4/30/2010
Some people never realize and wake up to reality, and therefore never change for the better. Sometimes they do realize, but they're so weak that they won't try hard enough. For them it's easier to live in ignorance than in reality. But if only they pulled out of it then how much better off would they be.
4/29/2010
God never gave up on me even though in my past I'd given up on Him after things had gotten real rough for me.Though I didn't know it at the time,He was always there for me. Looking back I can see that now.He worked on my heart&brought me to a real saving faith in His Son Jesus.Now all I want is to please Him.Though ...I often fail,I know that He always still loves,forgives&helps me.I love God so much.He is my #1.♥
The Whole Truth & Nothing But The Truth
I get the impression that majority of churches out there today are all up on preaching about love, charity and "becoming a better us," but not the whole truth that everyone needs to hear. A sin of "omission" (leaving something out/not doing something) rather than of "commission" (doing something). It's like leaving out half of the Gospel message. The whole Gospel message is the fact that there is a hell and we are headed there because we are all sinners in need of God's forgiveness (that's the bad part), but that God gave us His Son Jesus so that if we repent from our sins and trust in Jesus for who He is and what He has done for us then we can be saved (the good part). Joel Osteen seems to be the guy that everyone picks on, but there are tons and tons of preachers and churches that are just like his. His sermons are like motivational speeches that "tickle the ears," but he doesn't give you the whole truth that is vital to know. I have seen Joel's sermons many times on TV, and I don't see anything wrong with what he says in them - there is a lot of good that he says - except the fact that he doesn't give his congregation everything that they need to hear, and that is harmful and therefore wrong; sin of "omission" rather than "commission." My church isn't like that. They tell you what you need to know, both the good and the bad. And that is how I try to be as well.
4/19/2010
4/11/2010
Peace
Bible Study: The Peace Of Christ
Sermon: The Key To Continued Peace
Article "Finding Peace"
By Charles F. Stanley
Once, before a speaking engagement, a staff member and I were sharing a meal at a restaurant on the West Coast. The young woman waiting on us appeared to be in her twenties. During the meal, I posed this question to her: “If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?”
Without any hesitation she said, “I’d ask for peace.” A big tear made its way down her face as she told us about the death of her beloved grandmother a few days before.
In sharing her story, she explained that no one in her family believed in God, and neither did she. Our waitress had not consciously rejected the Lord—she had never heard about Him. All she knew was the deep restlessness within her. The young lady had no understanding about how to resolve that inner turmoil, or even what lay at its root. Like many people, she went from day to day without having much purpose or meaning in her life.
This woman represents so many people in our society today. They might not describe the emptiness they feel as a lack of peace. Some would use the words, “I am so lonely.” Others might say, “If only my spouse would love me more, I’d be happy.” Or, “If only I could be successful in my career . . . ” But these are all variations of the same theme: “There is something wrong. I am not happy. I have no peace. What is wrong with me?”
Our society bombards us with messages that supposedly answer this question. If only you were thinner . . . dressed better . . . drove a Jaguar . . . lived in a nicer house . . . made more money . . . The list goes on and on. But none of the “answers” proposed by society can permanently or satisfactorily provide what we desperately crave.
The young waitress had it correct. Most of us feel strongly that we need something more, and the all-encompassing word that describes it well is peace. But you will never experience such tranquility in this life until your relationship with the Lord is right.
A Friendship with Your Creator
The God who controls all things—and who is present in your life whether you acknowledge Him or not—is a God of peace. He designed this world with a plan in mind, and it includes you!
The Lord created humans so they would have a relationship with Him that is characterized by love—His loving them and their loving Him. And through His presence, He would protect and provide for mankind. Only through close friendship with the Creator can anyone receive deep, lasting, abiding peace. This idea is unique to Judeo-Christian thought.
What people sense as “loneliness,” “a deep void,” or “purposelessness” is a type of signal—or indicator—that God has built into man. It is a programmed message that we need Him. Through it, the Designer tells His creation, “Without Me, you will never feel complete. I am the only One who can satisfy your deepest longings. I will be the source of your peace.”
Sudden tragedy or personal loss can show us our need for help, comfort, and guidance. And it is at such a point of need that our kind and loving God often reveals how to know Him in a personal way.
How We can Have Peace with God
Jesus came into our world to live and die as one of us. He was both God and human at the same time—an amazing truth. As a sinless man, Jesus was killed because the religious leaders of His day felt threatened by His claims to be the Savior of the world.
His death wasn’t the end, however. After three days, He was resurrected by the power of God, triumphing over death. Before returning to His Father in heaven (Mark 16:19), Jesus promised the disciples that His presence would remain with them, and He would give them peace (Matt. 28:20; John 20:19).
God wants all of us to ask for His mercy, confess our sins, and trust Him for salvation—that’s the essence of His plan for you and me. It is also the fundamental requirement for experiencing His wonderful, continuous gift of peace.
When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and take control of our lives, He bridges the gap between God and man. Through Him, we have forgiveness (no more shame or guilt because of the past) and the assurance of His presence in our lives. Moreover, we have the opportunity to experience abiding peace—the gift promised to those who follow the Lord.
Adapted from “Finding Peace: God’s Promise of Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear” (2003).
Sermon: The Key To Continued Peace
Article "Finding Peace"
By Charles F. Stanley
Once, before a speaking engagement, a staff member and I were sharing a meal at a restaurant on the West Coast. The young woman waiting on us appeared to be in her twenties. During the meal, I posed this question to her: “If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?”
Without any hesitation she said, “I’d ask for peace.” A big tear made its way down her face as she told us about the death of her beloved grandmother a few days before.
In sharing her story, she explained that no one in her family believed in God, and neither did she. Our waitress had not consciously rejected the Lord—she had never heard about Him. All she knew was the deep restlessness within her. The young lady had no understanding about how to resolve that inner turmoil, or even what lay at its root. Like many people, she went from day to day without having much purpose or meaning in her life.
This woman represents so many people in our society today. They might not describe the emptiness they feel as a lack of peace. Some would use the words, “I am so lonely.” Others might say, “If only my spouse would love me more, I’d be happy.” Or, “If only I could be successful in my career . . . ” But these are all variations of the same theme: “There is something wrong. I am not happy. I have no peace. What is wrong with me?”
Our society bombards us with messages that supposedly answer this question. If only you were thinner . . . dressed better . . . drove a Jaguar . . . lived in a nicer house . . . made more money . . . The list goes on and on. But none of the “answers” proposed by society can permanently or satisfactorily provide what we desperately crave.
The young waitress had it correct. Most of us feel strongly that we need something more, and the all-encompassing word that describes it well is peace. But you will never experience such tranquility in this life until your relationship with the Lord is right.
A Friendship with Your Creator
The God who controls all things—and who is present in your life whether you acknowledge Him or not—is a God of peace. He designed this world with a plan in mind, and it includes you!
The Lord created humans so they would have a relationship with Him that is characterized by love—His loving them and their loving Him. And through His presence, He would protect and provide for mankind. Only through close friendship with the Creator can anyone receive deep, lasting, abiding peace. This idea is unique to Judeo-Christian thought.
What people sense as “loneliness,” “a deep void,” or “purposelessness” is a type of signal—or indicator—that God has built into man. It is a programmed message that we need Him. Through it, the Designer tells His creation, “Without Me, you will never feel complete. I am the only One who can satisfy your deepest longings. I will be the source of your peace.”
Sudden tragedy or personal loss can show us our need for help, comfort, and guidance. And it is at such a point of need that our kind and loving God often reveals how to know Him in a personal way.
How We can Have Peace with God
Jesus came into our world to live and die as one of us. He was both God and human at the same time—an amazing truth. As a sinless man, Jesus was killed because the religious leaders of His day felt threatened by His claims to be the Savior of the world.
His death wasn’t the end, however. After three days, He was resurrected by the power of God, triumphing over death. Before returning to His Father in heaven (Mark 16:19), Jesus promised the disciples that His presence would remain with them, and He would give them peace (Matt. 28:20; John 20:19).
God wants all of us to ask for His mercy, confess our sins, and trust Him for salvation—that’s the essence of His plan for you and me. It is also the fundamental requirement for experiencing His wonderful, continuous gift of peace.
When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and take control of our lives, He bridges the gap between God and man. Through Him, we have forgiveness (no more shame or guilt because of the past) and the assurance of His presence in our lives. Moreover, we have the opportunity to experience abiding peace—the gift promised to those who follow the Lord.
Adapted from “Finding Peace: God’s Promise of Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear” (2003).
4/10/2010
The Case For Christ
Case For Christ follows reporter Lee Strobel as he interviews a number of religious and historical scholars in order to find out if there is any proof of the resurrection, and to discover the historical veracity of the New Testament.
If the above video doesn't work for you then here is an alternate video link to try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMKOUzYeZ6A
Suffering
When I think about so much suffering in life - all the pain that can be associated with life, such as division in relationships or death, I sometimes think of Jesus and how much suffering He went through in His life here on earth. I think of how He is a perfect human being and therefore handles everything correctly, yet had to take the pain and suffering of human/earthly life. How did Jesus do it? How did He handle it all without letting it totally mess with His mind, heart and body? The natural example is thinking of the events of His betrayal, tortuous beating and death, and being separated from God in those moments. There cannot be anything more painful than all of that. Yet, somehow He just did it. And, not only that, but He was able to consider others during the process (such as when He asked John to look after His mother Mary, and asking God for the forgiveness of those who did not understand that they were doing something wrong).
But, there are other examples in Jesus' life that I can remember. Such as when John the Baptist died. John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. He was also Jesus' cousin and the one that paved the way for Jesus' arrival to ministry. The Bible says that when Jesus heard of John the Baptist's death that He went away alone for a while, on a boat. I can only imagine that He must have been hurting a lot, and needed this time spent alone with Father God to pray and meditate. I know in my experience that this helps to gather oneself together and sort of rejuvenate, and gives a sense of peace and comfort.
I always remember a sermon on TV that I once heard in which a woman speaker spoke of this story. She said that Jesus just had to keep looking forward, not look back. So, when the things of life bring us down that we too need to keep looking forward to the big picture and not get bogged down in depression or whatever life can bring us down with. Jesus had his natural time of mourning, but kept His eyes fixated on the big picture. Jesus was going to make everything right by doing what He was meant to do, and one day everything will be the way it's supposed to be.
This is what keeps me going. When I think about the big picture of it all, the things of this life that really have a way of bringing me down, suddenly don't matter as much. I look to Jesus as my Savior and best friend. He has overcome all of this and someday everything will be made right.
But, there are other examples in Jesus' life that I can remember. Such as when John the Baptist died. John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. He was also Jesus' cousin and the one that paved the way for Jesus' arrival to ministry. The Bible says that when Jesus heard of John the Baptist's death that He went away alone for a while, on a boat. I can only imagine that He must have been hurting a lot, and needed this time spent alone with Father God to pray and meditate. I know in my experience that this helps to gather oneself together and sort of rejuvenate, and gives a sense of peace and comfort.
I always remember a sermon on TV that I once heard in which a woman speaker spoke of this story. She said that Jesus just had to keep looking forward, not look back. So, when the things of life bring us down that we too need to keep looking forward to the big picture and not get bogged down in depression or whatever life can bring us down with. Jesus had his natural time of mourning, but kept His eyes fixated on the big picture. Jesus was going to make everything right by doing what He was meant to do, and one day everything will be the way it's supposed to be.
This is what keeps me going. When I think about the big picture of it all, the things of this life that really have a way of bringing me down, suddenly don't matter as much. I look to Jesus as my Savior and best friend. He has overcome all of this and someday everything will be made right.
4/05/2010
What the Bible says about how we should talk...
In Ephesians 4:29 the Bible says, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
In Romans 12:14 we are told, “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”
In Proverbs 15:1 it says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
In Romans 12:14 we are told, “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”
In Proverbs 15:1 it says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
4/04/2010
Six Tips to Reduce Stress
Written by Branda Polk
The car breaks down. Deadlines press at work. Conflicting family schedules. A midnight call that a friend is in the hospital. Losing your job. Caring for a sick child. Managing the care of an elderly parent. Planning a wedding. Having a new baby. Discovering a personal health issue. What do all these life circumstances have in common? Stress. Whether perceived as positive or negative, these things happen in life at different times, but all create a certain amount of uneasiness and lack of control to the daily routine of "normal" life.
When stress is not managed well, it leaves your body open to disease and illness. Properly managing the stress of life (which happens every day to all of us) will help you achieve your wellness goals. See if the following tips will help you to better maintain a peaceful spirit during stressful times.
1. Spend time in relationship with God. He knows your struggles, fears, and needs. He understands your worries and concerns. He desires to walk through life with you and give you strength. Consider what He has in store for you or what He wants you to do for others. Seek out the lessons that He desires to teach you through your circumstances. Look for His mercy and strength to carry you. This is the foundational element in total wellness of heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2. Develop a social support system. God did not create you to live in a vacuum. He created us to need one another because we can't do everything. Enlist friends and family to help during stressful times. They can always support and lift you up in prayer.
3. Exercise. Regular exercise will remove the build up of the toxic effects from the stress and use the "stress hormones" in a positive way instead of a harmful way. Studies show that taking a brief 10 minute walk during intense times will increase the amount of oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think more clearly and therefore make better decisions.
4. Choose to eat nutritious food. Eat foods that contain healthful sources of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. God designed these nutrients to help your body with energy needs and to build and repair damaged tissue. Without these, you leave your body lacking what it needs. So, grab that apple instead of the afternoon candy bar.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra body weight can add to the extensive work load of your heart as it tries to supply blood through the 200 miles of blood vessels per pound of fat. Keeping your weight in a healthy range will enable your body to more effectively deal with stress. Weight is only one of the many health indicators that impact your stress management. See your doctor for a complete picture of your health and ask him/her what is a healthy weight for your age and body type.
6. Use your sense of humor. On the days when everything seems to be going backwards, choosing to laugh at the irony of your circumstances not only lifts your mood but also puts your situation into an eternal perspective. The Bible confirms this in Proverbs 17:22. "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones," (Holman Christian Standard Bible).
Stress is inevitable. How you respond to it will determine your growth. Take steps to manage stress as God would desire for you to.
The car breaks down. Deadlines press at work. Conflicting family schedules. A midnight call that a friend is in the hospital. Losing your job. Caring for a sick child. Managing the care of an elderly parent. Planning a wedding. Having a new baby. Discovering a personal health issue. What do all these life circumstances have in common? Stress. Whether perceived as positive or negative, these things happen in life at different times, but all create a certain amount of uneasiness and lack of control to the daily routine of "normal" life.
When stress is not managed well, it leaves your body open to disease and illness. Properly managing the stress of life (which happens every day to all of us) will help you achieve your wellness goals. See if the following tips will help you to better maintain a peaceful spirit during stressful times.
1. Spend time in relationship with God. He knows your struggles, fears, and needs. He understands your worries and concerns. He desires to walk through life with you and give you strength. Consider what He has in store for you or what He wants you to do for others. Seek out the lessons that He desires to teach you through your circumstances. Look for His mercy and strength to carry you. This is the foundational element in total wellness of heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2. Develop a social support system. God did not create you to live in a vacuum. He created us to need one another because we can't do everything. Enlist friends and family to help during stressful times. They can always support and lift you up in prayer.
3. Exercise. Regular exercise will remove the build up of the toxic effects from the stress and use the "stress hormones" in a positive way instead of a harmful way. Studies show that taking a brief 10 minute walk during intense times will increase the amount of oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think more clearly and therefore make better decisions.
4. Choose to eat nutritious food. Eat foods that contain healthful sources of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. God designed these nutrients to help your body with energy needs and to build and repair damaged tissue. Without these, you leave your body lacking what it needs. So, grab that apple instead of the afternoon candy bar.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra body weight can add to the extensive work load of your heart as it tries to supply blood through the 200 miles of blood vessels per pound of fat. Keeping your weight in a healthy range will enable your body to more effectively deal with stress. Weight is only one of the many health indicators that impact your stress management. See your doctor for a complete picture of your health and ask him/her what is a healthy weight for your age and body type.
6. Use your sense of humor. On the days when everything seems to be going backwards, choosing to laugh at the irony of your circumstances not only lifts your mood but also puts your situation into an eternal perspective. The Bible confirms this in Proverbs 17:22. "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones," (Holman Christian Standard Bible).
Stress is inevitable. How you respond to it will determine your growth. Take steps to manage stress as God would desire for you to.
The Gospel Of John
My favorite movie is "The Gospel Of John" taken straight from the entire book of John in the Bible. The movie shows Jesus from His baptism by John the Baptist to His ministry with His disciples, and finally His death and resurrection. The reason why I like this film adaptation of Jesus more than any other I've seen is simply because the movie was made so beautifully and stands out more than the others, in my opinion.
It doesn't happen to me a lot, but every now and again I will get thumped by someone who just completely doesn't get who I am and what's really in my heart. They might think that I'm "judgmental" (in a bad way) or that I condemn others (which is not the case at all). Accusations like this offend me as it would a lot of other people. I think to myself, "Have I done something wrong?" or "Are they this way simply because they don't understand what it means to be a Christian?" The thing is, I love God and He is #1 in my life. I believe in the Bible to be the Word of God and that it should be obeyed, God should be obeyed. If I do this then I will be different than most other people in the world. People will like my loving-kindness and honesty, but hate my refusal to participate in certain "normal" activities and be politically incorrect. This is a normal part of living a Christian life in today's society. The Bible says that to be a friend of the world (meaning "worldliness" as opposed to "godliness") is to be an enemy to God. Jesus said that we would face many trials, but to "take heart" because He has "overcome" the world. The Bible says that we have "overcome" the world through our faith in Him. So, I do understand why someone, a non-believer or "worldly Christian," could have issues with someone like me. And, hey, I wasn't always a Christian myself. But, I try to honestly look at myself when someone does have an issue with me. If I've done something wrong then I regret it and try to learn from that in order to correct myself. But, most of the time, I believe that is not the issue. The issue is that I am a Christian and they simply don't understand. So, as Jesus said, "take heart" because you can't go wrong with God.
4/03/2010
The Meaning Behind Easter
When I was a kid, for Easter, we would get eggs and color them. We would eat chocolate bunnies or caramel eggs. Sometimes there would be "egg hunts." I don't remember thinking much about the meaning behind Easter. It's not until the past few years, since I've given my life to Christ, that I can truly appreciate the meaning. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, as God, came to earth in the form of a human being - like the rest of us, only perfect. He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead triumphant, so that whoever would believe in Him as their Lord and Savior would be forgiven of all their sins and put into a right relationship with God - therefore being saved. As the Bible says in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish (literally meaning hell) but have everlasting life." I love God so much that He would do this for us. There is nothing more loving and sacrificial than laying your life down for someone you love, and that is what happened.
4/01/2010
April Fools
I remember years ago for April Fools my music teacher came into the start of class, and suddenly acted really peeved and upset about us students. He told us how sick he was of us just slacking around and not listening to him. Everyone practically had their jaw open and were like "oh man, he's really angry," and we were all just surprised because normally he wasn't like this at all. He sternly told us to open our books and start writing what he told us to write. He said one line, then two, but the third he said "April Fools" and then we realized the whole thing was a prank and we started laughing. Although, some of us were still writing...lol.
Skreened
found a pretty cool t-shirt site with some interesting designs created by regular people like you and me! http://skreened.com/
Jesus FTW (meaning "for the win")
God Is Near To The Broken Hearted
Jesus FTW (meaning "for the win")
God Is Near To The Broken Hearted
Canvas Christian T-Shirts
What is Canvas Tees?
Canvas is a community voting website that allows you to express yourself and glorify God through your art. The community will vote on t-shirt designs submitted by C28 Canvas members. The winning designs will be printed under the C28 Canvas Label in a limited run to be sold exclusively through C28.com. www.canvasthreads.com
Here are some designs that I especially like:
X-Ray Vision
Beautiful Feet
God's Playlist
Canvas is a community voting website that allows you to express yourself and glorify God through your art. The community will vote on t-shirt designs submitted by C28 Canvas members. The winning designs will be printed under the C28 Canvas Label in a limited run to be sold exclusively through C28.com. www.canvasthreads.com
Here are some designs that I especially like:
X-Ray Vision
Beautiful Feet
God's Playlist
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