Tag: Bible

The Bible is a collection of sacred texts or scriptures. Varying parts of the Bible are considered to be a product of divine inspiration and a record of the relationship between God and humans by Christians, Jews, Samaritans, and Rastafarians.

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What Does The Bible Say About Gentleness?

What Does The Bible Say About Gentleness?

Gentleness is defined as: “the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. It is a  softness of action or effect; lightness.”

From E. Lockhart we can deduce this definition: Gentleness is being a little kinder than we have to.” From Scriptures, we also learn about gentleness. It is one quality that cannot be absent if you call yourself a child of God.

Here’s what the Bible says about gentleness:

1. God wants us teach and correct with gentleness.

II Timothy 2:24 says, “God’s people must not be quarrelsome; they must be gentle, patient teachers of those who are wrong.”

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

It’s hard for someone to listen and consider what you’re saying if you speak in a raised and exasperated tone. Without gentleness, you’ll just come across as self-righteous and opinionated.

2. Gentleness makes you willing to listen to others.

James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others.”

We must always remember that our mind falters. We don’t know everything. We could be wrong even when we are absolutely sure we are right. It is because our minds are imperfect. We don’t always perceive and process thoughts rightly. With gentleness of spirit, we learn to leave room for error and discussion. With gentleness of spirit, our hearts are positioned to accept and defer to others when needed.

3. Gentleness is a mark of true Christianity.

Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Mark Twain said, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Kindness is gentleness. Kindness speaks and demonstrates clearer than our words and other deeds ever will. Do one unkind act and you will discredit your reputation in an instant. Why? Because kindness is love. 1Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” Love and kindness go together. You cannot love without being kind.

5. Gentleness is THE fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, gentleness (kindness)”¦”

We can exhibit gentleness when we allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in us. When it is lacking in our lives, it means we are not walking in the Spirit. To be marked with harshness means we are living a superficial Christian life.

5. Gentleness is a response to Christ’s mercy and forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be gentle (kind) and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” As we have experienced God’s forgiveness, in gratefulness we ought to afford the same blessing to others.

God’s children are to live a life of gentleness. May our resolve be as what Max Lucado declared:

“I choose gentleness… Nothing is won by force.

I choose to be gentle.

If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.

If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.”

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The Daniel Diet — What’s the Deal?

The Daniel Diet1

In recent years, “The Daniel Plan” has been making its way around in Christian subcultures as the answer to weight loss woes. Various Protestant churches and pastors, particularly from the United States, have been getting involved in this new (yet very old) concept of eating.

But what is it?

In simple terms, the idea encourages healthy food choices based on the account of Daniel from the bible. The story sits at the beginning of the book of Daniel when he and many other young men who are captives in Babylon are put into training by the king. Daniel didn’t want to eat the rich foods and wine given by the king because he didn’t think it was honoring to God. Instead, together with his three friends, Daniel was allowed to eat only vegetables and water for ten days as a test.

The test worked. At the end of ten days, Daniel and his buddies looked more well-nourished and healthier than the other young men who ate the king’s rich food. They grew to be not only physically healthy, but also God gave them wisdom and understanding.

“At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” Daniel 1:15

Daniel was convicted that he shouldn’t eat rich foods, so he didn’t. There’s nothing here to suggest that it was a weight loss plan for Daniel. It was a matter of conscience.

But apparently, because this worked for Daniel and his friends, some modern Christians have taken this to mean that people should adopt this principle. In fact, a book and a whole bunch of other curriculum was written by Rick Warren and friends. Along with the book, Warren issued a challenge to his massive church of 20,000 people to participate.

On one hand, this idea of speaking into health issues in the church might not be a bad idea. Some studies have shown that Evangelical Christians are up to 50% more likely than irreligious people to develop problems with obesity.  

So a call for Christians to create healthier eating habits may be a good choice. Particularly in light of all of those pesky bible verses that talk about gluttony. (Of all of the sins of the flesh, gluttony must certainly be the least talked-about in western churches today.)

On the other hand, John the Baptist ate locusts and I don’t see people developing new diet plans following in his footsteps.

Although I am completely certain that the Bible has all of the answers for everything in our lives, I’m not quite convinced that God meant for us to build an entire diet sub-culture around the concept of Daniel’s diet.

I’m not anti-vegetable. Really I’m not. I’m even pro-water! If it could just be a matter of following a healthier diet, then that would be great.

But, sadly, The Daniel Plan people don’t stop there.

As is often the case, the marketing opportunities were too tempting for the American church culture gurus to pass up.   They had to make it into a “thing”. Now you can spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to buy the book, the study guide, the cookbook, the devotional, the journal, CDs, DVDs, sermons, propaganda materials and SO much more. (Also available in Spanish.)

Not only that — you can literally get the t-shirt. And the water bottle, the sports bag, the training jacket. Oh, and don’t forget the rubber wristband! Then, everyone can know that you are eating your veggies and drinking your water.

Personally, I could do with eating more vegetables and fewer processed foods. Although, i’m proud that I had an avocado for lunch. (Oh, wait, is that a fruit?!)

But maybe, just maybe, I shouldn’t spend $18.99 on another t-shirt that I absolutely don’t need (because, honestly, who needs another t-shirt?). Maybe, instead, I could send $10 of that money to Heifer International to buy a share in a goat to keep a family from going hungry—while my western church culture is on the campaign trail to fight against gluttony and obesity.

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She’s Interested and He’s Not Pursuing

There’s a joke going around: men in the church are like parking spaces. The good ones are either already taken — or they’re handicapped.

Houston, we have a problem. It’s a problem that will require all of our effort, courage, confidence and creativity to solve.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, claiming 2.2 billion of the world’s 6.9 billion people, as of last year and dating is a big deal for most young Christians. However, ask any young woman what the Christian dating scene is like these days.

“Christian men … ugh.”  Grim. Impossible. Slim pickings they’ll  say.

Young Christian men simply won’t commit, they’ll  say and if you’re lucky they’ll  call once – never to be heard from again.

And the churchgoing men who are available? Well, there’s a reason they’re single.

“Usually, he respects or admires the godly young woman (or, other people in his Church think he should admire her more), and yet he’s not physically attracted to her. She’s not his “type,” he says.”

So why are all the single Christian ladies having trouble finding single Christian guys for companionship and romance?  A plethora of Christian dating websites, books, blogs, advice columns, and magazine articles have surfaced in the last few years, attempting to give Christian young women some helpful tips for snagging a godly man and achieving that much-desired state of wedded bliss.

  • Date for at least a year.
  • Don’t kiss before you’re married.
  • Be careful how much time you spend together.
  • Date a bunch of people before getting serious.
  • Don’t unless you are ready to move in the direction of marriage.  

It’s not terrible advice— waiting until marriage takes work. But here’s the thing: Relationships take work.  However, while most Chrisitan ladies have internal regulations in the form of our Spirit inspired convictions and knowledge of the Bible, it does not seem to be enough?

Could it be that we screened all the godly young men out of church as boys?  

Probably not entirely, as according to Mark Regenerus, a sociology professor at the University of Texas, young single women in the church outnumber young single men by a three-to-two ratio.

That’s right ladies, you’re not imagining it: there’s a severe shortage of single men in the church. Not just here in the U.S., but also around the world.

“There are almost no men in my country who are following Christ. And French men will not marry a woman whose faith in Jesus is so strong. She is a leper in their eyes.” –  Christian woman from France

A young godly man knows he’s a catch – particularly if he’s dedicated to his faith, good looking and works out and there are hardly any other man is his Church. With each week that passes, he’s presented with a congregation full of single women. Most haven’t been on a date in a while. He has his pick of the bunch.

There’s even a joke about the gender imbalance. It goes like this:

“Men in the church are like parking spaces. All the good ones are either already taken, or they’re handicapped.”

Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the supply of young women grows with each passing year.

So whats the solution?

God Will Orchestrate the Love Story

Do you find yourself becoming resentful that God is withholding something from you?

  • Still waiting to find the man of your dreams
  • Your greatest desire is to have a baby
  • You want to experience the joy of being “equally yoked” with a godly husband

Desperation is dangerous because it focuses on self: What I want. What I must have. What I cannot live without. Firstly,  if and when the time comes for you to be married, God will orchestrate the love story. But in the meantime, your focus is to be on serving God and pouring your life out for God, not on getting serious about getting married. The timing is up to God, not you.

Singled Out in Church

Secondly, research shows that single men are more likely to attend churches that fit the following profile:

  • Large
  • Headed by a male pastor who’s bold and outspoken
  • Offers intentional male discipleship
  • Worship service is done in under 90 minutes

Apart from salvation, there is perhaps a way that the concept “God helps those who help themselves” is correct. We’re not suggesting you switch churches over this issue. It probably wouldn’t hurt to visit another church once in awhile – especially if your church offers nothing for singles.

Also remember that there are actually some Christ-men out there who are praying and hoping for a set-apart young woman – one who is not following after the trends of the culture, or who are not wallowing around in discontentment or on the constant prowl for a guy.

Any pastors who are reading, have you ever stopped to listen, really listen, to the women in your church about how they feel they are treated or perceived?

Any other advice?

 

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3 Ways God Speaks to You

3 Ways God Speaks to You

Does God talk to you? Does God communicate with people? On its February 13, 2018, broadcast, viewers heard Joy Behar, ABC daytime talk show co-host of “The View” say, “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you, that’s called mental illness if I’m not correct. Hearing voices.” During the episode, talks revolved around criticisms on U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s Christian faith. Co-host Sunny Hostin said, “I don’t know that I want my vice president, um — speaking in tongues and having Jesus speak to him.”

It’s sad that communicating with God, which is a primary Christian truth, can be viewed as a mental illness. It’s sadder to think that like these well-known personalities, many think that way. They view God as inaccessible and silent. They believe that it’s not possible to hear Him speak. In refusing to accept this fact, the world loses out. They are missing a lot.

Hearing God speak is one great blessing every child of God enjoys. God’s Words bring life and joy. His messages bring direction and enlightenment; they bring healing.

God speaks through nature.

Engaging with nature is always a fruitful time. We feel serenity setting in and we find ourselves at rest. Marvellous scenes and amazing creatures amaze and baffle us. We feel humbled, we feel thankful. We see an awesome Creator who is all-powerful. We see a faithful God sustaining all He has created. Every time we come out of a nature experience we are recharged, we are repurposed.

Job articulates it beautifully in Job chapter 12, reminding us that the very creatures that exist around us testify of our creator God and in His hand is the breath and life of all creation. Psalm 19 talks of the skies and heavens proclaiming the greatness and praise of our God.

The child of God must make a habit of pausing and taking in the beauty of nature. There is a great benefit in sitting back in solitude around greenery or around tranquil waters. It is there we can still our hearts, see God afresh, and hear Him say, “Be still and know I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

God speaks through the Written Word.

The Bible is God’s special blessing upon us. He selected believers of different background and experiences to put into writing His very words. Scriptures are ever alive. Its truths relate to people of any generation. The desiring heart will read it and experience its truths alive and active, insightful, cutting through the very core of one’s being. (Hebrews 4:12)

The child of God who seeks to know God and His plans will find direction for living within its pages. Through His Word God empowers us. Through His Word, God draws close to us, and makes Himself known to us.

The child of God must make a habit of opening God’s Word for one cannot begin to understand if one does not know. We can’t prove the truthfulness of God’s Word and promises if there is no knowledge to hold onto and prove. We must open the living Word and allow God’s voice to be heard. Open it and we will hear Him speak.

God speaks through music.

There is something in music that is very powerful. Research proves that it can influence behaviour and it can better one’s physical conditions. Music can change one’s mood and emotions. For instance, classical music can draw one’s mind out of chaos into calm and resoluteness.

There is something even more powerful in worship music. They can uplift your spirit and carry your mind towards greater heights and depths of learning and joy. God places in musicians the inspiration to pen biblical truths so beautifully. Through their meditations and personal journeys, we tap into the very heart of God. We get an overwhelming sense of His desire for our lives, what we need to change, what we need to surrender, and what we need to remember and be assured of.

The child of God must make a habit of listening to and singing Christian songs. It is a wonderful ingredient to private and corporate worship. From a multitude of worship songs, believers find spiritual growth. How many verses from the book of Psalms have taught you great things about God and man? How many verses from Psalms have caused you to understand yourself and others more? Those are Christian songs God uses to teach and encourage us.

Hearing God speak is a normal yet a special thing. God talks and He loves talking to you. He will speak lovingly and meaningfully if you only pose yourself to listen.

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Not an Act of God: Phil Robertson Say’s that America is “Focusing on the Wrong Weapon”

A football coach. An athletic director. And young, eager and forward-looking students were killed in the deadly school massacre in Parkland, Florida.

Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) arrived in Parkland, Florida, within hours of Wednesday’s school shooting that killed at least 17 teens and faculty members.

In recent weeks, this act of terror has served as a catalyst for an army of activists across America to advocate for social change. This includes cries for more government intervention and increased gun laws, however, that surely can not be the answer?

‘It is the gun, it’s the person behind the gun and it’s about helping people before they ever reach that point,’ said a mother whose son died at Sandy Hook elementary

While the rest of the country seems to be focusing on earthly weapons and assault rifles, Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson is redirecting attention to the only weapon he truly believes in capable of stopping murder: the Word of the living God.

Phil Alexander Robertson is an American professional hunter, businessman, and reality television star on the popular television series Duck Dynasty. He is also featured on the television show Buck Commander, a hunting program on the Outdoor Channel.

“WE CANNOT PRAISE GOD FOR DIVINE ACTS OF JUSTICE AND MERCY WITHOUT HEARING THE CALL TO IMITATE GOD THROUGH OUR OWN ACTIONS.” —RABBI JILL JACOBS

Robertson says that without Jesus, these horrific acts will continue to occur on the earth.  “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

At times of tragedy, Christian churches and ministries rally to remind survivors of a God who the Psalms tell us “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

“There are two characteristics of mass murderers: no Jesus, and the work of Satan.”  “Satan is the problem.”  “The wrath of the evil one is falling upon us,” Robertson adds.

Phil Robertson’s  one-minute message may be brief, but like the sword of the spirit, it’s sharp and powerful. Since it was posted on Wednesday, Phil’s video has been watched over 16 million times.

 

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Is Russell Brand A Christian?

Russell Brand is talking about Jesus.

On the heels of a denouncement by Pope Francis that journalists are peddling fake news, I was recently reading a feature article by a popular Christian magazine, intimating that Russell Brand had become a Christian. The language was subtle but the message seemed clear. Brand believes that Christ’s teaching is “more relevant now than they’ve ever been”.

Wow, that sounds really great!

Well, the vast majority of readers who responded thought so. Comments on that article were mostly other Christians offering an “Atta boy, Russell!” or “Welcome to the family, brother in Christ!” Hundreds of people left messages just like this, likely feeling warm fuzzies at the thought that Russell Brand is now eternally safe in the arms of Jesus.

But maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s take a closer look.

If you know anything about him, you know that Russell Brand was a hard-drinking, drug-doing, prostitute-purchasing party guy who was in the spotlight and the tabloids for years. Shock comedy and foul language were his own personal brand. The dirtier, the better.

Giving credit where it’s due, Brand has made significant changes in his life over the past decade or so. Crashing hard from his wild lifestyle, Brand accepted help through an intervention after he was found shooting heroin at a Christmas party. He credits a version of the 12-step program with assisting him on the road to recovery.

The fact that Brand has cleaned up his act and become a family man is a huge step forward. Really, he deserves kudos. There’s no question that his earthly life is now better and less destructive than it was before.

But being a person recovered from addiction doesn’t exactly equate him with being a Christian.

Now, I’m not saying that God isn’t powerful enough to save guys like Russell Brand. Of course, He is! And lest you start thinking I believe myself to be something I am not, I am fully aware that I’m not the eternal judge and only God knows a person’s heart. But I do believe (and the Bible teaches) that people show outward signs of their inward relationship with Jesus.

It’s true that in various interviews and speaking engagements, Russell Brand is a grand proponent of meditation, spirituality, and even the teachings of Jesus.

For instance, early in 2018 Brand published a YouTube video where he speaks (very graphically with much profane language) against addiction and the pleasures of this world. He promotes the idea that humans shouldn’t feel bad in life and happiness is resourced from within.

In the previous article I mentioned by the Christian magazine, Brand talks about the world being broken. He speaks of humanity desperately in need of the “message of Jesus”.

I deeply want to believe that Russell Brand has been saved by Jesus! Don’t you?

Sadly, after reading and listening to Brand speak about his “spirituality”, I think that he is probably a person who desperately needs, but has not yet found, a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

But wait a minute—didn’t Brand just say he was a Christian?

Actually no, he didn’t.

What Brand did say is that the 12-step program encouraged him and his fellow recovering addicts to turn their will and their lives over to the care of God “as we understood Him.”

Although he really doesn’t like all of the religious talks, Brand now confesses to using some Christian language and practices. He attributes this to his upbringing in the Christian culture of the UK so that the “language of prayer” he uses is Christian. Specifically, he mentions the Lord’s Prayer.

Going a bit further, Brand notes that the Christian service and “values” make him feel at peace. The teachings of Jesus have helped him understand modern cultural addictions. He even seeks to find a level of “Christ-consciousness.”

So, to summarize, Brand considers spirituality to be important, sometimes uses Christian language and practices, embraces Christian values, agrees with some of the teachings of Jesus, and aims to find “Christ-consciousness.”

That should be good, right? Yes, except that he also dabbles in many other spiritual and religious realms.

Over the past couple of decades, in what seems to be an earnest search for relevance, Brand has been an avid seeker and supporter of various religious and spiritual things. He used to be a Buddhist and has previously talked of the Dalai Lama as the “living incarnation of Buddha”. His wedding ceremony to Katy Perry was of the Hindu persuasion and many of the spiritual tenants about which he still speaks follow along those lines. For years he regularly attended Hare Krishna services.

Brand now seems to consider the 12-steps as the answer to his religious needs. He recently wrote a book, Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions, explaining the steps in his own unique way.

Even so, the spiritual buzz words Brand flings about might lead us to believe that he identifies with Christ. And I think maybe he does in the sense that he sees Jesus as a good teacher and a prophet. But we need to listen more carefully.

When I put all of his spiritual verbiage together, it paints a picture of a person who is certainly a seeker of spiritual and religious things but hasn’t directly identified Jesus as the Only Way to the Father. Brand talks of the teachings and the message of Jesus, without ever identifying with Jesus as the Son of God or Savior. Brand goes on about the “kingdom of heaven on earth” but sadly he does not currently claim a faith in the only King Jesus who can usher him into the kingdom.

We don’t get to pick and choose our beliefs from a smorgasbord of options. With Jesus, it’s all or nothing. And Brand’s words do not indicate that Jesus is all, through his words or through his actions.

Sure, he seems to be committed to his wife now and they have a lovely child. He wants to be a good father. He is trying to do good things and help people. And those are all great things! But he continues to be critical, loud-mouthed, and somewhat narcissistic, speaking with profanity that could make the angels of hell blush. His current standup comedy routine does not even show a hint of a person who loves Jesus. From his actions and his words, it seems he’s still missing the mark.

But maybe he’s closer than he used to be. Russell Brand is on a journey where he seems to be aware of some sort of spiritual need. Hopefully, that journey will lead him into a right relationship with Christ as his Savior. I desperately want that to be true and I believe God does too!

However, from what I can surmise from his media presence (and, shockingly, I do not know him personally) Brand is not quite there yet.

But from what I can see, Brand is on a journey and I can respect that. I deeply appreciate how far he’s come and I wouldn’t judge him for not having “arrived”. His story still inspires me. Overcoming addiction is no small thing.

What really gets me in this scenario is the fact that a corner of the Christian publishing world is touting Brand on the cover of their magazine and making it seem like he is a converted Christian. This is confusing in a couple of ways.

It could be misleading personally for Brand as the magazine’s blatant approval of him might make him think his theology is correct and he has found the right answers. I mean, they titled the article “The Second Coming of Russell Brand” for goodness sake”¦. If a Christian magazine approves of you, it must mean you’re eternally secure, right?

Even more disappointing and destructive, this type of sensationalism is misleading to the Christian readership and general public. Was it intentional? I don’t know. But we journalists (especially Christian journalists!) have the responsibility to make sure that we are reporting the truth and not twisting it into something even marginally deceptive — no matter how popular it is and how many clicks it gets.  

And that’s what Pope Francis was talking about recently when he asked journalists to stop engaging in disinformation and other “sins of the media”. I don’t always agree with the pope but, in this case, I think he has a point.

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7 Secular Movies with Important Biblical Themes

7 Secular Movies with Important Biblical Themes

Hidden themes that ring true with Christianity can be found everywhere in life. Since the bible is the greatest story ever, it’s no surprise that the world imitates certain themes that began with God.

Although they certainly don’t portray the gospel in its entirety, these films may offer opportunities for conversation with family or friends about the way that we live our lives. As these films portray so many things that have gone wrong with the world, we can find redemptive analogies to help us learn and change the story for the future.

Note: May contain spoilers! Read on at your own risk.

Les Miserable (2012)

Set in the midst of the French Revolution, Jean Valjean is a former prisoner who has broken parole and turned his life around. He vows to a dying woman (who was forced into prostitution) that he’ll take care of her daughter, committing to raise her as his own. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, this musical film follows Valjean as his past haunts him. While he receives grace and forgiveness to transform him from being a hardened criminal into a loving father, he is ultimately faced with the opportunity to sacrifice himself for the love of another.  

Themes: Grace, forgiveness, social responsibility, personal sacrifice, redemption, freedom

Warnings: Some profane language, violence, sexual themes related to prostitution, war, alcohol abuse, suicide

Wall-E (2008)

In the animated film, Wall-E, future humans have made such a mess on earth that they just leave it behind for a robot to clean up. The robot, Wall-E, has developed a personality over hundreds of years and seems to be a bit lonely. As he becomes engaged in an adventure, Wall-E ends up on the spaceship where humans have become the epitome of laziness. As evil has begun to take over the spaceship filled with humans, Wall-E is faced with a choice of whether to help out.

Themes: Laziness, sloth, loneliness, stewardship of the earth, running away from problems, self-sacrifice

Warnings: None

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BqgHYLvHIE

This WWII film tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a pacifist soldier who refused to carry a gun. While he believed that the war was justified, he also believed that killing was wrong. The story tells of Doss’s plight on the front lines of the Battle of Okinawa as he aided in saving 75 men, for which he received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Themes: Faith, sacrifice, standing up for personal beliefs  

Warnings: Intense violence, moderate use of profane language, alcohol use and smoking, nudity

The Book of Eli (2010)

Based on the theme of post-apocalyptic life, this film follows the journey of Eli, who travels west through America’s destroyed landscape. The story of this futuristic thriller begins to reveal that a critical part of human civilization is being carried by Eli in the form of a book. As books are being burned at a rapid rate by evil-doers, the preservation of this particular sacred book is critical.

Themes: Sacrifice, protection of scripture, good vs. evil, journey with a purpose

Warnings: Violence, profane language

Wonder Woman (2017)

One in a line of DC Comics films, Wonder Woman offers a new sense of accomplishment for the Justice League. Tackling difficult themes about human nature, the message of this film is highly compatible with the gospel message. Diana, who was raised by Amazons, learns at an early age about people who are created good but are then corrupted by evil. In the throes of war, Diana heads out to conquer the source of evil. She decides that, even though humans are corrupt and deserve to die, they are still worth saving—and she is ultimately inspired to believe in love.

Themes: Fall of humans, pursuing peace, value of human life, self-sacrifice

Warnings: Violence, sexual references and implication, mild profane language, alcohol and drug use

The Good Lie (2014)

Following the destruction of their village in Sudan, orphan siblings make the harrowing journey to a refugee camp and eventually settle in Kansas City in the U.S. As they make peace with their past and come to terms with re-settling in a new land, Carrie, an employment counselor, helps them to find jobs and search for their sister from whom they were separated. In the process, Carrie learns a lot about her own journey. One of the refugees has a strong faith and deeply desires to become a pastor. Many of the actors in this film are former Sudanese refugees—two were even child soldiers—allowing this film to accurately portray the true heart of the pain of war and difficult elements of starting over.

Themes: Helping others, sacrifice, redemption, starting over

Warnings: Sex implied but not shown, war violence, minimal profane language, alcohol and marijuana use

Schindler’s List (1993)

This film set during World War II tells the true story of a German, Oskar Schindler, who is seeking to take advantage of the war by becoming rich. Schindler’s character is hardened as shown in relationship to a concentration camp, but he becomes more sympathetic as he arranges to protect the Jewish employees who work in his factory. His motivation is originally greed, but eventually, he conjures up a way to save the lives of thousands of Krakow prisoners.

Themes: Discrimination, greed, power, helping the helpless, the value of human life, sacrifice

Warnings: Profane language, nudity, sexual themes, violence, war, drunkenness

It is important to note that most of these films contain very adult themes and problems, whether “fictional” or not. This is not meant to advocate for a glorification of violence, gratuitous sex, or other cultural troubles. But these are honest themes that the bible addresses on a regular basis—because they are part of this broken world. As these films portray the depravity of this world, I believe that we can find ways to share our hope in the One who came to set all things right.

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What Does ‘Put God’s Word First’ Really Mean?

Prioritizing God’s Word

Preoccupations are constant. Whether we keep schedules or not, time will always be spent. At the end of the day, it would have either been time well spent or time utterly wasted. It’s extremely helpful to keep a planner but for those who like it lose or not too rigid, keeping small paper (or digital) notes of the daily “Must-Dos” will suffice. If you’re gifted, you may only need mental notes and do just fine.

The priorities of life will take the top spots and most often, they will be done most frequently. For the Christian, the list of priorities may be long and may vary from person to person. But in everyone’s top list must be God’s Word. In talking about his regrets in life, the late Rev. Billy Graham mentioned regretting that he did not study more and preach less.

God’s Word deepens our understanding and wisdom.

God’s word promises to give understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:30) The Bible offers a wealth of information and advice on approaching the issues and happenings of life. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that since “all Scripture is inspired by God, it is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” As we go deep in God’s Word, we get a depth of character. Our viewpoint and understanding expand. We begin to see ourselves, others, and circumstances on a more enlightened and enlarged viewpoint. We move from narrow-mindedness to open-mindedness. We rely less on our own opinions and we begin to value the opinions of others and more importantly, of God’s Word.

God’s Word deepens our faith.

From 2 Timothy 3:15 we learn that knowledge of the Bible makes us understand everything about the salvation we enjoy through faith in Christ Jesus. The need for personal study is crucial. Preachers come and go and media would from time to time report on deceptions made by beguiling preachers to audiences who are uninformed. On another note, it’s indeed a blessing that God has given us messengers of impeccable skill and integrity. However, personal diligence in studying God’s truths is essential to maturity. Let us imitate the Berean believers who received God’s message with great eagerness yet examined the Scriptures every day to see for themselves if what the Apostle Paul preached was true. (Acts 17:11)

God’s Word causes persistence.

Romans 15 shares that “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” From God’s Word, we learn important principles we need to do life rightly and effectively. In times of hardships and failure, God’s Word comes to encourage us to persist and forbear the negatives of life because we know that our hope of overcoming and betterment will come at the end of whatever long and dreadful tunnel we go through.

God’s Word causes us to prosper and succeed.

Joshua was called to fulfill a seemingly heavy task. At the beginning of the Book of Joshua, we see God giving him an essential prerequisite to prosperity and success. God says in Joshua 1:8, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Many personalities claim this verse for financial prosperity and business success. Indeed, financial and business success may well come upon a Christian who is devoted to the study of and obedience to God’s Word. But the verse means more. The verse teaches us that God’s Word is our book of instruction. As we ponder on the truths it contains and as we live out the principles we’ve learnt, we will experience prosperity and success. Prosperity denotes the meaning of “to flourish” and “to grow strong and healthy.” Success denotes the meaning of “to accomplish an aim or purpose.” The gain and accomplishment may be financial or not. In any case, we do know that God will prosper the works of our hands.

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What Does It Really Mean to Be a Child of God?

Child of God

Becoming  more  Christlike  is the result of freedom from sin.  The influence of grace is to soften the heart, to refine and purify the feelings, giving a heaven-born mindset and sense of property.

A Christian cannot be self-exalted, for this is not Christlike.

The world’s Redeemer, the sinner’s saviour says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

But let us continually bear in mind that the meek and lowly Jesus has the spirit and the ambition of a conqueror. The vast dominions over which God holds sway form no adequate theater for the exercise of His grace, the expression of His love, and the manifestation of His glory.

He who loves the Lord Jesus Christ in truth and sincerity will love those whom Christ died to save, and will eagerly embrace every opportunity to minister of Christ to non believers.

We must look at our lives as sons and daughters of God, as laborers with Jesus Christ, living for a higher purpose. We are representatives of Jesus Christ in character and are to serve Him with our undivided affections. Not only will we reveal the fact that we love God in our actions, but will, in accordance with His holy character, live a pure and perfect life.

We must live in perfection because Jesus is the embodiment of perfection, and the great Center upon whom our hope of eternal life and happiness is centered will lead us to unity and harmony.

The life we now live must be by faith in Jesus Christ. If we are Christ’s followers our lives will not be moved by little actions according to circumstances, envious faultfindings, jealousy, and selfish vanity. These put us out of harmony with the life of Jesus Christ, and we cannot be overcomers if we retain these defects.

When exposed to the unfolding scenes in life, and words are spoken that are calculated to cut and bruise the soul, speak the following to yourself:

“I am a child of God, an heir with Jesus Christ, a co-laborer with God. I must not, therefore, have a cheap mind, easy to take offense, always thinking of myself, for this will naturally produce an inharmonious character. It is unworthy of my calling. The heavenly Father has given me my work to do; let me be worthy of the trust.” Amen

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How to Deal with Chronic Fear and Anxiety

How to Deal with Chronic Fear and Anxiety

Fear is something that we will all experience in our lives, but fear is actually an emotion that we can control.

Fear is an emotion that brings on a reaction of fight or flight. Fear can manifests itself in all areas of our lives. When fear comes, we generally choose one of two pathways; we either stand and battle out whatever is causing the fear, or we run away from the fearful situation. Fear is the most powerful weapon that the enemy can use against us. Living in fear can absolutely can kill, steal, and destroy. Isn’t this the scheme of Satan?

As I am watching the latest on the school shooting here in my home state of Florida, many thoughts are running through my mind. I wonder how many parents are thinking they need to homeschool their children.

I wonder how my daughter and son would react in the same situation if it happened in their schools. Would they give in to fear, would they be able to react in time and overcome their fear to survive? How many teachers are thinking they need to resign?

Last night one of the schools in a nearby small town cancelled school today because of a potential threat. This morning, I watched my kids walk out the door for school, and worry did run through my mind, but I also know that I cannot give into fear. I lived in fear for many years of my life as a result of an abusive childhood.

It took a long time for me to learn how to control my fear but once I did my life changed dramatically. First, I had to accept that there are some things in life that I am not going to be able to control. I have to live my life, and stop merely existing. Fear can paralyze even the strongest of person, and the grip is so tight it’s almost impossible to get out of its hold. Fear would give me overwhelming anxiety and take over all of my senses. Understand that fear is a product of the evil in this world and that evil uses fear to control. Once you allowed fear to enter into your mind you are already suffering.

There are a lot of things going on in the world right now and we can choose to be afraid, to send our kids to school and or we can teach them to speak up when they see questionable Snapchats, texts, or whatever.

We can equip our children to live in their generation without being afraid. Our kids will emulate our actions and reactions so we need to learn how to deal with fear first and foremost.

One of the ways that I battle fear is to control my mind and it’s thought processes. Satan can do a lot of things but he cannot control your thoughts. The mind can occupy just one single thought at a time.

So, in order to keep fear at bay, I have learned the key point to getting out of the emotion of fear is to stay positive. I have learned to make positive statements to myself almost repetitively. I have found that when I think on the positive aspects of my life or the positive things around me, my conscious mind eventually accepts my subconscious mind. I have learned to make positive statements to myself almost repetitively. I have found that when I think on the positive aspects of my life or the positive things around me, my conscious mind eventually accepts my subconscious mind.

One other thing I hold on to keep me calm is reading my favorite passages in the Bible. The Bible holds a wealth of comforting words to keep me calm and serein, so, often I go to the Bible to read passages that hold fearful situations back.

Fear is the opposite of faith, and as long as I have God in my life I trust in His plan for me and my family. The Bible says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear”¦” (2 Timothy 1: 7a NKJV) Because I know that fear is not of God, I choose to not let fear control me. Satan would have me to doubt and fear, God would have me to trust Him and live a happy fulfilled life despite what terrible things happen to me and around me. God didn’t give us the Spirit of fear. We can’t control what is going on in the world, but we can control our emotions and how we allow fear to play a part in our lives.

 

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Idle Words

Idle Words

A verse in Matthew 12:36 says that men shall give account of every idle word they speak.   Some may focus their thoughts on how God is keeping tabs on every word we speak. Others may wonder how our words will be played back before us on the day of judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10), that is, the Bema Seat for the redeemed, which is a day of rewarding. But one thing we ought to reflect on is how God desires us to act responsibly in the area of our speech life. God holds us accountable for what we say. Clearly, He does not want us to be thoughtless about the words that come out of our mouths.

The New International Version translates the original word used to “empty” instead of KJV’s “idle, while the ESV translates it as “careless”. The Amplified Bible explains the original word as “inoperative and nonworking.” From these translations we get a better understanding of what idle words are.

Idle words are careless words.

Careless words are spoken with little or [no] thought for avoiding error or harm. You may have the best intention but if you do not put your words together with care, you may end up causing more harm than good. If you speak carelessly, conflicts may deepen rather than become resolved. Avoid speaking idle words by considering how to better get your ideas and opinions across. Consider the feelings and the state of mind and heart of the person you are talking to. No matter how good your words are, if someone is not ready or prepared to listen, nothing good will come out of the conversation. Time your words and seek not only to impart truth but to impart understanding. Also, fact check first before forming opinions and drawing conclusions. Then, speak your mind.

Idle words are unprofitable words.

Some have the habit of speaking their mind constantly. Well, speaking one’s mind is a necessity. There’s nothing wrong with that. But to be on a constant, unrestrained habit of speaking your mind can be irresponsible. It is important to get things off of your chest, but you shouldn’t abuse your right to do that. A Christian who seeks to be responsible with his speech life must learn to choose words that benefit others, not just oneself. A growing Christian understands that even in talking, one should not be selfish nor self-centered. The thing you want to speak about must benefit both you and the person you are talking to, otherwise, it’s not a helpful matter to discuss. Information, correction, teaching; these are all profitable. How about gossip, plain criticism, shaming. Are the people involved in the conversation made better after talking and hearing these?

Idle words are meaningless words.

Fluff, fillers, exaggerations, and at times, flatteries; these types of speech are in danger of being meaningless. Meaningless words have no purpose, no reason, and no significance. Often, it’s only the foolish who like fluffy words, exaggerations, and flatteries. The thinkers, the no-nonsense non-time wasters, prefer the actualities all the time. Simple flatteries can boost esteem. They can fan the flame and encourage people to do better. But a mountain full of flatteries can weigh a person or a project down. When people fail to see where things really stand, needful changes are hard to discern. Growth slows down, nothing gets better.

There is a way to “not mince words” yet to speak your mind with tact, respect, and concern. There is a way to speak the truth in love and it’s not about honey coating your words. Speaking the truth in love is not having words made artificially sweet. There’s no need to do that. When you speak the truth in love, you come from a place where the intention is pure love; you come from a place where there is a careful consideration of the person’s feelings; you come from a place where the words chosen are most beneficial. Come from a place like that and your words will be naturally sweet and pleasant to a willing listener. What you say may even hurt, but to the right listener who knows and trust your character, what you say will bring fruit.

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8 Powerful Healing Plants from the Bible

8 Powerful Healing Plants from the Bible

During some of the earliest Bible times, people are recorded using plants for healing. Recent trends have begun to swing away from pharmacy and back into the direction of natural, homoeopathic medicine. Sometimes we think that something is a new discovery when it is, in fact, thousands of years old!

I’m not suggesting that we should completely throw out modern medical advances and cures in exchange for only herbs and tinctures. But I do advocate taking a look at the powerful healing plants God put on the earth for our benefit. After all, God gave them to us for a reason!

Here are some of the healing plants mentioned in the bible and suggestions on ways they can be effectively used today:

Frankincense

While Frankincense is closely identified as a substance brought as a gift to Jesus after his birth, it’s not likely that Mary was slathering this oil on the bottom of his feet! At the time, Frankincense was a precious and valuable perfume and was used in priestly rituals as well as indicating prosperity and wealth. Thus, the gift of the Magi to Jesus.

Biblical References: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, 1 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Song of Solomon, Jeremiah, Matthew, Revelation

Modern Uses: Frankincense essential oil is known for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immune boosting properties. Many people use it in the winter to protect against colds and other germs, as well as to relieve stress and anxiety.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

Myrrh

Extracted from the resin from the Myrrh tree, this oil was prescribed by God as a crucial ingredient in the holy anointing oil used on priests. It was also offered to Christ, mixed with wine, in order to dull his pain while on the cross in order to dull his pain. But he refused it.

Biblical References: Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Matthew, Mark, John

Modern Uses: Today, myrrh is readily accessible (although a bit pricey) as an essential oil. Its benefits include boosting the immune system, fighting infection, improving digestion, and stimulating circulation. It also has a tendency to promote positive feelings as well as working well against skin diseases.

All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. Psalm 45:8

Garlic

Used medicinally as well as for food, this pungent bulb was likely introduced to the Israelites when they were in Egypt. They were recorded as longing for this tasty ingredient during their time in the desert when they were eating only manna.

Biblical References: Numbers

Modern Uses: Garlic is used today as a dietary supplement to help with heart problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hardened arteries. It also can offer a boost to the immune system and may even help to protect against the development of cancer.

We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.   Numbers 11:5

Aloe

Related to Bible times, aloe is broad term in the bible for a family of plants from which the centre can be extracted particularly for its healing properties. Symbolically, aloe was related to provision and abundance, as well as being used as an embalming ointment to honour the dead.

Biblical References: Numbers, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, John

Modern Uses: Today we typically use the term “aloe” as a shortened version of Aloe Vera, which is a popular plant that resembles a cactus and contains a gel-like substance in its leaves. The gel extracted from the leaves is known to soothe skin rashes, treat burns, heal cold sores, reduce inflammation, aid in digestion, and boost antioxidants.

Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. Numbers 24:6

Cedarwood

Commonly burned ceremonially because of its scent, Cedarwood is linked with purification and cleansing. It was also extracted into an oil and used as a purifying agent as well as an embalming substance. The wood itself was used prolifically in the building of the temple, considered to be sacred and holy.

Biblical References: Leviticus, Numbers, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Psalms, Song of Solomon, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Ezra, Zechariah

Modern Uses: As an essential oil, Cedarwood is often used in association with reducing pain, inflammation, spasms, and fungal infections. From a mental standpoint, the scent is believed to increase focus and promote wise thoughts.

The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. 1 Kings 6:20

Cinnamon

While we now often associate cinnamon with yummy baked goods, that wasn’t the case during bible times. In fact, this spice was once considered to be more valuable than gold because of its medicinal properties. Cinnamon oil was extracted from the bark and used for perfume and anointing.

Biblical References: Exodus, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Revelation

Modern Uses: Cinnamon is powerful for supporting the immune system, promoting circulation, relieving achy muscles and joint pain, and maintaining oral health. Some people use Cinnamon essential oil, diluted with a carrier oil, by massaging it into the skin over sore joints and muscles.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Proverbs 7:17

Cassia

Another sacred perfume extracted from the bark of the Cassia plant, the scent of this oil is similar to the more familiar cinnamon and would have been used in anointing oil. During Bible times it was also used in powdered form during commerce and trade.

Biblical References: Exodus, Psalms, Ezekiel

Modern Uses: In the form of an essential oil, Cassia is often used to help as a treatment for diarrhoea, relief from arthritis pain, improvement in circulation, reduction of inflammation, and relief from menstrual cramps and other symptoms.

All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.   Psalm 45:8

Mint

Mentioned specifically only in the New Testament, mint was commonly grown herb. It is suspected that mint may have been included as one of the bitter herbs which were used in the Passover celebration. Mint may have been scattered onto dirt floors or hung in houses to cover over foul smells and create a welcoming scent. Mint may have also been used as a seasoning for foods and

Biblical References: Matthew, Luke

Modern Uses: Now there are more than 1000 hybrid varieties of this herb, some of the more familiar including peppermint, spearmint, and pennyroyal. Its health benefits include help with digestion and tummy discomfort, freshening breath, opening up breathing passages for asthma or colds and even reducing memory loss.

You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. Luke 11:42

Some of these healing plants might be growing in your backyard while others are a bit more obscure. Many of them are available in the form of essential oils or nutritional supplements. As with any type of homoeopathic medical treatment (no matter how natural) be sure to check with a medical professional about whether these are safe to use for your specific needs.  

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Feeling Anxious? Beat Anxiety with 3 Biblical Steps

Life is filled with all kinds of reasons to be afraid and anxious. War. Disease. Politics. Poverty. Death. Failure. Rejection. Clowns.

Some fears are specific and reasonable. Others are generic and unfounded.

We don’t have to read the bible very long to notice fear cropping up. Repeatedly the characters in the Old and New Testaments are commanded not to fear. When the phrase “Do not fear” so often appears, we get the idea that God doesn’t want us to be afraid.

But in the context of our world filled with so much anxiety and fear, does the bible give anything more than simply a command not to fear?

Yes, it very much does!

Although scripture doesn’t often provide step-by-step instructions in the form of a “How-To” guide, this is one case where it does. And it’s one of my favorites.

It’s right there in the letter Paul wrote to the Philippians — a veritable recipe for beating anxiety!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Let’s break it down into three easy steps: the Command, the Action, and the Promise.

The Command: Do Not Be Anxious

If this command was a stand-alone, then I would be out of the game before even getting started. Because I can’t just manufacture peace and calm on my own! Thankfully, Paul gave the command but he didn’t just leave it there. He gave a “what” (do not be anxious) and then he gave the “how” that follows.

The Action: Present Your Requests to God

If you’re thinking that presenting requests to God is like presenting a wish list to Santa at Christmas, then you’re a bit off track. We first need a relationship with God in order to earn the right to start a conversation with him. And that comes through Jesus.

By prayer”¦.

Once we believe in Jesus as the one who saves us, God becomes our Father. And our relationship with him happens through prayer. Prayer is simply a conversation with God.

Often our prayers are one-way—we ask him for stuff. But prayer ideally goes both ways. One synonym for prayer is “devotion”. Take time during prayer to declare your devotion to God and praise him just because he is.

And petition”¦.

Here’s where the asking part comes in. Petitioning is asking God for something. In this case, ask God to meet a specific need that is causing anxiety. Ask him to help you trust him to provide. Ask him to remind you that he loves us and will not leave you alone. Ask him to take your anxiety away.

It’s absolutely okay to ask God for help. He knows that we need him and he is happy to hear us connect with that.

With thanksgiving”¦.

When someone asks you for something and you give it to them, how does it make you feel if they don’t thank you? Remember, God also likes to be thanked for the good things that he give, generally and specifically. If you’re not feeling like there’s much to be thankful for, look around and find something. Life. Breath. Sunshine. Rain. Grass. Your job. A carrot. Whatever. Be thankful.

When we take a posture of gratefulness, we avoid repeatedly coming to God as spoiled children. He doesn’t mind that we are needy. But he does mind if we are ungrateful.

The Promise: Peace

Once you’ve walked through praying, asking and thinking, it’s time for peace.

Even if the world around you doesn’t make sense and your friends tell you that you should be panicking, you have this promise:

The Peace of God

which Transcends All Understanding

will Guard your Heart and your Mind

in Christ Jesus.

 

This means that your family might not get it or your financial advisor might be telling you the ends just won’t meet. But if you’ve walked with God in prayer, petition and thanksgiving then you’ll receive his peace.

At first, you might experience peace for just a moment until you need to take a deep breath and start the whole process over again. Sort of like the “Lather. Rinse Repeat” instructions listed on your shampoo. But it will get easier and become more natural. The action of taking everything to Jesus is critical in order to receive peace.

Anxious thoughts popping up? Pray with petition and thanksgiving. Peace doesn’t last very long? Pray again.

Pray. Receive Peace. Repeat.

It’s really rather simple. Because with as many times as the Bible is confusing, Paul gave clear instructions on where to find peace.

Pray. Receive Peace. Repeat.

Not sure if you believe it? Try it out. Maintain a continual dialogue with God that includes prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. See what happens.

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Can A Christian Be Angry and Not Sin?

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). And one of his Scriptural commands is, “Be angry, and do not sin."

To get angry is normal. Like love, it is a human emotion. Like love, it is an emotion that God also feels. Scriptures share instances where God Himself got angry. Yes, God who cannot sin got angry. That means anger is not inherently wrong. That means that God’s anger is always rightly caused and rightly managed. God became angry with Solomon because his heart turned away from God. God got angry with Moses in the wilderness because he took the glory away from God.

A Christian can get angry for the right reasons.

It is normal to get angry when an offense is committed when boundaries are overstepped, and when principles are violated. It’s right to be angry when there’s disobedience or a breaking of trust. These are all valid reasons.

Scriptures tell us that getting angry easily and at the slightest of reasons is wrong. Ecclesiastes 7:9 tells us not to be eager in our heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools.  Patience must be afforded when needed. Rebellion or repetitive abuse towards you rightly causes anger but first-time offenses may be unintentional and need only your loving rebuke and redirection.

You should also be careful not to get angry when your expectations aren’t met. There are reasonable expectations and there are unreasonable ones. Just because somebody doesn’t measure up to your standards doesn’t mean they are deserving of your anger.

Our Father is angry when we sin and do wrong because no good thing ever comes from a life of sin. But God never gets angry about our weakness or shortcomings. He never chides us or belittles us for our failings. No. He encourages us and empowers us towards betterment.

Right Anger is Anger Managed Rightly

Throughout Scriptures, we see a God who deals with sin yet loves the sinning. We see consequences but we also see mercy. We see broken fellowship but we also see restoration.

The Bible coaches us on how to rightly manage anger:

  1. Do not prolong your anger.

Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” We should never let our anger turn into something else. If we are able to deal with the issue then confront it. If there is no way to directly settle the problem, then we prayerfully wait and seek God’s help for an opportunity to right the wrong that has been committed against us.

  1. let anger control you.

Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end”. No matter how valid your reason for anger is you must not allow it to dominate you and steer you into an uncontrollable outburst. Even if the hurt is too much, remember that a Spirit yielded life will exercise control.

  1. Do not let anger drive you to unwholesome talk.

In our anger, we must keep in mind the purpose of our rebuke; to point out wrong and to warn the offender not to repeat the same mistake again. Ephesians 4:29 tells us not to allow foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk to come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful. The world lashes out in anger. The world curses belittle and shames. But we are not the world. We are the church. While some may even say it feels better to speak out like that, in the end, what profit does corrupt talk really bring? Does it better how people look at you? Does it solve your problem? Does it help the offender?

  1. Do not let anger make you bitter and vengeful.

Ephesians 4:27 warns us that prolonged anger gives the enemy a foothold. It gives him an opening for manipulating us into thinking and doing the wrong things. Anger is often prolonged when it remains unexpressed and undealt with. It is actually healthier to express and explain your anger early on. When matters are dealt with, resentment and bitterness will not creep in.

Some offenders may refuse to change. When someone hurts us repeatedly, anger may build up. So if we are able, we should remove ourselves from any situation that will allow the offender to do us wrong again. We should not allow wrong to continue.

Some offenses may be overwhelmingly hurtful and tragic and thus have no remedy. While a desire to hurt back may arise, settle your heart and mind onto praying for and seeking justice. Romans 12:19 reminds us not to take revenge but to allow God to work out justice for us. Wait on God to move and allow Him to heal you as you wait on Him.

  1. Do not let anger make you unforgiving.

In Matthew 18:21,22 Jesus tells us to forgive without taking count. Colossians 3:13 tells us to exercise a forgiving spirit just as we have been recipients of God’s forgiveness. Forgiving is not always easy, it is a supernatural act. It is something we allow the Holy Spirit to prepare and empower us for. We may not immediately be ready to forgive, but if we are willing; the readiness will always come.

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Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You

Part 1 of an interview with Kelly Johnson,Author of Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You

The world can be a scary place, and the fear it produces can spiral us into a sort of paralysis that keeps us from speaking truth, living boldly, and encouraging others. To spur us back into action, life coach Kelly Johnson has written a devotional, Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You  (Abingdon Press), to help fan the flame of bravery that lies in wait within everyone.  

Q: How did your daughter first start you on the journey to study about being brave, and what role did she play in encouraging you to write this book?

When my youngest daughter was nine years old, she was having a particularly tough day. She had worn me out with her growing list of worries, complaints, aches, pains, and fears, and I told her I didn’t know what else I could do for her. I had depleted my reservoir of mommy tricks in my efforts to help her get to the other side of her increasing angst and finally said to her, “Brooke, I don’t know how to help you.” She looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Mommy, I just need you to tell me that I’m a brave soldier.” Her response to me that day began our family’s journey with the power of naming one another brave.

When Brooke left for college a few years ago, she wrote me a letter inviting me to step out and be brave in this new season of my life. Through my curiosity around the word brave, I started writing, reading, and wondering about what being brave meant for women like me who wanted to live lives of meaning and purpose but were sometimes scared to step out of their comfort zones. In October 2015, I offered my first Being Brave retreat where we explored God’s vision for our life, the barriers to fully embracing that braver life, and the part our connection to one another played in hearing God’s voice more clearly. This book was originally created as a resource and follow-up for my retreat attendees to go more deeply into the concepts we covered at the retreat.

Q: How is being brave tied into our faith and identity as Christians? Why is it powerful to be called brave?  

The most often repeated command in scripture is “do not fear.” God knew we would need encouragement to help us deal with our tendency to be sidetracked by our fears, so we find hundreds of scriptures about fear and courage in the Bible. Every exhortation to set aside our fear includes a reminder of God’s presence. Because of God’s presence, we can defeat the power of fear in our life and live in the fullness of who God made us to be. Because of God, we are brave. The theme verse for our journey is found in 2 Timothy 1:7:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity,but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.

Remembering we are brave reminds us of our identity as children of God and sets us free to do the next right thing with confidence. Naming one another BRAVE, calling out the brave soldier in each other, is a powerful way of speaking out loud the following message of solidarity and inspiration: “I see your struggle. I see your brave, hard work. I believe in you, and I’m here if you need help.” When we are reminded of our inherent, God-given courage, we can turn down the volume on the voice of our inner critic and turn up the volume on God’s voice. Remembering we are brave helps us tap into the part of ourselves that is creative and resourceful.

Q: You describe part of being brave as being bold, confident, and resilient. What encouragement do you have for the woman who doesn’t feel like she is any of those things?  

My experience both personally and in my interactions with friends and clients tells me many of us would have trouble describing ourselves with those words most of the time. While we might be willing to acknowledge confidence, boldness, or resilience in ourselves in some areas, many of us are much quicker to see those qualities in others. We tend to compare our insides with other people’s outsides and reach the conclusion that others possess something we just don’t have. I would encourage the woman who struggles to identify those qualities in herself to ask a trusted friend or family member for help in the discovery process. We are always more connected to our courage in the context of community. Find the people who encourage you to step out and exercise your confidence muscles and offer them the gift of encouragement in return.

I would also encourage her to determine what she thinks being bold, confident, and resilient looks like and act that way until she begins to feel that way. One of my favorite quotes about being brave is from Aristotle. He says, “We become brave by doing brave acts.” I believe scripture tells us that God created us to be brave, bold, confident, and resilient. Until we remember what that feels like, we need to encourage one another and practice doing brave things. Do one thing that scares you every day, no matter how small, and catch your friends being brave.  

Q: Who was Being Brave written for?

The Being Brave journey is for women who feel stuck and want to get un-stuck. This book is for the woman who dreams of a life of deeper purpose and passion, even though she isn’t sure she has anything significant to contribute. This book is for the woman who feels lonely, even though she has 750 friends on Facebook, and for the woman who loves Jesus, even though she doesn’t always feel like she fits in at church. This book is for the woman longing for deeper connection to God and to other women like her. This book is for the woman who needs someone to tell her she is brave, her story matters, and the party won’t be complete without her.

Q: Tell us a little bit about the format of Being Brave. How did you intend for the book to be used?

The book is formatted as a forty-day devotional journey. Using our theme scripture from 2 Timothy and an acronym of the word BRAVE, we explore six facets of being brave. On this journey, being brave includes being Bold, Resilient, Authentic, Vulnerable, Engaged, and Empowered by the Spirit. Each day explores one of the six facets of bravery with two scripture verses, an illustration, three thought-provoking questions, and a prayer. Along the way, we take inspiration from Jesus and His brave followers during the final weeks of His ministry, in addition to examples of courage from my own community.

My prayer is that readers will find an accessible guide to thinking about being brave in a new way and be willing to consider the idea that our Creator is willing and able to accompany us on the journey. I hope Being Brave is a book that both seasoned devotional enthusiasts and those who have never used a daily devotional before will find meaningful. In less than thirty minutes, most readers will be able to explore the daily offering and consider ways to incorporate the various facets of bravery into their day.

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Is God Calling You?

Is God Calling You?

Worthless, reject, loser, hopeless … the words played over and over in her head. She tried to ignore them but they had awakened something deep inside her. An overwhelming sense of inadequacy and despair washed over her. These were words she had heard many times before. She felt trapped by them. No matter how hard she tried to escape them they sat there deep inside like an anchor. They weighed heavily on her. The truth was, somewhere along the line she started to believe them.

Words have tremendous power. We can use them to call out the best and inspire strength. Alternately, we can use them to plant distortion, limitation and shroud others with a crippling sense of incapacity. Before Jesus was crucified and his disciples were tested he choose to call something out of them. He called out hope, restoration, purpose, identity and promise. His exact words were:

“…You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.”

“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil.” (John 15:15-16, The Message Bible)

Jesus removed the labels that limited and restricted. He uproots them and plants life. He secures what he seeds in their hearts and minds with a reminder. “You didn’t choose me, I chose you,” he said. These words remind them that there is no dependency on them. Who they were or what they did had no influence on his choice. Their identity was solely dependent on him. The fact is nothing they would or could ever do had the power to uproot what he established in them. He called them his friends. That declaration inspires awe, humility and deep gratitude.

What are you letting others call you? What identity have you adopted that is not your own? Let it go and let God’s declaration take root in your heart. He calls you chosen. He calls you friend.

 

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