Why Christian Fail to Grow

Why Christians Fail to Grow
By Frank King

In the book of Hebrews, the writer brings up an interesting church problem: “For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12, KJV). First, the writer is not talking to new converts, but he is talking to Christians who have been in the faith long enough that by now they should be serving as teachers in the church.

Secondly, not only did these believers fail to grow, but also they had actually regressed spiritually. They needed to be taught AGAIN, the basic doctrines of Christianity! Though God inspired the writer to pen the above verse over 1900 years ago, the problem is just as real today.

Let me quickly share with you several reasons why our failure to grow as Christians is a problem. The first one has to do with the will of God for us. He wants us to become like His Son. God is actively working in our lives to finish the good work that He has begun in us. He has no desire to stop until we attain unto the fullness of Christ so that as Christ was in the world so shall we be.

The second reason has to do with our service to God. If we fail to grow, we limit what He can accomplish through us. Of course, there are many things He can use us to do even when we are babes in Christ, but there are many things that only mature Christians can effectively do. A case in point is the verse quoted above. This portion of the epistle was specifically aimed at those members of the local church who by virtue of their time in Christ should now be teachers. Their failure to grow, however, made that impossible.

Thirdly, in a local church where Christians fail to grow, excessive carnality can be the result. Paul the apostle wrote to the church of Corinth regarding this selfsame problem (see 1 Corinthians 3). He said the evidence of their carnality was reflected in the envying, strife and divisions among them. It is certainly true that people who are spiritually mature handle conflict in more Christlike manners than immature and carnal-minded Christians do. A pastor whose church is plagued with carnality will feel the burden of the increased disharmony.

I could on and on listing the problems with Christians failing to grow. But a more important question is, what is the solution? How do Christians who have been babes way too long stem the tide and put themselves on the road to maturity? In the book of Hebrews, two verses down from the verse I quoted above, here is what the Bible gives for an answer: “Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14, NIV). In other words, the key to spiritual maturity is to constantly use or put into practicethe truths that we are exposed to.

There is no groundbreaking revelation in that verse, but we know it’s right. The bottom line is that Christianity is not simply a religion, but more importantly, it is a way of life. We must live it each day. In doing so, we exercise our spiritual senses, thereby learning to discern good from evil. This dynamic is fundamental to Christian growth. Those who fail to do this will not experience significant spiritual growth.

Frank King is a former church pastor. He is currently an evangelist. Frank is also the author of two books, Indiscreetly Yours and Steps to the Victorious Walk. Website: http://www.efrankking.com. Blog: http://wwwefrankking.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

He Calls Me Beloved

Have you ever felt that you were not worthy of this oh so great salvation?  It might even seem that God would not consider you worthy to call His own and far be it from Him to speak directly to you.  Why would He want to deal with a wretch so undone?

Many times we initiate conversations with God out of desperation or need.  Being plagued with feelings of inadequacy and unrighteousness often cause us to feel very distant from our Lord instead of drawing us nearer to Him.  I can remember a time that I never expected a response at all.  I just assumed the conversations were one way.  I treated our Lord as a sounding board and nothing more.

Author Pamela Marhad candidly shares what she has experienced thus far on this tedious journey in her book, He Calls Me Beloved.   Marhad ,through intimate conversations,shares how our Lord Jesus introduced Himself to her.  Through their conversations readers learn that, as with any successful relationship, trust must be developed and personalities learned. Each conversation gives insight into the character of God and how we should learn to obediently submit and just trust.

Between the covers of He Calls Me Beloved, a true love story unfolds.  Rather than a vengeful, cold and distant Father, Marhad learns of the gentle, patient provider we serve.  Reminded of her futility, Marhad is strengthened and encouraged by a loving and reassuring Father that is confident in what He has poured into His beloved. I could easily identify with many of the exchanges in this narrative.

Even the strongest of believers often fail to realize that God desires for us to long to sup with Him like a deer pants for water as David so eloquently put it.  He desires that we recognize that our hearts were not designed to function without Him.  He continually woos us and reminds us that His love has no expiration date.  He wants to be the one we run to and call on first and not as an afterthought when man has failed us yet again.

Marhad shares how the enemy attempts to use the sins of our past coupled with lies to defeat us.  Yet, the answers she received in those seemingly dark times serve as encouragement to any believer to delight in the Lord and trust in His strength.

This book, brief and colloquially written at times, was a quick but convicting read. The book flows quite freely with the exception of a few short stories scattered throughout the book.  The end of each chapter offers a unique feature.  “Enter In” encourages the reader to apply what was learned in the proceeding chapter in practical ways-baby steps.  The reader is challenged with some self examination and encouraged to “delve deeper” along with a scripture to encourage.

Overall, I was truly blessed by the exchanges Marhad chose to share. I found He Calls Me Beloved to be a refreshing glimpse into the the walk of one believer that was brave enough to share her most intimate thoughts and fears in order to help others win the war– one battle at a time.

 

Please enjoy this excerpt from He Calls Me Beloved

Beloved, do you have time for Me?
Yes, Lord. Thank You for stopping me from rushing off to get things done without visiting with You. You know how anxious I get when I have several matters that need my attention.
I stopped you because you need Me, daughter. Refresh yourself in My love for you. Let this be a day of creative activity together. The things you must do will never satisfy you unless they are shared with Me.

Lord, My “to do” list is made up of everyday responsibilities.  Are these the kinds of things You want to share with me?  They seem so ordinary and unimportant compared with the serious needs in our world.

Daughter,  most of human life is made up of the ordinary.  If you only allow Me to meet with you in the extraordinary matters, not much is left for us to share!  I delight in living your ordinary life with you.  In fact, it is only in living the ordinary with me that you will be able to enter into the extraordinary.

The routine matters of your day take on new purpose when you share them with Me.  I say this to encourage you to persevere.  Seek Me in your day-to-day, moment-to-moment life.  Talk with Me, laugh with Me, listen to Me.  Become familiar with My voice and My ways.  In doing so, you will bring both of us great pleasure as we share life together.

The things I have called  you to do are all around you each day.  Be faithful in those things and let Me have the responsibility for whatever comes next.

Beloved, the important thing to learn is to follow My lead.  I don’t want to be structured into your day; I want to be your day—all of your life shared with Me, the Lord of Life.  This is not an impossible goal.  This is My will for you.  We will not give up on this goal, because the rewards will be great.

• Publisher: Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing
• ISBN-10: 1414113145
• ISBN-13: 978-1414113142

Our Father in Heaven

Our Father in Heaven
By Anne Simpson

A woman’s view of her Heavenly Father is often tainted by her view of her earthly father. A cold and distant father? A cold and distant God. Likewise, a generous, loving father renders her view of God as generous and loving as well.

How about you? What was your father like? A stern disciplinarian? Strict but loving? Gentle and quiet? Fun-loving and playful? Now, how do you view God as He relates to you on a daily basis? Faithful, but far removed from the details of your life? A stern judge who demands punishment for every infraction? Or a loving God Who guides you through all of life’s valleys and mountains?

It is a heavy burden to place on a human father, that of portraying the Heavenly Father to his children. No matter how loving or wise a father may be, he could never adequately demonstrate the truth of Who our Heavenly Father is and what He is like. Of course, the truth is found in God’s Word He often refers to Himself as our father (Galatians 4:6), and tells us in great detail exactly what He is like and how He feels about us, His children. If you ever find yourself projecting your father’s qualities onto your perception of God, turn to these passages for the truth:

Our Father in Heaven

1. cares for even the smallest of His children.

Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 18:10

2. protects and cares for those who have no earthly father.

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. Psalms 68:5

You [God] are the helper of the fatherless. Psalms 10:14b

3. gives good gifts to His children.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

4. is perfect and holy; He never sins.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:16

5. meets the needs of His children.

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:27

For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:32,33

6. is both merciful and just.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14, 15

7. in His mercy gives us salvation and the hope of eternal life by the sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1-3-5

Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. Galatians 1:4

8. teaches us about Himself.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Ephesians 1:17

9. gives grace and peace.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. II Thessalonians 1:2

10. must discipline His children.

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Hebrews 12:7

11. deserves glory.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6

Anne Simpson, stay-at-home-mom to one toddler and one on the way, loving wife to a loving husband, faithful member of a local church, prone-to-wander child of God

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Sweet Little Lily

Sweet Little Lilly
By Bob Valleau

Little Lilly’s Sunday school teacher had his five-year-old students bow their heads and say a one-sentence prayer at the end of every class. For several weeks, he would hear Lilly pray the same thing: “Lord, please make my mommy feel better.”

The teacher wondered what could be afflicting Lilly’s mother. Then, one Sunday, when it was time for Lilly to pray, she was silent.

“Are you okay, Lilly?” asked the teacher.

Lilly mumbled, “Yes.”

“Is there some reason you don’t want to pray?”

“Well, I want to say more.”

“That would be fine. And the reason why?”

Lilly raised her head and said with the biggest grin, “Because Jesus made my mommy feel better.”

“Oh? How so?”

“He took her away to be with Him in heaven.”

The teacher gasped and was astonished at Lilly’s perspective about her mother’s death. Not wanting to dampen Lilly’s happiness that her mother was no longer suffering, the teacher said, “In that case, take as much time as you need, Lilly, and use as many words as you want to say.”

That day, the teacher learned a valuable lesson from sweet little Lilly: It matters not what happens in life that affects us. It is how we see things that determines our joy or sadness.

Copyright 2010 by Bob Valleau. Bob has over 25 years of writing experience for the Christian market. He was once named Christian Writer of the Year by the American Christian Writers Association. Currently, he freelances and lives in Texas.

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Spontaneous Worshipper

Spontaneous worship.  Would you? Could you, without the prompting of the praise leaders on Sunday morning– just worship?  Could you really lose sight on yourself, your situation and the things around you and simply worship?  I’m not referring to the automated hand claps and victory laps that we have been programmed to think are “real worship.” Not just physical worship because the praise team just sang our song–it has to be more.  Our hearts and minds have to no longer be so cognizant of who we think we are.  We must make a decision to worship God for who He is!

Today, I ran across an interesting video that I believe captured worship. An up and coming musician, Carlos Whittaker, was attempting to record a promotional video for his upcoming release when a homeless man, Danny, walks up to him as he prepares to sing.  Danny appears to kneel in reverence as he worships through song. It is difficult to ignore the sincerity in both of their voices.  The result is amazing.

Carlos shares some more on his blog that is hard to pick up from the video:

If you listen carefully at the end you hear me saying this to Danny. “Keep trying to make it man.”

He looked me square in the eye… cocked his head sideways with a confused look on his face… and said, “Trying to make it? No man. I ain’t trying to make it… I’m making it. Jah puts his soldiers everywhere. Jah says, Yea though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… So he places some of us, in that valley.”

What is so amazing is that this obviously homeless man understands that he might just be there for a reason.  I know that would be a hard pill to swallow for most of us.  Yet, with humility he seems to have accepted the call and continues to simply worship.  Could you?

Good Friday Poem

by Alan Allegra

“What makes Good Friday good?” you ask.
A challenge! A rather daunting task.
Some may dismiss it with a shrug and a smirk,
And consider it another day off work.
Others, religious, pious as such,
Take a few minutes for a mournful watch;
Merchants unlock their doors with glee,
Anticipating the pre-Easter shopping spree.
A bunny here, a chocolate egg there,
Symbols of a society that doesn’t care.
“Care?” you say, “Do you mean me?”
“What’s there to care; how can this be?”
It’s the cross, you forget, that rugged wood,
That makes Good Friday eternally good.
What’s so good about the death of an ancient man,
Who died long before my life began?
This man, who on this earth once trod,
Was not only man, but the Son of God.
That wood, that tree, that old rugged cross,
Was the symbol of gain and the symbol of loss.
To those who believe, it is the promise of gain;
The hope that, like Jesus, we’ll rise again!
For the skeptic, the doubter, the meaning is loss;
An eternal gulf, which no one can cross.
Good Friday is good, because of the death
Of Jesus the Savior, who gave His last breath
So you, friend, and I, could be cleared of our guilt,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb that was spilt.
Mourn not, my dear soul, for the death of the Lamb,
For that cross made the bridge to the Great I AM.
Christ paid the price, rose again to God’s side,
And brought us next Sunday: the Resurrection-tide!

Source:  http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=67564

Follow Me

Many people often compliment my husband and I in regards to the eating habits of our children, especially our three year old.  She doesn’t eat candy.  In fact, she refuses it!  She has just begun to experiment with very small pieces of chocolate but, that’s it.  She prefers carrots, celery, apples and grapes, etc.  Of course, we don’t mind, its good for her.

But, when and how did this happen?  How did we do it?  She simply mimics the behaviors modeled before her.  We don’t really do junk food.  Yes, we have the occasional dessert but, it is not an every evening event.

Just as she mimics or rather imitates our good eating habits I have also noticed her exhibit some of our areas of opportunity (that’s the PC way to say negative).  She watches us even when we are unaware and we have an indelible effect on her.

As believers we must recognize that we are always on display before the world.  We have an effect on their attitudes toward salvation.  If we really think of every unbeliever as potentially part of the harvest what kind of believer would they become if they imitated you?  Would they be Christlike?  And what of our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those that are babes?  We can easily cause them to stumble because of our behaviors and attitudes.  It should be our goal to exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit and not be a stumbling block in their way.

Some of us actually desire that people follow us–mimic our behaviors.  Such desires should be put in check immediately and we should lay hold to the position of our brother Paul when he said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.“ (1 Cor. 11:1)  Paul was encouraging us to follow his example of imitating Christ’s behaviors, not his own.  Paul’s one desire was to walk a path that would lead others to Christ, even at the risk of forfeiting personal satisfaction. (1 Cor. 10:33)  He didn’t want any detours that would cause himself or others to lose their way. In fact, in Phil. 3:17 Paul encouraged the Phillipian Church to take note of those who lived according to the pattern he had given them.  So, if they felt they might be losing their way they had already noted examples of those who were truly following Christ.

Take note of those around you and ensure that you are following Godly examples.  More importantly, ensure that you are being a good example yourself.  If we allow our steps to be ordered by the Lord and stop leaning to our own understanding we will not have to worry about who is following us–it won’t be us they are following at all.  They will be following Christ as we imitate Him.

Growing Your Capacity to Love

Growing Your Capacity to Love
By Greg Baker

We’re all born with the capacity to love. After all, we are born in God’s image. For some, that capacity is limited only to self, which usually makes it difficult to love others. In a nut shell, our capacity to love is dependent upon our ability to absorb, accept, and deal with being hurt by someone else.

Loving someone isn’t the euphoria and paradise that so much of our main stream philosophy tends to portray. In fact, the more love you give someone the greater the chances will be that they’ll hurt you. It doesn’t mean that they will do so intentionally, but either way, their ability to hurt you emotionally, psychologically, and even spiritually increase proportionally to the degree of love you show them.

If you truly love someone, you make sacrifices for them. You open yourself up to them and tie parts of yourself to them emotionally and spiritually. This is a big deal. Getting cussed out by a stranger doesn’t hurt near as much as being cussed out by someone you really love.

So, if you love, then you’re going to get hurt. This isn’t something to be afraid of, nor is it something that you should ignore. It is just a fact of life. I would rather love and be hurt than never to love and never to be hurt. Not loving someone does more damage to your spirit and emotions than being hurt by someone you do love.

The benefits of loving people can far out strip the down side of being hurt. If you have enough people that you are loving, you always have people to retreat to when another of them hurt you. But loving people gives you a much more positive outlook on life. It allows you to experience peace with your surroundings and circumstances. Yes, love people. It is so worth it.

HOW TO GROW YOUR CAPACITY TO LOVE

The more pain and emotional trauma you can absorb and deal with the greater your capacity to love others. It sounds like a rotten trade off, but it’s not. If you can’t handle being hurt, you’ll build walls between you and people. You’ll withdraw into yourself, carry a chip on your shoulder, and generally push people away. You won’t experience a close relationship, and it could lead you to begin to hate yourself.

I pastor a Church and I look to love every one that steps in the doors. This means that each of them, in their own way, has the ability to hurt me. I accept that. And, indeed, I’ve been hurt by many of them. But I strive not to take things so personally in life. I try to be a shock absorber. I don’t crack under the pain, I just absorb it and shunt it off.

You keep so many more relationships if you can do that. I can’t recall the times that I’ve managed to strengthen a relationship because I absorbed the pain inflicted on me by someone else. If husbands would learn to do this for their wives, they would have the position and ability to strengthen their marriage to such a strong degree. If wives could learn to do this for their husbands, they wouldn’t feel so alone and find they have a unique position to strengthen their marriage.

When you get hurt, you get defensive. You take a position and start lobbing verbal artillery shells at the object of perceived attack. Instead of absorbing the hurt and looking for a solution, injured people usually make the situation even worse. You start building walls that shuts out everyone.

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

1. Don’t take things so personally.

2. Don’t focus on your pain. Instead, focus on the other person and what might be done to fix the relationship. If you can repair the relationship, your pain will be relieved.

3. Think of yourself as a shock absorber. Look for the best in people instead of the worst.

4. Don’t quit because you get hurt. You only got hurt because you cared. That in itself is worth the price.

5. If you handle it right, you have the opportunity to strengthen the relationship.

6. Remember, you’ve probably hurt people too.

The larger your capacity to love, the greater your happiness can be. Oh, you’ll get hurt here and there, but dealing with it right will allow you to retain your joy.

Please visit our website at: http://www.fitlyspoken.org For more books and resources to build Christ honoring relationships, express yourself, and develop stronger communication and social skills.

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The Way

For 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

GEICO, Allstate, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Fidelis; there are many different insurance companies. There are many different kinds of insurances.  There’s life insurance, health insurance, car insurance, flood insurance, house insurance, pet insurance, and there’s even now car maintenance insurance.  People feel safer when they know they insured.  Amen but, how safe can this type of insurance really make you?

Life insurance can only be benefited from in the event of your or someone’s death.  Something would actually have to happen to your car for your car insurance to take effect, and health insurance is there for when your heath fails. Whether it’s just a cold or if it’s full blown cancer, you still have to be in a bad way to benefit from the insurance.  And what’s the best thing that could happen with these insurances, the best case scenario?  Well if you’re not dead, your car is not wrecked and you and your family is not sick…..you get to pay the insurance company, and feel safe.

But, how would you really like to be “in good hands.”  I mean the best hands.  Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I would like to present to you….a better than life insurance….the eternal life insurance established over 2,000 years ago.  An insurance that you can benefit from whether you are sick or well.  Those other types insurance talk about constant coverage but don’t pay your premium and see how constant that coverage is.  With our plan you’re covered under the blood of Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer.  But wait—there’s more; regular life insurance ends with the physical death of the policy holder. It provides for his or her funeral expense and may even give saved up money or possessions to loved ones.  I tell you that there is an insurance that provides your sweetest benefit after your physical death.  Membership and compliance guarantees eternal life in heaven in the presence of our Holy Father.  I’ll let that sink in for a moment.

This type of life insurance—or a better term might be life assurance, is insurance for your soul.  It works great not only in the hereafter but right now.  You’re able to have joy, peace, and contentment houses and land, the whole nine.  Our Father owns all of this and if you only believe with your heart and confess with mouth that our elder brother and savior Jesus Christ died for our sins on a cross and resurrected himself on the 3^rd day you too can become a policyholder.  Let me apologize because in my excitement I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let me tell you a little bit about our organization.  The name of our organization is called The Way.  Our founder is all mighty God who resides in heaven.  Our C.E.C. and co-founder is Jesus who currently resides in heaven at our Father’s right hand.  Our vice president and co-founder in charge of training and also runs the help desk, our comforter the precious Holy Ghost.  Down my chain of command or my upline are Bishop Frazier, Elder Campbell and finally Pastor and Deacon Robinson.

Our instruction manual or standard operating procedure (S.O.P) for short consists of 66 books and as of 2007 approximately 7.5 billion have been distributed world wide.  Talk about a best seller.  All or a part of it has been printed in over 2.370 languages.  Our members today,  number between 1.5 and 2.2 billion believers.  Some famous retirees in our organization consist of Brother John, Brother Matthew, Brother Timothy and Bishop Fuller.

The way is available to everyone, all nations and all races.  Our Master’s plan is so elegant,  yet so simple that even the most educated and smartest person couldn’t mess it up by over thinking things.  In fact,  in Matthew 18:4 of our instruction manual Jesus said this (And he said “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.) The way was not always available to us all; up until approximately 2,000 years ago the way was a hand to adhere to system called the Law and only God’s original people the Jews had the rights to it.  Even when Jesus came down to earth to simplify the system it still wasn’t available to us.  But thanks to one of our pioneering representatives, Brother Paul (and the Jews rejection and crucifixion of our savior and C.E.O. Jesus) we are all, worldwide, privy to this pearl of great price.

You may by now be thinking what is the cost for something so wonderful.  Well worry not, for the premium has been paid in blood no less by our Lord and savior (our C.E.O if you will).  All you have to do is believe on Him, believe that he actually did pay that price for us and do this while the blood is still running warm in your veins.  And with that belief comes membership and with membership your name will be written in the Lamb Book at our corporate headquarters in Heaven.

Let me give you a few examples by way of personal testimony, what the way can do for you.  When I was a younger man I could end up in places and situation that make the hair stand on the back of my neck but whatever situation that was lurking m never revealed itself.  How many people know that before you ever enroll in this great plan, someone who already knows the way will put you on their policy?  All they have to do is bring your name up when they’re on their upline communicating with our C.E.O.  No doubt our pastor and deacon had a group policy for most of us back then.

My daughter gave us cause for concern with headache and a disturbing prognosis from her doctor.  It resulted in a couple of trips to Chapel Hill.  I myself got sick in 09; my condition could have had serious consequences.  In both cases we used a medical insurance through my job called Medcost.  I was lucky to have it but how many of you know that medcost was just my supplementary or secondary insurance.  The way was, and is my first to go.

Now as I’ve said before, the cost of membership has been paid in full.  As I ‘m sure you’ll remember someone said; salvation is free but it costs to keep it.  You must supply a sanctified life a godly life.  You must stay in contact with your C.E.O. on your upline constantly.  You must read your instruction manual daily.  And you love your brother as you love yourself, maybe better.  Our organization is a lean green efficient company. We keep advertisement costs down by using word of mouth, in fact every member is compelled to go out into the hedges and hi ways and tell people about our C.E.O. and the way.

As I conclude, keep in mind being on someone else’s policy will not get your name written in the Book of Life.  You need to secure a personal policy.  If you do not know the way tonight you are in a good place at a most opportune time. If you wish to secure for yourself a policy of peace that surpasses all understanding all you need to do is come down to the alter and you name can be added right now.  So don’t be without coverage a minute longer get yourself a peculiar policy.  Become one of us a royal priesthood come with us, on the way.

-Brother Darrin Johnson

A Passionate Christian Woman

A Passionate Christian Woman
By C. Maggie Woychik

What is a passionate Christian woman? Well, she’s not a woman who’s perfect, peerless or guiltless, but as human as you and me. A passionate Christian woman simply has a passion for the things of God and is driven to do something about it.
This woman thirsts for God. God is the driving force of her existence, the meaning behind her life. She doesn’t live primarily for the latest fads, fashions, or fancies, but for God. She cares little for fame or fortune, recognition or reward. Instead, she has experienced the intense satisfaction of a personal relationship with a holy God, and as a deer longs for a cool, refreshing stream to enjoy, so she longs for her God.
She hungers for Truth. In a mixed-up world where wrong often seems right, a passionate believer pursues God’s Truth with intensity. Never one to accept mere human opinion or feeling-based experience, she considers God’s Word to be as necessary to her as her daily food. She has a Berean mindset (Acts 17:11), persistently compares the spoken word to the written Word, and sifts it to find the Truth. A passionate Christian
woman is passionate about the Bible, for therein God has revealed His heart and mind for mankind.
She loves others with godly passion. She demonstrates sincere concern, models unconditional love, and does her utmost to influence those around her for heaven. She doesn’t portray one who has arrived, but one who knows where she’s going. Then she coaxes and encourages and helps others to join her on her journey. Her love is practical, pure and positive. The motivation for her outreach is her up-reach to God, and she does it with fervency and attention to detail.
She lives today with tomorrow in mind. A passionate Christian woman knows her time is limited. She is acutely aware that her life is as a drop in the bucket of time and eternity. She will pass off the scene all too quickly with only her influence remaining. She realizes she has no second chance, no life “held over on account of rain”.
So she lives each day to its fullest with this goal in mind: to follow hard on the heels of the very God in whom we live and breathe and have our being. This woman lives with a vengence, committed to going out with a bang instead of a whimper. She fulfills today’s duties while focusing on the future.
Finally, a passionate Christian woman avoids sin so she can gain intimacy with God. Though the world allures and tempts, this believer knows her boundaries and accepts her playground. She doesn’t walk the fence row, desirous of the apple across the
way. She romps and ranges in the field God has given her, content to run home at the end of the day with clean hands and a pure conscience.
Is this a description of a perfect Christian woman? No, but of a passionate one. These women don’t have boundless energy, super-human strength, or a superior spirituality. In fact, they are utterly ordinary ones who fail, fall, and are tired at the end of the day. They are tested and found wanting all too often. But they have heard from God through His Word, seen Him work in their lives, and have experienced peace, answered prayer, and comfort through the Holy Spirit. Now their heart is fixed, their commitment firm, their joy complete. They learn and grow, and find purpose in mundane tasks and the every day routine of living.
A passionate Christian woman thirsts after God, hungers for His Word, has a sincere concern for others, and lives today with tomorrow in mind. She avoids sin so she can maintain a close relationship with her Creator and Lord. She is a passionate believer living a purposeful life. She is alive with a passion for God!

Copyright 2009, C. Maggie Woychik. Maggie has over 70 published articles, poems and book reviews under her belt. Her first book is due out fall, 2009 – I Run to the Hills: Reflections on the Christian Journey. You can locate her at http://www.msghomeschoolauthors.blogspot.com or http://www.cmaggiewoychik.com.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

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