Archive for the ‘Personal Growth’ Category

13 December 2011 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 13, 2011 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Jesus Explains Why He Must Die

John 12:27 – Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

Jesus knew his crucifixion lay ahead, and because he was human he dreaded it. He knew he would have to take the sins of the world on himself, and he knew this would separate him from his Father. He wanted to be delivered from this horrible death, but he knew that God sent him into the world to die for our sins, in our place. Jesus said no to his human desires in order to obey his Father and glorify him. Although we will never have to face such a difficult and awesome task, we are still called to obedience. Whatever the Father asks, we should do his will and bring glory to his name.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Spiritual Training 07 December 2011

Posted: December 7, 2011 in Bible Study, Justice, Security, and Happiness, Personal Growth, Security, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

John 12:9-11 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priest made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

The chief priests blindness and hardness of heart caused them to sink ever deeper into sin. They rejected the Messiah and planned to kill him, and then plotted to murder Lazarus as well. One sin leads to another. From the Jewish leaders point of view, they could accuse Jesus of blasphemy because he claimed equality with God. But Lazarus had done nothing of the kind. They wanted Lazarus dead simply because he was a living witness to Jesus power. This is a warning to us to avoid sin. Sin leads to more sin, a downward spiral that can be stopped only by repentance and the power of the Holy Spirit to change our behavior.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 5:3-10 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 5, 2011 in Bible Study, business pratices, Churches in Maryland, clean break, Daily Motivation, Dear Woman, Encourgement, evil men, Fear, Fear of rejection, Fellowship, fools, government policies, Happiness, Healing, Human Suffering, Inspiration, Jesus Answer, Job Opportunity, Justice, Security, and Happiness, Personal Growth, rebukes, Scripture Memory, Security, Self-Talk, Sudden disaster, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, valid criticism, winning
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Under Gods Command 

Proverbs 5:3-10 – For the lips of an adulterous drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edge sword.  Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.  She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not. Now then, my sons listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.  Keep to a path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man’s house.   

This “adulteress” is a prostitute.  Proverbs includes many warnings against illicit sex for several reasons.  First, a prostitute’s charm is used as an example of any temptation to do wrong or to leave the pursuit of wisdom.  Second, sexual immorality of any kind was and still is extremely dangerous.  It destroys family life.  It erodes a person’s ability to love.  It degrades human beings and turns them into objects.  It can lead to disease.  It can result in unwanted children. Third, sexual immorality is against God’s law.

Any person should be on guard against those who use flattery and smooth speech (lips that drip honey) that would lead him or her into sin.  The best advice is to take a detour and even avoid conversation with such people.

Proverbs 02:10 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: December 2, 2011 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 2:11 Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you. 

 Discretion is the ability to tell right from wrong.  It enables the believer to detect evil motives in men and women.  With practice it helps us evaluate courses of action and consequences.  For some it is a gift; for most it is developed by using God’s truth to make wise choices day by day.  Hebrews 5:14 emphasizes that we must train ourselves in order to have discretion.

 

Spiritual Training 02 December 2011

Posted: December 2, 2011 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Lazarus Becomes Sick and Dies

John 11:38-44 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone, Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out” The man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Jesus friend Lazarus was dead. His brief sickness proved stronger than any available medicine. Jesus had been sent for, but in their eyes he had failed to arrive in time. Death didn’t wait. Following the wisdom of hot countries, the body was soon wrapped and buried. Four days later, Jesus arrived. Lazarus’s sisters, Mary and Martha, reacted in shock. Grief-stricken, they struggled to understand why Jesus had delayed in coming. We have no idea how Lazarus reacted to his own death; In fact, we don’t have a record of a single word he said. We do know that he listened to Jesus. Even when the curtain of death was between them. Lazarus responded to Jesus voice. He came hobbling out of his cave-tomb, still wrapped with strips of linen. Jesus raised him from the dead!

When all is said and done, only what God accomplished through us will really matter. We will take little credit. Jesus worked in and around Lazarus just as he does with us. We have Christ’s invitation to participate in his work, but we must not forget that he will do much more than we will know. Meanwhile, we delight in what Christ does with the little we have to offer him. Lazarus’s resurrection poses an important question: When you die, do you fully expect that your next conscious experience will be hearing the voice of Jesus call you by name.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Spiritual Training 01 December 2011

Posted: December 1, 2011 in Personal Growth, Security, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Lazarus Becomes Sick and Dies

John 11:33-37 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of thee blind man have kept this man from dying?”

John stresses that we have a God who cares. When Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, he too wept openly. Perhaps he empathized with their grief, or perhaps he was trouble at their unbelief. In either case, Jesus showed that he cares enough for us to weep with us in our sorrow. This portrait contrasts with the Greek concept of God that was popular in that day. A God with no emotions and no messy involvement with humans. Here we see many of Jesus emotions-compassion, indignation, sorrow, even frustration. He often expressed deep emotion and we must never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to him. He understands them for he experienced them. Be honest and don’t try to hide anything from your Savior. He cares.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Spiritual Training 29 November 2011

Posted: November 29, 2011 in Encourgement, Fear, Personal Growth, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Lazarus Becomes Sick and Dies

Remember John 11:7-8 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”

John 11:16 Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Thomas is demonstrating love and courage. The disciples knew the dangers of going with Jesus to Jerusalem, and they tried to talk him out of it. Thomas merely expressed what all of them felt. When their objections failed they were willing to, even though it appeared they might have to die with Jesus. They may not have understood why Jesus would be killed, but they were loyal . There are unknown dangers in doing God’s work. It is wise to consider the high cost of being Jesus disciple.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 28:26 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 28, 2011 in Personal Growth, Security, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 28:26 – He who trust in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

For many people, the rugged individualist is a hero. We admire the bold, self-directed men and women who know what they want and fight for it. They are self-reliant, neither giving nor asking advice. What a contrast to God’s way. A person can’t know the future and can’t predict the consequences of his or her choices with certainty. And so the totally self-reliant person is doomed to failure. The wise person depends on God.

Spiritual Training 16 November 2011

Posted: November 16, 2011 in Bible Study, Inspiration, Personal Growth, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Religious Leaders Surround Jesus at the Temple

John 10:24-30 The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Many people asking for proof do so for the wrong reasons. Most of these questioners didn’t want to follow Jesus in the way that required them to submit to his leadership. They hoped that Jesus would declare himself Messiah for perverted reasons. These doubters hoped he would identify himself so they could accuse him of telling lies.

Just as a shepherd protects his sheep, Jesus protects his people from eternal harm. While believers can expect to suffer on earth, Satan cannot harm their soul or take away their eternal life with God. There are many reasons to be afraid here on earth because this is the devil’s domain. But if you choose to follow Jesus, he will give you everlasting safety.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 16:5 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 16, 2011 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 16:5 – The LORD detest all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

Pride is the inner voice that whispers, “My way is best” It is resisting God’s leadership and believing that your are able to live without his help. Whenever you find yourself wanting to do it your way and looking down on other people, you are being pulled by pride. Only when you eliminate pride can God help you become all he meant you to be.

 

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