Self-Knowledge: Can You Handle It?

"Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all."  -Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Perhaps one of this most difficult, and painful things we can do is an honest, assessment of ourselves. This is a "mirror-test" where we take a good, long inward look at who we are.

No one likes to admit that they may not be quite the person they think they are. Let's face it, faults, or weaknesses are not usually cheered about. We can be extremely subjective when it comes to self-evaluation.

But, as uncomfortable as this might be, it is important to have some self-knowledge, or understanding of  ourselves. This is important as part of our relationship with God. In fact, it's a necessity.

If we're not familiar with our own situation or plight, how can we properly ask God for what we want? It would be just like throwing darts at a map with eyes closed; hoping to hit the right location.

Without self-knowledge we are not cognizant of our temptations and/or besetting sins (those faults to which we are especially prone); our characteristic weaknesses. A difficult but vital area that needs to be addressed.

It's easy to say what we see when in self-denial mode, but in our blindness our sin still remains. And when we pray without self-knowledge, we pray aimlessly or unsurely.

Knowing oneself can be brutal. After all, there's probably nothing more deceitful than the heart (Jeremiah 17:9). In addition, it's all too easy to blame others for our own sinful, disgraceful, and wicked offenses. Not surprisingly, we can pay dearly for it.

We see this in 2 Samuel 12:5-7, when the prophet Nathan confronts David about his relationship with Bathsheba and the concealment of their affair. And the disastrous results that were incurred in the account of Absalom and Hushai in 2 Samuel 15:31–37; 16:20–17:23.

It's not easy to acknowledge our own faults and imperfections. But, no matter how hard we might try to disguise them, or how deeply we may try to bury them, they are made manifest in the eyes of God.

Truthfulness and authenticity, as they pertain to our deficiencies of self, is imperative. Pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit to provide the "ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see" your sinful shortcomings clearly, and forthright (Revelation 3:18).

Only by examining ourselves through the unbiased eyes of God will we be able to correct that which hinders our relationship, both, with Him, and those around us.

Scripture: Luke 9:23; Romans 8:7-8; Philippians 4:13; Romans 7:24; Philippians 2:4

Prayer: Dear Lord, I love You with all of my heart, soul, strength, and mind; thank You for Your wisdom, instruction, and loving-kindness, amen.

May God be with you,

Eriana

There's "Extraordinary" in the "Average!"

"Those that God used in the past were just ordinary people with an extraordinary Master."  -Winkie Pratney

According to a quick internet search, nearly 70% of the Earth's population possesses a normal I.Q. or intelligence quotient. 2% of the population are considered highly gifted.

As you can see, there's a lot more of us who have normal, or average intelligence. But not to worry, though we may be "average," we can still live and function within society with minimal discomfort or difficulty. And, there's nothing wrong with that!

But can being "average" be a bad thing? Well, I know that when it comes to things such as: schools, services, products, businesses, and places to live, anything considered "average" or less is usually not at the top of the list.

Companies and industries invest a lot of money in betting this is true. And as for human beings, "average" connotes feelings of failure, unworthiness, trashiness, and might-have-been, for example. It also suggests that there's nothing unique or special about an individual.

Sadly, this can affect the aspirations, hopes, and dreams of many who might think that "it'll never work out for me, so why even try?" But just because someone may be "average" doesn't mean they can't make a difference. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

There are quite a few "average" individuals who went on to accomplish extraordinary things. People such as John D. Rockefeller, Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, and Rita Moreno were "average" human beings who did not let that stop them from pursuing their goals and dreams.

The Bible, too, has examples of the "average" man or woman rising above this label, and doing extraordinary things for God. There is Gideon, who serves as an example that God doesn't measure potential with size or strength. He looks at the heart.

David rose from his humble beginnings as a lowly, shepherd to become Israel's foremost king, next to Christ. And Ruth, the young widow, devoted daughter-in-law, and grandmother of King David is proof that no matter our situation in life, if we live according to God's precepts, with genuine love and kindness, we will be blessed by Him.

Time and time again, we have seen exceptional achievements from regular, ordinary people. But, being "average" doesn't mean you are destined to be "mediocre" or "middling," not by a long shot! The rewards for your love and devotion to God are immeasurable, if you trust Him, obey Him, and let Him guide your life.

Scripture: Colossians 3:17; Philippians 4:13; 1 John 5:20; Titus 2:13; Romans 8:18

Prayer: Dear God, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, amen.  -Psalm 119:105

Have a blessed Monday,

Hailey

We Are the Body of Christ (Part 1)

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."  - 1 Corinthians 12:12 (KJV)

Last week, we concluded that "church" is much more than a physical building or structure. The church is more correctly, the "body of Christ;" with him being the head (Ephesians 1:22-23). The church (the body of Christ) consists of all who trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and have thereby gained eternal life.

We also saw that the collective group of believers, or the universal church, gather together with local bodies of believers, or the local church, to inspire, teach, and strengthen one another in the understanding and grace of Jesus Christ.

This week, we shall take a closer look at the relationship between Jesus Christ and his church. I ask you to pay particular attention to Ephesians 5:25-27. As you read these verses, notice the imagery and comparison to marriage (husband and wife) that is used here.

What better analogy to use for a strong, loving bond than that of a husband and wife! We are given the representation of Christ as the Bridegroom, and the Church his bride. The apostle Paul tells us that Christ loved the church very much. How much? Enough so that he died for it. (Ephesians 5:25).

Let's review, for a moment, the process leading up to the actual marriage where the bridegroom and bride are joined in holy matrimony. First, there is an engagement with the promise of a future marriage. We can apply this to Christ (the Bridegroom) who has, by his own sacrifice and atonement for our sins, selected the church as His bride.

Normally, there is a certain length of time prior to the wedding where the bride and groom are considered betrothed, or promised to marry one another, but are not yet husband and wife. This is where the church is at this time.

We, the church, and bride of Christ are separate from our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ during this church age; the period of time from Pentecost to the rapture. And like the traditional bride, we are to remain faithful to our bridegroom during the time leading up to our wedding ceremony at the rapture (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24; Revelation 19:7-9; 21:1-2).

It is noticeably clear that Christ truly loves his church. We know this because He "gave Himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25). Mind you, this wasn't just any other ordinary person whom we are talking about; it was the Son of God.

What Jesus gave was by no means common or regular. He gave Himself; His whole self. He also gave His Deity, humanity, the whole of His Person as God-Man; everything that was sufferable or offensive in man, and all that was worthy in God. All this He gave up willingly.

I think this would be a good place to break. The Bridegroom and Bride relationship between Christ and the Church is really a fascinating topic. And although due to our limited format we could not get deeper into it, I would encourage you to do so if it interests you.

Join me next time as we will be discussing some additional points of Jesus' love and sacrifice for His church. Until then, thank you, and I wish you a glorious week!

Scripture: Acts 20:28; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 5:42; Mark 16:15; Matthew 18:20

Prayer: Dear Lord,  I seek You, Your strength, and Your presence continually. Help me to impart this to others, amen.

May the Lord bless,

Shawna

Why Worry About Worries?

"Worry, by nature, is the product of a lack of faith and trust in God."  - John MacArthur

Christian author, Corrie Ten Boom once said, "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength." I wholeheartedly agree with her. Think about all of the times that worry has consumed your life. There is no one alive who hasn't worried about something.

Christians are not immune from worry. Even Jesus himself was familiar with worry (i.e., what it felt like) or else he wouldn't have addressed this in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34). It's hard not to worry, especially if you have children, a job, an illness, are in an unsteady relationship, or other such things.

Many cope with worry in different ways; some good, some bad. Exercising is good to relieve stress, talking about it is good, so is keeping your mind occupied with an activity, or work. Sadly, some will turn to alcohol or drugs, but this never turns out well. In fact, it usually aggravates the situation.

The answer to worry is not found in any bottle, pill, or syringe. These are only temporary bandages that merely cover the problem, not help you overcome it. So many suffer today because they are grasping for help from a mirage; a false image of deliverance. These temporal remedies are, both, fleeting and destructive.

There is only one way to lasting and secure relief from worry, and that is through God. Scripture tells us not to worry, not because it's the thing to do, but because God is standing by to help (Philippians 4:6). When we are worried, when something is weighing heavily on our mind, how great it would be to pass this off onto someone.

Well, we can. Our Heavenly Father will take care of it, if we let Him (1 Peter 5:7). God doesn't want us to surrender to worry. He cares about us. Life isn't very fun when worry rules our life. God wants us to enjoy life, to live life the way He meant for us to. And unlike with artificial remedies, God promises to give us peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Does this all mean that we will be worry-free? No, because worry and anxiety are simply a part of living here. But, for those of us who have given our lives to Him we are comforted in knowing that we never have to carry the burden of worry alone (Matthew 11:28-30).

Scripture: Psalm 34:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Hebrews 13:6; Romans 8:31; Deuteronomy 31:8

Prayer: Dear Lord, when I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In You, whose word I praise, in You I trust; I shall not be afraid, amen.

Have a blessed day!

Genevieve

Video - Rebekah Gregory: Prepared Through Adversity

Rebekah Gregory, who was nearly killed in the Boston Marathon bombing, talks about a lifetime of adversity and the work God was doing throughout it all. So inspirational!  ~Eve

The Enticement of Sin

"Sin carries in it its own misery."  - John Piper

Throughout out lives, no matter how devout a Christian may claim to be, sin will always be walking right behind, ready to cause us to stumble. There is no escape from it. Sin oozes all around, tempting us, calling out to us. We are under constant assault by it.

The pleasure of sin is difficult, though not impossible, to resist. But even the strongest can give way to it, as we shall see. In 1 Samuel 14, we are presented with an account of the great victory over the Philistines by Jonathan the son of Saul.

Jonathan and his armorbearer slipped out the Israelite camp without his father's knowledge. With the help of the Lord, they, along with the rest of Saul's army, were able to thoroughly defeat the Philistines. But it's after the battle that our attention is turned to.

Following this exhausting battle, the men were not only tired, but hungry, and in need of nourishment in order to refresh themselves. However, Saul, perhaps with the intention of saving time in order to continue the pursuit of the Philistines, gave an order forbidding them to eat until later, or be cursed (1 Samuel 1:24).

Somehow, Jonathan wasn't aware of Saul's command. Soon, they happened upon a wooded area where honey literally dripped from the trees. Although the men were greatly tempted to taste it, they were even more afraid of Saul's curse. That is, everyone but Jonathan who dipped his spear in a honeycomb, put some honey in his hand, and tasted it (1 Samuel 14:27).

Because of this act Jonathan received a death sentence (1 Samuel 14:43-44). Fortunately for Jonathan, he was spared due to the intercession of the people (1 Samuel 14:45). We can apply Jonathan's story to our own struggles with sin. Any why not? He wasn't any different than you or I.

We, too, are engaged in a battle, albeit, an on-going one. Instead of the Philistines our adversary is Satan and all of his legions. And we must pursue Satan; keep him on the run. Victory is ours, but we can't afford to stop in the middle of our fight to sample the pleasures of sin, even for a moment, or we, too, will be given the sentence of death.

As the people pleaded with the king, reminding him that Jonathan was his son, who then pardoned him, there is hope for all of us thanks to God. The people of God, His Church, from every corner of the earth intercede for us in prayer.

They pray that God will pardon the sinner, canceling the sentence of death for the sake of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. By the strength of intercessory prayer, and by the merits of Christ, there is always hope of escape, and chance of life for the sinner.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13; Mark 14:38; Hebrews 2:18; Luke 22:40; Ephesians 4:27  

Prayer: Dear Lord, the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; both are opposed to each other; strengthen me that I may always take Your path, amen.

May God bless you,

Kaye

Your Soul Is the Difference

"Intellect is the soul of man, the only immortal part of him." - Thomas Carlyle

You can't deny that artificial intelligence, or A.I. is definitely one of the most discussed advancements in technology. Clearly, it's the hot topic of all the scientific and business communities, too.

Techopedia explains artificial intelligence as "a branch of computer science that aims to create intelligent machines. It has become an essential part of the technology industry."

The term "artificial intelligence" brings to mind: self-driving vehicles, intelligent personal assistants (i.e., Amazon's Echo, Apple's Siri, and Google's Assistant, Microsoft's Cortana), and robotics.

Technology assisting and/or relieving humans of monotonous, time-consuming, menial, and even hazardous activities is nothing new. The difference is that it is now more affordably available than ever before.

American author and computer scientist Ray Kurzweil says that, “Artificial intelligence will reach human levels by around 2029. Follow that out further to, say, 2045, we will have multiplied the intelligence, the human biological machine intelligence of our civilization a billion-fold.”

That's both impressive and, frankly, just a little scary. Even so, unless artificial intelligence can develop, or come included with a true, God-given, soul it can never really be in the same league as humans in that critical sense (Psalm 16:9-10; Ezekiel 18:4; Acts 2:41; Revelation 18:13).

The human soul is the crown jewel to the state, or fact of being an individual. It's what really sets us apart from something that is man-made. According to what we can ascertain from Scripture, the human soul is the part of us that isn't physical. A soul is eternal, that is, it continues on after we die.

No doubt that artificial intelligence will continue to progress over time. But no matter how quickly and completely it can learn, it will never acquire personhood. Being a "real" person is so much more than possessing a body, or physical frame. A soul is the secret sauce that makes us who we are, and only God has the recipe (Jeremiah 38:16).

You and I are eternal souls. Some say that only the Word of God and the human soul have no end (Mark 13:31). Perhaps this is due to the fact that both are eternal evidences of our interrelationship with Him (Genesis 1:2; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 1:15; Deuteronomy 4:32).

Unlike any created artificial intelligence, we have the promise of joining God in eternal splendor; but only if we acknowledge that we are sinners and accept His gracious gift of forgiveness. Unquestionably, no creation of man will ever be extended this invitation.

Scripture: Genesis 2:7; Matthew 10:28; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Psalm 23:3; Luke 10:27

Prayer: Dear God, fill me with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may abound in hope, amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey