Have you been reading your Bible lately? Or do you think you can get by without it? How much do you truly know about your religion? I have just recently discovered pretty shocking stuff. I thought that I would let you in on it.
An article written by Heather Horn talks about a new study. “In a survey of religious knowledge, Americans did fairly poorly displaying little knowledge of world religions. Americans did not even know much about their own religions. A shocking forty-five percent of Catholics incorrectly answered a question about Catholicism and Communion, for example. To make matters worse, those who scored highest on this survey were atheists and agnostics. The next-highest scoring groups were Jews and Mormons.”
I don’t want this to be condemning. I want it to be inspiring. I want you to strive to read your Bible daily. Although reading multiple chapters a day is excellent, if you can only read half a chapter, DO IT. Don’t let the amount of what you read set you back. You are not a failure. I actually praise you for trying! Reading something is better than reading nothing.
Hosea 4:6- “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge…you have ignored the law of your God...” Knowledge is so important. We have been trained to listen to teachers and complete homework all our lives, but when it comes to reading our Bible- it’s our choice, our decision. We were never really taught to take initiative to learn something that doesn’t involve getting a letter grade in the end.
Also, even though the vast majority of your readings will be God speaking to you through the word, don’t be discouraged when you can’t seem to relate to what you are reading. Remember, you are reading for knowledge and wisdom, not always just for improvement.
I know you’ve heard it before, but if you haven’t- ALWAYS double check what you hear. Your pastors and leaders aren’t always right. It is your responsibly to read through the Bible to make sure what was spoken is truly God’s word. Don’t always automatically believe what you hear.
Proverbs 24:5- "A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength."
-Autumn
Friday, October 15, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Taming Your Temper
So, I am going to be completely honest with you guys. I have been struggling with this for a while now. So, as I write this, I plan to learn and grow in this subject, just as I pray you do. Subject being: dealing with anger, stress, and our attitude. Are you the one to get annoyed easily? Do you often get frustrated with people? Well, let me ask you, how do you cope? Do you walk away to vent, or do you walk away and isolate yourself from all human contact? Do you confront people with an honest, level-headed attitude, or do you yell until you get your point across?
Are you the kind of person who holds grudges? As Christians, we should forgive and move on. With much experience, I understand this is extremely hard. It may easy to forgive (verbalizing “I forgive you”), but you may struggle to completely forget. Meaning, every time you see their face, you’re reminded of what you supposedly forgave them for. Now, together, we need to all let go of our pasts; let go of our anger. It’s not worth holding on to. It’s not worth damaging your walk with God because of it.
Need help when it comes to managing your problems? If you’re having an issue with someone, and don’t know what to do, talk to a leader or accountability partner. I cannot stress that enough. Don’t go around flaunting your problems with multiple people. If you do this, you are allowing your friends to fall. I say this because gossip easily forms when you tell multiple people your problem pertaining another person. Your accountability partner and/or leaders are the perfect people to talk to when you are angry with someone, and need help venting/fixing the problem.
REMEMBER- talk needs to turn into action; talk without action is just more gossip.
Proverbs 14:17 reads, “The quick-tempered do foolish things, and those who devise evil schemes are hated.” Don’t allow yourself to be easily aggravated. It only makes you more frustrated with people, and them more frustrated with you. Go into situations with a positive, understanding mind. Be patient with people; nobody is perfect. “Those who are patient have a great understanding, but the quick-tempered display foolishness.” Proverbs 14:29
Telling people you’re angry does not give you the permission to keep treating them badly. If you are stressed and admit it out loud let that inform you to stop showing it. It will only make people around you stressed too.
We should control our anger instead of letting our anger control us.
-Autumn
Are you the kind of person who holds grudges? As Christians, we should forgive and move on. With much experience, I understand this is extremely hard. It may easy to forgive (verbalizing “I forgive you”), but you may struggle to completely forget. Meaning, every time you see their face, you’re reminded of what you supposedly forgave them for. Now, together, we need to all let go of our pasts; let go of our anger. It’s not worth holding on to. It’s not worth damaging your walk with God because of it.
Need help when it comes to managing your problems? If you’re having an issue with someone, and don’t know what to do, talk to a leader or accountability partner. I cannot stress that enough. Don’t go around flaunting your problems with multiple people. If you do this, you are allowing your friends to fall. I say this because gossip easily forms when you tell multiple people your problem pertaining another person. Your accountability partner and/or leaders are the perfect people to talk to when you are angry with someone, and need help venting/fixing the problem.
REMEMBER- talk needs to turn into action; talk without action is just more gossip.
Proverbs 14:17 reads, “The quick-tempered do foolish things, and those who devise evil schemes are hated.” Don’t allow yourself to be easily aggravated. It only makes you more frustrated with people, and them more frustrated with you. Go into situations with a positive, understanding mind. Be patient with people; nobody is perfect. “Those who are patient have a great understanding, but the quick-tempered display foolishness.” Proverbs 14:29
Telling people you’re angry does not give you the permission to keep treating them badly. If you are stressed and admit it out loud let that inform you to stop showing it. It will only make people around you stressed too.
We should control our anger instead of letting our anger control us.
-Autumn
Friday, October 1, 2010
Judging Others
Judging others, it seems pretty straight forward- don’t do it. We all know it’s wrong; we all know it hurts the feelings of the people we talk about. But why do we choose to do it anyway? Why do we look at the girl walking by and automatically hate her? Why do we see a man on the side of the street and think- all he wants is my money? Is there anything more pleasant than discussing someone’s fault? We tend to make unnecessary judgments before we even begin to know the real truth.
I think it’s time to bring back the saying- ‘What would Jesus do?’ If we truly want to please God, we must obey His standards. In John 8:15-16 it states, “You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father also.” We need to make the commitment to stop judging- whether it is people we know (like our closest friends), or people we don’t know (like the group of kids talking during a movie).
Remember the statement we learned in elementary school? If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Scripture wise we read, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” in Matthew 7:1-2. If you are judging others, except for it to happen to you.
Overall, strive on not jumping to conclusions, we do not know the history of others. It is a must that we do not envy their happiness, we do not laugh when they are hurt, and we do not judge others in a negative way under any circumstances.
-Autumn
I think it’s time to bring back the saying- ‘What would Jesus do?’ If we truly want to please God, we must obey His standards. In John 8:15-16 it states, “You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father also.” We need to make the commitment to stop judging- whether it is people we know (like our closest friends), or people we don’t know (like the group of kids talking during a movie).
Remember the statement we learned in elementary school? If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Scripture wise we read, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” in Matthew 7:1-2. If you are judging others, except for it to happen to you.
Overall, strive on not jumping to conclusions, we do not know the history of others. It is a must that we do not envy their happiness, we do not laugh when they are hurt, and we do not judge others in a negative way under any circumstances.
-Autumn
Friday, September 24, 2010
Forgiven
Matthew's Gospel shows that Jesus Christ was the Messiah and everything Jesus said was true. One thing that Jesus said a lot of was to forgive. Forgiveness was talked about in every Gospel and is a matter that people tend to take too lightly.
(NLT) Matthew 18:21-22 - "Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone* who sins against me? Seven times?" "No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!*"
This verse isn't telling us to forgive someone only 490 times, but rather that we shouldn't even keep track of how many times we forgive people. Have you ever felt like you were holding on to something that happened in the past and you just couldn't let it go? Talk to God about it, let him know how you feel and ask for forgiveness, but also let him know you forgive those who have hurt you. Do you ever feel like you just can't forgive someone? It's difficult sometimes to let go of the issues that distract us from God. Those issues can cloud our minds and pull us away from what God has for you today. Forgive and be forgiven.
(NLT) Mark 12:25 - But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.*"
- Alex
(NLT) Matthew 18:21-22 - "Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone* who sins against me? Seven times?" "No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!*"
This verse isn't telling us to forgive someone only 490 times, but rather that we shouldn't even keep track of how many times we forgive people. Have you ever felt like you were holding on to something that happened in the past and you just couldn't let it go? Talk to God about it, let him know how you feel and ask for forgiveness, but also let him know you forgive those who have hurt you. Do you ever feel like you just can't forgive someone? It's difficult sometimes to let go of the issues that distract us from God. Those issues can cloud our minds and pull us away from what God has for you today. Forgive and be forgiven.
(NLT) Mark 12:25 - But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.*"
- Alex
Friday, September 17, 2010
Honoring One Another
The book of James is written by James to show a lot about how Christians ought to live. It was written to encourage Christians to be vibrant in their faith through concrete action, honoring one another with the right motives. James calls us to be authentic Christians by honoring one another, by loving everyone we come across equally.
(NLT) James 2:2-4 - "For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting* dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"- well, doesn't this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?"
Unfortunately so many people show their love more for some people rather showing equal love for everyone. People tend to judge each other by their actions, thinking you can only judge by words. This is dishonoring. Has there ever been a time where you just felt a friend was more loving towards other people? We should be an example by striving to be more honorable than our friends. Has there ever been a time in your life where you just felt out of place and unloved because people just didn't act the same around you as they do with their other friends? Now, has there ever been a time where you acted more excited to see someone and less excited to see someone else within the same day?
(NLT) Romans 12:10 - "Love each other with genuine affection,* and take delight in honoring each other."
- Alex
(NLT) James 2:2-4 - "For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting* dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"- well, doesn't this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?"
Unfortunately so many people show their love more for some people rather showing equal love for everyone. People tend to judge each other by their actions, thinking you can only judge by words. This is dishonoring. Has there ever been a time where you just felt a friend was more loving towards other people? We should be an example by striving to be more honorable than our friends. Has there ever been a time in your life where you just felt out of place and unloved because people just didn't act the same around you as they do with their other friends? Now, has there ever been a time where you acted more excited to see someone and less excited to see someone else within the same day?
(NLT) Romans 12:10 - "Love each other with genuine affection,* and take delight in honoring each other."
- Alex
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Unity in Heart
Philippians is a letter that Paul wrote in the New Testament while he was in prison. Paul writes to the church of Philippi and in the letter encourages the Philippians to have unity with love. He wants them to keep growing as one by loving and caring for each other. Even in prison he is still content that his brothers and sisters are rejoicing in unity under God. Pauls passion and life was "to know God," and he found that living in unity is how we can grow closer to God.
(NLT) Philippians 2:2 - "Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose."
Unity means the state of being united into one. As Christians we need to live as one. Living for God means having the same purpose, to strive to be like Christ. Christians are all fighting the same battle against the flesh and against the same enemy. There are always people out there who feel alone, and they need Christians to be there for them, to be God's light.
Has there ever been a time when you just needed someone to be there for you in person and just listen or tell you something good? As Christians we need to be the light for every person we come across. How do we be the light? Tell me how you have been the light. How can we apply this verse to our lives? Sometimes it's so obvious as to how we can apply this verse that people forget that we aren't alone. Unfortunately, I see people not being a light and just focusing on their own lives, forgetting to be there for their brothers and sisters. Don't forget we are all brothers and sisters under God and loving each other is the best way to come together in unity.
If you want more on Unity and the Heart keep reading Philippians 2:1-11
- Alex
(NLT) Philippians 2:2 - "Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose."
Unity means the state of being united into one. As Christians we need to live as one. Living for God means having the same purpose, to strive to be like Christ. Christians are all fighting the same battle against the flesh and against the same enemy. There are always people out there who feel alone, and they need Christians to be there for them, to be God's light.
Has there ever been a time when you just needed someone to be there for you in person and just listen or tell you something good? As Christians we need to be the light for every person we come across. How do we be the light? Tell me how you have been the light. How can we apply this verse to our lives? Sometimes it's so obvious as to how we can apply this verse that people forget that we aren't alone. Unfortunately, I see people not being a light and just focusing on their own lives, forgetting to be there for their brothers and sisters. Don't forget we are all brothers and sisters under God and loving each other is the best way to come together in unity.
If you want more on Unity and the Heart keep reading Philippians 2:1-11
- Alex
Monday, September 6, 2010
Guard your Heart
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23 (New American Standard Bible)
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23 (New Living Translation)
When Nehemiah began rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, it was about restoring the people of Israel. After the walls were completed the Law of Moses, given by God, was declared (Neh. 8). God has already begun the work of restoring us, and if we hope to keep it going we must protect ourselves. Reading Nehemiah chapter 4, you can see the opposition the Israelites faced in the form of irreverent merchants, traitors, and threat of an attack. In the same way we must be on our Guard so God can continue the great work in us. If we are so naïve to think the enemy doesn’t have plans to derail us, we will go down even faster.
As Proverbs 4:23 commands, guard your hearts. Everything comes from your heart. Every relationship takes root in your heart, and every lie and manipulative act has a spot in your heart. The thing about your heart is that those things don’t just leave until you get rid of them. Sometimes, people who have had chaos throughout their lives will often remain in that pattern of thinking even after they accept Christ. It’s something rooted in their heart. That’s why you still see Christians who have constant drama in their lives. Sure, there will be trouble times, but before any of that happened there was already trouble in their hearts. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control what happens in us.
Our hearts are but a container for what we store inside.
Life in God is about a restoration to being all He has made us to be. At the end of Nehemiah the walls are rebuilt, but there is trouble inside Jerusalem, still. Even after this amazing story of restoration for Israel, Nehemiah must return to Jerusalem to rebuke the elders and set things right (13:7). Trouble remains on the inside.
We wonder why we constantly feel the way we do. It’s because we may still have old ways of living and thinking in us. We have to give our hearts and everything in us to God. It’s a process, but we must learn to recognize the wrong things and thinking that we still do, and give it to God.
The day your done growing is the day you’re done.
Ask God to show you what remains, which isn’t of him. This is something that never ends as long as we live.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
-fonzi
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