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.

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Our Daily Bread

One morning I was getting breakfast prepared for my two children.  I was getting a little anxious because it was time to go the grocery store, so our food was running low.  With two little ones, an empty cupboard can be a disaster!  As I was putting breakfast on the table, I began to wonder, ” What will I do about eating tomorrow?”  All of a sudden, Matthew 6:11 came to mind.  “Give us this day our daily bread.”  The Word hit me like a ton of bricks!  Here I am worrying about tommorow and God has provided for today.                                                        

So many times we can become consumed with the thought of tomorrow.  Matthew 6:34 states, “…do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself…”  Many times we are in situations where we are truly walking by faith and not by sight.  Life has brought challenges where we can’t trust our own efforts and abilities.  They will lead us nowhere.  We allow ourselves to be “farsighted” and not look at how and what God has provided each and every day.  We’ve become so obsessed with our seemingly bleak circimstances and we fail to trust God’s plan for our lives.  For some it is the lack material goods or provision, job loss, sickness, or debt.  For others, the place where God is calling you may seem to big for you to handle.

Day by day, God is continually giving us what we need.  God always takes care of those who love and fear Him (Psalm 37:24-26).  For some it is a meal, for others it may be strength or just the ability to open their eyes and embrace a new day.  All of us can see God’s handiwork when we can look back at situations we’ve faced in our lives and wonder “how I got over.”  I just wanted to take the time to encourage you and also to challenge you to be grateful for what God has done for you today–whatever it is.  Don’t worry about tomorrow, but be grateful for today!

Just a Reminder for all the Mothers

According to Titus 2:5 it is important that a young woman keep her home. She is “to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to [her] husband, so that no one will malign the Word of God.”  Unfortunately, our society has taken this out of context and we have placed more importance on keeping up appearances than anything else.  I ran across this great poem today that was a refreshing reminder of what my most important role in my home is…raising my children. Too many days are spent focusing on the aesthetics and not on the tasks that have true value, real merit and will place an indelible mark on the future.

I Took His Hand and Followed
Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,I didn’t make the bed,

I took his hand and followed Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring, My little son and I…

Exploring all the great outdoors Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,We wandered through a wood…

My kitchen wasn’t swept today, But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade, And now my small son knows

How Mother Bunny hides her nest, Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young, We climbed a sunlit hill…

Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky, We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected, That I didn’t brush the stairs,

In twenty years, no one on earth, Will know, or even care.

But that I’ve helped my little boy, To noble manhood grow,

In twenty years, the whole wide world, May look and see and know.

Although it appears that the author of the poem was referring to educating her son in general, Christian mothers (which should really be all mothers) have the added responsibility of raising our children in God-centered homes.  A mother’s faithful instruction multiplies to bless others as her children grow into mature servants of God. 2 Tim. 1:5

2 Timothy 1:5 (ASV)
⁵ having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.

Be blessed…

Lord, Please Bless My Mess

Hello Lord.

Its me again.  I know we haven’t been speaking quite as often as we used to.  I used to hear from you all the time.  I guess we’ve both been a little busy.  It happens.  Anyway,  since we last spoke a lot of things have happened and well, I was wondering if you could do me a solid?

Lord, I know that you told me that if I would seek you first you would take care of the rest.  And I truly am sorry that I haven’t made it to church lately but, Sunday is the only day I get a chance to spend with (fill in the blank).  He really seems to be in to me! I understand that we may be unequally yoked now but,  I am sure that once he gets to know me he will want to know you too.

I know that it is your desire that I remain sexually pure, sanctifying myself. You created sex to be a beautiful expression of love between a man and a woman who are joined in marriage.  But, we love each other and we are going to get married anyway.  Besides, no one is perfect and everyone is doing it anyway.

Once, I make it back to church I promise I will start tithing again.  I just had a few things that I really needed to buy and I knew that you would understand.  Anyway, there is this (fill in the blank) concert coming to town and I would really love to go.  Lord, could you please help me get tickets.  I understand that their music talks about all of the things that you hate but, I just like the beats.

Pastor, called and tried to tell me that I shouldn’t forsake assembling together with the congregation and that I really shouldn’t do this and that.  But, I know that I have a relationship with you.  You know my heart.

Thank you so much Lord, you always come through just when I need you.

-Amen.

At first glance the above might sound like one of the most ridiculous prayers that you have ever heard.  However, many of us pray similar prayers all the time.  Read more

Thy Will Be Done?

This evening during our bedtime routine my seven year old and I made an agreement to teach my two year old The Lord’s Prayer. We decided to begin immediately.  As we began to recite each line and await our student’s response I began to reflect on each line…Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done.

I paused for a moment as I began to consider the gravity of such a declaration.  I had to ask myself if I really wanted God’s will to be done. If I were to examine my behavior and actions would they reflect the submission of my will to that of the Father’s?  The honest answer would be that I, like many, have been inconsistent.  It has been a matter of convenience and all too often I have ignored what I know to be God’s will because it might put me in an uncomfortable position or cause me to rely on something besides my own understanding.  However, the desire to be found pleasing in His sight is far greater and offers a more gracious and valuable reward.  So, what exactly does God’s will entail?

The will can be defined as desire; decision-making capacity; by choice, without reluctance.  Often, we pray one of three ways.  First, we pray for God to lead or guide us in a particular matter or situation and never inquire as to what His will is for us. Second, we ask God to reveal, or make His will known to us and we merely attempt to include God into our will.  Or finally, we ask to be taught to do God’s will.

When we pray for guidance we are not trusting the Lord.  The steps of a good man are ordered, not guided, by the Lord.  On the occasions that we desire knowledge of God’s will it is useless for us to ask for any such revelation when we have no intention of being completely obedient.  However, when we seek to be taught how to do God’s will we become tremendously useful to the kingdom.  The psalmist David requested on numerous occasions to be taught to do the master’s will.  (Psalm 51:12; 143:10) As such, he was described as a man after God’s own heart.  Even when he sinned his desire to reconcile his broken relationship was so great that he readily submitted his will.

God teaches us in three ways. First, by his word. Secondly, he illuminates our minds by the Spirit. Thirdly, he imprints it in our hearts and maketh us obedient to the same; for the servant who knoweth the will of his master, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes: Luke 12:47.—Archibald Symson.—Treasury of David, The

Teach me to do thy will. We are to pray that God would teach us to know, and then teach us to do, his will. Knowledge without obedience is lame, obedience without knowledge is blind; and we must never hope for acceptance if we offer the blind and the lame to God.—Vincent Alsop (-1703), in “The Morning Exercises.”

—Treasury of David, The

Jesus said to Pilate: “Thou couldest have no power against Me, except it were given thee from above.” In everything that came on Him, He saw God’s will: it was all the cup the Father gave Him. When believers learn to see God’s will in everything that comes to us painful or pleasing, great or small, then the prayer, Thy will be done, becomes our unceasing expression of submission as well as praise!

My prayer is that as I make the petition, Thy will be done, that God continually transforms my will to His.  The object of God’s will is holiness.  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord…Hebrews 12:14.

Unwavering Commitment

Recently, I came across a journal that was given to me two years ago on my birthday. The first entry that I wrote was very short and succinct.Ther was one particular part of that entry that really caught my attention.

“Lord, help my commitment to You be as unwavering as Your commitment to me.”

Wow! I thought about how God has been so faithful to my family and me through the years, and how far He has brought us. Regardless of  how strong or weak my walk was. Regardless of those times I didn’t read His word  or pray as I should.   Unlike man, God’s blessings and His grace are not contingent upon these things. I DO believe that prayer is necessary to the survival and  Holy Ghost power of the believer. I also believe that every believer should have a pattern of good works. Though works do not  earn our right standing with God, they are the evidence and fruit of our relationship with Jesus Christ. God has been , He is and will continue to be faithful in my life.

There have been many times my steps have slowed down because of fear of the unknown. God has patiently and lovingly lead me where I needed to be. According to Psalm 139, He knows my thoughts before I think them. Who better to know me than my Creator.  During those times, when I (like a child just learning to walk) was hesitant and unsure of my step, my heavenly Father patiently and lovingly lead me through issues, situations, and circumstances to His path for my life. I am thankful that His grace is there for me–if I need it–shall I continue to sin that grace may abound?  I heard someone say that God will give you  just enough light for the step you are on.

I can’t helpbut praise Him and ask Him to forgive me for those times my commitment level wavered and pray for Him to  strengthen my faith and commitment –in every areal of my life. He is  faithful to His Word and He is faithful to His promises. His Word says “I am confident of the good work which He hath begun in me and will continue to work until the day of Jesus Christ.”

I thank You Lord for Your unwavering commitment to me!

Be blessed!

Two Gates- Two Paths

Two Gates-Two Paths
By naomi Cassata

When I was 4 years old, I was swimming at the beach with my family. I was in knee deep water when all of a sudden I stepped into a hole that went over my head. It turned out to be an undertow. The suction was so strong; I could barely keep my head above water. I struggled to get out but nothing seemed to help. I was terrified that I was about to drown! Right when I thought I couldn’t stay above water any longer, a couple nearby spotted me. The man reached his hand out and pulled me from death’s grip. I was exhausted and scared, but so very thankful for this stranger’s saving hand.

This horrible experience is a constant reminder of how fragile life is. When I think back, I can still feel the anxiety I felt back then. Thankfully though, there was a rescuer nearby who saved me from what appeared to be the inevitable. As bad as this whole ordeal was, there is an even worse type of drowning that millions are experiencing every day. It has nothing to do with water; but rather, the state of their spiritual lives. After death there is an eternity waiting every soul, and how we live our lives here will follow us into that forever. Unless we cling to our Rescuer, Jesus Christ, we will end up in an eternity of despair.

THREE PERSPECTIVES ON LIFE

Many look at life and exclaim “Life is Good!” as if their existence is simply about having a good time. They go on living each day without any concern for their eternal destination as they engage themselves in the world’s current affairs. Throwing themselves into the pleasures of the world has become their reason for living. Their only gratification comes from their weekend leisure. Conviction is thrown by the wayside and they lash out at anyone who disapproves of their immoral choices.

Still, you have others who acknowledge their depravity and realize there is a bigger picture than this temporary world, so they begin to search. They find God with only momentary delight. They learn that a life devoted to God requires separation from the lusts of the world, but their indulgencies are much too delicious to let go of. They juggle the two throughout their lives never fully giving themselves over to God. They attend church, associate with church people and know the church lingoes. From the outside, they look like “normal Christianity.” Yet, at the end of their life, they will look back with much regret: knowing the truth, and yet not living it. This group is actually in a much more pitiful state than the first.

Then you have, as the Bible describes, the “few” that turn to God with all their heart. Their lives are not one of worldly indulgencies because pleasing God has become their number one passion. Laying down their lives, to be more like the Good Shepherd, is their daily ambition. Their character is one of forgiveness, servant hood, meekness and sacrifice. Their honor for God is lived out in their daily lives, and is not based on their weekend church attendance. They are true reflections of their Master.

Which group do you belong to? Only one will make it to Heaven.

TWO GATES

Life offers two separate paths to walk down. The first is a broad one. This is the one that most of the world is strutting down. The gate you must enter to reach this path is just as wide as the path is. It invites various religious groups and has many enticements along the way. This broad path offers a variety of entertainments, lusts, luxuries, self indulgencies and the best part is without any conviction. If it feels good, then it is welcomed on the broad path. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (Matthew 7:13) The people on this road do not see the end of their lives. They are the first group I talked about that goes through life enjoying every moment along the way, taking no thought to what lies ahead at the end of the path. This is the most popular road because it is the most fun with minimal restraints.

The second gate is less appealing. It is so narrow and the path isn’t any better. It is not an easy one to follow. Once you’ve stepped through the gate, you will find a path much different from the previous one. It requires self denial, which is why so few will be willing to enter. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. (Luke 13:23-24) It is a difficult path to walk down because it requires lots of sacrifice on our part. Many will be intrigued by this path because at the end of the road is eternal life. But not many will be willing to walk down it. Only those that are willing to surrender their lives to follow Christ will be allowed to venture down. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24) If we aren’t willing to deny ourselves, we aren’t worthy of Christ.

The second group we talked about sees this narrow gate and knows the reward at the end. The reward interests them and they claim to have found the “Light.” Yet, when you examine their lifestyle, it is not any different from the first group. They watch the same movies and television shows, listen to the same music, laugh at the same dirty jokes, gossip behind others backs, hold grudges against those that have wronged them, do not honor God with their choices and even go as far as mocking those that are on the narrow path for their “narrow mindedness.” They see themselves as non-controversial Christians who can blend Christianity and the world together as one without being too radical. Sure they attend church every Sunday, can quote the most popular scriptures, they may even wear a cross around their necks, but none of these are true fruits of Christianity. Through their actions it is obvious they do not know Him.

WALKING AS JESUS WALKED

The world is full of darkness (sin). Sin is no longer called what it is. Society calls them “personal choices,” and for anyone to oppose them would get them labeled intolerant or judgmental. Despite what others think of us, we are to live like Jesus lived. Jesus described Himself as the light of the world, and as His followers, we too must be lights in the darkness. (John 8:12)

Salvation is not a mere ticket out of hell. Rather, it is a gift to those that while on earth, took the narrow path during their pursuit after Christ. Being a follower of Christ is not just a claim to His name. It is living as He did.

Copyright 2009

Naomi Cassata

iluvjc079@yahoo.com

I am 30 years old and have been writing since I was 19. It is a gift and a passion that God has given me. I have been married to my husband James for 6 years and we have 2 small children.

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

Overcoming the Fear of Failure

By Bob

This last weekend I had multiple conversations about failure, success, and overcoming the fear of failure. It got me thinking a lot about my battle with the fear of failure and things that have helped me in the past.

For years I wanted to start a business, but was afraid that I would fail. I, just like many others, had heard some of the rumored statistics that the vast majority of businesses fail and was frightened by them. I wanted to step out, but I was longing for some kind of assurance that I would be successful.

Change your perception of failure

The thing that helped me was that I had to change how I perceived failure. I previously thought of it as being black or white. I assumed that you either failed or succeeded and that there wasn’t anything in between.

What helped me was thinking about it with shades of gray. So in terms of this blog – I initially thought that if tons of people weren’t reading it, I would be a failure (black). If they were, I would have succeeded (white). But thinking in shades of gray, the only way for the blog to be a complete failure was that not a single person ever read it. Even if a single person stopped by and read an article, that was a small success, therefore it was a shade of gray. Just having one reader was not my ultimate goal by any means, but it would be enough so that I could say it wasn’t a total failure!

I was intimidated by the big black wall of failure and the tiny white spot of success that I was longing for. Basically what I realized was that I had this very high and lofty goal and in my mind if I didn’t reach it – everything else was a failure. Changing my perception to see shades of gray as varying degrees of success was much more motivating and optimistic.

While it sounds like a minor thing, this mind shift was crucial to me getting over my fear of failure. It was exactly what I needed to take the first step.

Failure is the key to success

We have all heard the inspiring quotes that failure is part of the journey to success, but I am finding that it really is true. This last weekend I was talking to a friend about the success of this blog and he was pretty surprised when I said that it has been just a series of failures. I can’t even begin to tell you all the things I have done wrong with this blog. Any or all of them could appropriately be labeled as a failure – but because of what I learned from them, they are direct contributors to the blog’s “success”.

I am hesitant to use the word “success” because while I reached a major milestone by making decent money with the blog, it is still a work in progress. But the point is that each one of the failures has either taught me what not to do, or what will work better. Honestly, there is no way that this blog would be where it is had it not been for the numerous and continuing failures.

I love (and completely agree) with this quote from IBM’s Thomas Watson, Sr., “The fastest way to success is to double your failure rate.”

And one more great quote on success and failure…

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill

Michael Jordan on failure

I really enjoy Michael’s perspective on overcoming failures. Arguably the best basketball player ever, he was cut from the high-school basketball team. To me, that speaks volumes. When he started, he was not very good – most people who get cut from their high-school teams concede to the fact that they aren’t gifted in that particular sport. Michael chose not to believe that and continued to work at his game – failing, failing, and failing some more. But, he must have failed so much that he figured out exactly how to play the game to be better than the rest of world.

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” -Michael Jordan

Final thoughts

For me, part of the process of defeating the fear of failure was making a conscious decision to FAIL. I was so bound up in fear that I wouldn’t take a step forward in any direction. I needed to just a take a step – whether it failed or succeeded, didn’t matter, I just needed to get past the fear of it.

If you are in that situation that I was in, I encourage you to prayerfully look at what God has called you to and don’t be afraid to step out.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:7

Source:  http://www.christianpf.com/overcome-fear-of-failure/

 

 

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