Today’s newsletter consists of two different e-mails received from two completely different sources received within 12 hours of each other! I am astounded once again at God’s timing in things and direction to what needs to be sent to you, my readers.
On a side note about God’s timing~ Our son was walking down the hall of his work place and asking God what he was to do about a situation requiring a work decision. Immediately after he worded his prayer concerns to God, he got a buzz text on his phone from his sister. Letha. She, completely unaware of the brewing “storm” with his work, gave him the verse; Exodus 14:13-14 about how God would fight for him! And God has been there in the middle of the entire work drama.
And so, we know God is actively busy about our lives, working all things together for good; Romans 8:28.
I want you to take note of the explaination for several uses of the phrase, “born again”. Bro. Carroll makes several good points in his article. He is an excellent author, pastor, musician vocalist and has a variety of music to offer on his website~ www.carrollroberson.com
"There are many "mysteries" recorded in the sacred scriptures. The mystery of the partial blindness of Israel in Romans 11:25. The mystery of the church being made up of Jews and Gentiles in Ephesians 2:1-9. The mystery of the indwelling Christ in Colossians 1:26-27. The mystery that not all believers will face physical death in I Corinthians 15: 51-52. The mystery of the Messiah, how He was God manifested in the flesh in I Timothy 3:16.
The mystery of the new birth does not have the word "mystery" in the text, but it is one of the great mystery passages in the words of Jesus the Christ. It is recorded in John 3:8, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Our Lord was talking to a very religious man named Nicodemus about how to enter into the kingdom of God. Nicodemus had had many "born agains" in his life. In Judaism, they were said to be "born of water" when a person was born in the flesh. The young boys were pronounced "born again " when they reached the age of thirteen for the bar-mitzphah. The young adult men were "born again" when they married, starting a new chapter in their life. "Born again" was pronounced again when they reached the age of thirty and became a rabbi, and also when they became fifty years old and became a member of the Sanhedrin. So Nicodemus had experienced all of these "born agains", but he had never experienced being "born again" into God’s kingdom, which is being born of the Spirit! Jesus never used that terminology on anyone else, but it was needed in order to reach Nicodemus. According to John 7:50and John 19:39, we can see that Nicodemus was a changed man after his conversation with the Messiah.
May you and I never lose the "wonder" of being in God’s kingdom. It’s supernatural, a working of God’s Spirit in our lives. Enjoy the mystery of it all!
Bro. Carroll
Friday, December 11, 2009
Prayer Works
The following is from Source Ministries and I would not change a thing. Lewis Gregory has said it best~
THE WORD IS: And He spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint . . . Nevertheless . . . shall He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8
THE POINT IS: Research shows that many people say they believe in prayer. According to a Barna Research study in 2001, as many as 89 percent of adults in the USA believe "there is a god who watches over you and answers your prayers." A more recent study by Barna in 2006 found that, “Slightly more than four out of five adults (84%) claimed they had prayed in the past week. That has been the case since Barna began tracking the frequency of prayer in 1993.” Furthermore, most religions throughout the world believe in the importance of praying to one or more gods. But what kind of god, and what kind of prayers. Obviously there is much praying in the world today, but how much of it is actually praying? Most “so called” praying, whether by Christians or non-Christians, is not at all what the Lord Jesus Christ meant by prayer. There is prayer, and then there is PRAYER—Biblical, effectual prayer! Although the widow in the parable our Lord gave in Luke 18:2-5 illustrates persistent praying, there is much more to prayer than that. Many other religions pray long and hard, but that is not enough. Jesus dispelled the myth of this kind of faulty praying in Matthew 6:7. He explained that those who rely on their lengthy prayers are really caught up in vain repetitions—dead works, void of the life of God. Thus these kind of prayers are of no eternal value, and therefore of no real earthly good, not for you and certainly not for the Lord.
THE APPLICATION IS: So stop praying as though it all depends on you: how well you pray, how loud you pray, how long you pray, how hard you pray. The reason you should pray is because it all depends on God. And just who is this God to whom you should pray? He is the Lord God Almighty—the Creator and Sustainer of all things—the one and only true and living GOD! He alone can both hear and answer your prayers. Luke 18:1 clearly indicates that prayer should be a way of life! But in order for it to be a way of life, you must stay in an attitude of prayer. Such an attitude of prayer involves a fixed dependency upon God—in a word: faith! Many people pray, some people pray to the one true God, but not many people actually pray to Him in faith. However, only the “prayer of faith” is true PRAYER—Biblical and effectual in every respect. The prayer of faith is a conscious, deliberate, unwavering trust in the Lord God Almighty. It is the kind of praying described in the Bible, whereby you direct your prayers to the one and only true and living God, trusting in Him alone to bring it to pass. When you pray in faith, you are willing to wait patiently upon Him to answer in His own time and way. God is looking for people of faith: those who will simply believe Him for all things great and small. As you pray in faith you will not become faint, because you will be relying upon the One who never grows weary or faint. And He will sustain you!
Lewis Gregory
Source is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), faith-based discipleship ministry.
Visit us at http://www.sourceministries.net
Thought for the week,
“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Be careful for nothing, prayerful for everything, thankful for anything. I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered because we are not willing to forgive someone.” Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
Have a great week,
Judith
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
THE WORD IS: And He spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint . . . Nevertheless . . . shall He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8
THE POINT IS: Research shows that many people say they believe in prayer. According to a Barna Research study in 2001, as many as 89 percent of adults in the USA believe "there is a god who watches over you and answers your prayers." A more recent study by Barna in 2006 found that, “Slightly more than four out of five adults (84%) claimed they had prayed in the past week. That has been the case since Barna began tracking the frequency of prayer in 1993.” Furthermore, most religions throughout the world believe in the importance of praying to one or more gods. But what kind of god, and what kind of prayers. Obviously there is much praying in the world today, but how much of it is actually praying? Most “so called” praying, whether by Christians or non-Christians, is not at all what the Lord Jesus Christ meant by prayer. There is prayer, and then there is PRAYER—Biblical, effectual prayer! Although the widow in the parable our Lord gave in Luke 18:2-5 illustrates persistent praying, there is much more to prayer than that. Many other religions pray long and hard, but that is not enough. Jesus dispelled the myth of this kind of faulty praying in Matthew 6:7. He explained that those who rely on their lengthy prayers are really caught up in vain repetitions—dead works, void of the life of God. Thus these kind of prayers are of no eternal value, and therefore of no real earthly good, not for you and certainly not for the Lord.
THE APPLICATION IS: So stop praying as though it all depends on you: how well you pray, how loud you pray, how long you pray, how hard you pray. The reason you should pray is because it all depends on God. And just who is this God to whom you should pray? He is the Lord God Almighty—the Creator and Sustainer of all things—the one and only true and living GOD! He alone can both hear and answer your prayers. Luke 18:1 clearly indicates that prayer should be a way of life! But in order for it to be a way of life, you must stay in an attitude of prayer. Such an attitude of prayer involves a fixed dependency upon God—in a word: faith! Many people pray, some people pray to the one true God, but not many people actually pray to Him in faith. However, only the “prayer of faith” is true PRAYER—Biblical and effectual in every respect. The prayer of faith is a conscious, deliberate, unwavering trust in the Lord God Almighty. It is the kind of praying described in the Bible, whereby you direct your prayers to the one and only true and living God, trusting in Him alone to bring it to pass. When you pray in faith, you are willing to wait patiently upon Him to answer in His own time and way. God is looking for people of faith: those who will simply believe Him for all things great and small. As you pray in faith you will not become faint, because you will be relying upon the One who never grows weary or faint. And He will sustain you!
Lewis Gregory
Source is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), faith-based discipleship ministry.
Visit us at http://www.sourceministries.net
Thought for the week,
“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Be careful for nothing, prayerful for everything, thankful for anything. I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered because we are not willing to forgive someone.” Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
Have a great week,
Judith
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Simple Pleasures
Life as we all know it~ is busy and presents many demands. It was a pleasure to just simply sit quietly in the truck, watch the steam roll softly in all shapes, sizes and designs from a fresh cup of coffee and take in the warm sunshine yesterday morning.
I watched as people came in and out of the store wondering what their life pressures might be and why we all seem to load ourselves down with the daily “duties” of life. How often do we take in the smell of a fresh flower or the unique design of the center of a flower; the special shapes of the petals? What about the fascination of a simple small bee landing on one flower and then another, all a part of the design of nature to keep our world normal and functioning in just the right balance. The fascination of watching butterflies is fun and they are so beautiful. I saw a yellow variety fly past the kitchen window just the other day and wondered what type it might be and why it was still alive with all the cooler weather we are having in Tennessee.
The tiny ant angles the antenna’s in just the right fashion to test the air around them while they scurry back and forth on the sidewalk. I watched an ant just over a half inch long and four to five times the size in circumference to the regular "sidewalk" variety ant close to our mailbox. It had thin black, thin white and larger orange stripes on its body. The internet suggests “This type of ant is a peanut butter ant. They feed on human liver.” I will keep a safe distance!
As pesky as a fly can be, have you ever just watched as they run their front legs repeatedly over their eyes? We have what I call stick bugs around here at our house. They can be 4-6 inches long, brown and look exactly like a thin stick branch from a bush laying or sitting on something. They are such fascinating creatures of nature! They have antenna’s attached to the “head” that move very slowly from side to side. Looking closely at them, they have very thin legs attached. You do not notice their legs right away because the fascination comes from the fact that they are a living, breathing part of nature yet look very average and easily overlooked due to their branch like camouflaged image.
I am re-evaluating everything these days. I have even unsubscribed many newsletters and such that “require” my attention. I want to simply de-clutter my life in every possible area. I value you, my readers. You have been a vital part of my life over the past ten years with LIFE SERIES in your encouragement and sharing so much with me through your e-mails. I welcome all of that, by all means! That has not changed.
And so I will enjoy the next cup of coffee . . . (or herb tea). . . :-0)
Thought for the week,
Simple pleasures~ really are simple without demand. The pleasure of what we enjoy is lost by wanting more.
Have a great week,
Judith
lifeseriescoach.blogspot.com ~ The blog has two new friends who have added their information. I encourage you to take a look.
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
I watched as people came in and out of the store wondering what their life pressures might be and why we all seem to load ourselves down with the daily “duties” of life. How often do we take in the smell of a fresh flower or the unique design of the center of a flower; the special shapes of the petals? What about the fascination of a simple small bee landing on one flower and then another, all a part of the design of nature to keep our world normal and functioning in just the right balance. The fascination of watching butterflies is fun and they are so beautiful. I saw a yellow variety fly past the kitchen window just the other day and wondered what type it might be and why it was still alive with all the cooler weather we are having in Tennessee.
The tiny ant angles the antenna’s in just the right fashion to test the air around them while they scurry back and forth on the sidewalk. I watched an ant just over a half inch long and four to five times the size in circumference to the regular "sidewalk" variety ant close to our mailbox. It had thin black, thin white and larger orange stripes on its body. The internet suggests “This type of ant is a peanut butter ant. They feed on human liver.” I will keep a safe distance!
As pesky as a fly can be, have you ever just watched as they run their front legs repeatedly over their eyes? We have what I call stick bugs around here at our house. They can be 4-6 inches long, brown and look exactly like a thin stick branch from a bush laying or sitting on something. They are such fascinating creatures of nature! They have antenna’s attached to the “head” that move very slowly from side to side. Looking closely at them, they have very thin legs attached. You do not notice their legs right away because the fascination comes from the fact that they are a living, breathing part of nature yet look very average and easily overlooked due to their branch like camouflaged image.
I am re-evaluating everything these days. I have even unsubscribed many newsletters and such that “require” my attention. I want to simply de-clutter my life in every possible area. I value you, my readers. You have been a vital part of my life over the past ten years with LIFE SERIES in your encouragement and sharing so much with me through your e-mails. I welcome all of that, by all means! That has not changed.
And so I will enjoy the next cup of coffee . . . (or herb tea). . . :-0)
Thought for the week,
Simple pleasures~ really are simple without demand. The pleasure of what we enjoy is lost by wanting more.
Have a great week,
Judith
lifeseriescoach.blogspot.com ~ The blog has two new friends who have added their information. I encourage you to take a look.
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Just never know!
Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.
The man slowly looked up.
This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.
His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled....
To his amazement, the woman continued standing.
She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.
"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."
"Oh."
The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways...
"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And thank you for the coffee."
If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing.
If you have missed some of my emails, you might have missed a laugh.
But, if you have missed knowing my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, you have missed everything in the world.
The man slowly looked up.
This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.
His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled....
To his amazement, the woman continued standing.
She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.
"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."
"Oh."
The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways...
"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And thank you for the coffee."
If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing.
If you have missed some of my emails, you might have missed a laugh.
But, if you have missed knowing my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, you have missed everything in the world.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Who Is Your Counselor?
Proverbs 3:5 and 6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path."
On what do you base your decisions? God’s people need God’s wisdom in order to make decisions that will honor Him. In Isaiah 30:1, the people sought advice, but not from Him. In Jeremiah 7:24 God tells of those who walked in their own advice instead of His wisdom.
The world’s advice is “believe in you.” It is so easy to have our thinking swayed by the world and not recognize the symptoms when we do not ask for advice from spiritual sources.
SPIRITUAL SOURCES FOR ADVICE
1. The Bible.
In Ephesians 5:26 we learn that Christ purified the church (us, His children) by the washing of the water by the Word. We need to be “brainwashed” by the Word of God so that our thought processes will be like God’s.
2. Prayer.
We need to talk to our Heavenly Father about the decisions we are going to make. When we pray to God in humble submission to His will after having been washed by the water of the Word, it is much easier to recognize the spiritually based decision.
3. Counselors.
Proverbs 11:14 and 15:22 speak of the importance of seeking more than one counselor in order to have confidence that you are making the right decision.
When others object to possible decisions, we should seek out counselors that have experience in that field, and not go by our feelings. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Just remember the law of the harvest: Galatians 6:7b “Whatsoever a man sows that (she) he also reap.”
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth (revile or reproach) not.” God will not scold you for asking, but we will experience bad consequences as the result of NOT asking.
As we begin to seek God’s will for every decision, we learn His patterns for wise decision-making. Spiritual maturity makes it easier to make decisions more quickly, because we have learned the mind of Christ in many areas of life.
Be patient as you learn God’s ways.
By Rebecca Joy Houghton
Thought for consideration,
We do not learn all things in one day; it is a lifetime pursuit!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path."
On what do you base your decisions? God’s people need God’s wisdom in order to make decisions that will honor Him. In Isaiah 30:1, the people sought advice, but not from Him. In Jeremiah 7:24 God tells of those who walked in their own advice instead of His wisdom.
The world’s advice is “believe in you.” It is so easy to have our thinking swayed by the world and not recognize the symptoms when we do not ask for advice from spiritual sources.
SPIRITUAL SOURCES FOR ADVICE
1. The Bible.
In Ephesians 5:26 we learn that Christ purified the church (us, His children) by the washing of the water by the Word. We need to be “brainwashed” by the Word of God so that our thought processes will be like God’s.
2. Prayer.
We need to talk to our Heavenly Father about the decisions we are going to make. When we pray to God in humble submission to His will after having been washed by the water of the Word, it is much easier to recognize the spiritually based decision.
3. Counselors.
Proverbs 11:14 and 15:22 speak of the importance of seeking more than one counselor in order to have confidence that you are making the right decision.
When others object to possible decisions, we should seek out counselors that have experience in that field, and not go by our feelings. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Just remember the law of the harvest: Galatians 6:7b “Whatsoever a man sows that (she) he also reap.”
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth (revile or reproach) not.” God will not scold you for asking, but we will experience bad consequences as the result of NOT asking.
As we begin to seek God’s will for every decision, we learn His patterns for wise decision-making. Spiritual maturity makes it easier to make decisions more quickly, because we have learned the mind of Christ in many areas of life.
Be patient as you learn God’s ways.
By Rebecca Joy Houghton
Thought for consideration,
We do not learn all things in one day; it is a lifetime pursuit!
Disclaimer
I have searched the list of other bloggers listed under title "Life Coach" and find some are not reputable. I am saddened by that, but as adults I count on you to use your own common sense to distinguish the difference. Google makes it clear they cannot be held responsible for all blogs.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Understand Your Personality
Have you ever wondered why people around you do some of the things they do?
You are not alone. Parents, pastors, scientists, teachers and doctors have been studying human personality and behaviours for thousands of years to figure out how to respond to the everyday things people do.
When you are in the daily process of those daily necessary actions to solve conflicts at home and/or work then you also need to take time to understand the personalities that surround you at home, work, and in your community. Personality, the most significant part of who you are, is important to understand because it allows you to respond intelligently to the everyday situations that occur in marriage, home, family, work, and community relationships.
As you search for ways to maintain more peace and fewer power struggles with people around you, we all need to learn how to understand the personalities that surround us.
Some may declare, “I was Born that Way- so deal with it!” While this may be a common reaction that some people use to justify their inappropriate behavior; it is still not an excuse. However, people really are born a certain way, designed by God for a purpose within their own unique individual personality. The remainder of your personality development comes from early childhood, school, and life experiences. Our own personal DNA makes us who we are; it it our own personal "road map" to our unique and original design by God. He created us all different. This fact can be really irritating and inconvenient to some but it is for His greater purpose and plans for each indiviual.
The goal is to find out why people around you do the things they do so you understand how to respond to achieve a greater result, and less frustrated in the process.
The study of personality types was at first categorized into 4 parts by Hippocrates, a Greek physician, hundreds of years before the time of Christ. He noticed there were distinct differences in people, and many other serious researchers have noticed the same.
Introverts
are the most common type of personality. These individuals are not necessarily shy, but they do prefer quiet. Introverts are energized by calm and peaceful settings, love being out in nature, enjoy the environment, soothing music or entertainment and the company of a few close friends or pets. Their emotional stability comes through these soothing experiences and are drained by large crowds and loud events, which is why they like to have their own "space" and do not like crowds. An introvert under stress will tend to hold their emotions inside until they literally erupt with tears or anger and then when the flood of emotions pass; hate they lost control of themselves.
Extroverted personalities
are not as common, but they make up for it with volume. They fill a room with their over sized personalities. Writer and Life Coach, Dwight Bain, "They are energized by loud events and lengthy experiences because they seem to never get enough and don’t want the day to end. Concerts, sports, parades, big cities, New Year parties, trade shows, theme parks, seminars; it doe not matter, because the louder and more crowded the better! Remember, they pull energy from the environment around them, which exhausts the introverts who probably were coaxed into going with them. Their emotional batteries are charged up by these loud experiences and can go on and on like the Energizer Bunny™ seemingly for days without sleep when doing something they enjoy. You usually don’t have to guess about what they are thinking, because they sometimes impulsively just ‘tell it like it is’, which can hurt feelings of sensitive personalities, while giving them relief to have dumped their emotions out for others to deal with."
The four most common personality traits follow:
The Two Extroverted Personality Types ~
Choleric
are the task oriented individuals who prefer to be out front in leadership positions. This high energy individual is driven, ambitious, and usually goal oriented toward the things that are important to them as a person. The Choleric person likes to lead and motivate others to accomplish their goals and can sometimes overpower others or step on their feelings. Leaders in politics, military, and business are often a Choleric personality, which is the smallest percentage of the 4 types, but by far the most aggressive. On a negative note, Choleric personalities can become easily angry or moody when things do not go their way and are not afraid to create a conflict to get people moving toward their own pre-conceived goals.
Sanguine
is a people oriented person who loves to have a good time, sometimes at the expense of others. They are very loud of the two extroverted personalities and are often talented with great verbal communication, which is why they love to be on stage entertaining others. Dwight Bain shares, "Sanguine personalities love to meet new people, but often forget their names the moment they meet them! Leaders in entertainment, comedy, media, drama, ministry, public speaking and music are often from this group. Rarely on time, the Sanguine personality can be impulsive, unmotivated and can come across as egotistical and self-absorbed but usually don’t really mean to hurt the feelings of others. They are just so busy in their world that they forget there are 7 billion other people on the planet too. In the Bible the Apostle Peter is most like the popular Sanguine personality."
The Two Introverted Personality Types~
Phlegmatic
is a people oriented person who likes to work at their own pace and not be pressured. They absolutely hate conflict and will do just about anything, even to compromising their own desires and who they are as a person to get along with others. This is the largest personality group. More than half of the people you meet are likely to be Phlegmatic. They may have great ideas, but are sometimes too shy or embarrassed to step out and voice them, much to the frustration of the people who can see past their lack of confidence to spot their real potential.
Mr. Bain says, "The Phlegmatic have a few close family or friends and like to spend all of their time with the people they already know, so they don’t venture out very far to make new acquaintances. The loss of a friend from a move or breakup can be so devastating to a Phlegmatic because they are not usually comfortable going out to meet strangers. They are stable people and liked by those who associate with them. They can have great success in management, administration, nursing or education. They are most loyal of the 4 personalities; they are also the most sensitive. They are gentle and compassionate individuals with big hearts. They quickly spot the needs of others, but can easily get their own feelings hurt because of this overly sensitive side. They don’t like change and love to keep life predictable; which is why they work so hard to keep things stable in their family, school or work situation. The Phlegmatic is conscious of details which is why they are considered by many to be perfectionists; but only at the things which are important to them. They are often the most creative of the 4 personality types, both in the arts or in solving complex problems. This personality type is likely to be so quiet that they don’t reach out to make a lot of friends, but can be gentle and compassionate when you take time to get to know them. They think far more than talk, so when they voice their opinion they usually have a lot to say."
Melancholy
traits may cause a person to go back into what some people call their introverted ‘cave’ because, Mr. Bain explains, "they often would prefer to spend time with their own thoughts than spending time with others. They can be moody from suppressing so many emotions, which can come across as depressive, sullen, temperamental or critical. There are many careers where this personality can excel, because many authors, musicians, accountants, scientists and researchers have this trait. Perfect Melancholic’s are always driven to do things right."
Your personality is a basic element inside you and there are factors we all need to consider when searching for our best approach to respond and achieve better results at home, work, and the community. Birth-order, age, gender, family background, life experiences and education can heavily influence our behavior.
Additional reading~
Personality Plus- by Florence Littauer
Discovering your child design- by Ralph Mattson & Thom Black
Raising Children on Purpose- by Wesley H. Fleming
The Two Sides of Love- by Gary Smalley and John TrentPlus
“The Treasure Tree” - by Gary Smalley & John Trent to help kids understand their unique strengths.
You have great value in the sight of God and can be a whole person in all your relationships.
You are welcome to share this post with your own list at work or church, forward it to friends and family or post it on your own site or blog. Copyright, 2009. Please include the following additional information as a courtesy to LIFE SERIES~ Call 615-896-7070 to set up your own personal Life Coach Consultation; ask for Judith
You are not alone. Parents, pastors, scientists, teachers and doctors have been studying human personality and behaviours for thousands of years to figure out how to respond to the everyday things people do.
When you are in the daily process of those daily necessary actions to solve conflicts at home and/or work then you also need to take time to understand the personalities that surround you at home, work, and in your community. Personality, the most significant part of who you are, is important to understand because it allows you to respond intelligently to the everyday situations that occur in marriage, home, family, work, and community relationships.
As you search for ways to maintain more peace and fewer power struggles with people around you, we all need to learn how to understand the personalities that surround us.
Some may declare, “I was Born that Way- so deal with it!” While this may be a common reaction that some people use to justify their inappropriate behavior; it is still not an excuse. However, people really are born a certain way, designed by God for a purpose within their own unique individual personality. The remainder of your personality development comes from early childhood, school, and life experiences. Our own personal DNA makes us who we are; it it our own personal "road map" to our unique and original design by God. He created us all different. This fact can be really irritating and inconvenient to some but it is for His greater purpose and plans for each indiviual.
The goal is to find out why people around you do the things they do so you understand how to respond to achieve a greater result, and less frustrated in the process.
The study of personality types was at first categorized into 4 parts by Hippocrates, a Greek physician, hundreds of years before the time of Christ. He noticed there were distinct differences in people, and many other serious researchers have noticed the same.
Introverts
are the most common type of personality. These individuals are not necessarily shy, but they do prefer quiet. Introverts are energized by calm and peaceful settings, love being out in nature, enjoy the environment, soothing music or entertainment and the company of a few close friends or pets. Their emotional stability comes through these soothing experiences and are drained by large crowds and loud events, which is why they like to have their own "space" and do not like crowds. An introvert under stress will tend to hold their emotions inside until they literally erupt with tears or anger and then when the flood of emotions pass; hate they lost control of themselves.
Extroverted personalities
are not as common, but they make up for it with volume. They fill a room with their over sized personalities. Writer and Life Coach, Dwight Bain, "They are energized by loud events and lengthy experiences because they seem to never get enough and don’t want the day to end. Concerts, sports, parades, big cities, New Year parties, trade shows, theme parks, seminars; it doe not matter, because the louder and more crowded the better! Remember, they pull energy from the environment around them, which exhausts the introverts who probably were coaxed into going with them. Their emotional batteries are charged up by these loud experiences and can go on and on like the Energizer Bunny™ seemingly for days without sleep when doing something they enjoy. You usually don’t have to guess about what they are thinking, because they sometimes impulsively just ‘tell it like it is’, which can hurt feelings of sensitive personalities, while giving them relief to have dumped their emotions out for others to deal with."
The four most common personality traits follow:
The Two Extroverted Personality Types ~
Choleric
are the task oriented individuals who prefer to be out front in leadership positions. This high energy individual is driven, ambitious, and usually goal oriented toward the things that are important to them as a person. The Choleric person likes to lead and motivate others to accomplish their goals and can sometimes overpower others or step on their feelings. Leaders in politics, military, and business are often a Choleric personality, which is the smallest percentage of the 4 types, but by far the most aggressive. On a negative note, Choleric personalities can become easily angry or moody when things do not go their way and are not afraid to create a conflict to get people moving toward their own pre-conceived goals.
Sanguine
is a people oriented person who loves to have a good time, sometimes at the expense of others. They are very loud of the two extroverted personalities and are often talented with great verbal communication, which is why they love to be on stage entertaining others. Dwight Bain shares, "Sanguine personalities love to meet new people, but often forget their names the moment they meet them! Leaders in entertainment, comedy, media, drama, ministry, public speaking and music are often from this group. Rarely on time, the Sanguine personality can be impulsive, unmotivated and can come across as egotistical and self-absorbed but usually don’t really mean to hurt the feelings of others. They are just so busy in their world that they forget there are 7 billion other people on the planet too. In the Bible the Apostle Peter is most like the popular Sanguine personality."
The Two Introverted Personality Types~
Phlegmatic
is a people oriented person who likes to work at their own pace and not be pressured. They absolutely hate conflict and will do just about anything, even to compromising their own desires and who they are as a person to get along with others. This is the largest personality group. More than half of the people you meet are likely to be Phlegmatic. They may have great ideas, but are sometimes too shy or embarrassed to step out and voice them, much to the frustration of the people who can see past their lack of confidence to spot their real potential.
Mr. Bain says, "The Phlegmatic have a few close family or friends and like to spend all of their time with the people they already know, so they don’t venture out very far to make new acquaintances. The loss of a friend from a move or breakup can be so devastating to a Phlegmatic because they are not usually comfortable going out to meet strangers. They are stable people and liked by those who associate with them. They can have great success in management, administration, nursing or education. They are most loyal of the 4 personalities; they are also the most sensitive. They are gentle and compassionate individuals with big hearts. They quickly spot the needs of others, but can easily get their own feelings hurt because of this overly sensitive side. They don’t like change and love to keep life predictable; which is why they work so hard to keep things stable in their family, school or work situation. The Phlegmatic is conscious of details which is why they are considered by many to be perfectionists; but only at the things which are important to them. They are often the most creative of the 4 personality types, both in the arts or in solving complex problems. This personality type is likely to be so quiet that they don’t reach out to make a lot of friends, but can be gentle and compassionate when you take time to get to know them. They think far more than talk, so when they voice their opinion they usually have a lot to say."
Melancholy
traits may cause a person to go back into what some people call their introverted ‘cave’ because, Mr. Bain explains, "they often would prefer to spend time with their own thoughts than spending time with others. They can be moody from suppressing so many emotions, which can come across as depressive, sullen, temperamental or critical. There are many careers where this personality can excel, because many authors, musicians, accountants, scientists and researchers have this trait. Perfect Melancholic’s are always driven to do things right."
Your personality is a basic element inside you and there are factors we all need to consider when searching for our best approach to respond and achieve better results at home, work, and the community. Birth-order, age, gender, family background, life experiences and education can heavily influence our behavior.
Additional reading~
Personality Plus- by Florence Littauer
Discovering your child design- by Ralph Mattson & Thom Black
Raising Children on Purpose- by Wesley H. Fleming
The Two Sides of Love- by Gary Smalley and John TrentPlus
“The Treasure Tree” - by Gary Smalley & John Trent to help kids understand their unique strengths.
You have great value in the sight of God and can be a whole person in all your relationships.
You are welcome to share this post with your own list at work or church, forward it to friends and family or post it on your own site or blog. Copyright, 2009. Please include the following additional information as a courtesy to LIFE SERIES~ Call 615-896-7070 to set up your own personal Life Coach Consultation; ask for Judith
What does it profit?
My friends, I am getting frequent e-mails from people with concerns about the current events as they are unfolding in America and all the unrest in the entire globe every single day.
I completely understand where the thoughts and concerns are coming from and I am grieved as well to watch what is happening. However, we are also called to the reality of facts through the “eyes” of scripture.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36
“For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:25
Philippians 4 is a wonderful chapter and Psalm 37 makes it very clear as to how we are to respond to evil; that we are not to fret. The entire chapter is a wonderful outlay of answers for us as we face uncertain days ahead.
We must keep our focus on Jesus.
Focus~
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.” James 4:14
Focus~
“. . . observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:20
Focus~
“There is no fear in (God’s) love; but perfect love casts out fear. . .” I John 4:18
Focus~
“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6.
Focus~
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Focus~
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Thought for the week,
“Finally. . . whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report; think on these things!” Philippians 4:8
Have a great week,
Judith
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
I completely understand where the thoughts and concerns are coming from and I am grieved as well to watch what is happening. However, we are also called to the reality of facts through the “eyes” of scripture.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36
“For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:25
Philippians 4 is a wonderful chapter and Psalm 37 makes it very clear as to how we are to respond to evil; that we are not to fret. The entire chapter is a wonderful outlay of answers for us as we face uncertain days ahead.
We must keep our focus on Jesus.
Focus~
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.” James 4:14
Focus~
“. . . observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:20
Focus~
“There is no fear in (God’s) love; but perfect love casts out fear. . .” I John 4:18
Focus~
“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6.
Focus~
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Focus~
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Thought for the week,
“Finally. . . whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report; think on these things!” Philippians 4:8
Have a great week,
Judith
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
Everyday Business
Have you ever wondered how people go about their business every day and never seem to think about what will happen at the end of life? We prepare for everything on earth like we are going to live here forever! We think about today and our future on earth like it will last forever!
In actual reality we do not know what a day will bring to us! “Boast not of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth. “ Proverbs 27:1. As a nation, we are so consumed about our face, our hair, our body comforts, our clothes, the car we drive, the house we live in; everything that pertains to the outside. I am all for looking the best possible and living as well as possible but when these things become an obsession, it is overdone! However, we do need to stop long enough to think about the inside heart of things for our peace of mind and what really matters for our eternal life! “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
Do you ever look at a picture of a person, family or group from decades or centuries past and pause for a minute to think about how that person or community of people lived? What were their dreams? What was his/her work ethics? How did he/she view life and death? What would he or she have changed about his or her thinking and actions while alive if they were given a second chance?
Our existence as a mortal being does reach the end of life as we know it on earth but there is an eternity to look forward to or an eternity to dread. There is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun! The decision becomes ours to make; always has been ours to make. God, the Father gave us free choice. We are not forced into anything. Our physical life on this earth~ is not a question of “if” but “when” the end will come! “It is appointed unto men (women) once to die but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
I do not need to know all there is to know about everything in the Bible but I DO need to know and accept Jesus. He is our way into Heaven. He came to die for us because His love for us was (and is) more than I will ever understand this side of Heaven! Seventy five years of an average life span on this earth is but one small grain of sand in comparison to an entire beach of individual sand grains of life and that is only the just beginning of eternity!
In the web video to follow, the people who went to work and lost their lives on the morning of September 11, 2001 had no idea that particular Tuesday morning would be their last day alive. How many were prepared spiritually for their last day on earth? How many made preparation for eternity in the same way they prepared for their career in the towers? How many made peace with God by acknowledging their inability to approach the Father on their own terms but instead made a decision while living to accept Jesus as their own personal Savior and immediately had a relationship with God the Father?
We keep hearing about the “American Dream”. Why not consider a relationship with Jesus first, make Him a reality in your life and then allow God to guide you in your daily pursuits. If life does not unfold the way you hope in your dreams, you at least, have taken care of your eternal destiny; and eternal life my friends, is a reality whether you make the right decision or not!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzg1qL6b4uk
Forgiveness
We cannot have eternal life and Heaven without God’s forgiveness.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of His (God’s) grace” --Ephesians 1:7
Available
Forgiveness is available. It is –
AVAILABLE FOR ALL
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” --John 3:16
BUT NOT AUTOMATIC
“Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is
in Heaven.” --Matthew 7:21
Impossible
It is impossible for God to allow sin into Heaven.
GOD IS—
- LOVE
John 3:16
- JUST
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoices
against judgment.” -- James 2:13
- MAN IS SINFUL
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” --Romans 3:23
Turn
Turn means repent. TURN from something—sin and self
“I tell you, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3
TURN to someone; trust Christ only
The Bible tells us~ “For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to
the scriptures; And that he was buried and that he rose again the third
day according to the scriptures” --I Corinthians 15:3 and 4
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall
believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you
shall be saved.” --Romans10:9
Heaven
Heaven is eternal life.
HERE
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly.” --John 10:10
HEREAFTER
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”
--John 14:3
HOW
How can a person have God’s forgiveness, Heaven and eternal life,
and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord?
It is all summed up in FAITH ~Forsaking All I Trust Him
Romans 10:9.
The original outline above came from LifeWay. ~Check the following website for answers to your questions for more information about materials available to you. www.lifeway.com On home page under “search”, type “Faith Training”.
Thought for the week,
What on earth is worth missing Heaven?!
JudithLife Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
In actual reality we do not know what a day will bring to us! “Boast not of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth. “ Proverbs 27:1. As a nation, we are so consumed about our face, our hair, our body comforts, our clothes, the car we drive, the house we live in; everything that pertains to the outside. I am all for looking the best possible and living as well as possible but when these things become an obsession, it is overdone! However, we do need to stop long enough to think about the inside heart of things for our peace of mind and what really matters for our eternal life! “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
Do you ever look at a picture of a person, family or group from decades or centuries past and pause for a minute to think about how that person or community of people lived? What were their dreams? What was his/her work ethics? How did he/she view life and death? What would he or she have changed about his or her thinking and actions while alive if they were given a second chance?
Our existence as a mortal being does reach the end of life as we know it on earth but there is an eternity to look forward to or an eternity to dread. There is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun! The decision becomes ours to make; always has been ours to make. God, the Father gave us free choice. We are not forced into anything. Our physical life on this earth~ is not a question of “if” but “when” the end will come! “It is appointed unto men (women) once to die but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
I do not need to know all there is to know about everything in the Bible but I DO need to know and accept Jesus. He is our way into Heaven. He came to die for us because His love for us was (and is) more than I will ever understand this side of Heaven! Seventy five years of an average life span on this earth is but one small grain of sand in comparison to an entire beach of individual sand grains of life and that is only the just beginning of eternity!
In the web video to follow, the people who went to work and lost their lives on the morning of September 11, 2001 had no idea that particular Tuesday morning would be their last day alive. How many were prepared spiritually for their last day on earth? How many made preparation for eternity in the same way they prepared for their career in the towers? How many made peace with God by acknowledging their inability to approach the Father on their own terms but instead made a decision while living to accept Jesus as their own personal Savior and immediately had a relationship with God the Father?
We keep hearing about the “American Dream”. Why not consider a relationship with Jesus first, make Him a reality in your life and then allow God to guide you in your daily pursuits. If life does not unfold the way you hope in your dreams, you at least, have taken care of your eternal destiny; and eternal life my friends, is a reality whether you make the right decision or not!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzg1qL6b4uk
Forgiveness
We cannot have eternal life and Heaven without God’s forgiveness.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of His (God’s) grace” --Ephesians 1:7
Available
Forgiveness is available. It is –
AVAILABLE FOR ALL
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” --John 3:16
BUT NOT AUTOMATIC
“Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is
in Heaven.” --Matthew 7:21
Impossible
It is impossible for God to allow sin into Heaven.
GOD IS—
- LOVE
John 3:16
- JUST
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoices
against judgment.” -- James 2:13
- MAN IS SINFUL
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” --Romans 3:23
Turn
Turn means repent. TURN from something—sin and self
“I tell you, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3
TURN to someone; trust Christ only
The Bible tells us~ “For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to
the scriptures; And that he was buried and that he rose again the third
day according to the scriptures” --I Corinthians 15:3 and 4
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall
believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you
shall be saved.” --Romans10:9
Heaven
Heaven is eternal life.
HERE
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly.” --John 10:10
HEREAFTER
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”
--John 14:3
HOW
How can a person have God’s forgiveness, Heaven and eternal life,
and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord?
It is all summed up in FAITH ~Forsaking All I Trust Him
Romans 10:9.
The original outline above came from LifeWay. ~Check the following website for answers to your questions for more information about materials available to you. www.lifeway.com On home page under “search”, type “Faith Training”.
Thought for the week,
What on earth is worth missing Heaven?!
JudithLife Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
Life Coach with LIFE SERIES
I am available ~
as a Life Coach to anyone who needs encouragement and a better understanding of life principles for success. I also bring a unique perspective from a “clinical” viewpoint through class sessions I have attended with the AACC; American Association of Christian Counselors. www.aacc.net . This organization with its fifty thousand plus members across the entire world, have seminars set up with classes for counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapist specialists and a career as a Life Coach.
As a result of class sessions from my attendance of five past AACC World Conferences held at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN, I have listened carefully to those who are in my care. I have an understanding from a professional viewpoint while at the same time acquired understanding through personal Life Coaching experiences for 10 years.
I have been involved with One On One and group Life Coaching since 1999. In those years I have compiled a 130 page notebook which has developed out of my own experiences with those who have been in my care as a Life Coach.
It has been and is my privilege to assist in life challenges. I know how much it would have meant to me, had someone walked along side to encourage and help me in positive ways when I was a younger woman.
Judith Karen
Schedule a Session: www.lifeseriescoach.com
P.O. Box 1671
Murfreesboro, TN 37133
lifeseries@comcast.net
as a Life Coach to anyone who needs encouragement and a better understanding of life principles for success. I also bring a unique perspective from a “clinical” viewpoint through class sessions I have attended with the AACC; American Association of Christian Counselors. www.aacc.net . This organization with its fifty thousand plus members across the entire world, have seminars set up with classes for counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapist specialists and a career as a Life Coach.
As a result of class sessions from my attendance of five past AACC World Conferences held at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN, I have listened carefully to those who are in my care. I have an understanding from a professional viewpoint while at the same time acquired understanding through personal Life Coaching experiences for 10 years.
I have been involved with One On One and group Life Coaching since 1999. In those years I have compiled a 130 page notebook which has developed out of my own experiences with those who have been in my care as a Life Coach.
It has been and is my privilege to assist in life challenges. I know how much it would have meant to me, had someone walked along side to encourage and help me in positive ways when I was a younger woman.
Judith Karen
Schedule a Session: www.lifeseriescoach.com
P.O. Box 1671
Murfreesboro, TN 37133
lifeseries@comcast.net
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