Sometimes we throw words and terms out there even with a sense of authority without really understanding the full meaning of what we imply. I have been challenged lately in my own thinking to recognize some terms used from a religious perspective as opposed to what is used from a biblical perspective.
I have been doing some reading concerning arguments on the internet from different writers about how people present the salvation message or do not present, in the writers mind, the biblical intent of salvation. It all made for some interesting reading and quite quickly, I began to understand how things, once again, get distorted very easily.
I have said myself, “religion or relationship” with God?” The word relationship does not appear even once in scripture (KJV). So I asked myself if I am to be completely biblical, what word DO I use? God’s Word points to, instead of the term “relationship”, to take a closer look at the biblical meaning for the word “fellowship”. There are 17 references to fellowship; all pointing to our fellowship or not having a proper experience of fellowship with God. Other references refer to “Fellow-citizens, Fellow-disciples, Fellow-heirs, Fellow-helper(s), Fellow-laborers(s), Fellow-prisoner(s), Fellow-servant(s), Fellow-soldier; all rendering different phases of fellowship.
The Greek meaning for fellowship in I John 1:3, is “benefaction to communicate, communion”. “. . . and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
Communion: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all, Amen.” II Corinthian 13:14. The Greek meaning for Communion is: fellowship. From the “communion of the Holy Spirit” more fellowship is possible with God .
A relationship, on the other hand, can have different meaning to different people and may not mean the same or work out the same for everyone. My thinking from that is, we experience many different religions out of a variety of distorted thought patterns. Religion, as we know it, was not ever a God ordained thing. In fact, Jesus spoke out against religious leaders from time to time for their stubborn adherence to the law instead of recognizing God’s grace. “Religion” is a man made creation from start to the last finish.
Fellowship with God, on the other hand, is a different realm of intimacy. Fellowship in its true biblical sense and meaning creates a whole different world of thinking about our world and our connection to Jesus through our complete trust in His death, burial, and resurrection for our personal salvation and continued fellowship with Him thereafter!
So the final thought is this, “Are we actively seeking an active and alive sense of fellowship with our Creator or do we settle for a religion or religious experience rather than personal fellowship with the Creator of the universe and our personal Savior?
Thought for the week,
Is it going to be “Faith and Fellowship” or “Religion and Relationships”?
Have a great week,
Judith
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Marriage ~ must read!!!
When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, "I've got something to tell you." She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. "I want a divorce." I raised the topic calmly.
She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, "Why?"
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, "You are not a man!" That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; I had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.
She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said; I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.
When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both would struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.
She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door every morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. "No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce," she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, "Daddy is holding mommy in his arms." His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; "Don't tell our son about the divorce." I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young anymore. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.
On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, "All my dresses have grown bigger." I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at that moment and said, "Dad, it's time to carry mom out." To him, seeing his father carrying his mother had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, "I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy."
I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, "Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore."
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. "Do you have a fever?" she said. I moved her hand off my head. "Sorry, Jane," I said, "I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day, I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart."
Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.
At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, "I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart."
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I ran up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from whatever negative reaction would come to our son, in case we pushed thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. And do have a real happy marriage!
Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. "I want a divorce." I raised the topic calmly.
She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, "Why?"
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, "You are not a man!" That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; I had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.
She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said; I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.
When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both would struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.
She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door every morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. "No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce," she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, "Daddy is holding mommy in his arms." His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; "Don't tell our son about the divorce." I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young anymore. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.
On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, "All my dresses have grown bigger." I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at that moment and said, "Dad, it's time to carry mom out." To him, seeing his father carrying his mother had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, "I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy."
I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, "Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore."
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. "Do you have a fever?" she said. I moved her hand off my head. "Sorry, Jane," I said, "I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day, I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart."
Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.
At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, "I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart."
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I ran up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from whatever negative reaction would come to our son, in case we pushed thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. And do have a real happy marriage!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
School Stress
“One of Eric's class mates could really use your prayer. He is in the hospital with a severe brain injury and is on life support. Apparently he tried to commit suicide but the kids were not given that information. He is in a medically induced coma right now and it doesn't sound good. Please pray for him and the kids at the school.”
Marilyn
Received today~ Friday, February 26, 2010
“Keegan passed away today. Randy is struggling with why people still die when he prays for them. So keep the kids in your prayers now. It's going be rough. I will be going and staying at school with them to help them when the counselors talk to the classes.”
Rose
This e-mail rings a strong chord with my heart. Recently a young boy in grade school fell at my feet in a fetal position on the floor crying like he was in total pain. When I was able to get to the bottom of it all, his emotions were destroyed because his pizza was on the floor. I picked up his milk and wiped it off then assured him I would get him a new, clean piece of Pizza. When I walked him through the process of getting things worked out, he was fine again.
Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010 in my work as a cafeteria monitor, I had a first grader break down with a serious emotional meltdown. I have been watching him for some time now and noticed he often wants to vomit. I have retrieved the wastebasket for him on several occasions. Sometimes he has actually vomited.
At any rate, I went to him because he was in distress again. He looked into my eyes crying until his chest was sobbing inward and outward with his tears rolling down his face, telling me in his broken way through tears and intense face with his hands motioning from chin toward top of his head, “My head starts to get full up and . .. “ He could not finish because he does not have the vocabulary at 6 years old to say his head will “explode” is what I took from this seriously sad moment. I am attempting to get him some help with a counselor.
There is another young man in second grade who also is showing signs of deep emotional stress. He will bend way over his food tray with fork shaking side to side under his head. He is in another world when he gets in this “trance” as I view him obviously in distress of some kind. Both children are smart individuals. These are not mentally challenged kids!
My friends, our children are under such pressure at home, school, and in the world from an over stimulated environment! There is not ever enough quiet s-l-o-w time or too often there is not a safe place for these kids to go and I find myself deeply concerned about our small children in school. Eric’s friend sadly does not come as a surprise to me. Quite frankly, the most stress I have observed has been with our young boys. I must wonder if our next generation of young men are going to be ready to face the rigors of adulthood.
I find myself praying for these precious children often even as I talk with them. One positive thing did happen recently. A child came crying deeply hurt. I learned from a mother visiting with her child that the table of students around him had revealed a “top” secret he told his friend. That “friend” told another and so on it went. Quite quickly the entire table knew his secret and all were laughing at him. I drew him gently away to a nearby seat in the cafeteria. I asked, “Do you go to church?” “Yes”, he said. “Do you know about Jesus?” I asked. He replied that he did and I said, “Jesus is the only friend that you can ever trust with any secrets and remember that for the future.” “But I trusted them!” He exclaimed. “Yes, I know but sometimes people disappoint us and cannot be trusted.” I said.
This child’s suicidal attempt and consequently resulting in his death only confirms my resolve that we all have a responsibility to keep our school children in our prayers. I encourage parents in these busy over stimulated times to seriously consider home-schooling your children. They are the most valuable part of your life. There is so much more home school support out there now. When I home schooled for a semester to get our oldest on course with his studies in 1987 there was very little support but it is a different story now. If home schooling is out of the question, then make quiet time mandatory for your child some way, some how! Turn the television off! Even the newer more recently produced cartoons are getting vulgar or sexually tainted. And we all know how commercials are exploiting every possible means of sexual activity or demeaning family values by often having a child act out inappropriately toward an adult.
Parents~ delegate quiet time and play time; real play time, not in front of the television with an X-box! With five children, George and I were exhausted most of the time but going the extra mile to protect their minds and emotions was well worth the effort.
Judith
Marilyn
Received today~ Friday, February 26, 2010
“Keegan passed away today. Randy is struggling with why people still die when he prays for them. So keep the kids in your prayers now. It's going be rough. I will be going and staying at school with them to help them when the counselors talk to the classes.”
Rose
This e-mail rings a strong chord with my heart. Recently a young boy in grade school fell at my feet in a fetal position on the floor crying like he was in total pain. When I was able to get to the bottom of it all, his emotions were destroyed because his pizza was on the floor. I picked up his milk and wiped it off then assured him I would get him a new, clean piece of Pizza. When I walked him through the process of getting things worked out, he was fine again.
Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010 in my work as a cafeteria monitor, I had a first grader break down with a serious emotional meltdown. I have been watching him for some time now and noticed he often wants to vomit. I have retrieved the wastebasket for him on several occasions. Sometimes he has actually vomited.
At any rate, I went to him because he was in distress again. He looked into my eyes crying until his chest was sobbing inward and outward with his tears rolling down his face, telling me in his broken way through tears and intense face with his hands motioning from chin toward top of his head, “My head starts to get full up and . .. “ He could not finish because he does not have the vocabulary at 6 years old to say his head will “explode” is what I took from this seriously sad moment. I am attempting to get him some help with a counselor.
There is another young man in second grade who also is showing signs of deep emotional stress. He will bend way over his food tray with fork shaking side to side under his head. He is in another world when he gets in this “trance” as I view him obviously in distress of some kind. Both children are smart individuals. These are not mentally challenged kids!
My friends, our children are under such pressure at home, school, and in the world from an over stimulated environment! There is not ever enough quiet s-l-o-w time or too often there is not a safe place for these kids to go and I find myself deeply concerned about our small children in school. Eric’s friend sadly does not come as a surprise to me. Quite frankly, the most stress I have observed has been with our young boys. I must wonder if our next generation of young men are going to be ready to face the rigors of adulthood.
I find myself praying for these precious children often even as I talk with them. One positive thing did happen recently. A child came crying deeply hurt. I learned from a mother visiting with her child that the table of students around him had revealed a “top” secret he told his friend. That “friend” told another and so on it went. Quite quickly the entire table knew his secret and all were laughing at him. I drew him gently away to a nearby seat in the cafeteria. I asked, “Do you go to church?” “Yes”, he said. “Do you know about Jesus?” I asked. He replied that he did and I said, “Jesus is the only friend that you can ever trust with any secrets and remember that for the future.” “But I trusted them!” He exclaimed. “Yes, I know but sometimes people disappoint us and cannot be trusted.” I said.
This child’s suicidal attempt and consequently resulting in his death only confirms my resolve that we all have a responsibility to keep our school children in our prayers. I encourage parents in these busy over stimulated times to seriously consider home-schooling your children. They are the most valuable part of your life. There is so much more home school support out there now. When I home schooled for a semester to get our oldest on course with his studies in 1987 there was very little support but it is a different story now. If home schooling is out of the question, then make quiet time mandatory for your child some way, some how! Turn the television off! Even the newer more recently produced cartoons are getting vulgar or sexually tainted. And we all know how commercials are exploiting every possible means of sexual activity or demeaning family values by often having a child act out inappropriately toward an adult.
Parents~ delegate quiet time and play time; real play time, not in front of the television with an X-box! With five children, George and I were exhausted most of the time but going the extra mile to protect their minds and emotions was well worth the effort.
Judith
Friday, February 5, 2010
My Soap Box ~ Haiti
With all the current news about the Christian group from Idaho being arrested in Haiti for transporting children without proper paper work, I am reminded of many years of my own thoughts about how we perceive children who need a “better” situation.
There is not a doubt in my mind these Christian believers truly thought they were doing these children a favor by providing better living situations for the children in their care. But I must ask, could they also not find a solution with the parent that remains alive to help in their care? I realize the entire Haiti situation is complex at best, but the whole current situation in Haiti does serve as a reminder for our need to rethink our mindset in these matters.
I am calling into question the whole adoption process and how we deal with these situations. It is my personal view; as long as there is a living, loving parent in the mix, we should be giving that parent every possible resource to care and nurture their own child. Of course, every situation is individually different and we must work every family situation on a case by case basis, but making any parent feel forced to give up their child to complete strangers to eventually be placed in another country for a “better life” is not reasonable to me. There is also something; to be said for keeping a child in their own environment with their own culture, but in a nurtured, loving way.
As parents of five children, had anyone persisted that I (we) were too poor to raise our children, it would have not been any worse than if someone were to rip my heart out to suggest we give our children up for adoption. As a mom, I was ready to throw myself in front of a moving vehicle in order to protect my child. Their safety and well-being was always my (our) first and top priority!
As for the missionaries, it would be much better to open an orphanage for those children who are left behind without either parent alive and then encourage the parent(s) who have children with dire situations of need to come on board as staff or staff helpers to give love and help to other children without a living parent. I truly think we need to be very careful about these matters! If you will do a word study by bringing up the website ~ www.Bible.com , type in the search box the word “fatherless” under King James Version, you will find immediate abuses cited in scripture of not handling family situations properly.
Thought to ponder,
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3
Judith
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
FEEDBACK FROM THIS ARTICLE_____________________
"I believe that you stated the more appropriate solution. Sometimes, our cultural arrogance can be somewhat blinding. I am sure these people were well-intentioned. I wish that they could have been given better spiritual guidance."
A.N.
"I agree whole heartedly Judith! We have one such organization we support two children in other countries and this organization not only helps clothe and feed the child and educate them and gives them all of the medical help they need, they also educate the parents in how to be able to make more money and how to better care for their children.
One lady we saw while we were in Africa last August told us that she didn’t think her children would ever have a life because she has AIDS and she had no idea how to keep from passing it on to her children and she was so excited that Compassion had come in and taught her how to care for them and herself and gave her the medicine she needed and built her a little house to go along with her little huts so she could better care for her family.
Another lady showed us how they taught her to make laundry soap to sell to her friends and neighbors so she could buy food just in case her husband couldn’t find work that day so now they knew they could have dinner every day, so she went out and taught some of her friends too. Compassion focuses on helping the children but making sure the family and community benefit as well.
They even encourage the supporters of these children to go and visit them on a compassion trip. We were able to see all of the records they were keeping on the children in the compound where the children went to school. Compassion has 65,000 children that are supported by people around the world in Haiti and they are doing their best to help all of the families impacted by this earthquake. My husband worked with several other radio hosts on Feb. 1st to help raise money to help those in Haiti through Compassion.
We may not be able to go over there and physically help these children but there are people who live there that are doing their best to do so. We all can help by doing what we can from here by giving the whole family of each of those children a chance at a better life in Haiti!
If anyone is interested in checking out Compassion you can do so at www.compassion.com
God Bless,
Janet Scott
Executive Director and Assistant to Bill Scott
Xtreme Youth Alliance International"
"Thank you Judith, I have a cousin who is a missionary in Port Au Prince, Haiti to the orphaned babies that are sometimes found outside of hospitals and dumpsters. They are not in the business of finding adoptive parents for these babies but have an orphanage there in the city. Right now this facility was primarily unharmed by the earthquakes. However, the quake did destroy the protective wall that surrounds the buildings. My cousin who is a pilot has been busy flying missionaries and supplies to Haiti from the Florida Keys area and at last report had made 3 round trips.
Your testimony is very encouraging. It brought back a memory for me when I was a pregnant teen. Adoption was not a word my counselors or my father used; abortion was the only option I was given at that tender age, and I am ever grateful the Heavenly Father guarded my heart for that horrible situation.
As a Christian and adoptive mother, I know that God is in the adoption business, but we truly need to be seeking His will in every situation. Adoption is no exception. I have also seen adoptive situations where it was not healthy for the child, the adoptive parents, and/or the birth parents."
Lovingly, Margo
"Thank you for this issue. So often Christians think they shouldn't speak up. Thank you for standing up. I thought about what you said--and agree so much!!"
Mary Cox Pace
"Very well stated!"
Rachel Sharp
Retired from Child Protection Services
"You have great ignorance in what you are speaking about. I have worked with children who were orphaned, abandoned, abused, neglected and unloved even by their own parents and family members. Orphanages that are really permanent institutions for many are not healthy for any child. What a child needs is first to have their basic needs met food, clothing and shelter. Next they need love and personal contact and next the environment to thrive. If these people in fact believed that the children in Haiti did not have access to these basic needs and were trying to find a way to provide them then that is not wrong. No one has said that these children were ripped from parents arms. That is wrong. When a parent realizes that they are unable to provide for their child and seeks those who are willing and able to, it is the greatest love to place this child where it is loved and cared for." SB
My response~
"I have to respectfully disagree with the premise that it is better always to take an impoverished child away from a parent. I do not think that is what you think either for that matter. I am saying it is best; at the very least; to first explore an option for the child to stay with the parent. There are situations, of course, that a child should not be with a parent due to abuse; physical and emotional.
There was one loving parent that did give her child over to the Christian group from Idaho. That is where I take issue with the whole process! I am not speaking to those who are in situations that cannot be mended other than finding a loving family who will take them in. Our son and daughter-in-law are seriously looking into adoption under the right circumstances. Scripture talks about adoption under the right circumstances.
Another reader shared the great work that an organization called Compassion does with 65,000 children in Haiti. I have been searching their website and find it very interesting. www.compassion.com
With your work as you state in your e-mail~ “orphaned, abandoned, abused, neglected and unloved even by their own parents and family members.” I am certain you will find that Compassion gives an additional option for struggling families.
I do respect anyone who is working with these type situations. God knows, there are far too many broken families but it is a sad fact of life. My sincere best to you in your work."
Judith
"You're so right. I was on mission field in Thailand/India and when word got out that we were opening an orphanage; everyone dropped off/abandoning their kids for us to take "so they'd have a better life." It came nonstop so we had to turn all away and change the mission to a paid day care program. The kids had to live with parents and for a small fee they could become students and be taught and cared for from sunrise until sunset each day...they got the best of both worlds and so did we; my church still runs several like that and they are very successful. Just met one boy I met in Thailand daycare and he was at our church on Wed last week. He has become a missionary. He has the better of his 2 cultures with his identity in tact!"
Laurel
This is what I am talking about! Thanks Laurel for this information. What a great way to support struggling families! Judith
I totally agree with you. Very well put. I have never really thought about it like this.
Antonia
There is not a doubt in my mind these Christian believers truly thought they were doing these children a favor by providing better living situations for the children in their care. But I must ask, could they also not find a solution with the parent that remains alive to help in their care? I realize the entire Haiti situation is complex at best, but the whole current situation in Haiti does serve as a reminder for our need to rethink our mindset in these matters.
I am calling into question the whole adoption process and how we deal with these situations. It is my personal view; as long as there is a living, loving parent in the mix, we should be giving that parent every possible resource to care and nurture their own child. Of course, every situation is individually different and we must work every family situation on a case by case basis, but making any parent feel forced to give up their child to complete strangers to eventually be placed in another country for a “better life” is not reasonable to me. There is also something; to be said for keeping a child in their own environment with their own culture, but in a nurtured, loving way.
As parents of five children, had anyone persisted that I (we) were too poor to raise our children, it would have not been any worse than if someone were to rip my heart out to suggest we give our children up for adoption. As a mom, I was ready to throw myself in front of a moving vehicle in order to protect my child. Their safety and well-being was always my (our) first and top priority!
As for the missionaries, it would be much better to open an orphanage for those children who are left behind without either parent alive and then encourage the parent(s) who have children with dire situations of need to come on board as staff or staff helpers to give love and help to other children without a living parent. I truly think we need to be very careful about these matters! If you will do a word study by bringing up the website ~ www.Bible.com , type in the search box the word “fatherless” under King James Version, you will find immediate abuses cited in scripture of not handling family situations properly.
Thought to ponder,
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3
Judith
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
FEEDBACK FROM THIS ARTICLE_____________________
"I believe that you stated the more appropriate solution. Sometimes, our cultural arrogance can be somewhat blinding. I am sure these people were well-intentioned. I wish that they could have been given better spiritual guidance."
A.N.
"I agree whole heartedly Judith! We have one such organization we support two children in other countries and this organization not only helps clothe and feed the child and educate them and gives them all of the medical help they need, they also educate the parents in how to be able to make more money and how to better care for their children.
One lady we saw while we were in Africa last August told us that she didn’t think her children would ever have a life because she has AIDS and she had no idea how to keep from passing it on to her children and she was so excited that Compassion had come in and taught her how to care for them and herself and gave her the medicine she needed and built her a little house to go along with her little huts so she could better care for her family.
Another lady showed us how they taught her to make laundry soap to sell to her friends and neighbors so she could buy food just in case her husband couldn’t find work that day so now they knew they could have dinner every day, so she went out and taught some of her friends too. Compassion focuses on helping the children but making sure the family and community benefit as well.
They even encourage the supporters of these children to go and visit them on a compassion trip. We were able to see all of the records they were keeping on the children in the compound where the children went to school. Compassion has 65,000 children that are supported by people around the world in Haiti and they are doing their best to help all of the families impacted by this earthquake. My husband worked with several other radio hosts on Feb. 1st to help raise money to help those in Haiti through Compassion.
We may not be able to go over there and physically help these children but there are people who live there that are doing their best to do so. We all can help by doing what we can from here by giving the whole family of each of those children a chance at a better life in Haiti!
If anyone is interested in checking out Compassion you can do so at www.compassion.com
God Bless,
Janet Scott
Executive Director and Assistant to Bill Scott
Xtreme Youth Alliance International"
"Thank you Judith, I have a cousin who is a missionary in Port Au Prince, Haiti to the orphaned babies that are sometimes found outside of hospitals and dumpsters. They are not in the business of finding adoptive parents for these babies but have an orphanage there in the city. Right now this facility was primarily unharmed by the earthquakes. However, the quake did destroy the protective wall that surrounds the buildings. My cousin who is a pilot has been busy flying missionaries and supplies to Haiti from the Florida Keys area and at last report had made 3 round trips.
Your testimony is very encouraging. It brought back a memory for me when I was a pregnant teen. Adoption was not a word my counselors or my father used; abortion was the only option I was given at that tender age, and I am ever grateful the Heavenly Father guarded my heart for that horrible situation.
As a Christian and adoptive mother, I know that God is in the adoption business, but we truly need to be seeking His will in every situation. Adoption is no exception. I have also seen adoptive situations where it was not healthy for the child, the adoptive parents, and/or the birth parents."
Lovingly, Margo
"Thank you for this issue. So often Christians think they shouldn't speak up. Thank you for standing up. I thought about what you said--and agree so much!!"
Mary Cox Pace
"Very well stated!"
Rachel Sharp
Retired from Child Protection Services
"You have great ignorance in what you are speaking about. I have worked with children who were orphaned, abandoned, abused, neglected and unloved even by their own parents and family members. Orphanages that are really permanent institutions for many are not healthy for any child. What a child needs is first to have their basic needs met food, clothing and shelter. Next they need love and personal contact and next the environment to thrive. If these people in fact believed that the children in Haiti did not have access to these basic needs and were trying to find a way to provide them then that is not wrong. No one has said that these children were ripped from parents arms. That is wrong. When a parent realizes that they are unable to provide for their child and seeks those who are willing and able to, it is the greatest love to place this child where it is loved and cared for." SB
My response~
"I have to respectfully disagree with the premise that it is better always to take an impoverished child away from a parent. I do not think that is what you think either for that matter. I am saying it is best; at the very least; to first explore an option for the child to stay with the parent. There are situations, of course, that a child should not be with a parent due to abuse; physical and emotional.
There was one loving parent that did give her child over to the Christian group from Idaho. That is where I take issue with the whole process! I am not speaking to those who are in situations that cannot be mended other than finding a loving family who will take them in. Our son and daughter-in-law are seriously looking into adoption under the right circumstances. Scripture talks about adoption under the right circumstances.
Another reader shared the great work that an organization called Compassion does with 65,000 children in Haiti. I have been searching their website and find it very interesting. www.compassion.com
With your work as you state in your e-mail~ “orphaned, abandoned, abused, neglected and unloved even by their own parents and family members.” I am certain you will find that Compassion gives an additional option for struggling families.
I do respect anyone who is working with these type situations. God knows, there are far too many broken families but it is a sad fact of life. My sincere best to you in your work."
Judith
"You're so right. I was on mission field in Thailand/India and when word got out that we were opening an orphanage; everyone dropped off/abandoning their kids for us to take "so they'd have a better life." It came nonstop so we had to turn all away and change the mission to a paid day care program. The kids had to live with parents and for a small fee they could become students and be taught and cared for from sunrise until sunset each day...they got the best of both worlds and so did we; my church still runs several like that and they are very successful. Just met one boy I met in Thailand daycare and he was at our church on Wed last week. He has become a missionary. He has the better of his 2 cultures with his identity in tact!"
Laurel
This is what I am talking about! Thanks Laurel for this information. What a great way to support struggling families! Judith
I totally agree with you. Very well put. I have never really thought about it like this.
Antonia
Saturday, January 9, 2010
"Free" or Really Free!
Psalm 51
When we live any variable away from absolute truth, we always suffer consequences. There is much mental and physical unrest in our world due to our inability to accept God’s absolute truth, compassion and justice. In effect, the results ~ we are our own worst enemy much of the time. When our thought processes are persistent in the wrong direction we do not get truth results. It is that simple! God’s original directive for His best in our lives gets set aside or delayed due to our not clearly understanding or responding to truth.
Verse 10
“Create in me a clean heart. . .
It is that daily process through the washing of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) over our minds, heart and soul. It is that daily spiritual washing while learning the nature of God that the renewal of our minds accomplishes the spirit of a clean heart.
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." Isaiah 28:10. It is a process by which we learn how to love God, love His Word to us from the Bible and love our fellow man.
To be renewed we FIRST need the Redeemer; our Savior. "For God SO LOVED the world. . " John 3:16. Our lives begin a genuine path of freedom and life as we learn our position in Christ. "And we are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:10.
When we experience the redemption of Christ at salvation, we can appropriate, apply, and take possession of the abundant life promised by God through His Son Jesus. Our prayer needs to be . . .
“. . . and renew a RIGHT SPIRIT within me.”
Verse 11
“. . . and take not your HOLY SPIRIT from me.”
The Holy Spirit is provided as the Comforter to our hearts the moment we give our lives to Jesus. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30.
Verse 12
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your FREE SPIRIT.”
All the world talks about and strives for is living for the “free spirit”, living for a "free" lifestyle, living in and for the pleasure of the moment. The world’s view of living the free life is a distorted, perverted “free” spirit that eventually destroys your life.
God’s free spirit promise really is freedom in the best way possible for peace of mind and direction for your life. God’s freedom comes without the destruction that comes with living out the supposed freedom offered by the world. “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking who he may devour.” I Peter 5:8.
We do not acquire wisdom from trying to live our lives from the OUTSIDE IN BUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. Meaning~ we learn the wisdom of God from within through the teaching of the Holy Spirit to our heart and spirit; the core person that we become from wisdom learned through scripture. These scriptural behaviors and attributes are then lived out in our daily lives in wisdom toward others.
The media constantly focuses on what we should and need to do to improve our outside physical qualities. Seldom do you ever hear or learn how to improve character, personal control, personal responsibility, etc.
“The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I (Jesus) come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. Jesus provides life in every form it is possible. It is provided, available and waiting for us to appropriate and to apply truth to our lives.
Thought for the week,
As a result of a RIGHT SPIRIT, empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT, we enjoy the presence of a FREE SPIRIT.
Judith
When we live any variable away from absolute truth, we always suffer consequences. There is much mental and physical unrest in our world due to our inability to accept God’s absolute truth, compassion and justice. In effect, the results ~ we are our own worst enemy much of the time. When our thought processes are persistent in the wrong direction we do not get truth results. It is that simple! God’s original directive for His best in our lives gets set aside or delayed due to our not clearly understanding or responding to truth.
Verse 10
“Create in me a clean heart. . .
It is that daily process through the washing of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) over our minds, heart and soul. It is that daily spiritual washing while learning the nature of God that the renewal of our minds accomplishes the spirit of a clean heart.
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." Isaiah 28:10. It is a process by which we learn how to love God, love His Word to us from the Bible and love our fellow man.
To be renewed we FIRST need the Redeemer; our Savior. "For God SO LOVED the world. . " John 3:16. Our lives begin a genuine path of freedom and life as we learn our position in Christ. "And we are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:10.
When we experience the redemption of Christ at salvation, we can appropriate, apply, and take possession of the abundant life promised by God through His Son Jesus. Our prayer needs to be . . .
“. . . and renew a RIGHT SPIRIT within me.”
Verse 11
“. . . and take not your HOLY SPIRIT from me.”
The Holy Spirit is provided as the Comforter to our hearts the moment we give our lives to Jesus. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30.
Verse 12
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your FREE SPIRIT.”
All the world talks about and strives for is living for the “free spirit”, living for a "free" lifestyle, living in and for the pleasure of the moment. The world’s view of living the free life is a distorted, perverted “free” spirit that eventually destroys your life.
God’s free spirit promise really is freedom in the best way possible for peace of mind and direction for your life. God’s freedom comes without the destruction that comes with living out the supposed freedom offered by the world. “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking who he may devour.” I Peter 5:8.
We do not acquire wisdom from trying to live our lives from the OUTSIDE IN BUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. Meaning~ we learn the wisdom of God from within through the teaching of the Holy Spirit to our heart and spirit; the core person that we become from wisdom learned through scripture. These scriptural behaviors and attributes are then lived out in our daily lives in wisdom toward others.
The media constantly focuses on what we should and need to do to improve our outside physical qualities. Seldom do you ever hear or learn how to improve character, personal control, personal responsibility, etc.
“The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I (Jesus) come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. Jesus provides life in every form it is possible. It is provided, available and waiting for us to appropriate and to apply truth to our lives.
Thought for the week,
As a result of a RIGHT SPIRIT, empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT, we enjoy the presence of a FREE SPIRIT.
Judith
Friday, December 11, 2009
Born Again
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
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
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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