All posts tagged: Religion and Spirituality

The formula hasn’t changed: Your first step to next step ventures

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While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Acts 13:2 So, you are sitting there and asking yourself – What’s my next move? What does God have in store for me? Should I do this, should I do that? Let me share with you a very simple advice. Jesus’ disciples understood a very important principle in determining next step ventures. It wasn’t coming up with the best ideas about what they needed to do with their lives. It wasn’t seeking out counsel from mentors and spiritual giants. There is a time and place for those. It was about being with God, waiting on God and listening for the Spirit to Speak. Your first step to next step ventures is taking time – short or extended times of worship and fasting and waiting on the Holy Spirit to speak. I am afraid too many have missed this all important step and have ended up wasting their lives simply …

10 things self-absorbed, super-spiritual preachers say in the pulpit

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My purpose here is to argue that sometimes sensitivity, tact and cleverness in the way we communicate pays off greatly as we seek to deliver a difficult to swallow kind of message, convey a rebuke, or bring correction to a person who really needs it. For me, sometime our so-called speaking truth to power or motivating others for a greater good can come across as vicious, rude and simply disrespectful. Here are some of those things I think could be better, if not, more effectively communicated: 1. We would like to welcome all of you C&E Folks to our Special Easter/Christmas Service. All our C&E folks? It means those who only show up in church for an Easter or Christmas service. In some circles they are called Christers or Onecers. 2. Back in the day we used to go for hours way past the time for us to dismiss service when the Holy Ghost began to move 3. God is not impress with the one hour you give to him at the Sunday morning service 4. …

Come On my soul

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Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 43:5 Do you ever struggle with Sullenness? “the sinking discouragement, moodiness, hopelessness, unresponsiveness, withdrawn deadness of emotion”(John Piper). If you do, trust me, it is a very funky place that is very hard to snap out of. As long as your head in sunk deep in that discouraging deadness your song will be – “nobody knows the trouble I see.” But try learning and singing this song; allow the Holy Spirit’s power and a desperate cry to the Lord help snap you out of that funky place. Prayer: Lord, as the deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul for you… my soul thirst for you. I pour out my soul as I lift my prayers and praise to you. At the roar of your waterfalls, let all your breakers and waves come over me. Check out the entire album… just came out: Here is …

6 Questions that defy all Odds

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The following questions from Romans chapter 8 are so compelling. They serve as a strong defense for the unbending and unchanging love of God for us. They are compelling questions that will help you to believe God and trust HIM no matter what. Here they are: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen – since it is God who justifies? Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Logical Conclusion: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, …

How to rise above Discouragement

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Luke 7:11-17 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. This story is one of the saddest in the gospels. It describes the life of a single mother who had just lost her only …

A True Promise For Those Affected by Hurricane Sandy

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http://youtu.be/bnXkDgM1B18 I’ll never leave you never forsake you No matter what you’re going through I’ve got good news for you I’ll be with you always In stormy weather, it is my pleasure I want to take care of all your needs Trust me and you’ll see I’ll be with you always And when trouble comes And there’s no other place to run Just look to me and I’ll be there Just a whisper of a prayer I’ll be with you always

Celebrate Small Stuff

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The great Michelangelo once sculpted a figure out of marble as his friend stood by and watched. Well, this friend of his left for a business trip and after a while he returned and didn’t really see any significant progress in the work that Michelangelo was doing. Upon hearing the criticism of his friend, Michelangelo told him that he had indeed done some work on the marble figure by softening certain parts, straightening the lips, defining the muscles and polishing here and there on the marble figure. To his surprise, his friend said that his efforts were trifle. But Michelangelo replied, Trifles they may be, but trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. Are you in the habit of celebrating the small things in your life? Do you stop and acknowledge how blessed you are? Marriages and relationships fail because spouses pay little or no attention to the little things. Believers live in fear and ingratitude because they fail to stop for a moment and count their blessings. New converts grow discouraged and sometimes …

The Bible is a book of Alignment

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The Bible is a book of alignment – you either align or you malign. Titus 2:3-5 speak out the things that make for solid doctrine…so that no one will malign the Word of God Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone to malign God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. The idea behind this phrase – Things which are proper for sound doctrine – has to do with right living, not just right thinking. The Living Bible translates this “Speak up for the right living that goes along with true Christianity.” The New …

10 Sacred Reminders Before You Step Into The Pulpit

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1. It is foolish to think the gospel message you are about to preach will not offend your audience. 2. It is foolish to presume that after you’ve preached, everyone will like you, friend you on Facebook or follow you on twitter 3. It is foolish to think that everyone in you audience is on the same level of spiritual maturity..therefore will understand what you are saying 4. It is foolish to believe that anything of eternal significance can happen through the flesh 5. It is foolish to act like you are indispensable or anything better than an ass…excuse me…I meant donkey…because God can speak through them too… 6. It is foolish to approve the guy taking notes as super spiritual or a great student of the word 7. it is foolish to act like your personal style of communication, is the only way to preach or teach…the only way God can save or bless others 8. It is foolish to lead one-self into believing that what you are about to preach is only for your audience and not for …

Ulterior Motives

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Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about and the motives of my heart; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalm 139:23 – 24 – The Message Have you ever stopped and asked yourself why you do the things you do as a believer? Have you ever questioned your motives and checked your heart to see just why you do the things you do in the name of God? What would you say if one were to ask you the following” Why do you go to church? Why do you read you bible? Why do you give financially to your church? Why do you volunteer? Why do you pray? Is it possible to completely miss the right reasons for the questions above? Look with me at a few passages that I think suggest that it is possible: Mathew 6:1-4 – Practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen …