Tag: God

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The Best Teacher is Experiences From Your Own Life

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There will be a huge announcement made about our bookstore in just a few more days. Keep checking back to see what it might be. That is all I am telling you right now. (How is that for a teaser?)

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In our bookstore right now is a book that is on a special sale. It is called, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”

This book reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.

Check it out by clicking on the “bookstore,” tab at the top of this page.

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I will only have about three more exceprts from the book, “Signs of HOpe: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”

Today’s excerpt asks, “How do we speak to others about God? What do we say?”

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Chapter 71

 

The Best Teacher Is Experience

 

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth

 has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

 

Did you ever have a perfect opportunity to witness to someone and let it pass? Was there a time when you knew there was an opening to share news about God, and you didn’t? I have had that happen to me before. Afterwards I think of things I could have said that I didn’t think of at the time.

What should we as Christians do? Should we carry folders with us at all times? We could have them organized for many different situations like: a death in the family, divorce, a lost job, a serious surgery coming up, or a fear of failure. Then when the person says, “I have a surgery coming up, and I am afraid,” we can pull out our surgery folder, and read it to them.

Not a very practical—or personal—approach, I would think.

I have learned that I have a world of experience. I have “been there and done that.” Unfortunately, I have been through each of the examples I have mentioned, and many others. Just like you have. I had to suffer through them without a person with a folder around. That is the bad news. The real good news is that I had God there to comfort me. I can relate to someone’s hurt. I can share with them how I handled it. I let them know it won’t be easy for them try to make it on their own, but with God there at their side, everything is possible.

I wish I hadn’t had to go through all the trials, but it was God’s way of preparing me to be an ambassador for Him. Trials, by their very nature, are part of our lives so we can understand God and ourselves better and come to the realization of how much we must depend on Him.

I have been in pre-op getting ready to have quadruple bypass surgery. Some people may have been frightened beyond control, but I had a peace about me that was reassuring, not only to me, but to those family members who were there with me.

A friend asked a couple of weeks after my surgery, “How were you able to be so calm?” Bingo! I was able to share my belief in God, and the calmness He had provided for me.

I have had the fear of failure, but God helped me to the point where I am writing this book. I have been divorced, but God taught me how to fight depression so that it won’t happen again. I have lost jobs, but God let me know He had a better plan for me. I have lost several relatives, close friends and my father through death, but God reassured me that I would see them again some day.

I am a walking, talking, experienced machine! You are too. You have been through the death of a loved one or a friend. You have lost a job. You may have been through a divorce. You probably have faced failure. Many have been through a serious surgery.

Use those experiences to help others who are going through the same things. You have the memories of the things you’ve faced right up in your memory banks. Use them to let the person know that God loves them, and that He will help them through the storm. He doesn’t always take us out of a tough situation, but He is there to guide us and show us the way through the situation.

 

The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach

 good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom

for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the

Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.

Isaiah 61:1-2

 

Further Adventures

I can truly say I’ve had about every surgery known to man. (I know, I shouldn’t say that!) I can also tell you that I wasn’t always positive and cheerful. There have been times when I’ve told God, “TIME OUT! This is more than I can take.” However the witnessing that I have been able to do because of the many surgeries I’ve had trumps all the pain and agony I’ve gone through.

Don’t let an illness break you down. Use it to comfort your own family and others.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that we always fear the unknown, but we know who to turn to?

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If You’re Living Like There is no God, You Better be Right

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There will be a special promotion in our bookstore in about two weeks. Check back often to see what that is.

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I have a special chapter from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to survive in an Unfriendly World.” This chapter doesn’t pull any punches. It talks about people that mock God, and the consequences for doing that.

I realize that I am very strong here, but I want people to read and understand.

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Chapter 65

 

If You’re Living Like There Is No God, You Better Be Right

 

The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from your law.

Psalm 119:51

 

The car sports what looks like the symbolic fish of the Christian faith, but in the middle of it is the wordDarwin, and the fish has legs. I have seen this on cars everywhere.

Then there is the mocking bumper sticker that says, “Jesus was my co-pilot, but we had a crash and I had to eat him.”

There are many bumper stickers that ridicule and mock God. Everyone has a right to their own faith, or ideas about God, but why do they think it’s OK to ridicule other people’s beliefs? It seems rather senseless to attack any faith. I think the individuals who think they need to belittle others and their faith are the most misguided individuals on this earth. They all will have their close encounters with God later.

I have an important question for them: What if the Christians are right?

And some things for them to think about: Your mocking and ridicule are being noted, and you will know the consequences on judgment day. If you are living like there is no God, have a wonderful time. But your future is dim after you’ve drawn your last breath. You have no hope after that. That is the bottom line. No soft answers for this situation. You have no hope.

But as long as you’re alive, you can change your attitude and fall before God, asking Him to forgive your ways. You can follow Him the rest of your life, and then there is hope.

God loves you just the way you are. If you have cursed Him and think He must no longer love you, you are wrong. If you have committed a terrible sin, and you think there is no way God could forgive you, you are wrong again. God loves you just the way you are, but He doesn’t want you to stay that way. He wants you to come back to Him and receive more of His love. He wants you to feel the joy of knowing that someone loves you unconditionally.

I must tell you that Paul, the human author who wrote several parts of the Bible, at one time hated Christians. He even had many of them put to death. He mocked and ridiculed their faith. At one point (see Acts 9), though, he fell before God and became one of His most dynamic followers. He became a prominent leader in the early church before he was himself put to death for being a Christian. If Paul, in retrospect, could be one of God’s favorites—even after he had Christians put to death—there is room for you to do the same.

If you know people who spend their days poking fun at Christianity, help them realize there is a God. Share with them why you love God. We need to stay close to God and not let these lost souls sway us with their mockery.

Actually, I ask you to pray for them. Pray that each of them will see that the direction they are going is leading them down the wrong path. If you pray for others and try to lead them to God, you will be following in the footsteps of Paul.

 

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

Psalm 1:1

 

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Galatians 6:7

 

Further Adventures

Notice how many people put mocking stickers on their vehicles. There are millions of people who need to learn about God, but no one has even tried to talk to them. Start sharing with those around you how God has changed your life. Don’t just share with other Christians.

If you see people on the bus—or in a restaurant or at the library—who look like they are hurting, sit down next to them and slowly begin a conversation. Lead up to how God has changed your life. Even if they turn away from you, you have attempted to help them, and that is very pleasing to God. If they listen, you may have the joy of leading them into a relationship with Christ.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how God’s love never ceases? Never!

 

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God Saved me from Committing Suicide

Thank you to those who have been signing up for the RSS feed to this site. It helps us move up on the Google Search Rankings. I will be starting a book give away, starting today, just for you who sign-up in the future. Here is how it will work:

  • Sign-up for the RSS feed to his site. You click on the icon right after the title to do that.
  • When you sign-up, you will be placed on a list of subscribers who are eligible for a drawing for a free book.
  • There has to be a minimum of 10 people who sign-up before there is a drawing. When that or a deadline is reached, a random drawing will be taken from that list and they will be notified of their winning a book.
  • The first give away will start today and run through April 30th.

The first book to be given away is a real winner. It is called: “A Positive Life: Living with HIV as a Pastor, Husband, and Father.” By Shane Stanford

Here is an endorsement by one of the top Christian authors on the planet:

” The HIV/AIDS pandemic doesn’t just affect millions; it affects them one at a time. Shane’s story will stay in your mind and more in your heart.”

John Ortberg

You could own this book for free just by signing up for the RSS feed to this site.

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You can own a book that is full of hope, and inspiring words today, but ordering, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” from the bookstore on this site. It is on sale right now. It is selling for $19.99 in the bookstore, but on this site, it is only $15.99. The shipping has been cut in half as well. Just click on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page to check it out.

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I can remember what it was like before I became a Christian. Talk about struggling in the muck and mire! I felt lost. I was full of fear, and didn’t want to face the world. I had an over whelming fear of failure. I even got to the point of feeling hopelessness, and was on the brink of committing suicide.

That is when God grabbed up in His arms and stopped me. It was like He was saying. “Come back to Me, I have always been here for you. Let Me carry you the rest of the way.”

I found that, “God Allows U-Turns.” (One of the chapter titles from my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”)

He never gives up on us. We give up on Him. If you feel alone even though you know God is there somewhere, guess who walked away.

Turn back to God and He will be waiting with open arms.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

Above all: Never, ever, give up!