they know he was the Christ.  But Jesus was going to show himself to be the suffering servant before he became the great King.  To reveal his identity as King too soon would stir up the crowds with the wrong expectations of what he had come to do.)

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