Part of growth in the Christian life is to have some passages of scripture memorized. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. David penned in the psalms.
Let me invite you to memorize scripture.. It is nice to have a passage ready when you are tempted.
Or if you have some time to just mediate. That is another diacipline you should learn. Meditation. Turning the verse around and around in your mind. Asking what is it saying? How can I apply it to my life?
You are called to feed yourself. Read your Bible. Memorize some verses and passages. As you memorize passages you will find you feel better about world events and daily life. People won't get on your nerves as much.
Humans are not simple. They are complex. It is my belief that God has spoken. We need to listen. In For Your Information I will be helping you with tools to do just that. Feel free to add comments. Let's make this a dialogue.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Bible Reading Plan Through The Year
When ever a person wants to read through the Bible.. and they should.. they can pick up a plan to do so almost anyplace in the church they attend. There is the slower plan put out by some ministers to have you read a portion in the morning and a portion at night.
The Navigators have a plan to read three chapters in the Old and a three chapter portion from the New each day and to record what you are finding there. You go through the old once in a year and the new twice.
There is the reading plan found in any Bible that will have you reading the Bible through all the way in a years' time.
I am all for it--reading through the Bible. And once you do it once, start over. Use a different translation. Take notes. Do word studies. Do biographical studies. Do themes. If you are a Christian you must come to the place where you realize this Book..The Scriptures.. is God speaking. God had people He would depend upon to hear Him and transcribe what HE was saying.
Ask what is being said? To whom is He speaking? Why is He saying it that way? Does it reveal anything about God that I should know? And once I know why he said that to those people, just what does it have to do with me? Is there an example for me to follow? Is there an error I am to avoid? How can I teach this to another?
Feel free to comment and give me feedback. I will respond if it is possible.
There is the reading plan found in any Bible that will have you reading the Bible through all the way in a years' time.
I am all for it--reading through the Bible. And once you do it once, start over. Use a different translation. Take notes. Do word studies. Do biographical studies. Do themes. If you are a Christian you must come to the place where you realize this Book..The Scriptures.. is God speaking. God had people He would depend upon to hear Him and transcribe what HE was saying.
Ask what is being said? To whom is He speaking? Why is He saying it that way? Does it reveal anything about God that I should know? And once I know why he said that to those people, just what does it have to do with me? Is there an example for me to follow? Is there an error I am to avoid? How can I teach this to another?
Feel free to comment and give me feedback. I will respond if it is possible.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Toxic Emotions Continued
So the series goes on. Toxic emotions are those that block your spiritual channel to blessings. Toxic thoughts are such that get into your mind and work out in your actions. And you are asking yourself , where did that come from?
It comes from your childhood and your present actions are the result.
But Dr. Leaf says they can be wired out by a brain washing.
Along the same subject, but not exactly, there is a book out that I have reviewed in my book blog -http://drsbookplace.blogspot.com-- Runaway Emotions that circles this area.
Anyway, the idea is that the brain wires these feelings in the brain and these feelings are transmitted to your nerves that record the feeling. The next time it occurs your brain remembers and the nerves react just as they had the first time.
Anger is a toxic reaction to a situation.
When you feel a toxic moment stop and ask yourself-- what am I feeling? How am I feeling. What did I just do? Journalize it. Record how you reacted. Talk it out. Tell God about it. Ask for His help. Seek others help.
Get some exercise. Get the blood flowing in your brain.
It comes from your childhood and your present actions are the result.
But Dr. Leaf says they can be wired out by a brain washing.
Along the same subject, but not exactly, there is a book out that I have reviewed in my book blog -http://drsbookplace.blogspot.com-- Runaway Emotions that circles this area.
Anyway, the idea is that the brain wires these feelings in the brain and these feelings are transmitted to your nerves that record the feeling. The next time it occurs your brain remembers and the nerves react just as they had the first time.
Anger is a toxic reaction to a situation.
When you feel a toxic moment stop and ask yourself-- what am I feeling? How am I feeling. What did I just do? Journalize it. Record how you reacted. Talk it out. Tell God about it. Ask for His help. Seek others help.
Get some exercise. Get the blood flowing in your brain.
Friday, July 12, 2013
God And History
We live in a world that is two sided. We have the physical universe in which we can see, touch, feel, taste, and we live also in a spiritual universe. This universe we can't see, touch or feel with our normal senses. But it is there.
History records the events in the physical world. History is just the what of things. History can be known because facts are written down and placed in books. History is not about meaning .
History is possible because there is a God. We can know about this God because He has chosen to reveal Himself to all. He has spoken and has caused to be written the Bible. This, I contend, is His communication. It records history.
I also contend because there is a God there is a meaning to history. God adds meaning to history.
When we read the Bible we have to add the dimension of theology to get to the meaning . Without theology as a tool we have no meaning to history.
In other words, there must be a God to give meaning.
You have a better chance at understanding history if you have a relationship. Without this relationship you have no meaning to what is recorded in the history books or in the Bible.
Maybe you don't have any type of relationship. Maybe you need to redefine 'relationship'
A good place to go to explore the idea is here. Click on it and it will take you to a web page on the subject. And you may wish to take part in the offers there..
History records the events in the physical world. History is just the what of things. History can be known because facts are written down and placed in books. History is not about meaning .
History is possible because there is a God. We can know about this God because He has chosen to reveal Himself to all. He has spoken and has caused to be written the Bible. This, I contend, is His communication. It records history.
I also contend because there is a God there is a meaning to history. God adds meaning to history.
When we read the Bible we have to add the dimension of theology to get to the meaning . Without theology as a tool we have no meaning to history.
In other words, there must be a God to give meaning.
You have a better chance at understanding history if you have a relationship. Without this relationship you have no meaning to what is recorded in the history books or in the Bible.
Maybe you don't have any type of relationship. Maybe you need to redefine 'relationship'
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Toxic Thoughts
Toxic thoughts are thoughts that hurt your inner life. They are thoughts that determine your actions--your behaviour. The Bible states as a man thinks in his heart so is he. Which means you act out your thoughts.
It is possible to rewire your thoughts. The Bible gives you the general parameters . In Philippians 4:8 God though Paul sets them down. "Finally brethren ( first of all it is only being addressed to those who know Jesus as their personal savior from the penalty of sin) whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute: if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things" NASB
In other words, think on God and His work in your life. You are worthy because of what He has done. He is true. He is worthy of honor an so on. Dwell would mean to meditate on Him.
To do a good job of this, one of the steps is to journal. To journal you need someplace to record. You could use your Ipad or a notebook. You need to be able to see your daily improvement and maybe someday turn around and help another.
Feel free to explore your thoughts. Get rid of those toxic thoughts that say you are worthless and are not going to amount to anything. You are worth a whole lot for God to decide to redeem you and someday when He sees you face to face take you home to heaven to spend eternity with Him.
It is possible to rewire your thoughts. The Bible gives you the general parameters . In Philippians 4:8 God though Paul sets them down. "Finally brethren ( first of all it is only being addressed to those who know Jesus as their personal savior from the penalty of sin) whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute: if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things" NASB
In other words, think on God and His work in your life. You are worthy because of what He has done. He is true. He is worthy of honor an so on. Dwell would mean to meditate on Him.
To do a good job of this, one of the steps is to journal. To journal you need someplace to record. You could use your Ipad or a notebook. You need to be able to see your daily improvement and maybe someday turn around and help another.
Feel free to explore your thoughts. Get rid of those toxic thoughts that say you are worthless and are not going to amount to anything. You are worth a whole lot for God to decide to redeem you and someday when He sees you face to face take you home to heaven to spend eternity with Him.
Monday, June 17, 2013
God Wishes His Earth To Be Cared For
Look around you. What do you see? A earth that is in need of care.
When God created Adam he was told to care for the garden. He was given a helper, Eve. They were gardeners in the beginning. They were to keep this earth green. The reason is easy to figure out. God wishes His earth to be cared for.
In return Adam and Eve and their off springs would live by what the earth produced from their labor. It was easy work at that time. This was before the fall and things worked as they should.
A good web site to go look at for some ideas on how to keep the earth green today would be one that has great offers also. So you can click the underlined words and you will be taken to a green site where you will be able to get some ideas and take part in some great offers.
In return Adam and Eve and their off springs would live by what the earth produced from their labor. It was easy work at that time. This was before the fall and things worked as they should.
A good web site to go look at for some ideas on how to keep the earth green today would be one that has great offers also. So you can click the underlined words and you will be taken to a green site where you will be able to get some ideas and take part in some great offers.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Two Ways and Two Roads
There is that portion in the Sermon On The Mount that Jesus gave as recorded in Matthew 7:13-20 where Jesus talks about gates and ways that people use to get through life. You know the passage. Jesus says, Enter by the narrow gate...
Then He talks about a wide gate. Two gates. The narrow and the wide. The wide gate is one most people find and walk on. It is easy. It is wide. And then there is the narrow gate that is not as easy. To enter you must drop some bags.
The outcome of each path is different. The broad way is fun now but in eternity the end is away from God's presence.
The narrow way is not easy now yet it leads to life with God.
Daryl , the pastor of Victory Christian Fellowship, does a better explanation than I. You can listen to him here --which is a place to find the podcast.
Then He talks about a wide gate. Two gates. The narrow and the wide. The wide gate is one most people find and walk on. It is easy. It is wide. And then there is the narrow gate that is not as easy. To enter you must drop some bags.
The outcome of each path is different. The broad way is fun now but in eternity the end is away from God's presence.
The narrow way is not easy now yet it leads to life with God.
Daryl , the pastor of Victory Christian Fellowship, does a better explanation than I. You can listen to him here --which is a place to find the podcast.
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