"No matter the day no matter the time make up in your mind to take over your life and choose to be successful. I'm goin' have a good day .... Folks try to get in your head to try to make you feel mislead. Don't give them that control. They're trying to keep you from your goal," sings Gospel Singer James Moss on his CD V4 ... The Other Side in the song "Good Day."
God made His people reinas y reyes (queens and kings). Queens and kings are called to show the love of God which requires us to manage our minds. The Apostle Paul, a Jew and Christian with Roman citizenship, wrote in Philippians 1:10 Amplified Bible, "So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]."
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States, according to Wikipedia, a nonprofit on-line library. The anthem says, "And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
A Japanese proverb says, "There is nothing more costly than what's free."
To be brave and free requires much effort and expense. The book of Joshua is probably written by Joshua, a Jew who was a slave in Egypt and became a leader of the free nation of Israel. Joshua 1:8 Amplified Bible says, "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success." Proverbs 18:15 Amplified Bible says, "The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge."
Jeremiah 1:5 Amplified Bible says about the prophet Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Yet in America, China and other places it is legal to kill unborn girls and unborn boys.
When the law is a lie it needs to be changed. All lies need to be turned to the Truth. John 8:31-32 Amplified Bible says, "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free." Truth is another name for God the Son Jesus Christ who is good to both believers and non-believers.
As you manage your mind today what are some lies someone is trying to tell you? How did you apply the Truth? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P.O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on http://www.Twitter.com/Michelelove30.
Showing posts with label Truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Truth. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Faith, Fear and Japanese Americans
"Fear is a disease that eats away at logic and makes man inhuman." -- Marian Anderson, singer in eight languages and civil rights advocate
When Japan bombed American ships in Pearl Harbor not only was World War II kicked off in the United States of America, the US kicked out of their homes about 110,000 Japanese Americans living on America's west coast and forced them into War Relocation Camps.
Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt authorized Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which told local military officials to designate "military areas" as "exclusion zones" from which "any or all persons may be excluded."
Sometimes all three branches of American government, executive, congressional and judicial, fail to protect its citizens and their constitutional rights. In 1944 the US Supreme Court upheld Executive Order 9066.
Japanese American Gordon Hirabayashi refused to go to the War Relocation Camps along with other revolutionaries. Fred Korematsu said, "If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up." Hirabayashi, Korematsu and others were instrumental in bringing cases to the Supreme Court that addressed the injustice of putting Americans in prison because of their race. Hirabayahsi didn't realize what a fight was ahead for Japanese Americans to live in America with their civil rights enforced. He says, "We had Constitutional rights. I didn't think anything could happen to us. We had a rude awakening."
"Check your speakers. This ain't a self-help song or another makeover song but how He made me over. You dig. I like me," sings award-winning Gospel singer Kirk Franklin in his song, "I Like Me" with Da TRUTH. Franklin is also a songwriter, record producer, music director and author. Please leave an on-line comment naming songs by Asians similar to Franklin's and Da TRUTH's "I Like Me."
Some people live their whole lives with a No es posible attitude, but those who know and trust God " . . . are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1). International Bible Teacher Joyce Meyer says that courage is not the absence of fear, but courage is doing things afraid.
We can ask God to marry and protect us like Ruth asked Boaz to marry her. The book of Ruth 3:7-9 Amplified Bible says, "And when Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then [Ruth] came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled, and he turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! And he said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth your maidservant. Spread your wing [of protection] over your maidservant, for you are a next of kin."
God's ways are often not our ways. After we receive the marriage vow of complete forgiveness of all our sins, eternal life, eternal relationship and eternal, extravagant love from God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost (not polygamy, but 1 x 1 X 1 =1), sometimes we are madly in love with our Husband, God, some times we are just mad with Him. It is not always asan (easy) being sadi-suda (married) to someone perfect.
The Perfect One is patient, and He is developing a patient spouse able to spread the true Kingdom of God globally. Proverbs 25:15 Amplified Bible says, "By long forbearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance." Proverbs 25:15 Wycliffe Bible says, "A prince shall be made soft by patience; and a soft tongue shall break hardness." Proverbs 25:15 Contemporary English Version says, "Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem."
The fight for Japanese-American justice took from the 1940s until 1988 when Congress passed and Republican President Ronald Reagan signed legislation which apologized for the internment and said that the government's actions were based on "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership." The US government eventually dispersed more than $1.6 billion in reparations to Japanese Americans interned and their heirs. Each citizen who had been interned was awarded $20,000. Please leave an on-line comment discussing: Should African Americans receive reparations because of African American slavery in the US? What about the unborn once Roe v. Wade legalizing unlimited abortion is overturned? Gospel singer Fred Hammond is an abortion survivor. Read his story and more in my article, "Thoughts About Abortion." If you received the $20,000 internment payment, please share what you spent it on.
Money matters. Money is not God. 1 Timothy 6:10 English Standard Bible says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
Poverty does not equal purity. Money is a tool. A Spanish word for cash is efectivo. Proverbs 10:15 Contemporary English Version says, "Great wealth can be a fortress, but poverty is no protection at all." Brian Tracy says in his book, No Excuses! The Power of Self-Discipline 21 Ways To Achieve Lasting Happiness And Success, that the top 20 percent of people in America earn and control 80 percent of the assets; he also says that these 20 percent people also started in the bottom 20 percent of income earners and practiced certain principles to climb from the bottom 20 percent to the top 20 percent. If you are a top 20 percent person, share some of your success principles by leaving an on-line comment.
Please also leave an on-line comment answering the question, "How is America experiencing the ramifications of the Japanese internment, African American slavery, abortion and similar evils today?"
When Japan bombed American ships in Pearl Harbor not only was World War II kicked off in the United States of America, the US kicked out of their homes about 110,000 Japanese Americans living on America's west coast and forced them into War Relocation Camps.
Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt authorized Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which told local military officials to designate "military areas" as "exclusion zones" from which "any or all persons may be excluded."
Sometimes all three branches of American government, executive, congressional and judicial, fail to protect its citizens and their constitutional rights. In 1944 the US Supreme Court upheld Executive Order 9066.
Japanese American Gordon Hirabayashi refused to go to the War Relocation Camps along with other revolutionaries. Fred Korematsu said, "If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up." Hirabayashi, Korematsu and others were instrumental in bringing cases to the Supreme Court that addressed the injustice of putting Americans in prison because of their race. Hirabayahsi didn't realize what a fight was ahead for Japanese Americans to live in America with their civil rights enforced. He says, "We had Constitutional rights. I didn't think anything could happen to us. We had a rude awakening."
"Check your speakers. This ain't a self-help song or another makeover song but how He made me over. You dig. I like me," sings award-winning Gospel singer Kirk Franklin in his song, "I Like Me" with Da TRUTH. Franklin is also a songwriter, record producer, music director and author. Please leave an on-line comment naming songs by Asians similar to Franklin's and Da TRUTH's "I Like Me."
Some people live their whole lives with a No es posible attitude, but those who know and trust God " . . . are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1). International Bible Teacher Joyce Meyer says that courage is not the absence of fear, but courage is doing things afraid.
We can ask God to marry and protect us like Ruth asked Boaz to marry her. The book of Ruth 3:7-9 Amplified Bible says, "And when Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then [Ruth] came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled, and he turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! And he said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth your maidservant. Spread your wing [of protection] over your maidservant, for you are a next of kin."
God's ways are often not our ways. After we receive the marriage vow of complete forgiveness of all our sins, eternal life, eternal relationship and eternal, extravagant love from God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost (not polygamy, but 1 x 1 X 1 =1), sometimes we are madly in love with our Husband, God, some times we are just mad with Him. It is not always asan (easy) being sadi-suda (married) to someone perfect.
The Perfect One is patient, and He is developing a patient spouse able to spread the true Kingdom of God globally. Proverbs 25:15 Amplified Bible says, "By long forbearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance." Proverbs 25:15 Wycliffe Bible says, "A prince shall be made soft by patience; and a soft tongue shall break hardness." Proverbs 25:15 Contemporary English Version says, "Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem."
The fight for Japanese-American justice took from the 1940s until 1988 when Congress passed and Republican President Ronald Reagan signed legislation which apologized for the internment and said that the government's actions were based on "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership." The US government eventually dispersed more than $1.6 billion in reparations to Japanese Americans interned and their heirs. Each citizen who had been interned was awarded $20,000. Please leave an on-line comment discussing: Should African Americans receive reparations because of African American slavery in the US? What about the unborn once Roe v. Wade legalizing unlimited abortion is overturned? Gospel singer Fred Hammond is an abortion survivor. Read his story and more in my article, "Thoughts About Abortion." If you received the $20,000 internment payment, please share what you spent it on.
Money matters. Money is not God. 1 Timothy 6:10 English Standard Bible says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
Poverty does not equal purity. Money is a tool. A Spanish word for cash is efectivo. Proverbs 10:15 Contemporary English Version says, "Great wealth can be a fortress, but poverty is no protection at all." Brian Tracy says in his book, No Excuses! The Power of Self-Discipline 21 Ways To Achieve Lasting Happiness And Success, that the top 20 percent of people in America earn and control 80 percent of the assets; he also says that these 20 percent people also started in the bottom 20 percent of income earners and practiced certain principles to climb from the bottom 20 percent to the top 20 percent. If you are a top 20 percent person, share some of your success principles by leaving an on-line comment.
Please also leave an on-line comment answering the question, "How is America experiencing the ramifications of the Japanese internment, African American slavery, abortion and similar evils today?"
Monday, February 4, 2013
Marriage Surprise
Many women think that to give love to a man and to receive love from that man in the union of marriage is one of life's most precious gifts that they are eagerly seeking to open. After Shyju Mathew's mom got married and opened her gift, she found a man bound by Satan with depression.
When comparing the man she knew before marriage with the man she lived with after marriage, she may have asked herself something like, "Yah kaun hai?" ("Who is this?") Please leave on-line comments sharing some surprises in your spouse and yourself after marriage.
Mathew's mom's husband practiced witchcraft. He was tormented and would throw angry fits often. She hated her life and wanted to commit suicide, but before she could do it, she discovered she was pregnant. Unlike the Tahina spectabilis palm tree which produces flowers only once, and then collapses to the ground and dies, Mathew's mom decided against suicide in response to a bad marriage and an unplanned pregnancy.
When she asked herself questions like, "Kya ap khus hai? ("Are you happy?") The answer was, "Nahi," ("No.")
God wants us to enjoy our life. God the Son Jesus Christ says in John 10:10 Amplified Bible, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." David writes about God in Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version Bible, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
An enjoyable earthly life is not one where we are ever emotionally high. Joy is some times a choice believers can make because God the Holy Ghost has given us the fruit of self-control. We have to wait until the next life to have an eternal emotional high when we live face-to-face with God.
Meanwhile in this earthly life, unhappiness is not an excuse to do evil like paying someone to take the life of our unborn baby (abortion). Instead follow the advice of the song, "Encourage Yourself," by The Tri-City Singers: "Some times you have to encourage yourself. Some times you have to speak victory during the test. And no matter how you feel speak the Word, and you will be healed. Speak over yourself. Encourage yourself in the Lord."
Mathew's mom determined, "I'm going to live for this child's sake." An unwanted pregnancy does not have to influence a woman to become mentally ill or suicidal. Roman Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, "Circumstances do not make the man; they merely reveal him to himself."
Mathew's mom prayed that her baby would be a priest, a writer, a singer and a whole bunch of other good things. God answered her prayer. Like Hannah she dedicated her first born to God. When Mathew came home from school, his mom encouraged him to pray.
Mathew says she didn't force him to pray; he liked to pray. In fact he loved to pray. His mother paid attention to Mathew's interest and encouraged it. The Law of Concentration says that "whatever you dwell upon grows and increases in your life."
Observe what good things our children are interested in and encourage them. My son, Rafael Damani Fowler, loves playing CDs. He enjoys it for hours. Mathew enjoys praying for hours.
Mathew prayed so much that when he was seven years old, someone asked him to preach. Mathew asked his mom what to preach. His mom said, "Never ask a human being what to preach." She further counseled him to go to his bedroom and seek God.
Mathew has been seeking God and preaching ever since. He also writes and sings among other things on an international scale.
Parents are called to mold a child capable of positively impacting people beyond measure. Lord Jesus, let us parents live in our calling daily.
Being the example we want our children to be is excellent teaching. Immanuel Kant advises, "Resolve to behave as though your every act were to become a universal law for all people." The Apostle Paul instructs in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Amplified Bible, "Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah)." Are you bold and truthful enough to instruct your children and other people likewise?
When comparing the man she knew before marriage with the man she lived with after marriage, she may have asked herself something like, "Yah kaun hai?" ("Who is this?") Please leave on-line comments sharing some surprises in your spouse and yourself after marriage.
Mathew's mom's husband practiced witchcraft. He was tormented and would throw angry fits often. She hated her life and wanted to commit suicide, but before she could do it, she discovered she was pregnant. Unlike the Tahina spectabilis palm tree which produces flowers only once, and then collapses to the ground and dies, Mathew's mom decided against suicide in response to a bad marriage and an unplanned pregnancy.
When she asked herself questions like, "Kya ap khus hai? ("Are you happy?") The answer was, "Nahi," ("No.")
God wants us to enjoy our life. God the Son Jesus Christ says in John 10:10 Amplified Bible, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." David writes about God in Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version Bible, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
An enjoyable earthly life is not one where we are ever emotionally high. Joy is some times a choice believers can make because God the Holy Ghost has given us the fruit of self-control. We have to wait until the next life to have an eternal emotional high when we live face-to-face with God.
Meanwhile in this earthly life, unhappiness is not an excuse to do evil like paying someone to take the life of our unborn baby (abortion). Instead follow the advice of the song, "Encourage Yourself," by The Tri-City Singers: "Some times you have to encourage yourself. Some times you have to speak victory during the test. And no matter how you feel speak the Word, and you will be healed. Speak over yourself. Encourage yourself in the Lord."
Mathew's mom determined, "I'm going to live for this child's sake." An unwanted pregnancy does not have to influence a woman to become mentally ill or suicidal. Roman Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, "Circumstances do not make the man; they merely reveal him to himself."
Mathew's mom prayed that her baby would be a priest, a writer, a singer and a whole bunch of other good things. God answered her prayer. Like Hannah she dedicated her first born to God. When Mathew came home from school, his mom encouraged him to pray.
Mathew says she didn't force him to pray; he liked to pray. In fact he loved to pray. His mother paid attention to Mathew's interest and encouraged it. The Law of Concentration says that "whatever you dwell upon grows and increases in your life."
Observe what good things our children are interested in and encourage them. My son, Rafael Damani Fowler, loves playing CDs. He enjoys it for hours. Mathew enjoys praying for hours.
Mathew prayed so much that when he was seven years old, someone asked him to preach. Mathew asked his mom what to preach. His mom said, "Never ask a human being what to preach." She further counseled him to go to his bedroom and seek God.
Mathew has been seeking God and preaching ever since. He also writes and sings among other things on an international scale.
Parents are called to mold a child capable of positively impacting people beyond measure. Lord Jesus, let us parents live in our calling daily.
Being the example we want our children to be is excellent teaching. Immanuel Kant advises, "Resolve to behave as though your every act were to become a universal law for all people." The Apostle Paul instructs in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Amplified Bible, "Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah)." Are you bold and truthful enough to instruct your children and other people likewise?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Artificial Death
Sometimes
things are not as they seem, but we make assumptions about certain
appearances and behave according to our false beliefs. When Chen
Qingwang went to check on her neighbor, 95-year-old Li Xiufeng, in her
home in Beiliu, Guangxi Province, China, Xiufeng seemed to be dead in
her bed, motionless, not breathing or responding to her name and efforts
to get her out of bed.
So
Quingwang and her son made funeral arrangements for Xiufeng who lived
alone. Two weeks earlier Xiufeng had tripped and suffered a head injury.
Everyone thought Xiufeng was dead. She looked dead. She acted dead, so
she must be dead? According to Chinese tradition, Qingwang had Xiufeng
placed in a coffin in Xiufeng's home that was unsealed, so that family
and friends could pay their respects.
Six
days after Qingwang found Xiufeng "dead" in her bed, Qingwang came back
one day before Xiufeng's funeral to find no body in her coffin!
Xiufeng
was found cooking in her kitchen. Xiufeng said she woke up so hungry
that she forced herself out of her coffin and went to the kitchen to
cook. Medics say Xiufeng experienced an "artificial death," which is
when people have no breath, but their body is warm.
We
don't know much about "artificial death," but God knows everything. God
has many surprises about the human bodies He has designed and created.
"God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering
things," says Proverbs 25:2 the Message Bible.
Some things that scientists do that we may imitate to help us handle situations that are artificially dead in a way that shows our appreciation, affirmation and adoration of our infinitely capable God:
Some things that scientists do that we may imitate to help us handle situations that are artificially dead in a way that shows our appreciation, affirmation and adoration of our infinitely capable God:
- Scientists conquer their doubts and unbelief.
- Scientists don't assume things.
- Scientists investigate things.
- Scientists consult and collaborate with those full of wisdom, truth and ever-expanding knowledge.
- Scientists try to continuously learn as much as they possibly can.
- Scientists believe the unexpected and even the impossible are possible.
- Scientists thoroughly test things.
- Scientists share and publish the results of their experiments.
- Scientists change their life based on the results of their experiments.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Woo 'Em
God loves to woo us and others constantly. The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life study in 230 countries as reported in the January 8, 2013, issue of the newspaper USA Today found that Christians make up 32 percent of the world's religions followed by 23 percent of Muslims, 16 percent of unaffiliated, 15 percent of Hindus, seven percent of Buddhists and another seven percent of Jews and other faiths.
God and believers have been loving and living Matthew 28:18-20 Amplified Bible which says, "Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)."
Pastor and author Francis Chan says about making disciples in his article "A Time to Make Disciples" in the January/February 2013 issue of Relevant Magazine, "Realistically, the task will require a life-time of devotion to studying the Scriptures and investing in people around us. Neither of these things is easy, nor can they be checked off a list. We are never really "done." We continually devote ourselves to studying the Scriptures so that we can learn with ever-greater depth and clarity what God wants us to know, practice and pass on. We continually invest in the people around us, teaching them and walking with them through life's joys and trials."
Making disciples is starting and stretching relationships by investing in people qualities like the love and the truth of God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Ghost. Ephesians 4:15 Amplified Bible says, "Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
What a tall order! Don't feel up to it? No worries mate. God's got your back. Philippians 2:13 Amplified Bible says, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." God lives inside of believers, and He passionately desires and is able to love people through us the way they need to be loved. Trust God. Don't listen to the terror tactics of Satan trying to convince us love doesn't work or is too much trouble.
Today we have so many ways to communicate love, truth and the other goodness of God not only in person but also through cellular telephones, email, Skype, instant messages, text, mail and other modes of communication. Be creative and consistent in cultivating loving communication. It's impressive that Christianity is the world's number one religion, but still billions are not lovers of Christ and the billions who are lovers of Christ need to be nurtured to new levels of overflowing with the character of God for all eternity.
An eternity doesn't mean that God has called us to love beyond our limits. Sometimes we need to say "no" to say "yes" to the best disciplining. Our first relationship is with God, then our spouse and ourselves, then our children, then other family and then others. If you talk to God and find that a business colleague has priority over God, spouse or family, ask God for forgiveness and transformation. God is willing, able and faithful to fix it.
Some of us don't like differences and change and tend to just develop relationships with family not wanting to do anything like African-American Jarena Lee who in the 19century in one year traveled 2,325 miles on foot to preach 127 sermons. She also became the first woman approved to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church which is the first black-controlled Christian denomination in the United States of America. Neither Lee nor Jesus limited themselves to biological relationships, so neither should we. Imitate God. Stretch out. Ask God to prune out criticism and judgement from your heart. Someone beautiful is waiting to be shared. Embrace a diversity of people instead of noxious, needless, negativity. Cooperate with God to lose the "No es posible" attitude. Romans 15:7 Amplified Bible says, "Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God."
Biblical disciplining contains much common sense that can be corroborated in scientific research. Proverbs 25:2 the Message Bible says, "God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things." John Gottman, Ph.D., has a Love Lab at the University of Washington where he conducts counseling and research on couples. Dr. Gottman writes in his book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work that friendship between partners is critical. Friendship is desirable in marriage and other disciplining efforts. All relationships are disciplining opportunities.
Ask God today to cause you to not act distant and difficult but rather overflowing with the love of God and all the goodness of God that lays the foundation for new love and nurtures old love. A new friend/disciple and an old one will appreciate and thank you for eternity.
God and believers have been loving and living Matthew 28:18-20 Amplified Bible which says, "Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)."
Pastor and author Francis Chan says about making disciples in his article "A Time to Make Disciples" in the January/February 2013 issue of Relevant Magazine, "Realistically, the task will require a life-time of devotion to studying the Scriptures and investing in people around us. Neither of these things is easy, nor can they be checked off a list. We are never really "done." We continually devote ourselves to studying the Scriptures so that we can learn with ever-greater depth and clarity what God wants us to know, practice and pass on. We continually invest in the people around us, teaching them and walking with them through life's joys and trials."
Making disciples is starting and stretching relationships by investing in people qualities like the love and the truth of God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Ghost. Ephesians 4:15 Amplified Bible says, "Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
What a tall order! Don't feel up to it? No worries mate. God's got your back. Philippians 2:13 Amplified Bible says, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." God lives inside of believers, and He passionately desires and is able to love people through us the way they need to be loved. Trust God. Don't listen to the terror tactics of Satan trying to convince us love doesn't work or is too much trouble.
Today we have so many ways to communicate love, truth and the other goodness of God not only in person but also through cellular telephones, email, Skype, instant messages, text, mail and other modes of communication. Be creative and consistent in cultivating loving communication. It's impressive that Christianity is the world's number one religion, but still billions are not lovers of Christ and the billions who are lovers of Christ need to be nurtured to new levels of overflowing with the character of God for all eternity.
An eternity doesn't mean that God has called us to love beyond our limits. Sometimes we need to say "no" to say "yes" to the best disciplining. Our first relationship is with God, then our spouse and ourselves, then our children, then other family and then others. If you talk to God and find that a business colleague has priority over God, spouse or family, ask God for forgiveness and transformation. God is willing, able and faithful to fix it.
Some of us don't like differences and change and tend to just develop relationships with family not wanting to do anything like African-American Jarena Lee who in the 19century in one year traveled 2,325 miles on foot to preach 127 sermons. She also became the first woman approved to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church which is the first black-controlled Christian denomination in the United States of America. Neither Lee nor Jesus limited themselves to biological relationships, so neither should we. Imitate God. Stretch out. Ask God to prune out criticism and judgement from your heart. Someone beautiful is waiting to be shared. Embrace a diversity of people instead of noxious, needless, negativity. Cooperate with God to lose the "No es posible" attitude. Romans 15:7 Amplified Bible says, "Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God."
Biblical disciplining contains much common sense that can be corroborated in scientific research. Proverbs 25:2 the Message Bible says, "God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things." John Gottman, Ph.D., has a Love Lab at the University of Washington where he conducts counseling and research on couples. Dr. Gottman writes in his book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work that friendship between partners is critical. Friendship is desirable in marriage and other disciplining efforts. All relationships are disciplining opportunities.
Ask God today to cause you to not act distant and difficult but rather overflowing with the love of God and all the goodness of God that lays the foundation for new love and nurtures old love. A new friend/disciple and an old one will appreciate and thank you for eternity.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Some Things to Pray
What are some things to pray for? Jesus says in Matthew 21:22 New International Version Bible, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." In John 17 Jesus prayed that He will be revealed to believers. God has to give life to our spirit in order for us to recognize who Jesus is. We can pray that Jesus will be revealed to people.
Unity is also something good to pray for. Psalm 133:4 New King James Version Bible says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Unity makes it easier to accomplish our purpose in life because we are cooperating with each other.
Living in unity does not mean that we are all the same. Pray to know your God-given purpose. This way we will fulfill all that He has called us to fulfill.
Don't try to fulfill purpose without consulting God. By ourselves we go into areas that are not productive.
When we live in purpose we also live with truth. We can pray for truth to be revealed. Truth may seem to be revealed by facts, but this is not always the case. Truth has a dimension that is both spiritual and natural. For example, in the natural the Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh, some type of problem in his life. In the Spirit of God, God turned the weakness this thorn caused into strength.
We can pray for intimacy with God. Jesus notes in John 17 that He is so close to God the Father that He is one with God the Father. Jesus is the manifestation of God that we can see. He had a physical body in His earthly ministry 2,000 years ago. Even before Mary was pregnant with baby Jesus, Jesus had a body. For example, in the Old Testament Jesus was the commander of the Lord's army in Joshua 5 that Joshua worshiped.
We can pray that God will not lead us into temptation. Temptation can bring out weakness that does not lead to giving honor to God. Avoid temptation. It can be enticing. Some can be passed, but not all.
We can pray for protection. Our ultimate enemy is the devil and his demons who have been around a lot longer than we have. God can take care of problems we have no idea about. For example, we live in a world where there is enough food for everyone, but political obstacles stand in the way. Respect authority. Pray for governmental leaders. May leaders let go of pre-destined failure and embrace win-win solutions today and every day. Anything is possible.
Unity is also something good to pray for. Psalm 133:4 New King James Version Bible says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Unity makes it easier to accomplish our purpose in life because we are cooperating with each other.
Living in unity does not mean that we are all the same. Pray to know your God-given purpose. This way we will fulfill all that He has called us to fulfill.
Don't try to fulfill purpose without consulting God. By ourselves we go into areas that are not productive.
When we live in purpose we also live with truth. We can pray for truth to be revealed. Truth may seem to be revealed by facts, but this is not always the case. Truth has a dimension that is both spiritual and natural. For example, in the natural the Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh, some type of problem in his life. In the Spirit of God, God turned the weakness this thorn caused into strength.
We can pray for intimacy with God. Jesus notes in John 17 that He is so close to God the Father that He is one with God the Father. Jesus is the manifestation of God that we can see. He had a physical body in His earthly ministry 2,000 years ago. Even before Mary was pregnant with baby Jesus, Jesus had a body. For example, in the Old Testament Jesus was the commander of the Lord's army in Joshua 5 that Joshua worshiped.
We can pray that God will not lead us into temptation. Temptation can bring out weakness that does not lead to giving honor to God. Avoid temptation. It can be enticing. Some can be passed, but not all.
We can pray for protection. Our ultimate enemy is the devil and his demons who have been around a lot longer than we have. God can take care of problems we have no idea about. For example, we live in a world where there is enough food for everyone, but political obstacles stand in the way. Respect authority. Pray for governmental leaders. May leaders let go of pre-destined failure and embrace win-win solutions today and every day. Anything is possible.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Choose Principle Over Presentation
Nick Vujicic is married to Kanae, expecting his first child with his wife, an evangelist and a motivational speaker who was born without arms or legs and also heads the nonprofit organization Life Without Limbs. Vujicic wanted to star in a movie, but ended up turning down his first movie offer. He says in his book Life Without Limits, "How do you want to be remembered? I didn't want my grandchildren to one day discover a DVD of a movie in which Grandpa Nick curses, drools tobacco juice down his chin, and lives like a degenerate. So I said thanks but no thanks to that first movie offer."
Money, fame and power obtained from evil behavior can be tempting. The Apostles Paul and Barnabas said thanks but no thanks to a tempting, but bad offer. God used Paul to heal a man who had been born unable to walk (Acts 14). Instead of praising God for the miracle the Lycaonian people called Paul and Barnabas gods and wanted to make a sacrifice to worship them. Paul and Barnabas could have gone along with this situation since it presented that Paul and Barnabas were visible whereas God was not. Yet Paul and Barnabas chose principle over presentation. Paul said in response to the false worship in Acts 14:15 Amplified Bible, "Men, why are you doing this? We also are [only] human beings, of nature like your own, and we bring you the good news (Gospel) that you should turn away from these foolish and vain things to the living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that they contain."
Choosing principle over presentation is not always popular. Even though Paul did a good deed and also told the truth, the Lycaonians stoned him. Vujicic sometimes suffers persecution for living a life that pleases God. So does Charlene Cothran. Today there is a push to legalize the sin of homosexuality and lesbianism through gay marriage and to present the gay life as positive even Biblical in contradiction to Scriptures like Leviticus 18 and Deuteronomy 22. There are also those fighting for principle over presentation in this area. One such person is Charlene Cothran, who lived the gay lifestyle for almost 30 years, but today is a Christian minister and heads The EVIDENCE Ministry, Inc. Cothran says, in her article Redeemed! 10 Ways to Get Out of the Gay Life, If You Want Out, "Many argue that each individual should determine for themselves what God intends for him or her. This would indicate that we each have a separate set of biblical rules to live by. This is untrue. If you are ready for change and willing to open yourself to the truth, God’s love can bring your current belief system in line with His Word. Jesus will cleanse and forgive all confessed sin from a willing heart. Homosexuality is only one of them. It is no greater sin than any of the others, but it is sin."
Please share about instances where principle was chosen over presentation.
Money, fame and power obtained from evil behavior can be tempting. The Apostles Paul and Barnabas said thanks but no thanks to a tempting, but bad offer. God used Paul to heal a man who had been born unable to walk (Acts 14). Instead of praising God for the miracle the Lycaonian people called Paul and Barnabas gods and wanted to make a sacrifice to worship them. Paul and Barnabas could have gone along with this situation since it presented that Paul and Barnabas were visible whereas God was not. Yet Paul and Barnabas chose principle over presentation. Paul said in response to the false worship in Acts 14:15 Amplified Bible, "Men, why are you doing this? We also are [only] human beings, of nature like your own, and we bring you the good news (Gospel) that you should turn away from these foolish and vain things to the living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that they contain."
Choosing principle over presentation is not always popular. Even though Paul did a good deed and also told the truth, the Lycaonians stoned him. Vujicic sometimes suffers persecution for living a life that pleases God. So does Charlene Cothran. Today there is a push to legalize the sin of homosexuality and lesbianism through gay marriage and to present the gay life as positive even Biblical in contradiction to Scriptures like Leviticus 18 and Deuteronomy 22. There are also those fighting for principle over presentation in this area. One such person is Charlene Cothran, who lived the gay lifestyle for almost 30 years, but today is a Christian minister and heads The EVIDENCE Ministry, Inc. Cothran says, in her article Redeemed! 10 Ways to Get Out of the Gay Life, If You Want Out, "Many argue that each individual should determine for themselves what God intends for him or her. This would indicate that we each have a separate set of biblical rules to live by. This is untrue. If you are ready for change and willing to open yourself to the truth, God’s love can bring your current belief system in line with His Word. Jesus will cleanse and forgive all confessed sin from a willing heart. Homosexuality is only one of them. It is no greater sin than any of the others, but it is sin."
Please share about instances where principle was chosen over presentation.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Protect, Nurture, Respect
Love protects, nurtures and respects. Onan could have protected, nurtured and respected himself, Tamar, Judah, Shelah and other family and friends by saying no to marrying Tamar (Genesis 38). Onan didn't love Tamar, and his lack of love was revealed.
Onan's older brother, Er, was first married to Tamar, but Er died without having a child with Tamar. Judah, Onan's father, asked Onan to marry Tamar. Onan said yes to marrying Tamar while his heart said no. After the marriage began Onan refused to become a good husband. Onan denied Tamar satisfying sex, children, love and respect. He was not her best friend and advocate, tender cultivator of creative and compassionate ways to make her life the best life possible. There was a lack of wonder at being married and free to kiss places previously hidden, a lack of yearning to taste and touch Tamar, a lack of excitement to enter her mound of wheat bordered by lilies holding the promise of a portal to paradise. With Onan martial sex was perfunctory instead of pleasing. Genesis 38:9 New Living Translation Bible says, "But Onan was not willing to have a child who would not be his own heir. So whenever he had intercourse with his brother's wife, he spilled the semen on the ground. This prevented her from having a child who would belong to his brother."
Tamar had sex appeal; later Onan's father, Judah, went into her. Onan didn't appreciate Tamar's sexuality because Onan was sexually sinning.
Since Onan decided to say yes to marrying Tamar instead of no he had an obligation to respect her, to love her, to become a good husband to her. Whatever it took to change his heart, to get over Tamar having been his older brother's wife, Onan needed to work with God, and do it. The disgust and hatred he showed Tamar displeased God. God likes joyful, loving, sexually beautiful marriages.
Also God had a bigger plan for Onan's and Tamar's marriage than their personal happiness. The Christ's natural descent was to come through the offspring of Judah of which Onan was one. So Onan's sex practices were getting in God's way. Since Onan refused to change God put Onan out of the way. Tamar became a widow again. Judah lost another son. Shelah lost another brother. Family and friends lost a loved one.
What else could Onan have done toward a good destiny?
Onan's older brother, Er, was first married to Tamar, but Er died without having a child with Tamar. Judah, Onan's father, asked Onan to marry Tamar. Onan said yes to marrying Tamar while his heart said no. After the marriage began Onan refused to become a good husband. Onan denied Tamar satisfying sex, children, love and respect. He was not her best friend and advocate, tender cultivator of creative and compassionate ways to make her life the best life possible. There was a lack of wonder at being married and free to kiss places previously hidden, a lack of yearning to taste and touch Tamar, a lack of excitement to enter her mound of wheat bordered by lilies holding the promise of a portal to paradise. With Onan martial sex was perfunctory instead of pleasing. Genesis 38:9 New Living Translation Bible says, "But Onan was not willing to have a child who would not be his own heir. So whenever he had intercourse with his brother's wife, he spilled the semen on the ground. This prevented her from having a child who would belong to his brother."
Tamar had sex appeal; later Onan's father, Judah, went into her. Onan didn't appreciate Tamar's sexuality because Onan was sexually sinning.
Since Onan decided to say yes to marrying Tamar instead of no he had an obligation to respect her, to love her, to become a good husband to her. Whatever it took to change his heart, to get over Tamar having been his older brother's wife, Onan needed to work with God, and do it. The disgust and hatred he showed Tamar displeased God. God likes joyful, loving, sexually beautiful marriages.
Also God had a bigger plan for Onan's and Tamar's marriage than their personal happiness. The Christ's natural descent was to come through the offspring of Judah of which Onan was one. So Onan's sex practices were getting in God's way. Since Onan refused to change God put Onan out of the way. Tamar became a widow again. Judah lost another son. Shelah lost another brother. Family and friends lost a loved one.
What else could Onan have done toward a good destiny?
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Sleeping With the Enemy
Ephesians 5:17 Amplified Bible says, "Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is." God wants us to love Him, ourselves and others. God created sex and sexuality. What God creates is good, very good provided it's used according to His instructions.
When we are thoughtful, alert and sensitive to the leading of God the Holy Ghost we will carefully protect and cherish our whole person. When we are asleep spiritually we get into bed with the enemy. The Bible book of Judges records that Samson was a believer who was sexually confused, sleeping with the enemy. Here are four ways Samson was not thoughtful, alert and sensitive to God.
1. Companionship in the spirit:
God designed for both husband and wife to be believers with an equal relationship with God. Samson was having sex with Deliliah, but he was not married to her. Samson was a worshiper of the one and only true and living God. Delilah probably worshiped Dagon. Samson and Delilah had nothing in common spiritually. They could not have companionship and unity spiritually because the spiritual source upon which their lifestyle was based were in conflict and opposition.
2. Intellectual agreement:
Relationships help us fulfill our God-given purpose in life. Sexuality is designed to reproduce a legacy of life, of multiplication. Samson had a pattern of choosing sexual partners who betrayed him to his enemies. His relationships brought destruction instead of multiplication.
Believers value freedom. Delilah talked repeatedly about bondage.
Believers affirm each other consistently. Delilah attacked Samson relentlessly.
Believers seek to help self and others. Delilah sought money for herself at the expense of Samson.
Believers seek the truth. Delilah lied.
Believers practice love with true affection. Delilah practiced false compassion.
3. Emotional encouragement:
Joy and peace are experienced in good relationships. Samson experienced insults, harassment and other emotional torment in his relationship with Delilah.
4. Healthy physical bodies:
God designed sex inside of marriage to be pleasurable and good for us. While Samson experienced moments of pleasure the end result of sex with Delilah was that he had his strength stripped and his enemies were empowered to bore out his eyes and put him in bondage.
Sometimes we attract enemies because they are persecuting us for right living, but Samson attracted enemies because he was an enemy to himself living sexually according to the ways of evil. He was asleep to the sexual ways of God.
Believers have God on the inside to empower us to stay awake and live well. No time is a good time to be vague and sleepy about our relationship with God and His will for us. The evil enemy is always seeking to seduce you to sleep with him.
When we are thoughtful, alert and sensitive to the leading of God the Holy Ghost we will carefully protect and cherish our whole person. When we are asleep spiritually we get into bed with the enemy. The Bible book of Judges records that Samson was a believer who was sexually confused, sleeping with the enemy. Here are four ways Samson was not thoughtful, alert and sensitive to God.
1. Companionship in the spirit:
God designed for both husband and wife to be believers with an equal relationship with God. Samson was having sex with Deliliah, but he was not married to her. Samson was a worshiper of the one and only true and living God. Delilah probably worshiped Dagon. Samson and Delilah had nothing in common spiritually. They could not have companionship and unity spiritually because the spiritual source upon which their lifestyle was based were in conflict and opposition.
2. Intellectual agreement:
Relationships help us fulfill our God-given purpose in life. Sexuality is designed to reproduce a legacy of life, of multiplication. Samson had a pattern of choosing sexual partners who betrayed him to his enemies. His relationships brought destruction instead of multiplication.
Believers value freedom. Delilah talked repeatedly about bondage.
Believers affirm each other consistently. Delilah attacked Samson relentlessly.
Believers seek to help self and others. Delilah sought money for herself at the expense of Samson.
Believers seek the truth. Delilah lied.
Believers practice love with true affection. Delilah practiced false compassion.
3. Emotional encouragement:
Joy and peace are experienced in good relationships. Samson experienced insults, harassment and other emotional torment in his relationship with Delilah.
4. Healthy physical bodies:
God designed sex inside of marriage to be pleasurable and good for us. While Samson experienced moments of pleasure the end result of sex with Delilah was that he had his strength stripped and his enemies were empowered to bore out his eyes and put him in bondage.
Sometimes we attract enemies because they are persecuting us for right living, but Samson attracted enemies because he was an enemy to himself living sexually according to the ways of evil. He was asleep to the sexual ways of God.
Believers have God on the inside to empower us to stay awake and live well. No time is a good time to be vague and sleepy about our relationship with God and His will for us. The evil enemy is always seeking to seduce you to sleep with him.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Interconnection
Some have a disconnect from who they are on the outside with who they are on the inside. 1 Samuel 16 records that when the prophet and judge Samuel visited Jesse's house in Bethlehem, Israel, he met Jesse's firstborn son, Eliab.
Samuel thought he had met a king. God created kings to be noble speaking and behaving in the noble qualities of Galatians 5:23 New Living Translation Bible: "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"
Samuel was fooled by the external presentation of Eliab. Sometimes people fool others with their external presentation, but the truth always comes out.
People like Eliab often seek to mask the nobility lacking on the inside by attacking the truly noble. Eliab had a brother, David, who was a king inside and out. David spoke and acted like God would overcome the Philistines, who were enemies of God and His people, David was a part of God's plan to overcome the enemies, and God would provide David with benefits for his belief in God. Eliab did not. When David inquired into the benefits 1 Samuel 17:28 the Message Bible says, "Eliab, his older brother, heard David fraternizing with the men and lost his temper: "What are you doing here! Why aren't you minding your own business, tending that scrawny flock of sheep? I know what you're up to. You've come down here to see the sights, hoping for a ringside seat at a bloody battle!"
If you see yourself in Eliab, seek God's forgiveness and transformation. Married, single, Africans, Europeans, Asians, Hispanics, females, males, typical people, different people, all the multiple mixtures of these characteristics and other human characteristics, God is for whosoever will receive Him and His ways.
What ways have you noticed that a lack of interconnection between the inside and outside impacts relationships with God, self and others?
Samuel thought he had met a king. God created kings to be noble speaking and behaving in the noble qualities of Galatians 5:23 New Living Translation Bible: "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"
Samuel was fooled by the external presentation of Eliab. Sometimes people fool others with their external presentation, but the truth always comes out.
People like Eliab often seek to mask the nobility lacking on the inside by attacking the truly noble. Eliab had a brother, David, who was a king inside and out. David spoke and acted like God would overcome the Philistines, who were enemies of God and His people, David was a part of God's plan to overcome the enemies, and God would provide David with benefits for his belief in God. Eliab did not. When David inquired into the benefits 1 Samuel 17:28 the Message Bible says, "Eliab, his older brother, heard David fraternizing with the men and lost his temper: "What are you doing here! Why aren't you minding your own business, tending that scrawny flock of sheep? I know what you're up to. You've come down here to see the sights, hoping for a ringside seat at a bloody battle!"
If you see yourself in Eliab, seek God's forgiveness and transformation. Married, single, Africans, Europeans, Asians, Hispanics, females, males, typical people, different people, all the multiple mixtures of these characteristics and other human characteristics, God is for whosoever will receive Him and His ways.
What ways have you noticed that a lack of interconnection between the inside and outside impacts relationships with God, self and others?
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