We Know We Are Growing Spiritually When:

We become increasingly aware of our sinfulness and weakness.

We respond to sin with quick repentance.

Our desire to obey intensifies, and the attraction of sin lessens.

We view trials and temptations as opportunities for growth.

We perceive whatever comes our way as being from Him.

A series of steps led to Peter's denial of the Savior

First: too much self-confidence

Second: following at a distance

Third: hanging out with the wrong crowd

Luke 22:55 shows Peter warming himself at the enemy's fire, in the courtyard of Caiaphas, who was trying Jesus. At this point, Peter was already worn down, defeated, and weak. He was vulnerable, and the last place he should have been was at a fire surrounded by unbelievers.

Sometimes we think we are influencing others, when in fact they are influencing us. Sometimes we think that we are pulling them up, when in fact they are pulling us down. Psalms 1:1 says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful." Notice the regression in the words in Psalm 1. First, there is walking. Then there is standing. And finally, there is sitting.

When we sin, it usually begins with a series of steps. And when we hang around with the wrong people in the wrong places, we are going to end up doing the wrong thing.

Prayer Breeds Wisdom

In 1996, my husband was severely ill. I was somewhat a newlywed, inexperienced, overwhelmed, and overburdened with a 2-year-old child to care for.

As a new convert in my church, I did not know too much about prayer and its power. That is until I discovered it for myself.

On a Tuesday evening, following the prayer service the pastor, who knew about my situation, said to me, "Hold on firm! Sometimes God is just testing us."

 "Are you kidding?" I thought to myself. "God, if this is a test, I had enough." I couldn't wait to get home and get on my knees and pray, even though I didn't know what I was going to say.

Needless to say, I did pretty well. I knew nothing about confessing sins, ask and you shall receive, and so on...All I knew was that I found myself weeping and wailing and begging for mercy.

"God, please have mercy on me. I can't take this anymore." Before the prayer, if someone asked me what "this" meant, I couldn't tell them. But, God knew exactly what it meant and provided for me accordingly.

I got on my knees heavy laden and rose up as light as a feather. Between work, visiting my husband in rehab, picking up my child from Daycare, and taking care of the house, I was a mess. I was stressed out and getting sick often.

"I was blind but now I see." My days didn't have to be chaotic anymore. Suddenly, I knew what to do. "I don't have to answer the phone when I'm busy."

How wise is that?

Ready, Set, Fight

How often do we have to fight our battles
Sometimes for ourselves and sometimes for our brethren

How often do we find ourselves in a jam trying to find
The right tool or weaponry to fight our battles

How often do we end up choosing the weaponry
That is unfit to give us victory in battles

How often are we reminded as to what
The best weaponry is and yet ignored it

How often does prayer become the first
Weaponry that comes to mind when in battle

How often do we take our battles to God in prayer
And let Him use us as He wants on the battle field

Let us not try to put out forest fires using a squirt gun
Let us use the spiritual weaponry that God has given us.

What Are All These Calls About?

Called to Salvation
Since the fall of Adam and Eve, sin has created a separation between God and man. But God reaches out to us to reinstate our relationship with Him by offering Christ on the cross in our stead. That is salvation through Jesus Christ.

Called to Sanctification
Once saved through Christ, God calls us to holiness. That is those of us who are willing to accept Christ righteousness and obedience. We are then set apart to become His special helpers. Our collaboration is necessary in order for us to grow into Christlikeness, even though this is strictly an act of God.

Called to Service
Once sanctified, we are chosen to witness to the world in whatever capacity God has placed us.

God might be calling you. Are you listening?

Every Believer Has A Story...

The more we surrender to God
The more we see Him working in our lives.

The more we watch Him work
The more we desire to share Him with others.

Our personal experiences with Christ
Will motivate us to share the good news.

We gain confidence from His promise
To be with us and empower us.

Remember His command to spread
The gospel around the globe.

To make disciples and baptize
People from all nations.

One of our highest callings
Is to tell others about Christ.

Loving God involves having
A personal relationship with Jesus.

And sharing Him with others
So, what's your story...?

Just Imagine...

A tree!

Planting it in the front yard

Digging  it up after a few months

Planting it in the back yard

 Failing to flourish

Struggling to even survive

Never producing fruit

Becoming useless

Eventually getting cut down and burning in fire

                Vs.

A person!

Deciding to go church

Reading the Bible

Praying regularly

Just for a few months

Repeating the process over and over

Never growing spiritually

Never producing spiritual fruit

Failing to abide in Christ

Just imagine....

What Mercy Is... Vs. What Mercy Is Not...

What Mercy Is...

Mercy is pity plus action
Mercy is a virtue
Mercy is something we do
Mercy is to help a person in need
Mercy is to rescue the miserable
Mercy is a desire to relieve the suffering
Mercy is to be spiritual

We will be merciful when we recognize how much mercy Christ extended to us by his death on the cross.


What Mercy Is Not...

Mercy is not something we feel
Mercy is not a weakness
Mercy is not a disease of the soul
Mercy is not "I feel your pain"
Mercy is not critical
Mercy is not quick to condemn

We will not be merciful when we refuse to see ourselves as we really are and fail to recognize how much mercy Christ extended to us by dying on the cross.

Am I a...?

 "Believing without seeing" is usually what Christians are expected to do to be considered faithful according to many. This has always been difficult for me and continues to be so. Over the years, I have taken this statement to a different level. I will believe with understanding. One can easily see and not understand. I endeavor in my Christian walk to always ask God for understanding of the things that I see and hear. Especially, the sermons I hear and the reading of His Word. Thomas was called  a "Doubting Thomas" because he needed to see Jesus for himself after the resurrection. I think what Jesus gave him was not just proof by sight but understanding to believe that what he saw was really Jesus. "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7 KJV)

Are you a...?

The Word Of God Can...

Christians need the Word of God because our hearts are always wandering. Like Jonah, we sometimes run from God. It takes the power of the Word to direct us back to our first love. When that love is established, we will make a conscious effort to go the Word every day and therefore, have it become a daily reality and experience for us all. We must allow God to remind us every day of what Christ has done for us on the cross through His Word in order to remain convinced that Jesus' sacrifice on behalf of all of us is relevant.

How has the Word helped you?

A Saint Is...

In a bible study class, a young child was asked to explain what a saint was. Remembering the stained glass windows in church, the child said, "Oh, saints are those people that the light shines through." Believe it or not that little boy hit it right on the nail with his response. As Christians, we are called to be saints. Those that the light shines through to represent Christ in this world. I am reminded of this song, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine." Everywhere we step foot, we should let our light shine for Jesus. No matter what circumstances we are facing, our light should never become dim or go out because our light source is alive now and forever more.

What is a saint to you?

Bible Reading Plan--It's Never Too Late To Start

                           BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

	The Law	History	Psalms	Poetry	Prophecy	Gospels	Epistles
Week	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1	Genesis 1-3	Joshua 1-5	Psalm 1-2	Job 1-2	Isaiah 1-6	Matthew 1-2	Romans 1-2
2	Genesis 4-7	Joshua 6-10	Psalm 3-5	Job 3-4	Isaiah 7-11	Matthew 3-4	Romans 3-4
3	Genesis 8-11	Joshua 11-15	Psalm 6-8	Job 5-6	Isaiah 12-17	Matthew 5-7	Romans 5-6
4	Genesis 12-15	Joshua 16-20	Psalm 9-11	Job 7-8	Isaiah 18-22	Matthew 8-10	Romans 7-8
5	Genesis 16-19	Joshua 21-24	Psalm 12-14	Job 9-10	Isaiah 23-28	Matthew 11-13	Romans 9-10
6	Genesis 20-23	Judges 1-6	Psalm 15-17	Job 11-12	Isaiah 29-33	Matthew 14-16	Romans 11-12
7	Genesis 24-27	Judges 7-11	Psalm 18-20	Job 13-14	Isaiah 34-39	Matthew 17-19	Romans 13-14
8	Genesis 28-31	Judges 12-16	Psalm 21-23	Job 15-16	Isaiah 40-44	Matthew 20-22	Romans 15-16
9	Genesis 32-35	Judges 17-21	Psalm 24-26	Job 17-18	Isaiah 45-50	Matthew 23-25	I Corinthians 1-2
10	Genesis 36-39	Ruth	Psalm 27-29	Job 19-20	Isaiah 51-55	Matthew 26-28	I Corinthians 3-4
11	Genesis 40-43	I Samuel 1-5	Psalm 30-32	Job 21-22	Isaiah 56-61	Mark 1-2	I Corinthians 5-6
12	Genesis 44-47	I Samuel 6-10	Psalm 33-35	Job 23-24	Isaiah 62-66	Mark 3-4	I Corinthians 7-8
13	Genesis 48-50	I Samuel 11-15	Psalm 36-38	Job 25-26	Jeremiah 1-6	Mark 5-6	I Corinthians 9-10
14	Exodus 1-4	I Samuel 16-20	Psalm 39-41	Job 27-28	Jeremiah 7-11	Mark 7-8	I Corinthians 11-12
15	Exodus 5-8	I Samuel 21-25	Psalm 42-44	Job 29-30	Jeremiah 12-16	Mark 9-10	I Corinthians 13-14
16	Exodus 9-12	I Samuel 26-31	Psalm 45-47	Job 31-32	Jeremiah 17-21	Mark 11-12	I Corinthians 15-16
17	Exodus 13-16	II Samuel 1-4	Psalm 48-50	Job 33-34	Jeremiah 22-26	Mark 13-14	II Corinthians 1-3
18	Exodus 17-20	II Samuel 5-9	Psalm 51-53	Job 35-36	Jeremiah 27-31	Mark 15-16	II Corinthians 4-5
19	Exodus 21-24	II Samuel 10-14	Psalm 54-56	Job 37-38	Jeremiah 32-36	Luke 1-2	II Corinthians 6-8
20	Exodus 25-28	II Samuel 15-19	Psalm 57-59	Job 39-40	Jeremiah 37-41	Luke 3-4	II Corinthians 9-10
21	Exodus 29-32	II Samuel 20-24	Psalm 60-62	Job 41-42	Jeremiah 42-46	Luke 5-6	II Corinthians 11-13
22	Exodus 33-36	I Kings 1-4	Psalm 63-65	Proverbs 1	Jeremiah 47-52	Luke 7-8	Galatians 1-3
23	Exodus 37-40	I Kings 5-9	Psalm 66-68	Proverbs 2-3	Lamentations	Luke 9-10	Galatians 4-6
24	Leviticus 1-3	I Kings 10-13	Psalm 69-71	Proverbs 4	Ezekiel 1-6	Luke 11-12	Ephesians 1-3
25	Leviticus 4-6	I Kings 14-18	Psalm 72-74	Proverbs 5-6	Ezekiel 7-12	Luke 13-14	Ephesians 4-6
26	Leviticus 7-9	I Kings 19-22	Psalm 75-77	Proverbs 7	Ezekiel 13-18	Luke 15-16	Philippians 1-2
27	Leviticus 10-12	II Kings 1-5	Psalm 78-80	Proverbs 8-9	Ezekiel 19-24	Luke 17-18	Philippians 3-4
28	Leviticus 13-15	II Kings 6-10	Psalm 81-83	Proverbs 10	Ezekiel 25-30	Luke 19-20	Colossians 1-2
29	Leviticus 16-18	II Kings 11-15	Psalm 84-86	Proverbs 11-12	Ezekiel 31-36	Luke 21-22	Colossians 3-4
30	Leviticus 19-21	II Kings 16-20	Psalm 87-89	Proverbs 13	Ezekiel 37-42	Luke 23-24	I Thessalonians 1-3
31	Leviticus 22-24	II Kings 21-25	Psalm 90-92	Proverbs 14-15	Ezekiel 43-48	John 1-2	I Thessalonians 4-5
32	Leviticus 25-27	I Chronicles 1-4	Psalm 93-95	Proverbs 16	Daniel 1-6	John 3-4	II Thessalonians
33	Numbers 1-4	I Chronicles 5-9	Psalm 96-98	Proverbs 17-18	Daniel 7-12	John 5-6	I Timothy 1-3
34	Numbers 5-8	I Chronicles 10-14	Psalm 99-101	Proverbs 19	Hosea 1-7	John 7-9	I Timothy 4-6
35	Numbers 9-12	I Chronicles 15-19	Psalm 102-104	Proverbs 20-21	Hosea 8-14	John 10-12	II Timothy 1-2
36	Numbers 13-16	I Chronicles 20-24	Psalm 105-107	Proverbs 22	Joel	John 13-15	II Timothy 3-4
37	Numbers 17-20	I Chronicles 25-29	Psalm 108-110	Proverbs 23-24	Amos 1-4	John 16-18	Titus
38	Numbers 21-24	II Chronicles 1-5	Psalm 111-113	Proverbs 25	Amos 5-9	John 19-21	Philemon
39	Numbers 25-28	II Chronicles 6-10	Psalm 114-116	Proverbs 26-27	Obadiah	Acts 1-2	Hebrews 1-4
40	Numbers 29-32	II Chronicles 11-15	Psalm 117-118	Proverbs 28	Jonah	Acts 3-4	Hebrews 5-7
41	Numbers 33-36	II Chronicles 16-20	Psalm 119	Proverbs 29-30	Micah	Acts 5-6	Hebrews 8-10
42	Deuteronomy 1-3	II Chronicles 21-24	Psalm 120-121	Proverbs 31	Nahum	Acts 7-8	Hebrews 11-13
43	Deuteronomy 4-6	II Chronicles 25-28	Psalm 122-124	Ecclesiastes 1-2	Habakkuk	Acts 9-10	James 1-3
44	Deuteronomy 7-9	II Chronicles 29-32	Psalm 125-127	Ecclesiastes 3-4	Zephaniah	Acts 11-12	James 4-5
45	Deuteronomy 10-12	II Chronicles 33-36	Psalm 128-130	Ecclesiastes 5-6	Haggai	Acts 13-14	I Peter 1-3
46	Deuteronomy 13-15	Ezra 1-5	Psalm 131-133	Ecclesiastes 7-8	Zechariah 1-7	Acts 15-16	I Peter 4-5
47	Deuteronomy 16-19	Ezra 6-10	Psalm 134-136	Ecclesiastes 9-10	Zechariah 8-14	Acts 17-18	II Peter
48	Deuteronomy 20-22	Nehemiah 1-4	Psalm 137-139	Ecclesiastes 11-12	Malachi	Acts 19-20	I John 1-3
49	Deuteronomy 23-25	Nehemiah 5-9	Psalm 140-142	Song of Solomon 1-2	Revelation 1-6	Acts 21-22	I John 4-5
50	Deuteronomy 26-28	Nehemiah 10-13	Psalm 143-145	Song of Solomon 3-4	Revelation 7-11	Acts 23-24	II John
51	Deuteronomy 29-31	Esther 1-5	Psalm 146-148	Song of Solomon 5-6	Revelation 12-17	Acts 25-26	III John
52	Deuteronomy 32-34	Esther 6-10	Psalm 149-150	Song of Solomon 7-8	Revelation 18-22	Acts 27-28	Jude