Archive for the ‘Personal Growth’ Category

Spiritual Training 12 August 2011

Posted: August 12, 2011 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Personal Growth, Scripture Memory, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

John 3:19-21 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that I may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

Many people don’t want their lives exposed to God’s light because they are afraid of what will be revealed. They don’t want to be changed., Don’t be surprised when these same people are threatened by your desire to obey God and do what is right, because they are afraid that the light in you may expose some of the darkness in their lives. Rather than giving in to discouragement, keep praying that they will come to see how much better it is to live in light that in darkness.

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 02 Aug 2011

Posted: August 2, 2011 in Bible Study, Personal Growth, trust in theL ord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

John 2:23-25 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

The Son of God knows all about human nature. Jesus was well aware of the truth of Jeremiah 17:9, which states, “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jesus was discerning, and he knew that the faith of some followers was superficial. Some of the same people clamming to believe in Jesus at this time would later yell “Crucify him! It’s easy to believe when it is exciting and everyone else believes the same way. But keep your faith firm even when it isn’t popular to follow Christ.

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 12 July 2011

Posted: July 12, 2011 in Bible Study, Personal Growth, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

“The Word became flesh” means becoming human. By doing do, Christ became
(1) the perfect teacher-In Jesus’ life we see how God thinks and therefore how we should think. (2) the perfect example-as a model of what we are to become, he shows us how to live and give us the power to live that way.  (3) the perfect sacrifice-Jesus came as a sacrifice for all sins, and his death satisfied God’s requirements for the removal of sin.

The One and Only, who came from the Father” means Jesus is God’s only and unique Son. The emphasis is on unique. Jesus is one of a kind and enjoys a relationship with God unlike all believers who are called “children” and said to be “born of God.”

When Christ was born, God became a man. He was not part man and part God; he was completely human and completely divine. Before Christ came, people could know God partially. After Christ came, people could know God fully because he became visible and tangible in Christ. Christ is the perfect expression of God in human form. The two most common errors people make about Jesus are to minimize his humanity or to minimize his divinity. Jesus is both God and man.

Spiritual Training 29 June 2011

Posted: June 29, 2011 in Bible Study, Personal Growth, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 24:16-18 – Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.”

All the people boldly claimed that they would never forsake the Lord. But they did not keep that promise. Very soon God would charge them with breaking their contract with him (Judges 2:2-3). Talk is cheap. It is easy to say we will follow God, but it is much more important to live like it. Yet the nation followed God through Joshua’s lifetime, a great tribute to Joshua’s faith in God and powerful leadership.

Proverbs 2:1-6 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 2, 2011 in Personal Growth, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 2:1-6 – My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and it you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Wisdom comes in two ways: It is a God-given gift and also the result of an energetic search. Wisdom’s starting point is God and his revealed Word, the source of “knowledge and understanding” In that sense wisdom is God’s gift to us. But he gives it only to those who earnestly seek it. But because God’s wisdom is hidden from the rebellious and foolish, it takes effort to find it and use it. The pathway to wisdom is strenuous. When we are on the path, we discover that true wisdom is God’s and that he will guide us and reward our sincere and persistent search.

Spiritual Training 19 May 2011

Posted: May 19, 2011 in Personal Growth, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 7:03-7 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the people will have to up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there. So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, Ah, Sovereign LORD, whys did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!

When Joshua first went against Ai, he did not consult God but relied on the strength of his army to defeat the small city. Only after Israel was defeated did they turn to God and ask what happened. Too often we rely on our own skill and strength, especially when the task before us seems easy. We go to God only when the obstacles seem too great. However, only God knows what lies ahead. Consulting him, even when we are on a winning streak, may save us from grave mistakes or misjudgments. God may want us to learn lessons, remove pride, or consult others before he will work through us.

Spiritual Training 06 May 2011

Posted: May 6, 2011 in Personal Growth, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 4:14 That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.

The Israelites revered Joshua for his role in leading them across the Jordan River. He, like Moses, would receive Israel’s praise’s generation after generation. Although Israel was not a world power at that time, Joshua’s reputation for handling his responsibilities God’s way brought him greater glory than if he had been a hero in a “superpower” nation. Doing right is more important than doing well.

Spiritual Training 04 May 2011

Posted: May 4, 2011 in Personal Growth, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Joshua 3:09 Joshua said to the Israelites, Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.

Just before crossing over into the promised land, Joshua gathered the people to hear the words of the LORD. Their excitement was high. No doubt they wanted to rush on, but Joshua made them stop and listen. We live in a fast – paced age where everyone rushes just to keep up. It is easy to get caught up in our tasks, becoming too busy for what GOD says is most important listening to his words. Before making your schedule, take time to focus on what God wants from all your activities. Knowing what God has said before you rush into your day can help you avoid foolish mistakes.

Proverbs 19:02 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: April 19, 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
Proverbs 19:02 – It is not good to have zeal (enthusiasm) without Knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

We often move hastily through life, rushing headlong into the unknown. Many people marry without knowing what to expect of their partner or of married life. Others try illicit sex or drugs without considering the consequences. Some plunge into jobs without evaluating whether they are suitable to that line of work. Don’t rush into the unknown. Be sure you understand what you’re getting into and where you want to go before you take the first step. And if it still seems unknown, be sure you are following God.

We often move hastily through life, rushing headlong into the unknown. Many people marry without knowing what to expect of their partner or of married life. Others try illicit sex or drugs without considering the consequences. Some plunge into jobs without evaluating whether they are suitable to that line of work. Don’t rush into the unknown. Be sure you understand what you’re getting into and where you want to go before you take the first step. And if it still seems unknown, be sure you are following God.

Two things can ruin your future success – ignorance and haste. You need to understand what you are doing before you do it, which means you must slow down for research first. You must know what is happening and what could happen before you take any action.

Ignorance is not bliss; it is not good. Ignorance is only helpful in matters of Christian liberty and in matters of sin and error (I Cor 10:25-27; Rom 16:19). Only in these areas can ignorance be useful. In all other areas, you should be knowledgeable and prudent.

Speed is not a virtue, except to obey God, hear others, or finish a job correctly (Ps 119:60; Jas 1:19; Pr 26:14). Only in such things should you hurry. Otherwise, caution and wisdom require you to slow down lest you make an error in judgment or in execution.

Both ignorance and haste are condemned by this proverb, which marks them as traits of the fool, connected to the previous proverb by “also.” Before decisions are made and actions started, Solomon required careful study and knowledge. Haste does make waste!

If others criticize or tease you for being cautious and wanting to know more, ignore the impulsive fools. There is no honor or virtue in rushing decisions without adequate research. Do not be intimidated or pressured to make decisions or start actions quickly.

Fools have no heart to learn (Pr 17:16); they are impulsive by nature (Pr 13:16). They rush decisions and actions without knowing the facts, and life punishes them. Wise men question everything (Pr 14:15); they do not rush decisions (Pr 14:29; 18:13; 25:8). They look ahead to see potential trouble and avoid it, but fools rush into pain (Pr 22:3; 27:12).

Many men might have been saved, if they had slowed down to consider the consequences of a seductress (Pr 7:21-22). Being slow to wrath is far superior to haste of spirit (Pr 14:29; Eccl 7:9). It is folly and shame to answer a matter before fully grasping the issues (Pr 18:13). Haste in financial things will bring poverty (Pr 21:5). Entering a conflict hastily will often bring shame in the end, when your ignorance is exposed (Pr 25:8).

The New Testament also teaches knowledge and caution. Paul condemned ignorance, for Christians are to prove all things (I Thes 5:21; Ac 17:11; Phil 1:9-11). Wise men examine in all directions and from all angles – they are circumspect (Eph 5:15-17). He warned against being “heady” – headstrong and impetuous actions hurried on by passion (II Tim 3:4). He listed “without understanding” as an inconvenient sin of reprobates (Rom 1:31).

Reader, do you prove the facts before deciding or acting? Are you cautious and slow with decisions? Avoid emotional reactions, rash purchases, wild speeches, impetuous decisions, and impulsive actions as folly condemned here. God expects you to be sober, calm, circumspect, cautious, prudent, and wise. The warning here is for your own good.

This generation commends marriages on emotion alone, but the proverb demands that there be knowledge as well. How many divorces and dysfunctional marriages could have been avoided by learning more about the other party? When haste is added to mere emotion, folly and its deserved pain will follow. Fifty years in marital hell is a long time.

Parents, especially fathers, should oversee dating and courting: they should be actively involved in the proving process. A young, single person does not have a clue about marriage, and he or she needs the combined wisdom and experience of parents to save him or her from great pain. To rush into such an abyss impatiently is the height of folly.

Others make investment and business decisions by foolish optimism rather than prudent caution and wise counsel (Pr 14:15; 15:22; 22:3). They are punished for these hasty decisions. It is truly better to be safe than sorry. Hard work in a boring job always works better than hastily or ignorantly following vain ideas (Pr 12:11; 14:23; 21:5; 28:19,22).

There are more means today to gain knowledge quickly on any subject than ever before. By Google searches or Bible software, answers for natural or spiritual questions can be found easily, yet many are more foolish than their parents. How can this be? They did not take the time to prove things, and Internet clutter is assumed as truth without any basis.

There are also more means to be hasty today than ever before. Instead of the days or weeks it would take to make an investment in the past, you can do so in less than a second via the Internet. Instead of courting a person for marriage who could be verified by many others, fools can connect via dating services without ever proving each other.

Many join churches without examining them by Scripture out of laziness or to please friends or family. Pastors preach things they have not thoroughly studied. But when the Lord sees such ignorant haste in His worship, He blinds to the truth and sends judgment (Mal 2:1-9; II Thess 2:9-12). Ignorant haste in religion is a horrible compound sin!

God has revealed religious truth in the Bible, where knowledge can be obtained easily and freely, for those who will search its pages and submit to its teachings. All doctrine and practice should be searched and proven from the scriptures (Acts 17:11; I Thess 5:21). There is no reason to be without knowledge or to act hastily, except in obedience!

Your success in life depends on following the wisdom of this proverb. Will you study and prove all things, retaining only what can be fully established as truth? Will you slow down in a faster-faster-faster generation to soberly consider what is right before acting?

Spiritual Training 12 April 2011

Posted: April 12, 2011 in Personal Growth, Under Gods Command, winning
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Under Gods Command

Good Pride and Bad Pride

Proverbs 11:02 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Galatians 6:4-5 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

There are two kinds of pride.
One is the opposite of humility; it is very bad. The other is the opposite of shame; it is very good.
• The kind of pride that is the opposite of humility leaves God and other circumstances out of our successes. It claims that whatever we have achieved, we have achieved by our own virtue. The essence of this kind of pride is self-centeredness and selfishness and it is condemned by Scripture. This does not mean, however, that the Bible is opposed to the self. The self is one of God’s good creations; selfishness is worshiping the creation rather than the creator. Bad pride is the kind of selfishness that always wants to be center stage that takes all the credit, that leaves God out, that gives no thanks to other people that goes it alone. It is the opposite of what God desires for us.
• The kind of pride that is the opposite of shame has to do with a job well done, with excellence, with striving for the best, with rising above mediocrity. In a Christian, this kind of pride attempts to give of its best to the Master.

People who misunderstand the difference between the two kinds of pride may have a misimpression of the Christian faith. Christianity is not opposed to excellence. It is not opposed to putting forth your best effort, excelling, and achieving. No, it is only opposed to a person’s thinking he can excel without ‘God’s help.
• Selfish pride is the opposite of thankfulness and gratitude. It show no gratitude to God for a healthy body, a healthy mind, good parents, a good national heritage, a good diet, and a thousand other blessing over which the person has no control. A person filled with selfish pride thinks he has created himself through his own efforts….. The other kind of pride doesn’t finish playing a solo and say it was nothing. It is not unable to accept a compliment.
• The pride that is opposite to shame can say thank you and give credit where credit is due. It can thank God for his gifts and at the same time acknowledge good work when it is done. The person who can accept a compliment is not arrogant. He knows where his dexterous fingers come from, who gave him his mind and his sense of rhythm.

Have you been successful? Do people praise your achievements? Give credit to God in thankful prayer for each gift he has given you.

Please remember that these emails are going to over 100 people. I used BCC to keep your email address private. I just want to share my own personal walk with you, and yes, please hold me accountable for my actions. I love you all and there is nothing that you can do about it.

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