Being a Teacher Hurts

This is a fact to which I keep needing to submit. Having opportunities to lead Ladies Bible studies, and to speak before groups of women, I need to keep myself in the Bible and be sure that what comes out of my mouth is true to Scriptures and does not blaspheme God.

I have to be aware that what I teach or speak on is something I am certain is Biblically true and in no way will harm my listeners or students in their relationship to God. In that thought, I fear God, that I may in some way get it wrong. Then my judgement is deserved, because I dishonored holy perfect God.

So, when God takes me through something that brings me into closer relationship with Him and restores my faith in Him, this honors God in me. That end is which is the entire purpose of my witness to Him in my life and manifests itself to others.

If you think it doesn't hurt to care about the things of God--try be a teacher of the Bible sometime
One of the things that happens to someone who joins the hosts who in some way teach the Bible, is that God makes them learn the harder lessons than, say, someone who just comes to church once a week and absorbs.

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive the stricter judgement. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble... in word, he is a perfect man, able to also bridle the whole body" James 3:1,2.

"Be diligent to present yourself approved unto God, a worker who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the truth" 2 Timothy 2:3.

The teacher must learn the lesson themselves, or otherwise the topic/object is without example in their own lives, making it just stories, tradition, and platitudes.

(in the parable of the good servant) Luke 19:12-27 "So he called ten of his servants, and delivered to them ten minas, and said to them 'Do business till I come'" Luke 19:13.

For God gives us the means and the material to do His business until He calls us to be with Him.

"For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him" Luke 19:26.

And our reward comes in glory when our works go through the fire and we can here God say "Well done, good and faithful servant" Matthew 5:23.

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Salvation Through The Word Of God

The awesomeness of God's Holy Bible is that if anyone wants to know God and finds a Bible, they can read it and come to know God and His free salvation. They don't need to study any other books along side the Bible to lead them to God.

Sometimes too many study helps can get us off track from the simplicity of the Bible. And that can be very, very dangerous. We can get into the most ridiculous arguments over which version is right, but it is the Word of God, not our interpreta...tions of it that save people.

Paul warns, through Timothy, "Remind them of these things charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers" 2 Tim 2:14
and to Titus Paul wrote,"But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless" 3:9.

I've read and heard testimonies of people who have found only a page, or a scrap of the Bible, even a Bible tract, that have been saved through the power and love of God.

If you are a born-again Christian, saved by the grace of God, don't ever, ever, ever say anything about the Holy Bible other than what it says in 2 Timothy 3:16, 

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work"

"For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 4:12.

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement" James 3:1.(Jesus prayed to God the Father) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" John 17:17.

Don't ever say any part of whatever version of the Holy Bible you prefer is not able to save, for it is the power of God to save. Your thoughts for or against which Scripture is used by God don't have the smallest iota one way or the other. If the words are between the cover of the Holy Bible, God can use it for His glory! And God preserves His word for that very purpose.

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The One & Only Jesus Christ

It is so sad to find as you're talking to someone about Jesus and they begin to speak about the Jesus they worship and you soon learn he isn't the same as the Jesus, the Son of God, written of throughout the Bible.

How awful that they are being lied to by someone who is teaching them another Jesus and is taking them in the wrong direction from the Biblical truth of an afterlife in heaven & hell and eternal salvation & damnation.

And these people are so deceived because the n...ame of Jesus is spoken from the pulpit and so they believe it is the right name.

There are soooo many Scriptures that speak against these false teachers, it is astonishing how these people can be so blind and lost!

here is a list of verses warning to watch out for and how to identify false teachers. Also in this this list are verses that explain what is going to happen to false teachers when they meet the God they refuse to accept, and that they continue to slander.

Matt 7:21-23, Acts 20:28-30, Romans 1:18- 25, 2 Cor 11:3-4, Gal 1:8,9, 3:1-5, 5:7-12, Col 2:4-10, & 16-19, 1 Tim 1:5-7, & 4:1-3, & 6:20,21, 2 Tim 2:14-17, & 3:5, & 4: 1-4, Titus 3: 9-11, Heb 10:23-31, James 1:21-24, & 3:1, 2 Peter 1:16-2:3, & 2:12-22, 1 John 4: 1-3, 2 John 7-11, 3 John 9-10, Jude 4 & 12, Rev 22:18,19.

The Bible teaches a Holy Triune God, One in Three Persons, Co-Equal, Yet One. (Only a Born Again believer can understand this fact without total confusion. It is supernaturally known.

"Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" John 3:3.

"For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which men's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" 1 Corinthians 2:11-14.

The Bible teaches the truly is Eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and no other.

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" 4:12.

The Bible is a complete book of 66 books. Born again Christians are to be taught from the entire book to be like Jesus was in the world. The Holy Spirit living in each believer empowers us to be such people for Jesus.

"But you shall receive power when they Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8.

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The Bible, a book like no other

This is an excerpt from chapter 2 of my EBook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit

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II. The Bible, a book like no other

“Then I said, “Behold, I come: In the scroll of the book it is written of me” (Psalm 40:7).

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Ever think about why you enter a building on Sunday or any other day of the week and, with a crowd of listening people, stay attentive to a man standing on a platform at the front of a large room and speaking from the Bible? Sounds crazy doesn’t it. What in us desires such dedication? Could we even describe it? As crazy as it sounds, Christians the world over do gather for mutual worship and to listen to godly men teach from the Bible.

Isn’t it amazing how simplistic worship of God is for His people? We know God loves us to frequently gather and listen to teaching of His word.

Wow! And that’s worship!

Have you ever thought about what we are listening to each week in a Bible-based sermon? What exactly do we hear? Are we merely listening with our ears, or our whole being, our soul and spirit?

We have something the earliest Christians didn’t have. Before God spoke through men to write down His words as the Bible we have today, God-fearing people had few copies of the written word, and contained the history of God mainly by memorization and recitation. Oral stories are great but do many of us actually study and retain the word of God when we hear it? Apart from the written word, how accurate is your knowledge about God? How much of the Bible can you tell to someone?

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Bible study:

“…it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:3,4).

Luke and his friend corresponded about Jewish history. Theophilus must have had bits and pieces of information and Luke wanted to set it straight for him to grasp the significance of it all. Luke and Theophilus had a detailed Bible study. Studying the Bible with a friend—what a wonderful privilege between Christian brothers and sisters.

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What if God didn’t give us any information about Himself and we had to find it on our own? Ever think about not having the Bible to tell us about God in today’s world? What if God had never given us the Bible, from where then would truth come?

What would happen to you if the Bible somehow disappeared, as if it never existed? Do you know enough about God to sustain your relationship with Him? How much Scripture have you memorized. How complete a picture do you have of God?

Is the only time you open your Bible is when you attend church service? What would you rely on if disaster struck? What comfort would you have if you had no access to Scriptures? Would you have to run to another Christian or your pastor for a word from God? What do you do if you lost the availability to that person to help you understand the will of God?

Scary thought isn’t it.

The Bible is a gift we should praise God for every day.

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It Makes More Sense Than Evolved Intelligence

I believe in the Eternal Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Creator God because it makes more sense than man's evolved intelligence having imagined the creation of a Creator God.

Here's why I believe God made me and I did not make myself.

Some people are taught that human' evolved over billions years to the state we are in now. Somehow they have been convinced we are getting smarter, and more civilized as we are evolving higher and higher on the chain of life.

Huh?

Evolution teaches that the human is his or her own god because they have reached the top of the evolution of intelligence. That their deification comes from being able to think, make decisions and grasp for more in their lives to enhance own wellbeing.

Um....then after billions of years, somewhere about 7000 years ago, our beautifully, perfectly, intelligent, evolved minds decided we needed to worship a God who created us. About 7000 years ago we somehow made up a God who created heaven and earth. He created a man and woman and walked and talked with them in a Garden of Eden. (every culture discovered so far has some sort of written history similar to this and also a change in the earth resembling the flood of Noah's day)

Also our beautifully evolved intelligence decided to think up something called sin that separates us from the Creator God. Then humans decided that One God-Man would come to earth to die for all the sin of the world so we all, (perfectly evolved humans) could go be with Him forever and ever in a Paradise. We also decided that there has to be a counterpart to Paradise called Hell and the Lake of Fire for all those who somehow reject this Creator God's salvation.

Think about this--the evolved human mind had to come up with that if evolution is the truth.

If the human race has evolved to the epitome of the chain of existence, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for ANY human on the planet to imagine a deity higher than themselves.

That means all the religions of the world including Buddhism, Christian Science, Jehovah Witness, Mormons, Islam, every Native tribe of any land, Illuminati, Zodiac, Naturalism, & Humanism, Witchcraft, Satanism, Superior Aliens, etc.. Not only our Christianity as learned from the Holy Bible, but ALL of these would be foolishness in the imagined creation of the semblance of a god above an evolved human.

But the human mind in all parts of the world have some sort of out-of-this-world gods in their culture, some deity beyond their evolution. What for? How? Why?

So I believe Almighty God created me and has put in me the mind to seek Him and know Him. And, praise the Lord, to be saved by Him out of this sinful, crazy world and be with Him forever and ever in Paradise!! (Psalm 100)

Those who worship evolution have to figure out just which god they want to worship, since each time they add more years to their religion of evolution, they give more proof they cannot be evolved into perfection yet--and who wants an imperfect god?

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Do You View Circumstances Through Scripture Glasses?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

If we look at all the uses of maximizing Scripture in our daily lives, decision making, the eyes we see through, and the way we discern our circumstances, our lives can be the easiest way to exalt our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And just maybe it will be contrary to what we might have originally thought.

Scripture Glasses for Church Ministry

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. There are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.

If God has given someone a vision and you don't see how it is going to work out, accept that maybe you don't have a part in their ministry but you should do your ministry alongside them and thus build the body of Christ as you exercise your gifts.

The growth their vision brings is going to offer you more opportunities to serve God in your gifting because this person is being faithful in theirs.

As when Peter preached the first sermon; many gifts were used after the church began to grow.

"Then those who gladly received his (Peter's) word were baptized; and that day three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers. Then the fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles" Acts 2:41,42,43.

Scripture Glasses for Personal Witness

"For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God"
Romans 10:17.

When witnessing, try to speak verses during the opportunities. It doesn't matter if the other person can recite Bible verses. If they don't know God, their recitation is nothing. When you speak the word of God, you are representing Almighty God and His power is in the words you speak.

"And when He (The Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement" John 16:8.

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" 1 John 4:4.

Scripture Glasses in Obedience to Serve

Even when you've done everything right in your witness, and the person you have witnessed to doesn't receive what you've told them and maybe even gotten really angry, God's word has done exactly what God intended.

You could be witnessing to someone and think you blew it but it could be God has done something you don't know anything about!

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and shall prosper in that thing for which I sent it" Isaiah 55:10,11.

Scripture Glasses When Things Change

How do you view someone leaving your church for another body of Christ. Is your sorrow for losing a number or a member? Are you upset because they went to a rival congregation? Are you upset because you and they maybe couldn't reconcile a disagreement?

How about this--Are you sorry that maybe your church lost an evangelist, a prophet, a preacher, an administrator, a teacher, an encourager, or an exhorter.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers"
Ephesians 4:11.

Do you ever consider maybe God has given that person who's leaving a vision so strong God has to move them to a place where He can use them, because traditions or patterns at your church are too restrictive?

"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" Acts 3:2.

"Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing" Titus 3:13.

If you've been praying for revival, watch for God to do things that are contrary to your comfort zone.

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The Wordless Bible--Effective Simple Gospel Message

The Wordless Bible, or The Color Bible--a very simple explanation of the regeneration from unsaved sinner to rewarded saint. This is one of the ways the salvation message is told to young children. Many a youth group have learned this evangelistic method of the gospel. Simple but effective!

BLACK=SIN

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

RED=THE BLOOD OF JESUS

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

WHITE=FORGIVNESS

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

GREEN=GROWING

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 3:19

 

GOLD=ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD

FOR ALL ETERNITY

He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7

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The Children's Program----Flash Fiction

This fictional story is based on an actual children's skit I designed when I was teaching the 4 & 5 year olds in our Children's Program. The skit was never enacted, and I should also say neither did we have any of the disasters on stage that are mentioned. The personalities do not represent any known, or unknown, children, teachers or congregations.

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The Children's Program

     In taking her new position as the new Sunday School teacher of the four and five year olds, Sarah knew one of her duties would be for her class to deliver a performance in an end of the season program. This was a church tradition from the adults down to the youngest when the Sunday School classes ended for the summer months.

     She enjoyed her time with the children, yet she couldn't help but recall the horrors of the past. The incidents of children, and even the teachers, fighting on stage. Costume malfunctions or no one sang except the teacher, or children crying and running from the platform. Several years, no one learned their lines and teacher cued each word for word so the entire skit was an echoed speech, with the teacher speaking and the child repeating it back. Not wanting to present a similar disaster, with the age she was entrusted with, Sarah wondered if her class would be able to do anything.

     With the requirement in mind, during the ensuing weeks, she learned her children’s personalities. Amanda was shy and very small for her age. Harry liked to talk and chattered away sometimes incessantly. Freddy liked attending, but as his parents had joint custody, missed every third week away visiting his father. Sylvie would take off her shoes and socks as soon as she entered the building, frequently forgetting where she left them. Ginny disrupted the class screaming for her Mommy. At her mother’s request, if her antics became too unruly, punishment meant banishment to the nursery. This was unfortunate, as Ginny learned this trick and she would go smugly to play with the babies, whenever Sarah couldn't take it anymore. Naomi and her sister Valerie were the smartest and studied, answering well and asking good questions. Then there was Christopher the bully. Many times Christopher spent some of his Sunday School time standing in the corner for having hit, kicked or bitten someone, namely Sarah. Occasionally a new child would come for only one Sunday, or possibly a few weeks.

     Easter came and went and Sarah still hadn’t anything planned. When asked about it she would answer she was working on it but she knew it was a half-lie, which made her feel worse. She feared producing the disaster everyone seemed to expect. During the first week of May, she spent her noon lunchtime fasting and praying while seated in her car in the parking garage where she worked, her open Bible on the steering wheel. Pausing from her reading, she said, “God, it seems such a simple thing, why is it such a complicated task when it just involves these little children? You know them, Lord Jesus. There must be something they can do for you.” Refocusing on the Bible, she smiled, for there in front of her was the simplest answer.

      The day of the end of the season program, Sarah felt proud when all seven children attended. They had all enjoyed rehearsals, with Christopher taking his roll with gusto and Ginny apparently willing to participate.

     Her class performing first, Sarah assembled them behind the curtain on the left side of the stage. Their only prop was a huge refrigerator box lain horizontally on a rolling platform Sarah had requested made. She could feel the stares of the congregation and their skepticism, knowing they anticipated the traditional fracas. Saying a small prayer with her children, she nodded for them to go out, while shushing the giggling girls.

     Christopher, Harry, and Freddy pushed the refrigerator carton to the center of the stage. Sarah followed, taking her place behind the box as the boys stood to either side, Harry and Freddy on the left and Christopher on the right. None of the girls was in sight.

     Sarah smiled at the staring faces, pleased to see the parents in the crowd. With no preliminaries, she opened the skit by reciting Hebrews 12:1. “I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” When she finished, the boys, in unison, loudly yelled, “What can we give to Jesus?”

     Immediately, the top of the box flew open and the four girls popped into view, arms raised, and tossing streamers of colorful paper. All seven children and Sarah, arms raised, yelled the answer “Ourselves!”

     With the platform littered with the streamers and each child smiling broadly, they took their bows. Then the boys shoved the box back behind the curtain, with the giggling girls still in the box. Off stage, the children clustered around Sarah, anxiously waiting for the response. For a moment the auditorium was silent, then someone began to clap, and then another, and so on until the entire room was applauding.

     Sarah quickly shooed the children onto stage to take another bow then hugged them all tightly as they came rushing back again. Kissing their faces, she said, “Thank you, Jesus, for trusting me with these children.”

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4 Lessons From Paul

"For you will be a witness for him to tell all men what you have seen and heard" (Acts 22: 15 Good News for the Modern Man).

Paul is a good example of a changed life.  Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He knew his religion and kept the rules down to the last one. When this man met Jesus he went from being zealous for formal religious rituals to a man zealous for the peaceful and life-changing love of God. 

This is the foundation of Christianity. God loves us all-sinners everyone, yet all can be saved by the love of God--in Jesus.

Paul says, "This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, but it was for this very reason that God was merciful to me, in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life" (1 Timothy 1: 15, 16 Good News for the Modern Man).

Here are four things we can learn from the Apostle Paul's life.

1. Humility.

The hard part of true love is humility. Do you find it hard to be humble? It goes against our natural self-preservation. Paul had to learn how to be humble but he says he learned it. "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little" Philippians 4:12. (NLT) This man, who at one time was so proud of his social stature, had to be let out of a window in a basket to save his life. Paul, the law-keeper, would have most likely stood up to his persecutors, but Paul the evangelist took to his heels for the sake of the little church just being born in Damascus. (2 Corinthians 11:33) That takes humility.

2. God-Dependent

Paul's life made a 180 degree turn after he learned Jesus truly is God. Before his conversion he was faithful to everything he could do in keeping the law and all the Pharisaical rules. After he was talked to by Jesus, he went from self-sufficiency to God-sufficiency. "For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ" Galatians 2:19. (NLT)

3. Be Encouraging

Today's times are hard for God's church. All around the world persecutions are arising more and more, and even more in America, the church is now being turned on vigorously by those in political power. In the 1st century church, when Emperor Nero was running amok and killing Christians, Paul sent letter after letter encouraging his small churches. We know Paul sent many encouraging letters from prison cells. If this man could comfort others while being so debased and socially degraded, today's Christians need to be sending encouraging letters, email's, texts, tweeting, phone calls, any way possible to all those in their sphere of social activities. 

4. A Student of God's Word

By God's power and grace, Paul's letters are now a part of our Holy Bible. One familiar passage God had Paul record is "All Scripture inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do" 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. (NLT). If it is that important for God to record, then it should be vitally important for all Christians to read and study it.

Historically, and in Scriptures, we could name Paul as a very great man, yet he made himself every man's friend, brother, and co-laborer for the sake of the Gospel. Paul understood that all his work only made sense if he told others about the Free Salvation offered by Jesus' death on the cross.

Whatever our background, let us also be good examples of a changed life. Show Jesus in all we do. Give Him the glory and honor and praise for all things whether alone or publicly. Because of the mercy God has shown us sinners, He deserves all praise.

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James: A Self-Help Book

Christian, do you want to know what to do?

Now that I have your attention, let me make it clear the Bible is NOT a Self-Help book. If you approach the Bible attempting to make yourself better, imagining it will make you more Spiritual and thus graduating into God's graces---Forget about it!

Now let me now explain my title. Ever heard someone say "I wish I knew how to be a better Christian?" or "What is expected of me?" Maybe you've even asked this. Well, the small letter James wrote actually defines elements of what to do as a Christian. This is a very limited list. Serving God is limitless and you need to seek Him for full instructions but here are some basic 'steps' to your worthy goal.

1. A Christian must know God

     As he opens his letter, James first acknowledges his personal standing and where his faith lies. This is fundamental to Christianity. God wrote the Holy Bible through the hand of faithful men, (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Your first step is become more knowledgeable about God, the Bible, and the world where you live.
2. A Christian needs to ask God how-to live every day life

     James 1: 5 says ask for wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to use all your knowledge in everyday life. How simple a message--if you don't know--ask. The wisdom that comes from God helps you know how-to ask and what-to ask. This message also comes with an explanation in the surrounding verses 2-10. That is, verses 2-4, how-to get through hardships, verses 5-8 are how-to pray, verses 9 - 11 are how-to live within your social status and income.
3. A Christian is to not be deceived

     Verses 1:12-18 are how-to avoid and resist temptation. The Christian life actually does draw distinct lines of right and wrong. The more you know about Jesus, the clearer these demarcations become. Temptation is not sin--giving into them is the sin that kills you. While you may not die from whatever you sin, you will certainty sever your line of communication with God. In that case, confess your sin (no excuses) and ask forgiveness, repent of them and see self-help #1.
4. A Christian must apply the Bible

     "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (1:22). Simple. Well not if you don't read the Bible. The Bible is loaded with instructions and lessons for Christian living in all things. The more you read it the more you understand it. If you neglect this task, you'll be left with a lot of unexplained questions about how to be a witness for Christ. After all, a witness is a person who tells what they have seen. Miss the first two applications and the prosecution, (Satan), will tear you to shreds on the witness stand. When things get hard to manage, return to self-help #2.
5. A Christian must study human nature and in most cases do the opposite of everything the world does toward their fellow man

     James 2:1-13. Self-help in how-to be approved by all without offending God or man. Or how-to live among all your people, Christian and non-Christian, and still please God.

6. A Christian must prove their Christianity

     A dangerous job yet unavoidable in every Christian's life. (James 2:14-26) Do all your work totally for Jesus. Your menial and extraordinary tasks should all be done in knowledge and acknowledgment of your recognition of God's ownership of you. The demons know God but they have no connection to life through Him. You do--so prove it! I am not going to list what to do. Go back to the previous self-helps for instructions in this area.
7. A Christian must very carefully teach all they know

     Chapter 3, verses 1-12 is all about talking. As representatives of Jesus, (2 Corinthians 5:20), we're to carefully speak about God diligently and knowledgeably. (see #1) But utilize self-helps #1 & #2 before you open your mouth. Get as much wisdom as possible about it all. Never stop studying about God, the Bible and your Christianity.

8. A Christian must constantly examine themselves

     If you don't put yourself under a microscope you will never see the minute, filthy, ungodly specks stuck all over your humanness. James 3:13 through 4:12 spells out right and wrong. Get a good dictionary and look up all the words. Make a list of them in two columns, good and bad. Memorize the good as verbs--actions to live everyday. Think of the bad as murderers and sentence them all to death row. If you have to kill them every day---do it! "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" Romans 8:13. (note that 4:2 & 3 remind you to ask God for what you need and explains how-to ask it.)

9: A Christian must never ignore God's sovereignty

     Make plans and conduct yourself with God's input. (4: 13-5:12) You want life insurance--get the best plan you can but always remember God is your ultimate life-line. Want to start a business--open the very best business you can--but always remember God knows your closing date. Want to raise a family--go ahead and raise the most beautiful and godly children in the world but always remember God loves them more than you do. Want to build a house--build the best house in the neighborhood but always remember God lives there too. Buy a car, buy a boat, take a world cruise, ski the Swiss Alps, climb Mt. Everest, learn a second language, sing in the choir, or go to a mission field? God's wants to help you achieve it all. Be shrewd in all you strive for. Seek all the professional help possible within your means, but always remember God owns it all, is over all, and controls all. Your behavior in your every day life is a reflection of your faith. For further instruction review self-helps #1--#8.

10. A Christian must remain integral to a body of believers.

     No Christian is a lone ranger. James 5:13-19 is how-to bless and be blessed as part of a body of believers. If you neglect you're part of the church in Christ, you negate all previous ideas of how to serve God. The best Self-Help you can give yourself is to be an integral part of a Bible believing church. Your faith will manifest itself in how to treat your brothers and sisters, how you pray, how to seek God, and how to minister to other believers.

Grace is God's gift and no one can ever be a self-made Christian

Read James for instructions on How-To live as a Christian, but don't stop there. Reading the entire Bible will help you know what you're to be doing.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" 

2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

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Vaporous

 "and you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a time and then vanishes away" James 4:14. (NKJ)

Many women hate to tell their age. I have no such hang-ups about age. In a month I will be 51 years old. To me that is amazing. Especially since I didn't think I would live to reach 30. There were times, I didn't want to reach 20. My life was so miserable, I thought it was way to long to live through a day.

Sexually abused by my Father, bullied at school for being of one of the areas poorest families, ignored by teachers imagining I wasn't worth the time to teach me, lonely and isolated, life was so rotten, suicide was a poplar notion.

I grew more afraid of men and people in general that my isolation became actually terror of public places.

Was help ever going to come or was I destined to kill myself? 

I needed help---where was God?

I knew a God existed but I had no idea that I needed to approach Him through His Son in His perfection. I thought He should do something for me. I didn't know anything about sin verses righteousness. No one had ever explained to me that I was an enemy of God, and unforgiven because of Adam. I imagined God looked down and helped those like me who needed pity. If God were so loving and kind and good, God should help me because I needed help and no human was helping me.

I can't describe all of my life and the day to day thoughts and struggles and survival. I can't explain the hate, rages, fear, and panic. I can't explain the desperation for love that I would allow men to use me. I can't explain the drug and alcohol use that took me away from myself and made life light and fun for a time. Then comes the bitterness of the sickening aftertaste. That is too much to tell. *

But....

Isn't it great there is a but?

But, now that I have the answer, I am going to have my 51 birthday in June of 2014.

My answer is Jesus Christ. My life is Jesus Christ.

My 51 years seems a long time, yet God says I've only lived as a vapor. Poof, I'm born, lived and died. God sees all of that and He sees me with Him now as today. God sees me in my new body living the abundant, glorious life on His new earth He promises to all who believe in Him.

"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure" Isaiah 46:10. (NKJ)

I'm a vaporous puff on this earth but for eternity, I am a forever child of God.

"Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them" Psalm 139: 16. (NKJ)

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great are the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You" Psalm 139: 17, 18. (NKJ)


God gives abundant life!

*(If you want a few more details, click the My Testimony Button in the left panel of this blog.)

Baby, It's a Privilege!

 

“…The Hebrew midwives of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah” Exodus 1: 15

  These midwives were the pediatricians of their day. It was an important job for experienced women to aid in the prenatal and birth of infants before the safety of hospitals.

 

Even today, knowledge of the effects of pregnancy and the birth of a child should be shared with new mothers. Are you having a baby? Share your experience with someone. You need to share the pride and joy of having your baby with other women who are pregnant, or wanting children. Even with those who adopt children.

 

Let younger girls help with your baby, and the childcare, to learn what a mother needs to know. Pass to them your pride and love for your child. This will help them to know that it is a great responsibility and privilege to have children.

 

God gave women this awesome responsibility to nurture new lives, creating the womb of woman to bear future generations. The miracle of childbirth is a wonderful part of a woman’s life. Motherhood is special.

 

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