Category: Christian Blog

Can I Really Engage People In A Computerized World?

Can I Really Engage People In A Computerized World?

It has been an amazing journey since 2010. I began when Dr. Bajaj asked if I could start sending a devotional email to the staff every day. From the devotional email, I got the idea of starting a blog post. If my emails could reach or encourage a few, perhaps on the web I could reach more. I had just published my first book of poetry and was working on another book that was dear to my heart. Perhaps I could reach a larger audience for Christ. At the same time I had begun speaking in a jail ministry. Not having much capital, I did obtain some help from a young man who understood computers and how to set up the website.

A FAILURE TO READ THE MANUAL

Pretty much later, I had to figure it out. Sadly to say, I have one of those brains who has trouble reading the instruction manual. You know the type, the one who tries to figure it out. Well, that was me. I did watch a few YouTube videos for how to. You can imagine how I have stumbled along this path. Hours and hours sometimes to accomplish the simplest of tasks. Still work was too commanding and chaotic to ever consider taking a class in all this technical stuff. (My difficulty with reading the manuals is why I so often have lead you through entire books of the Bible or series. The one manual I do want to learn, is God’s Word. When I am taking you through a series, I am committing myself to fully read, study, and understand before I teach you each section.)

prayer for you in computer world

[bctt tweet=”Lost in the mass of the technical jargon, the one thing that kept me going was love for each of you”] You see, every step of this journey called life has been a journey reaching for hope, joy, and peace in the midst of chaos. The thought of not sharing the wondrous mysteries of the gospel with you would be an unbearable thought.

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How to Actually Overcome with Joy when Satan Roars

I Peter 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Roaring Lion? Do we know Satan as such? After all, were he to come at me roaring; I would see the danger, right? I am so aware of Satan’s hissing, whispering sounds of a lying snake. How often have I heard His hissing questions? “What makes you think God could love you, look at you?” or “Surely God could never use someone like you.” Or “Do you really believe that is what God has said?” Or “If God really loved you, He would never have allowed the suffering in your life?” And so the whisperings of Satan go, planting seeds of doubt and feelings of despair; promising that we might have greater joy if we would just………. But roaring?

when satan roars

How does Satan roar? He encircles us with pain. Pacing around us with evil, tragedies, destruction, illness, rejection, and despair. Roaring as he circles—pacing, roaring while inciting fear and doubt. As, he roars “Where is your God, now?  God love you, really?  Look what He did.”  Satan knows that we are looking to Christ, the Lion of Judah, to protect and guide us.  So he cloaks himself with the image of a lion; yet, instead of being the protector, he roars forth with anger and suffering until our hearts would faint and our faith would vanish. [bctt tweet=”Satan roars in our pain & suffering Where do I turn when Satan roars?The God of Grace is my Joy”]

How can I shut the mouth of this roaring Lion?  I found there are 3 keys to shut Satan’s roars.

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5 Essentials to Prayer When Living in a Hostile World

From the midst of a dark, cold jail cell; Paul wrote to the early church. A church that he knew would be persecuted. Even more so, the church which Paul was preaching too were the Gentiles—those who were by the Jewish nation considered the lowest of the low—the heathens. So, while imprisoned for his faith in Christ, beaten and flogged for having preached the gospel; Paul has eloquently been telling early believers to remember who they are in Christ. They are the redeemed, beloved, chosen children of the most high God. He has urged them to remember these truths as they were going to need to cling tight to those facts while they are being rejected and persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. He reminded them that it was God’s plan from before the earth was formed that the body of believers would include them. The new church was to be formed from the gentiles, as well as the Jews.  These former enemies would be joined in the formation of the “church” of believers that would now spread the gospel of Christ.

rooted in love

[bctt tweet=”From a jail cell, Paul prayed for all believers to be rooted & grounded in the Love of Christ”] He knew that they would be facing so much unrest, injustice, and ostracism that they would by nature grow bitter, angry and hostile in their response. Yet, Paul knowing the battle that might occur around them and within their own hearts; prays that they become so rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, that they are strengthened with hope. He prays to the only one who can perform this kind of miracle of love, which is God himself. Look at this prayer.

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How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith

How to Actually Joyfully Finish the Race of Faith

As any athlete would tell you, it is important to set your pace. You must know your own levels of endurance. Endurance is built over time with precision. The years of illness, followed by years of working long hours had taken its toll on my body. Last year, I realized that I had laid aside any exercise—well, actually it had been hit and miss with occasional weeks of good followed by more weeks of none. I realized that if I am to live life with both joy and endurance; something had to change. I began easy at first-treadmill at noon every day at work. At first, I began at 3 miles per hour pace for twenty minutes at an incline of 10%. It was a struggle at first; but, every day I would determine to go. At first I would think, ok I can finish 5 minutes. Then at 5 minutes I would think, I can do 5 more. I would do that until I reached my 20 minutes. Now I look forward to my noon work out. I am up to 4 miles/hour, 13% incline and 30 minutes. Each day is the same thought process-5 minutes, then 5 more, then 5 more etc. until I have finished the 30 minutes. I remembered when I was young and would run 10K races—one block at a time.

stretching for the race

[bctt tweet=”Our Christian Journey is much like a marathon requiring endurance looking toward the finish line- “] 10 m at a time.

THE RACE OF LIFE BY FAITH

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12).

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How Can Prayer Really Assure A Life Full Of Joy?

How Can Prayer Really Assure A Life Full Of Joy?

How are you doing with this prayer challenge? We have passed the midway point. I must say that scheduling a time to spend 30 minutes alone dedicated to prayer was challenging at first (because I didn’t want to get up earlier); but, it is becoming a time I really look forward to. It is said that it takes 21 days to really establish a new habit. If that is true we are well on our way. Don’t worry if you have slipped off or haven’t started yet. Today is a new day. Particularly, I want you to know that prayer is the assurance of full joy in the life of the Christian.

KEY TO GOD’S THRONE ROOM

Christ, as He tried to prepare His apostles for His crucifixion comforted them by telling them that even though they would for a moment feel great sorrow—He would rise again to go to the Father. Once He had gone to be with the Father, He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of each believer to be their comforter and their guide. His death as atonement for our sin and His resurrection as conqueror over death would be the key that opens the door to our father/child relationship with God. He wanted them to understand that they would be equipped with all they needed to perform the task of evangelization, even though He would not be physically present. They would have direct access through prayer to request all they needed from the Father themselves. We have (in the name of Christ) direct access to our Heavenly Father.

ebsps0637© Erik Stenbakken/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”Prayer is the key that opens the floodgates of great Joy in the life of every believer.”]

If I never spend time alone with God, I can never fully understand His goodness, His Glory, His Love toward me, and His Joyous delight in me.

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