Have you ever wondered why your faith seems not to be working? It can be very frustrating exercising your faith and getting nothing. But the truth remains that faith can only work through love. This article explains why faith works by love.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love – Galatians 5:6 (NKJV)
The Lord is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, But the unjust knows no shame – Zephaniah 3:5 (NKJV, emphasis mine)
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. – 1 Corinthians 13:2, 8 (NKJV, emphasis mine).
When people exercise faith and they don't receive their desired answer, they conclude that this "faith thing" is not working. What they fail to do is to check their love walk. Faith works by love. Your faith must pass the test of love before it can deliver the answered prayer.
Why does faith work only through love?
God is the one who acts on your behalf according to your faith and God is love (1 John 4:8). So, we can say that Love is what acts on your behalf according to your faith. Therefore, when there is no love, nothing works on your faith, thereby producing nothing.
God never fails and so love never fails. Love will never fail to deliver your answered prayer when your faith is working through love. God is love and so when you walk in love, you exhibit God and command His manifestations.
All things are possible to him that believes (Mark 9:23) and if faith works by love, then all things are possible to him that loves.
The scriptures record that Christ was able to do signs, wonders and miracles because God was with Him (John 3:2, Acts 10:18), and we can say because Love was with Him
Love of God and compassion
The love of God in you compels you to have compassion on people. This was the secret of Jesus walk on earth. The signs, wonders and miracle Christ did were first activated and energized by the love He had for man. Many times, the scriptures recorded that He had compassion for the person(s) before the working of the miracle.
In Matthew 20:34, Jesus had compassion on the two blind men and touched their eyes. And immediately, their eyes received sight. Also in Matthew 14:14, Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitude before healing their sick.
Furthermore, there was a testimony of a man of God who was praying for a very sick woman for a long time but no result. He went home to refresh and on his way back, while walking, few blocks away he heard the woman screaming in anguishing pain. Compassion for the sick woman gripped him and he ran the rest of the distance, ran upstairs into the woman's room and carried her and the sickness disappeared. The woman was healed instantly.
What happened there? The love of God in him came up in full force within him and his faith that God can heal the woman worked, resulting in her instant healing. Faith works by love.
In conclusion, your faith can only work when it passes the love test. If you want to exercise your faith and receive answers, then you need to exercise the love of God within you.
Ngozi Nwoke is a teacher and a counselor. She has a passion to teach people how to enjoy peace, God's love and christian living for more fulfilling life. Want more fulfilling life? Subscribe for free email updates today. http://stepswithgod.com
In today's fast paced life, stress and anxiety are something which is generated time and again. Consequently, man has become subject to various sort of mental as well as physical ailments. The age old practice of Meditation has proved to be man's ultimate defence from every kind of disease and problems. Though, initially this might sound vague and ambiguous but practiced over a period of time Meditation will surely prove its mettle.
In fact, the health benefits to Meditation are so many that not embracing them would be nothing but foolishness. Even medical surveys have supported the contention that meditation offers great health benefits. Have a glimpse at some of the proven health benefits of Meditation.
Practicing Meditation on a regular basis helps decrease the level of stress as the secretion of hormones like cortisol which promotes stress is decreased. Instead, calming hormones like melatonin and serotonin are secreted, which in turn provides a tranquilizing effect.
Meditation has proved to be a blessing in disguise for those who are suffering from high blood pressure. Consequently, all sort of heart related diseases too are reversed thus improving overall health substantially.
Those who have meditated have found great relief from different types of chronic pain including that of migraine and pain felt during relapse or drug withdrawal. Meditation releases muscular tension that automatically provides relief from pain.
Through regular practice, an individual can achieve higher level of self-esteem and confidence. This happens as a person begins to gain better understanding of their own selves. Consequently, he/ she begin to find acceptance in the things they do not have control over.
In order to remain heal and healthy, it is important that your immune system remains strong. Only when you have a strong immune system will the healing process be enhanced. Meditation stimulates the immune system by enhancing the production of white blood cells.
In order to lead a healthy life, it is very important that you meditate regularly. In fact, there are several different techniques of meditation to choose from and you can opt for the one that suits you the best. However, you can try practicing other techniques as well because all types of meditation offer the similar kind of benefits i.e. calming down the mind and bringing overall wellness.
The health benefits of meditation are probably much higher than the aforesaid ones. You can experience them only after you make Meditation an integral aspect of your life.
About the Author
Chamunda Swamiji is describing here about the practice of meditation on regular basis. His knowledge is spacious in the meditation field. Meditation has such the power to erase your all stress easily. It controls your blood pressure, improves your health and provides full relief in life.
What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? How do you do it? There is much to this, but the following goes into one aspect of it. Here is the verse for reference.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Mat 6:31-33)
These verses say that your needs can be met if you seek first the kingdom of God. What does this really mean? Many people put this into practice by reading the bible and praying first thing in the morning. Many even get up earlier so they have time to do this.
For many people, though, it ends there. They go about the rest of the day and do not even think about God. Also, with this schedule, what happens when they get up late? What usually gets cut? It's their bible reading and prayer time.
Instead of only doing morning devotions, you should seek God first in everything you do, all day long. How do you do that? Acknowledge Him, talk to Him, praise Him, and ask Him for help and guidance. As you are getting ready for work, thank God for all that He has given you. Thank Him for everything going smoothly and for good traffic so you make it to work on time and being calm and peaceful when you get there.
At work, thank Him for your job. It may not be the perfect job, but thank Him for it anyway and do your best job. If you run into a problem, instead of complaining and worrying, say "God, you have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Help me Lord to know what to do in this situation."
God is always talking to us, but we are not always listening. When we do listen, many times we do not do what He says. So, we need to listen and obey, all day long.
Seeking God first should also include the plans and goals for your life, your relationships and even your recreation. God has a plan for your life. When followed, that plan will have the best possible outcome. You need to know that God is Love and anything that He has for you is for your best interest. The problem is that many people come up with their own plans and then want God to bless it. Well, folks, it doesn't work that way. You need to seek God first in your plan making, find out what God wants you to do and then go do it.
In conclusion, do not make God part of a list that you do first thing in the morning and then check it off and then go about the rest of your day without Him. Include Him in everything you do.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(Pro 3:6)
In order to be spiritually healthy, you need to realize what
your identity is in Christ. Your identity in Christ is simply
who you become once you receive Christ as your Savior. Before salvation, a person's identity is largely a product of
their upbringing...whether nice or mean, happy or sad,
positive or negative. Before salvation, many people think of
their identity as what they do for a living, who they are
married to, what kind of family they came from. Some even define
themselves according to what kind of personality they
have...whether outgoing, temperamental, or introverted. Some
people may have even found their identity in what kind of
astrological sign they were born under!
You might be happy with those labels. Unfortunately, those
labels can put us in a box from which we can't escape. No
one is perfect and everyone comes to a point in his or her life
when they realize that something needs to change if they want
their circumstances to change.
That's when many people come to Christ. They realize that
only through the power of God can they change their
circumstances, their thought patterns and their life. The
good news is that once you receive salvation, you become a "new
creature in Christ." What does that mean? Well, you take on the
character of Jesus because He comes to live inside of you.
What is the character of Jesus like? Since Jesus is the Son of
God, and God is love, you can say that, according to 1
Corinthians 13:4-7, Jesus is patient, kind, and humble.
He is not envious, boastful or proud. He is not rude
or self-seeking or easily angered. He keeps no record of
wrongs. He does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
and always perseveres. And since Jesus came to dwell inside
of you once you received his gift of salvation, you can say that
you are all of those things as well.
You might wonder why, then, do you still get jealous? Why are
you still envious, boastful or proud? Why do you get so angry
sometimes with the people you love and hurt them with your
actions and words? That's because we are not yet fully
perfected. In Hebrews 12:2, Paul says "let us fix our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy
set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus is our
beginning and our end.
We start with Him when we are saved and
He takes us through the changes we need to make. We might still
struggle with the habits of our old self but we need to believe
the truth that we are "new creatures". It may not manifest
instantly in our lives; nevertheless it is truth.
In his book, "Seeing is Believing", by Gregory A. Boyd, he says
"Because we habitually thought and lived as our old selves
before receiving our new identity, God's proclamation of who we
truly are in Christ must overcome our old self identity that we
continue to experience (our sinful lives)...
It is certain that believers ultimately will be conformed to the
image of Christ. (Romans 8:29) The light certainly will overcome
the darkness and the truth will eventually swallow the lie.
Until that time, however, we are in process."
If you are a born-again believer and you struggle with old
character traits that are bringing you down, you need to come to
an understanding of who you are in Christ. Pick up your Bible
and look up all the character traits of Jesus. Declare these
truths about yourself because that is who you are in Christ
Jesus.
Does this mean that you have lost your personality once you
are saved? That we are all cookie-cutter copies of Jesus? Not at
all! Having Jesus as our savior sets us free to be who God
designed us to be! God made each one of us as individuals. "For
you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's
womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Proverbs139:13-14. He has a plan and purpose for each one of us:
"I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future." Jeremiah 29:11 Our life's plan and purpose is different
because of how God created us but we can be certain it all ends
up in the same place; a place where our lives will glorify Him.
Just like Jesus.
Even though I could remember talking to the Holy Spirit as a kid, when I was an adult and thought about talking to God, what came to my mind was: "Who are you to think that you can talk to God?" But the truth is, who am I not to? Who are YOU not to? When we think, "Who am I to talk to God?" we deny ourselves a relationship with God and the Holy Spirit. So even though the thought might arise, "who am I to think that I can talk to the Holy Spirit?" it is important to remember that it is just a thought. It's just something that arises within your mind when you entertain the thought of connecting with God's Voice.
There are lots of thoughts that arise just like that: "Talking to the Holy Spirit is impossible. Talking to the Holy Spirit is something that only very Holy people can do. Talking to the Holy Spirit is something that takes years and years of devotion and dedication." All of these thoughts are untrue and keep you from connecting with the Holy Spirit in your life.
When you begin to think about talking to God and hearing His Voice, become aware of what thoughts arise. If you become afraid at the thought of talking to God, that just means that a thought has arisen within your mind that caused you to become fearful. A fear thought could be as simple as, "I'll never be able to hear the Holy Spirit." It could be a thought that says, "I'm not worthy of talking to God. God would never talk to me." It could be, "Look at all the things that I have said and done. Why would God bother with me?"
Allow yourself to become aware of the thoughts that arise when you think about joining with God in the Holy Spirit in dialogue. Do your best to notice those thoughts, emotions, or beliefs as lovingly and kindly as you can. They are just thoughts that arise. They are not the truth. They are not a reflection of you. They're just thoughts that arise, these little flea bites that distract you for a moment. When you notice them for what they really are and respond to them with truth, love, and kindness, you are free to continue to focus on your connection with God.
Let's say, for example, that you have the thought: "Who am I to think that I can talk to God?" You can then remember: "Oh yeah, who am I NOT to? It's my job to be connected with God in the Holy Spirit. That's my job. That's all God and the Holy Spirit would ask of me. Who am I not to?"
Or you have the thought: "Why would God want to talk to me?" You can respond, "Because God created me and God only sees my perfection. God wants nothing more than to talk with me through the Holy Spirit."
"I'm not worthy. I've done these things, said these things, or thought these things. I'm not worthy to talk to God," and you remind yourself, "God just loves. God wants to be in communication with me."
Whatever thoughts arise, allow yourself to respond to them with Love and Truth. You know the truth in your heart. You know that God only loves you and wants to be in communication with you. So when you have the thought: "Oh, I've done these things or said these things.
God does not want to communicate with me" you can remember, "Actually, God only loves me," and continue to move past that thought or move on from that bug bite. Allow yourself to continue to move in the direction of connecting with God in the Holy Spirit. It's as if you are maneuvering your way around these little distractions or obstacles, the little thoughts that arise, but you respond lovingly to them and remain on the pathway to God.
There is nothing that can stop you from getting to God. There is nothing that can keep you from your Father. Even if you're not sure how to respond with the truth to a thought that arises, just remind yourself, "Nothing can keep me from my Creator," and continue to move along on that path.
Since it is only a thought that can keep you from hearing God's Voice, let yourself notice what thoughts have arisen in the past few minutes.
Make note of the thoughts that sound familiar or the thoughts that have come to your mind and allow yourself in the next few days to continue to become more and more aware of what thoughts come up when you think about talking with God in the Holy Spirit. Really look at each thought and allow a truthful response to each one to come to you so that you know no matter what thought arises, there is nothing that can keep you from having a relationship with God and God's Voice in your life. Focus on this in the next few days and find out how much more connected you feel to God in the Holy Spirit in doing so.
DavidPaul and Candace Doyle teach people how to hear the Holy Spirit within them. If you desire to receive ongoing guidance and direction from God to fulfill your life's purpose, visit The Voice for God to receive their 30-day FREE audio series on how to hear God's Voice in your life. Visit The Voice for Love to learn more about their work. BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE SECRETS RARE TIPS
Soon we will arrive at Ramadan. Ramadan refers to the 9th month in the Muslim calendar. Every Muslim is expected to fast during the day for the entire lunar month. This year Ramadan starts on July 9th, in the heat of the summer for many fasting Muslims. The last day is on August 7th, so if you find yourself in a Muslim country or Islamic neighborhood, be prepared for a wonderful party once the fasting is over. Ramadan is widely observed throughout Arabian Peninsula as well as many parts of North Africa, South East Asia and other predominantly Muslim countries and regions.
Non-Muslims are not expected to fast, and restaurants and hotels will still serve food out of courtesy to non-Muslims during the day. Markets and shops also remain open during the day, so you can always buy food and drink, although liquor stores tend to just shut down for the month. In general you'll find it is business as usual, although rather than closing for lunch, some museums, shops and offices will end the day early so employees can get home to eat by sundown. If you are a Muslim and traveling on business during Ramadan to another Muslim region, you'll have no problem finding a spot to break your fast or eat before the sun comes up. While Muslims are exempt from fasting while traveling, on shorter journeys most people will still fast. So if you are traveling by train or bus, bring your own snacks.
Before we traveled to Malaysia and Indonesia during Ramadan a few years ago, we'd been warned that people would be more irritable and impatient. Friends there explained that during the first week of Ramadan tempers do flare up more than usual, especially among those who are sorely missing their tea and cigarettes during the day. But after the first week, the routine of fasting sets in and things are calm again. So, if you are on business or visiting as a non-Muslim, be patient. By 4 o'clock in the afternoon your hotel staffs are likely to be rather thirsty and tired, so be considerate with what you expect from them.
Ramadan is actually a very festive time and it's common to be invited to break the fast with family and friends in the evening. Many shops stay open late, so while you miss out on the buzz of cafes during the day, the wonderful evenings after the fast is broken, more than makes up for it.
Eid al-Fitr is the big celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. Families come together to eat and exchange gifts. As a visitor you may well be invited to join in the fun. During Eid almost every shop, bank and all government offices close, usually for 3 days. Families travel to see each other for Eid, so book your local travel well in advance during this time to avoid disappointment.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/a-few-things-you-should-know-about-ramadan-6639970.html
About the Author This thing may give you inspiration on what to bring along if you want to visit South East Asian during Ramadan..., or maybe this one. For something totally different, you'd better consider visiting this site. Thank you. BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE SECRETS RARE TIPS
So much has been said about Jesus and his divinity, but unfortunately all is based on the word of mouth. All is but interpretation of someone telling to another the story about a guy named Jesus who did such and such. Nothing has been documented from the time Jesus lived, and nothing was recorded even a century after he died. Since no official documents exist in regards to Jesus' identity, then conclusions are only based on interpretations and maybe misinterpretation of some stories that survived from that era. I joined the crowd of people who tried to reach conclusions based on such stories. Therefore, based on my logical interpretation of the fact that consensus regarding Jesus' accusation was only reached after his clothes were torn apart exposing "his" naked breast, I dared to reach the conclusion, in one of my previous articles, that Jesus may have been a woman. But, frankly speaking, that shouldn't be such a shock at all. In fact, accepting that Jesus was a woman not only makes sense in respect to many things she said and did, including having her feet massaged with very expensive oil, but it also connects the dots between many other beliefs in different cultures where a woman figure or a goddess is the center of their adoration. What should concern us at this point is one legitimate question, "Was Jesus divine?"
If we would accept that Jesus was divine, then more questions will be raised than answered. Why didn't Jesus use his/her superpowers to attract more followers, or why didn't Jesus deliberate people from evil? We still suffer from injustice and evil today, don't we? Why Jesus would come like a comet, burning quickly, and then went away leaving us in hope of his/her return for two good thousand years? What was the point of telling us that the kingdom of God exists, and that one day this kingdom will be restored on Earth too? Other prophets had already said that, and if that was the only reason why God sent his son or daughter on Earth to be crucified for telling the truth, then what kind of a kingdom are we waiting for? The core of Christian belief is that Jesus was divine and Jesus died for our sins. Then, on the third day, Jesus was resurrected and went to heaven and now is sited at the right hand of the Father.
I was a Roman Catholic for ten years, and I truly believed this theory, until one day my awareness expended and I started to question everything that was served to me on a golden plate. If Jesus is sited at the right hand of the father why isn't Jesus doing anything to protect children from sickness, poverty and abuse? All this doesn't make sense and so one or all of the above statements must not be true. If we accept for a moment that Jesus was the messiah, the news bringer and was a human, then why was Jesus the chosen one? He or she clearly had some help, but who was helping Jesus and what was his/her mission?
To answer the questions above may not be so hard after all. The mission must be made clear if we read the parables of Jesus carefully. In those parables and stories Jesus talks a lot about reincarnation and karma. Jesus talks about fairness in treating one another, and above all Jesus is against hypocrisy. All and all, Jesus was a life coach, and Jesus didn't come as a saviour to take our sins away, but to make us aware of our sins. Jesus was not like a doctor who performs the operation on himself and saves the patient. That's impossible. Jesus is like the doctor who tells the patient to change the diet in order to prevent the disease.
At this point of argument we can only say that Jesus' mission was not to save us from our sins but to open our eyes in order to see the real sins. Now let's suppose that Jesus was divine as Catholics presume, maybe not the son or daughter of God, but somehow an advance creation in comparison to humans. This seems acceptable and would not have been contradicting if it wasn't for the fact that Catholics believe that our sins are washed away since Jesus died on the cross. We can clearly see that the problem is not about accepting whether Jesus was divine or not, as much as it is in the fact that Jesus died, washed our sins away, resurrected and now is sitting at the right hand of the father watching us form heaven.
This is the problem. If Jesus is in heaven and we are waiting one day for Jesus to arrive and scoop us away from sins and evil we are completely wrong and blind. If Jesus had such power, he or she could have done it in the first time, but Jesus didn't. Jesus only pointed at our problems, which means that the real power is in us. Just the belief that Jesus was the Son of God will not save anyone in any given day. Instead, this belief is misleading people and leaving them unprepared to fight evil within themselves.
Just praying to Jesus every Sunday, and bragging for being such a devoted Christian, will not save anyone. And you know why? First of all, prayer without action is like sitting in the middle of a field that is being bombarded and praying to not get hit. Secondly, praying to Jesus and then bragging of being a Christian is like throwing a boomerang. Is someone better than the other just because this someone had the privilege to take time off on Sunday and go to church, while the other had to work to win his bread? Is this someone better than the other who is volunteering in a charity club, but is not a Christian? And, is this someone better than one in the third world country who shares even the last piece of bread with their neighbour? Fortunately and unfortunately, I have had the chance to see all these types of people in my life and decided to honor more those who do their part on helping others without bragging, no matter if they believe in Jesus as the Son of God or not. I honor those who do not believe in God because they did not have the luxury in their lives of being lectured about God or the Son of God, and yet they perform good deeds every day, leaded by their good hearts.
We can conclude that Jesus' mission was not to save us from our sins by dying on the cross. Jesus' mission was to bring us the news that evil hides inside us, in our thoughts and our feelings, and that we have the power to abolish evil. I would say that Jesus' mission was divine in a very special way, and quite possible that she was a woman. But what intrigues me is the fact that Jesus herself said that she is going to return one day. Does this mean that her mission was not over?
About the Author
Ardiana Bani Cohn is a college instructor specializing in mathematics, science and psychology, a life coach, a speaker and an author. She enjoys pursuing a variety of interests including philosophy, human behaviour, positive psychology, spirituality, astrology and astronomy. Residing in Toronto, the author enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and continuing to strengthen her relationship with God. BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE SECRETS RARE TIPS
Does the thought of consistently studying your Bible overwhelm you? The Bible is considered the top-selling book in the world, yet most people find it hard to understand. Known as the Word of God, the Bible is a book to study and not just read. It is a reference book on life for everyday living.
Different authors in the Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic languages originally wrote the Bible at various times in history. English translations of the original text range from strict to somewhat more contemporary. This article focuses on the widespread and popular Protestant Bible, which includes the Old and New Testaments, and is comprised of 66 separate books.
Following are a few tips that may be useful before setting off to explore the intricacies of the Bible:
Choose a Bible
Selecting a particular Bible to study from the market choices available today can be extremely confusing. Although the King James Version is recognized as the closest translation of the original Bible, it can be difficult to decipher and frustrating to tackle. Versions that contain study notes and interpretations next to the text are helpful for those who may be new to Bible study.
Schedule
Try to set aside a time and place for study that is generally the same each day. Adhering to a routine schedule is important. The more you build your day around your appointment time with the Bible, the easier this habit becomes. Just pick a place to begin and start. Each time you study, you will learn something. If you regularly make the time in your day to study, your life in God will change and grow deeper. Peace, joy, love and understanding can be yours.
Prayer
To increase your biblical understanding, start with an attitude of prayer. Praying for an appreciation of the Word can bring the Bible to life. The Word of God is alive, and God reveals himself through the Word.
Method
Christians study the Bible to know God and know his ways in order to successfully live a Godly life. There is no right or wrong answer in how to start studying the Bible. Focusing on specific topics or books are common study methods.
Topics
Imagine the Bible as a huge gold mine of valuable nuggets. Any section of the mine contains pieces of truth and life lessons. Christian calendars with inspirations verses, or devotional books with specific passages, embody this approach. Study books are available that identify topics of interest such as hope, discouragement, faith and love that provide specific verses according to the topic selected for study.
Books
Selecting a certain book of the Bible to study is another approach. It is easiest to focus first on the New Testament. A good starting point is the Book of John. This book is fairly easy to read and study, and it tells the story of Jesus.
It is important to keep in mind that the Bible is God's inspired message to us. Study with a positive and humble attitude, and your time with the Bible will open the door to salvation and freedom.
For more information about studying the bible, visit http://biblecamps.us.
I was recently speaking with a friend and remarked ‘attitude is everything.' Even though the comment sounded marginally trite at the time, the idea kept coming back to me throughout the day. Do I really have control over my attitude? Can changing it actually transform my life?
It became crystal clear to me that I'm free to hold whatever attitude I choose, whenever I want. It is this choice that creates my experience of life.
It can be easy to forget this obvious truth on those days that I feel I'm swimming against the current. But even then I know that, when I'm consciously aware, how I respond to life is entirely up to me.
The attitude I have about the events in my life creates my emotional and psychological experience of it even more than the actual events themselves.
I determine what I think should be happening and consequently how I'll feel if things don't quite work out the way I planned. I decide if I'll be discouraged, happy, critical or sad. I define what success or failure means. I determine the way particular outcomes will make me feel. I am the only one who can decide to tune my attitude by selecting who I spend time with and what I do.
When I focus my attention on things that encourage, support and enliven me, I reap immediate and positive dividends. When I give my attention to problems, constraints and fearful potentialities, the results don't feel nearly so good. They actually make me more likely to see my life and the world in a negative light. The more I experience disappointment from my negative expectations, the less reason I see to be joyful. The longer I do it, the less choice I feel I have.
I can change my habits from ones that don't serve me to ones that do. I can cultivate a daily practice or join authentic happiness coaching that helps keep me on track. I can read daily words of encouragement, surround myself with positive people and make a point of noticing when I'm being negative.
The more I stay aware, the more I realize that I'm as free to choose my attitude, as I am to select a flavor at an ice cream parlor. The difference between a trip to the dessert shop and the spontaneous choice of attitude is that the former is a one-time event, while the latter can create a beautiful or vicious cycle that affects my entire life.
Tendencies we may have toward resentment, generosity, victim consciousness, self-confidence, fear, trust, self-acceptance, or self-hatred are obvious to everyone we encounter, but sometimes we take our own approach to life for granted without being aware of our power to choose it.
When we realize that it's not the conditions in the outer world but our attitudes about those conditions that cause us to feel the way we do it can be an enormous game changer.
Others pick up on our attitudes, subconsciously or consciously, and respond to us accordingly. Whatever opinion we have of the world will be mirrored back to us and we'll feel justified for holding it because the evidence to prove it shows up repeatedly. Our attitudes essentially create a self-fulfilling prophecy. That's why it's so important to find some high quality and easy-to-digest daily words of encouragement that keep you on track.
If you're having difficulties with someone in your life, look for just one quality you like and see if you can find compassion for the rest. If you're having problems at work, try focusing on what's going well instead what's not. Keep your attention on what you appreciate in every person, place or thing in your life and watch the situations evolve and improve. Notice the words you use and remind yourself that the perceptions you form are simply the result of how you characterize what you see.
If you want an easy and powerful reminder to help you maintain this practice, subscribe to daily words of encouragement and receive them in your inbox everyday. It could change your life!
Steve Sekhon and Jarl Forsman are the founders of GratitudeTwentyFourSeven.com, which produces courses, workshops and daily messages to remind you of wisdom (which you already know) that will help you get unstuck, enjoy life and be more fun to be around.
God is many different things to many different people. God is everywhere (omnipresent); God is Mother Nature; God is love; God is the creator; God is dead; God doesn't exist; God was an ancient astronaut; God is all-knowing (omniscient); God is all-powerful (omnipotent); God works in mysterious ways; etc. Whole books have explored the issue going back, well ever since humans could think and express their ideas on paper, or carve them in stone, or whatever. However, many of these abstract and idealised and philosophical versions of God (often contradictory) usually bear no relationship to the God of the
Bible, or specifically God of the Old Testament.
I'm not exactly sure what an abstract idealized concept of God is supposed to achieve, apart from being an intellectual exercise like trying to put a numerical value on angels' chinwagging on a pinhead, but it has nothing to do with putting bums on church pews.
God is an immaterial being who doesn't exist in space or in time. That is a common Godly attribute, but one which is absolutely nonsense*. If God creates something that's energetic and physical (possessing energy and matter) then God has to be something that's energetic and physical in order to do that; that being creating that which is made of matter and is running on or off energy. You can't create something from nothing that is immaterial or create something by nothing that's immaterial. If God is therefore a physical and energetic something, then God must exist in space and in time since all material things (matter and energy), including a material creator and a material creation, exist in space and time. If God speaks, for example, God must be physical and possess energy.
But the Bible provides ample examples of God existing in space and time starting with the creation itself (Genesis 1 and Genesis 2). Wasn't the creation once dated in fact to 4004 BCE? A date is a location in time! If God talked to Moses via a burning bush, then God existed in space and in time – at a specific point in space and at a specific point in time. The goes ditto for events in the Garden of Eden and ditto anywhere and at anytime the Bible recounts some event where God did something; where God strutted His stuff, like in ancient Egypt and all those events related in Exodus.
Another variation on that theme is that God is everywhere. Well, God was somewhere, not everywhere when He was having a go at Adam and Eve! If you are physical, you cannot be everywhere at the same time.
God also has to be physical since He has a physical home turf (Heaven) and sits on a physical object, a throne – so God exists in space and occupies space.
If God is physical, and possesses energy, and expends energy, and there's no real wriggle room there, then God is subject to the Second Law of Thermodynamics – entropy. God may be eternal, God may be immortal, but God still has to refuel (i.e. – eat presumably) and by implication, God has to go to the bathroom! God also needs His sleep, or at least rest, as per that seventh day of creation.
God is unchanging is another Godly attribute some religious philosophers associate with Him. Well, if God is composed of matter and energy, if God exists in space and time, and if God is subject to entropy, then God can not be unchanging. If God rested on the seventh day, well, that's change. In fact God didn't do or perform the exact same operations each and every day in Genesis 1 and 2. So that too is change. In fact God changed His mind, creating animals before man in Genesis 1; man before the animals in Genesis 2. God was also willing to change His mind when it came to Sodom and Gomorrah – that's obviously contemplating change even if S&G still got zapped. .
God is eternal is yet another philosophical given. That God is eternal is consistent with the Bible giving promise to life everlasting or life eternal. However, the concept of eternal, forever, or infinity is fraught with paradoxical dangers. Since the Universe is a finite 13.7 billion years old, that would imply that God pre-existed the Universe, which is alleged to have created all of space, time, matter and energy. Okay, that's consistent too since if God created the Universe, God must have predated the Universe (which negates the claim that the Big Bang was the first cause that created time, space, matter and energy; there must have been a before the Big Bang). But the issue arises, if you are eternal, and thus have already existed for an infinite amount of time, then what changed in God's
circumstances to have brought about the creation of the Universe, or rather why the ‘all of a sudden' "I think I'll do this" when for an infinite period prior to your creation you had no plans to do this, yet you are apparently all-knowing, so presumably an eternity before you created the Universe you knew you would do so, yet bided your time and twiddled your thumbs for really no apparent logical reason. Maybe God was of that common human frame of mind: It should be done; it shall be done; it will be done - tomorrow.
Another variation on that theme is that God is timeless. If time is God's way of preventing everything happening at once, then if you're God, everything does happen simultaneously since by being timeless, or in a state of timelessness, there's nothing to stop all things happening simultaneously.
God apparently is pure perfection. God doesn't screw things up. Ha! His creation of the human species was the biggest screw-up of all time! God Himself acknowledged His screw-up with the 40 day and 40 night rain hence flood event). Even if you put the initial blame on Adam and Eve and not on (an apparently all-knowing the future) God (who knew what Adam and Eve would do before-the-fact) He still enacts miracles in order to correct His mistakes. If God had ensured an adequate supply of loaves-and-fishes in the first damn place, there wouldn't have been any need for waving the magic miracle loaves-and-fishes wand.
A common attribute is that God is all-knowing (omniscient) and that He knows the future. But if God knows the future, what was the point of sending Moses and Aaron to Egypt to get the (unnamed) pharaoh to "Let My People Go" when God knew perfectly well He would ultimately have to do the hard yakka Himself and kick ass. It was all wasted breath. By the by, that's an excellent example (along with the flood of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah) that God is anything but all-loving. Speaking of the flood, what was the point in creating all of humanity in the first place when the all-knowing God knew He was going to have to drown nearly the whole bloody lot of them a few generations on down the track! Creating humanity was just wasted effort.
Another common trait given to God is that He is all-powerful (omnipotent). That too is nonsense. He maybe more powerful than a speeding locomotive; faster than a speeding bullet; able to leap tall buildings at a single bound, and He's certainly up in the sky. However, there's this paradox: can God create a rock so heavy not even He could lift it? If not, He's not all powerful; if so He's not all powerful. It's a no-win situation. More relevant might be an observation, since God is physical, and presumably subject to the laws of the Universe, could God ever escape from inside a cosmic Black Hole?
Speaking of those universal laws, one Godly attribute is that God is the creator of all physical laws, principles and relationships, but God is also a miracle worker and can override those laws, principles and relationships (God's get out of His Black Hole jail card). In other words, God is also a miracle worker. That at least conforms to some Biblical events (like loaves-and-fishes) but it is also nonsense, or at least illogical. Miracles (if they exist) are God's correction fluid (whiteout) – assuming God exists. If existence is affirmed on both counts that actually makes a mockery of an all-knowing, all-powerful supernatural deity since it would have been logical and preferable to have set in train the necessary conditions that would have negated the need for a later miracle. For example, don't bother to raise the dead; rather ensure they don't snuff it in the first place
Lastly, and this is my philosophical contribution to Godly attributes, God is naked as a newborn babe. Despite many references in the Bible of God talking to someone, Adam and Eve, Cain, Jacob, Jonah, Moses, etc. we never get an actual description of what God looks like. He speaks in a cloud or as a burning bush. All images of God, artworks, are of the human imagination. So, what did God really look like and why was He ashamed to actually show His face (something true unto this very day). Perhaps God doesn't want to be seen because He was starkers – absolutely naked – and perhaps, assuming some mortal actually saw God,
well no one dares mention the ‘emperor' who has no clothes. If humans were made in God's image, and God was ashamed of His nudity (as Adam and Eve were ashamed of their lack of clothing post their nibbling on a forbidden snack), then perhaps that accounts for our reluctance in most public environments to show off our birthday suits.
By the by, this is not meant to be an endorsement that a supernatural and Biblical God actually exists (IMHO He doesn't), only that the logic of some so-called professional religious philosophers is sadly lacking by not taking into consideration texts that billions of people have and had defined as the absolute and definitive description of Godly attributes. Maybe those religious pie-in-the-sky philosophers couldn't get a real job in the real world and had to rely on tossing around abstract concepts of godliness as well as juggling those angels and pinheads.
* For an example, here's an incredible statement by academic philosopher Gerard J. Hughes: "Plainly, God cannot do things which are impossible for an immaterial being, such as walking, speaking, or exerting physical force on things." [Varghese, Roy Abraham (Editor); Great Thinkers On Great Questions; Oneworld, Oxford; 1998; p.223.]
Roses seem to be the flower of choice in many of life's most precious and sentimental events. Roses can convey love, peace, friendship, and forgiveness. It is so sad to see those beautiful roses form our life events turn to dust. Wouldn't it be special to turn those roses into a permanent and sacred symbol of that event?
Rose petals can be crafted into beads for use in rosaries and jewelry. The craft of making beads from rose petals is unique, and most often practiced by nuns, who use the beads to make rosaries. Crafting rose petals into beads by hand is a long and laborious task. It requires great dexterity, attention to detail, time, and patience. This process involves first heating the rose petals. The roses are then mashed and dried to a desired consistency. The paste is then hand-rolled into beads and left to dry. Much experimentation is needed in order to achieve a specific sized bead. No matter what color the roses are, all the beads will turn black, due to the chemical reaction during the heating process.
The most wonderful element about these beads is that they are 100% rose petals. No fixatives or fillers are required. The beads are extremely durable and can be used in place of any other plastic or glass beads. They even retain their fragrance. The beads are quite striking when used in a rosary.
I have made many rose petal rosaries from funeral roses for those whom have lost loved ones. Many people, including myself, have found such peace and comfort in having these rosaries during such s sorrowful time. However, rose petal rosaries and rose petal bead jewelry are appropriate for any life event--joyful or sorrowful, or even for no event at all. Some people enjoy having a rose petal rosary from their garden roses.
If you would like to learn more about rose petal rosaries or would like to view samples of my work, please visit my website by clicking here or visit www.inspirationsrosaries.com
There was a time in Wendy's where there was a child having a tantrum, so as the people was watching the child being a nuisance to the quality of sound. The father was cool and in control, and said, “Derek Anthony Bell try to control yourself”. They’re an elderly lady that was in the line across from him looked with awe. As she was walking passed after she had gotten her food, as she was walking towards the young man and said to him, “Wow!’ may I complement you on how to handle your son”. The young man turned around with a peculiar look, and said to the lady, “Son nothing, I was talking about me”!
Now as Men especially Christian men not only are we looked at every day, but also we are targets of anything negative; furthermore, we must learn to have to self-control. Now that’s hard to do.
There are many things to make you lose control especially in times like these. It could be the rising cost of gas, and food prices, or perhaps you’re on a diet and can’t eat the foods you like, with the stress of work, and wife or girlfriend, or even ‘baby momma drama’. It could be drugs, or drinking, maybe even sexual temptation. I’m here to tell you can do it! With God’s help you can do it.
Some people might say self-control is for the weak. You know the type “I’m a man, and self-control is for wimps”! Well Jesus had self-control. Is he a wimp? The story of Jesus in the Temple is a perfect story {John 2:13-16}. Was Jesus upset? Yes he was? There is a difference between uncontrollable rage and righteous indignation-yet they are both called anger.
We must be very careful how we use the emotion of anger. It is alright to be angry about injustice and sin; it is wrong to be angry over trivial personal offenses. Keep in mind when was upset He saw the doves he was at peace.
Self-control is a very important part of spiritual maturity. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines self-control as ‘restraint exercises over one’s emotions, or desires’;(italics added). As Christians restraint is hard to do let’s take Job for another example.
Job lost everything house, cattle and children. The flesh fell from his bones, boils and scabs all over his body and private parts. Even when his friends sat with him for seven days and each of them had their own reason. Eliphaz the Termanite reason’s was Job was suffering because he had sinned. Go to God and confess your sins to him {Job 5:8} Job had restraint didn’t curse or swear at the he just simple replied “Stop assuming my guilt” {Job 6:29}. Job other friend Bildad reason was that he was stubborn he won’t admit that he sinned. He said to Job, “how long you’re going to be like this”? {Job 8:2}.
Again he had self-discipline and said, I will say to God…tell me why are you doing it”? {Job 10:2}. That wasn’t anger that was a question on what did I do? Job still displayed self-control. His other comrade Zophar the Naamathite reason was that he deserves even more suffering than he’s experiencing (Wow, what a pal!). He said, “Get rid of your sins” {Job 11:13, 14}. Not on time did Job lose it. All he said was “I‘ll know I’ll be justified” {Job 13:18}. Is that faith in God or what? Job was struggling spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Even when God was silent and when he is silent in your lives, just hold on to your faith. I can say it better this way, “This is only a test”!
Possibly we can alienate are selves from the drama. Try to stay in our own “little world”. That’s not going to happen in this life or any other life. The devil is out there waiting and watching you, accusing you, tempting you. We are trying to be Christ like, and that is the way we’re supposed to be or trying to be. Christians get that confused with being like Christ. You may ask “what does that has to do with self-control”? Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, and that showed His self-control. Even after forty days without eating, or drinking. Jesus had self-control even when the devil tempted him. Now in reality we can’t go forty minutes without eating, but I here to tell you yes you can! The same power that Jesus has you has, the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26, it reads, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom The Father will send in my name, he shall teachyou all things, and bring things to your remembrance” (Italics added). That was makes us Christ like. Look, you don’t have to understand Apologetics, or have a doctorate in Theology to have self-control. You can read the self-control chapter Ephesians 4; however, look at Galatians 2:20 it reads, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I live now I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Italics added). Just a Christ suffered, bleed, and died for us that again was another part of self-control as He hung on the Cross at Calvary His own words was “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” {Luke 22:34}. Image the pain and suffering My Lord must have been feeling, also try to understand the patients of Christ being accused, beating on, whipped, and still show compassion, and think of the things he did, Not only showing self-control , but love also. Again self-control, so you’re saying ‘what’s the big deal ’? I can’t do that! YES YOU CAN! I live by this, “You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you” {Phil; 4:13}.
Anger is a great offense because it violates God’s command to love. The Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill” {Exodus 20:13}, so as a Christian male this is when you call on God for forgiveness. Even if you have the thought of murder in your heart you have committed murder in your heart. Anger is a dangerous emotion that threatens to leap out of control, leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental and physical stress, and spiritual damage. Anger keeps us from developing a sprit pleasing to God. There are some days that you can take pride that you didn’t strike out against, or say what is really on your mind? Bear in mind self-control is good, but Jesus wants us to practice thought-control as well. Jesus said we will be held accountable for our attitudes.
There are some people in the Bible who could have used thought-control; therefore let’s look at Samson story for a minute. Here’s a man raised up by the Lord from his parents was to be a deliver and judge over a disobedient Israel. Samson who had great potential wasted it on jokes, and getting out of fights. He could have strengthened his nation, and get them back to worshipping God, but lost focus. He could squeeze the life out of a lion, yet he could not strangle his own love. He could break open the restraints of his foes; but not the cords of his own desire. He burned the crops of others, and lost the fruit of his own asset when burning with the flame of a single woman. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose hisown soul” {Mark 8:36}. This is a perfect example of thought-control.
Since the deficiency of self-control has devastating results, it is needed in all areas of life not only male, female also. We live in a world where there is so much emphasis is place on our physical appearance, many exercise extreme self-control to maintain a beautiful appearance, but exercise little self-control when it comes to moral issues such as sexual fidelity or honesty in business. Here’s another example the story of Joseph.
This is an amazing story of self-control and faith. The story is remarkable divided between his disgrace and his adulation where is the same as Christ who was also humiliated and exalted. It also shows that Christians are going to go thru many tribulations to come into the kingdom. As an adolescent Joseph was over confident, but being Jacob’s favorite son and by knowing Gods’ plan on his life. That’s not cocky that’s an assurance.
Knowing what God can do for you when you give a total sacrifice. You may be asking what does self-control has to do with this? Let’s start here, being betrayed by family, exposed to sexual temptation, and being punished for doing the right thing; furthermore, he endured a long imprisonment, and forgotten by those who he helped. His response should have been, “why me Lord, why me”! Instead of that he had not only faith but endurance. The Joseph knew whatever he did or was at God was with him. Joseph shows in life no matter the circumstances or situations that comes to you, but how you response to them is the main goal. In the story of Joseph with the help of God a bad situation can be made good {Genesis 37 thru 50}.
So there you have it. Take it from me; I had a bunch of people laugh at me when I told them I was doing this. Because I have a temper, a big temper, they used to call me the Tasmanian Devil. As I learned over the years of being saved I’m still learning, but I have learned one thing my old Pastor Reverend Dr. Willie E. Robinson used to say to me when I get angry, “it ain’t that deep”. I never understood that until I started walking with the Lord, and people started to watch me. I had to practice what I preached. My wife going on seven years Stephanie as always has been there for me, with and without my temper. She will also tell you that God is working in my life with me and my temper. I should wear a construction sign that says, “Under construction”.
Boost your Confidence Secret Rare Effective Tips
Does that make me an expert on self-control, no not really; nerveless, I know where to go and what to do. I hope and pray that it will help you in your walk as a self-controlled Christian Man. May God Bless you and keep you all who read this. I’ll leave you with this from Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it shall be given you seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeth findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”. When upset or you’re going to be upset don’t be afraid to call on Jesus to assist you.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/the-selfcontrol-christian-man-982659.html About the Author
Evangelist Dillard is a licensed evangelist for Christ working in outreach ministries since 2001 and has a heart for the unsaved in the world. Evangelist Dillard attended New Life Bible School in Philadelphia, PA in the year of 2006 and was trained in Evangelism at First Baptist Church of Darby in Darby, PA. Pastor and Biblical Director of the Lighthouse Bible Institute, also he is a Member of the Ministerial Allience of Fort Madsion, Iowa
www.shekinahinc.org/evangelist_corner
In this Self Esteem Article, I will be talking about why Self Confidence is a major factor in talking to the opposing sex.(getting a girlfriend,or boyfriend)
This is actually my most frequently asked question. People are constantly coming to me with the issues of talking to the opposite sex. Often times I find that they wont even attempt to strike up a conversation due to the fact that they don't think they are good enough for him/her. Self-Confidence plays a key role in talking to the opposite sex. You must be relaxed, you must feel good about yourself. Most of all, you must not show fear. If you have no self-confidence you will never be able to walk up this mountain.
I'm going to lay it out plain and simple. You will never be good at talking to the opposite sex if you have no confidence in yourself as an individual. SO MANY people always "think" this, or "think" that. "I don't want to try to talk to her because I just don't think I'm good enough for her" How will you ever know if you don't try it? With that attitude, No you will never be good enough.
The biggest part in gaining Self-Confidence is overcoming the fear that "you will never be good enough". Don't deny the fact that you have low self-confidence or low self-esteem. Accept it and correct it. Here are a couple tips to quickly boost your self-confidence.
- Dress appropriately: Dress casual, not too fancy. Don't look like a slob when your trying to talk to a girl/guy for the first time
- Posture: Believe it or not, posture says quite a bit about ones personality and self-confidence. If you are slouched over with your head dragging in the dirt behind you then of course you will not give off positive vibes. On the other hand, sitting/standing erect with your head held high shows you are more interested in him/her
- Speak with enthusiasm: If you sound like Darth Vator from Star Wars when trying to talk to a guy/girl, you might as well talk to a wall. You will lose their interest within the first sentence. Add character to your voice when you speak! (practice this)
- Work on looking people in the eye: This is a big one. Looking someone in the eye when you speak to them shows 2 main things. 1. you are a respectful person 2. you are actually interested in talking to them, and you are meaning what you are saying. Boost your Confidence Secret Rare Effective Tips
Many people overlook the fact that they have low self confidence. They try to be the "smooth talker" right away. Sometimes you have to step back to the basics. You need to learn the fact that you must work on your level of self confidence before attempting to talk to someone of the opposite sex.
Don't feel ashamed. Talking to someone of the opposite sex is a daunting task for 90% of our population. Especially if you are attracted to them. With low, or no self-confidence you will not get too far.
If you are truly in need of a boost to higher self-confidence, I strongly recommend THIS EBOOK. I recommend this to all my patients. The ones who actually take action and buy it are never disappointed. It's broken up into 3 easy-to-read modules. Within 7 days you WILL have higher self-confidence. They say that only 3% of people who read "help articles" online actually take action. Don't be that 3% that blows this off. No this book will not buy you the love of your life. But it will give you a HUGE advantage over the 97% of people that read this Self-Esteem Article and did not take action...
