Refusing to Forgive?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Marietta

Refusing to face the problem of unforgiveness, will not make the problem go away. It will simply go underground and fester. This gives the evil one a foothold to work evil among the body of Christ (Eph. 4:25-27).

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Forgive How Many Times?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Marietta

Peter came to Jesus and asked him how often he should forgive someone who sins against him. Peter asked seven times? Jesus replied, ” I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).

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Serving

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Marietta

As a believer in Christ, we are to do our work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men (Colossians 3:23). As a volunteer or paid employee we are to obey those in authority, not with pride, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord (Col.3:22). Whatever good things we do, we will recieve back from the Lord (Eph.6:8). We are to serve the Lord with His heart and mind.

Since we belong to Christ (1 Cor. 3:23), we should commit to make our employer and co-workers a success. We must view our job and employer as one of God’s way of developing character in us and confirming us to the image of Christ. We must seek to give a good report about others, not complain, put genuine energy into our jobs, and do tasks expecting only God’s approval. It is important that we talk to our employer about an idea we may have about a task. It is also important that we discover our employer’s goals, clarify our job description, realize that God is our employer, and practice showing gratefulness for our job, employer, and fellow employees.

A job is something to be looked at as something God has given us. We should do our jobs for God’s approval. A job is an opportunity to serve Him with His heart and mind. Serving the Lord with a grateful and humble heart is a desire to strive for.

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Forgiveness: The Journey of Healing

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Marietta

Forgiveness can be a process that can take time. Forgiveness is a commandment from God. Forgiveness is surrending your hurt to God. It is not easy. Yet with God’s help, forgiveness can be accomplished.

“Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Col.3:13).

It is necessary to forgive the offender, not the offense. Hurt and deeply scarred? Forgiveness frees you from staying a victim. Forgiveness helps you heal from the wounds of deep hurt.

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A Prideful Heart

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Marietta

Pride keeps us going for years. It is the focus of our fleshly goals. Instead of relying on God, pride guides us in the flesh. A heart full of pride is a horrible way to live. Pride may be a motivator, but in the end pride leads to destruction.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Prov.16:18).

Pride keeps us from getting the help we need. Pride keeps us locked up with excuses. We are fine we say. We do not need help. We are okay. We have it all together. We have everything we need.  We have a wonderful spouse and good children. We have a nice house. We may even be Christians. We may even serve and give to the church. What else do we need?

We need a way to release the hurts, disappointments, and guilt. When you are ready, you need to get rid of the weight that lays heavy on your shoulders that you have carried around for years. Heaviness burdens our souls, heart, and mind. You may never realize how much weight you are carrying around. It is not until you seek biblical counseling for those deep, dark hurts that you will be relieved from all your excess baggage.

With guidance, God will break down those heavy cumbersome weights. You will be free from your troubled past. God will began to humble you in various ways. God then will take complete control over your life and transform you from the inside out. He will then deliver you from a prideful heart. God will break down the pride that hides the deep wounds of  tremendous hurt.

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My Tongue is a Fire

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Marietta

By solving the problem of keeping our tongue from being a fire. We need to learn to control our tongue with the following steps. We need to learn to commit our speech to the Lord and learn to read God’s Word daily as our tongue is a mirror of our heart and mind.

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. ” (Luke 6:45).

Other steps we need to learn to take are to be responsible for our speech, ask others to help us identify our speech, commit ourselves to tell the truth and not gossip, and ask forgiveness to those we offend. We need to learn to find someone to encourage everyday, be kind to everyone, and when we hear something bad we need to give a good report.

To keep our tongue from being a fire, we should ask God everyday for discernment and ask God to control our tongue that our lives may glorify Him. In our prayers, we repent and ask forgiveness of our sins. We also ask God to cleanse our hearts and to convict us of any unknown sins. For what comes from our mouth comes from our heart.

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My Tongue is a Fire

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Marietta

My tongue is a fire. . . James 3:5-6. Our tongue is a small part of our body, but it makes great boasts. We are Christ’s ambassasdor. We should represent and glorify Him with our speech, thoughts, and actions – with our whole being.

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What is Praise?

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Marietta

Praise is defined in the dictionary, “to glorify by the attribution of perfections and to express praise.” Believers praise God to acclaim, honor, extol, and glorify Him. Praise is the expression from a heart filled with gratitude and joy for what God has done in the past, present, and future. A heart of worship is all about Jesus the Son of God.

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Sin: Conclusion

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Marietta

The consequences of sins are tremendous. When Adam and Eve sinned, they created a division between God and mankind. The consequences of their disobedience and lack of self-control is with us today. They had overstepped their God given boundaries and plunged the human race into sin forever.

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Sin: How does Paul interpret and apply the fall in Romans 5:12-21?

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Marietta

Adam’s sin brought on the rein of sin and death into the world. Jesus Christ brought the rein of righteousness and life. Death is the wages of sin (Rom.5:12). God’s grace rules over the presence of sin and death in the world. By faith, believers stand forgiven and joyful in God’s grace because of Christ (Rom. 5:2).

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