How Can the Calendar's Seasons Give Us Life Lessons?

 

How can the calendar's seasons give us life lessons

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

 Seasons can teach us how to withstand the challenges of life. We go through transitions, but they don’t always bring circumstances we like. Bue we can learn from these seasons when we follow the Lord’s directions for nourishing our hearts.

How can the calendar’s seasons give us life lessons?

SPRING

Spring bursts with freshness and new growth. Bulbs like tulips and daffodils raise their tender heads through the soil. Trees sprout young leaves and grow longer branches. But Spring also can form frequent thunderstorms and hard rain beats the blooms to the ground.

In our spiritual development, we may be enjoying fresh vision from Scripture, the beginning of a Bible study, or discipling a baby Christian. When the thrill of new spiritual adventures wanes, we can feel useless and beat up like the crushed petals.

After hard rain, flowers absorb the moisture and perk back up. When we face the wind of despair after a spiritual victory, this is when we should refuse to give up. If we continue to soak up living water into our souls, we will not be crushed.

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair (2 Corinthians 4:8 NKJV).

SUMMER

Summer brings rising temperatures. The spring shoots are gone, but summer blooms abound with color. Some can resist the hot sun and drier weather such as lantana and marigolds. As the months pass, the summer flowers that can survive the sun’s blaze begin to fade. We can get weary of daily watering and the beauty we enjoyed at the beginning of the season no longer brings joy.

Our life’s summer season may be our daily routines. The opportunities we enjoyed earlier grew to full bloom. We enjoyed the next step we took, but the temptation to become accustomed to the spiritual garden that sprouted can sneak in like weeds. Day to day lifestyle becomes dry, and boredom beats us down like the hot summer sun attacks plants.

This is when we should remember that our Father is faithful, and we need to keep our eyes on the prize of following Him. The Holy Spirit continues to work through the ordinary.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9).

AUTUMN

Autumn is a time of transition as the plants wither and fade, and the trees stop producing chlorophyll. This causes the leaves to die, change color, and fall to the ground. But the dead leaves transform into beautiful colors that we enjoy. We would like to hold on to this beauty, but because the plants are dead, they must be released or new germination will not occur in the spring.

We can become so attached to accomplishments or places of knowledge with God that we want to stay where it is comfortable. We don’t want to let go of what is familiar. But to expand and receive new levels of inspiration, we must follow the Creator’s leading and release the previous cycle we enjoyed. We can’t go forward if we hold on to the present.

This is the time to step out in faith and obey the Lord’s leading for a direction we may not have been before.

Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare: Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes (Isaiah 54:2).

WINTER

Winter is a time where everything looks empty. The trees are bare, and the flowers have disappeared. But despite appearances, the forest is not dead. Inside the trees, the next harvest is asleep waiting for nature’s call to wake up and sprout again.

This could be the time we feel the Spirit is silent. We pray, study, and read but feel empty. But our time is not wasted or dead.

As we remain faithful to feed our souls with the holy Word no matter what emotions tell us, the Spirit inside us stirs to bring new discovery when the time is right.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

We have all probably experienced these different phases in our spiritual journey. We can learn to recognize the signs of weariness, boredom, and emptiness. This is when we need to keep abiding in Christ so we will grow an abundant harvest that provides joy and beauty to the generations who come after us. We can leave a legacy of lessons learned for others to follow.

PRAY FOR STORM VICTIMS

We don’t want to forget about those in the path of Hurricane Helene. The deadly weather ravaged the southeast United States with a vengeance. Helene is a storm that can also be like some of those we go through in our lives. We experience tragedies as this one has caused. We need to remember that God is not the author of disaster. This is a natural force of weather patterns from a fallen earth.

We do need to pray for the recovery efforts and for those who have lost loved ones and property. God is the Lord of abundance and life. When we turn to Him He is there to restore, renew, and revive.

What revelation have you gained from the seasons of your life? Share your thoughts.

How Can the Calendar’s Seasons Give Us Life Lessons? (click to share on X)

Image by Nika Akin from Pixabay

Condemning Thoughts Cause Mental Bondage - Excerpt from New Book Sustaining Life’s Victories

 

Condemning thoughts cause mental bondage - How to sustain life's victories

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Do you struggle with guilt and shame? Do thoughts plague your mind with accusations of past sins or missed opportunities? These attitudes can place us in a soulish prison that we can’t escape on our own. Condemning thoughts cause mental bondage. We need God’s help.

Condemning thoughts can cause us to shy away from talking to God or reading our Bible. I have done this many times. Whenever I would do something wrong, I would wallow in remorse and not feel worthy to approach God’s throne. But this is when we should be running into His arms.

We aren’t worthy to approach His presence in ourselves. But we are worthy to approach Him because of Jesus. Jesus makes us worthy.

We can never clean ourselves up enough to deserve what God did. If we could clean ourselves up and become worthy, we wouldn’t need God. He is the One who does the cleaning, so He is the One we need to run to when we fall down and get dirty.

We can come boldly into God's presence. He has already cleansed us from our sin nature. What we do now is to see ourselves through His eyes—a forgiven saint. The only thing that needs cleansing is our minds. We learn to see ourselves through God’s eyes.

For several years, I have had the privilege of connecting with Lighthouse Bible Studies and contributing to their online magazine, Refresh, and some of their Bible study compilations.

On September 30, the newest book Sustaining Life’s Victories, will launch and is available for pre-order now.

My contribution’s title is “The Prison of Condemnation is Empty.”

The article shares three strategies we can use to unlock the jail cell of condemnation we may have allowed to lock around our minds.

I know you will be blessed by this book that contains stories from a multitude of talented authors. We know our Lord gives us victory over sin and guilt. But once we are free we must sustain that victory. This book provides personal illustrations and messages from God’s Word to show us how to dwell in peace and grace.

Christ gave us His identity to free us from guilt and shame. 

Join the conversation and share how you sustain life’s victories. How has God helped you?

Do you struggle with guilt and shame? Do condemning thoughts plague your mind with accusations of past sins or missed opportunities? Sustaining Life’s Victories provides strategies to live a victorious life. (click to share on X)

 

 

 

 

 Image by Monika from Pixabay 

 

6 Ways the Bible Teaches us to Live Successfully

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

King Saul was an example of a man who began his national leadership submitted to God. He enjoyed victories in war while he followed the Lord. But when his true character was revealed, jealousy of David drove him to the point of madness where he even tried to kill David. His selfishness was the downfall of his reign and it cost him his life and the lives of his sons as well.

In contrast, David is called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David sinned terribly on more than one occasion, yet he always repented. He never blamed anyone else for his failures, rather he took the consequences that the Almighty laid out.

David won multitudes of battles because he listened to the Lord’s guidance before he pursued an enemy. He is an example to us that seeking divine vision is the path to success.

These 6 Biblical Principles Will Teach Us How to Live a Successful Life

1. Seek the Lord Above All Else

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 NIV)

To receive the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives, we must deny any power we think we may have. The first step toward a blossoming life is submission to His authority.

We sometimes equate humility with putting ourselves down. But humility and meekness are not weak traits. Jesus was described as meek and lowly of heart, a place where we can find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29). Yet He was a tower of strength to combat Satan, sin, and religious hypocrisy.

We exhibit strength when we acknowledge we need wisdom from a source greater than we are.

 2. Avoid Foolish and Ignorant Disputes

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

Arguing does not change the issue nor does it alter a person’s mind. Only the Holy Spirit can transform a person’s thinking. We don’t want to listen to this kind of negative talk so much that we are influenced into absorbing a divisive mindset. Spending time in needless discussions takes us away from the focus of our goals.

3. Be Willing to Accept Advice

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

We cannot learn and grow if we think our opinion is the only one that matters, or if we think we already know so much that we don’t need to listen. When a person is full of pride, they have no ears for anyone else’s voice.

Learning and listening to others takes denying our flesh. Sometimes it hurts. We may feel like we have crawled upon the altar of criticism, but a loving instructor corrects with love and bandages any wounds that occur during teachable moments.

We should examine advice we receive to discern the intent. Some advice is not godly or does not fit our situation. But we can listen and graciously thank the giver of words for their time and concern.

4. Stay Focused on the Goal

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:12)

James 1:5–8 tells us that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. We cannot flourish in our goals and dreams if our mind is divided on the direction we need to go. Once we receive spiritual insight, we should stay focused on that and not allow other influences to sway us.

Satan sets traps for us when he knows we seek a holy objective. A mind full of dreams will not be accomplished without opposition.

5. Stay Out of Regret

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

No matter what has happened in our lives, our Father promises to restore and rebuild if we adhere to His ways (Joel 2:25). His mercy endures forever, and He is able to turn our disasters into diamonds. But He can only do that if we use His Word for healing of our damaged souls and depend upon His mercy. 

6.  Remember Where Success Comes From

 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God…otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 8:11a-14).

 After all the miracles and provision Jehovah had given the Israelites, they fell into sin and worshipped gold instead of God. They didn’t heed His warnings and the prosperous lives they enjoyed for a time ended in captivity.

Greed, lust for power and worldly pleasures have turned scores of people away from the Lord from the beginning of time until now. God knows human nature and that must be why He warned the Israelites about the consequences of forgetting Him.

The Ultimate Guide

A prosperous person is one that fulfills the will of the Father. Jesus told His followers that the key to abundant life was in seeking God, not possessions (Matthew 6:33). Once our affection is in the right place, He will meet our needs.

Bookstores abound with guides on how to plan our lives, but the only one that never fails is the Creator’s plan. The Bible is our guide in how to live the Lord’s way. When we rely on the source of our success, we can be fruitful, joyful, and peaceful.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV)

 What other principles have helped you live successfully? Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

The Bible is our guide in how to live the Lord’s way. When we rely on the source of our success, we can be fruitful, joyful, and peaceful. (click to share on X)

This post is an excerpt from an article that first appeared on Crosswalk.com. 

 Image by Jackie Matthews from Pixabay

5 Remedies for Fear

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

I could say, “Have you ever been afraid?,” but that would be a silly question.

Of course, we have all faced fear at some time in our lives. The news we hear daily from various sources promotes anxiety.

The “what-if’s” can plague our souls. World events and political division can create chaotic thoughts of disaster.

Fear is an enemy to our mental stability and physical health.

Here are 4 effects of fear:

1. Fear paralyzes and disrupts decision making. When we are not thinking clearly, we grasp at whatever sounds good at the moment and act impulsively.

2. Fear divides. Political climates, social media, and news reports all contain various opinions. Escalated emotions can lead to fights and violence either physically or verbally.   

3. Fear overrides hope. When we look at circumstances through the lens of discouragement, we see no resolution to the problem.

4. Fear defeats success. When dread is the prominent thought, there is no room for productivity or creativity. With no hope for the future there is no motivation for growth.

God tells us time after time in His Word to fear not. Of course, He knows the frailty of our humanness and He knew we would face situations that cause alarm. That’s why He gave us His Word as our weapon to combat fear.

King David faced hopeless situations more than once. When he and his men experienced the loss of their families, David’s response was to encourage himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).

Another psalmist wrote, Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 43:6 NKJV)

The Lord’s promises don’t depend upon a nation’s economy, political climate, or a leader’s decisions. His Word stands true no matter what happens in the world around us.

We can learn from David’s example and encourage ourselves in the Lord by following these 5 remedies to the agitation that can plague our souls:

1. Prayer – stay in fellowship with God. Not just to ask Him to take away the afflicting thing, but to fellowship with Him in praise and thanksgiving for who He is—the Almighty, the Omniscient, the King of the universe.

2. Provision of God – He provides for our needs so we shouldn’t panic when prices soar, or supply chains are slow or empty for a time (Philippians 4:19).

3. Protection of God – He gives us His angels to guard and protect us (Psalm 91).

4. Power of God – He is able to do abundantly more than we can ask or think as long as we depend on the power that dwells within us (Ephesians 3:20).

5. Promises of God –God tells us He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Living in anxiety and worry will not make any problem go away. Trusting the Lord means walking with Him and depending upon Him for answers. Standing on these Scriptures in faith puts the power where we need it.

As we learn to live in the identity Christ gave us, we will be able to resist the devil’s tactics more easily because we will be able to recognize that none of this dismay comes from God. 

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

Share on X

The Lord’s promises don’t depend upon a nation’s economy, political climate, or a leader’s decisions. His Word gives us remedies for fear that stand true no matter what happens in the world around us. (click to share on X)

 

 

 

 

Why Are We So Easily Deceived by Temptation?

 

Why are we so easily deceived by temptation?

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Why are we so easily deceived by temptation?

Sin attracts us when we are deceived into thinking something that appeals to our senses is good. The danger lies in not recognizing if a desire is right or wrong.

Our Age Doesn’t Determine Our Usefulness in the Kingdom of God

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

As years pass we face the temptation to look behind us and evaluate where we have been. This can be a good thing if we use our past as an opportunity for learning and setting goals. What we shouldn’t do is let this lead us to regret and feeling like we wasted too many years and chances for growth.

No matter what we left behind, our physical age doesn’t determine our usefulness in the kingdom of God.

Light Shines in the Darkness at the Paris Olympics

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

The atrocity that appeared in the Opening Ceremony at the Olympics has caused a worldwide outrage. I am glad to see that some, even in secular media, have criticized this parody against Christianity.

However, others, such as our own First Lady Jill Biden, praised the activities. She even questioned how the United States could top such an outstanding performance when America hosts the Olympics in 2028.

While degenerate behavior was applauded, light shone and continues to shine in the darkness at the Paris Olympics.

We have cousins in France who are missionaries. For weeks they have been preparing for this world famous event. Teams have talked to people on the streets, prayed with them, and given them places to rest, get water, and have shelter.

These saints went out among the citizens of France because the country needs Christ.

We shouldn’t be surprised at the kind of behavior that was exhibited during what should have been a celebration of a sporting event.

The spirit of antichrist has been on the earth for centuries (1 John 2:18). Current signs tell us we are living in the last days before Christ’s return.

I heard one reporter state that Christians were too tolerant when this type of behavior was displayed against them. I suppose he meant that Christians should retaliate like other groups do.

But we are not called to attack hate with hate. Romans 2:4 tells us the goodness of God is what calls people to repentance.

We are assigned to overcome darkness with light. Not with physical weapons because this is not a physical war. These types of happenings have roots in demonic spirits (Ephesians 6).

The devil hates God and all those who follow Him.

After Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus told His disciples what the church was supposed to do.

Prevail against the gates of hell.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever your loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18–19)

This isn’t intended to give us the picture of defending a closed door while the devil tries to get in.

The gates of hell will not prevail means we attack his domain. The gates of hell will not be able to stand against the kingdom of heaven. We go after him and his cronies in the spiritual world.

We are to use our spiritual authority to combat evil forces.

We do this by spreading the gospel of the Savior which is what the missionary teams are doing there now. If you would like to read about some of the results, you can ask to join their Facebook page, Pray4Paris.

We fight evil by not hiding from the political arena, rather we change governmental powers by voting for policies that defend our Constitution.

Jesus loves those drag queens that mocked Him. He loved those who delivered Him to the cross. He loves the prostitutes, the drug addicts, the hypocritical church members, the evolutionist, and those who are hung up on their good works.

The Son of God died for all of us (John 3:16).

Because what we do is not what sends a person to hell. Rejecting Christ’s sacrifice for sin is what separates a person from God.  

But His sacrifice must be received. If drag queens, or anyone, continues to shun the conviction of the Holy Spirit until their hearts are so hardened they are beyond repentance, Romans 1:18–32 says that the Lord gives them over to their depraved mind.

While all this darkness spread throughout the venue, light shone at the Paris Olympics as the message of forgiveness and love was proclaimed throughout the city.

New believers have been welcomed into the heavenly realm. Questions have been answered and seeds planted.

This is how we attack the dominion of evil. Christ’s light and love cannot be put out.

Please pray for the events in Paris. Pray for deception everywhere to be recognized so souls can turn to the Lord.

If you would like to know more about receiving Christ into your life, the page on this blog Knowing God will tell you how. 

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

While degenerate behavior was applauded by some, light shone and continues to shine in the darkness at the Paris Olympics. (click to share on X)

 

   Image by dan onaca from Pixabay

5 Ways to Control Our Response to Offense

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

An election year is always a prime soup of opinions. Everybody has one. Political arguments, polls, speeches, and spin can stir the pot with a lot of spice, some more fiery than others.

Heated conversation can be found in a host of places from restaurants, stores, and sadly even church.

 Even when we think we are not affected a mood change can be a key we are letting coals of anger or depression grow in our emotions.

How Can We Return America to Godly Values?

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta 

 Last week our nation experienced another close call that could have been a tragedy.

An assassination attempt on our former president, Donald Trump, ended up in victory for him and our country. Although he was hurt his life was spared.

I believe this was divine intervention of protection on him.

We may ask, “How and why did this happen?”

Finding a Cure for the Empty Nest Syndrome

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Are you an empty nester? Has your life changed since adult children have flown the coop?

Maybe it’s college, the military, marriage, or they just want to be on their own. No matter the reason for your now unused bedrooms, life is different.

You may be rejoicing that this time gives you more freedom and space. Or you may lament the silence in the house that no longer rings with video game sound effects or the never ending question, “What do we have to eat?”

Edie Melson’s newest book in her soul care series, Soul Care When the Nest is Empty, confronts the emotions and circumstances that can afflict us when we no longer have our kids at home. You can find a cure for the empty nest syndrome. (click to share on X)

Even if your heart doesn’t have that desolate feeling, this book can bring to light some emotions you may not have recognized. Edie combines devotions and prayers with simple creative exercises that are fun and relatable.

You don’t need to be an artist or professional photographer to complete these. Doodles, drawing, pictures, stickers, and coloring stimulates different parts of our brains. We can find healing, rest, and relaxation we didn’t realize we needed when we take the time to stop and let go of burdens.

Soul Care When the Nest is Empty is the fourth book in the soul care series. Others include Soul Care When You are Weary, Soul Care for Writers, and Soul Care When You are Grieving.

I recommend all these books. They are short, easy to read, but inspirational and thought-provoking.

You can find more about Edie at her website, www.ediemelson.com.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts about living in an empty nest.

 

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

 

Freedom is Not Free

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Some theologians have declared that American resistance to British rule was unscriptural and that the founding fathers acted in disobedience to the Bible by fighting. However, by doing so they are using selective reasoning and taking Scripture out of context to support their views.

Over the centuries, the British monarchy became a self-appointed god. James I introduced the Divine Right of Kings which states that kings stand in the place of God, representing Him to the people.  Complete Submission and Non-Resistance to Authority states that kings have an allegedly divine position and are not to be resisted ever for any reason. This principle was carried out to the point of torture and murder of those who stood for biblical rights according to Scripture.

The Bible teaches us in many places to obey civil laws except when those laws resist God’s Word. When the Israelites were under the rule of heathen nations, God raised up judges and prophets such as Gideon, Samson, and Deborah to fight against lawlessness and free his people so they could worship Him again.

Peter and John were arrested for breaking the religious laws.

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 NKJV)

Paul was imprisoned numerous times for preaching the gospel despite the religious laws. God’s laws supersedes those of mankind.

Our forefathers followed these biblical examples to stand against an abuse of power by a man who ruled as a god. Because of these brave men (and women too), we now have the right to worship God. (Although some laws passed in the last few years seek to inhibit that ability).

Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guard personnel fight battles all over the world while we rest safely in our homes.

Jesus suffered in ways we can’t comprehend to release us from the debt of sin.

Freedom is not free for those who pay the price to release others from bondage. But it is free for those who enjoy the benefits.

Our military paid the price for our political freedom. Jesus paid the price for our spiritual freedom.

Christ gave us the right to use His authority and live in His identity because He wiped away the debt of sin for us.

America is a free nation today because of the men who opposed a king who ruled in the place of God. They stood on biblical principles and founded our country with godly wisdom.

May we never take for granted the rights we have as Americans, but more than that may we never forget what Christ has done for us. This world will pass away, but the freedom Jesus bought for us is eternal. (click to share on X)

Happy Independence Day! God bless America and may she continue to be a beacon of freedom and hope to the world.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

7 Scriptures to Cure a Sleepless Night

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta 

The lights are out. The house is quiet.

Yet sleep evades us.

The mind wanders and finds things we hadn’t even thought about for years or invents possibilities that haven’t happened yet.

There are some physical things we can do that will relax our bodies such as limit screen time, avoid foods that disagree with our stomachs, and stay away from violent movies and TV shows that raise emotional responses.

But the minute the room is dark and the TV is off, even if all these physical requirements are followed, thoughts of disaster still race through the space of our brains like a rocket on a mission to the moon.

The Pursuit of Knowing God

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Our Bible study is a never-ending adventure with God. We need His Word in our souls more than our bodies need food.

Yet we do sometimes stray away from feeding on His abundant harvest. This can bring us into soulish malnutrition.

We may wonder why anger flames up so quickly.

Where did the fear come from that gnaws at our minds?

6 Behaviors That Cause Pain to the Spirit of God

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

 When we give instructions to our children and they refuse to obey, we don’t throw them out of the family. But our hearts suffer because we see that when they rebel, they hurt themselves and sow seeds that will reap destructive consequences later.

How much more does our heavenly Father desire what is best for us? He doesn’t want the enemy of our souls to grasp us with his talons of evil works.

Paul’s instructions to the church in Ephesus told them not to grieve the Holy Spirit.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 NIV)

All sin grieves the Holy Spirit. We will focus on 6 behaviors that can cause pain to the Spirit of God found in the book of Ephesians.

 1. Negative Speech

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

The Israelites complained about everything while they were in the wilderness.

The same heart-breaking attitude can be reflected in our words if we don’t keep a watch over our mouths.

2. Uncontrolled Emotions

 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV)

All these words sound like the same emotion, but they are different in subtle ways.

Bitterness is a root formed by unforgiveness that can produce other sins.

Wrath is indignation that can rise gradually and then subside. These are feelings that come and go due to thoughts and exposure to actions of others.

Anger rises when we abhor injustice. This feeling can be used righteously as in Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. But we must guard ourselves that we don’t use anger in a vengeful way when we feel that we have personally been wronged (Ephesians 4:26).

Clamor is a deep crying or wail in distress, like self-pity.

Malice is the destruction of a person’s character through slander or to blaspheme and give no respect to God.

We can all be guilty of these emotions at times, and we know how destructive they can be to our lives.

3. Lying

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25 NIV)

 It’s hard to admit that we, as Christians, sometimes tell a fib. We may think we don’t fall under this category, but we can find ourselves not telling the whole truth at times. And a little bit of falsehood is still a lie. False flattery is one way we lie to each other. We don’t want to offend our brothers and sisters, but we also shouldn’t say something we don’t mean.

What about gossip? Words disguised as prayer requests or stories spread as attempts at aid can still be classified as lying.

 We are members the same family (1 Corinthians 12:26). When one hurts, we all hurt so why would we want to damage each other with untruths?

 4. Falling for Deception

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (Ephesians 5:6)

Jesus warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing coming in with false words (Matthew 7:15). The Galatians swallowed the lie that they also needed to obey the Law of Moses along with belief in Christ to be saved (Galatians 5:4).

We can only stay on course by knowing the truth and not listening to anything that contradicts what the Bible says. We do this by grounding ourselves in the Word. (Romans 12:1-12).

 The result of listening to false doctrine can draw us away from Him and into sinful actions.

 5. Stealing

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)

Robbery is not part of the lifestyle of Christians. We don’t hold up banks or stores and ride off into the sunset with the loot. But the size or value of an item is not what determines theft. Even if we didn’t intentionally take money or products, keeping incorrect change, or not returning an item a clerk mistakenly places in our bag is defrauding the store.

Cheating on taxes or falsifying business documents could also fall under the category of lying.

These are small indiscretions, and these behaviors may seem insignificant. But they do matter. God sees all, and He is saddened when we don’t reflect His character.

6.  Drunkenness

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)

The debate about Christians drinking alcohol will probably continue until Jesus comes back. But the Scripture is clear about drunkenness. This is another problem Paul addressed in several places due to the background the new Christians converted from.

The same principle can apply to alcohol as to the eating of food outlined in Romans chapter 14. We are not to judge, but we are also told not to be a stumbling block to another person’s faith (Romans 14:13). We should consider how all activities and attitudes we engage in can be interpreted by others.

Live in the Fruit of the Spirit

We are forgiven for all these soul wanderings, but that doesn’t give us a free pass for committing any fleshly act. Living in the fruit of the Spirit will keep us sensitive to God's voice and will empower us against any temptations.

Rather than grieving the Spirit, we can praise and thank Him.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

Image by Dorothe from Pixabay

Forgiveness doesn't give us a free pass for committing any fleshly act. Living in the fruit of the Spirit will keep us sensitive to God's voice and empower us against any temptations. (share on X)null

This post is an excerpt from an article that appeared on Crosswalk.com. 

3 Ways to Overcome Guilt and Shame

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

 Ever since Adam and Eve took one bite of fruit humans have dealt with guilt and shame.

God warned Adam.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:15-16 NKJV)

Remember the Goal by guest blogger Katherine Pasour

  

Today we are honored to hear from Katherine Pasour as she introduces her new book designed to help high school students transition to college life. Welcome Katherine!

by Katherine Pasour @katherinepasour

 

When I first went away to college (many years ago), I discovered the card game of bridge. A group of students hung out in the student center, playing bridge at every opportunity. Unfortunately for me, I played a little too often, sometimes missing class to do so.

 It was not a wise decision on my part. I made a D in math class.

 Then I had to face my parents with a bad grade. I was prepared academically for college, but not so much for the independence that came with being a college student. I’d learned a new card game, made a new group of friends, and depended on what I thought was my past skill to get me through math with a good grade.

 

I was distracted by my enjoyment of being with friends, playing cards and socializing, and I took my focus off my goal—to do well in college.

 

I learned a valuable lesson—not just about college but about life.

 

There are even more distractions now—cell phones, social media, gaming, and the plethora of activities available through technology.

Whatever task, opportunity, or job that we're engaged in--we need to give it our all. Do our best. Stay focused. Keep our eye on the goal and make the commitment to do what must be done to complete the goal.

 Giving our best is a habit that stays with us for a lifetime and will serve us well from the time we are a student, beginning our career, advancing in our chosen field, or settling into the golden years of service and retirement.

 Below is a short devotion from Stay the Course: A Devotional Handbook to Survive and Thrive in Your First Year of College (and Beyond). This handbook offers practical advice, motivation, and encouragement (and some tough love when needed) to support students in their transition from high school to college. Some of these strategies continue to work for us even as we transition into careers, grow a family, and go forth to format additional goals in life.

 

Remember the Goal

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

You’ve had goals all your life and this new journey (college) is no exception. One of your goals is to do your best in school. Otherwise you will be wasting your time and your parents’ (or someone’s money). The college/university experience should be enjoyable but fun isn’t first priority.

When you throw a ball or run a race, it’s important to keep your eye on the target—to know what the goal is—to have your focus on your plan for success. Goals are important at any stage of life—from childhood through retirement and beyond. Some examples for a college student:

• Go to all classes each day (keep up with online classes)
• Don’t procrastinate (Stay ahead on assignments)
• Turn homework in on time
• Get involved in campus life, but not to the extent that it interferes with academics
• Avoid alcohol and drugs
• Make good grades

These are just some examples—your list may vary. But, as the Apostle Paul writes, the unseen goals are of utmost importance. Graduation may seem far away for a freshman, but those four years pass very quickly. Stay focused on the distant goals, too.

Your most important task will be to maintain your relationship with your heavenly Father. Read your Bible. Join a faith based campus group. Does your college have campus worship services? Can you travel home to church or find one near campus? Develop friendships that share your faith.

Prayer: My most important goal is keeping my eyes on you, my Father. I pray for guidance in all decisions and that I may find friends in my faith.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts. What other advice would you give a beginning college student?

Katherine is giving away a copy of Stay the Course. I will conduct a drawing from the comments that are left for this post until Wednesday, June 5, at midnight. 

From Katherine: I hope you will join me in prayer for our graduates. It’s a tough world out there!

Purchase link for Stay the Course https://mybook.to/QQq3h

Dr. Katherine Pasour is a retired college professor, an author, and a speaker. During more than four decades of teaching, greater than half at the college level, Katherine has taught and mentored thousands of students.

Katherine has degrees in health and physical education and religion, and a PhD in education. She has taught health and physical education to children, wellness to young adults, general education courses, and research classes for honors students, and she’s prepared students to be teachers.

An outdoor girl at heart, Katherine enjoys her farm animals, gardening, and hiking. Although pulling weeds or spreading mulch in her flowers aren’t her favorite hobbies, she finds these outdoor tasks are great stress relievers, especially in the spring when the fruits of her labor display their glorious blossoms.

Top Image by Alexandr Borecký from Pixabay

What Did Jesus Mean When He Told Us to Deny Ourselves?

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta 

Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23 NKJV)

Does this mean we are to carry a cross around? (Although there is a man who did this as a ministry years ago.)

I have heard some people express that certain pains or tragedies was their cross to bear. But Jesus wasn’t talking about life’s circumstances being a cross that was put upon us.

Jesus died on a cross in a selfless sacrifice to save sinners. He put aside His own needs and wants for the good of the whole world. Innocence killed because of the guilt of others.

His example is for us to deny ourselves for the good of others too.

Dying to self is taking up our cross and following Him. When we take up our cross, we identify with what Christ did. We humble ourselves to accept the cost that comes with being a disciple.

Denying ourselves doesn’t mean we don’t obtain some of the things we want. Psalm 37:4 tells us, Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

The key here is delighting in the Lord. When He is our delight, our desires will line up with His will and won’t be selfish.

Dying to self can’t be attained by behavior modification.  Denying self means crucifying the fleshly way of thinking. To put away selfish behavior, angry responses, unforgiveness, and bitterness.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV)

Our soulish realm is where we fail because our minds get in the way.

Only when we realize how much God loves us will we be able to let the Spirit of God shine through. Our behavior will exhibit the Holy Spirit’s fruit to other people (1 John 4:19).

Spiritual characteristics flow through the soul to create action. If our soul is contaminated with doubt and hurt, God’s spirit doesn’t shine. He is still there but His fruit is hidden.

When I was a child, my grandparents lived in a house out in the country that had a well. A bucket was tied to a rope on a post at the top and if you wanted water, you had to lower the bucket, scoop the water, then haul the bucket back to the surface.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)

The same is true with our inner being. We lower the bucket by digging into the Word and scooping that living water into our minds to drink so we can exhibit the gift that has already been given to us. The water in my grandparent’s well was always there, but if we wanted some, a person had to lower the bucket and get it.

There are many times I have let the flesh fly and the fruit remained in the bowl of my spirit (just ask my husband). But I am learning and as I study and pray, I am reminded more often of how the response that wants to come out is not one that would be godly actions.

Dying to self is not a one-time event. This action develops through daily fellowship with our Father. Abiding in the vine of Christ. This is where the strength comes from to control the emotional responses our flesh wants to express.

And of course, Jesus is the ultimate example. His entire ministry focused on fulfilling God’s will and ministering to people at the expense of His own comfort and safety. When dying on the cross, He still thought of others.

He asked God to forgive those who stood at the foot of the cross and mocked Him (Luke 23:34).  He thought of His mother and gave her care over to John (Luke 19:26-27).

Our actions and words will be dominated by whatever we focus on. When our priority is on God and not ourselves, His character will come out. This isn’t supposed to be something that takes effort because our efforts can’t make anything happen. He flows when we open the gate.

What did Jesus mean when He said to deny ourselves? Let the Holy Spirit have control.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

Join the conversation and share your thoughts about what denying self means to you.

TWEETABLES

What did Jesus mean when He told us to deny ourselves?(click to tweet)

Only when we realize how much God loves us will we be able to let the Spirit of God shine through. Our behavior will exhibit the Holy Spirit’s fruit to other people (click to tweet)

 

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay