Mental garbage...

As we age, the connections between our brain cells -- called synapses, which are formed during the process of learning -- begin to falter.  This means that we have increasing difficulty in retrieving memories as we get older.  Researchers believe that the deterioration of synapses is caused by extensive cell loss in various parts of our brain.

So…avoid mental trash.  Don't let your brain become a septic system for anything that does not feed your spirituality, stimulate your imagination, or make you a more compassionate peaceful person. Refuse to open your mind to other people's trash without investigating for yourself.  Tune out anything that promotes negativity or conflict, which spread cynicism and feelings of defeat.

Begin each day with something uplifting, intelligent, and motivational.  Do this for yourself and those around you deliberately.  This will set you up for a glorious day and you can easily saturate yourself with positive words from our Savior that fuel your energy and ignite your spirit.  He instructed us by saying “follow me” not “admire me” so take a few steps each day to follow His lead.

Saturation in Christ Part 1

Who do YOU think you are? Who do you think you are in Christ? 

He sees the struggle in your life. He walks with you through it. Even the days before you knew Him, before you acknowledged Him, He was there. He was there through all of the things you've done that you are ashamed of. Do you think He's disappointed in you? If He saw you the way YOU see you, your life would be in shambles, but because He loves you, you continue on. His forgiveness is there for the asking. However, understand that to truly mean "I'm sorry" is to mean "I regret what I've done and I will not do it again, with God's help."

Read some passages that will get you started on the right track: Ecclesiastes 2 (finding fulfillment elsewhere); 1 Peter 4 (living for worldly things); Romans 1(the results of sinful humanity)

When you're done, reflect on all those whom He called to do His good works. Have you ever heard of Moses, David, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Peter, or Paul? Feeling unworthy or unlovable is common among those who would otherwise be too humble to speak up and take the path He has designed for them. 

You can make changes in your life and begin today. You can decide to do something that will lead others to Christ, lead others to want a life like yours, lead others to seek a higher purpose. 

The world is filled with those who need daily affirmation of their worth, they need encouragement and they need the light of Christ. This is where you come in. Each day, plan to seek out opportunities to speak LIFE into those around you and those you pass on the street. 

Think about this: If your purpose is to reach only a single person and bring them to Christ and you are given just ONE opportunity to do it, are you going to fail? If you are not prepared to give an answer for your faith, a solid, believable answer, you could fail. 

Study some apologetic information,  prepare your answer in advance. Always be prepared to give an answer, ALWAYS. 

If YOU are that one person that was designed to reach that one other person, do you honestly want to fail at it? Be prepared to answer. 

1Peter 3:15 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. 

You can learn to do this. You can. I know you're busy, I get it! I wrote that book. However, if you start now, you can prepare yourself for that moment when you are asked WHY you believe what you believe. Start with any typical question from an atheist: "Why does God allow pain and suffering?" "I believe there are many ways to God. Christians are arrogant to think their way is the only way!" "Why aren't there more Christians? How can the majority be wrong?" "Christians are intolerant." "I'm a good person, I love my family. Why do I need your Jesus?" 

There are many, many more. But I will help you in this series to understand the Christian beliefs in these matters. Together, we will examine each of the questions we might be faced with from both believers and non-believers.  We will work through them until you are confident that you are prepared to give an answer.

Waiting on a sign????? How about the cross?

Want to know what’s stopping you? YOU ARE! If you can get out of your own way...He has this awesome, awesome plan for you! Stop wishing you had a little discipline and command it! You have a new future in Christ. You simply must decide to come up with a plan for you and your Brothers and Sisters that you care about. Then: fellowship with other Christians, be accountable for daily results that other Christians can monitor and measure. Your primary group of friends should be Christians who can challenge you, support you, and keep you accountable. IRON SHARPENS IRON! Are you sitting there dreaming up reasons why “you can’t”? I thought you said you were His child? Whatever your excuse is, it is NO match to the one true King who is your strength. It's time for you to stop saying “one day we’ll have enough money that I can help __________ …” Take it straight from Jesus, join me in Luke 21, 1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

Seek His heart

Stop what you’re doing right now and say to yourself...I will never beat myself up again for past mistakes. He has forgiven me! Never again will I allow someone to let me question who I am in Christ. Never again will I let someone reject me and then dwell on it, for He did not come to bring peace, but a sword. He came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.(Mathew 10:34-36) When you asked Jesus to come into your heart, did you buy into the lie that being a Christian was going to be easy? This weekend a wonderful Christian comedian told us that being saved is like never again driving a car that breaks down all the time, leaving us on the side of the road….the car still breaks down, but NOW we’re married to a mechanic AND we have AAA!!!

Try saying this to yourself: NEVER AGAIN will I represent myself as a fake, shining smile that must pretend that everything is peachy and perfect. I will not be act like a victim, but better a triumphant (possibly wounded) soldier of Christ! I AM NO victim! I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13) I will still face tragedy, I will still feel disappointment, I will still have “those” days, but because I have a personal and meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ, I CAN overcome and I will!” AND THEN: Keep your chin up, WITNESS at all times, and if you have to open your mouth! Be that light for others, that example that says: I am His, He adores me, when I make a mess or draw an ugly picture, He STILL hangs it on His refrigerator J

-Rev. Cassandra Kaehn

Seek His heart first and soon He'll reveal to you, your soulmate, the man of your dreams, a strong Christian brother, a mighty man of God!

A woman's heart should be so buried in Christ, that a man should have to seek his own salvation to find it.

Tear Down That Wall!

The Wall. For people living in East Germany over 50 years ago, those two words were the only ones necessary to describe the barrier erected on August 13, 1961. That date marked the beginning of the construction of a concrete barrier that separated East and West Germany. Eventually, the wall became nearly impenetrable—secured with barbed wire and armed men. But in 1989 the wall was torn down, removing the barrier between the countries.
Another wall needs to be removed as well—the wall between humanity and God. That barrier was built in the Garden of Eden when a man and a woman committed the first act of rebellion against God (Gen. 3). And we all have continued that rebellion ever since! Can you visualize that impenetrable wall? Isaiah 59:2 says: “Your sins . . . have cut you off from God” (nlt).
Jesus’ death and resurrection, however, has made reconciliation with God possible (2 Cor. 5:17-21). All those who accept Christ’s sacrifice for sin will have the barrier of sin torn down and be reconciled to God. Christ’s death has also demolished other restrictive walls—between the Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, male and female (Gal. 3:28).

Don’t let your own “wall” of indecision prevent you from accepting God’s gift of salvation.

The veil is rent; in Him alone
The living way to heaven is seen;
The middle wall is broken down
And all mankind may enter in. —Wesley

The Bible is a record of man’s complete ruin in sin and God’s complete remedy in Christ. —Barnhouse

A Circle Of Friends

Many high school students with autism or Down syndrome feel excluded and ignored. They often eat alone in a crowded cafeteria because other students don’t know how to relate to them or simply don’t care. To address this need, speech therapist Barbara Palilis began “Circle of Friends”—a program that pairs students with disabilities with nondisabled peers for lunch dates and social activities. Through this outreach, special-needs students and those nondisabled peers who befriend them continue to be enriched and changed through the gift of acceptance, friendship, and understanding.

Being included is at the heart of the gospel of Christ. “God, who is rich in mercy, . . . even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Eph. 2:4-5). Through faith in Christ, we “who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (v.13).

Our privileged place as members of the “household of God” (v.19) should give us eyes to see and hearts to care for those around us who are ignored and alone. If each of us would reach out in caring friendship to one person today, what a difference it would make for us all.

 

 

I needed help. Someone came alongside,
Sent by our Savior to care and to guide.
I now help you. We know that He is there,
Loving us both, and extending His care. —Verway

 

 

Reach out in friendship and encourage the lonely; energize the weary.