Jul
30
2010
From the book: “Becoming Emotionally Whole” By Charles Stanley
KEY #3: Sucure God’s Healing for Your Faults
All people have something about themselves–their personalities, their backgrounds, their abilities–that they don’t like. Everyone has a tendency to concentrate more on the flaws and points of weakness than on the strengths.
Some things in life are givens. For example, you can’t change the family into which you were born, the nation in which you were born, your race, your physical stature and basic genetic code, and so forth. Certain physical weaknesses or disabilities cannot be changed. When you face these unchangeable things about yourself, you are wise to accept the way God make you. To do anything else is counterproductive. You need to assume God has a plan and purpose for every detail of your creation.
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Jul
29
2010
From the book: “Becoming Emotionally Whole” By Charles Stanley
There are at least seven major aspects of wholeness involved in seeking God’s best for your emotional life. You do not need to take them in sequence. Rather, they are like having a ring of keys–all of which need to be inserted and turned simultaneously. These keys are habits that you must build into your life in an ongoing manner. As you do so, I have no doubt that you will become more and more whole in your spirit, including your emotions.
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Jul
28
2010
By: Drew Amber Gorton
How many people would you say you know? About how many do you think you interact with in a day? And how many of these people have you shown your love of Christ too? If you think about it, you may be surprised about how low that number may be.
“Taking the gospel to people wherever they are- death row, the ghetto, or next door- is frontline evangelism, frontline love. It is our one hope for breaking down barriers and for restoring the sense of community, of caring for one another, that our decadent, impersonalized culture has sucked out of us.” –Chuck Colson
Jesus talked about this in the Bible: (Matthew 28:16-20) “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus commanded us to tell people about Him. Pray for strength to share your love of Christ with others. Jesus changes lives. Don’t you want that for all the people you know?
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Jul
27
2010
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
”For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. ”About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
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Jul
26
2010
| By: Drew Amber Gorton
What do you promise yourself? I decided that I needed to identify the things I wanted to remember and live by each day, so I constructed the following thoughts to remind myself what I want to be all about. I challenge you to make your own. Print it out. Hang it up. Read it each day! Continue Reading » |
Jul
23
2010
The Rich Young Man
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” ”Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
”Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, ” ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
”All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
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Jul
22
2010
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect(in love), therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt. 5:43-48
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Jul
21
2010
By: Drew Amber Gorton
I went to praise and worship yesterday (it is every Tuesday at 6pm, at the church, please come). My friend called me and asked me if I was going to go. I wasn’t planning on going, so I told her I would see if I would be able to “make it”. Honestly, this happens regularly. I get this scared feeling in my gut, like, “oh gee, I’m going to have to be around people. I’m going to have to talk, and worst of all, I might FEEL something (heaven forbid someone seeing a tear slide down my cheek).” When I think about it, I constantly try to shut myself off from anything semi-real. There are many examples. When I get in the car, I turn on the radio. When I get home, I turn on the tv. When I get nervous, I eat something. When I want to avoid, I take a nap, even when I’m not tired. Does this sound familiar?
My friend reminded me that Satan wants us to be scared; to have fear that we will make a fool of ourselves, that we don’t have time and a multitude of other excuses. Why does Satan want this, you might ask…. Satan does not want you connecting with God and His people or the feelings you experience when you are wrapped in God’s loving spirit.
Do you know how to overcome fear? YOU FACE IT! Face it head on, and Satan’s ugly plan shrinks into mere nothingness. If you get a feeling of dread on Sunday morning or before Bible study on the weekdays, remember Satan’s evil scheme. Satan does not want you to be close to God, but as I discovered last night, I am only a complete person when I invite God into my everyday life. He plants peace into my heart.
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Jul
20
2010
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Jul
19
2010
By: Drew Amber Gorton
You have probably heard it before: “Let go and let God.” It is funny how we can hear something and think, “Woah, that is soooo true,” or, “that is a really good idea,” and then we forget about it. Well, how about putting something into practice for once?
Much of our stress comes from the misconception that we have to take care of EVERYTHING. In all actuality there is only ONE thing you are responsible for, in your life…. you heard me right, ONE! The one and only thing we have to be responsible for is to come to the knowledge that we need to bring our problems and sorrows and joys and frustrations to God, and HE will take care of them.
If you are feeling alone, it is because you are relying on yourself and not Him and the wonderful people He put us on this Earth with. If you are feeling overwhelmed or confused, it is because you are not putting your problems into God’s hands, and letting Him take care of them. If you are feeling sad or depressed, it is because you are not giving those feelings to God and getting the peace that fills your heart when you do so.
I am talking about communication here. Your job is to communicate what is going on in your life with your savior; the savior that has overcome all! He takes all your problems, worries and concerns when you give them to Him. Just because you believe in God doesn’t mean your life is suddenly easy! Trusting God to take care of you (or anyone for that matter) is a hard task. But if you look at it, would there be anyone easier to trust than the very maker of your soul?
Let go and let God and you will find peace!
