Archive for the ‘Happiness’ Category

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.

Completely open with God

Posted: August 2, 2010 in Battle of the Mind, Bible Study, Fear, Fear of rejection, Happiness, Inspiration, Justice, Security, and Happiness, Personal Growth, Security, Uncategorized
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In 1 Chronicles 28:9 We read that the Lord searches every heart.  Nothing can be hidden from God.  He sees and understands everything in our hearts.  David found this out the hard way when God sent Nathan to expose David’s sins of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12).  David told Solomon to be completely open with God and dedicated to him.  It makes no sense to try to hide any thoughts or actions from an all-knowing God.  This should cause us joy, not fear, because God knows even the worst about us and loves us anyway.

Follow All Commands of the Lord your God

Posted: August 2, 2010 in Battle of the Mind, Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fear, Happiness, Justice, Security, and Happiness, Security, Uncategorized
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David told Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:8 to be careful to follow every one of God’s commands to to ensure Israel’s prosperity and the continuation of David’s descendants upon the throne.  It was the king’s solemn duty to study and obey God’s laws.  The teachings of Scripture are the keys to security, happiness, and justice, but you’ll never discover them unless you search God’s Word.  It we ignore God’s will and neglect his teaching, anything we attempt to build, even if it has God’s name on it, will be headed for collapse.  Get to know God’s commands through regular Bible study, and find ways to apply them consistently.

Cooperating with the Holy Spirit

Posted: May 7, 2010 in Battle of the Mind, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, Money Issue, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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Let the Spirit change your way of thinking. Ephesians 4:23 by Rick Warren


Throughout the Bible we see an important truth illustrated over and over: the Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take a step of faith.

When Joshua was faced with an impassible barrier, the floodwaters of the Jordan River receded only after the leaders stepped into the rushing current in obedience and faith. Obedience unlocks God’s power.

God waits for you to act first. Don’t wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops.

The Bible compares spiritual growth to a seed, a building, and a child growing up. Each metaphor requires active participation: seeds must be planted and cultivated, buildings must be built – they don’t just appear – and children must eat and exercise to grow.

While effort has nothing to do with your salvation, it has much to do with your spiritual growth. At least eight times in the New Testament we are told to “make every effort” in our growth toward becoming like Jesus. (Luke 13:24 NIV; Romans 14:19 NIV; Ephesians 4:3 NIV; 2 Timothy 2:15 NCV; Hebrews 4:11 NIV; Hebrews 12:14 NIV; 2 Peter 3:14 NIV)

You don’t just sit around and wait for it to happen.

Paul explains in Ephesians 4:22-24 our three responsibilities in becoming like Christ.

  • First, we must choose to let go of old ways of acting. “Everything . . . connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it!” (Ephesians 4:22 MSG)
  • Second, we must change the way we think. “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.” (Ephesians 4:23 CEV) The Bible says we are “transformed” by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) The Greek word for transformed, metamorphosis (used in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18), is used today to describe the amazing change a caterpillar goes through in becoming a butterfly. It is a beautiful picture of what happens to us spiritually when we allow God to direct our thoughts: we are changed from the inside out, we become more beautiful, and we are set free to soar to new heights.

Third, we must put on the character of Christ by developing new, godly habits. Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually act. The Bible says, “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24 NIV)

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)

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.)

Jealous God

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, Uncategorized
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Deuteronomy 4:23-24 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden.  For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous GOD ( God is a consuming fire.  Because he is morally perfect, he hates sin and cannot accept those who practice it.  Moses’ sin kept him from entering the promised land, and no sacrifice could remove that judgment.  Sin kept us from entering God’s presence, but Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin and removed God’s judgment forever by his death.  Trusting in Jesus Christ will save you from God’s anger and will allow you to begin a personal relationship with him.  Jealousy is  a demand  for someone else’s exclusive affection or loyalty.  Some jealousy is bad.  It is destructive for a person to get upset when his or her spouse talks to someone of the opposite sex.  But other jealousy is good.  It is right for a man to demand that his wife treat him, and only him, as her husband.  Usually we use the word jealousy only for the bad reaction.  But God’s kind of jealousy is appropriate and good.  He is defending his word and guarding his high honor.  He makes a strong, exclusive demand on us: We must treat only the Lord, and no one else in all the universe as God.)

Activate the Power of Prayer

Posted: March 16, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, Uncategorized
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Activate The Power Of Prayer
Pastor Paula White

Do you need to tap into an intimate line of communication with God? The Bible instructs us to cast all our cares to God in prayer, making our requests known to Him with an attitude of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).

We are to request what we need and then trust Him to meet our needs. As we do that, God acts – imparting to us His peace, and providing all that is beneficial for our eternal good.

The power of prayer is immeasurable – and the more we reach out to God in intimate communication through prayer, the more we experience His transforming peace.

The peace of God that comes through prayer is one of the most valuable assets and gifts He gives us. It is a peace that transforms how we think. It enables us to answer calamity with calm reason, to see order in chaos, and to know the best direction to pursue.

By reaching out to God in prayer, we combat fears with faith. We experience God’s presence with us — an ally that is more powerful than any foe! His Holy Spirit girds us up, enabling us to function to the maximum of our ability and beyond.

I encourage people to experience the power of prayer and the calming effect it brings throughout the day. When are good times to pray? ALL THE TIME!

But at the very least, I recommend praying at these times:

Each morning when you awake. Morning prayer allows you to begin the day offering yourself to the Lord. As you greet the Lord in morning prayer, you are acknowledging His sovereignty over your life — believing in Him to guide, protect, and inspire you throughout the day.

During the course of the day. Whether you are a homemaker, work outside the home, or go to school, there will be a myriad of circumstances in which you will find yourself needing the peace of God that prayer brings. There is no better way to handle challenging moments than to call on God to guide your actions, thoughts and words.

Upon returning home for the evening. I encourage you to take a moment at some point to thank God for protecting yourself and your family. Ask Him to bring peace to your home surroundings for the evening, and to assist you and other family members in releasing any negative “remains of the day.”

Before going to sleep. While everyone sleeps, not everyone feels the benefits of a good night’s sleep. That is because often, even when the body is resting, the soul is not…it is a bundle of anxieties and insecurities. Praying before going to sleep, and asking God to empty your mind of anxiety and worry, promotes genuine rest for both the body and the soul.

Remember — any time is the “right time” to activate the power of prayer – your intimate line of communication to God!

Smoke Screen

Posted: March 16, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Uncategorized
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15 March 2010

Written by Rob Henry, Army of Christ, and Under GODS Command

Smoke Screen

How many times do people used another issue to get to what is really on their mind.  Does the term Stop Beating Around the Bush mean anything?   Let’s take a look at the Bible, and we will see an example of people who argue over minor disagreements, leaving the real issue untouched.  Such was the case when Miriam and Aaron came to Moses with a complaint.

Numbers 12: 1-2,

  1. 1. Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.  (It appears that they are concerned about his Cushite wife)
  2. 2. “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this. (Now they jump from his Cushite wife to a sign of Jealousy against Moses)

People often argue over minor disagreements, leaving the real issue untouched.  The real issue was their growing jealousy of Moses position and influence.  Since they could not find fault with the way Moses was leading the people, they chose to criticize his wife.  Rather than face the problem squarely by dealing with their envy and pride, they chose to create a diversion from the real issue.  When you are in a disagreement, stop and ask yourself if you are arguing over the real issue or have you introduced a smoke screen by attacking someone’s character.  If you’re unjustly criticized, remember that your critics may be afraid to face the real problem.  Ask God to help you identify the real issue and deal with it

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