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Help?
Good Morning all! I would like to understand my feelings at this time about a quiet church. I've been attending a church because it's close to my home. Before, i was going to a church that i had to beg for a ride or just take public transportation. So, i stopped attending not because of the inconvenience, but because the pastor did not preach or teach. I wanted to hear the word after the lengthy praise service,,,,,speaking in tongues, shouting, falling out and etc. He would be introduce as the shepherd that would be bringing the word of God to his sheep. He would get up there and open his bible and put his hand on his head and say:"It's coming i can feel it" (Holy Ghost) and then proceed to play his guitar or jump off the podium. I'm still waiting to hear the word with my bible open and thirsting for the word. I tolerated this for some months and then i started praying for a church home. I went back to the quiet church and just sit and heard the word and worship and enjoyed the praise service. But, sometimes i feel like shouting and praising the Lord out loud and it's not the norm there. ''WHAT CAN I DO"? After, church Sunday i asked one of the members would it be alright for me to shout. She told me if it was done appropriately. "Hmmm" What does that mean? See the church I'm attending because it's close is a Evangelical church and on a good day it may have 6 black attendees counting my Granddaughter who's the only one in her Sunday school class. I have to threaten her every Sunday to get up and come with me to church. She says:"but granny I'm the only black", she's only 8 1/2 and i want her to learn about her savior Jesus Christ and i love how they use the Arts to present it to the young children. "HELP"?
When the Odds Are Against You
Judges 7:1-7
Have you ever felt backed up against a wall, with the odds stacked against you? In situations like that, Christians too often refuse to acknowledge an important truth. That is, they fail to recognize that God may actually be the one who is orchestrating their challenging circumstances.
You may think, No way. God protects me from such things. The world and Satan are doing this to me. Perhaps. Yet maybe, just maybe, God is trying to tell you something--and He first needs to get your attention.
Time and again in Scripture, we see that the Lord uses difficulties to build faith. It's easy to trust in Him when things are going our way. However, God often removes comforts and false securities from our lives to remind us that He is the true source of our strength.
Consider today's passage, in which Gideon was ready to lead a powerful militia of 32,000 men into battle against the enemy. However, the Lord stepped in three separate times, whittling the Israelite army down to less than one percent of its original size. We may have replied, "What? It's impossible to defeat enemy forces with just 300 men!" That's probably true; 300 men alone couldn't do it. But the Lord can--which is the lesson of Gideon.
When the odds are not in your favor, don't think that God has abandoned you. Your friends, money, and success may disappear, but those won't win the battle anyway. Stand your ground and keep your eye on the Lord. With everything else stripped away, you'll be amazed at what your heavenly Father will achieve.
Content taken from Charles Stanley
Have you ever felt backed up against a wall, with the odds stacked against you? In situations like that, Christians too often refuse to acknowledge an important truth. That is, they fail to recognize that God may actually be the one who is orchestrating their challenging circumstances.
You may think, No way. God protects me from such things. The world and Satan are doing this to me. Perhaps. Yet maybe, just maybe, God is trying to tell you something--and He first needs to get your attention.
Time and again in Scripture, we see that the Lord uses difficulties to build faith. It's easy to trust in Him when things are going our way. However, God often removes comforts and false securities from our lives to remind us that He is the true source of our strength.
Consider today's passage, in which Gideon was ready to lead a powerful militia of 32,000 men into battle against the enemy. However, the Lord stepped in three separate times, whittling the Israelite army down to less than one percent of its original size. We may have replied, "What? It's impossible to defeat enemy forces with just 300 men!" That's probably true; 300 men alone couldn't do it. But the Lord can--which is the lesson of Gideon.
When the odds are not in your favor, don't think that God has abandoned you. Your friends, money, and success may disappear, but those won't win the battle anyway. Stand your ground and keep your eye on the Lord. With everything else stripped away, you'll be amazed at what your heavenly Father will achieve.
Content taken from Charles Stanley
The Problem with Anger
Do not murder." (Exodus 20:13)
The sixth commandment obviously forbids the taking of another human life for no justifiable reason. We might say, "Well, I've never murdered anyone. At least I can say I haven't broken this commandment."
But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared,
You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment." But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. (Matthew 5:21--22)
So, anger in our hearts can be like murdering someone. According to 1 John 3:15, "Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them."
The word, "hate," used here means "to habitually despise." It is not speaking of only a passing emotion of the affections, but a deep-rooted loathing.
Now we all lose our tempers here and there. But this is speaking of hating, loathing, or despising someone. It is allowing bitterness toward someone to develop over a period of time--to the point that you are seething with anger every time you see that person or hear his or her name.
Spreading lies about someone, gossiping about them, or assassinating their character can be like murder. If you love God, then you will love your neighbor. And if you love your neighbor, you won't do these things to them.
The sixth commandment obviously forbids the taking of another human life for no justifiable reason. We might say, "Well, I've never murdered anyone. At least I can say I haven't broken this commandment."
But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared,
You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment." But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. (Matthew 5:21--22)
So, anger in our hearts can be like murdering someone. According to 1 John 3:15, "Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them."
The word, "hate," used here means "to habitually despise." It is not speaking of only a passing emotion of the affections, but a deep-rooted loathing.
Now we all lose our tempers here and there. But this is speaking of hating, loathing, or despising someone. It is allowing bitterness toward someone to develop over a period of time--to the point that you are seething with anger every time you see that person or hear his or her name.
Spreading lies about someone, gossiping about them, or assassinating their character can be like murder. If you love God, then you will love your neighbor. And if you love your neighbor, you won't do these things to them.
The Needs Of A Parent
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will
guide thee with mine eye" (Ps. 32:8)
The greatest of all parents is helping you.
Dear God, your Word assures me that no evil will befall me or my children,
and that the angels of heaven will keep us in all our ways. I claim this promise
especially for my children, and I know that angelic protection will bear them up
and keep them safe. Thank you, Father.
Guide me in my parenting, Lord. I receive your words, and I hide your
commands in my heart. As I do this, my heart inclines to your wisdom, and
I apply my heart to your understanding. I cry for your knowledge, and I lift up
my voice for understanding. I seek your wisdom as silver, and I search for your
wisdom as I would search for a hidden treasure. Thank you Father, for enabling
me to understand the reverential fear of you, and for helping me to know you, for
you have given me wisdom, and from your mouth I receive knowledge and understanding.
Lord God, my children are so important to me. I realize that they are a
wonderful heritage you have given to me. My precious children are a reward
from your hands. Help me to love my children the way they need to be loved.
Lord, you have promised to be a parent to my children and to me. Thank you
Father. I am so grateful that you are showing me how to be an effective parent
at all times, through your guidance.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
guide thee with mine eye" (Ps. 32:8)
The greatest of all parents is helping you.
Dear God, your Word assures me that no evil will befall me or my children,
and that the angels of heaven will keep us in all our ways. I claim this promise
especially for my children, and I know that angelic protection will bear them up
and keep them safe. Thank you, Father.
Guide me in my parenting, Lord. I receive your words, and I hide your
commands in my heart. As I do this, my heart inclines to your wisdom, and
I apply my heart to your understanding. I cry for your knowledge, and I lift up
my voice for understanding. I seek your wisdom as silver, and I search for your
wisdom as I would search for a hidden treasure. Thank you Father, for enabling
me to understand the reverential fear of you, and for helping me to know you, for
you have given me wisdom, and from your mouth I receive knowledge and understanding.
Lord God, my children are so important to me. I realize that they are a
wonderful heritage you have given to me. My precious children are a reward
from your hands. Help me to love my children the way they need to be loved.
Lord, you have promised to be a parent to my children and to me. Thank you
Father. I am so grateful that you are showing me how to be an effective parent
at all times, through your guidance.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
