tag:eternalexample.com,2005:/blogs/ja-van-s-blog?p=19Ja' Van's Blog2018-07-07T03:48:52-04:00Ja'Van Johnsonfalsetag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/45440472017-01-10T07:00:49-05:002017-01-10T07:02:21-05:00Ready to Serve<p>“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13. Today’s blog entry is titled “Ready to Serve”… <br><br>We live in a society where a lot of emphasis is put on self, and doing what’s convenient; however as Christians it’s important for us to be willing and ready to serve others. First and foremost, we should be submitted to God, and our love for God should cause us to love others. By following the example of Jesus Christ, we can make a positive impact in the lives of those we encounter. <br><br>For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. - Mark 10:45 <br><br>Serving should be a lifestyle, and there are a number of ways we can serve. From volunteering at a food giveaway, to picking someone up for Church, there are many ways we can help others. And if we’re searching for new ideas/more ways to serve, we can always spend time in prayer and ask God for guidance in that area. We can also speak to the leadership at our local Church and ask if there is anything else we can do to serve the Church. <br> <br>As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. - 1 Peter 4:10 <br><br>As Believers we should share the Gospel of Jesus Christ on a regular basis. We shouldn’t allow the fear of how people will respond to stop us from speaking the truth. We also should spend time encouraging our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. The Word of God is powerful and we should take the time to share His Word with others. <br><br>Each and every day we have opportunities to serve, and it’s important that we don’t get so caught up in our own lives, that we forget to be a blessing to others. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us be always ready to serve. <br><br>“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:11-12</p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/42760922016-07-12T22:03:22-04:002016-07-12T22:03:22-04:00A Response to the Current Events Part 2<p>“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:12-13. Today’s blog entry is titled “A Response to the Current Events Part 2”… </p>
<p>During times like this emotions can be very high, feelings of anger, hurt, resentment, and many others have been expressed in a number of ways. The shootings that took place last week in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas have once again put on display some serious issues that we face in this county. The primary focus of this blog entry isn’t for me to give my personal opinion of what happened in each shooting, but rather to focus on what our response as Christians should be. </p>
<p>The first thing I want to focus on is prayer. When shootings/violence happens, it can be tempting for a person to look at what everyone in their circle of friends is doing and follow suit; or to give a quick impulsive response based on how they feel at that moment. However when we spend time in prayer, we can receive guidance from God on how to handle the situation, and then move forward from there. It’s also important to remember to pray for the families/friends of all those who lost loved ones. In the midst of everything else that’s going on, the families/friends are dealing with the reality of continuing life on earth without that person. </p>
<p>“And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?” – Acts 22:25 </p>
<p>The verse above comes from a passage of scripture in Acts 22 dealing with Paul’s Roman Citizenship (You can read Acts 22:22-29 for more detail). This leads me into my next point. There is definitely a place for asking certain questions and wanting justice when we witness things we feel aren’t being handled in a lawful way. There are some things to keep in mind when doing this though. For starters, we should have an understanding of the situation for ourselves and not just rely on what everyone else is saying. This is something that applies not only to things going on in the world, but also with Bible related things. For instance, there are a lot of people who will just believe that something is the Bible because a Pastor told them so, or because their church-going relative told them so, instead of taking the time to Study the Bible for themselves. However when a person Study’s the Bible for themselves they can give a genuine explanation of why they believe what they believe. So to go back to my point, if a person is going to speak out against something going on in the world, it’s important for them to have an understanding about what’s going on. </p>
<p>The other thing to keep in mind is that we should continue to represent Christ even if we encounter people who disagree with us regarding certain issues in the news. In other words if person A and person B disagree on an issue they’re both passionate about, they shouldn’t start hurling insults and making insensitive remarks to one another (That does not honor God, and it’s not a good look for the Body of Christ). There are ways to carry on a respectful and passionate conversation about the issue of racism in a way that still Honor’s God. And if two people are reaching a point where they feel they can no longer do that, it’s a good idea to take a break (even if it’s a temporary break to cool down and resume the conversation later). </p>
<p>During times like this it’s very important to be careful of who/what we align ourselves to. Different people have different agenda’s and their motives may not be the same as yours; which is why praying for God’s guidance is so important. </p>
<p>As I close this blog post, I want to point out the fact that we’re living in a fallen world that needs to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. And while there definitely is a place for taking legal action when we see unlawful things going on, we need to do more than that. We need to keep making Disciples. God is the only one who can change a person’s heart. Let us never lose focus of that. </p>
<p>“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17</p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/42647942016-07-05T20:54:25-04:002016-07-05T20:54:25-04:00Give God Your Whole Heart<p>“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” – Mark 12:30. Today’s blog entry is titled “Give God Your Whole Heart”… <br><br>Have you ever been trying to have a conversation with someone who was focused on something else? For instance maybe you had some important information to share with the person, but instead of looking at you while you’re speaking; they’re looking down at their phone, or looking at the TV. Your response may have been something such as, “Hey I’m trying to tell you something, why aren’t you paying attention?” In some cases the information that you wanted to share may have actually been very beneficial to the person, which is why you really wanted them to hear it. <br><br>Life is filled with so many things that can occupy our time and attention, so it’s important that we have our priorities straight always keeping God at #1. It can be easy to be distracted, and if we’re not careful we can find ourselves like the person mentioned in the example above (who wasn’t listening) when it comes to God. It’s important that we don’t become consumed by the things of this world. We should spend time with God on a daily basis. If that means making adjustments to our schedule, then we need to make adjustments to our schedule. And sometimes if a person really takes an inventory on how they’ve been spending their time, they can find that they have had time available to spend with God, but have chosen to spend it doing something else; such as watching TV, spending time on the internet, spending time on the phone, etc. <br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to love Him with our whole heart. Let us be sure to make time for Him, and be attentive to the things that He is communicating to us. <br><br>“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” – John 10:27</p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/42546132016-06-28T21:29:26-04:002016-06-28T21:29:26-04:00Don't Be Deceived, Stay In God's Word<p>“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:1-4. Today’s blog entry is titled “Do Not Be Deceived, Stay In God’s Word”… <br><br>Have you ever had someone tell you something that you believed to be true, only to find out later that they were lying to you?... If so, it probably left you with a feeling that you didn’t like. It’s one thing when someone tells you a lie and you can immediately tell that it’s a lie, versus when someone tells you a lie but you honestly believe it to be the truth. In today’s society, many people base their belief system on their own desires instead of what the Bible says. As Christians it’s important for us have a good understanding of God’s Word so that we aren’t led astray by the lies of the enemy. Spending time in prayer, and reading the Bible are important parts of the Christian walk that help us understand how to live lives that are pleasing to God. <br><br>Picture this, you work in a certain department at your job, and you know everybody in that department very well. You’ve also been in every room of that department and can easily recall each room from memory. So anyhow, one day (outside of work) you meet someone new and start having a conversation. After you mention where you work and what department you work in, the person you just met says, “Hey! I know those people in that department. I make deliveries there each week.” The person then begins naming various names, none of whom are people that actually work in that department. The person then begins describing the inside of the office, giving a description that doesn’t look anything like the office you work in. Upon hearing this, you would clearly know that the information the person is giving you is false because you know the department very well. Likewise when we have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, and spend time in the Word of God, we can identify things going on in the World that don’t line up Scripture. <br><br>“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” – Joshua 1:9 <br><br>As Christians we should not be afraid to speak the truth in love to others. We live in a time where many people have an incorrect view of God. It’s important that we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of what the World says. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to stay in God’s Word, consistently spend time in prayer, and speak the truth to the various people that we encounter. <br><br>“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” – Romans 1:20</p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/37699052015-07-08T10:42:33-04:002015-07-08T10:42:34-04:00A Response to the Current Events“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:18-20. Today’s blog entry is titled, “A Response to the Current events…”<br><br>The aforementioned passage in the book of Matthew serves as a great reminder of the importance of discipleship… “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” This passage also serves as a comforting reminder that Jesus has power and authority, and will always be there to help us throughout our Christian walk. With that being said, we may witness things in the world that leave us wondering how we should respond as Christians. From the violent acts that have taken place, such as the Church shooting in Charleston, to the recent supreme court ruling legalizing homosexual marriage in the United States; thoughts such as “why did this happen” and “what should we do” have been on the minds of many people.<br><br>“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:10-11<br><br>We live in a fallen world (See Genesis Chapter 3), and while there will come a time when there is a new heaven and a new earth (See 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1), this current world has many issues as a result of sin. As Romans 6:16 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” The devil is real, and the devil works through people, which brings me to a key point that I want to deal with…The importance of discipleship.<br><br>As Christians it’s important for us to continue to make disciples on a regular basis. For each person that we lead to Christ, and help grow in their relationship with Him, that’s one MORE person who is walking in the truth, and one LESS person who is walking in deception. Does this mean that every sinful act in the world will be stopped right now by doing so?... No, passages of Scripture such as 2 Timothy 3:1-5 let us know that there are some things in this world that will inevitably happen. However, when we obey Jesus’ instructions to go and make disciples we can greatly impact the lives of others in a positive way, and the people that we disciple can in turn go out and do the same thing, which leads to more people living for Christ. This can lead to positive change taking place amongst our friends, in our communities, regions, etc. <br>“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2<br> <br>It’s important for us to renew our minds with the word of God so that we do not become desensitized to what is happening around us. Homosexuality is still a sin regardless of what any human being says (See 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). When we have the truth in front of us every day, it serves as a reminder of how serious God is. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to go and make disciples. Let us also continue to pray for the families and friends of those who lost loved ones in Charleston, and continue to pray for this country/world in general.<br><br>“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” – Colossians 4:2Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/36086622015-03-17T23:56:14-04:002015-03-18T00:07:12-04:00What Are You Giving God? ”Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” – Matthew 22:37. Today’s blog entry is titled “What Are You Giving God?”…<br><br>Our lives can be filled with a number of activities/responsibilities including: Spending time with family/friends, ministry, school, work, etc. And while there’s definitely a place for these types of activities, it’s important that we also spend time quality time with God. Our love for Him should cause us to want to spend time with Him. It’s important that we don’t lose sight of the importance of our relationship with Jesus Christ. If a person is not careful, they can develop a ritual of praying and reading the Bible simply so they can check it off their list of things to do and quickly move on to something else. But God sees our hearts, He understands our motives, and we should have a genuine desire to grow in our relationship with Him.<br><br>“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8<br><br>“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20<br><br>Picture a relationship with a Husband and Wife… If a Husband and Wife go out to a restaurant for a date and then 5 minutes after they sit down the Husband gets up and says to the Wife, “Well I took you out on a date, I got to go now” and then walks out and leaves. Or if the Wife gets up after 5 minutes and “says thanks for taking me out, I’ll see you later”…A person watching from the outside looking in would probably be wondering what was going on. The couple should want to spend time with each other because they love each other.<br><br>In our walk with Jesus Christ, it’s important that we make the most of every moment that we spend with Him. So as we continue to grow in our Christian Walk, let us make sure that we are giving God our best.<br><br>“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” - John 15:5Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/35902752015-03-10T23:33:24-04:002015-03-11T21:45:01-04:00Has Fear Stopped You from Moving Forward?“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” - Isaiah 41:10. Today’s blog entry is titled “Has Fear Stopped You from Moving Forward?” <br><br>Have you ever had the desire to do something, but decided not to even try it because you feared you would fail? Or maybe you wanted to introduce a new idea at work, but held back fearing that it may be rejected by others in the office. Fear can cause a person to imagine negative scenarios of what could go wrong, instead of focusing on the positive results that can be accomplished by moving forward. This can lead to a lot of missed opportunities.<br><br>“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18<br><br>“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7<br><br>As Christians, we can take comfort in the fact that we can cast our cares upon Jesus. If we ever start to have fear about something, we can remind ourselves of how awesome and powerful our God is. It’s important that we don’t allow negative thoughts to overwhelm us. We should renew our mind with the Word of God and focus our thoughts on things that are true and pure (See Philippians 4:8). It’s important for us to remain faithful to the things that God has called us to do, and trust Him regardless of how the circumstances look. We should never let fear stop us from obeying God! So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might!<br><br>“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” - John 14:27<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/35731132015-03-03T20:09:47-05:002015-03-03T20:09:47-05:00A Lifestyle of Praise“Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” - 1 Chronicles 29:13 Today’s blog entry is titled “A Lifestyle of Praise”…<br><br>Throughout the course of our lives, we have the opportunity to make a lot of decisions. One of the big decisions that we make on a daily basis is what we choose to magnify in our lives. By magnify, I mean put our primary focus on. We can choose to magnify challenges/circumstance/problems, or we can choose to magnify Jesus Christ. When we focus on Jesus Christ, it helps to put things in proper perspective. He is bigger than any problem that we face. We can take comfort in the fact that He loves us, and we can cast our cares on Him.<br><br>“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” - Psalm 34:3<br><br>Praising God should be a lifestyle. It’s not something that should ONLY be done while singing songs at church. And it’s something that should ONLY be done when we receive something from God that we have been praying about. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to praise God during those times, but our praise should not be limited to those times. We should praise God on a daily basis because of who He is! He is awesome! He’s the Alpha & Omega! It’s a blessing that we can communicate with Him, and we should never take it for granted.<br><br>“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:” - Psalm 92:1<br><br>“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” – Hebrews 13:15<br><br>Sometimes things may not be going the way that we want them to go, but we should not allow ourselves to complain. We should be thankful for everything that God has blessed us with. If thoughts of discouragement try to come into our minds, we should counter those thoughts with the Word of God, and continue to give God praise. Depending on the situation, a person may not feel like praising God in the midst of what they are going through; but regardless of how we feel it’s important that we continue to put our faith in God and praise Him! So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to live a lifestyle of praise.<br><br>”Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” - Philippians 4:4Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/35383812015-02-17T22:05:49-05:002015-02-17T22:09:38-05:00Remain Humble“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” – James 4:10. Today’s blog entry is titled ”Remain Humble”…<br><br>One of the lessons that many children learn as they are growing up is that they can’t always have everything they want… Some children may want to eat candy, cookies, and other sweets all the time instead of eating healthy foods. Or some kids may want to sit around and play video games all day instead of going to school. However, as a result of those children having parents/guardians who love them, they were not allowed to do whatever they wanted to do because it would ultimately be detrimental to them.<br><br>In our walk with Christ, it’s important for us to remember that God knows what’s best for us and that we should stay focused on carrying out His will above of our own desires. Remember the example of Jesus….“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” – Luke 22:42.<br> <br>Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. He came into the earth as a human and laid down His life. As Christians, it’s important for us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus (See Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23). When people take their eyes off of Christ and focus on their own desires, it can cause them to have a higher view of themselves than they should; which can lead to bad decision making and problems they could have otherwise avoided.<br><br>“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2<br><br>“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18<br><br> ”For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”- 1 John 2:16<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember the importance of keeping things in proper perspective. We should be secure in who we are in Christ. Insecurity can cause a person to seek validation from other people, however when we are secure in Jesus Christ and following Him, we can accomplish what we are called to do.<h1><span class="font_small">“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” - Colossians 3:12-13</span></h1>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/35214292015-02-10T22:48:51-05:002015-02-10T22:48:51-05:00Watch and Pray“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” – Mark 14:38. Today’s blog entry is titled “Watch and Pray”.<br><br>As Christians, it’s important that we stay connected to Jesus Christ every single day. When a person tries to do things in their own strength (apart from Jesus Christ), it can lead to a lot of issues/problems. However when a person is obedient to Jesus, they can accomplish the things that He has called them to do.<br><br>”Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – 1 Peter 5:8<br><br>It’s important to remember that we have an adversary. We should not be afraid of him, but we should be aware that he exists. We should be mindful of the places we go, and things we watch/listen to. It’s important for us not to open the door to the enemy in any area of our lives. When we consistently spend time praying and reading the Bible, we can continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and receive insight about the areas of our lives that we need to improve in.<br><br>If God shows us that we have a weakness in a certain area of our lives, we shouldn’t ignore it. We should be receptive to what He is communicating to us, and follow the instructions that He gives us so that we can become stronger in the area. Think of it like this…There’s a talented basketball player who does a great job on offense (he can shoot well, handle the ball well, pass well, etc), however he’s not a good defender, so his coach has a talk with him, and gives him some instructions on what he needs to do to improve his defense. If the player ignores his coach’s instructions and only focuses on the offensive side of his game, he won’t reach his full potential as a player. Likewise, when a person doesn’t follow God’s instructions, it can lead to a lot of problems/issues that could have otherwise been avoided. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to watch and pray.<br><br>”I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” - John 15:5-8Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/34885742015-01-27T07:00:27-05:002015-01-27T07:00:27-05:00Do your thoughts line up with God's Word?”For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” – Proverbs 23:7… Today’s blog entry is titled, “Do your thoughts line up with God’s Word?”<br><br>The way we think, and the things we think about can have a big impact on the decisions we make, and the direction that our lives are heading in. There are various things that can influence the way we think, which include: other people in our lives, music, television, movies, books, magazines, etc. It’s important that we are mindful of what we are taking in, and that we don’t allow anything/anyone to influence us to embrace things that are contrary to the Word of God. As it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5,<br><br>“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”<br><br>It’s important for us to understand who we are in Jesus Christ. We shouldn’t allow the labels that society tries to put on us to define who we are. Picture this, a person is in a large room with all the parts necessary to build a car, yet the car is unassembled, and they don’t realize that the end result would be a car. Another person comes into the room and begins making untrue statements about the parts saying “those parts are only used to make washing machines”. If the other person doesn’t know any better, the person may believe them. However someone who has a good understanding of cars could quickly point out the fact that those are car parts. Likewise, when we have a good understanding of the Word of God, we can identify the lies of the enemy.<br><br>“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7<br><br>“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 2:16<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember the importance renewing our mind with Scripture each and every day. If you’re dealing with some challenges, don’t allow yourself to become overcome with thoughts of discouragement. Continue to walk by faith. And if everything seems to be going great in your life, don’t allow yourself to get distracted by the cares of this world; remember to stay focused on Jesus Christ.<br><br>“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/34771642015-01-20T20:32:50-05:002015-01-20T20:32:50-05:00Love One Another“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” – John 13:35. Today’s blog entry is titled “Love One Another”…<br><br>The NFL playoffs have been going on this month and one of the things that have been put on display is teamwork. If a team wants to have success, it’s important for the players to work together and carry out their assignments. And depending on how the game goes, the players may even need to take on some additional responsibilities that they normally don’t have to do. For example, if a quarterback throws an interception, the offensive players who are on the field now have the responsibility of playing defense to try to stop the person who intercepted the ball from running it back for a touchdown. If the players have a mentality of “I strictly play offense and that’s it” and just let the player run past them, it can cost the team points (and potentially the game depending on how close the score is). It’s important for teammates to be willing to cover for/ help each other.<br><br>Likewise as born again Christians, we should be working together to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ/make disciples. We all have a part to play. The love that we have for each other should catch the attention of unbelievers. They should notice there is something different about us. God loves us so much (“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16), and it’s important that we follow His example and show forth love to others… Going back to the Football analogy, if certain players on the team start becoming jealous of other players, it can disrupt the dynamic of the team, making the team less effective. And if Christians start becoming jealous of one another, it can cause us to become less effective. It’s important for us to stay focused on Jesus Christ and not our own personal agendas. We should be willing to make sacrifices to help others (This may mean spending time/resources, and serving in some type of capacity). The important thing is to seek God and be led by Him in our decision making. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to importance of loving one another.<br><br><em>“Let</em> nothing <em>be done</em> 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 2:3-4Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/34653512015-01-13T22:58:28-05:002015-01-13T22:58:28-05:00Beyond Today“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” - Philippians 3:20-21 (NJKV). Today’s blog entry is titled “Beyond Today”… <br><br>Can you think of a time when you went out to a restaurant, ordered a meal that you really like, and also ordered an appetizer (to snack on prior to your main meal arriving)?... If so, one thing that you probably had a good understanding of is that the appetizer would come first, but it wasn’t the only food you would be receiving. You also had an expectation that your main meal would be brought to you. While the appetizer may have been nice, you were really looking forward to the meal. <br><br>Likewise, it’s important that we live our lives with an eternal perspective. While there may be many things about life on earth that we enjoy, it’s important to remember that life on earth is temporary. One day we all will have to give an account to God for how we lived our lives on earth. And as John 14:6 lets us know “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”...Our good deeds will not get us into Heaven. We all need Jesus Christ. And once a person receives Jesus Christ, it’s important for that person to continue to obey Him and follow the path that God puts him/her on so that he/she can accomplish the things God has called him/her to do. We live in a society that can often put the focus on instant gratification, however as Christians it’s important that we trust God and do things in His timing. Even if God has called a person to do many things during their time on earth, there often is some type of preparation process that person will have to go through. Patience is important, and the decisions that we make today can have a big impact on our future. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to be good stewards over everything that God has blessed us with (including our time). Let us also remember to have an eternal perspective as we live our lives. Think beyond today.<br><br>And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. – Luke 19:13 KJV<br><br>“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” – John 4:14Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/34548542015-01-06T19:56:24-05:002015-01-06T19:56:24-05:00My Help Comes From The Lord“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” - Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “My Help Comes From The Lord”…<br><br>Picture this, a very good friend of yours tells you he is about to start a new business. He is visibly excited, so you start to ask him questions to find out more about his new endeavor. He begins to share more information about it, letting you know he will be starting a snow plowing business. He tells you how he has invested thousands of dollars into plowing equipment so that he will be able to have several vehicles on the road at once and cover multiple cities in your area. At this point, you start wondering where the business will be based out of because you and your friend both live in a warm climate area that doesn’t get snow. So you ask your friend, and he tells you he’s going to service your local area. At this point you bring up the fact that your area doesn’t get snow, and your friend responds by saying, “Wow, I didn’t think about that, I just thought it would really be cool to start a snow plowing business.”<br><br>Now that may have been an extreme example, but if we’re not careful, we can make the same type of mistake(s) when we don’t seek God. We can start pursuing something because we like the idea, and yet go about it the wrong way. When we spend time with God on a regular basis we can get the proper guidance and direction we need in order to make the right decisions. And don’t get me wrong, we shouldn’t just spend time with God to try to get questions answered; we should spend time with Him because we love Him, and want to continue to grow in our relationship with Him. With that being said, one of the byproducts of us spending more time with Him is that we receive guidance, and make decisions that are in His will. It’s good for us to use the ideas/gifts that God has given us, but it’s important that we use them the way that He intends. Worship is a lifestyle, and it’s important for us to worship God each and every day.<br><br> ”God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember that He is here for us, and that we should seek Him for wisdom.<br><br>“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, <span id="en-NKJV-30473">casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.</span>” – 1 Peter 5:6-7Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/34461242014-12-30T23:08:30-05:002014-12-30T23:08:30-05:00Don't Let People Block Your Focus“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”- Matthew 5:11-12. Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Let People Block Your Focus”…<br><br>Throughout the course of our lives, we encounter many different types of people. Some may like us, while others may not. If we receive compliments and recognition from people, we shouldn’t let it cause us to become haughty. And if we encounter people who say negative things about us, we shouldn’t allow it to ruin our day. Regardless of how much people like or dislike us, it’s important for us to remain rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ.<br><br>“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” – Proverbs 29:25<br><br>As Christians, it’s important that we obey God regardless of who doesn’t like it. We shouldn’t allow criticism from others to stop us from doing what God has called us to do. We also shouldn’t allow negativity from others to cause us to respond (to them) in a way that displeases God. We should still show forth love even if they don’t like us. This doesn’t mean that we compromise the truth of God’s Word in order to please others, but rather that we avoid responding in a way that is sinful. We shouldn’t be overly concerned about every issue, or dislike that someone has about us. We should carry ourselves in a way that represents Jesus Christ, and is a witness to others; and if God sends correction to us through a person about something in our lives that we need to change, we should make the necessary change. By spending alone time with God, we can get an insight of when He’s using a person to show us something about our lives we need to change.<br><br>So has we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us continue to speak the truth to others in love. Let us also be mindful of what we are spending our time thinking about, and stay focused on the things that God has called us to do.<br><br>“Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” – 1 Peter 3:16Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/34310802014-12-23T14:20:46-05:002014-12-23T14:20:46-05:00Are You Read For Your Future?“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:19. Today’s blog entry is titled “Are You Ready For Your Future”…We are quickly approaching the end of another year. For some people, the end of the year may be a time of reflection where they review how they have progressed in various areas of their life. The end of the year is also a time where people may plan/prepare to implement new ideas/changes for the upcoming year... Do you have some things that you have been praying about in regards to your (near) future? If you answered yes, do you think you would be prepared if God gave you what you asked for within the next week? As Christians the Bible lets us know that we can pray to God in regards to requests that we have (See Philippians 4:6). With that being said, it’s also important for us to be prepared so that we can be ready for the things that we’ve been asking for (in the event that we receive them). For instance, say there is a business owner who has been asking God to help them grow their business. It’s important for the business owner to have the proper plan in place so that they would be able to accommodate more customers. This may mean changing their hours of operation, hiring additional staff, increasing the amount of inventory they have on hand, etc.<h1> “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” - Hosea 10:12</h1> <br>When we seek God, and ask Him for guidance, we can put together an effective plan doing the things that He has called us to do. It can be easy to want to start doing something that we’re interested in, but it’s important to make decisions that are in God’s will instead of just doing our own thing. Sometimes we may want to pursue something that’s not in God’s will for us at all. When God sends warning signs and lets us know that He doesn’t want us to make certain decisions, it’s important that we obey Him. Timing is also another important thing to remember. Sometimes we may want to do something ahead of God’s timing. It may be something that He called us to do, but for a later time. It’s important that we don’t try to rush what God is doing. We should have patience and continue to be faithful to the other things God has called us to do. Think about someone who has planted seeds for a garden. There is a span of time that will pass before the plant grows. If a person plants the seed, and then keeps digging it up prematurely, it can hinder/stop the growth process.<h1>“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” - Colossians 4:2 (NKJV)</h1> <br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to have patience, and make good use of the preparation time that God gives us.<h1> </h1>
<h1>“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” - Philippians 1:6</h1>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/33529852014-12-02T20:39:54-05:002014-12-02T20:39:54-05:00Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing?<span class="text"><span style="color:black">“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,</span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:black"> </span></sup></b><span style="color:black">Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.</span>” –Hebrews 13:20-21 Today’s blog entry is titled</span> “Am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing?”…
<p><span style="line-height: 18pt;">Throughout our lives we can be presented with a lot of different opportunities and decisions. Sometimes a person may be steered in a certain direction by family and friends. Or sometimes a person may have their own idea for the path that they would like to take in life; but it’s very important for us to seek God in regards to the decisions that we make. God understands us better than we understand ourselves, and He knows what’s best for us. As human’s it can be easy to try to take control of our lives, but it’s important for us to stay submitted to God, and follow His lead.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><p></p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: black; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.</span>” – Matthew 6:10<br><br><span style="line-height: 18pt;">Picture this, you’re throwing a big event and you hire a caterer to make the food and serve it at the event…On the day of the event the caterer shows up along with their staff, but instead of bringing food with them, they bring a bunch of artwork that each of them painted. The artwork is very well done, and even gets some attention from the some of the guests who are attending the event, however you didn’t hire them to do artwork, you hired them to prepare food. There was a specific reason you wanted them to be there, but they totally disregarded it and decided to do their own thing. With that being said, it’s important that we don’t just do our own thing in life when God has called us to doing something specific. When we spend time in the Word, and in prayer, we can get insight on what we should be doing with our lives, and fulfill God’s will for our lives. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to make sure that we’re doing things His way.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><p></p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="text"><span style="color:black">“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.</span></span><span style="color:black"> <span class="text">For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.</span>” – Luke 9:23-24</span><p></p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><p> </p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/33027682014-11-18T22:32:03-05:002014-11-18T22:32:03-05:00Got to do Better“Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.” - Psalm 25:4-5 (NKJV) Today’s blog entry is titled “Got to do Better”…<br><br>Can you think of a time in your life when you’ve thought to yourself “I’ve got to do better”? For instance, maybe you’ve found yourself eating a lot of junk food, and you really want to start eating healthy. Or maybe you’ve found yourself waiting to the last minute to study for exams, and you really want to start studying much earlier in the future. If we examine our lives, there may be various areas that we want to do better in; including growing in our understanding of the Bible, growing in our ability to show forth love to others, etc. It’s important to remember that God can help us in these various areas, so we should seek Him for wisdom and guidance, and spend time in the Word as well.<br><br>“Your word <em>is</em> a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)<br><br> “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 (NKJV)<br><br>When we read the Bible and do what it says, we can accomplish the things that God has called us to do, and make a lot of progress in our lives. The important thing is to apply what we read to our lives on a consistent basis. When we are consistent, we can develop good habits, and continue to make progress in the right direction. Distractions can come in a lot of ways, so it’s important that we stay focused on Jesus Christ, and give the best effort that we can on every assignment that He gives us.<br><br>“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/32780052014-11-11T23:37:09-05:002014-11-11T23:37:09-05:00Are You Playing Your Position?But now indeed <em>there are</em> many members, yet one body. <span id="en-NKJV-28656">And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”</span> <span id="en-NKJV-28657">No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.</span> - 1 Corinthians 12:20-22. Today’s blog entry is titled “Are You Playing Your Position”? <br><br>For those of you who are familiar with the sport of Football, I would like you to picture a scenario…. It’s the opening drive of a game and you favorite team’s offense is taking the field for the first time. As the players are running onto the field, you notice that they line up differently than normal. The Quarterback is where the Center should be and vice versa. The Center (unsuccessfully) starts trying to throw the ball like a Quarterback. And the Quarterback (unsuccessfully) tries to block for the Center. In addition to this, the Guards are where the Half/Fullbacks should be, and the Half/Fullbacks are up where the Guards should be. The opposing team’s defense continues to easily stop your favorite team’s offense. If you were watching this, you would probably be thinking something such as “What are they doing?! Why are they lining up like that?! Even though the team may have the talent to win the game, they put themselves at a big disadvantage by playing out of position.<br><br>Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; - 2 Corinthians 10:5<br><br>As Christians it’s important for us to obey God and complete the assignments that He gives us. When we stay in the position that God has put us in, we can get a lot accomplished. However, if we get out of position, we can be at a big disadvantage and go through unnecessary problems. It’s important that we don’t get caught up in what everybody else is doing. God may have you playing a different position than He has someone else playing, but it’s important to stay faithful to the assignments that He gives you. Think back to the Football analogy. On a Football team there are many different positions, but when the players play the right position, and work together as a team, they can accomplish a lot. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let’s remember to obey God and stay in the position that He has put us in.<br><br>So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. – Romans 12:5Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/32655732014-11-04T10:11:52-05:002014-11-04T10:11:52-05:00Taking The Next Step”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” – Romans 8:14. It’s important that we seek God every day of our lives, and follow the instructions that He gives us. Today’s blog entry is titled “Taking The Next Step”…<br><br>“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16<br><br>The choices/decisions that we make today can have a big impact on our future, so it’s very important that we do things God’s way instead of our own way. It can be easy to get caught up in emotions or how we feel about a situation, but we should never allow how we feel to cause us to disobey God. When we spend time in prayer/reading the Bible, we can get an understanding of how to handle the various situations we encounter in our day to day lives. Whether it’s deciding on what city we are going to move to, or how to deal with a challenge that we’re facing in our lives, the Holy Spirit can show us what we need to do.<br><br>It’s important to remember that God is here for us. He has a perspective on things that we don’t have, so we should definitely seek Him for wisdom regarding our decisions. We should be fully submitted to Jesus Christ in every area of our lives. Sometimes we may have the desire to try to take certain things into our own hands, instead of following Jesus’ plan; but doing things that way can lead to a lot of issues that we otherwise could have avoided. We should obey Jesus, be patient, and learn the lessons that we need to learn as we progress. <br><br>“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” - Psalm 37:23<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to be good stewards over everything that He blesses us with, and seek Him for wisdom when we are making decisions.<br><br> “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/32553112014-10-28T20:31:03-04:002014-10-28T20:31:03-04:00Beware of Idolatry“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” – Exodus 20:3-4. Today’s blog entry is titled “Beware of Idolatry”.<br><br>As Christians, it’s important that we don’t allow anything to get in the way of our relationship with Jesus Christ. And while a person may not intentionally plan to start putting other things before Him, it can happen subtly over time if an individual is not careful. The things that people idolize can vary from person to person. For some people it could be a famous person. For other’s it could be a boyfriend/girlfriend. And for some it could also be something such as a sport or activity (as well as a number of other things).<br><br>When an individual takes their focus off of God, they can become distracted by all types of things, which can lead to bad decisions. Let’s take a look at a passage of scripture in the Old Testament…<br><br>“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” –Exodus 32:1-4<br><br>It’s important that we follow God’s instructions and don’t allow ourselves to become impatient. When a person becomes impatient they can start to seek out other things instead of obeying God. God loves us, and He knows what’s best for us. As it says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” If we examine our lives and find that we have been putting other things before God, it’s important for us to repent, and put God first again… So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to keep Him first and avoid idolatry.<br><br>“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” – 1 Corinthians 10:14<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/32313382014-10-14T06:10:26-04:002014-10-14T13:14:55-04:00Don't Let Pride into Your Life“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2…Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Let Pride into Your Life”…<br><br>Being prideful can lead a lot of issues/problems in life. It can cause a person to overlook changes in their life that they should be making. It can cause a person to not accept help when they need it. As Christians, it’s important for us to be led by God. When He shows us things in our lives that we need to change, we shouldn’t ignore it, we should acknowledge it, repent, and ask Him to help us make the necessary changes.<br> <br>“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.” – Obadiah 1:3-4<br><br>“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:6<br><br>Regardless of how well we feel things are going for us in life, it’s important to remember that it is God who has blessed us with abilities/gifts. He is the One who created us, and we should always live to please Him. In the world we live in, the wrong things are often emphasized. A lot of people are focused on earthly status, material things, etc. However those things can be taken away quickly…Look at the story of Nebuchadnezzar in Bible. He was very prideful and went from living like a King to living like an animal. See Daniel 3:28-33.<br><br>For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. – 1 John 2:16<br><br>Being prideful can lead to a lot of unnecessary problems that we otherwise could have avoided. However when we are humble, and submitted to God, we can make a lot of progress and accomplish the things that God has called us to do. This isn’t to say that we won’t still have challenges along the way, but when we are in God’s will, we can take comfort in the fact that He will help us overcome the challenges that we face. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember to walk in humility and live a lifestyle that glorifies Jesus Christ.<br><br>“For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” - 2 Corinthians 2:18<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/32206822014-10-07T00:58:10-04:002014-10-07T00:58:10-04:00Don't Be Bitter, Walk In LoveBITTERNESS, RESENTMENT, GRUDGES….Should not be a part of a Christian’s life. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:31-32. Today’s blog entry is titled, “Don’t Be Bitter, Walk In Love”…<br><br>Throughout the course of our lives, we may encounter people who do things that we don’t appreciate. Sometimes it may not be intentional, while other times it may be blatantly intentional. Regardless of a person’s intent, we shouldn’t allow their actions to cause us to be bitter. Holding a grudge can cause a person to relive something over and over again that they should have moved on from. <br><br>“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” – Hebrews 12:14-15<br><br>It’s important for us to keep our emotions in check. Being led by our emotions can lead to all kinds of bad decisions. It can lead a person to say/do things that they will later regret. It’s important for us to be very careful of how we respond to people who are being negative towards us. We shouldn’t allow another person to get us to act in a way that is displeasing to God. Remember who we represent, Jesus Christ! It’s important for us to be led by the Holy Spirit, instead of being led by our flesh.<br><br>“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” – Matthew 5:44<br><br>It’s important that we don’t label a person as “too bad” to be saved. As Romans 3:23 says “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”. I understand that Jesus can save others the same way He saved me. It’s important that we pray for those who have done us wrong. In some cases they may be unbelievers who don’t know a whole lot about Jesus. In other cases it could be another Christian who made a bad decision. Regardless of who the person is, it’s important that we don’t allow them to cause us to be bitter. Remember the Joy of The Lord is our Strength (See Nehemiah 8:10)! So has we continue to grow in our walk with Christ remember “Don’t be Bitter, Walk in Love”!<br><br>“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” – James 3:17-18<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/32102832014-09-30T06:38:17-04:002014-09-30T06:38:17-04:00Are you where God wants you to be?“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.” - Psalm 37:23 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled, “Are you where God wants you to be?”…<br><br>On this past week’s episode (126) of my web show “About 10 Minutes”, I talked about the importance of having balance in our lives. While we each may have various responsibilities, it’s important that we keep Christ first, and use our time wisely. When we spend time with God, we can receive guidance and direction, and accomplish the things that He has called us to do. With that being said, have you taken time to seek God about what He’s called you to do (And how He wants you to do it)? Sometimes it can be easy to follow what our flesh wants to do, instead of taking the time to inquire of the Lord.<br> <br>“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)<br><br>As humans, it can be very easy for us to try to take control and do things our way, but it’s important to remember that God knows what’s best for us, and we should trust and obey Him. We live in a society where there are many people who care more about what other people think of them than they care about what God thinks of them. However, it’s what God thinks that really counts. Picture this; an individual has an interview for a job that he really wants to get. The day of the interview, he prints off a lot of copies of his resume and talks to people all around town about his credentials for the job, handing them copies of his resume. He is so preoccupied with doing this that he ends up being late for his interview, and on top of that, when he gets to the interview he only stays for about 2-3 minutes and then goes back outside and hands out more copies of his resume to various people (who have nothing to do with the hiring process). On the outside looking in, that doesn’t make a whole lot of since. The person conducting the interview is the opinion that really counts. The other people are in no way involved in the hiring process. Likewise there are people who bypass their time with God in order to try to impress other people, but God should always be the priority. Sometimes we may need to unplug from other things for a period of time in order to regain our focus.<br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, it’s important to make sure that we are being led by the Holy Spirit and not our flesh. One day we will each have to give an account to God for the way that we lived our lives, so it’s important to spend time with Him on a regular basis and take the path that He desires for us to take.<br> <br>“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” – Romans 8:14 (NKJV)<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31993212014-09-23T07:10:01-04:002014-09-23T07:10:01-04:00How to Respond if a Door Closes in Your Life“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “How to respond if a door closes in your life”…<br><br>When we have an expectation for something to happen in our lives, and things don’t happen the way we thought they would, it can lead to disappointment/frustration and questions such as…Why did this happen? What am I going to do now?...If a door closes in our lives, it’s important that we don’t panic, but instead spend in prayer asking God for guidance and direction about the situation.<br><br>“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” - Joshua 1:9<br><br>There could be a number of reasons why God allows a door to close in our lives. In some situations it can be a timing thing, for example, say there is a High School Freshman Football player who has a lot of talent and wants to start off playing Varsity right away, yet the coaching staff decides to move him up to JV but not Varsity yet because they would like for him to build his body up more. He will eventually play Varsity, but now is not the time. In our walk as Christians, it’s important that we don’t get discouraged during the building process. There’s a lot we can learn when we trust God and do things His way.<br><br>Another reason why a door could close could be because a person is entering a different season of their life. For example, let’s go back to the High School Football player scenario… The player eventually gets moved up to Varsity and goes on to have a very successful High School football career, getting recruited by a number of colleges. He accepts a scholarship to play college football (and graduates from High School). After he graduates from High School, he’s no longer eligible to play High School football; And while he may miss being able to play in High School initially, he’s making progress and moving on to a better situation by playing in College. As we enter a new season of our lives, we may have to let go of some things that we really enjoyed in order to move on to the next thing that God has for us. <br><br>Another reason why a door could close is because it’s not a good situation for us to be involved in and God is protecting us from making a choice that could lead to a lot of issues down the road. Remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways (See Isaiah 55:8-9). He has a different perspective on things than we have so it’s important that we trust Him, and continue to follow Him, even when things happen in our lives that we don’t understand.<br><br>These are just some reasons why a door could close in our lives, but regardless of the reason why, it’s important for us to stand on God’s Word, and not allow ourselves to become discouraged.<br><br>“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31890002014-09-16T06:38:25-04:002014-09-16T06:38:25-04:00Keep Your Confidence In Christ"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” – Philippians 3:3. Today’s blog entry is titled “Keep Your Confidence in Christ"...<br><br>One of the essential things for a born again believer to understand is that our “good deeds” do not save us. Jesus Christ is the only one who can save us. It’s important that we put our trust in Him, and not in ourselves. When a person first gets saved it can be easy for them to cast their cares on Jesus Christ, however as time goes on, if an individual is not careful, they can start to try to take things into their own hands.<br><br>“I am the vine, you <em>are</em> the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (NKJV)<br><br>The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? – Jeremiah 17:9<br><br>When we stay connected to Jesus Christ, we can continue to make progress, and accomplish the things He has called us to do. However if we disconnect from Jesus, we put ourselves in a very dangerous position. We are human beings; we each have flaws/limitations. Apart from Jesus Christ, our flesh is capable of doing all kinds of sinful things. So it’s important that we don’t let our guard down (regardless of how long we’ve been saved). We should renew our mind with the Word of God everyday, and put on the whole armor of God everyday (See Romans 12:1-2 and Ephesians 6:10-18)<br><br>Patience is an important part of the Christian walk. Sometimes things may not be happening in our lives as quickly as we would like them to, or sometimes we may go through some things that we don’t understand, but it’s important that we trust God regardless of what we encounter. We should be thankful for everything that He has already done for us, and continue to give our best effort as we serve Him. If we realize that we are being led by our flesh in areas of our lives instead of being led by Jesus, it’s important that we repent, and realign ourselves with God’s will for our lives (instead of trying to do things our own way). So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to keep our confidence in Him.<br><br>“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31783072014-09-09T06:30:19-04:002014-09-09T06:30:19-04:00Maturing as a Christian“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” - 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV) Today’s blog entry is titled “Maturing as a Christian”…<h1>Can you think back to the time when you were in Kindergarten? For many people that was a fun time. While there was some school work involved for the young students in order to help them learn, there were also a lot of cool activities to help hold the student’s attention and make it an enjoyable experience for them. As time goes on and a student progresses to another grade, the work becomes more advanced, and the responsibility of the student increases. For example, an 8<sup>th</sup> grader’s workload /responsibilities is different from the workload/responsibilities of a 1st grader. As a student learns more and matures, there is a higher expectation placed on them.</h1>
<h1>“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” – Hebrews 5:12-14<br><br>In our Christian walk we should be maturing as well, it’s an ongoing process. As we learn more of the Word of God, we should continually be applying it to our lives. For example, if a person has been saved for 5 years, they should be further along (in regards to their maturity) than they were when they first got saved. This isn’t to say the person will be perfect (none of us are), but there should definitely be some notable progress. We should be making an effort to complete the various assignments that God has called us to do. And while we my face some challenges along the way, we can take comfort in the fact that we have Jesus Christ. He loves us and He understands the things we deal with. So it’s important to follow Him even if we are in situations that we don’t understand.<br><br>As we seek God, He can reveal the areas of our lives that we need growth in, and He can also help us grow in those areas. Remember we’re not in this thing alone. The important thing is, to be willing and obedient (See Isaiah 1:19). So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk let us strive to do everything that God has called us to do.<br><br>“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” – Philippians 3:14-15<br> </h1>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31673952014-09-02T07:24:19-04:002014-09-02T07:24:19-04:00Don't Let Insecurity Take You Off Course“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:18. Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Let Insecurity Take You Off Course”…<h1>God has blessed us with talents/abilities, and there is a place for setting goals and wanting to do well in various areas of our lives (Having good work ethic is definitely a good thing). With that being said, it’s important to pursue what God wants us to pursue instead of just going out and trying to do our own thing.</h1>When a person is insecure, they can seek validation from other people. They can also look to certain accomplishments to validate who they are. However as Christians, we should be secure in Jesus Christ. We should take comfort in the fact that Jesus loves us and is here for us regardless of how other people may feel about us. Our relationship with Jesus Christ should always be the priority. As we continue to keep our focus on Him, we can accomplish the things we’ve been called to do, and avoid pursuing the wrong things in life.<br><br>“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” – 2 Corinthians 10:12<br><br>It’s important for us to look at the motives behind the things we do, especially when it comes to ministry related things. Our goal should be to obey God, and glorify Him in the things we do. We shouldn’t get caught up in comparing ourselves to what everybody else is doing. We should stay focused on what God has called us to do.<br><br>Picture this; there is a person who runs track that is very gifted and trains on a regular basis. One day he happens to be in close proximity to a baseball practice, so he watches the practice, and notices the way the baseball players train is very different from the way he trains. As a result, he stops training like a track athlete and begins imitating what he saw the baseball players do (even going out and buying a baseball bat and glove). While there are some things that baseball players do that may be beneficial to the track runner, they are still two different sports with different objectives. And training solely like a baseball player would likely cause the track runner to lose effectiveness in some other areas. Likewise in our lives, it’s important for us to stay on the path that God has put us on instead of involving ourselves in things that are not part of what God desires for us to do.<br><br>If we notice that we are insecure in an area of our lives, we should ask God to help us overcome it, and spend time in the Word building up our faith. As we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember to be secure in Jesus Christ!<br><br>“Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always.” - Deuteronomy 11:1 (NKJV)<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31556622014-08-26T01:23:59-04:002014-08-26T01:23:59-04:00Encouraging Others“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “Encouraging Others”…<br><br>If you’ve read my blog before, you may already know that I ran cross country in high school. The races were 5K (3.1 miles), and they took place at various courses. As people watch the race, they may position themselves on different parts of the course and cheer on the runners as they go by. When a runner is on certain parts of the course and see people they know shouting encouraging words to them, it can help serve as motivation. Likewise, as people are growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ, and they receive encouragement from their brothers and sisters in Christ, it can help serve as motivation.<br><br>Can you remember a time in your life where someone said or did something that really encouraged you? Maybe you were starting to focus on the wrong things and they said something to help you put things in the right perspective. Or maybe you were having difficulty walking by faith, and they gave you some Bible verses to help build your faith. If the person was genuine and said what they said out of love, there’s a good chance that you appreciated it. And when we encourage others, being genuine and doing it out love, they will likely appreciate it as well. Sometimes just sharing a life experience that God brought you through can have a huge impact on another person.<br><br>“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” – Hebrews 3:12-13 (NKJV)<br><br>As born again Christians, we should making disciples. We should be led by God and helping others grow in their relationship with Him. It’s important that we keep our focus on what God has called us to do, and point people to God’s Word for the answers to the questions they may have about life. God’s love for us is a very special thing, and when a person has an understanding of that, it can help that person be encouraged and motivated to complete the tasks that God has called him/her to do. So as we continue to grow in our walk Christ, let us remember the importance of encouraging others.<br><br>"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NKJV)<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31439482014-08-19T07:17:10-04:002014-08-19T07:17:10-04:00Stand Firm, Do Not Be Afraid<span class="font_regular">“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10. Today’s blog entry is titled “Stand Firm, Do Not Be Afraid”…<br><br>Can you think back to a time in the past when you were afraid of something (or afraid to do something) at first, but as time went on you found out things went a whole lot better than you thought they would? Maybe it was in school when you had a big test coming up…Or maybe it was before an interview for a job you really wanted…Or maybe it was before you had to give a speech in front of a room full of people. After the fact, you may have thought something such as “That wasn’t bad at all.” If the issue of fear is not overcome/dealt with, it can lead to a lot of missed opportunities. However, when fear is overcome, a person can make a lot of progress in life; and accomplish the things that God has called them to do.<br><br>“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7<br><br>As Christians, it’s important to realize that God doesn’t want us to be afraid. A person can start to become afraid when they focus on their own weaknesses instead of focusing on God and His strength. People can start to create scenarios in their minds of the things that could go wrong, which could lead to them not moving forward at all. However, when we focus on how awesome God is, and put our trust in Him, we can take comfort in the fact that He will never leave us nor forsake us (See Deuteronomy 31:6). So it’s important for us to walk by faith and trust God regardless of how the circumstances look.</span>
<h1><span class="font_regular"> “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_regular">If a person is dealing with fear, they should pray and ask God to help them overcome it. They should also renew their mind with the Word of God. This will help a person build their faith. As it says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The important thing to remember is that fear CAN be overcome, don’t let enemy deceive you into thinking that you have to live in fear (in any area of your life). So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to stand firm and be courageous.</span></h1><span class="font_regular">“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18</span><br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31324852014-08-12T06:51:48-04:002014-08-12T06:51:48-04:00Communicating With God“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!” - 1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV). As Christians we can take comfort in the fact that we can communicate with God on a regular basis. This is not something we should take lightly. By communicating with God, we can grow closer in our relationship with Him, and complete the assignments that He has called us to. Today’s blog entry is titled “Communicating with God”...<br><br>Communication is an important part of everyday life. Whether it’s with family/friends, on the job, at school, etc…People share information with each other. In our relationship with God, it’s important to talk to Him and listen when He speaks to us. As it says in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”<br><br>Prayer is not just about asking God to do things for us/others (There is a place for asking God for things, but there’s more to prayer than that). Prayer is a time where we can express our love for God, telling Him how much He means to us. Prayer is a time where we can thank God for the things He has done for us. Prayer is a time when we can focus on how awesome God is. When we focus on how awesome God is, it can help us put anything else we’re dealing with in the proper perspective. See Matthew 5:5-13 to see what Jesus said about prayer.<br><br>When we spend time alone with God on a regular basis, we can take our minds off of other things that could potentially distract us, and put our focus on God’s instructions. Sometimes there can be adjustments that we need to make in our lives in order to accomplish what God wants us to do. Trying to do things our own way can lead to a lot frustration, and missed opportunities. However, when we submit to God, and follow His plan, we can make a lot of progress.<br><br><sup>“</sup>Pray without ceasing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17<br><br>“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own <em>authority,</em> but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” – John 16:13 (NKJV)<br><br>“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” – 2 Timothy 3:16<br><br>Prayer should be an ongoing part of our lives. It’s important that we obey God, and follow His guidance even if we don’t understand why He’s taking us down a certain path. And remember, God will never have us doing things that are contrary to His Word. We should know the Word well, and follow what it says. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember the importance of communicating with God.<br> <br> “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” - Colossians 4:2 (NKJV)<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31220962014-08-05T06:55:35-04:002014-08-05T06:55:35-04:00Keep Going Strong“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,” – Hebrews 12:1. Today’s blog entry is titled “Keep Going Strong”…<br><br>Have you ever been watching a sporting event where one team jumped out to an early lead and really looked like they would win easily…However as time went on, they let their guard down, and stopped playing as hard as they were at first. As a result the opposing team was able to make a comeback (and in some situations win the game). As Christians it’s important that we don’t let our guard down or become lax in the assignments that God has given us. We should stay focused on Christ, and continue to make progress. As it says in Hebrews 12:2, “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.”<br><br>“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” – Mark 4:19<br><br>It’s important that we don’t allow the cares of this world to distract us from what we should be doing. Our desire should be to continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and to tell others about Him. Sometimes a person can start off with the intent to do this, but lose focus as time goes on. Regardless of what is going on in our lives, we should always be making time for God. Spending time with God and reading the word is an essential part of our growth as Christians. If we ever start to notice that our lives our out of balance (meaning that we’re not giving God the time that we should), it’s important that we realign ourselves so that we are doing things God’s way and not our own.<br><br>“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” – Colossians 3:2<br><br>When we renew our minds with the Word of God, it can help us to live our lives with an eternal perspective. This life on earth is temporary, and we should not allow the pursuit of “earthly success” to take us out of God’s will for our lives. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we should neglect the responsibilities that we have in this life, but I am saying that we should always keep God as our top priority, and have the proper balance and perspective when it comes to how we handle things in this life. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us keep going strong!<br><br>“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:10-11<br> <br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/31046502014-07-29T06:58:59-04:002014-07-29T06:58:59-04:00Work As Unto The Lord“He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.” – Proverbs 12:11. It’s important that we make good use of our time, and maintain good work ethic. We should use the gifts/abilities that God has given us the way that He desires for us to use them. Today’s blog entry is titled “Work As Unto The Lord”…<br><br>We live in a world where it can be very easy for an individual to get caught up in what they want…MY GOALS, MY PLANS, WHAT I WANT TO DO…And while there is definitely a place for goal setting and planning; It’s important that we first seek God about His plans for our lives, and from there stay on the path He puts us on…Could you imagine if you went to a restaurant, and when the time came for you to place your order, the waiter/waitress selected something from the menu for you to eat without even asking you what you wanted…You probably would be thinking something such as “Excuse me, I’m going to order what I want to order, not what you want me to order.” Likewise, it’s important that we don’t just do our own thing and ask God to bless it. We should spend time seeking God, and go in the direction that He takes us in.<br><br>“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” – Psalm 37:23<br><br>“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” – Colossians 3:23<br><br>When we seek God, and He gives us clarity about the path we should take and the things we should do, it’s important for us to move in the direction He is leading us in, and do the work that is required in order to complete the task. We have a part to play as well, as James 2:26 lets us know “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” When God gives us an assignment, it’s important that we work hard, give our best effort, and trust Him throughout the entire process. The Parable of The Talents (See Matthew 25:14-30) shows us what happens when a person is faithful with what they have been given, and what happens when a person is not faithful with what they have been given. We shouldn’t bury what God has given us to use. We should be good stewards over everything He gives us (regardless of how big or small we may think it is). If we’re doing something ministry related, we should do it as unto the Lord. And if God blesses us with a job that is not ministry related we should do that job as unto the Lord as well. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember to work as unto the Lord, and stay focused on what He has called us to do.<br><br>“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/30925922014-07-22T21:22:14-04:002014-07-22T21:27:06-04:00Handling Opposition“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” – Hebrews 12:3 (NKJV) Today’s blog entry is titled “Handling Opposition”…<br><br>Opposition is a part of life. There are various reasons why one person may not like another person. As Christians we may encounter people who don’t like us because of the stance that we take for Jesus Christ. They may say negative things about us or do things to try to provoke a negative response from us. It’s important that we don’t allow opposition to cause us to respond in a way that does not please God. Remember, even if we are dealing with a person who has treated us wrong, we should still avoid responding in a sinful way (See Ephesians 4:26-27).<br><br>“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:12<br><br>“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” – Zechariah 4:6<br><br>It’s important to remember that there is a spiritual realm. And some of the people we encounter may be serving the enemy without even realizing it. As it says in Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” When we face opposition it can be easy to want to respond in our flesh (meaning doing things our way instead of doing things the way the Bible says) but it’s important to remember to pray about the situation and the individual. Even if a person treats us wrong, they are still one of God’s creations, and we should pray for them. This isn’t to say that we continually allow a person to walk all over us. There is a way to be firm and direct with an individual without sinning.<br><br>We should not be afraid of opposition, and we should not allow opposition to discourage us. We should stay focused on what God has called us to do and obey Him regardless of who does or doesn’t like us. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us continue to seek and trust Him regardless of what we encounter.<br><br>“Many <em>are</em> the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” – Psalm 34:19<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/30791462014-07-15T23:57:50-04:002014-07-15T23:57:50-04:00Remember to Forgive<span class="font_xl">“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” - Luke 23:34…Today’s blog entry is titled “Remember to Forgive”…</span>
<h1><span class="font_regular">Forgiveness is extremely important to us as Christians. We all have sinned (See Romans 3:23) and deserve to go to Hell, however Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. Jesus forgave us and it’s important for us to forgive others. Sometimes we may encounter people in life who intentionally try to do things to upset us. We may also encounter people who mistakenly do things that upset us. In both cases, it’s important to show forth forgiveness. Holding a grudge is not Christ-like, we should not allow ourselves to be bitter towards other people.</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_regular">“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” - Matthew 5:44.</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_regular">When dealing with the topic of forgiveness, one question that may come up is, “how do I forgive someone?” For instance, maybe someone has been hurt by another person in a way that has been hard for them to get over. In a situation like that, the person who was hurt can pray for the person who hurt them. By praying for the person, it can help take the focus off of what the person did to hurt them. Jesus Christ can change anyone, so we should never view someone as a “lost cause”. It may seem difficult to forgive a person, but it can definitely be done. If a person is having a hard time forgiving another individual, they can also ask God to help them in that regard. It’s important for us to remember to pray about the situation and cast our cares upon Christ (See 1 Peter 5:7).</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_regular">“To the Lord our God <em>belong</em> mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.” - Daniel 9:9</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_regular">If we ever start to feel like another person doesn’t deserve forgiveness from us, we can think back to the many times God has shown us (and continues to show us) mercy. Unforgiveness can result in us not moving forward in our own lives. We shouldn’t allow another person’s actions to cause us to disobey God. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to forgive others.</span></h1><span class="font_regular"><span class="font_xl">“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” – Matthew 6:14-15</span></span><br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/30648602014-07-08T21:06:27-04:002014-07-08T21:06:27-04:00Holy Spirit Led“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” - John 14:26 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “Holy Spirit Led”….<br><br>I have a song called Cross Training and the lyrics of the hook go as follows… “Holy Spirit led fed by the Word of God, Learning to be patient even if it gets hard, Take up your Cross and deny yourself daily, I’m getting stronger it’s like I’m Cross Training”. It’s important for us to be led by the Holy Spirit, instead of just doing whatever we feel like doing. When we are led by the Holy Spirit, we may encounter some things that we don’t understand, but it’s important that we have patience and not try to take things into our own hands. The Holy Spirit is real; He is here to help us so it’s important that we have an understanding of His role in our lives. Reading/Knowing the Word of God is also an important part of the Christian walk. As we have a better understanding of the Word, we can get closer in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and make better decisions in our day to day lives. When we are led by the Holy Spirit, and read the Word of God on a regular basis, the Holy Spirit can help us grow in our understanding of how to respond biblically in the various situations we encounter throughout our lives.<br><br>“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will <em>your</em> heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” – Luke 11:13 (NKJV)<br><br>“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” – Romans 8:26<br><br>When the Holy Spirit reveals certain things about ourselves that we need to change, we shouldn’t ignore Him, we should respond by being obedient. As it says in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” As Christians we should be growing in these areas. This isn’t to say that we will always do things perfect, however we should be making progress. There are many verses in the Bible that deal with the Holy Spirit, and it’s important that we have an understanding of who He is. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember the importance of being Holy Spirit led.<br><br>“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit <em>who is</em> in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV)<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/30503112014-07-01T06:37:46-04:002014-07-01T06:37:46-04:00It's About More Than You and I“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16. The things that we do and the decisions we make effect more than just ourselves. The experiences we go through can have an impact on the lives of others as well. Today’s blog entry is titled “It’s About More Than You And I”…<br><br>About 2 years or so ago, I had a conversation in a restaurant with another brother who is involved in Christian/Gospel music. We talked about various things, and shared some experiences we had. I’ve volunteered at a correctional facility doing prison ministry in the past, and that came up during the conversation. There was a couple sitting next to us who had apparently been listening to our conversation. They left before we did, and as they were getting ready to leave, the man said something to the effect of, keep up the good work, to us. He had a very serious look on his face too (so did the woman). The thing about it is I didn’t realize our conversation was having that type of effect on them… People are watching, and people are listening, so it’s important that we carry ourselves in a way that glorifies God.<br><br>“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” – Isaiah 60:1<br><br>What we say and do in public is important. What we do in private is important as well. As a matter of fact, what we do in private can have an effect on what we do in public. Think about it like this, if a sports team never practices collectively (or as individuals), chances are it’s going to be noticeable on game day when they match up again a team who has been practicing. However, if the team practices, they will likely perform better on game day. As Christians, it’s important for us to consistently spend quality time with God. When we meditate on the Word on a regular basis, it can help us to respond the right way in everyday types of situations. It’s doesn’t mean that we won’t make mistakes, however we put ourselves in a better position to respond the right way when we stay in the Word of God.<br><br>“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” - Philippians 2:15<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember that the experiences we’ve gone through (and are going through) can be beneficial to others, so it’s important for us to continue to follow God’s plan for our lives. Remember to shine the light of Jesus Christ each and every day. It’s about more than You and I.<br><br>“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/30358152014-06-24T00:21:22-04:002014-06-24T00:24:06-04:00The Right Perspective“Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” – 1 Timothy 6:15-16. Today's blog entry is titled "The Right Perspective"...<br><br>Can you remember a time when you thought about God’s holiness/power (or other aspects of who He is), and you started to view your life (and life in general) from a different perspective? So many times it can be easy for us to look at the various things we’re dealing with in life at a specific time, when we should be focused on God, and how great He is. When we’re rooted in Christ, it helps us keep the proper focus (regardless of how good/or bad things may seem). In some situations (not all but some), a person that has a large amount of earthly success can start to have a false sense of security, they can start to feel like they have more power than they really do. On the flip side, (In some situations) when someone goes through challenging times in their life, they can start to feel like there is no hope. The thing to remember is that people in both of these types of situations need Jesus Christ. We all need Jesus!<br><br>“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”- Hebrews 12:28-29<br><br>As Christians, we can take comfort in the fact that there is absolutely nothing that can defeat God. The important thing for us is to trust and obey Him. We are blessed that He allowed us to be born, and that He allows us to have a relationship with Him. So regardless of how a situation looks in our lives (whether good or bad), we should continue to focus on God, and give Him our best effort every day of our lives. Remember, there will be a time when we each will give an account to God for the way that we lived our lives. So let’s make sure we make the most of every opportunity that God gives us, and keep things in the right perspective.<br><br>“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” - Colossians 1:16<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/30229392014-06-17T22:43:04-04:002020-06-30T03:08:20-04:00Keep Speaking The Truth“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18. Today’s blog entry is titled “Keep Speaking The Truth”.<br><br>Throughout the course of our lives there are many different types of people that we may encounter which include: People who claim they don’t believe in God at all, people who say they are unsure if there’s a God, people who have went to church at some point in the past but stopped going, people who go to church but are not saved, and people who are saved (I’m not saying it’s only limited to these categories, these are simply the ones I chose to name). As Christians it’s important for us to know the Word, obey the Word, and share the Word with others. The response to the Word can vary from person to person, but that should not discourage us from speaking the truth.<br><br>“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12<br><br>Sometimes as humans it can be easy for us to look at a person and feel like they may respond a certain way to the Gospel based on their outward exterior. Maybe they may come off as someone who would never open a Bible or step foot in a church. However, it’s important for us to remember that the Word of God is powerful. We should never look at a person as being “too bad” to receive the Gospel. We should share the truth, and if they reject it, that’s a personal decision on their end...But we should at least give them that opportunity.<br><br>“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” - 1 Corinthians 1:21<br><br>It’s important for people have a clear understanding of why they need to receive Jesus Christ. Many people have a wrong view of God. They feel they can earn their way to Heaven by doing good deeds. But the Bible lets us know that mankind’s righteousness is like filthy rags (See Isaiah 64:6). Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father (See John 14:6). As Christians, we may encounter various types of opposition when we share the Gospel, but we should never compromise the truth. God’s Word is the final authority regardless of who disagrees with it. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to speak the truth (in love) to others.<br><br>“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/30046602014-06-10T06:48:52-04:002014-06-10T06:48:52-04:00Don't Believe The Enemy's Lies<span class="font_regular">“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” - 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Believe The Enemy’s Lies”…</span>
<h3><span class="font_regular">The Bible lets us know that the devil is the father of lies (See John 8:44). He has used deception many times to lead people astray. One well known example of this is found in Genesis Chapter 3 (Adam and Eve). Eve was deceived by the serpent. She ate of the fruit, and Adam followed along and ate of it too. Instead of obeying God, they allowed the serpent to influence them, and there were huge consequences for doing so. As Christians, it’s important that we know who we are in Jesus Christ, and that we don’t allow the enemy to deceive us into disobeying God.</span></h3>
<h3><span class="font_regular">“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” - Hosea 4:6 (KJV)</span></h3>
<h3><span class="font_regular">Imagine this, you have a person that has never seen a pickup truck before (I’ll refer to this person as Person A), and has no idea what a pickup truck is. There’s another individual (Person B) who knows that Person A doesn’t know what a pickup truck is, and so Person B begins lying and showing pictures (of something that’s not a pickup truck, but passing it off as such) to Person A. If you were on the outside looking in, you would probably be thinking to yourself “What! That’s not a pickup truck. You may even decide to step in and say something at some point. When we have knowledge that something isn’t true, it makes it a lot easier for us to dismiss it and explain why it’s not true. That’s why it’s important for us as Christians to spend time in the Word so that we understand the Truth, and aren’t led astray by trends in society that don’t line up with the Word of God. </span></h3>
<h3><span class="font_regular">“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” - 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NKJV)</span></h3><span class="font_regular">Spending time alone with God is extremely important. When we read the Word on a regular basis and spend time with God, He can give us insight on many things that are happening in the world; and in our personal lives as well. We should never allow ourselves to get “too busy” to make time for God. God loves us and He’s here to guide us down that path that we should be on. Remember we have an enemy. And while we should not be afraid of the enemy, we should be aware of his tactics, and deception is a big part of what he does. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us continually renew our minds with the Word of God, and spend time with Him on a regular basis.<br> <br>“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32 (KJV)</span><br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/29915732014-06-03T22:16:09-04:002014-06-03T22:16:09-04:00A Lifestyle Of Giving“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.” - Deuteronomy 16:17. Today’s blog entry is titled “A Lifestyle of Giving”… <br><br>Thanksgiving and Christmas are a time of year where many people give to help others. And while it’s definitely good to help people during that time of the year, it’s also good to give/help during the other parts of the year as well. Can you think back to a time when you gave someone something and they really appreciated it? Chances are it probably gave you a good feeling. Giving to others is another way to show forth the love of Jesus Christ. Sometimes something such as treating someone to lunch can really have a big impact on them.<br><br>“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:21<br><br>“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” - Mark 8:36<br><br>Regardless of how much money/resources we accumulate while on earth, it’s important that we live our lives with an eternal perspective remembering that things on earth will pass away. We should be good stewards over the things God blesses us with; however we should never allow those things to dominate our lives. Selfishness and greed should not be a part of our lives at all. <br><br>“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” – Luke 6:38<br><br>When we give, it’s important that we do so with the right motives. The purpose for our giving should not be to draw attention to ourselves, or show off to other people. Our giving should be motivated by our love for Jesus Christ, and our love for other people. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us live a lifestyle of giving.<br><br><em>“So let</em> each one <em>give</em> as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/29753772014-05-27T21:41:19-04:002014-05-27T21:41:19-04:00The Importance of Patience“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” – James 1:4. Today’s blog entry is titled “The Importance of Patience”…<br><br>Can you think back to a time when you saved up your money to buy something that you really wanted? As you were saving your money, there may have been times when you saw other items that caught your attention; However by spending your money on those smaller items, it would have added to the overall amount of time it would take you to buy the main item you were saving for.<br><br>In our Christian walk, it’s important to continue to trust God and have patience even if things don’t seem to be happening as quickly as we would like them to. The experiences that God allows us to go through can teach us many valuable lessons and prepare us for other situations we will encounter later on in life. Taking shortcuts may seem enticing at times, but they can lead to other problems down the road. Think of it like this, a soldier is getting trained to go into battle; however there are certain things about training that the soldier doesn’t like, so he/she finds a way to sneak out of certain drills/conditioning exercises. It may seem like he/she is getting away with not having to train as hard, however when the real battle starts, that solider will be at a disadvantage in certain areas. As Christians, it’s important that we persevere and endure the entire process that God takes us through.<br><br>“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” –Galatians 6:9<br><br>Towards the beginning of this entry I talked about thinking back to a time when you saved money to buy something you really wanted…Along the way you may have been tempted to spend the money on other things, but if you went the full distance and bought the item you wanted; There was likely a sense of satisfaction that you had from waiting and getting what you actually wanted. In our Christian walk there may be times when the path we’re on seems challenging, but if we continue to stay on the path God has us on, we’ll see that it was the best thing for us to do long term (and short term). It’s important that we view things from an eternal perspective, and keep our faith in Jesus Christ!<br><br>“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/29450332014-05-13T20:44:42-04:002014-05-13T20:44:42-04:00Stay Humble, Keep Learning“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3-4.<br><br>Today’s blog entry is titled “Stay Humble, Keep Learning”…Humility is an important part of the Christian walk. We should continue to seek God for guidance and direction, and never get to the point where we think we have everything figured out. Each day of our lives we have an opportunity to learn something new; so it’s important for us to remain teachable. When things are brought to our attention that we can improve about ourselves (whether it’s in a job setting, amongst family/friends, or other types of everyday situations), we should use it as an opportunity to continue to grow. I’ve received constructive criticism at various points in my life, and it has definitely helped me to grow as an individual.<br><br>“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:6<br><br>Having a proud/prideful attitude can lead to many problems. As James 4:6 lets us know, God resists the proud; And that’s definitely not a position that we want to be in. None of us are perfect; we all need God’s grace. When evangelizing, this is an important thing to bring up. There are many unbelievers who feel like they have done enough “good deeds” in their life to get them to Heaven. However, “good deeds” can’t forgive sins. A person must receive Jesus Christ in order to be saved (and go to Heaven). As it says in John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remain humble. If God uses other people to show us areas in our lives that we can improve upon, we shouldn’t take offense. We should take it as an opportunity to learn and continue to make progress.<br><br>“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” – Psalm 37:23 Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/29244172014-05-06T19:31:48-04:002014-05-06T19:31:48-04:00Our My Actions Glorifying God?“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31. Today’s blog entry is titled “Are My Actions Glorifying God?”<br><br>1 Corinthians 10:31 is a Bible verse that I think about often. If you’ve ever watched my web show “About 10 Minutes”, you may have noticed that each episode of the show opens with that verse. I think it’s important to have a mindset to represent Jesus Christ in every area of our lives (both in public and private). God sees our actions and the motives behind our actions, so it’s important that we have pure motives, and a genuine desire to please Him.<br><br>“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21<br><br>Sometimes in life we may encounter people who try to provoke us to do negative things that are out of character. It’s important that we continue to carry ourselves in a way that honor’s God regardless of what people say to us. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we should allow people to walk all over us; But my point is that we should not have a “hot button” that people can press that causes us to act out of character.<br><br>“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” – James 1:19<br><br>“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” – 2 Corinthians 3:2<br><br>The decisions that we make can affect many people, so it’s important that we are mindful of the things we say and do. When we show people the love of Christ in everyday situations, it can lead to them noticing that there is something different about us, and open the door for us to share the Gospel with them. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to respond to the various situations we encounter in life in a way that is pleasing to Him.<br><br>“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” – Colossians 3:23Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/29064832014-04-29T10:45:43-04:002014-04-29T10:45:43-04:00Staying On The Path God Has You OnAs we live our lives, it’s important that we are led by God and seek Him for wisdom when we’re making decisions. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” – Romans 8:14. Today’s blog entry is titled “Staying On The Path God Has You On”…<br><br>Before I go any further, let me say that it’s good to be blogging again! The last time I blogged was in January of this year, and I plan on blogging each week on Tuesday’s again like I’ve done in the past. With that being said, I’d like to focus on the topic mentioned above.<br><br>“The steps of a <em>good</em> man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)<br><br>In the past, I’ve talked about how I ran Cross Country in High School. One of the things about Cross Country races is that they can vary from course to course. Some courses may present certain challenges that other courses don’t (for instance you may be running more “uphill” on certain courses). And as a runner it’s important to be prepared to run on uphill courses as well as courses that are more flat. If a race is scheduled for “Course A”, but an individual likes “Course B” better, they can’t just decide “well hey I don’t care if the race is scheduled for Course A, I’m running on Course B and they can record my time on that course and use it”. If a runner did this, they obviously would not get credit for the race.<br><br>In our walk with God, it’s important that we follow Him wherever He takes us. Sometimes we may encounter things that appear to be challenging, but it’s important for us to stay on the path that God has us on, as opposed to trying to take a different route and do what’s most comfortable to us. Sometimes the challenging things we encounter in life can be the very things that play a part in helping us grow and become stronger. Remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways (See Isaiah 55:9); He knows what’s best for us.<br><br>“The Lord <em>is</em> good to those who wait for Him, To the soul <em>who</em> seeks Him.” – Lamentations 3:25 (NKJV)<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us make sure that we are seeking Him for guidance and direction in our lives. When we seek Him, we can avoid going through unnecessary things that were not a part of His plan for our lives.<br><br>“But without faith <em>it is</em> impossible to please <em>Him,</em> for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and <em>that</em> He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/24418352014-01-21T17:26:15-05:002014-01-21T17:31:17-05:00Glorify God in Your Body“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. It’s important to make sure that we are truly submitted to God. Today’s blog entry is titled, “Glorify God in Your Body”.<br><br>If it were possible for details of a typical day in your life (when you’re around Christians and non-Christians) to be broadcast at your church, do you think it would be a good reflection of the way a Christian should act? Would there be a big difference in how you act around Christians versus how you act around Non-Christians (in terms of the subject manner you talk about, and activities you take part in)?<br><br>“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” – Proverbs 15:3<br><br>As Christians, it’s important for us to take a look at our lives, and make sure that we are glorifying God. This isn’t to say that we are perfect; and this isn’t to say that we won’t make mistakes. However, it’s important for us to give our best effort when serving God, and be honest with ourselves when we see areas in our lives that we need to change. There are details of a person’s life that can be hidden from other people; however nothing can be hidden from God.<br><br>“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”- Psalm 119:105<br><br>I want to make it clear that I’m not against having fun. As a matter of fact, if you’ve ever seen my show “About 10 Minutes”, you may have noticed that I can be quite silly. With that being said, it’s important to make sure that the fun we have doesn’t include things that are sinful. We should use the Word of God as the guide for how to conduct ourselves instead of just following the trends of our peers/society.<br><br>“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8<br><br>It’s important for us to be mindful of the things that we take in, as they can either have a positive or negative effect on us. If we’re constantly watching/listening to things that glorify sinful behavior, we can start to become desensitized to those sinful things. However, when we meditate on the Word of God, we can stay focused on conducting ourselves in a way that honors God.<br><br>It’s also important for us to be mindful of the things we eat. This is something that can sometimes be over looked, but the foods we eat can have an impact on the way we function and feel throughout the course of a day. I’m not going to go into much detail on food and nutrition on this post, however there are various resources that a person can consult that go into more detail in regards to various meal options, food preparation, etc.<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember that we should be glorifying Him every day of our lives.<br><br>“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/24004902014-01-14T21:20:18-05:002014-01-14T21:24:43-05:00Don't Return to Your Old LifestyleAfter a person becomes a born again Christian it’s important for them to understand that they are a new creature. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Sometimes friends or others close to a person may not understand the change that has taken place; and they may even try to get the person to return to their old lifestyle. Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Return to Your Old Lifestyle”…<br><br>“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” – Romans 13:14<br><br>One thing some Christians may encounter, is people from their past who want to bring up their past, and want to get them involved in sinful activities. As Christians, it’s important for us to make sure that we keep our focus on Jesus. We should also be careful of the environments that we go to, and the people that we spend time around. If a person is constantly being a negative influence in your life, it’s probably a good idea to put some distance between you and that person. You can still pray for them, and witness to them, but it’s a good idea to have boundaries. <br><br>“Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.”– Proverbs 7:2-3<br><br>“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15<br><br>Learning God’s Word is an essential part of Christian growth. We should spend time reading the Bible on regular basis. By doing so we can have an understanding of how we should be living as Christians. When we know the truth, we can avoid opening ourselves up to things that would affect us negatively.<br><br>“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25<br><br>“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17<br><br>It’s important for us to fellowship with other believers. By doing so, we can learn from each other, and encourage each other. Having interaction with other believers can help us maintain our focus, and continue to make progress in our Christian walk. It’s important to remember that we are not alone. First and foremost we have God. And we also have brothers and sisters in Christ.<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to love Him with all of our heart. Let us also spend time in prayer and reading the Bible on a regular basis; and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. And if you ever experience challenging times in your Christian walk remember....<h1><span class="font_small">“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:13</span></h1>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/23406602014-01-07T07:30:09-05:002014-01-07T07:30:09-05:00In The MorningThe way we start the morning off can help set the tone for our entire day. “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” - Isaiah 50:4. Today’s blog entry is titled “In The Morning”...<br><br>Throughout the course of a day there are many different things that a person can encounter. And sometimes there may a tendency to wake up in the morning and get on the move very quickly. However it’s important that we are thankful for each day that God gives us, and that we express that thanks to Him. Before we get on social networks, check our email, or turn on the TV, we should spend time with God. Praying and reading the Bible in the morning can help us maintain our focus and be ready to deal with the various things we will encounter throughout the day.<br><br>“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2<br><br>Renewing our minds with the Word of God is essential; as we go about our daily tasks, we may come across many different viewpoints, (that don’t line up with the Word of God) whether it’s through people that we know, billboards that we drive by, things we see on the internet, etc. It’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to become desensitized to various viewpoints that are ungodly. We should continue to use the Word of God as our guide.<br><br>“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” – Psalm 98:4<br><br>Singing praises to God is something that we can do throughout the entire day, and it’s also something to consider doing during our time with God in the morning. When we praise God, it can help us focus on how awesome He is and approach the rest of the day with the right mindset.<br><br>I also recommend eating a good breakfast before getting going with the rest of the day (You may have noticed that I’m a big fan of breakfast lol). Sometimes breakfast can be a meal that is overlooked, however eating a good breakfast can also help with starting your day off the right way.<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember the importance of spending time with Him in the morning.<br><br>“It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/23110622013-12-31T15:37:54-05:002013-12-31T15:44:31-05:00Walk In LoveAs Christians it’s important that we show forth love to others. “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” – Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “Walk In Love”…<br><br>Love is obviously something that is very important to us as Christians. Jesus loved us so much that He laid down His life for us. This is something that we should always be thankful for. As we live our lives we may encounter people who are challenging for us to get along with (or do things that annoy us). In those situations we should still show forth love. Maybe you’re out at a restaurant and the waitress is really messing up your order (trying hard to get it right, but still messing up). Instead of being mean to her, we should be patient with her, and think about how Jesus would respond in a situation like that. Or maybe the cashier at the store is moving slow and taking longer than you would like them to during the checkout process. It’s during these times that we can either respond out of frustration, or we can respond out of love. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating that it’s a good idea for people to do subpar work at their jobs. However as Christians, we should remember to still represent Jesus Christ when we’re out in public in everyday situations. Sometimes a worker could be having a really bad day. Maybe they found out some bad news….And the fact that you were patient with them and showed forth love could serve as encouragement and help them get through what they were dealing with.<br><br>“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” – Ephesians 5:3-4 (NKJV)<br><br>As Christians we should love God more than anything else (See Matthew 22:37). And if we love Him we should obey Him (See John 14:15). It’s important that we live our lives in a way that honors God. We should not conform to the World’s sinful way of doing things. Christians are set apart and we should live our lives as such. We should speak the truth to people, even if it goes against what’s popular in society. If we truly love people we shouldn’t allow the fear of how they will respond to cause us to avoid sharing the Gospel with them. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to love God more than anything else. Let us also remember to show forth love to others…Inside the church, and outside of the church.<br><br><em>“Let</em> love <em>be</em> without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. <em>Be</em> kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” – Romans 12:9-13 (NKJV)Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/22854852013-12-24T20:39:50-05:002013-12-24T20:39:50-05:00Make Time For PrayerIt’s Christmas Eve and many people have been thinking about the birth of Jesus. There are many things from the life of Jesus that we can talk about, and today I would like to focus on prayer. Prayer is very important to Jesus. While He was on the earth He spent a lot of time in prayer. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” – Mark 1:35...Today’s blog entry is titled “Make Time For Prayer”…<br><br>It’s a blessing that we have access to communicate with God on a regular basis. This is not something we should take lightly; we should make our time with God a priority. When we pray and seek God on a regular basis, we can continue to strengthen our relationship with Him. We can also make the right decisions and stay on the path that He wants us to be on.<br><br>“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:16<br><br>“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9<br><br>As Christians we should be praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ (we should also pray for unbelievers). God answers prayer, and it’s important that we keep our faith in Him regardless of how the circumstances look. Sometimes we may have a tendency to want to try to make things happen in our own power. However we should seek God, and rely upon Him to direct us. As it says in Zechariah 4:6, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” If we want to carry out God’s will for our lives we should rely upon Him instead of relying on ourselves. Now don’t get me wrong, we have a part to play. We need to obey God and do what He says. With that being said, we also need to realize that it’s God who blesses us with gifts/abilities, and He knows better than we do how we should use them. <br><br>“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6<br><br>As Christians, prayer should be a way of life for us. A person shouldn’t wait until a time of crisis to pray (I’m not saying that it’s wrong to pray during a time of crisis, but my point is that it shouldn’t be the only time a person prays), prayer should be an ongoing thing. During our prayer time we should reverence God and give Him thanks. When we think about how awesome God is, it can help us keep things in the proper perspective. When we reflect on the awesome things that God has done for us, it can serve as a reminder of the many times God has been there for us in times past. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us follow His example, and make time for prayer.<br><br>“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” - Ephesians 6:18Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/22494342013-12-17T21:17:35-05:002013-12-17T21:24:17-05:00Don't Give Up. Overcome the ChallengesWhen you face a challenge in your life how do you handle it? Do you run from it? Or do you overcome it? “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” – Romans 12:12. Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Give Up. Overcome the Challenges”.<br><br>Picture this…You’re watching your favorite basketball team play. The team they are playing against comes out strong. And ten minutes into the game, they have a 14 point lead over your favorite team. As a result of this, your favorite team collectively runs off the court, and into the locker room forfeiting the game because they thought there was no way they could win…As a fan you would probably be thinking to yourself, are you guys serious?! You’re quitting before the game is even over!!!<br><br>“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” - Colossians 1:11<br><br>In our lives it’s important that we remain faithful to what God has called us to do, even if things get challenging. We shouldn’t run away from our assignment if things get tough, we should seek God for help on how we can overcome the challenge. For instance, in the basketball analogy above, maybe the reason the team got behind by 14 was because they were using the wrong defensive strategy for the team they were playing against. A simple change in the type of defense they were playing could have led to a turnaround in the game, and them eventually taking the lead. Likewise in our lives, sometimes, it can be something simple that needs to be changed in order for a person to start seeing fruit in a certain area of their life. By spending time in prayer and reading the Word of God, we can gain insight on the changes that we need to make in our lives.<br><br>“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” - James 1:4<br><br>It’s also important that we maintain our focus on what our mission is as Christians. We should be making disciples, and carrying out the specific assignments God gives us. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to get side tracked with vain things. We should look at the eternal value of the things that we invest a lot of time into. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us run this race strong, and endure any challenges that may come our way.<br><br>“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/22016692013-12-10T08:33:13-05:002020-07-13T02:18:31-04:00Don't Be Afraid to Speak UpIf you had the opportunity to observe a classroom of young students, and you witnessed a teacher teaching those students false information, saying that “2 +2 = 17, 10 x 10 =34… and so on” you would probably feel some sort of obligation to make sure the children knew the truth. Likewise as Christians, we should want to share the truth of God’s Word with others. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled, “Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up”…<br><br>If you’re a person who reads and understands the Bible; and you spend time observing different things that happen in the world, it’s not hard to see that there are a lot of things going on that don’t line up with the Bible. This can leave a person who is passionate about Jesus Christ wondering what they should do to help bring about change. The Bible lets us know that we should be making disciples (See Matthew 28:19). As we share the Truth with others, they in turn can share the truth, and it can be an ongoing cycle. And while we may encounter people who reject the message, we shouldn’t allow that to discourage us. We should continue to share it with other people.<br><br>“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1<br><br>It’s important that we don’t allow fear to stop us from speaking the truth. We also shouldn’t allow ourselves to become overwhelmed by everything that’s wrong with the world. Through Christ, we have the ability to impact our communities in a positive way. And think about it like this, if more Christians across the nation/world start speaking up in their local communities, it can collectively have a huge impact on a national/international level. When we work together and function as a body we can get a lot accomplished. We need to stay focused on the Mission (Making Disciples). It’s important that we’re alert to what’s going on, and that we don’t allow things like entertainment to distract us from the big picture. Don’t get me wrong, I understand there’s a place for entertainment, having leisure time, etc... However my point is that we shouldn’t be so caught up in entertainment that we ignore issues that need to be addressed. For instance a parent should be aware of what their child is being taught in school. And if that child is being taught things that don’t line up with the Bible, that parent should intervene, and make sure their child understands the truth.<br><br>“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32<br><br>It’s important that we don’t allow society to desensitize us to sin. God’s Word trumps what everybody else says; whether they’re a celebrity, politician, etc… So we should never allow anyone to influence us to accept sinful things that don’t line up with the Word of God. As it says in Philippians 2:10-11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us be bold and courageous. Let us be alert of what’s going on. And let us continue to speak the truth, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.<br><br>“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all <em>that</em> you <em>do</em> be done with love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NKJV)Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/21537792013-12-03T19:17:23-05:002017-02-02T23:18:54-05:00Remember Who Your enemy IsAs Christians, we shouldn’t be fighting against each other. We should be working together as the Body of Christ to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – 1 Peter 5:8. Today’s blog entry is titled, “Remember Who Your enemy Is”...<br><br>If you’ve read some of my past blog entries or watched some of my web show episodes in the past, you may have figured out that I enjoy sports haha. There are a lot of lessons that can be learned from sports, one of which is the importance of working together to accomplish a goal. If members of the team lose sight of the goal of winning they can begin to do selfish things that hurt the team, and cause unnecessary problems. Picture this, there’s a team that had a great regular season, and is also doing well in the playoffs. This team is a front runner to win a championship, however at one point, a player from an opposing team stops by their practice one day, waits until the practice is over, and then starts saying things to certain players on the team….”Why is he playing more minutes that you, you know you’re better than he is”….”They should be running more plays for you”….and so on and so forth. As a result the teammates begin thinking about what the opposing player says and eventually start arguing with each other, messing up the team chemistry. <br><br>And while you may be thinking to yourself come on, who would really fall for that. It’s obvious what the other player is doing… It’s important that we don’t allow this same thing to happen with us as brothers and sisters in Christ. We should remember that the devil is our enemy. We shouldn’t allow him to distract us or cause us to have conflict with each other.<br><br><sup>“</sup>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<br><br>“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” – Proverbs 13:10<br><br>“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:12<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us stay focused on the assignments that He has given us. We shouldn’t be envious of other people. We should be thankful for what God has blessed us with. And we should do the best we can to be faithful over everything He has entrusted us with. Don’t allow the devil to cause you to fight your sister/brother in Christ. Remember, the devil is your real enemy. As some of you may know, I have song called “Sibling Rivalry” that deals with the fact that we should be working together as brothers and sisters in Christ, instead of fighting one another. If you’ve never heard the song you can listen to it at the following link.<br><br><a contents="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWudCzVcIuc" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWudCzVcIuc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWudCzVcIuc</a><br><br>Be blessed.<br><br>“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” -1 Corinthians 3:9Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/21198902013-11-26T22:05:30-05:002013-11-26T22:05:30-05:00Overcoming InsecurityInsecurity can cause a lot of problems in a person’s life. As Christians it’s important that we are secure in Jesus Christ. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “Overcoming Insecurity”.<br><br>Insecurity can be an issue that is easy for a person to overlook in his/her own life. However if insecurity is not identified and dealt with, it can lead to many conflicts in a person’s life that otherwise could have been avoided. Insecurity can cause a person to have an inaccurate perception of the way things are really happening. Insecurity can also cause a person compromise the truth of God to try to fit in with other people. However, the good news is that insecurity (just like any other issue we may face) can be overcome through Jesus Christ.<br><br>“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)<br><br>If a person is dealing with insecurity, it’s important to be honest with God about it, and ask Him for help and guidance with the situation. Ignoring the issue, or trying to cover it up, doesn’t change the fact that it’s still there. However, when a person takes the issue to Jesus, that person can truly be delivered.<br><br><em>The righteous</em> cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord <em>is</em> near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many <em>are</em> the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. – Psalm 34:17-19 (NKJV)<br><br>When we are secure in Jesus Christ we don’t have to depend on other people to validate us. We can take comfort in the fact that we’re obeying Him, and He’s pleased with us. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let’s remember to be secure in Jesus Christ!<br><br>“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, <span id="en-NKJV-29250">having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner<em>stone,</em></span> in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” – Ephesians 2:19-22 (NKJV)<br> Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/20772912013-11-19T16:33:43-05:002013-11-19T16:33:43-05:00Test all ThingsAs Christians it’s important for us to be careful of what we involve ourselves with. “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:21-22 (NKJV). Today’s blog is titled “Test all Things.”<br><br>The decisions that we make now can have a huge impact on our lives at a later time, so it’s very important for us to be obedient to God. The Bible gives the guidelines on how we should live our lives, and if people are trying to get us to do things that don’t line up with the Word of God, that’s a red flag that we shouldn’t do it. It’s important that we don’t lose focus of our assignment as Christians (We should be glorifying God with our lives and making disciples). Sometimes the enemy may try to lure us into situations that God doesn’t want us to be a part of (this could include male/female relationships, business partnerships, and other collaborations/alliances).<br><br>“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” – Amos 3:3 (NKJV)<br><br>Think of it like this, if you are planning to open a bakery (and you’re looking for a business partner), and you want to run the business with Christian principles; it’s probably not a good idea to partner with someone who despises Christianity and goes on public rants where they bash Christianity (yet they can bake really good cakes). This isn’t to say that you can’t still witness to the person, but it’s important to use wisdom in how you involve yourself with that person. I also want to make it clear that I’m not saying that Christians can’t go into business with individuals who are non-Christian, but rather that it’s important that we look at the individual and what they stand for.<br><br>“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” – John 14:23 (NKJV)<br><br>Our relationship with Jesus Christ is extremely important, and our love for Him should cause us to want to live a lifestyle that is pleasing to Him. It’s important that we obey the Word of God regardless of how the world views us. And while there may be pressure from unbelievers to conform to certain things, it’s very important that we don’t compromise the truth of God’s Word. We should continue to stand firm on the Word, and rely upon God. We should value the way God’s views us much more than we value the way the World views us. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us be mindful of the things that we align/involve ourselves with.<br><br>“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/20380772013-11-12T21:48:52-05:002013-11-12T21:48:52-05:00The Holiness of God<span class="text">And one cried to another and said:</span> “Holy, holy, holy <i>is</i> the <span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> of hosts;</span><br><span class="text">The whole earth <i>is</i> full of His glory!” – Isaiah 6:3 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “The Holiness of God”….<p></p></span>
<p>Have you ever thought about what it will be like when you go before God after your time on earth is complete? What a great day that will be for born again Christians! To experience God in a whole new way is definitely something exciting to look forward to. With that being said, there are many people that we come in contact with who are not saved, and would be headed to Hell if they were to leave earth today. And that is a sad thought. As Christians we should be telling people the truth about eternity.</p>
<p><span class="text">“For our God <i>is</i> a consuming fire.</span>” – Hebrews 12:29 (NKJV)<p></p></p>
<p><span class="text">“Jesus said to him, </span><span class="woj">“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.</span>” – John 14:6 (NKJV)<p></p></p>
<p><span class="woj">There are many people who are deceived when it comes to what determines who will go to Heaven. Some people believe that if a person does more good deeds than bad deeds they will be ok, however that is not true. “</span><span class="text">But we are all like an unclean <i>thing,</i></span> <span class="text">And all our righteousnesses <i>are</i> like filthy rags;</span> <span class="text">We all fade as a leaf,</span> <span class="text">And our iniquities, like the wind,</span> <span class="text">Have taken us away.” – Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV). The previous scripture lets us know that our righteousness is like filthy rags. God is Holy, and His standard is so much higher than mankind’s. And since God is the Creator, and He sets the standard, it’s important for us to do things His way, instead of getting caught up in the world’s way of doing things. Jesus Christ is the only way to get to God the Father. A person must be saved in order to go to Heaven.<p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:</span> <span class="oblique">“God resists the proud,</span> <span class="oblique">But gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6 (NKJV)</span><p></p></p>
<p><span class="text">There are prideful people in the world who don’t want to abide by God’s way of doing things. Some even make up lies about God, and the way He does things. However making up lies, doesn’t change reality. And the reality is, one day every person will have to give an account to God for the way they lived on earth. And this will not be a time where blaming others or attempting to run away will do any good. As Christians we should let people know that God is Holy, and make sure they have a proper understanding of the Gospel. So as we live our lives, let’s take advantage of the opportunities that God gives us to tell people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s tell more people about the holiness of God.<p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest <i>your</i> hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;<sup> </sup>as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, <i>as</i> in your ignorance; but as He who called you <i>is</i> holy, you also be holy in all <i>your</i> conduct,<sup> </sup>because it is written, </span><span class="oblique">“Be holy, for I am holy.”</span> – 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NKJV)<p></p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/19945592013-11-05T19:19:22-05:002013-11-05T19:20:53-05:00Be Strong and of Good Courage<strong><span class="font_large">“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He <em>is</em> the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”- Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV. Today’s blog entry is titled “Be Strong and of Good Courage”…</span></strong>
<h1><span class="font_small">As Christians we can take comfort in the fact that God will never leave us nor forsake us. There may be times in life when we encounter things that take us out of our comfort zone, but it’s very important that we continue to rely upon God to give us the strength to overcome whatever we’re up against. There are many people who don’t want to hear about God and even try to spread lies about Him; however this should not stop us from sharing the Gospel and being bold for Christ.</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_small">“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” – Proverbs 29:25 NKJV</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_small">When a person basis their life off of what people think, instead of basing it off of God’s Word, it can lead to a lot of problems. We should never allow someone to cause us to compromise the truth of God’s Word (Whether they’re inside or outside of the church. Sometimes people who profess to be Christians can try to steer Christians away from talking about certain things in the Bible). Think about a job situation. If you have a worker who says his/her focus is to please management, what good would it do for the worker to do a bunch of things that pleased his/her co-workers yet displeased all of the management team? At the end of the day, it’s the management’s opinion that really matters. Likewise what good would it be for us to do a bunch of things that please other people and yet displease God? At the end of the day it’s what God thinks that really counts.</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_regular">“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” – James 2:19 NKJV</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_regular">As Christians, we serve a God that makes demons tremble, so we should not be afraid of them (or anything else). However we should be aware that we have opposition out there and make sure that we continue to put on the whole armor of God everyday….every single day (See Ephesians 6:10-20 ). When we put our trust in God’s strength instead of our own strength we can have the confidence to overcome any obstacle we face, speak the truth boldly regardless of what others think, and accomplish any task that God has given us. So my brothers and sisters in Christ, “…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might”.</span></h1>
<h1><span class="font_regular">For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV</span></h1>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/19513912013-10-29T18:45:44-04:002021-04-01T01:55:28-04:00Show People the Way, But Don't Get In the Way“For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”- Matthew 3:3. As Christians it’s important to remember that we should be focused on pointing people to Jesus, and giving Him the glory (instead of trying to gain vain glory for ourselves). Today’s blog entry is titled “Show People the Way, But Don’t Get In the Way”…<br><br>Picture this; you go to a church that you’ve never been to before to attend a wedding. After getting inside the church you are greeted by an usher who asks you if you know the bride or groom so that you can be seated in the appropriate section. While walking you to your seat, the usher starts talking to you about various things not related to the wedding. And after you sit down the usher continues to stand next to you and starts talking about his own upcoming wedding that’s a few months away, and what type of house he wants to buy, etc. This goes on even after the wedding has started.<br><br>The usher in this scenario obviously lost focus of what he was supposed to be doing. He started out the right way by greeting the person, but then he got off track and became a distraction to the person. As Christians it’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to get off track from what our God given assignments are. When God is using us, it can be very exciting and encouraging; however it’s important to remember that we should be focused on God getting the glory. It’s God who has given us different talents/gifts/abilities. We should use those gifts to direct people to Him, and help them grow in their relationship with Him.<br><br>“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:2<br><br>Renewing our mind with the Word of God is extremely important. When we renew our mind, it can help us maintain our focus on what we should be doing. God’s ways are different than the world’s ways of doing things. The world often puts emphasis on “Me”, “I”, “My Accomplishments”, and receiving recognition from others. However our focus should be on pleasing God. What good would it be to do things that impress a lot of people, and yet displease God. The way God feels about us is what really matters. With that being said, I want to make it clear that I’m not saying that we should go around degrading ourselves or having a negative view of ourselves. I’m simply saying that we should have the proper view of ourselves. It’s like the usher in the scenario, his job as an usher isn’t to belittle himself, but his job also isn’t to be a distraction to the guests at the wedding either. His job is to lead people to their seats. And likewise as Christians we should be doing our job, we should be pointing people to Jesus Christ.<br><br>“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” – Mark 16:15Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/19048962013-10-22T13:52:34-04:002013-10-22T13:52:34-04:00Remember, it's a RelationshipAs Christians it’s important that we don’t just look at our Christian walk as a bunch of “Do’s and Don’ts”. We should remember that our life is about having a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “Remember, it’s a Relationship”.<br><br>Living a lifestyle that is pleasing to Christ is very important. We should strive to be more like Him every day. With that being said, it’s important that we don’t just go through the motions in our Christian walk. If a person ONLY puts the emphasis on avoiding sin, and yet doesn’t spend time in prayer, they’re missing out on a great opportunity to speak to God. Or if a person ONLY prays because they feel they have to, (so they just rush through a prayer routine each day at certain times to make sure they’ve checked it off their list of things to do) they’re missing the point of prayer. The thing about it is, a person who does something like that may not mean any harm when they’re doing it. It may have just become a routine that they’ve gotten used to. But our walk with Jesus should be much more than a routine; it should be a relationship where we are displaying our love to Him. And as a byproduct of our love for Him, our desire will be to obey Him.<br><br>“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” - John 14:15<br><br>In a (loving) marriage, the Wife doesn’t just spend time with her Husband because she has to. She spends time with him because she genuinely loves him (and vice versa with the Husband). In our relationship with Christ, love should be what motivates us. And in our lives in general, love should be what motivates us. If we truly love Jesus, we should be willing to make sacrifices for Him. If we truly love Jesus, we should want others to know about Him. We should tell others how great He is to us, and explain why they need Him in their lives as well.<br><br>“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 12:2<br><br>We should always be thankful for the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. We should value the time that we get to spend with Him. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember that this is a relationship.<br><br>“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” – Matthew 22:37Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/18547712013-10-15T08:45:49-04:002013-10-15T08:45:49-04:00What to do, When you Don't Know What to doHave you ever had those moments in life when you were not sure how to respond to a situation/issue you were dealing with? “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13. Today’s blog entry is titled “What to do, When you Don’t Know What to do”…<br><br>Have you ever heard of cramming??? You know, waiting until the “last minute” to study for a test (Yes, I’ve done this before haha). And while a person may have some success doing this, we can probably agree that this isn’t the ideal way to study for a test. There may be various reasons why a person crams. Maybe their life is extremely busy, and they honestly only have a limited amount of time to study since they have work, school, a family etc. Or maybe they just don’t like studying, and so they put it off for as long as they possibly can. If a person continues to have success cramming, they may just make it a way of life. However if they have an experience when cramming doesn’t produce the type of results they want, they may start to rethink what they’re doing.<br><br>“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6<br><br>Sometimes in life we may have found ourselves in situations (that we didn’t like) because we didn’t seek God about the way we went about doing something. And maybe the negative results didn’t show up right away, but as time went on we could see that something wasn’t right (similar to the person who crammed on a regular basis and had success for a while, but later decided that there was a better way to do things). As Christians it’s important that we seek God on a regular basis (not only if we feel like we need a problem solved). When we seek God on a regular basis, He can give us the guidance that we need, and help us avoid mistakes that we otherwise would have made without Him. It’s kind of like a person who is about to go on a trip to a place they’ve never been before, and a relative (who knows the area very well) tries to give them instructions, however they ignore the instructions, and end up getting lost.<br><br>“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:13<br><br>So you may be thinking to yourself, I seek God on a regular basis, however I’m still at a point in my life where I’m unsure of what to do. With that being said, I want to make sure I’m clear on the fact that I’m not saying that a person who is unsure of what to do next is not already seeking God. Sometimes things may happen that God hasn’t given us the answers to yet. If we find ourselves in this situation, it’s important not to panic or become frustrated. We should however remain in faith, continue to spend time in the Word, and ask God for clarity on how to respond. We also should continue to give God praise, and remind ourselves that we serve a God who is bigger than any problem we will face. If we have done all of the previously mentioned things, and are still are unsure of what to do next, it may be a good idea to spend some time fasting. By denying ourselves food, and spending more time with God (away from things such as: the internet, TV, etc.), we can put ourselves in a position to me more receptive to God. The important thing is to be led by God throughout the entire process, whether you’re fasting or not.<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to continue to trust Him, and remain patient (even if we encounter times in our lives when we’re not sure what to do).<br><br>“You will keep <em>him</em> in perfect peace, <em>Whose</em> mind <em>is</em> stayed <em>on You,</em> Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, <em>is</em> everlasting strength.” – Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV)Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/18118742013-10-08T17:51:27-04:002013-10-08T17:51:27-04:00Don't Let The World Put Limitations On YouSometimes you may encounter people who look at your life and try to tell you what you can and can’t accomplish. It’s important not to allow others to put limitations on us, we instead should follow God’s plan for our lives. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Let The World Put Limitations On You”….<br><br>As Christians it’s important to realize that when we’re submitted to God, He can do many great things through us for His Glory. It’s important that we find our identity in what God’s Word says about us, instead of what the world says about us. Sometimes people may say things such as all men do this (negative thing), or all woman act this (negative way). Don’t believe the lies of the enemy. Remember what 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” So even if the people in your family have had a past history of doing certain things that are negative, don’t feel like you have to follow suit. Remember as a Christian you are a new creature!<br><br>“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7<br><br>As Christians we also should remember that we don’t have to respond to situations that way the world will normally respond to them. For instance, if we experience a challenging situation in our lives, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to do self-destructive types of things, instead we should cast our cares on Jesus (See 1 Peter 5:7), and rely upon Him to help us overcome the situation. Regardless of what we encounter in life, we should continue to maintain our faith in God. And remember what Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”… If you ever feel like you’re having issues with your faith, be sure to spend more time in the Word of God.<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to find our identity in what He says, instead of what the world says. Don’t let the world put limitations on you.<br><br>“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” – Mark 10:27 Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/17632322013-10-01T22:30:48-04:002018-03-08T05:42:12-05:00Overcome Evil With GoodSometimes we may encounter people who may not be the easiest to get along with; however it’s important that don’t allow ourselves to respond to them in a sinful way. We should still show forth the love of Jesus Christ. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21. Today’s blog entry is titled “Overcome Evil With Good”….<br><br>As Christians it’s important to live our lives in a way that glorifies God. We may encounter people who don’t like us for various reasons, but we should never allow them to bait us into doing things that don’t please God. In some situations the person may be an unbeliever, in which case we should pray for their salvation. In other situations the person maybe a Christian who has a weakness in that particular area, in which case we should pray that they mature in that area.<br><br>“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” – Matthew 5:43-46<br><br>It’s important that we follow God’s example, instead of following the world’s example. When someone does something that we don’t like, one of the first thoughts that may come to mind is to retaliate (we may even be encouraged by others to do so). But it’s very important that we don’t act on those thoughts. As it says in Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Remember God knows the truth. He sees the motives behind the things people do. We shouldn’t allow people to get us riled up, we should be focused on pleasing God.<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember that it is important that we respond to conflict the right way. We shouldn’t hold grudges, we shouldn’t be bitter. We should forgive and continue to stay focused on the assignments God has given us. Overcome evil with good!<br><br>“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” – 2 Corinthians 10:5Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/16895792013-09-24T05:26:20-04:002013-09-24T05:26:20-04:00Applying God's Word“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” - James 1:23-24. It’s important that we read God’s Word, and it’s also important that we put what we read into practice. Today’s blog entry is titled, “Applying God’s Word .”<br><br>Picture this, you have a particular dish that you prepare very well, and as a result, a friend of yours asks you for the recipe. You gladly give your friend the recipe, and your friend later calls you saying that he/she attempted to make the dish, but it doesn’t taste anything like yours. After you ask some questions, you find out that your friend read the recipe, however your friend didn’t follow the instructions. Upon learning this information, you are able to easily identify why your friend’s version of the dish doesn’t taste like yours. Following instructions was necessary in order to produce the desired recipe results, and we can apply this same mindset to our Christian walk. Following God’s Word is important to carrying out God’s plan for our lives.<br><br>“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18<br><br>As Christians, The Word of God should be real to us. We should be meditating on it on a regular basis. Remember that we serve God Almighty. He is powerful, and He has equipped us with the tools that we need in order to carry out His plan for our lives. If we face a challenging situation in our lives, we should speak the Word regarding the situation and continue to advance. If everything in our lives seems to be going perfect, we should still continue to speak the Word, and continue to make progress. It’s important that we stay disciplined in our spiritual lives, and focused on doing God’s will.<br><br>“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” – 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 KJV<br><br>As we follow Christ it’s important to remember that His ways are different than the world’s ways. Some people may think you’re weird for living the Christian lifestyle, but don’t let that distract you. Remember it’s how God views you that really counts.<br><br>So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk let us remember to apply God’s Word to our lives, and stay focused on carrying out His will.<br><br>“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15<br><br>“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” - 2 Peter 1:3-4Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/16432232013-09-17T19:05:16-04:002013-09-17T19:05:16-04:00It May Not Happen The Way You Think“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;”- Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV). Sometimes things may happen in different ways than we expect them to, so it’s important that we continue to trust Jesus even if we encounter things that we don’t understand. Today’s blog entry is titled “It May Not Happen The Way You Think”…<br><br>Have you ever been watching a sporting event/game where the team you were rooting for (player or coach) made a decision that you totally disagreed with at the time. However as things played out, you saw that the decision actually produced good results. For instance, maybe it’s near the end of a football game, and your team is behind by 3 points. It’s 4<sup>th</sup> down, and your team is in field goal range, however instead of kicking the field goal to tie the game, the coach runs a pass play towards the end zone to try to win the game. You think to yourself “What are they doing, they should try to tie the game and go to overtime!!!” However, the play ends up being successful. They score a Touchdown, and win the game (without going to overtime). You go from being frustrated to being very excited.<br><br>Sometimes things in our lives may play out differently than we envisioned them, but we shouldn’t allow this to frustrate us. Frustration can lead to making bad decisions, and making bad decisions can a cause a person to produce results that they will regret later….So what should we do if we feel uneasy about something that is going on in our lives? We should pray/spend time with God…. “You will keep <em>him</em> in perfect peace, <em>Whose</em> mind <em>is</em> stayed <em>on You, </em>Because he trusts in You.” –Isaiah 26:3. When we remind ourselves that we serve the One who created us, it can help put things in the proper perspective. God created us, so He definitely knows how to take care of us.<br><br>“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)<br><br>“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)<br><br>Faith is an extremely important part of the Christian walk. We should not allow ourselves to get caught up in circumstances, but we instead should focus on obeying God. When we obey God, we put ourselves in position to fulfill what He has called us to do. Remember to view the things that happen in life from an eternal perspective (Think beyond this present life). Certain things that may not make sense to you now, will make a whole lot of sense in the future. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember to keep following God’s plan, even if we encounter things that we don’t understand.<br><br>“But without faith <em>it is</em> impossible to please <em>Him,</em> for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and <em>that</em> He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/15899692013-09-10T19:49:16-04:002013-09-10T19:49:16-04:00Have Compassion<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">It’s important that we genuinely care about others… “that there should be no schism in the body, but</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">that</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">the members should have the same care for one another.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><b><sup><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span id="en-NKJV-28661"> </span></span></sup></b><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">it;</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">it.</span>”</i></span><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>- 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (NKJV)…Today’s blog entry is titled “Have Compassion”…<p></p></span></span>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here’s the scenario, one of your close friends has been dating someone that you do not approve of. As a matter of fact, you never had a good feeling about this person from the start, and you tried to warn your friend on many occasions, however your friend didn’t take your advice (which is out of the ordinary because your friend normally listens to you). And as time went on, the person your friend was dating goes on to do virtually everything you thought they would, resulting in a bad breakup leaving your friend upset and hurt. Your friend stops by your place to tell you about what happened…Would your response be I TRIED TO WARN YOU, THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR NOT LISTENING (and slam the door in their face)….Or would it be to try to provide comfort, and let your friend know that you’re there for them?</span></p>
<p style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Sometimes negative things may happen to people that they could have prevented, and sometimes negative things may happen that they couldn’t control; however as Christians we should be sure to show forth the love of Christ in either situation. If a friend of ours has a situation like the one mentioned above, we should still show them love. If someone we know is going through some issues with one of their kids, we shouldn’t assume, “O they’re just a bad parent”; we instead should be willing to offer them encouragement and support. If a person is poor, we shouldn’t take a mentality that “it’s all their fault, so that’s what they get”. Instead, we should be giving to help those who are need. <p></p></span></span></p>
<p style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?</span>”- John 3:17 (NKJV) <p></p></p>
<p style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>It’s important that we don’t get so caught up in our own lives that we forget about serving others. God shows forth His love for us and we should show forth our love to others. “<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.</span>” – Romans 5:8 (NKJV)<p></p></span></p>
<p style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to have compassion for others.<p></p></span></p>
<p style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">“He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;</span> The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">is</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">gracious and full of compassion.</span>” – Psalm 111:4 (NKJV)</span><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><p></p></span></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/15245272013-09-03T12:18:40-04:002013-09-03T12:18:40-04:00How is Your Heart?"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." – Matthew 12:34. The things we say can reveal what’s going on in our hearts. And our hearts can give a lot of insight about how we feel about God. Today’s blog entry is titled “How is Your Heart?”….<br><br>As Christians our true identity should be found in Jesus Christ….Not our education, career, money, etc. It’s important that we put much more value on how God views us than we do on how other people view us. Pleasing God should be the motivation for the things we do. It’s a good idea to take an honest look at our lives and see what’s really motivating us to do what we do.<br><br>Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. – Proverbs 4:23<br><br>We should truly cherish our relationship with Jesus Christ. We should spend quality time with Him making/keeping Him the priority in our lives. Sometimes we may face situations where we’re trying to figure out a solution to an issue we’re dealing with. During these types of situations, we shouldn’t take our focus off Christ, we instead should continue to spend time with Him and seek Him for wisdom regarding our situation.<br><br>A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. – Luke 6:45<br><br>If God reveals to us that we have an issue with our hearts, we should repent, and focus our attention on Him. One of the by-products of spending more time with God is that we grow as Christians, and live lifestyles that are more pleasing to Him. Trying to change our outward actions, without changing what’s going on in our hearts ultimately will not produce that type of results that we should producing as Christians. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us make sure that we spend quality time with Him, and that our motivation is to please Him.<br><br>But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/14878692013-08-27T14:39:58-04:002013-08-27T14:39:58-04:00Be Content In Christ“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” – Philippians 4:11-12 (NKJV). It’s important that we are content in every situation that God places us in. Today’s blog entry is titled “Be Content In Christ”…<br><br>Throughout the course of our lives we can go through many different types of experiences. There may be times that you remember in your own life where it felt like a lot of things were going just the way you wanted them to go. There may also be times in your life where it felt like a lot of things weren’t going the way you wanted them to.<br><br>As Christians it’s important that we keep our faith in Christ regardless of what type of situation we’re in. If we’re experiencing a lot of success, we should continue to remain humble and give God the glory, and if we’re going through some challenges, we should continue to be thankful to Jesus, and rely upon Him to help us overcome the situation we’re dealing with. <br><br>“But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.” - 1 Corinthians 7:17<br><br>It’s important for us to embrace who God has called us to be. We shouldn’t covet to be other people, we should follow God’s plan for our lives, and play the role that He designed us to play. When God is directing our path, we can take comfort in the fact that He will do what’s best for us. Sometimes what He thinks is best for us, may be different than what we think is best for us, but remember God’s ways are higher than our ways (See Isaiah 55:8-9). It’s important that we approach life with an eternal perspective, and not just look at the things that are happening on earth. <br><br><em>Let your</em> conduct <em>be</em> without covetousness; <em>be</em> content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”– Hebrews 13:5<br><br>By being content, I don’t mean that we should just be sitting around doing nothing; but rather that we should make the most of whatever situation God places us in. It’s a good idea to plan and set goals, however if God takes us a different route than we planned to go, we should obey Him, even if we don’t understand it. So as we continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, let us remember to always be content in Him.<br><br>“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-7Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/14294272013-08-20T07:57:07-04:002013-08-20T12:31:28-04:00Play Your Position“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” - Matthew 25:23. It’s important that we are faithful over the assignments that God has given us. We shouldn’t try to rush into anything prematurely. Today’s blog entry is titled “Play Your Position”.<br><br>When I attended college, I was an Entrepreneurship major, so a lot of my course work focused on business related things. I also had an interest in Broadcasting, so I spent time around broadcasting students and got the opportunity to learn some things from them. One student that I met at a Bible Study (who would become a good friend of mine) was a Broadcasting major, and she allowed me to Co-Host a radio show with her on the campus radio station. This was a good opportunity as it allowed me to gain some experience talking within a show format, and learn some others things. This same student was also involved in a video recording that was in a TV show format . There were other students involved, and I got the opportunity to observe some things. And I even got to be the person who pressed the record button…haha….And while pressing record wasn’t the most technical thing to do; one of the other guys involved who was a broadcasting student mentioned that it was important. And I definitely understood where he was coming from because things could be great with the lighting, cameras, etc. but if it wasn’t recorded then they wouldn’t have a finished product to present.<br><br>For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. – Zechariah 4:10<br><br>After graduating college, I spent more time learning about audio/video production. I’ve mixed a number of songs, and I currently produce a weekly web show. As I reflect on what God has done in my life, I see the importance of playing the position He gives you (regardless of how big or small you feel your role is). Sometimes God could be using something you’re going through now, to prepare you for something you’ll be doing later. The important thing is that we are faithful to what God has called us to do, and remain humble throughout the entire process. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to play our position.<br><br>“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” – James 4:10 (NKJV)Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/13924932013-08-13T09:45:41-04:002013-08-13T09:45:41-04:00How Much Do You Want God?So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! – Luke 18:22-24.<br><br>It’s important that we put God ahead of everything else, and are willing to give up anything/everything He asks us to. Today’s blog entry is titled “How Much Do You Want God?”If we don’t renew our minds with the Word of God, it can be very easy to get caught up in ourselves….Going where we want to go, accomplishing the goals we want to accomplish, spending our time the way we want to spend it. However if we have truly given our lives to Christ, we should put what He wants above what our flesh wants to do. It’s good for us to examine our lives and look at how much time we spend doing things that have eternal significance. This isn’t to say that we can’t have any leisure time, but rather to point out the importance of having the proper priorities in our lives.<br><br>“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.” – Psalm 34:3<br><br>Our focus should be on worshipping God, and carrying out the things He has called us to do. We should avoid being self-centered. And while this may seem like something that is obvious, we can spend a lot of time thinking about ourselves (on a regular basis) without even realizing it. For instance with something like evangelizing, sometimes a person may not evangelize to another person because they’re concerned about how that other person will view them. Or maybe when a person is around their unsaved co-workers, classmates, etc. they’re hesitant to let them know they’re a Christian. It’s important that we’re not fearful of others. As it says in Matthew 10:32-33, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him<br>I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”<br><br>Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established. – Proverbs 16:3<br><br>It’s important for us to truly be committed to God. We should keep Him first in every area of our lives. We should be obeying His Word and making disciples. It’s important that we don’t allow the cares of this world to distract us from spending time with God. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember to give God our very best effort.<br><br>“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those <em>who live</em> according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” – Romans 8:5 Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/13403492013-08-06T02:45:00-04:002013-08-06T10:43:52-04:00Be Mindful Of The Words You Speak<span class="text">Have you ever said something to someone that you later regretted saying? “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.</span>” – Luke 6:45. Today’s blog entry is titled “Be Mindful of The Words You Speak”.
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">The words we speak can have a huge effect on others, so it’s important that we choose them wisely. In your own life you may be able to recall something that someone said in the past that really encouraged you. You may also remember something that someone said that wasn’t quite so encouraging. As Christians it’s important that we love others and speak in a way that glorifies God. This isn’t to say that we should ever compromise the truth to appease people; but rather that we should speak the truth in love.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!</span><sup> </sup>And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. – James 3:5-6</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">It’s important for us to take a look at what’s motivating/influencing the words that we speak. The words that we speak give insight as to what’s going on in our hearts. For instance, maybe “Person A” has unknowingly done some things that have irritated “Person B”, and as a result Person B has been harboring some anger towards Person A, and eventually goes on to say some hurtful things to Person A. To avoid harboring those types of thoughts, it’s important that we renew our minds with the Word of God. It’s also important that we obey 2 Corinthians 10:5 which reads as follows “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;</span>” …If we deal with things on a heart level, we can avoid saying things that we’ll later regret.</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.</span> <span class="text">Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.</span>” – James 3:9-10</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">We should love God first and foremost. And then we should love others. If we praise God with our tongues, and yet tear down others with our tongues, God is not pleased with that. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to be mindful of the words we speak, and show forth love to others.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.</span>” – Proverbs 18:21</p><p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/12477022013-07-23T12:23:00-04:002021-04-01T02:30:39-04:00Be Honest With God<span class="woj">“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.- Revelation 3:1 NKJV….People can say great things about us, however God </span><span class="text"> knows whether we are truly living the lifestyle that we portray in front of others. Today’s blog entry is titled “Be Honest With God”…</span>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">As Christians, it’s important that we live to please God. We can hide things from other people, but we can’t hide things from God. If we know there is an issue in our lives that we need to address, it’s important that we do so. Trying to hide/cover up sin, doesn’t change the fact that a person is sinning. This isn’t to say that we will always do everything perfect, however we should be giving our best effort to serve God. What good would it do for a person to be viewed by others as someone who is living for Christ, if that really isn’t the case? If a person knows they have secret sin in their life, they shouldn’t ignore it, they should repent.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.</span>” – 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV)</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">It’s important for us to take a look at our lives and see if we’re living for ourselves or if we’re living for Jesus. As followers of Christ, we should always put His desires ahead of our own. We should be thankful that He willingly laid down His life for us. By renewing our minds with the Word of God, we can keep things in their proper perspective. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.</span>” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">“For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.</span>” – Hebrews 2:18 (NKJV)</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all <i>points</i> tempted as <i>we are, yet</i> without sin.</span>” – Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">God loves each and every one of us. He provides us with grace and allows us to repent of our sin. If a person is dealing with a certain sin, they should ask God for help in that area. By acknowledging the sin, and going to God about it, they can overcome the sin, and continue making progress in their walk with Christ. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us make sure that we are being honest with God.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us <i>our</i> sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)</span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><p></p></span></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/12016442013-07-16T09:37:59-04:002013-07-16T09:37:59-04:00How to Respond to someone you Think May be LukewarmDo you know someone in your life that you think may be Lukewarm in regards to how they view/represent Jesus Christ? It’s important that we let people know the truth about what it means to be Lukewarm (and why they should avoid being Lukewarm). “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3:16…Today’s blog entry is titled “How to Respond to someone you Think May be Lukewarm”….<br><br>
Before I go any further into this subject, I want to make sure that I point out that it’s important for us to examine our own lives and make sure that we are truly following Jesus. It can be easy to overlook our own faults and point the finger at someone else’s. The point of this blog topic isn’t to tear people down, or be mean, but rather to talk about how to speak the truth in love, so that people can really have an understanding of where they currently stand with God. As Christians we should genuinely love people and tell them what the Word of God says.<br><br>
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” – Deuteronomy 30:19 <br><br>
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13<br><br>
As Christians, we acknowledge that our own “goodness” will not get us into Heaven, and that we must repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus Christ. Going to church, and reading the Bible are both important things to do, but if a person hasn’t repented and put their trust in Jesus, they aren’t truly saved (even if they regularly attend church, and read their Bible every day). See Romans 3:23-26<br><br>
There are some people who choose to try to live two different lifestyles. When they get around their Christian friends they act one way, and when they’re around their non-Christians friends that act another way. They want to be accepted by God, and yet they also want to be accepted by the world. If we know someone who falls into this category, we should let them know that Christians are to be set apart. As it says in 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”<br><br>
Sometimes people may try to justify why they live two different lifestyles; but in many situations if we can get people to think logically about the way they’re living, they can eventually acknowledge that what they’re doing is wrong. For instance, if you ask someone if they would be ok with being in a relationship with a person, and then having that person jump in a relationship with someone else at the same time, most people would probably say NO! And likewise we have to choose between God, and the devil. We can’t live for both of them. As it says in Romans 6:16 “ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”<br><br>
It’s important for people to remember that we do have an adversary, the devil, who wants to kill, steal, and destroy. He tries to deceive and distract people to take their focus off of God. As Christians we shouldn’t allow the enemy to distract us, we should warn others about the tactics he uses so that they are aware of what’s going on. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to examine our lives, and speak the truth to others in love. <br><br>
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” – Luke 16:13<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/10926762013-07-09T06:27:00-04:002013-07-09T06:27:00-04:00First things First<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">As Christians our goal should be to live a life that pleases God. We may have various personal goals that we would like to accomplish, but it’s important that we always keep God as our first priority. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.</span>” – Matthew 6:33 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “First things First”…
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As human beings living in society, it can be ea<span style="font-size: larger;"></span>sy to get caught up in what our peers are doing and follow along; However Romans 12:2 lets us know that we should not be conformed to this world, but we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We shouldn’t allow the world to dictate to us how we live our lives; we instead should receive our guidance from the Word of God. Sometimes people can put their focus on being liked/accepted by other people, instead of focusing on pleasing God. Remember it’s how God views us that really matters. Think of it like this, when someone gets invited in for a job interview with a company they want to work for, it’s important for them to make a good impression with the person making the hiring decision. If they go to the company’s building for the interview, and start trying to show off for the current employees, and yet don’t make a good impression with the person doing the hiring</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><span style="font-size: larger;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">chances</span></span><span style="font-size: smaller;"></span></span><span class="woj"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> are they won’t get the job.<p></p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.</span>” – Colossians 3:2<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>While there may be many things that we would like to do (whether it’s with our family, ministry, career, etc.), it’s important that we don’t put our desire to accomplish those things over our desire to serve God. Sometimes a person can spend so much time trying to do things “their way” and yet still not get the results they desire. However when we do things God’s way, we can take comfort in the fact that He knows what’s best for us, and will lead us where we need to go. That’s why it’s so important that we submit to Him, and continue to have faith in Him regardless of what we encounter. <p></p></span></span></p>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.</span><sup> </sup>I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.</span>” - <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Philippians 4:11-12<p></p></span>
</h3>
<p>Picture something in your mind that you really would like to accomplish…..Now imagine if God told you to let go of that particular thing, would you be willing to?.... And while God may not require us to let go of that thing, it’s important that we are willing to let go of anything that God tells us to let go of. Our relationship with God is so important and we shouldn’t allow anything to get in the way of it. We should continue to trust God, and be thankful to Him regardless of what we go through (whether things are happening the way we want them to or not). So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness.</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:</span><sup> </sup>But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:<sup> </sup>For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21</p><p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/10547952013-07-02T07:20:00-04:002013-07-02T07:20:00-04:00Are You Making Disciples?<span class="text">“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:</span> <span class="text">Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.</span>” – Matthew 28:19-20. Today’s blog entry is titled “Are You Making Disciples?”
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<p><span class="text">Sharing the Gospel, and helping others grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, is part of the Christian walk. We live in a society where there are many people who know some things about Jesus, and yet don’t know Him as Lord and Savior. Some people who fit into this category, may even attend church on a regular basis, and yet still not be saved. As it says in Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.</span>” This is obviously a very serious thing because people who die without Jesus Christ go to hell, so we should be doing the best job we can to let others know the truth.</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.</span><sup> </sup>And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">Our love for God, should motivate us to want to please Him, and tell others about His love. Our love for others should cause us to genuinely want them to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and continue to grow in their relationship with Him. After we lead a person to Christ, it’s important that we don’t stop there; we should also play a role in helping them grow in their relationship with Christ. <p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly<sup value='[<a href="#fen-NKJV-26991a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]'>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A40-42&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-26991a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added <i>to them.</i><sup> </sup>And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. - Acts 2:40-42 (NKJV)<p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">There’s a lot of things going on in society that do not line up with the Word of God. If we want to bring about change, we should speak the truth, and live it out in front of others. As other people get saved they can do the same thing, and continue the cycle of growth. Take a moment and picture a city/place/environment that is especially known for having a large amount sinful activity. Now imagine what would happen if everyone in that city/place/environment genuinely got saved. That city/place/environment would change because the people have changed. It’s not to say things would be perfect, but there would be improvement.<p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">As we continue to grow in our relationship with Christ, let us continue to represent Him publicly, and help others grow in their relationship with Him.<p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, </span><sup><span id="en-NKJV-26997"> </span></sup>praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church<sup value='[<a href="#fen-NKJV-26997a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]'>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A46-47&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-26997a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV)</p><p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/10084312013-06-25T06:21:12-04:002013-06-25T06:21:12-04:00How Do You View God?<span class="text">“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:</span><sup> </sup>For our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:28-29. It’s important that we don’t just approach God any type of way. We should reverence Him, and remember that He is Holy. Today’s blog entry is titled “How Do You View God?”…
<p></p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">Sometimes in life we may have things happen that we don’t understand. We may get frustrated about situations that we’re going through. However, we should not allow these things (or anything else) to cause us to become angry with God. We should never come to God in a disrespectful tone. Remember He’s the creator, we’re the creation. As it says in Colossians 1:16-17, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. </span><sup><span id="en-NKJV-29483"> </span></sup>And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” We’re blessed that God even allowed us to be born. We should always remain thankful to Him, and continually strive to grow in our Christian walk.</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">“Trust in the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.</span> <span class="text">In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.</span>” – Proverbs 3:5-6</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">When we put our trust in God, we can avoid a lot of frustration. We can take comfort in the fact that God knows what’s best for us, and He doesn’t make mistakes, so even if we don’t understand what’s going on in our lives, He does. The important thing is that we remain obedient to Him even during those challenging times. We should resist the urge to try to take things into our own hands, and remember that God knows what He’s doing. <p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.</span>” – Isaiah 6:3</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">God is Holy. His ways our higher than our ways (See Isaiah 55:8-9). We shouldn’t allow society to dictate to us what righteousness is, we instead should turn to the Word of God…. And while that may seem obvious, it’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to become desensitized by television, movies and other forms of entertainment/media. Sometimes people can start to feel a false sense of security when they experience a certain level of success on earth. But make no mistake about it, we all will have to give an account to God for the way live our lives on earth, and we’ll be judged based on what His word says. Our desire should be to live a lifestyle that pleases Him. So has we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let make sure that we properly reverence God.<p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">“ For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.</span>” – 1 Corinthians 10:26 KJV</p><p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/9665132013-06-18T16:16:04-04:002013-06-18T16:16:04-04:00Stay DisciplinedDoing the things that we need to do in our lives on a regular basis (Handing our personal responsibilities, keeping up with various tasks, etc.) may seem challenging at times; However it’s important that we don’t allow these things to overwhelm us. We should remember 1 Peter 5:7 “<span class="text">casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you</span>.” Today’s blog entry is titled “Stay Disciplined”.
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">There are times in life where we may have to do things that we don’t feel like doing (or want to do at that particular time). However, we shouldn’t allow our feelings to take us off of the path that God has us on. When God blesses us with an opportunity, we should remain obedient to Him, and make the most of the opportunity we’ve been blessed with. If we notice that we are slacking in certain areas of our lives, we should make the necessary changes and continue to progress. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.</span>” – Galatians 6:9</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">If you were part of a sports team at any point of your life, you are probably very familiar with the word “Practice”. Practices can be very intense and really push an individual; however it’s an important part of improving and being prepared to compete. If an athlete wants to improve, they should definitely put in practice time. Likewise, there may be times when a college student may not feel like going to classes any more, however if they want to complete their coursework and earn their degree, they need to continue to attend class. In our lives, it’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to give up if we experience times where we don’t feel like move forward, but instead we should pray and ask God to help us get through those times. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.</span>” – John 16:33</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Regardless of how much responsibility a person has in their life (Whether it’s family related, work related, or in other areas of life), they should continue to make time for God, and always keep Him first. They should also be good stewards over the things that they’ve been blessed with. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us stay disciplined in the spiritual areas of our lives, and the natural areas of our lives. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.</span>” - 1 Corinthians 9:27</p><p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/9155802013-06-11T04:30:08-04:002013-06-11T04:30:08-04:00Becoming Strong in Areas Where We Used to Be WeakSometimes a person can be very focused on continuing to develop their strengths in various areas of their life, and yet overlook making improvements in areas where they have weaknesses. Failing to address weaknesses (Even if those weaknesses appear to be small in their own eyes) can lead to a person missing out on opportunities they otherwise would have gotten. “<span class="text">A little leaven leavens the whole lump.</span>”- Galatians 5:9 (NKJV) Today’s blog entry is titled “Becoming Strong in Areas Where We Used to Be Weak”
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">If a person wants to reach their full potential as an athlete, it’s important that they work hard at their sport(s), eat well, get the proper amount of rest, etc. They should continue to get stronger in areas where they’ve had success in the past, and they also should strive to make improvements in areas where they’ve been weak in the past. For example, if a basketball player has been doing a great job on offense, but hasn’t been having much success playing defense. It’s important for the player to not only focus on becoming a better offensive player, but also to take a close look at how they can improve their defense, and make constant effort to do so. If a player addresses their weaknesses, it puts them in a better position to have success against their competition, however if they don’t address those weakness, it puts them in a position where their competition can continue to take advantage of them in that area. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.</span>” – Philippians 4:13</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">As Christians it’s important that we continually make an effort to address weaknesses in our lives, as well as continue to develop our strengths. Remember that it is through Christ that we are made strong. Overlooking/Not addressing a particular weakness in a person’s life could be one of the main reasons they have not advanced in a certain area of their life. For example, a person may meet the qualifications, and have the skill set to do a certain job that they desire, and yet not get the job because they have issues with being on time to work. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">And He said to me, </span><span class="woj">“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”</span><span class="text"> Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us take a close look at our lives, and work on making improvements in areas where we’ve been weak in the past. Always remember to rely upon God to overcome any challenge that you’re dealing with, His “Strength is made perfect in weakness.” </p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?</span>” – Romans 8:31</p><p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/8775172013-06-04T18:15:00-04:002013-06-04T18:15:00-04:00Seek God's Face<span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-bidi-font-style:italic'>It’s important that we truly have a desire to spend time with God on a regular basis. We shouldn’t have a mindset to <u>only</u> approach God when we’re in need of something, or are in some type of trouble… <i>When You said,</i></span></span><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> “Seek My face,”</span> My heart said to You, “Your face, </span><span class="small-caps"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-variant:
small-caps'>Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>, I will seek.”- Psalm 27:8 (NKJV) Today’s blog entry is titled “Seek God’s Face”…</span></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Do you have someone in your life that you only hear from when they need something? This could even be someone that you care a lot about and don’t mind helping out, and yet at the same time you would rather hear from them on a regular basis instead of only hearing from them when they need something. As Christians it’s important that we keep our priorities straight, always keeping God first. When we spend time with God, it should be genuine fellowship, not just spending time with Him in the hopes of Him giving us something. And don’t get me wrong, there is a place for asking God for things (This can be known as sup</span>plication</span><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>). As it says in Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.</span>” While we definitely can ask God for things, it’s important that our communication with God isn’t solely spent asking Him for things.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.</span>” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>When we spend time with God, some of that time should be spent giving Him thanks. It can be easy to focus on what we don’t have, but when we reflect on what God has blessed us with, it can help put things in their proper perspective. We all have a lot to be thankful for, and we should live a lifestyle of gratitude to God. <p></p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.</span>” – John 4:24<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Worshipping God is a lifestyle. It’s more than just singing songs. We should conduct ourselves in a way that gives God glory each day of our lives. “O magnify the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-variant:
small-caps'>Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> with me, and let us exalt his name together.</span>” – Psalm 34:3. When we spend time alone with God, we should tell Him how much He means to us. We should praise Him not only for what He does for us, but also because of who He is.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It’s important that we spend quality time with God, and truly value having Him in our lives. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us continually seek God’s face.<p></p></span></span></p>
<h3>
<span class="text"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“And you will seek Me and find <i>Me,</i> when you search for Me with all your heart.</span>” - </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Jeremiah 29:13<p></p></span>
</h3>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/8323112013-05-28T14:05:00-04:002013-05-28T14:05:00-04:00Don't Allow Scoffers To Distract YouWe live in a world where many people put their time and energy into things that are in direct opposition to the Bible, and some also openly mock Christians for being obedient to God. As Christians, we shouldn’t allow mocking/scoffing (or anything else) to take us off of the path that God has us on. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,” – 2 Peter 3:3. Today’s blog entry is titled, “Don’t Allow Scoffers To Distract You”...<br><br>
As Christians it’s important that we don’t get caught up in comparing ourselves to “everybody else” (this includes both Non – Christians and Christians as well). We should be secure in Christ, and follow His plan for our lives. Within the body of Christ, we should play our position and avoid coveting another person’s position. We also shouldn’t covet the things that unbelievers have, nor should we compromise the truth to try to fit in with them. Before I went deeper into the subject of “not allowing scoffers to distract you”, I wanted to establish the importance being secure in Christ, and valuing God’s Truth over another person’s opinion, whether they profess to be a Christian or not. <br><br>
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18 <br><br>
There are a lot of things that are popular in today’s society that do not line up with the Word of God; but this should never cause us to follow along and accept those sinful activities as being ok. If people say negative things about your Christian walk, or about Christianity in general, don’t let it discourage you. Pray for them, and continue moving forward. Be mindful of how you respond/spend time with a person who scoffs. There is a difference between a person who is genuinely trying to get an understanding of the <br>
Gospel versus someone who is trying to bait you into fruitless arguments/discussions (Remember Matthew 7:6). It’s important to be led by God in the way we respond to others.<br><br>
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” – 2 Peter 3:8-10<br><br>
Regardless of what the world says, we all will have to give an account to God for the way the we lived our lives on earth. So as we live each day of our lives, let us remember to look at things from an eternal perspective and conduct ourselves in a manner that glorifies God. <br><br>
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” – Proverbs 29:25<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/7904352013-05-21T19:41:34-04:002013-05-21T19:41:34-04:00The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As we continue to pray for the people of Oklahoma; Let us continue to stand on the Word of God, and remember that the Joy of The Lord is our Strength…” </span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then he <span sn="0559"></span><span class="strongs">said</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> unto them, Go your <span sn="03212"></span><span class="strongs">way</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> , <span sn="0398"></span><span class="strongs">eat</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> the <span sn="04924"></span><span class="strongs">fat,</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and <span sn="08354"></span><span class="strongs">drink</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> the <span sn="04477"></span><span class="strongs">sweet,</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and <span sn="07971"></span><span class="strongs">send</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span sn="04490"></span><span class="strongs">portions</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> unto them for whom nothing is <span sn="03559"></span><span class="strongs">prepared</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: for this <span sn="03117"></span><span class="strongs">day</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> is <span sn="06918"></span><span class="strongs">holy</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> unto our <span sn="0113"></span><span class="strongs">Lord:</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> neither be ye <span sn="06087"></span><span class="strongs">sorry</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ; for the <span sn="02304"></span><span class="strongs">joy</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> of the <span sn="03068"></span><span class="strongs">LORD</span></span><span class="versetext" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> is your <span sn="04581"></span><span class="strongs">strength.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">” – Nehemiah 8:10. Today’s blog is titled, “The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength”….</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="strongs"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>When we receive news about what’s happening in the world (on a local, national, international level) it can definitely be very sad. And when we’re dealing with challenges in our own personal lives, it can also be very sad. With this in mind, it’s important that we maintain a positive attitude, and don’t allow ourselves to constantly think about negative things. It’s crucial that we continue to focus on Jesus even during the difficult times. If we take our focus off of Jesus, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by what’s going on in the world, and what’s going in our personal lives. When I say “continue to focus on Jesus”, I mean that it’s important to keep our trust in Him (even if we have questions that we don’t know the answers to). <p></p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="strongs"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“</span></span><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, </span><span id="en-NKJV-30473">casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.</span>” – 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>I also want to point out that when I say, continue to focus on Jesus, I don’t mean ignoring the difficult things that other people are going through. In last week’s blog entry I talked about serving others. By serving others we can show them that we love them, and we can also help them improve in various areas of their lives. Sometimes when we see certain things going on in the world (whether it’s close to home or further away), we may have a strong desire to do something about it. It’s a good idea to seek God about how we can serve others in our day to day lives. God may allow a person to be in a situation where they can play a part in providing a solution to a problem in their local area. Or He may allow a person to be in a situation where they can travel and help provide a solution to a problem in another part of the world. The important thing is that we stay in fellowship with God, and seek Him for guidance.<p></p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>When we think about how awesome God is, and reflect on the great things He has done in our lives, it can help us put things in their proper perspective, remembering that God will be there for us regardless of what we go through. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us continue to remain thankful to Him, and glorify Him by the way we live our lives. Let us also continue to pray for the people in Oklahoma that were affected by that devastating tornado.<p></p></span></span></p>
<h3>
<span class="text"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-variant:small-caps;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> your God, He <i>is</i> the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”</span>- </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)<p></p></span>
</h3>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/7424852013-05-14T16:30:05-04:002013-05-14T16:30:05-04:00Serve Others<span style="font-size: larger;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">As human beings, it can be very easy to get caught up in our own lives and serving ourselves, however it’s important that we follow the example of Jesus Christ, and serve others. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” – 1 Peter 4:10. Today’s blog entry is titled “Serve Others”….</span> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: larger;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">As Christians we should constantly give God the glory by the way we live our lives. Our service first starts with serving God, which includes being obedient to Him. And in obedience to God, we should also serve others. “</span></span><span class="woj"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28 (NKJV). When we serve others, we shouldn’t do it with a bad attitude or in a “going through the motions” type of way. We should do it in love. We should genuinely take pleasure in helping others. </span></span></span><span class="woj"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><p></p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: larger;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” – Philippians 2:3</span></span></span><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><p></p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: larger;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">It can be easy to focus on how certain things affect us in life, and yet overlook how certain things affect others around us. When we see things from another perspective we can gain a whole new insight regarding a situation. For example, say you have two people who are friends (I’ll refer to them as Person A and Person B). Person A is putting on a big event and expects Person B to come. However on the day of the event (Well after the event has started), Person A notices that Person B still hasn’t showed up yet, and becomes very angry….Only to later find out that Person B had a serious Family issue come up and had left a voice message earlier in the night to let Person A know. As a result, Person A’s whole view of the situation changes. In our lives it’s important to be considerate of others, and not just look at how things are affecting us.</span></span></span><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><p></p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: larger;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, <sup><span id="en-NKJV-29398"> </span></sup>who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, </span><sup><span id="en-NKJV-29399"> </span></sup>but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, <i>and</i> coming in the likeness of men. </span><sup><span id="en-NKJV-29400"> </span></sup>And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to <i>the point of</i> death, even the death of the cross. <sup><span id="en-NKJV-29401"> </span></sup>Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,” – Philippians 2:5-9 (NKJV)</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: larger;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">As we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us seek God for ways that we can provide service to others. And when God provides us with opportunities to serve, lets us genuinely do so in love. </span></span></span><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><p></p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: larger;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.</span>” – Matthew 23:11</span></span><span class="text"><p></p></span></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/6947902013-05-07T17:19:11-04:002013-05-07T17:19:11-04:00We Need Jesus<span class="text">“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.</span>” – John 15:5. It’s important that we stay connected to Jesus at all times. Today’s blog entry is titled “We need Jesus”.
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re a born again Christian, you obviously understand that having a relationship with Jesus Christ is extremely important. As it says in John 14:6, “<span class="text">Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus is the only way for a person to get to Heaven. And while we know we need Him for eternal life, we should be sure to remember that we need Him while we’re here on earth as well. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that a Christian would blatantly proclaim that they don’t need Jesus here on earth. However sometimes it can be tempting to try to take things into our own hands instead of trusting Jesus and waiting on His timing. This can lead to a lot of disappointment. Or sometimes it can be tempting to look at our own flaws and think God wouldn’t use us for a certain role/task. However when renew our minds with the Word of God, and seek God for guidance, we can avoid traps of the enemy. This isn’t to say that things will always be easy, however when we face challenges, we can face them being obedient to God, instead of being in disobedience. Being in disobedience can bring consequences to a person that they otherwise wouldn’t have had to deal with.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember to stay connected to Jesus Christ. Let us seek Him when we’re making decisions. Let us continue to trust Him even if we encounter some things in our lives that we don’t understand. It’s important that we obey God, and avoid trying to force something that is not God’s will. <p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.</span><sup> </sup>If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. – John 15:6-7</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p> </p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/6387742013-04-30T05:25:00-04:002013-05-07T23:20:54-04:00When The World Doesn't Want To Hear The Truth<span class="text">“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.</span><sup> </sup>For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,<sup> </sup>Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,<sup> </sup>Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” 2 Timothy 3:1-4. Today’s blog entry is titled “When the World Doesn’t Want To Hear The Truth”…
<p class="chapter-1"></p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1">We live in a society where there are many people who want to silence Christians. There are people who reject the Bible and don’t want to acknowledge their sin. So what should our response be as Christians??? We should continue to speak the truth in Love (being able to support what we say with scripture). We shouldn’t let this world intimidate us. We should stand strong and represent Jesus Christ.</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">“The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.</span> – Proverbs 10:30”</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1">I’m a basketball fan, so I’m definitely aware of who Chris Broussard is (I met him back in 2010). It’s GREAT to see that he spoke the truth and called Homosexuality a sin (Like the Bible does). Sin is sin and it’s not up to society to pick and choose what parts of the Bible it wants to believe/accept. However in today’s society when people don’t like when someone stands up for the Bible, there can be a backlash. This causes me to think about the scripture Galatians 4:16 which reads as follows “<span class="text">Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?</span>” As some of you may know, the album I released in 2012 has a song called “Galatians 4:16” on it where I talk about sin (including homosexuality). As Christians it’s important that we continue to stand strong and speak the truth, even if that means getting talked about by others. When you speak the truth, some people may view you as an enemy, but don’t let fear stop you from doing what God has called you to do. If we truly love unbelievers, we should let them know that all have sinned (See Romans 3:23). We should tell them about Jesus Christ, and let them know that if they reject Jesus and die in their sin they will go to hell. These same rules apply to every person (whether they’re homosexual or not).</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,</span> <span class="text">Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.</span>” -1 Corinthians 6:9-10</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1">So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us continue to speak the truth in love. Let us also pray for Chris Broussard, and our other brothers and sisters in Christ, who speak the truth about sin. The Word of God is powerful, and people need to have an understanding of what it says.</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.</span>”- John 8:32</p><p></p>
<p class="chapter-1"><span class="text">Lastly, I have included my song “Galatians 4:16” as a free MP3 download in today’s blog entry. Feel free to click the button below. God Bless.</span></p><p></p>4:16Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/5945732013-04-23T19:37:07-04:002013-04-23T19:37:07-04:00Don't Stop NowAnd let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. – Galatians 6:9… It’s important that we remain consistent in our Christian walk, and continue to move forward regardless of how we feel. Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Stop Now”….<br><br>
As I’ve mentioned in the past, I used to run Cross Country. And running is one of those things that has both a physical and mental element (as do other sports). By physical, I mean that the person needs to be physically fit and in shape to run. And by mental, I mean the person needs to be able to push him/herself to keep going even if they start to feel tired. Cross country practices could definitely be challenging at times, however those tough practices helped condition us and prepare us for the meets we would be running in. The types of courses we ran on could vary from race to race. For example, during one meet you may run on a course that was relatively flat (meaning there wasn’t much of an incline, so you weren’t running uphill much/at all), and during another meet you may run on a course that was more “hilly” (where there was an incline), and this presented a different type of challenge. The important thing as a runner was to stay focused, pace yourself, run hard, and (obviously) complete the race. Likewise as Christians, it’s important for us to keep running the race, regardless of how challenging the course feels. <br><br>
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24<br><br>
If you ever come to a point where you feel like you’ve hit a mental “wall” as a Christian, don’t let that cause you to stop running. Don’t focus on the challenge you’re facing, focus on how awesome Jesus is. Renew your mind with scripture, and keep a positive attitude. Remember it’s important that we put what we learn from the Bible into practice. It’s not just enough to know the Word, we need to live it out as well. <br><br>
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14 <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/5445422013-04-16T17:40:00-04:002013-04-16T17:40:00-04:00Stay Focused On JesusAs we continue to pray for Boston, our country, and our local communities in general; Let us remember to keep our faith in Jesus Christ regardless of what we go through. We live in a fallen world, and there are a lot of negative things going on, however God loves us, and we should never lose hope. Keep trusting God through every challenge that you face. ”Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” - Isaiah 26:3 Today’s blog entry is titled “Stay Focused On Jesus”.<br><br>
Sometimes we may come to a point in life where we look at certain things that are happening, and question why? There are things that happen in our lives at times that are beyond our control. And while we may experience things in life that we can’t control, we can definitely control who we put our trust in. As Christians, it’s very important that we remember who we serve during challenging times (Jesus Christ, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords!). Our relationship with Jesus Christ is one area that we can always continue to grow in. And as we continue to fellowship with Jesus Christ, we will have a better idea of how to respond to the challenges we face. This isn’t to say that everything will always be easy, but rather to say we would much rather go through challenges having Jesus in our lives versus not having Jesus in our lives. We can take comfort in the fact that Jesus is leading us.<br><br>
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” – John 14:1 <br><br>
The thoughts we think can play a big role in how we approach life. That’s why it’s so important to renew our minds with the word of God. If the world is giving us advice that doesn’t line up with the Word of God, we shouldn’t follow that advice. If we find that we are wasting time taking in (Watching/Listening to) things that we shouldn’t be taking in, we should stop watching/listening to it. As it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”<br><br>
So as we live each day of our lives, let us make a constant effort to continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ. Let us take an inventory of the time we spend and find a way to give Jesus more quality time. Let us be thankful for everything He has blessed us with. And if you go through a day where you’re battling with some things mentally, continue to praise God, and speak the Word. Don’t allow yourself to give up. <br><br>
Let us also continue to pray for Boston, our country, and our local communities. <br><br>
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/4926392013-04-09T07:40:33-04:002013-04-09T07:40:33-04:00The Preparation Process<span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.</span>”- Proverbs 24:27. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In last week’s blog entry I talked about remaining faithful. In this week’s blog entry, I continue to dig deeper on the subject as I discuss the preparation process….</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Preparation is an important part of life. Whether it’s a student preparing for an exam, an athlete preparing for a game, or a recording artist preparing for a concert; the way a person prepares can have a huge impact on the outcome of what they are trying to accomplish. In the aforementioned scenarios, a person may be motivated to prepare because they directly see a correlation between them preparing for those things and having success (For example, putting in a lot of study time has led to them getting good grades on tests in the past, so they continue to do it).<p></p></span></span></p>
<p><span class="text">However it may be more challenging for a person to endure the preparation process when they don’t exactly know what they’re being prepared for….You may be thinking to yourself, what do you mean??? Well…sometimes in life a person may go through a series of challenges that will prepare them for something great down the road that they don’t currently see or anticipate. If they become distracted by how challenging things are and quit the process, they can miss out on the reward they would have received had they continued and completed process. <p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:</span> <span class="text">Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,</span><sup> </sup>Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” – Proverbs 6:6-8</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.</span>” – Psalm 30:5</p><p></p>
<p><span class="text">Throughout the preparation process, a person can experience various types of emotions, but it’s important that a person doesn’t allow their emotions to cause them to make poor decisions. It’s important for us to keep our composure even when we don’t like or understand what’s happening in our lives. When we put our trust in God and follow Him, we can take comfort in the fact that we are being led by Him, and that He knows what’s best for us. Never let your current circumstance ruin the progress you have made. Continue to move forward, keep a positive attitude. If other people look at your situation and start to criticize/question you, don’t let that sway you either, keep obeying God. Remember, when you’re following God, you don’t need to be worried, and you don’t need the approval of others. <p></p></span></p>
<p><span class="text">So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remain faithful throughout the preparation process.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.</span>” – John 16:33</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><p></p></span></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/4580802013-04-02T16:57:34-04:002013-04-02T16:57:34-04:00Remain FaithfulIt’s important that we remain faithful to the assignments that God gives us, regardless of how we feel about those assignments. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” – Matthew 25:21. Today’s blog entry is titled “Remain Faithful"....<br><br>
Faithfulness is an essential part of the Christian walk. It’s important for us to remember that this life is not about us doing whatever we want to do. It is about receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and living for Him. We should honor God in every area of our lives, and that includes being obedient to Him. This isn’t to say that we will always do everything perfect, but rather to say that we should always strive to give our best effort. If God has put you in a position to lead a certain ministry, be the best leader you can be. If the number of people participating is small, don’t allow that to discourage you, and don’t do things that compromise your integrity in order to try to grow the group. Do things the right way. Remember God knows our true motives. <br><br>
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7<br><br>
God can teach us things in a number of different ways; and sometimes we may be going through a certain process, so that we learn things that will benefit us when we take on other responsibilities at a later time. It’s important that we don’t allow frustration or other distractions to cause up to stop doing what God has called us to do. We need to stay on the course that God has us on, even if we aren’t getting the results we would like to get.<br><br>
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:14<br><br>
Remember to stay focused on pleasing God each and every day. Don’t let the words of others cause you to disobey/doubt God. If you start to feel doubt coming in, renew your mind with the Word of God. When we totally put our trust in God, and follow Him regardless of how it looks, we can get a lot accomplished. So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember to remain faithful.<br><br>
“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” – Isaiah 1:19 KJV<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/4161242013-03-26T18:30:58-04:002013-03-26T18:30:58-04:00Christian FellowshipAs Christians, it’s important that we fellowship with other born again believers and encourage one another as we grow in our walk with Jesus Christ. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” – Psalm 133:1. Today’s blog entry is titled “Christian Fellowship”...<br><br>
Earlier today, I met up with two of my brothers in Christ. We got a chance to catch up, and it was really cool to hear what God has been doing in their lives. We all can learn from each other, and it’s nice to have conversation with people who can relate to the experiences that you have gone through in your Christian walk. When Christians come together and are serious about serving God, a lot of great things can be accomplished. <br><br>
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17 <br><br>
Whether you’ve just gotten saved last week, or have been saved for decades, it’s important to stay connected with other born again believers. If a person constantly stays isolated from other Christians (and experiences challenges in their life), they can start to think thoughts such as: “No one else has been through what I’ve been through”, or “No one else cares about what I’m going through”…. First and foremost, it’s important to remember that Jesus loves you regardless of what you’re dealing with. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important relationship that we have. And the fellowship that we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ can help us grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ.<br><br>
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7<br><br>
If a person is searching for a church home, or looking for Christians to fellowship with, it’s important for them to pray and ask God to connect them with the right people. In some situations, God may also connect you with some people that you don’t always see in person, but can keep in contact with via phone, email, etc. It’s important that we are obedient to God, regardless of how he chooses to work in our lives. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us work together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and continue to spread the good news!<br><br>
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” - 1 Corinthians 12:27<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/3859232013-03-19T16:55:44-04:002013-03-19T16:55:44-04:00Are You Listening?In order to follow directions, it’s important for a person to listen to (and have a good understanding of) the instructions they receive. When God gives us insight about a situation, we should listen and respond with obedience. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” – John 10:27. Today’s blog entry is titled “Are You Listening?”<br><br>
Have you ever been talking to someone about something that was important to you and they seemed preoccupied with something else? Maybe you were trying to tell them about something great that happened to you earlier in the day. Or maybe you wanted to give them a heads up about something that would be beneficial to them. A person not paying attention to you would probably send you the message that they placed more value on what they were currently doing than what you’re currently saying. In our walk with Christ, it’s very important that we place a high value on our time with Him, and what He says to us. If God sends us warning signals about a certain situation, we should not ignore them. We should seek God for the proper path to take, and move forward according to His direction.<br><br>
“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” – Psalm 25:5 <br><br>
Sometimes when we’re dealing with a situation in our lives, it can be easy to respond to it in a natural way (based on our human instincts). And when following our instincts doesn’t produce the type of results we are looking for, it can lead to us searching for answers and trying other methods. It’s important for us to remember that Jesus is the answer to any problem that we’re dealing with. When we rely upon Him instead of what the world/tradition says we should do; we can get a lot accomplished. Spending time seeking God can be the difference between getting the understanding we need in order to make the right decision, and continuing to search for a solution to a problem that we have been facing for a while. God may take us down a path that we don’t understand at the time. But it’s important that we trust Him even when we don’t understand the way that He’s working in our lives. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let’s make sure that we pay close attention to Him, and follow the instructions that He gives us. <br><br>
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/3639322013-03-12T13:46:29-04:002013-03-12T13:46:29-04:00Being Hearers And DoersAs we continue to grow in our Christian walk, it’s important that we have a good understanding of God’s Word. It’s also important that we put what we learn into practice, and continue to obey God and walk by faith, even if we find ourselves in challenging situations. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” – James 1:22. Today’s blog entry is titled “Being A Hearer And A Doer.”<br><br>
Picture this, a parent asks their teenager to go to the grocery store and pick up a number of grocery items for the household. The parent knows approximately how much the items will cost, and gives their son/daughter enough money to take care of the costs. Before going to the store, the son/daughter writes down a very detailed list of each item, repeating it back to their parent before leaving. Upon arriving at the store, the teenager initially begins grabbing some of the items on the list. However, as time goes on, he/she deviates from the original plan, and starts getting things that he/she personally wants, that are not on the list. Upon arriving back home, the parent questions the teen for using the money to buy items that were not on the list, and the teen responds by pulling out the list, and saying “look I wrote everything down nice and neat, and I knew exactly what you wanted.” The teen in this situation obviously didn’t do what the parent wanted. It’s not just enough to know what the parent wanted done, the teen should have actually did what their parent wanted. (See Matthew 21:28-32 for a parable that deals with how two sons responded to their Father).<br><br>
Likewise in our walk with Christ, it’s important that we understand what He wants us to do (by learning His Word), and that we obey what His Word says. Sometimes in life we may feel like doing things that are not in line with God’s Word. We should resist these types of feelings. And if we do find ourselves in a situation where we didn’t follow God’s instructions (like the person in the scenario mentioned above who didn’t do wanted their parent wanted them to do), it’s very important that we repent, and get back on the right track. We should never feel comfortable disobeying God. Sin is nothing to play with regardless of how we may feel at the time. Jesus loves us, and He has provided us with the ability to repent, so it’s very important to turn away from sinful things. The devil on the other hand, hates us and wants to destroy us, so it’s very important that we don’t open the door to him. When we have repented of something and have moved forward, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up over past mistakes, we should learn from those past experiences, and avoid going down that same path in the future.<br><br>
So as we continue to live our lives for Jesus, let us hear what His Word says, and let us also do what His Word says. Be strong remembering Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Keep building, and stand on God’s Word, regardless of what you go through in life.<br><br>
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. – 1 Samuel 15:22<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/3440602013-03-05T09:40:00-05:002013-03-05T09:40:00-05:00What's The Next Step?Have you ever been at a point in your life where you wondered “What’s Next?" Throughout the course of our lives, we make a lot of different decisions, and it’s important for us to be led by God as we make those decisions. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” – Psalm 37:23 (NKJV). Today’s blog entry is titled “What’s The Next Step?"<br><br>
Picture this, you will soon be graduating from college, and you have three different job offers on the table in three different states. All three states are far away from home (and you don’t know anyone who lives in those areas). The compensation packages at each job are similar.<br><br>
Now picture the same scenario (you will soon be graduating from college). The difference in this scenario is that you haven’t received any job offers yet, and you’re really not sure of what do.<br><br>
In both situations it’s important to seek God for guidance on what our next step should be. Sometimes when we have multiple options, we may not spend as much time as we should seeking God for which path we should take. And sometimes when it appears that we don’t have any options available, we can start to deal with thoughts of doubt and discouragement if we’re not careful. Regardless of how good or bad things seem to be going, remember to Trust Jesus, and rely upon Him.<br><br>
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” – Romans 15:13<br><br>
There are so many things that can distract us in the world today, so it’s important for us to keep our priorities in order. When we are asking God for clarity about a situation, we should put ourselves in a position to hear from God. Think of it like this, if you were expecting a very important phone call from someone at a certain time, you probably would try to make sure you were in an area where there wasn’t a lot of noise at that time, so that you would be able to hear what they are saying. Sometimes we need to remove ourselves from the “noise” in our lives so that we can hear from God, and follow His directions. Distractions may vary from person to person, but if we prayerfully examine our lives, we can identify the areas that we need to make changes in. <br><br>
So when we’re trying to figure out the next step in our lives, it’s important to make sure that we’re spending time in prayer about the situation. It’s also important that we continually stay in the Word of God, and remove ourselves from situations that could distract us from hearing from God. <br><br>
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. – Psalm 119:105<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/3288822013-02-26T01:45:26-05:002013-02-26T01:45:26-05:00Don't Hold On When It's Time To Let GoWhen God is doing something new in our lives, there may be a tendency for us to want to stay in our comfort zone, or continue to do things the way we’ve done them in the past. But it’s important that we trust God, follow Him, and do things His way regardless of how we feel. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”- Isaiah 43:19. Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Hold On When It’s Time To Let Go.”<br><br>
Can you think back to a time in your life when you had gotten used to doing something, and then the time came for you to move on to something else? For example, think back to high school (if you’re still in high school, or younger, just imagine the scenario with me…lol). As graduation got closer, you may have had a lot on your mind. You may have started to think about how you were going to miss many of your friends that you grew up with (since many of you would be relocating for college or other endeavors). Or you may have been thinking about how your responsibilities were going to change as you begin your “post” high school life. And while those type of thoughts may have entered your mind, it was important that you moved on to next phase of your life after you were done with high school. Could you picture someone who had graduated from High School 5 years ago, continuing to try to go back to their high school classes every day because they still weren’t ready to let go and move on yet? If most people witnessed something like this, they would probably think thoughts such as, “Come on, this person needs to move on”.<br><br>
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.<br>
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2<br><br>
In our Christian walk, there may be times when God is ready for our lives to start moving in a different direction, and it’s important that we submit to Him, and carry out His will for our lives. God can see things from a different perspective than us, so we should trust Him even if we are uncomfortable about what the future may hold. Think back to the high school analogy. If a person wants to stay in high school mode, after that time has passed, they can miss out on a lot of other experiences in life. There’s come a point in life where you have to let go of some things in order to embrace/accept new things.<br><br>
“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.” Proverbs 24:27<br><br>
As God takes us through the preparation process, it’s important that we learn what we need to learn and keep making progress. We shouldn’t try to stay in one place when God has called us to move on to something else.<br><br>
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/654502013-02-19T01:39:59-05:002013-02-19T01:39:59-05:00Remember Who You ServeChallenges are a part of life, but thank God we don’t have to face those challenges alone. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Today’s blog entry is titled, “Remember Who You Serve”.<br><br>
When difficult things take place in our lives, it can leave us with a number of questions such as: What am I doing wrong?, What do I do now?, How will I overcome this? As born again Christians it’s important to remember that our God is faithful! “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:9 <br><br>
The decisions we make are very important and can have a huge impact on the direction that our lives are heading in. So if we continue to find ourselves in bad situations as a result of making poor decisions, we should make the necessary changes, and avoid making those bad decisions in the future. We should seek God for wisdom when we’re making decisions. With that being said, there can also be times when we do things the right way and yet still find ourselves in challenging situations. If we’re dealing with that type of situation, it’s important that we don’t get discouraged. We should keep trusting in God, remembering that His strength is made perfect in weakness “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9<br><br>
“For we walk by faith, not by sight:” – 2 Corinthians 5:7<br><br>
We have a responsibility to trust and obey God (regardless of how things look through our natural eyes). Sometimes God may take us to our destination using a different route than we would have taken ourselves. He may allow some things to happen to us that we don’t understand. Regardless of what happens, it’s important that we endure the process, and keep following Him. So as continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us be continually thankful for all that He does for us. Let us remember that we serve an awesome God!<br><br>
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:9<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/3075082013-02-12T00:55:08-05:002013-02-12T00:55:08-05:00Respond The Right WayThroughout the course of our lives people may do things that we don’t appreciate; and while we may not be able to control what other people do or direct toward us, we can control the way that we respond to what they do. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” – Ephesians 4:26-27. Today’s blog entry is titled “Respond The Right Way”. <br><br>
As we live our lives each day, it’s important to remember that we should continually represent Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean that we won’t make mistakes, however we should be giving the best effort that we can as we serve Jesus. There are a lot of people in this world, and there is a good chance that you will come across someone at some point who says or does something that upsets you. It’s during these times that it’s important to remember that we still need to keep our composure. We shouldn’t allow our emotions to cause us to act in a way that does not honor God. If we have a negative exchange with someone, it’s a good idea to honestly take a look at what we could have done that contributed to the person acting the way they did in the first place. Sometimes we may have done something wrong that resulted in them acting the way they did… While there may be other times that we didn’t do anything wrong to the person, yet they have an issue with us due to their own personal insecurities, or they may be having a rough day in general and acting mean towards everyone they encounter during that period of time. If we have done something wrong that led to them acting the way they did, we should acknowledge the mistake, apologize and avoid making that same mistake again. If we haven’t wronged them in any way, it’s still important to respond in love, and not act out of character.<br><br>
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1 <br><br>
If we’re upset as a result of something someone has done to us, it may not always be a good idea to say the first thing that comes to mind. It’s important to think before we speak, and not allow our emotions to cause us to say or do something that we would later regret. In some situations the right response can help diffuse a situation that otherwise would have been a lot worse. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us choose our words wisely. Don’t allow another individual to cause you to respond in a way that is not pleasing to God. <br><br>
“ For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 2:16 <br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2987132013-02-05T00:57:23-05:002013-02-05T00:57:23-05:00What Really MattersAs we live our lives, it’s important that we don’t get distracted by temporary things that will pass away. Our focus should be to accomplish everything that God has put us here to do. The things we spend time thinking about can often play a role in the direction our lives are heading in. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” – Matthew 22:37. Today’s blog entry is titled “What Really Matters”.<br><br>
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:11-12<br><br>
We have an enemy who absolutely hates us. He wants to kill, steal, and destroy. It’s important that we are aware of this, and that we don’t open doors to him into our lives through our actions. With that being said, we should not be afraid of the devil. God is much more powerful than the devil; however it’s essential that we follow God’s directions so that we are “able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”<br><br>
We each have assignments, and we should not allow ourselves to be distracted by things that will keep us from carrying our God given assignments. Sometimes a distraction can come in a way that is easy to identify as being wrong. For instance, if you’re not married, and someone is trying to get you to have sex, that’s clearly a sin. A Christian should know that sex should only be done within a marriage. However other distractions can come in ways that aren’t as easy to identify. Distractions can come in the form of something such as a person excessively watching TV during times when they should be spending time with God. If something is causing us to disobey God, we need to address it and make the necessary changes. Picture this, a group a people who have recently enlisted in the military have arrived for basic training. Upon arriving, some individuals notice that certain people were able to sneak video game systems into their location. Instead of getting prepared for battle, a number of the new enlistee’s have been off somewhere playing Madden all day each day. While playing Madden may not be wrong in and of itself, it’s wrong that they are playing video games during a time that they should be preparing for battle. Likewise in our walk with Christ, it’s wrong for us to allow other things to take up time that we should be spending focusing on the things of God.<br><br>
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” – Proverbs 23:7<br><br>
So let us examine ourselves, and really take a good look at our lives and what we need to work on. Whether it’s something that is obvious, or something that is subtle, if it’s a hindrance to our growth in Jesus, we need to address it. We shouldn’t allow confusion into our lives. It’s important that we align our thoughts with the Word of God. The enemy understands that our mind is important, and that is why he wants to influence in a negative way. There is so much going on in the world today that is contrary to how the Bible says we should be living. It’s important that we renew our minds daily, and follow the example of Jesus Christ. <br><br>
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2919462013-01-29T01:20:00-05:002013-01-29T01:20:00-05:00What Are You Saying?The words we speak can often be a direct reflection of what we’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about. The words we speak can also give insight into what direction our lives are heading in. It’s important that we speak positive words that line up with God’s Word. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” – Proverbs 18:21. Today’s blog entry is titled “What Are You Saying?"<br><br>
In order to speak the right type of things, we should be spending time thinking about the right type of things. As it says in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” We should renew our mind with the word of God each day, and focus our thoughts on things that line up with His Word. With that being said, if negative thoughts do try to come into our mind, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to speak those words, we should speak positive things. If you’re on your way to a job interview and thoughts of doubt (about you having a good interview) come into your mind, counter those thoughts, by speaking something positive such as “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13<br><br>
It’s important to speak words in faith, and not speak words out of fear or doubt. “For we walk by faith, not by sight:”- 2 Corinthians 5:7. Sometimes it may be hard for us to wrap our minds around how God is going to do something. But it’s important for us to remain in faith, and not look at the circumstances. For example, if someone is trying to get scholarship money for college, and they haven’t received any of the scholarships they have applied to yet, they shouldn’t allow themselves to start saying things such as “I’m never going to get a scholarship”. They should continue to ask God for help regarding the situation, and continue to speak positive words regarding the situation.<br><br>
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” – Isaiah 54:17<br><br>
If someone starts speaking negative words about you that don’t line up with the Word of God, don’t allow their words to bring you down. Sometimes a person can be intentionally trying to hurt you with words. Or in some situations they may do it under the guise of meaning well (or they may really mean well) saying something such as “Everyone else in our family has had an issue in this area, so you can expect to have the same issue”. In either situation, counter their negative words by speaking God’s Word. And don’t get me wrong, I definitely think there is a place to heed the warnings of others as it relates to things that have happened to family members in the past, but my point is that we should never allow someone to put a label on us that is contrary to who God says we are. Likewise, it’s also important for us to be mindful of the words that we speak about others. It’s important that we don’t say hurtful things that tear others down. We should speak edifying words that build them up. We should speak the truth in love.<br><br>
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. - Ephesians 4:29<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/689042013-01-22T00:59:16-05:002013-01-22T00:59:16-05:00Obey God, Follow HimWe live in a society where many people want to play by their own rules, and yet still profess to be a Christian. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” – Colossians 3:12-13. Today’s blog entry is titled “Obey God, Follow Him”.<br><br>
Picture the following scenario…..There is an NBA team that has been struggling with their 3 point field goal percentage, and as a result they decide to make adjustments to their home court so that the 3 point line is moved in 3 feet closer to the basket (from which ever basket they are shooting from). And then there’s another team that plays a slower tempo style of play, so instead of having a 24 second shot clock, they adjust the shot clock to 40 seconds at their home games (and only when they have possession of the ball). I think it’s obvious to say that such things would never be tolerated by the NBA….lol. If something like this was to be done, the general public would be saying all kinds of things. The rules were made for a reason, and teams can’t just change them because they feel it would suit them better to do things a different way.<br><br>
Likewise, God’s Word is very clear on the way that we should live our lives as Christians, and it’s important that we live our lives according to those standards (and not try to lower the standards to fit the way our flesh wants to live). It’s important to realize that we should be submitted to Christ. We should desire to do His will for our lives. Do we make mistakes at times? Yes…But we should never try to change the truth of God’s Word in order to rid ourselves of guilt (or for any other reason). It’s like the scenario mentioned above, if a team is struggling with their 3 point shooting, they should work harder to improve, instead trying to change the rules to make it easier for them.<br><br>
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” – Colossians 3:16<br><br>
When we meditate on the Word of God (and spend time in prayer), it helps us with our decision making process. There may be times in your life where you have choices to make such as choosing between two different jobs, choosing between two different cities to relocate to, etc. It’s important that we seek and obey God in these types of situations as well. If you want to move to “City A”, but God is steering you towards “City B”, it’s important to follow Him. When God shows us warning signs about a situation, we should not ignore them. If God closes a door, we shouldn’t try to keep reopening it.<br><br>
It’s important that we our led by God, instead of our emotions. Following our emotions can lead to a lot of problems. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us obey His Word, and seek Him for wisdom when we are making decisions. <br><br>
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/621242013-01-15T01:31:42-05:002013-01-15T01:31:42-05:00When No One Else Is WatchingIn last week’s blog post, the focus was on living a Godly lifestyle in front of others. The focus of this blog entry is living a Godly lifestyle when no one else is watching. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” – Proverbs 15:3 Today’s blog entry is titled “When No One Else Is Watching”….<br><br>
Before I go any further, I want to make sure I point out the fact that I understand that people make mistakes... “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” – Romans 3:23 ….The purpose of this blog entry isn’t to tear people down, but rather to encourage people to be strong in their walk and make wise decisions. With that being said, I think it’s very important to realize that the things we do when no one else is watching can say a lot about who we are (and where we are with God). Living a Christian lifestyle in front of people is extremely important, however if a person only lives a Christian lifestyle when they feel like people are watching, then something is wrong. “Not getting caught” should not dictate the way we live our lives. As Christians we should have a genuine desire to obey God, and please Him with the way we carry ourselves. God sees the things we do; we can’t hide anything from Him.<br><br>
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” – James 1:14-15<br><br>
If someone ever feels like they are dealing with a (sinful) habit that they can’t stop doing, they should remember that they can do all things through Christ which strengthens them (See Philippians 4:13). They should seek God for a plan of action to help them avoid falling into the same traps they’ve fallen into in the past. A person should never be ashamed to ask God for help.<br><br>
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” - Matthew 16:24<br><br>
As Christians we are set apart. And we should constantly be spending time with God. Remember, this life is not about us doing whatever we want to do; it’s about serving God, and carrying out His will. Sometimes you may feel like you’re the “odd person out” as far as your interactions with other people go. But don’t be discouraged, and don’t compromise to try to fit in with the world (also don’t compromise because you think no one will see what you’re doing). Get connected with other born again Christians, and encourage one another.<br><br>
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2<br><br>
Stay strong, keep building, and honor God, even when you feel like no one else is watching. <br><br>
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2765122013-01-08T00:42:44-05:002013-01-08T00:42:44-05:00What Is My Life Saying To OthersAs Christians, it’s important that we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s also important that our lifestyles line up with the way the Bible says we should carry ourselves. “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” – 2 Corinthians 3:2 Today’s blog entry is titled “What Is My Life Saying To Others?”<br><br>
An epistle is a letter. And letters are obviously a form of communication. Each day of our lives, we are communicating things to others through our actions. People tend to form opinions of other people based on the way they see them act. As Christians, we should be living a lifestyle that is consistent with the Word of God. This isn’t to say that we won’t make mistakes, but rather to emphasize the fact we should be striving to do the best we can to represent Jesus Christ. Think about it like this scenario…. You know two people who told you they are best friends and they have a great friendship. Yet every time you see them together, they are yelling at each other and hurling insults at each other. There’s a good chance you would question if they really had a great friendship. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that friends can have disagreements, and I understand that Christians can have times when they do things they later regret. However when a person does something on a consistent basis in their life, they are generally sending some type of message or establishing some type of pattern.<br><br>
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20<br><br>
It’s important to remember that this life is not about doing whatever we want to do. This life is about serving Jesus Christ, and following His will for our lives. We should never forget the significance of what Jesus Christ did for us by dying on the cross. We have all sinned and deserved to go to Hell, and yet Jesus provided us with salvation. With that being said, there may be someone reading this and thinking, “I’m really trying to grow in my Christian walk, but it seems like I keep making the same mistakes over and over again.” For instance, maybe someone has a habit of using profanity, and they have been trying to stop with no success. If they want to overcome this, they should spend time in prayer. They should also examine what they’ve been taking in (listening to/watching). If someone is constantly listening to music with profanity and watching TV/Movies with profanity, they should acknowledge the fact that it could be contributing to them doing the very thing they’re trying to stop doing. Think about the songs you currently enjoy listening to….If you were to take away the beat and read strictly the lyrics, would you feel comfortable reading those lyrics aloud if you saw Jesus standing the same room with you? If you can’t answer yes to that question, you may want to take a look at why you enjoy listening to the music. And this doesn’t only apply to music. If we’re battling an issue in a particular area, we should examine our lives and take a look at what may be contributing to the issue.<br><br>
So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus, let us live lifestyles that honor God (and communicate positive messages to the people that we come in contact with). Let us study His Word, and continually make an effort to be more like Jesus each and every day.<br><br>
“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” - 2 Corinthians 3:3<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2737292013-01-01T14:45:00-05:002013-01-01T14:45:00-05:00Keep Moving ForwardThe New Year has arrived! There are many of us that have things that we would like to get accomplished this year. As we move forward in 2013, it’s important that we continue to seek God, and maintain a positive mindset. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:19. Today’s blog entry is titled “Keep Moving Forward”. <br><br>
Throughout the course of our lives we are given opportunities. And sometimes looking back, we may wish we had done some things differently. It’s important that we learn from past mistakes, and do a better job moving forward; however we shouldn’t continue to beat ourselves up over mistakes we have made in the past. Think of it like this, if a quarterback throws an interception during the first quarter of a football game. He should recognize what he did wrong so he can make the proper adjustment(s) in the future, and then move forward. When he comes back into the game after his team has possession of the ball again, he should be focused on advancing the ball and scoring (as opposed to replaying his earlier mistake over and over again in his mind). Likewise as we move forward, we should be focused on carrying out God’s plan for our lives.<br><br>
“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” <br>
– Psalms 37:4-5<br><br>
When we truly seek God, we allow ourselves to get an understanding of what He wants us to do, and His desires for us also become our desires for ourselves. When a person is seeking God and spending time with Him, one of the by-products will be that they want to obey God, and be the person He has called them to be. So as we continue to progress in this New Year, it’s important that we monitor the things that we take into our lives (the music we listen to, the things we watch, the people we spend time around) as they can have an effect on the way we think (our mindset). And our mindset can affect the way that we approach life. It’s also important that we renew our minds with the Word of God on a daily basis. We should have a good understanding of what the Bible says, and we should be giving our best effort to live it out in our lives.<br><br>
Let’s spend this New Year getting closer to God than we’ve ever gotten before. Let’s stay motivated, and make a constant effort to help others. Don’t allow fear to stop you from doing what God has called you to do. Trust God. Stand on His Word. And keep moving forward!<br><br>
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2679972012-12-18T00:53:26-05:002012-12-18T00:53:26-05:00How To Respond To Tragedy“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7…..Today’s blog entry is titled “How To Respond To Tragedy.”<br><br>
Let us continue to pray for the families of the victims of the school shooting in Connecticut. It’s sad to see evil acts of violence taking place in society. Let us also continually intercede for this nation (and the world as a whole). We live in a fallen world, and Jesus Christ is the only answer…. He’s the one who changes a person’s heart. Apart from Jesus Christ, the human heart is wicked (“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9), and with that being said, it’s so important that we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. It’s also important to show forth love and support to people who have experienced tragic events in their life. When people feel the love of others; it can help during the overall healing process.<br><br>
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10<br><br>
When tragic events take place, (whether it’s a natural disaster, an accident, or an intentional shooting done by a person) one of the things that often comes to mind is the question “why”?…Why did this happen?....This can be a difficult thought process that results in a number of emotions (such as sorrow/ anger). As humans beings, it’s important to realize that there are some things that we just won’t understand in this life. But we can take comfort in the fact that God is still on the throne! It’s important that we keep trusting Him regardless of what happens in our lives, and regardless of what happens in the world. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to get mad at God, and we shouldn’t drift away from Him. We should continually cling to Him. <br><br>
“ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:39<br><br>
It’s important to remember that by Jesus’ stripes we were healed (See Isaiah 53:5, and 2 Peter 2:24). And while the healing process can definitely be difficult at times, Jesus is here for us, to lead us and guide us through the things that we experience in life. So as we live our lives, let us remember to pray for the families of those that have lost loved ones. Let us also pray that more people receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and let us regularly evangelize and disciple others. Don’t ever lose hope, don’t ever give up. Continue to trust in Jesus Christ!<br><br>
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” – John 14:1<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2645892012-12-11T00:38:32-05:002012-12-11T00:38:32-05:00Keep GrowingDo you want to take your walk with Christ to a higher level? “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14. We should continually strive to be more like Jesus every day of our lives. Today’s blog entry is titled “Keep Growing”.<br><br>
When we’re living our lives, it can be easy to get into a routine that we are comfortable with. And while it’s good to be consistent and have a plan, it’s also important that we continue to advance and grow. For example when a person first starts lifting weights, they may start off with a lighter weight, but as time goes on (in the weeks and months ahead), a person will generally increase the overall amount of weight they use during their workouts because they have gotten stronger, and want to continue to build upon that strength. Likewise as Christians, it’s important that we have the desire to keep advancing in our walk with Jesus Christ. There may be times when advancing in your Christian walk may be uncomfortable…..God may allow you to experience some things that are challenging…..But don’t get discouraged during times like that, continue to stay close to God during those times as well. <br><br>
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:11<br><br>
Spending time in God’s presence is essential. When we try to take things into our own hands, life can feel overwhelming; however when we cast our cares on Jesus, and trust in Him, it can take the pressure off of ourselves and help us focus on how awesome Jesus is. As you continue to grow, realize that God maybe allowing you to experience certain things in order to help you become stronger, and mature overall as a person. Don’t allow yourself to get frustrated when difficult things happen, and don’t get mad at God. Continue to seek God, read His Word, and ask Him for guidance so that you can stay on the path he has you on. When you are making progress in your walk, don’t be surprised if the enemy tries to throw all kinds of roadblocks, distractions, and temptations in your path. The important thing is to stay focused on Jesus, and resist the devil. Remember…. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." – Isaiah 54:17. <br><br>
God loves you! You are you unique and you have been blessed with various abilities. Use those abilities to carry out the assignments that God has given you (and bring Him glory). Don’t let the world define who you are, let the Word of God define who you are. Stay faithful to God….. And if you experience some difficult times, be strong and endure the process that He is allowing you to go through in. Keep building, keep growing.<br><br>
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2610062012-12-04T00:20:00-05:002012-12-04T00:20:00-05:00Faith and EncouragementAre you walking by faith? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1. Live your life according to God’s Word. Don’t worry about how the circumstances look. Today’s blog entry is titled “Faith and Encouragement”.<br><br>
As humans, it can be really easy to go off of our emotions, and live our lives according to what we can see, hear, feel, etc. However, it’s important for us to follow God’s Word and remind ourselves that God’s ways are higher than our ways (See Isaiah 55:9). Waiting for something that we want (to get accomplished) can definitely be a challenge…..Dealing with disappointment can definitely be a challenge. However, when we go through challenging experiences and endure the process that God is taking us through, we can become much stronger and better prepared to carry out future assignments that God has for us. When facing challenging things in life, we should not allow ourselves to get discouraged. And you may be thinking to yourself, “That’s easier said than done.” And I definitely can understand that. But here are some important things to remember as <br>
born again Christians:<br><br>
* We have received the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ<br><br>
* God will never leave us <br><br>
* We can constantly communicate with God<br><br>
* God has given us the tools that we need in order to be victorious in our Christian Walk (See Ephesians 6:10-18)<br><br>
* We have brothers and sisters in Christ who are here to help and encourage us<br><br>
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13<br><br>
Don’t ever let the enemy back you into a corner having you believe that nobody else can relate to what you’re going through. Also, don’t be fooled by lies/tricks of the enemy that try to lead you to counterfeit versions of the things that God really has for you. Patience is important. Timing is important. Obedience is important. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us approach each day with a positive attitude. Let us continually give thanks to God for all the great things that He has done (and is doing) for us. Let as walk by faith and trust God even if we don’t understand how things are going to come together. Don’t give up. Stand strong. Keep making progress.<br><br>
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” – James 2:17<br><br>
“For we walk by faith, not by sight:” – 2 Corinthians 5:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2573492012-11-27T00:17:44-05:002012-11-27T00:17:44-05:00Honesty Is ImportantIn today’s society, lying has become a normal part of life for many people, however as Christians, we should be truthful at all times. “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” – Proverbs 12:22. Today’s blog entry is titled “Honesty Is Important”.<br><br>
Lying can come in a number of different ways. For some people in business, it could be misrepresenting a product they are trying to sell to someone. For another person, it could be lying to a bill collector, saying they are going to pay a bill “tomorrow” just to get the collector off the phone (but really having no intent to pay the bill anytime soon). Or sometimes a person could be under a lot of pressure and tell a lie because they’re afraid that telling the truth will have consequences they don’t want to deal with. <br><br>
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8<br><br>
The important thing is to remember is that lying is wrong regardless of what society says. It’s definitely a sin, and not something to be taken lightly. We have a responsibility as Christians to represent Christ in the way we live our lives. If a person gets a reputation for being a liar, it can become hard for others to believe that person, even when the person is telling the truth. Trust is important in friendships, relationships, and interactions with other people in general. Could you picture if you purchased an airline ticked online for one price, however when you were about to board the plane, the attendant came up, and said “You’re going to have to pay an additional $200.00 to board this plane, we used that other price to get you to come here, but that amount is not really enough for you to ride our plane.” Chances are you would be upset about this because they were not truthful with you. Likewise it’s important to make sure that we aren’t doing the same thing to other people in areas of our lives. <br><br>
It’s also important to remember to choose our words wisely, and not use speaking the truth as a license to mean to other people under the guise “Well hey I was just telling them the truth.” For example don’t walk up to a person who has on shoes you don’t like (and didn’t ask your opinion about the shoes) and say, “Hey I think those shoes are SO UGLY, hey I’m just telling the truth, so don’t get made at me.” This is an extreme example, but my point is that it’s is important to use wisdom when we speak.<br><br>
So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to be honest. Don’t pick up bad habits from the world, be a good example of the way Christians should conduct themselves. <br><br>
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” – Colossians 3:9<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2541432012-11-20T00:30:00-05:002012-11-20T00:30:00-05:00Our Relationship With GodIt’s important to make sure that we aren’t just going through the motions in our Christian walk. We should spend time with Jesus because we truly love Him, and want to grow in our relationship with Him. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” – Mark 12:30 …. Today's blog entry is titled, “Our Relationship With God.”<br><br>
Picture this, there’s a couple that has been married for over 10 years. The wife notices that her husband doesn’t compliment her as much as he used to, so she brings it up to him one day saying “You know I really miss the way you used to say nice things about me all the time” to which the husband replies “Well, you already know how I feel about you, so what’s the point in me saying it.” Or maybe the husband notices that his wife doesn’t spend as much time around him as she used to so he says “I really miss the way we used to have those date nights”, to which the wife replies “ I’m really busy now, we have already been on plenty of dates, so what’s the point of going on more.” Communication and fellowship (spending time around each other) is an important part of the continual growth in a marriage, and it’s also important in our walk with God.<br><br>
“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.” – Matthew 26:36<br><br>
The Bible lets us know that Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer. We should follow His example. When we pray, it allows us to focus on God and communicate with Him. Prayer is a way for us to build our relationship with God. It’s something that we should do on a regular basis. Think back to the husband and wife analogy, if the husband only had conversations with his wife because “that’s what husbands are supposed to do”, and his heart really wasn’t in it, then his relationship with his wife will be a reflection of that. Likewise, if we only pray to God because “that’s what Christians are supposed to do” and our hearts are not in it, our relationship with God will be a reflection of that. We shouldn’t view prayer as chore that is to be checked off of our spiritual checklist of things we should do. We should view prayer as an opportunity to spend time with God and build our relationship with Him.<br><br>
When a person is married, they (should) carry themselves in a different way than a single person does. People who know them well should know that they are married. Likewise as Christians we should carry ourselves in a way that is different than non – Christians, people should be able to notice a difference. As we continue to grow in our relationship with Christ, it will reflect in the way we live our lives. So let us approach each day remembering that we should treat our walk with Christ like a relationship….because it is one. Be faithful to Him, trust Him, and strive to be more like Him each and every day.<br><br>
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” – John 14:21<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2505632012-11-13T01:21:33-05:002012-11-13T01:21:33-05:00Seek The Lord For WisdomHave you ever made a decision based on how you felt at the time (going off of your emotions) only to later realize that it was the wrong decision? “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” – James 1:5. Today’s blog entry is titled “Seek The Lord For Wisdom”.<br><br>
As humans, we can have a tendency to want to be in control, or to live our lives according to how we feel. However it’s important to remember that God is in control, and we need to obey Him, submitting to His will. Things may not always make sense at the time, but we still need to continue to walk by faith regardless of how things look. It’s important that we spend time with God on a regular basis (reading the Word, praying), never allow yourself to get “too busy” for God. <br><br>
In our lives, timing is very important. For instance, if you’re cooking something, and you don’t allow enough time for it to cook, you likely aren’t going to be satisfied with the results (same thing if you over cook something). Even if a person is very hungry they should wait for the food to cook instead of rushing the process because it will produce much better results in the end. On the flip side, a person should also continue to monitor the food (even if they aren’t that hungry at the time), to make sure they don’t overcook it. Likewise in our lives it’s important that we don’t try to rush something that will take some time to complete. We also shouldn’t become so distracted that we put off something that needs to be taken care of. Both scenarios can lead to a person missing out on an opportunity.<br><br>
“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” – Job 28:28<br><br>
If we notice that we have disobeyed God/done something out of His timing, we need to repent, and get back on the path that He wants us to be on. We need to endure the process. Be very careful of what you watch (and read), and what/who you listen to. Sometimes the advice that public figures give on TV (or in their books) can be contrary to God’s Word. And sometimes even loved ones who mean well can give you advice that is out of line with God’s will for your life. That’s why it’s so important that we seek God for ourselves, and follow His plan for our lives.<br><br>
As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us make sure that we seek the Lord for wisdom when we’re making decisions.<br><br>
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2469892012-11-05T23:48:55-05:002012-11-05T23:48:55-05:00What To Do While You're Waiting“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” – James 5:7. When you feel like you’re ready to start something new in a certain area of your life, waiting can sometimes be a challenging thing to do. However doing things in God’s timing is very important. Today’s blog entry is titled “What To Do While You’re Waiting”.<br><br>
Have you ever been watching a football game and seen a player at a key position get injured, and as a result had to come out of the game? After the injured player is helped off of the field, another player who plays the same position checks into the game. For the player checking into the game, the preparation process started long before his teammate was injured. Even though this player wasn’t a starter, it was still important for him to learn the plays, and be ready to check into the game at any time. If he waited until his teammate was injured to start learning the plays/preparing, he would be putting himself at a huge disadvantage when checking into the game.<br><br>
Likewise in our Christian walk, it’s important for us to seek God, and prepare ourselves for what He has called us to do. And you may be thinking “I’m not sure what path God is going to take me down”. The important thing is to keep building even when you’re not sure of what’s next in your life. Continue to study the Word of God. Continue to make progress. Keep obeying God, even if you don’t understand what’s going on in your life. <br><br>
“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” – Colossians 1:11<br><br>
Going back to the Football analogy….In addition to learning the plays, it was also important for the player playing the backup position to be in good physical shape when he checked into the game. It was important for him to attend and actively participate in practices even though he wasn’t a starter. If he would have had an attitude “I’m not a starter, so I’m not going to practice”, chances are he wouldn’t be on the team very long, let alone get the opportunity to ever play in a game. And from the outside looking in, it can be easy to say, “Well yeah that’s obvious that he has to go to practice if he’s going to be on the team”. But sometimes we may not always see it from that perspective as it applies to our own lives. But think about it….In a natural sense, practice is the time where you prepare yourself for the game. And in our lives, there is also a preparation process. We shouldn’t quit the process just because we aren’t where we want to be yet, we should continue to trust God, and follow the path He leads us to.<br><br>
So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to be patient, and endure the preparation process that God takes us through. Stand strong! Trust God!<br>
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2429032012-10-29T20:04:27-04:002020-12-03T05:34:12-05:00Living According To The Word Of God“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” - James 1:8….It’s important that we don’t send mixed signals by the way we live our lives. Today’s blog entry is called “Living according To the Word of God”.<br><br>
The Bible is very clear on the way we should live our lives. That’s why it’s very important that we read, and have a good understanding of the Word. And it doesn’t stop there. It’s also important that we apply the Word of God to our everyday lives, obeying what it says. This isn’t to say that we will never make mistakes, but rather that God’s standard should always be the standard that we base our lives off of. We shouldn’t allow the World’s system to negatively influence the way we think. For instance, in popular culture fornication (pre-marital sex) has become accepted by many as a normal way of life. However, the bible let’s know that pre-marital sex is a sin. <br><br>
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11<br><br>
There are many people who have made up a “god” in their mind that “allows” them to do what they want to do. It’s a form of idolatry. It’s important to understand that the True and Living God is Holy. As it says in 1 Peter 1:16 “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”….. People can’t just live however they want and expect Him to honor that (Remember the story of Cain and Abel….See Genesis chapter 4). Hell is a real place, and people who die without Jesus Christ go there. This is so serious, and yet so many people get caught up in the pleasures of this life, and disregard what the Bible says on a regular basis, following the desires of their flesh.<br><br>
A person can’t just pick and choose certain parts of the Bible that they want to follow and be a Christian. We need to accept the ENTIRE BIBLE as the truth and follow what it says. Reading and quoting scripture is good, but it’s also important to obey what we read. Think about it like this, if you went to a restaurant and ordered your favorite meal, and the waitress wrote down what you ordered, and repeated it back to you several times, and yet brought you out a plate with something totally different than what you ordered, you probably wouldn’t be very happy about it. Likewise we can read the Bible and quote scripture all day, but if we then turn around and do the total opposite of what we’ve read/quoted, God is not pleased with that.<br><br>
If we notice that we have been double minded in a certain area of our lives, we need to repent, and get back on the right path. Don’t allow things such as “trying to please other people” to take you off of the path that God has put you on. Stay focused, be strong, and continue to make progress.<br><br>
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” – James 1:22<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/725102012-10-23T17:35:00-04:002012-10-23T17:35:00-04:00Treat Others The Right Way“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31….It’s important that we genuinely love God. And it’s also important that we genuinely love others. Today’s blog entry is titled “Treat Others The Right Way."<br><br>
Forgiveness, patience, and kindness, are among some of the attributes that a born again Christian should be showing forth (in regards to others). Throughout the course of our lives, we may come across people who are difficult to deal with, however we shouldn’t allow ourselves to act in a way that’s doesn’t please Jesus. <br><br>
We all make mistakes, and yet sometimes, the mistakes that other people make may tend to “jump out” at us more than our own mistakes. It’s important to realize that different people grow and mature at different paces. It’s also important to realize that there are some people who haven’t been taught the same things that you have been taught (or been exposed to the same things that you have been exposed to). And don’t get me wrong, this isn’t to excuse people who make bad decisions, but rather to emphasize the importance of showing forth love to them. <br><br>
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7<br><br>
For some people (that you come across in life), you may be the closest thing to a church service that they have ever experienced. Our love for Jesus should motivate us to want to live a lifestyle that pleases Him, and loving others is a way that we please Jesus. As born again Christians, I think it’s very important to remember that Jesus forgave us of our sins, so we need to forgive others as well. Jesus shows forth kindness to us, so we should show forth kindness to others.<br><br>
It’s also important that we share the truth with people. We should be sharing the gospel with unbelievers. We should also be helping our sisters and brothers in Christ grow in their Christian walk. If a situation arises for you to correct another person in regards to something they are doing wrong, remember to do it in a loving way. Don’t take it as an opportunity to embarrass them, but use it as an opportunity to steer them in the right direction. As we live our lives each day, let’s remember to treat others the right way.<br><br>
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” – 1 John 4:7<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2341722012-10-16T22:48:34-04:002012-10-16T22:48:34-04:00What Are You Thinking About? <span class="text">“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.</span>” – Proverbs 23:7. The way a person thinks can play a major role in the type of progress they make throughout the course of their life. Today’s blog entry is titled “What are you thinking about?”
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">The way a person thinks can impact the way they act, and the way a person acts can impact the type of results they produce. It’s important to for us to be thankful to God, and realize that we are blessed. There may be times in life when you experience challenging things, but don’t let thoughts of despair/depression fill your mind. Focus your attention to God, and how awesome He is. Go to the Bible and read about all the great things He has done. Spend time in prayer praising God, and asking Him for wisdom on how to handle your current situation.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.</span>” – Joshua 1:8</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">As human beings living in this society, it can be easy to respond to situations the same way that we’ve seen other people respond. For instance, if someone receives bad news, one of the first responses for a person can often be that of panic/fear/worry; However as Christians we should remember “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.</span>”- 2 Timothy 1:7. We shouldn’t allow fear to dominate us; we should remain calm, and seek God for the way we should proceed. </p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">It’s important for us to remember to follow God’s Word in every area of our life. What I mean by this is sometimes people try to pick and choose what they want to follow in the Bible. They may follow what it says about prayer, however ignore what it says in regards to a relationship/purity, (because they would rather follow what society says is ok in that area). We should use the Bible as our standard, and not the opinions of other people. Even if a person is professing to be a Christian, we should still check to make sure the advice they give lines up with the Bible.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus, let us make sure that we approach life with the right mindset. If you’re up against a challenge, do not let it cause you to worry. If negative thoughts start entering your mind, quickly counter those thoughts with the Word of God. Be mindful of the things that you watch and listen to. Be strong and continue to have faith in Jesus Christ!<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.</span>” – Philippians 4:8</p><p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2293122012-10-09T17:20:00-04:002012-10-09T17:20:00-04:00Living For Eternity“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” – Matthew 25:21. After this life is over, every person wants to hear the words “Well Done”. The important thing is to make sure you’re prepared, and have lived a life that will allow you to hear those words. Today’s blog entry is titled “Living For Eternity”.<br><br>
Picture this…..You’re standing before Jesus Christ. Your family and friends are not there. It’s you and Jesus. At that moment, it won’t matter: how many friends you had, how successful of a career you had, how many awards you won, etc. Doing good deeds will not get a person into Heaven. Isaiah 64:6 lets us know “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”….. Human righteousness is as filthy rags, we must receive Jesus Christ in order to be saved (and have Eternal Life…See John 14:6). <br><br>
With this being said, much of society is focused on things that are temporary. And it’s important that we do not allow this to rub off on us. We should be focused on spreading the Gospel to others, letting them know about the importance of living for Jesus Christ. There are so many ways that a person can be distracted, and caught up in the cares of this life. There are many people that do not understand the way salvation works, they just expect to automatically go to Heaven after they die. Take a moment and think about how long Eternity is…..Not a million years…..Not a billion years…..But FOREVER. And I think it’s safe to say that most (if not all) of us have people in our lives that we know who are not saved (and thus would go to Hell if they died at the moment). So we should honestly ask ourselves, have I really shared the Gospel with these people. We should also look at how we witness to others in general. Is making disciples a priority in our lives?....It most definitely should be. Matthew 28:19 tells us “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”….If we truly love people, we should want them to be saved, we should be willing to tell them the truth even if we feel they may reject what we have to say. <br><br>
So as we live our lives, let us remember to keep things in their proper perspective. Let’s examine our true motives. People may be able to fool other people, but they definitely can’t fool God. We all will have to give an account for the way we live our lives on earth. So let’s live our lives in a way that glorifies God. <br><br>
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”- 1 Samuel 16:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2244552012-10-02T19:20:00-04:002012-10-02T19:20:00-04:00Don't Give Into Temptation“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” – James 1:12 …Today’s blog entry is titled, “Don’t Give Into Temptation”….<br><br>
As we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, it’s important for us to stay focused on doing what He has called us to do. We should obey His word regardless of how we feel, and regardless of the current trends of society. Sometimes we may encounter challenges during our Christian walk, but we shouldn’t allow those challenges to cause us to cause us to lose faith in God. During challenging times, we should continue to trust in Jesus, and rely upon Him.<br><br>
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9<br><br>
A person can be tempted in a number of different ways. And a certain thing that tempts one individual may not necessarily tempt another individual. So let’s take a look at the following passage of scripture to get to the root of the issue:<br><br>
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:14-15<br><br>
The following passage of scripture is very insightful. We shouldn’t allow anything to draw us away from the Word of God. We should have an appetite for the things of God (not sinful things). With this in mind, it’s very important for us to be careful of the things we watch/listen to, as well as the places we go. For example, let’s look at things from another perspective. If a person really enjoys eating chocolate, and has made a commitment to stop eating chocolate for two weeks; it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to go the candy section of the grocery store several times throughout those two weeks and look at the various chocolate candies the store sells (picking up various candy bars, smelling them, etc). Going to the grocery store and doing this puts the person in a vulnerable position where they are more likely to give into the urge to buy and eat the chocolate. Likewise if a person knows they have been battling the temptation to commit a certain sinful act, they shouldn’t put themselves in a vulnerable situation that would increase their chances of committing the sinful act. <br><br>
Every day of our lives we should give the best effort that we can to serve God. Yes there are times when we make mistakes during the Christian walk, but we should be striving to grow in our relationship with Jesus on a continual basis (See 1st John 1:5-10). So let us remember to stand on the Word of God regardless of what we are facing. Remember that Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, so let us do the very best that we can to live a life that pleases Him.<br><br>
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/513402012-09-25T09:09:47-04:002012-09-25T09:09:47-04:00Serving Is Important“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” – Romans 12:1….Today’s blog entry is titled “Serving Is Important”.<br><br>
What’s more important in your life…..Doing what you want to do? ….Or doing what God wants you to do? I’m quite sure most (if not all) people reading this would answer “Doing what God wants.” And while it’s definitely important to have that type of mindset, it’s also important that we actually live it out through our actions. In today’s society, a lot of the emphasis is often put on doing what feels good. However we should be striving to please God. We shouldn’t let the world’s bad habits rub off on us. We should live our lives according to the Word of God, and be a good example to unbelievers. It’s important to remember that we will have to give an account to God for the way that we lived our lives on earth. With this in mind, it’s important to stay focused, and not allow distractions to take us off the course that God has us on. <br><br>
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” – Colossians 3:1-4<br><br>
It’s good to have goals; however we should be seeking God for guidance and wisdom, so that we are pursuing what He wants us to pursue. We should be sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ on a regular basis, and helping others grow in their walk with Jesus Christ. <br><br>
There are also many ways that we can provide acts of service to others (in a natural sense), some of which include: Giving someone a ride to church, cutting someone’s grass, volunteering, etc. The important thing is to be led by God in the things that we do. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember to look at the big picture. What good would it do to have “earthly success”, and yet not be following God’s plan for our life? The Christian life is not about doing whatever we want to do; it’s about following Jesus Christ…..And Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant. He laid down His life so that we could have eternal life. And I am truly thankful! <br><br>
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2162742012-09-18T16:14:36-04:002012-09-18T16:14:36-04:00You Are Different“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” – 1 Peter 2:9… Today’s blog entry is titled “You Are Different”.<br><br>
As born again Christians, it’s important for us to realize that we should live our lives in a way that glorifies Jesus Christ. We live in a fallen world, and there are many people that live lifestyles that are contrary to the Word of God. With this being said, there can sometimes be a tendency to want to fit in with the “majority of people” (at school, on the job, and in life in general). However, we should never compromise the truth of God’s word in order to fit in. We shouldn’t give into pressure from our peers to do sinful things. We should stand on the Word of God, and proudly represent Jesus Christ. In some situations this may result in you being the odd person out (which can be difficult), however remember that God will never leave you nor forsake you (See Hebrews 13:5). Rely upon Jesus Christ, to get you through any challenges that you may face.<br><br>
The mindset that we approach life with can play a huge role in the way we live our lives; so it’s good for us to examine ourselves and look at our priorities. If a person places a higher value on what their family/friends (and other people in general) think of them than what God thinks of them, that’s a big problem. The Word of God should influence us more than any person does. It’s understandable to want to be liked by people, however it’s important not to fall apart if/when people don’t like us.<br><br>
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17<br><br>
If you are a person that has recently gotten saved, you may encounter some family/friends (and other people) that are not happy with your change. They may even try to bring up things that you have done in your past to try to make you feel guilty. However, it’s important to realize that you are a new creature in Jesus Christ. Don’t allow people to make you feel bad, stay focused on Jesus Christ, and carry out His will for your life.<br><br>
If you are a person that has been saved for a long time, don’t allow people to make feel like you’ve missed out on things in life. Sin has pleasure for a season (See Hebrews 11:25), but the wages of sin is death (See Romans 6:23). Following Jesus Christ is the best decision you could ever make. God provides us with peace that passes all understanding (See Philippians 4:7). <br><br>
As we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus Christ, let us remember that we should be leading people to Christ (and not allowing people to influence in a negative way). Don’t be afraid to be different. Be the person that God has called you to be.<br><br>
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” – 1 Corinthians 6:20<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2127922012-09-11T17:35:48-04:002012-09-11T17:35:48-04:00Don't Be Jealous, Be ThankfulA person can become jealous when they spend too much time focusing on what other people have, instead of being thankful for what God has blessed them with. “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.” – James 3:14….Today’s blog entry is titled “Don’t Be Jealous, Be Thankful”….<br><br>
Jealousy can come in a number of different ways, and if it’s not dealt with properly, it can lead to all sorts of problems. It’s important for us to be secure with who we are in Jesus Christ. We should be focused on pleasing Him, and carrying out His will for our lives. Each of us are unique. God has blessed us with gifts/abilities, and we should use those gifts/abilities the way that He intended for us to use them. It’s ok for us to have people that we look up to and admire, but we should be careful to make sure that we stay on the path that God has us on instead of trying to mimic another person’s life. <br><br>
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” – Isaiah 26:3<br><br>
Sometimes one person may be tempted to look at another person’s life and point out certain advantages the other person had. This can lead to one person having thoughts of resentment towards another person. However when we keep our minds focused on God, we can constantly remind ourselves of how great He is, and how great He has been to us. When people constantly compare themselves to other people, they can lose sight of the fact that God has called them to do something different. For example, just picture if a football team watched a basketball game and then tried to go out and mimic everything they saw when they played their next football game. It wouldn’t work. They are two separate sports, with separates sets of rules, and they are designed to be play differently than each other. Likewise if we try to be someone that God has not called us to be, it can lead to a lot of problems. <br><br>
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11<br><br>
As Christians, we should be encouraging each other. When God blesses a brother or sister in Christ, we should be happy for them. It’s important to remember that we’re all part of the same body (The Body Of Christ). And if you see people who are not Christians, that seem to be getting ahead in life, remember this verse “ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” – Mark 8:36. If a person dies without Jesus Christ, they will spend eternity in the lake of fire, and no amount of money they accumulate can change that. With this in mind, we should give the best effort that we can to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. So as we live our lives, let us be thankful for everything God has done for us. Let’s encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. And let’s continue to spread the Gospel. Remember to show forth Love.<br><br>
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” – James 3:16-18<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/601092012-09-04T05:59:02-04:002012-09-04T05:59:02-04:00What Do You Value?It’s important for us to examine our lives, and take a look at what we are truly placing value on. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33. Today’s blog entry is titled “What Do You Value?”<br><br>
The things that we place value on can play a large role in the way we live our lives. If a person values the opinions of other people over the Bible, they put themselves in a position to constantly live a lifestyle of trying to please others, instead of trying to please God. The way a person spends their time is a big indicator of what they place value on. If a person can always make time for things such as: Watching TV, being on the internet, texting, talking to friends, etc., but spends very little time reading the Bible, praying, praising God, their actions are showing that they would rather spend time doing secular things than spending time with God.<br><br>
It’s very important that we think about the big picture. If we’re not careful, it can be easy to get caught up in the current trends of the World today. We should be living our lives with an eternal perspective. God put us on earth for a reason. We should be seeking Him, and desiring to carry out His will. The enemy understands that some people will not get involved in things such as: fornication, pornography, partying, etc. But if he can distract a person with excessive use of the TV, the internet, video games, etc., it can still do a lot of damage. Think of it this way….You have an NBA basketball player that is a starter and key player for his team, who has developed a habit of excessively watching DVD movies at home. He does it so much to the point that he starts missing games. While this player may be extremely talented, he can’t help his team on the court if he’s not showing up to games. Someone reading this may be thinking, “Come on that’s ridiculous, what NBA player would do that”. However, if we excessively occupy our time with the cares of this world, we are in essence doing what the basketball player is doing (and our assignments from God are obviously a whole lot more important than basketball). <br>
Eternity is a very long time. It’s important that we give the best effort that we can serving God. The things that we do can have a huge impact on other people. It’s important to have a genuine relationship with Christ, and renew our minds daily with the Word of God. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to pick up the bad habits of the world. Many people in this world place a high value on status. Being validated by other people is of great importance to them, however if you’re not pleasing God with your life, you’re wasting your time. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” – Mark 8:36<br><br>
It’s good to examine our lives, and take an inventory of the way we’re spending our time, and money. We should be good stewards over the things that God has blessed us with. If we find that we have been placing value on the wrong things, we should repent, and focus our attention on the things of God. We should be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others, and helping others grow in their walk with Him. So as we go about our day today, let us ask ourselves “What Do I Value?”<br><br>
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. – Psalm 71:8<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2061872012-08-28T18:18:12-04:002012-08-28T18:18:12-04:00Dealing With LustIf a person has lust in their life, it can lead to big problems. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” - 1 John 2:16. Today’s blog entry is titled “Dealing With Lust”.<br><br>
One way lust can be defined is “an intense longing” (Via Merriam-Webster.com)<br><br>
When we hear the word lust, one of the first things that may often come to mind is sexual desire. And while sexual desire is definitely a common form of lust, it’s not the only form. People can also lust for things such as: power, fame, money, and many other things. While the things an individual lusts for may vary from person to person, the cause for sinful lust is the result of the desire to please self. <br><br>
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24<br><br>
Self-denial is an important part of the Christian walk. When a person puts their own desires ahead of obeying God, they open the door to a lot of trouble. We should always remember that we are here to please God. Jesus went through so much so for us, and we should be able to make sacrifices for Him. If a person is dealing with sexual lust, they should examine what they are taking in (as far as what are they watching, listening to, etc). If a person is constantly thinking about committing fornication, it can make it even more challenging to resist the temptation of having pre-marital sex. It’s also important for the person to avoid situations that would give them easy access to commit fornication. <br><br>
If a person is lusting for power, there could be a number of reasons for this. One reason could be because they have unresolved issues from their past where they felt like they did not have control, and as a result they constantly want to have control. Another reason could be because they would like to receive a certain level of recognition from the general public. Sometimes people try to cover up insecurity by attaining certain things. However, if we have insecurity in our lives, we should address it. We should be secure with who we are in Christ. <br><br>
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” – 2 Timothy 4:2<br><br>
At the time of this blog entry, some High School Football teams have already played their first game of the season. And while the practice regiments may have varied from team to team, one common form of practicing leading up to the first game is called Two-A-Days. This is where the team holds two separate practices in a day. Doing this helps a team prepare and get conditioned for the upcoming season. The preparation starts before the day of the first game. Likewise in our Christian walk, it’s important to build ourselves up in understanding the Word of God. We shouldn’t wait until we have a problem to start reading the Bible, praying, etc. It should be a way of life. <br><br>
As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to keep Him first. Don’t allow lust to get you off track. Be secure in Christ. <br><br>
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/2027552012-08-21T09:25:34-04:002012-08-21T09:25:34-04:00Be PatientWhen we’re really looking forward to something specific happening in our lives, “patience” may not be a word that we want to hear. However being able to have patience is very important. “<span class="text">But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.</span>” – James 1:4. Today’s blog entry deals with being patient.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">If you’ve every baked/cooked something before, one thing that you probably realized is the importance of understanding how long it would take the particular item/dish to cook before it was ready. Different dishes may take different amounts of time to cook. If you take the item out of the oven before it is done cooking, it will likely result in the food not tasting so good, or at least not tasting as good as it could have tasted had it cooked as long as it should have. Even if a person is extremely hungry, they should still be patient, and let the food fully cook, instead of rushing the process and taking it out of the oven prematurely.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">And while this may make sense when applied to cooking, it may be a little bit easier to overlook when applied to our everyday lives. When we are studying the Bible, and passionately seeking God, we may get to the point where we feel like we’re not progressing as fast as we would like to. And while we may be a lot more mature in our Christian walk than we once were, it’s important that we don’t leave the path that God has us on. Sometimes we may be hungry to do more, but it’s important that we finish the process that God has put before us, and that we do so in a thankful manner.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.</span>” - Ecclesiastes 7:8</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">It’s important that we learn the things that we need to learn during this current season of our life, and make the most of the current opportunities God has blessed us with. Don’t be distracted by the “What everybody else is doing mindset”. In other words, don’t feel like you have to compare yourself to everybody else. You are a unique individual, and it’s important for you to be secure with who you are in Jesus Christ. If insecurity is not dealt with, it can lead to big problems down the road. It’s important that we examine ourselves, and take an honest look at the areas we need to improve in.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us stay motivated to carry our His plan, and remain patient throughout the process.<p></p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">“And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.</span>” – Hebrews 6:15</p><p></p>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1997672012-08-14T08:43:42-04:002012-08-14T08:43:42-04:00Do Not Be AfraidThroughout our Christian walk we may face opposition, and various challenges; However we should never allow fear to stop us from obeying God. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1 …Today’s blog entry is titled “Do Not Be Afraid”.<br><br>
Can you think of a time when you were really afraid to do something at first, but later worked up enough courage to do it, and after the fact you thought to yourself “That wasn’t bad at all, I wish I would have done it sooner”. Maybe it was riding a roller coaster for the first time, or maybe it was the first time you had to speak in front of a large group of people. If we are dominated by fear, we can miss out on many things, however if we trust in Jesus, and overcome fear, we can get a lot accomplished.<br><br>
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7<br><br>
Someone reading this may be thinking, “Yeah, I know I shouldn’t be afraid, but I’m having a hard time getting over this particular thing in my life….What should I do?” Well, let’s look at another verse that talks about fear… “ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”- 1 John 4:18. This is a very insightful verse. It’s lets us know that “perfect love casteth out fear”, and 1 John 4:8 lets us know that God is love. So if we want to get rid of fear, we should trust God, and obey His Word. Fear is a tactic that the enemy tries to use against Christians, and God lets us know how to withstand the enemy in Ephesians chapter 6. “ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11. You can check out Ephesians 6:12-18 for a more information about the armor of God.<br><br>
When we meditate on God’s Word, and apply it, we can start to see some major changes take place in our lives. If a person is having a hard time getting over the fear of a certain thing, they should spend time in prayer about the situation, and read/meditate on a number of scriptures that deal specifically with not being afraid. The Bible lets us know that faith without works is dead (See James 2:17), so we also need to have faith and move forward. If a person has been afraid to speak publicly in the past, and God provides them with a new opportunity to speak, the person needs to walk by faith, and speak. When a person does something for the first time (that they were previously afraid to do), they may still feel uncomfortable at first, but the important thing is that they move forward. <br><br>
As we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus, let us have courage, and do the things that He has called us to do. Be strong in the Lord, and never let fear hold you back. <br>
“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” – Isaiah 41:13<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1974252012-08-07T16:12:00-04:002012-08-07T16:12:00-04:00Communication"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." – Proverbs 15:1<br><br>
Communication is an important part of life, whether it’s a person at a restaurant telling the waiter/waitress what they would like to order, a parent telling their child how much they love them, or a relative giving driving directions to a family member from out of town who will soon be visiting; We are often placed in situations where we need to communicate something to someone. The things we say (and the way we say them) can have a huge impact on people. Today’s blog entry deals with “Communication”.<br><br>
Communication is extremely important in friendships/relationships. In order for two people to get to know each other, they’re going to need to spend time communicating with each other. It’s not only important that we communicate, but also that we communicate effectively. We should use respect when speaking to each other. There may be times when two people disagree, but we should still remain respectful if those types of situations arise. Sometimes, the way we say things, can impact a person more than the actual words that we have spoken.<br><br>
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” – Ephesians 4:15<br><br>
If we have an issue with someone, we should spend time in prayer, and ask God for guidance as to how we should move forward. We shouldn’t go around telling everybody about how much the person irritates us; instead we should go directly to the person in a respectful manner (making sure we speak to them in a way that shows forth love). Sometimes a person can be doing something that’s annoying another person, and not even realize it until the other person brings it up (I realize this is not always the case). This is very important in relationships because what can happen is... Person A will go to their friends and vent about Person B, instead of going directly to Person B about the situation. As time goes on, Person A gets even more upset with Person B as a result of the feedback they’re getting from friends. And eventually, a situation that could have easily been defused ends up causing a lot of problems within the friendship/relationship. If we’re in a situation where we feel like we need to address someone, I think it’s a good idea to put ourselves in that person’s shoe’s, and speak to them the way we would want to be spoken to if the situation were reversed.<br><br>
When people communicate in a way that is effective, a lot can be accomplished. One area where you may have seen this played out is during a sporting event. In a sport like Football, it is very important that everyone on is on the same page. Each player in the game needs to know the play is about to be ran, so that they can be in the proper position to execute the play. If players don’t communicate with each other on the field properly, it can lead to a lot problems, but if they communicate well, it can lead to a lot of success. Likewise, if we communicate with others well in our everyday lives, our friendships/relationships can continue to grow. <br><br>
As we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus, let us communicate with Him on a daily basis through prayer. Let us continue to speak the truth in love, and share the Gospel with others. Let us constantly strive to be more like Jesus, and honor Him in everything we do.<br><br>
“ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”- 1 Corinthians 10:31 <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1952902012-07-31T21:25:21-04:002012-07-31T21:25:21-04:00Make The Most Of The Opportunities God Gives You"His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:"- Matthew 25:23. Today's blog entry deals with making the most of the opportunities God blesses you with.<br><br>
As we live our lives it's important that we don't overlook the opportunities God has given us. Sometimes an opportunity can be easy to identify, while at others an opportunity can be easy to overlook. For example, one thought that may tend to cross the minds of some born again Christians who work full time jobs (that are non-ministry related jobs) is "I'm thankful to have a job, but I really wish I could do full time ministry." The person may even be praying for God to allow them to work in ministry full time. The important thing to remember in a scenario like this is that ministry can also be done outside of a church setting. There are many people who don't go to church, and one reason the person (seeking to be in full time ministry) is at their current job could be because God specifically wants them there to witness to their co-workers.<br><br>
"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." - Luke 12:48<br><br>
It's good to have goals, and make progress, but we should also be thankful for what we have already been blessed with and understand that growth is a process. Sometimes, we may have the desire to progress at a faster pace than we've been moving at, but it's important that we learn all the things we need to learn at the current stage, so that we can be more effective at the next stage. Think back to when you were a child in school. When you learned different subjects, it was most likely done in a systematic type of way. For example, before you started learning how to read, it was important for you to understand the alphabet. Before you started doing complex math problems, it was important to have an understanding of how to add and subtract.<br><br>
It's important for us to be faithful over every assignment that God has given us. We may want to move on to other things that we feel are more important (or that we have more interest in), but if God has entrusted us with something, we should be grateful, and give our best effort. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us make an effort to make the most of every opportunity that God gives us.<br><br>
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”- 1 Corinthians 15:58<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1929562012-07-24T17:35:23-04:002012-07-24T17:35:23-04:00Help OthersHow would you feel if someone came along and provided you with the help that you needed to complete a big task that you've been trying to accomplish for quite some time?...Now I would like to reverse that question, and ask, Is there someone in your life that you know could really use your help right now to complete a task? "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35. Today's blog entry is titled "Help Others".<br><br>
In last week's blog entry, I talked about having a plan. It's very important to seek God as you're putting your plan together, and continually monitor your progress. With this being said, I also think it's important that we also make time to help others. As we continue to make progress in our lives, we should never allow ourselves to become selfish. There is definitely a difference between having a drive to succeed, and being self-centered. We should never lose sight of the fact that God has given us the abilities that we have. As it says in Deuteronomy 8:18, "But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." <br><br>
So you may be thinking to yourself, who should I help? And how will I help them? If we're wondering who could use our help, it's a good idea to spend time in prayer, and ask God to guide us in that area. As we start to take a closer look at our lives (and the people in our lives) we will likely find many opportunities to help others. Sometimes help may come in the form of: assisting someone with yard work, taking someone (who doesn’t have a vehicle) grocery shopping, tutoring/helping a student with their homework, etc. Another thing that may give us insight as to how we can help another person is to put yourself in their shoes and think “If I was them, what are the type of things I would like to receive help with?"<br><br>
When we’re helping others, it should be motivated by Love. We shouldn’t help (give to) others with ulterior motives. We should be motivated by Jesus. He laid down His life for us, so we should be willing give to others. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28. <br>
Each day we have an opportunity to impact someone’s life in a positive way; So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us continue to help others, and be thankful to God for everything that He has done for us.<br><br>
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” – Philippians 2:4<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1907282012-07-17T19:25:00-04:002012-07-17T19:25:00-04:00Having A PlanAs we seek God in regards to carrying out a: certain task, mission, assignment, etc; It’s important that we put together a plan (using His guidance). “Let all things be done decently and in order.”- 1 Corinthians 14:40. Today’s blog entry is titled “Having A Plan”.<br><br>
If you watch sports, you may have heard a statement such as, “That coach really put together a great game plan.” Something like this may typically be said when a team is able to maximize its own strengths (and minimize it weaknesses), while forcing the opposition to do just the opposite. When putting together a game plan, it’s important for the coach to have a good understanding of his/her team, as well as them team they will be playing against. By having an understanding of those things, the coach knows what tools are available to them, and what tools the other team may try to use against them. Having a talented team is a “plus” for a coach, however if the coach doesn’t utilize the talent the right way, the team will not be as successful as it could have been. <br><br>
In our lives when we’re preparing for something (whether it’s school, a new career, marriage, etc.), it’s important to have an idea of how we’re going to make progress and accomplish our goals. For example, if someone got accepted into a college out of state (receiving a full ride scholarship); They would need to have a plan for how they were going to move down there, when they were going to move in, they would also eventually need to schedule their classes. It wouldn’t make sense for the student to wait until the first day classes to begin trying to figure out how they were going to move out of state. And while the need for planning may seem obvious in the college example I just mentioned, it may be easier to overlook in other areas in our everyday lives. I think it’s a good idea to ask ourselves the question “If God were to provide me with the opportunity I’ve been praying for (whether it’s starting a new ministry, starting a family, etc.) do I have a plan in place to help me make the most of the opportunity that I’ve been blessed with. <br><br>
“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:12-13<br><br>
When putting together a plan, you may encounter challenges, and unexpected setbacks along the way, but don’t let that discourage you. Rely upon Jesus, and keep moving forward. May sure that you continually seek Him when you’re making decisions. It’s good to have ideas and goals, but it’s also important to have a plan as to how you will accomplish those ideas/goals. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to walk by faith, and carry out the plan that God has given us.<br><br>
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” – James 2:17-18<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1880562012-07-10T12:40:00-04:002012-07-10T12:40:00-04:00Be Diligent“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6 …Being diligent is a part of the Christian walk. When God has called us to do something, it’s important that we remain faithful, and carry out the assignments that He has given us. Today’s blog entry is “Be Diligent”.<br><br>
The 2012 Olympics will be starting soon. There will be a many different athletes, representing many different countries, competing in a number of sports/events. And while the athletes may come from different walks of life, one thing that they have in common, is that they had to earn a spot to compete in the Olympics. To compete at that level, it takes a lot of hard work. Many of the athletes may have faced challenges/barriers along the way (such as not qualifying for a past Olympics, injuries, etc), however if they wanted to compete, it was important for them to overcome those challenges and continue making progress.<br><br>
In our walk with Christ, it’s important that we do not give up on the things that we have been called to do. If we’re facing a challenge, we shouldn’t be afraid, and we shouldn’t get depressed. We should cast our cares upon Jesus. We should also spend time in prayer seeking God for a solution. The Bible let us know that Jesus constantly spent time in prayer when He was on earth.<br><br>
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” – Mark 1:35<br><br>
It’s important that we examine ourselves, and be honest about the things that we need to improve about ourselves. In some cases (not all cases), the reason that we haven’t advanced and achieved certain things, could be because we have an unresolved issue in our life that needs to be addressed. For example, say there’s a talented high school basketball player who plays point guard. His goal is to be the best point guard in the state, and get recruited by a top level college basketball program. He’s a hard worker, and he has a lot of skill, however he’s right handed, and he hasn’t taken the time to develop his left handed ball handling skills. As a result of this, the defenders from opposing teams are able to limit what this player can do by forcing him to go to his left handed side. He eventually starts receiving recruitment letters from different colleges; however he doesn’t get recruited by the colleges that he had on the top of his list. At that point he has the option to get upset, and try to convince himself that the coaches are “hating on him”. Or he can take an honest look at his game, and start to put a lot of time into developing his left hand. Likewise, in life we have the option to blame things on others, or work to improve areas that we have previously been weak in.<br><br>
There are also times where a person can obey God, make good decisions, and yet still go through some very challenging things. The story of Joseph in the book of Genesis (You can read about Joseph in chapters 37-50 of the book) gives a lot of insight on this. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him, and ended up selling him. Joseph became a slave, and spent many years dealing with challenging things. However, Joseph was eventually placed in a very powerful position in Egypt, and was able to help his family during a time of famine. God sees things that we can’t see, and it’s important for us to endure the process that He’s taking us through. We need to maintain our integrity, and be determined to obey God, regardless of what other people have to say about it. Things may not be going the way you planned, but don’t give up. Endure the process. Be diligent!<br><br>
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1858332012-07-03T06:45:00-04:002012-07-03T06:45:00-04:00Living Life With An Eternal Perspective"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." - John 6:27. It’s important that we live life with an eternal perspective. We will all have to give an account to God for the way that we lived on earth. Today's blog entry is titled “Living Life With An Eternal Perspective”.<br><br>
In today’s society there are many different things that can distract us if we’re not careful. Sometimes people allow things such as: personal goals, the desire to be successful, relationships, etc, to become their primary focus in life. With this is mind, it’s very important that we renew our mind with the Word of God daily (See Romans 12:2). God should be our primary focus; He should always be first in our lives.<br><br>
Have you ever had a time in your life where you spent more time with God than you normally do, and as a result, it really opened your eyes to some things? For example, say you have a person that normally watches a lot of TV, who decided to go on a week-long fast (which included not watching TV). During this fast, they spent a lot of time praying and reading the Bible. After completing the fast, they feel stronger in their walk with God. When they turn the TV back on, they also notice that a lot of the stuff they were watching contained content that was in direct violation of God’s Word, and as a result, the person no longer has a desire to watch certain TV shows. When we spend more time with God, we will have a desire to be more like Him. <br><br>
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”- 2 Corinthians 4:17<br><br>
The Christian walk can be filled with many different challenges; however we should never allow these challenges to cause to stop living for Jesus. There may be times when people distance themselves from you because you are living a Christian lifestyle, but don’t let that discourage you. Remind yourself that God will never leave your nor forsake you (See Hebrews 13:5). It’s also important that we remind ourselves of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. If He was willing to endure pain and suffering for us, we should be willing to endure the challenges we go through, and continue to live for Him.<br><br>
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. – Luke 19:13<br><br>
If you notice, the verse above says “Occupy till I come”. I use this verse because I want to point out the fact that living with an eternal perspective doesn’t mean that we should sit around being idle doing nothing waiting for Jesus to come back. We should be good stewards over the resources God has blessed us with. We should continue to make progress in our lives; however we should keep things in their proper perspective. So as we continue to live for Jesus, let us life our lives with an eternal perspective, and continue to grow in our understanding of the Word of God.<br><br>
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. – John 4:14<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1839032012-06-26T14:42:15-04:002012-06-26T14:42:15-04:00Dealing With AngerIf we don’t deal with anger properly, it can lead to big problems in: our walk with Christ, our relationships with others, our careers, and other areas of our lives. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” - James 1:19-20. Today’s blog entry is “Dealing With Anger”.<br><br>
“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” – Proverbs 14:29<br><br>
Have you ever responded to something that happened in your life with anger, and after learning more information about the situation, wish you had responded differently? For instance, say person A was supposed to meet up with person B at an agreed upon time. After about 30 minutes of waiting for person B (with no response to phone calls), person A is furious and leaves the place they were supposed to meet. Person A then proceeds to bash person B on social networks. Later in the day, person A finally does hear from person B, and finds out that person B’s car broke down, and they were stranded for hours, they weren’t able to call because they were in an area where they couldn’t get a signal on their phone. After hearing about what happened, person A feels really bad about the way they responded....It’s a good idea for us to have a good understanding about a situation before we jump to conclusions. <br><br>
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” – Ephesians 4:26-27<br><br>
There are also times in life where people may intentionally do things that are wrong, which can result in us getting angry. For example, say you have two students that are working on a group assignment for a class. Student A has been doing 99 % of the work (student A really wants to get a good grade, and picks up student B’s slack without even complaining), student B has shown very little interest in the assignment. However, when they go to turn in the assignment, student B lies to the teacher to make it seem they did more work than Student A, and even calls student A lazy. This obviously upsets student A, however instead of hurling insults at student B, or threating to fight student B; Student A calmly (but thoroughly) explains what really happened to the teacher, and provides the teacher with the computer document files (which student B was unable to produce). Student A goes on to receive proper credit for the assignment, while student B receives no credit.<br><br>
It’s important that we keep our emotions in check, even if people do us wrong. We shouldn’t allow another person to get us to act out in a sinful way. We live in a fallen world, and while we may face conflicts throughout are lives, we can take comfort in the fact that God will never leave us. So as we continue to live for Jesus, let us make a conscience effort to respond to life’s situations in a way that Honor’s God.<br><br>
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” – Colossians 3:8<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1803372012-06-19T05:06:14-04:002012-06-19T05:06:14-04:00Be Led By Jesus“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” – 1 John 4:1. A Christian should not follow horoscopes, and I explain why in today’s blog entry, “Be Led By Jesus”.<br><br>
One definition of the word Horoscope (via TheFreeDictionary.com) reads as follows “An astrological forecast, as of a person's future, based on a diagram of the aspect of the planets and stars at a given moment.” <br><br>
Horoscopes are widely accepted in today’s culture; however they are in direct violation of God’s Word. A person should not allow stars/planets in the sky to give them spiritual guidance.<br><br>
“Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.” - Isaiah 47:13-14<br><br>
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” – Leviticus 19:31<br><br>
“So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.” - 1 Chronicles 10:13-14<br><br>
God wants us to seek Him, and be led by Him. When a person consults a physic, horoscope, etc…they are using that source for guidance. This is a form of idolatry/witchcraft. We should never allow anything to take the place of God’s guidance. As it says in Proverbs 10:24, “Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?” We shouldn’t use methods that God never intended for us to use, in order to try to figure out things about our life.<br><br>
If you regularly read horoscopes you may be thinking to yourself “Whoa, witchcraft, I’m not into witchcraft or anything like that.” It’s important to realize that the devil is a deceiver, and he presents things that are very harmful, as being harmless fun. Don’t fall for his tricks. <br><br>
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” – Hosea 4:6<br><br>
The enemy wants to control the way we think, he wants to have influence over us, and we shouldn’t give him any entry points. That includes horoscopes, as well as TV shows, Movies, Music, Books, etc that present messages that are Anti-Christian. There is a spiritual battle going on….as it says in Ephesians 6:12-13, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.<br><br>
If you have been following horoscopes, I admonish you stop. This is very serious. I also recommend that you let your family and friends know about the importance of being led by God (and not horoscopes). <br><br>
As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us be led by Him, and remain faithful to the things we have been called to do.<br><br>
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” <br>
– Romans 12:2<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1772222012-06-12T07:57:49-04:002012-06-12T07:57:49-04:00True LoveThe word “Love” is often used in today’s society, but is it really love? Many times people will say they love someone because of the pleasure/enjoyment they are receiving (from that person), and yet overlook the fact that true love involves giving. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16. Today’s blog entry deals with true love.<br><br>
Love is not measured by what a person can get from another person; however love can be measured by what a person is willing to give to/for another person. We live in a world where many people are focused on pleasing themselves. People often disregard God’s Word and do whatever they feel like doing. However as Christians, we should not be living our lives that way. We should be living to please God. If we truly love Him, we should obey Him. As it says in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”<br><br>
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” - Ephesians 5:25<br><br>
When a person truly loves another person, they should be willing to make sacrifices for them. For instance, if a husband says he loves his wife because she’s pretty, she’s a good cook, she constantly compliments him, etc….and yet he’s unwilling to do anything for her (refuses to make any sacrifices for her), then he’s not displaying true biblical love. He’s simply listing things about her that he enjoys. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s wrong to appreciate things about a person, but the point I’m making is that just because person A enjoys what person B does for them, doesn’t automatically mean that person A loves person B. We should love people regardless of what they can do for us.<br><br>
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8<br><br>
When we think about love, we should think about what we can give to help another person. In the example of the husband mentioned earlier, it could mean him spending time with his wife, doing things that she likes to do. There are many different ways that he can express his love to his wife, but the important thing is that he’s actively displaying love to his wife.<br><br>
As Christians, it’s important that we do not allow ourselves to become selfish. We should continually remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Jesus, let us make an effort to display true love.<br><br>
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1752142012-06-05T11:40:00-04:002012-06-05T11:40:00-04:00Starting Something NewHas God been doing some new things in your life? Whether we’re starting a new job, starting a new relationship (courtship, marriage, etc), or taking on a new role within a ministry; It’s important that we embrace what God is doing in our lives, and continue to seek Him. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:19. Today’s blog entry deals with starting something new.<br><br>
Before I go any further I would like to have you think back to when you were first starting high school (Yup, that good ol’ Freshman year…lol). The experience may have varied depending on the type of school you went to. For example, some people may have gone to a school that had Kindergarten through 12 grade in the same building (or some may have went to high school that had 7th-12th grade in the same building). And if that’s the case, your experience may have been a little different than what I’m about to describe, but there are probably still some things you’ll be able to relate to.<br><br>
As a freshman, it didn’t take me long to realize that high school was definitely different from middle school/jr. high. For starters, many of the students from the other grades were a lot bigger than our class. It’s one of those things that could really sink in when you’re walking the hall ways and looking at the upperclassmen. As a freshman in high school we also started with a clean slate as far as grades were concerned. Grades were important prior to high school, but the difference now is that my grades would be on my permanent record and would be looked at by the colleges I applied to in the future. So anyhow, long story short, I ended up learning a lot and growing during high school, and eventually went to college. During the transition from middle school to high school, it was important for me to make the proper adjustments so that I could continue to progress. Much of what I did in high school would have an impact on my life beyond my high school years.<br><br>
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8<br><br>
When God allows us to start something new in our lives, it’s important that we continue to remain obedient, and maintain a positive attitude. For instance, if God blesses us with a new job, we should be thankful and give the very best effort that we can on that job. We shouldn’t complain about how bad our old job was. Bringing in baggage from a past (negative) employment experience, can actually hinder your progress on the new job. Likewise it’s important that people do not bring negative pre conceived notions about the opposite gender into a new relationship. If you have been hurt by the opposite sex in the past, do not assume that everyone in that gender will do the same thing. Remember if the relationship is truly from God, you should be willing to embrace it without thinking the worst (and if it’s not from God, you may want to examine why you’re even in the relationship in the first place). <br><br>
This isn’t to say that things will always go perfect on the new job, or during the courtship, but rather that we should give our best effort and start things with a clean slate. We should learn from mistakes that we’ve made in the past (and negative experiences that have happened to us), but we should not be bound by them. If we’re facing a task that seems too difficult to handle, we should rely upon the Lord, and remain faithful regardless of how we feel. That may mean that we spend even more time (over and above the normal time we spend) praying and reading the Bible, in order to get a better understanding of what we should be doing.<br><br>
In last week’s blog I dealt with wisdom, and I think it’s very important that we seek God for wisdom to recognize when God is doing something new in our lives. Sometimes when God is on the brink of allowing something new to happen in our lives, we may encounter a counterfeit that could distract from the real thing if we’re not careful. So as we live our lives, let us embrace the new things God is doing, and remain obedient to Him. <br><br>
“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” - 2 John 1:6<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/539062012-05-29T17:26:05-04:002012-05-29T17:26:05-04:00WisdomHave you ever heard the saying “Don’t go grocery shopping when you hungry”? The thought behind this is that a hungry person has a greater chance of buying based on how they feel at the time, instead of thinking things through. It’s important that we use wisdom in our lives when making decisions, instead of doing things based on the emotions we feel at the time. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6. Today’s blog entry deals with wisdom.<br><br>
Learning is an important part of life, and it’s something that we should continue to do throughout our lives. Can you think back to when you we’re younger and started learning things such the “ABC’s”, Addition/Subtraction, etc. When we look at things like that today, they may seem very simple, however learning those things are a foundation for learning more advanced things. For example, in order for a person to read, they need to have an understanding of the alphabet (letters, symbols, etc.). It’s also important for a person to put what they learn into practice. A student can study really hard for a test, and know the information well, however if they don’t fill out the information when they take the test, they won’t get credit. It’s not just enough for them to know the information, they need to apply what they know and complete the test. <br><br>
“When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:” – Proverbs 2:10-11<br><br>
Knowledge helps a person improve their skill sets, and wisdom helps a person know when/how to apply the knowledge they have. For example, a person may have knowledge of how to drive a car, and wisdom to know that they should adjust their speed if they are on the road in the middle of snow storm. When God blesses us with something (whether it’s a new job, a business, etc), we should seek Him for wisdom so that we make good decisions, and make the most of the opportunities He gives us. There’s a passage of scripture in 2 Kings 3:5-12, that is very insightful. I would definitely recommend reading it sometime. In verse 5 God appears to Solomon in a dream, and asks Solomon what he wanted God to give him. If you read on you can see what Solomon asked for. <br><br>
As we continue to learn the Bible, and grow in our walk with Christ, it’s important that we apply what we learn to our lives. Don’t allow the world’s way of thinking to get you off track. Christians should be influencing the world positively (instead of allowing the world to influence us negatively). We should never get to the point where we feel like “ok God, I can take it from here”. Continually seek God for wisdom. <br><br>
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” – James 3:17<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1713622012-05-22T10:05:00-04:002012-05-22T10:05:00-04:00Wait Upon The LordHave you ever thought you wanted something at a specific time in your life; however as time went on, you later saw that it was good that you didn’t get what you wanted when you wanted it? God knows what is best for us, and it’s important that we do things in His timing. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”- Isaiah 41:30…Today’s blog topic is “Wait Upon The Lord”.<br><br>
When someone feels like they’re ready to do something, waiting can be a challenging thing to do. Whether it’s a person that wants to start a new business, a single person that wants to be married, etc; We as people can sometimes find that God’s timing is a lot different than our own. Sometimes thoughts such as “Why is this taking so long”? or “Why is this so hard”? may come across your mind if you find yourself in a situation where you’re desiring something to happen that hasn’t happened yet. There could be a number of reasons why something that you’ve been praying to God about hasn’t happened yet. One reason could be that God is still preparing you, and doesn’t want to put you in a position prematurely. If a person has a lot of passion and zeal to start a business, and yet doesn’t understand how to handle the day to day operations to keep the business running, there’s a good chance that the business won’t have the type of success the person would like it to have. However, as a person spends more time learning what it will take to start/run a successful business (and maybe even gets mentored by a business owner or two), there is a good chance the person will be better prepared to run a successful business. <br><br>
There could also be various reasons why a person who desires to be married has not yet been married. For example, the person may need to spend some more time developing as an individual, and learning what their role should be within a marriage. Or maybe the person has been hurt in past relationships, and needs time to address certain issues in their life, so that they don’t bring those issues into their marriage. The important thing is to trust God, and make the most of every moment that He gives you. Don’t complain. Enjoy the current place that God has you in life. Spend time with Him. Continue to grow in Him. <br><br>
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” – Ecclesiastes 3:1<br><br>
It’s important that we don’t rush into something prematurely. Remember to wait on God. And when the time comes for you to move forward into something that God has called you to do, don’t be afraid to move forward. Seek God, and ask Him for wisdom to know when you should wait, and when you should move forward. <br><br>
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”- James 1:4-5<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/510592012-05-15T11:58:07-04:002012-05-15T11:58:07-04:00Who's Influencing You?“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33…Whether we realize it or not, the people we spend a lot of time around can start to rub off on us in one way or another. It’s important that we do not allow other people to influence us in a negative way. Today’s blog entry is titled “Who’s Influencing You?”<br><br>
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23<br><br>
Self-denial is an important part of the Christian walk. We should consistently put God’s Word ahead of our own desires. Notice in the verse above it says “take up his cross daily”. In today’s society, there are many people, who do not follow the Bible, and basically do whatever they feel like doing. If we’re not careful, we can find ourselves picking up those types of habits, especially if we’re constantly around people who have that type of mindset. One thing that causes some people to get involved in sinful activities is something commonly known as “Peer Pressure” (A person doing something as a result of wanting to fit in, and/or be accepted by a group of people). This is something that is often talked about when referring to kids, youth, growing up, etc. However, there are many adults who are also affected by peer pressure (for example, someone on the job who wants to fit in with co-workers). As Christians, we shouldn’t allow fear of what people think of our Christian lifestyle to cause us to get involved in sinful activities. We should speak the truth and represent Jesus Christ. As it says in Luke 9:26, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.” <br><br>
It’s a good idea for us to examine ourselves on a regular basis. We should take a look at what’s driving us. If we notice that we’re allowing other people’s opinions to dictate the way we live (instead of the Word of God) we should repent, and renew our mind with the Word of God. It’s important to realize that many unbelievers (and some born again Christians) may not have received the same type of teaching and instruction that you have received, which can greatly impact the way they carry themselves. As a result, there are many people who haven’t been taught much about God, who are influencing people who have been taught a whole lot about God. As Christians we should be influencing the world in a positive way instead of allowing the world to influence us in a negative way. <br><br>
Sometimes a person may try to influence you in subtle ways. The may try to pull you into sinful things that seem harmless, yet the bible lets us know that "the wages of sin is death" (See Romans 6:23). Sin is nothing to play with. If a person is trying to pull you into sinful activities, it’s a good idea to give that person some space (continue to pray for them). As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us strive to represent Him every day of our lives. Be led by God, and stand firm on His Word.<br><br>
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” – 2 Corinthians 10:5<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1655982012-05-08T11:23:45-04:002012-05-08T11:23:45-04:00In Everything Give Thanks“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Have you ever just took some time to reflect on all of the great things God has done for you. As born again Christians, we have so much to be thankful for! Today’s blog topic is, “In Everything Give Thanks.”<br><br>
Have you ever been going through a really challenging time when it seemed like nothing was going your way, only to come across another person whose circumstances appeared to be whole lot worse than yours (which caused you to feel like what you were dealing with wasn’t so bad)? Sometimes perspective can really change our outlook on life. With this in mind, it’s very important that we think positive thoughts (see Philippians 4:8). If a person is constantly thinking thoughts such as “this never goes my way”, they can start to develop a mindset of complaining and being unthankful. We should give thanks to God, even if things are not happening the way we would like them to. <br><br>
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” – Romans 1:20-21<br><br>
The 21st verse of the passage above lets us know that the people did not glorify God, and they were not thankful. They became futile in their thoughts, and their hearts were darkened….The consequences of being unthankful are not good. Remember we are here to honor and serve God. When we complain about our lives, it takes our focus off of how Great God is. Instead of complaining, we should be rejoicing! As it says in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”<br><br>
Never take the things that God has blessed with you with for granted. Luke 17:11-19, tells the story of ten lepers (leprosy is a disease) that were cleansed of their condition. Of the ten that were cleansed, only 1 came back and thanked Jesus. In our lives we should never get to the point where we overlook thanking God. We should remember that God is the one who has given us life. He is the one who first loved us. So if you’re ever feeling like things are going bad in your life, remind yourself of how great God is, and all of the things He has done for you. Be strong, and remain faithful in your walk with Christ.<br><br>
“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:12-13<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1604832012-04-24T09:54:54-04:002012-04-24T09:54:54-04:00Self Control/Discipline“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” – 2 Corinthians 10:5….Today’s blog entry deals with Self Control/Discipline.<br><br>
Being disciplined is an important part of life. Sometimes we may not feel like doing the things that we need to get done, and sometimes doing the things that we really want to do could actually be detrimental to us. For example, say you have a child who is in elementary school and loves to play outside (as many children do). And as a result of this, the child decides that he/she doesn’t want to go back to class after recess any more, but would rather spend the rest of the afternoon playing outside from now on. This obviously would be a bad decision. By playing outside when he/she should be in class, the child would be missing out on valuable learning time.<br><br>
As adults we are faced with many decisions. Many of the people reading this probably have certain desserts that you enjoy eating (I know I do). And as good as those desserts may taste, it would be a very bad idea to eat them 24/7. It’s important for a person to be able to show some restraint, and eat healthy foods that will be good for their body. And eating isn’t the only area were we should show restraint. Discipline should be a part of our lifestyle. If a person has an important project/assignment to complete for work/school, they should stay focused and finish the task. There may be other things that they would rather be doing (such as hanging out with friends, going to the mall, movies, etc.), however if they want to be successful at school/work they need to be able to follow directions, and complete the assignments they are given.<br><br>
In our Christian walk, it’s extremely important that we are disciplined. We need to consistently spend time reading the Word, and praying. We also need to apply what we read to our everyday lives. If someone is hurling insults at you, don’t allow yourself to hurl insults back at them. Keep your composure. If you are unmarried and someone is trying to pressure you to have sex with them, don’t do it. Put some distance between yourself and that person. If you’re at work and you see your co-workers doing dishonest things, don’t allow yourself to pick up those type of habits. When you’re by yourself, make wise decisions. Don’t be entertained by things that displease God. Be careful of the things that you watch and listen to. And also remember the importance of sharing the Gospel with others. As it says in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Make it a part of your life to consistently share the Gospel. <br><br>
As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us be disciplined, and conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing to God.<br><br>
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1581452012-04-16T21:00:00-04:002012-04-16T21:00:00-04:00What's Motivating You?“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7 God see’s our hearts. He knows our motives. Today’s blog topic is “What’s Motivating You?"<br><br>
Have you ever witnessed somebody that did something that appeared to be nice (or a good thing to do), yet they were doing it for the wrong reasons. Matthew 6:5 shows an example of this, it reads as follows: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” In this verse Jesus was talking about people who were praying so that they could be seen by others (and notice that he called them hypocrites). The motivation behind their prayer was for the wrong reasons. <br><br>
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31<br><br>
It’s important that we examine ourselves and look at what’s motivating us in our lives. As Christians, the motivation for things we do should be to give God glory. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to do things for selfish gain. We live in a world where many people lack integrity, and will do whatever it takes to get what they want. With this being said, it’s crucial that we renew our minds daily with the Word of God, so that we don’t develop a mindset of doing vain things. Never try to use the influence that comes with things such as leadership positions as a way to cover up an insecurity you have. If we have an insecurity about something in our lives, we should deal with it by getting in the Word, praying, and casting our cares upon Christ. Don’t allow the praises/criticisms of other people towards you to get you off track. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” – Philippians 2:3<br><br>
Our focus should be on doing God’s will, and doing things in His timing. Remember, one day we all will give an account to God for the way we lived life on earth. People can fool other people, but they can’t fool God. As we continue to grow in our walk in Christ, let us always remember the importance of obeying the Word, and renewing our minds.<br><br>
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” – 1 Corinthians 3:10-17<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1561932012-04-10T09:02:28-04:002012-04-10T09:02:28-04:00Living To Please God“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6….Today’s blog entry deals with Living To Please God.<br><br>
In today’s society there can be a lot of emphasis placed on status, and how a person is perceived by others. If a person is not careful, this can lead to them making bad choices in the hopes of fitting in with others and gaining their approval. As Christians, we should always remember that we are here to please God. We should never value anyone’s opinion more than we value God’s Word. We should uphold a standard of righteousness even if the people around us don’t like it. By this I don’t mean that we should go around acting like we’re better than everyone else, but rather that we should obey God’s Word, and always be striving to grow in our relationship with Jesus. Be bold and courageous; do not be afraid of people or what people will think about your walk with Christ.<br><br>
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”- Mark 8:38 <br><br>
I understand that when a person is living for Christ they may experience ridicule, and/or be excluded from certain groups (in work settings, school settings, etc), and while that can definitely be hard, it’s not the end of the world. If you are ever feeling rejected, remember that Jesus loves you. I think it’s also important to remember that Jesus went through, pain, suffering, humiliation, and death for us. And with that being said, we should be able to endure things such as criticism from other people. We should also remember the importance of spending time around other Christians. Sometimes when we’re isolated from others we may start to think things such as, “There’s nobody else my age living this Christian lifestyle”. However, there are a lot of people living for Christ. When you connect with other likeminded Christians, it can serve as a form of encouragement, seeing that there are others who are committed to Jesus.<br><br>
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1<br><br>
We should have faith in God at all times. If you’re going through a difficult situation in your life, don’t give up, continue to trust in God, and seek Him for how you should proceed. Remind yourself of all the wonderful things that He’s already done for you. And remember to stay on the path that God has you on, don’t try to take shortcuts. It’s important that we do things in His timing, instead of trying to do them when we feel we’re ready. Let us live each day of our lives, with the desire to please God.<br><br>
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.” – Proverbs 11:1-3<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1540292012-04-03T08:35:00-04:002012-04-03T08:35:00-04:00Using Our Time Wisely“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” – Romans 13:11-12…The way we spend our time can give a lot of insight on where our priorities are. Today’s blog entry deals with using our time wisely.<br><br>
There are so many things that can consume a person’s time (Work, school, relationships, television, internet, movies, video games, etc). It’s important that we make the best use of all the time that God gives us. Before I go to deep into this, I want to point out the fact that working is important, however a person should never put their job (or anything else) ahead of God. With that being said, I want to focus more on what a person does when they are not at work (in their free time). If we want to grow in our relationship with Christ, it’s important that we consistently spend time with Him. It’s also important that we complete the assignments that He has given us. God has blessed each one of us with gifts/talents and we should put them to use in the proper way. One of the things that can hinder a person from putting those gifts and talents to use is when they waste time. Say for instance, God has called a person to write a book on a certain subject that would encourage and help many people. However, instead of focusing on writing the book, the person spends an excessive amount of time playing video games, or watching T.V.....Distractions are a tool that the enemy can use to get people off task, so it’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to waste time with distractions.<br><br>
“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” – Psalms 37:4-5<br><br>
I want to make it clear that I’m not saying it’s wrong to be entertained (The men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament just ended on April 2, and I enjoyed catching some of the action on T.V.), however when we do set aside some time for entertainment purposes (Television, Internet, Video Games, etc) we should be mindful of what we are watching. We should not be entertained by things that dishonor God. As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, our desires should become more in line with His desires. <br><br>
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” – Psalm 133:1<br><br>
It’s also good for us to spend time around other born again Christians. This allows us to encourage each other, learn from each other, and be accountable to each other. As it says in Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”<br><br>
So as we continue to live our lives, let us take an inventory of how we are spending our time, and make the most of every moment that God blesses us with.<br><br>
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” - Colossians 4:5<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1517532012-03-27T07:34:22-04:002012-03-27T07:34:22-04:00Hearing and Obeying The Word of God (Sowing The Seed On Good Ground)“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” – 1 Peter 1:23. The Word of God is powerful, and it’s important that we don’t allow challenges that we go through in life to cause us to turn away from what God’s Word says. Today’s blog entry deals with hearing and obeying the Word of God (sowing the seed on good ground). <br><br>
“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” – Luke 8:5-8<br><br>
In the preceding passage of scripture (known as the parable of the sower), Jesus was speaking to a crowd of people. He used the illustration of a seed being sown. If you think about a seed being planted in the natural sense, there are some important factors that have an effect on the growth of the seed which include: the place where the seed is planted and the way the seed is cared for as it goes through its growth cycle. For instance if someone decides they want to start a garden, and they go out and start placing seeds in their driveway, as opposed to planting them in soil, they likely will not be pleased with the results they get. It’s important for the seeds to be planted in soil, so that they have a place to take root. It’s a good start for the person to have the seeds, however it’s important that they care for the seeds the proper way.<br><br>
Now I would like to continue where the passage left off in the book of Luke:<br><br>
“And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” – Luke 8:9-15<br><br>
This passage talks about four different types of people:<br><br>
1. They hear the word but the devil comes and takes the Word. How does this happen??? Well lets do a cross reference and go to Matthew 13:19 for the answer “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” It is important for a person to have an understanding of the word.<br><br>
2. They hear the word, believe for a little while, but have no root and fall away during the time of temptation. It’s important for a person to endure temptation, and trust in God even if they experience hardships in life.<br><br>
3. They hear the word, but start to focus on the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. A person should always keep God first.<br><br>
4. They hear the Word, they keep the Word, and they bear fruit.<br><br>
As we live our lives, it’s important that we hear, understand, and obey the Word of God. If you’re facing a challenge in your life, don’t let it overwhelm you. Spend time in prayer, and ask God to give you guidance on how to proceed. If you would like to read another account of the parable of the sower, you can check out Matthew 13:1-23. <br><br>
“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” – Matthew 13:23<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1497392012-03-20T06:47:43-04:002012-03-20T06:47:43-04:00Overcoming HurtWhen a person has been emotionally hurt by another individual, it can definitely be a challenging thing to deal with, however it can be overcome. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” – Psalm 34:18. Today’s blog entry deals with overcoming hurt.<br><br>
When a person is hurt/mistreated by someone else, there are a number of different thoughts and emotions that can come to mind. If you are a person that has been hurt by another individual (or knows someone that has been hurt by another individual), here are some recommendations:<br><br><b>*Don’t try to retaliate:</b> <br>
Sometimes it can be human instinct to try to get back at someone who has said/done something wrong to you, but don’t allow yourself to do it. Remember to represent Christ the best you can in everything you do (including times such as these). As it says in Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”<br><br><b>*Forgive the person:</b><br>
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” – Colossians 3:13<br><br>
Forgiveness is crucial. Don’t allow yourself to be bitter towards the person. Let go of any resentment that you have toward them. Now I know some people may be thinking, “that’s a lot easier said than done. What do I do if I have thoughts about what they did to me, and it makes me mad?” My advice for a situation like this would be to shift your thinking when those types of thoughts come (There’s a difference between you having a negative thought coming across your mind, and you constantly dwelling on a negative thought). By this I mean to focus your thoughts on positive things (see Philippians 4:8). As born again Christians, we can also remind ourselves of the fact that Jesus has forgiven us for all of our sins, and how thankful we are for what He has done. We’ve made mistakes, and we should be willing to forgive others who have made mistakes. If we ever have trouble letting go of resentment, we should pray and ask God to help us let go of the anger that we have. I also want to point out that forgiving a person doesn’t mean that you put yourself in a position to be hurt by that person again. For instance, if Person B always yells insulting things to Person A each time Person A calls them on the phone (and then apologizes after the fact). It’s probably a good idea for Person A to stop calling Person B, even though Person A has forgiven Person B.<br><br><b>*Continue to focus on God:<br></b>When we keep our focus on God, it helps us keep things in their proper perspective. We will never face a problem that is bigger than God. “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” – Psalm 34:3. Think about God, and how great He is. Continue to remind yourself of how much He loves you. Take comfort in the fact that He “will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (see Hebrews 13:5). Be thankful for all of the things He has done for you. Consistently spend time reading His Word, and apply what His Word says to your life. Don’t let another person take away your Joy. <br><br>
So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us remember to cast our cares upon Him. Don’t carry around hurt from past relationships. Move forward. Rely upon Jesus Christ.<br><br>
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1475372012-03-13T08:04:17-04:002020-10-13T02:59:03-04:00Be Stable In Your Walk With Christ“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” - James 1:8. As Christians, we should avoid being unstable, and instead have a firm foundation in the Word of God. Today’s blog entry deals with being stable in our walk with Christ.<br><br>
Firmly established, not changing or fluctuating, steady in purpose, and firm in resolution are some of the phrases the dictionary (merriam-webster) uses to define the word “Stable” as an adjective. If we want to avoid being unstable, it’s important that we are led by what the Word of God says, as opposed to being led by The World’s System. By The World’s System, I mean things that are contrary to God’s Word. We shouldn’t let other people influence us to do sinful things (This isn’t to say we won’t make mistakes, but rather that we should always give our best effort to live a lifestyle that pleases God). We also shouldn’t allow ourselves to be desensitized to accept any type of sin as being ok. We should let people know that sin is serious, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. <br><br>
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 2:13-16<br><br>
As it says in the passage above, “We have the mind of Christ”. It’s important that we renew our minds daily (see Romans 12:2), consistently read our Word, and put what we learn into practice. The things we think about (our mind) can play a major role in the decisions we make, and in the way we live our lives. As it says in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” When we have a strong foundation, and put on the whole armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-18), we can “stand against the wiles of the devil.” <br><br>
If we feel like our lives are unstable in certain areas and we want to figure out why, we can take an inventory of the type of things we’ve been allowing into our lives. For instance, if someone is constantly watching TV shows that are filled with fornication, lust, and other sinful things, they can find themselves thinking about that type of stuff long after they have finished watching the show (same thing goes for music). If someone is constantly hanging around people that live sinful lifestyles, those people can start to rub off on them. And don’t get me wrong, I believe that it’s very important to witness to unbelievers (see Mark 16:15), and I understand that when you’re witnessing to someone, your communicating with them, which generally means that you are spending some time around them. My point is that we should be leading people toward Christ, and not allowing them to influence us in a negative way.<br><br>
So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us strive to be stable, and firmly established in the Word of God.<br><br>
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1457402012-03-06T08:10:00-05:002012-03-06T08:10:00-05:00Preparing For Marriage (Part 2)“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” – Ephesians 5:33…Today’s blog entry is part two of the Preparing For Marriage series.<br><br>
When preparing for marriage, it’s very important that a person uses the Bible as the guide for what they should be looking for in a spouse. Before beginning the courtship process with anyone, a person should spend time in prayer, and be led by God. The Word of God gives a lot of instruction about the role of a man, and the role of a woman. This blog entry contains excerpts from two of my previous blog entries’ (The Role of The Man – May 31, 2011, and The Role of The Woman - June 7, 2011). If you would like to read those blog entries in their entirety, feel free to search them out as they are both archived. <br><br>
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14<br><br>
A born again Christian should not begin a courtship with a person that is not saved. Don’t let a person’s looks cloud your judgment. Don’t allow the fact that they are “so nice” cause you to overlook that fact that they are not living for Christ. Sometimes a Christian may have thoughts such as “well maybe I can lead this person to Christ during the courtship.” This can lead to big problems. What can happen is that sometimes the unbeliever pulls the Christian further away from God, instead of the Christian leading the person to Christ. You can witness to the person, but don’t court/marry someone that is not saved. It’s also important to realize that just because two people are saved, and there’s a mutual attraction, doesn’t automatically mean that the two people should get married. For example, there may be one person that has been saved for a while and hasn’t been in many relationships, while the other person is a new Christian that has been in a series of hurtful relationships, and needs to grow in their relationship with Christ before beginning a courtship with someone. <br><br>
A person should also look at another person’s habits/patterns when considering marrying them. For instance, say you’re a person that goes to church on a regular basis, and likes to get very involved, yet the person you’re considering marrying (who is also saved) goes to church once or twice a month and really doesn’t want to get involved in church beyond what they are currently doing. This could be a potential red flag. Or on a different tip, let’s say you’re a person that is very neat, and keeps their home very clean, while the other person isn’t so neat, and tends to have a messy place. This could lead to some issues in a marriage. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that people can grow, and that it’s important for Husbands and Wives to make sacrifices for each other. But I do think it’s important for couples considering marriage to address issues such as these prior to getting married. It’s good to be proactive. <br><br>
The following talks about some characteristics that are Man/Woman specific. When a person is considering marrying someone, they should keep the things mentioned in this next section in mind (In other words if you’re a woman, does the man you’re considering marrying exemplify these characteristics, and if you’re a man does the woman you’re considering marrying exemplify these characteristics):<br><br>
Within a marriage, a man should be the spiritual leader. Ephesians 5:25 says “Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” A husband should be the provider/protector for his wife, he should also help his wife grow in her relationship with Christ. A husband should speak positive words to his wife, and realize the things he says (and the way he says those things) have an impact on her. If a husband notices that his wife is doing something contrary to scripture, he should correct her in a loving way, and likewise if his wife notices that he is doing something contrary to scripture and brings correction, he should receive the correction (without getting an attitude). A husband should always be building up his wife, never tearing her down. <br><br>
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.” - Genesis 2:18<br><br>
The verb form of the word “help” can be defined as aiding or supplying someone in need (the word help is not meant to be degrading). The word “meet” comes from the Hebrew word meaning opposite. So in essence, a wife should help/complement her husband. A wife should be submitted to her husband. “Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”- Ephesians 5:22. A wife should love and support her husband acknowledging that He is the leader of the household. She should also be focusing on developing her inner qualities as it relates to growing in the Lord. A woman should never be so focused on beautifying her outward appearance to the point where it causes her to neglect her inward growth as a woman pursing God (See 1 Peter 3:3-4, This passage serves as a caution letting us know that the priority should be on the inward things.) <br><br>
As we continue in our walk with Christ, let us strive to continue to grow. If you are in the process of preparing for marriage, be sure that you continue to work on maturing, and becoming the best spouse you can be. Also, be sure that you are being led by God before you begin a courtship with someone.<br><br>
“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” – Ephesians 5:28<br><br>
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”-Proverbs 31:10-12.<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1436012012-02-28T07:06:57-05:002012-02-28T07:06:57-05:00Preparing For Marriage (Part 1)“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” – Proverbs 18:22…Today’s blog entry deals with preparing for marriage (This is part one of a two part series).<br><br>
When thinking of marriage there can sometimes be a tendency to focus on what a person should be looking for in a potential spouse. It’s definitely important to have an understanding of what a person should be looking for in a spouse, and I will deal with that in part two of this blog series (which will be posted next week). However in today’s blog entry, I’m focusing on some things that a person can do in their own life, that will help them be a better spouse to the person they marry. <br><br>
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” – Psalm 37:23<br><br>
Have you ever been watching a football game and saw a quarterback throw an incomplete pass to a receiver that was way off, and didn’t even look catchable? If you have witnessed something like this, you may have thought to yourself, “What was that quarterback thinking throwing the ball over there, the receiver was going the other way.” Now imagine if you saw something like that happen in a game, and later found out the quarterback called a certain play and the receiver was supposed to run 10 yards and then turn to the left, but instead of turning to left, he turned to the right because he hadn’t paid attention to the play that was called. So the quarterback had actually thrown the ball to where the receiver should have been, but because the receiver got off of the course he was supposed to be on, he didn’t catch the ball. <br><br>
In our walk with God, it’s important that we obey Him, and stay on the course that He has us on. We should seek Him about His will for our lives and use the Bible as our guide. By doing this we can be in a position to receive the things He has for us. A person shouldn’t just run out and jump in a relationship. They should seek God to find out if it’s His will for them to be in a relationship. Even if a person has met their future spouse, it may not always mean that they should begin a relationship at that exact time. There may need to be growth/maturing with both parties, and beginning a relationship prematurely could actually ruin the friendship and lead to them not wanting to deal with each other anymore. <br><br>
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.” – Mark 10:7-8<br><br>
In a marriage, the husband and wife should be working together. The husband should be willing to make sacrifices for his wife, and the wife should be willing to make sacrifices for her husband. If a person always has to have things go their way in order for them to be happy, they should definitely work on making a change in that area before getting married.<br><br>
If someone has been in previous relationships that didn’t work out, they should learn from the mistakes that were made, however they shouldn’t bring in baggage from the past relationship into their marriage. In other words don’t penalize the new person for the bad things that the previous person you dated did. Never assume negative things such as “all of my Ex’s did this, so I know they are going to do this too.” Also don’t let negative stereotypes that society has about males/females cause you to think that your spouse will automatically fall into that category. If you have been hurt in a past relationship, pray and ask God help you overcome the pain you’re feeling. Give yourself time to grow. Don’t try to force another relationship, wait and do things God’s way. <br><br>
A person preparing for marriage should also make sure that they are managing their money well (This is important even if a person doesn’t plan to get married). It’s good to develop good spending/budgeting habits as soon as possible. When a person is married, their spending affects both them and their spouse.<br><br>
So if you feel that the Lord is preparing you for marriage, make sure that you follow His lead, and doing things in His timing.<br><br>
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6<br><br>
I will continue with part two of the Preparing For Marriage series in next week’s blog post.<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1418472012-02-21T08:20:00-05:002012-02-21T08:20:00-05:00The Importance Of Hard Work“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” – Proverbs 18:9-10 Today’s blog entry deals with the importance of hard work.<br><br>
How would you feel if one of your friends told you that they plan to compete in the upcoming Olympics during some of the track and field events? When asked if they have been training, they reply by saying, “No, I don’t feel like training, but I prayed and asked God to let me run in the next Olympics, so be sure to look for me on TV when they show the track and field events.” You probably would have a “Come on, be serious now” expression on your face. And while God could definitely allow someone who hadn’t been training, to qualify for the Olympics, the person should still train, and do the practical things that will help them prepare for competition.<br><br>
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” – Proverbs 13:4<br><br>
Hard work is an important part of life. God is the one who gives us the abilities, and we should put what He has given us to use in a positive way. It’s important for us to have faith in God, and we should also put works with our faith. As it says in James 2:26, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” We should pray and be lead by God regarding the goals/things we pursue. We should also be willing to put in the time and effort that it will take to accomplish the things that God has called us to do. For instance, God could open the door for a person to receive a college scholarship, yet if they don’t do the practical things that need to be done (Applying to the college, completing certain paperwork, etc), they can miss out on the opportunity. Likewise, it’s important that we do not overlook the practical things that need to be done in our lives in order to accomplish the things that God has called us to do. For someone who owns a business, that may mean writing up a new marketing plan. For a student that’s trying to get better grades, that may mean putting in more study time. And for a person trying to qualify for the Olympics, that may mean putting in more training time (or in the example of the person mentioned earlier, beginning the process of training altogether).<br><br>
I also want to point out that we should work hard regardless of what other people around are doing. If you work at a job where many of your co-workers slack off, don’t allow that to rub off on you. Keep working hard. Set a good example. Work as unto the Lord. <br><br>
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” - Colossians 3:10<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1402352012-02-14T08:51:55-05:002012-02-14T08:51:55-05:00Showing Love To Others“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” – 1 John 4:7. Today’s blog entry deals with showing love to others.<br><br>
Before I go too far into this blog post, there are two questions I would like to ask…<br><br>
How often do you tell your family and friends that you love them?<br>
How often do you show your family and friends that you love them?<br><br>
It’s important that we let our loved ones know that we love them both by the things we say, and by the things we do. The words that we speak carry a lot of weight (see Proverbs 18:21), and it is good that we use our words to let people know that we love them. Some people may be thinking to themselves “well I’m not really the type to say I love you, but my family and friends know I love them”. And while it may be true that your family and friends already believe that you love them, you may be surprised at the reaction you get if you actually tell them. For instance you may have a friend that grew up in a house hold where they often had negative things said to them, and really hasn’t had anyone (outside of a male/female relationship) tell them they love them. For most of their life they may have only associated love with sex. They may have mistaken lust for love. You actually telling them you love them (without there being any ulterior motives) could give them a new perspective on love, and impact them in a positive way. With this being said, I also want to point out that in male/female friendships people should make sure that the love they speak about is communicated/understood in the proper context.<br><br>
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” - Ephesians 4:2<br><br>
In addition to telling people we love them, we should also show them through our actions. This can be done in a number of different ways. For example, helping someone move can be an example of showing love. Treating someone to lunch can be a way of showing love. Cutting someone else’s grass can be a way of showing love. The important thing is that our actions line up with our words. Could you imagine if you had a family member or friend that constantly said they loved you, yet they saw you on the side of the road with a flat tire, and just rolled down the window and smiled shouting out “I love you sis/bro” and then drove off. You probably would be thinking something along the lines of “what’s wrong with them, why didn’t they offer to help me out.” When we love someone we should be willing to help them in their time of need.<br><br>
So as we live our lives, let us communicate our love for others through our words and through our actions.<br><br>
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1381452012-02-07T10:10:40-05:002012-02-07T10:10:40-05:00Avoid PrideIf we get into a dispute with another person, we should be willing to look at what we have done that may have contributed to the dispute. “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” – Proverbs 13:10. Today’s blog entry deals with pride.<br><br>
For the purpose of this blog entry, I’m referring to the negative form of pride (as opposed to talking about a person taking pride in doing good work, etc.). An individual can display pride in a number of ways such as: refusing to admit when they were wrong about something, being unwilling to accept help when they need it, etc. Sometimes as humans we can get comfortable doing things a certain way, and seeing things from our perspective. However as Christians, we should be led by what God’s Word says, instead of being led by the way we feel. It’s important that we keep our composure. If someone says something critical about you, don’t allow it to cause you to lose your cool. Sometimes a person may genuinely be trying to help you improve in a certain area. There may also be times when a person isn’t trying to help you grow, but rather just being negative. Either way, we should make sure that we respond in a way that represents God. I would recommend praying for God’s guidance to know the difference between a person that is genuinely trying to help you grow, and a person that is just being negative. I’m definitely not advocating verbal abuse; but rather saying that we should be receptive to the people that God sends into our lives to help us grow.<br><br>
“But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:” –Daniel 5:20<br><br>
Regardless of how much success we attain, we should always remember that God is the one who has given us the ability to have success (See Deuteronomy 8:18). We should always honor and reverence God, giving Him the proper credit that He deserves. It’s important that we don’t allow the gifts that God has blessed us with to cause us to become arrogant. As it says in Matthew 23:12, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”<br><br>
God knows our heart, He sees our true intentions. So let’s make sure that we avoid pride, and give God the glory in our lives.<br><br>
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” - James 4:6<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1369282012-01-31T08:34:45-05:002012-01-31T08:34:45-05:00Consistency In ChristBeing consistent is an important part of the Christian walk. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58…Today’s blog entry deals with consistency in Christ.<br><br>
Do you have a favorite dish at a certain restaurant that you go to? If so, one of the things that probably keeps you ordering that particular item is that you’re under the assumption that it’s pretty much going to taste about the same every time you get it (There may be a few minor changes every now and then but you’re not expecting anything drastic). Now could you picture how you would feel if the restaurant started making major adjustments to the dish each time you came? Say for instance it’s a pasta meal that’s supposed to come with Italian Sausage and cheese along with the pasta. And the next time you order the meal, your waitress brings you a plate that has Italian Sausage and cheese, but doesn’t have any pasta noodles. When you mention this to the waitress, she replies “Yeah I know, we’ve just been really busy today and we didn’t feel like putting any noodles on there this time (and from that point on they always made the dish with something missing that was supposed to be included).” You probably wouldn’t be too happy about that. Chances are you would stop going there. <br><br>
In our walk with Christ it’s important that we are consistently seeking Him, and spending time with Him. With this being said, I don’t mean that we should do it in a ritualistic (just going through the motions) type of way. But rather that we should genuinely desire to grow in our relationship with Jesus. We should consistently read our Bible, we should consistently pray, we should consistently abstain from sinful behavior. This isn’t to say that we will never make mistakes, but rather to say that we should give the very best effort that we can every single day. <br><br>
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." – Colossians 2:8<br><br>
Sometimes people may not necessarily plan to start spending less time with God. They may not plan to start disobeying God. But what can happen is that they start spending more time around people or in environments (or watching/listening to things) that go against what the Bible teaches, which can cause them to focus on the wrong things. Or sometimes a person can just get so busy with life (Job, School, etc.) that they start to take their focus off of God. It’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to get distracted. If we want to keep growing in our walk with Christ, we should apply what the Bible says, to our lives consistently. Think of a person that has a garden, if they want the plants to grow they need to make sure the plants are water consistently. If they make sure the plants are watered for one week, and then they skip 4 weeks, and then come back and water the plants a couple of days in a row, and from there skip another 2 weeks, they probably aren’t going to get the growth results they desire.<br>
In our walk with Christ, let us seek Him consistently and continue to grow.<br><br>
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" - Philippians 1:27<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1356202012-01-24T05:32:00-05:002020-06-23T08:27:48-04:00Trust GodHave you ever dealt with a situation that you didn’t understand how you would get through? “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” - Proverbs 3:5-7… <br>
Today’s blog entry deals with Trusting God.<br><br>
Throughout our lives, we may experience many things that we don’t understand. For example, maybe you were really expecting to get hired for a job you applied for, but the company ended up hiring another person… Or maybe you were in a relationship that you thought would eventually lead to marriage; however things didn’t end up working out. During situations like the ones mentioned, it can be challenging because we were expecting things to go one way, and when they don’t end up going that way, we can be left with questions such as “What’s Next?”, or “What should I do now?” It’s important that we keep our composure, and seek God for what our next step should be.<br><br>
Faith is an important part of the Christian walk, and as it says in Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” If we want to build up our faith, we need to read the Bible. If we’re ever feeling down, we should remind ourselves of how awesome our God is. We should remember that Jesus loves us so much that He laid down His life for us.<br><br>
God knows what’s best for us. And as we serve Him it’s important that we truly deny ourselves (see Luke 9:23) and follow His plan for our lives. Sometimes the thing(s) that we want in the short term may not be what’s best for us in the long run. Or maybe there could be a trap waiting at the end of one path, which is why God is leading us down a different path. As humans, many of us may have questions, and want to know things such as “why did this happen the way it did?” However, it’s important that we don’t get caught up in trying to figure everything out; we should trust God, even when we don’t understand why things are happening. <br><br>
Never despise the preparation process that God is allowing you to go through. Learn all you can and continue to grow in your walk with Jesus.<br><br>
“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” - Psalm 9:10<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1342152012-01-17T10:11:12-05:002012-01-17T10:11:12-05:00Working Together “But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” – 1 Corinthians 12:20-21…It’s important that we (members of the body of Christ) work together to carry out the assignments that God has given us. Today’s blog entry deals with working together with other Christians.<br><br>
Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that we should use the Bible as our guide. If someone professes to be a Christian, and yet is trying to get to us to accept/do things that are contrary to scripture, we should obviously avoid what they are trying to get us to do. With that being said, the body of Christ is made up of many different types of people that have different types of talents/gifts. When God sends people into our lives that have different talents/gifts than we do (or similar talents/gifts with a different approach) we should be willing to learn from them. <br><br>
“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” - Ecclesiastes 4:12<br><br>
When we work together and play our roles, a lot can be accomplished. For example, think about a basketball team. During a basketball game there are 5 players from each team on the court at the same time. Generally they’re going to be 2 guards, 2 forwards, and 1 center. If a team tries to put 5 guards in the game at the same time (or 5 forwards/centers) they are likely going to run in some matchup issues with the other team they are playing against. Each position has strengths that help compliment the other positions on the team. As Christians, it’s important that we allow our talents/gifts to compliment one another. Remember we’re on the same team.<br><br>
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11<br><br>
We should be open to hearing new ideas and trying new approaches. We should never get to the point where we feel like we have everything figured out. It’s important that we always remain humble. We should help/support our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we should also be able to receive help/support from our brothers and sisters in Christ. So as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us work together to spread the Gospel. <br><br>
“And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:23-27<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1329052012-01-10T08:16:15-05:002012-01-10T08:16:15-05:00Speak The TruthWhen sharing the Gospel with others, you may encounter some people that respond in a positive way, and you may also encounter some people that respond in a negative way. Today’s blog entry deals with speaking the truth regardless of the response you get (or think you will get). “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” - 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV).<br><br>
As Christians, we have a responsibility to share the Gospel with others. We should have a good understanding of the Bible, and help others grow in their knowledge of the Bible. As it says in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”<br><br>
We live in a society where many people chose to live a lifestyle that is contrary to what is taught in God’s Word. Some people try to suppress the truth, by ignoring with the Bible says and doing what they feel like doing. Many people are hurting, and looking for a way to escape the pain they feel. If we truly love people, we should be willing to tell them about Jesus Christ. We shouldn’t try to predetermine whether or not we think a person will get saved (Meaning we shouldn’t think things such as “I can see Person A getting saved one day, but I don’t see how Person B could ever get saved as bad as they are.”).<br><br>
“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” - Isaiah 41:13<br><br>
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” - Deuteronomy 31:6<br><br>
It’s important that we do not allow fear to stop us from obeying God’s Word. Seek God, and pray for wisdom and guidance as you’re witnessing. Don’t allow the fear of what people say, or what people will think to discourage you from speaking the truth to them. And remember, we can’t force another person to be saved. If we share the truth with them, and they reject it, that’s their decision. “And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” –Luke 9:5<br><br>
So has we live our lives, let us speak the truth to people in love. Let us share the entire Gospel message, without compromising in any area. Let us strive to be more like Christ everyday of our lives.<br><br>
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” - Psalm 27:1<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1316552012-01-03T11:27:30-05:002012-01-03T11:27:30-05:00Joy“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” – John 15:10-11…Today’s blog entry deals with Joy.<br><br>
As born again Christians, we have a lot to be thankful for. We have a relationship with Jesus Christ; we have received the gift of salvation. Regardless of what challenges we face in life, we should always remember how fortunate we are. If negative thoughts come to our mind, we should counter those negative thoughts with the Word of God. One thing that I’ve learned is that Joy isn’t based on temporary circumstances. Joy comes from knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and understanding that we can cast our cares upon Him (See 1 Peter 5:7), regardless of how big the challenges we face may appear to be (God is much bigger than any challenge we face).<br><br>
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:4-5<br><br>
It’s important that we avoid complaining when things don’t go the way that we want them to. If you receive some bad news, don’t allow yourself to fall into a depression. Don’t turn to drugs, alcohol, etc…turn to Jesus! Remember that He has carried our sorrows. Jesus knows what it’s like to feel pain and sorrow. So if you’re dealing with a difficult situation, spend time in prayer, and make sure that you also spend time in the Word (Reading the Bible and prayer should be a normal part of the Christian life, not just something we do when facing difficult situations). As it says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”<br><br>
As we focus on how great God is, it helps to put the other things we’re dealing with in perspective. When we focus on how great God is, we can have Joy even in the midst of life’s challenges. Reflect on all the great things God has done in your life. Think positive thoughts (see Philippians 4:8). Keep Christ first in your life, and share the Gospel with others. Be determined to keep growing in your walk with Christ, and complete the assignments He has given you. <br><br>
“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” – Psalm 5:11<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/739272011-12-27T06:13:24-05:002011-12-27T06:13:24-05:00VisionThe new year is quickly approaching, and many of us have various things that we would like to get accomplished in 2012. It's important that we continue to be lead by God, and have a vision (an understanding of the steps we need to take to complete the tasks set before us). “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” - Proverbs 29:18. Today's blog entry deals with vision.<br><br>
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” - Joshua 1:8 <br><br>
When having a vision for our lives, it's important that we use the Bible as our guide. We should always remember that we are here on earth to carry out God's will. Meditating on the Word of God throughout the day (and night) helps to keep our focus on living a life that pleases God. Being obedient to God and having Godly character is a crucial part of the Christian walk. Regardless of how much success we attain, we should always remain humble. It's important to keep these things in mind because the enemy has various methods that he uses to try to get us off track. As it says in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”<br><br>
“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” - Habakkuk 2:2<br><br>
As we seek God regarding vision, and we feel that He is leading us in a certain direction, we should write it down, and write out the steps that it will take to get there. For example, if a person feels God has lead them to open a non-profit organization that will provide shelter to homeless people, there is a process they will need to go through. They would need: to have a certain amount money invested, to file certain paperwork, a building, a staff, a code of conduct for how things will operate at the shelter, etc. It's important that we don't overlook the practical things that need to be done for the vision that we have to become a reality. It's also a good idea to have a mentor, or someone that can provide guidance and give you good feedback on what you're doing. I would recommend seeking God and spending time in prayer about this as well because you do want to be careful about who you share certain information with, so definitely be lead by God with this. <br><br>
Hard work and consistency is another important part of seeing the vision that we have become a reality. We need to put in the time and effort that it's going to take for us to meet our objectives. And we need to do it on a continual bases. If you come up against some challenges along the way, keep pushing through, don't give up. Be consistent, don't allow yourself to lose focus on the things that you are trying to get accomplished. Continue to seek God for wisdom and guidance.<br><br>
So as we go into this new year, let us grow closer in our walk with Jesus Christ, and carry out the assignments He has given us. <br><br>
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1294522011-12-20T08:31:39-05:002011-12-20T08:31:39-05:00Spending Time Alone With GodWhen Jesus was on the earth He was was sinless, and He constantly spent time praying to God the Father. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” - Mark 1:35...Today's blog entry deals with spending time alone with God.<br><br>
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30<br><br>
Regardless of how busy our schedules are with things such as: family, friends, careers, etc. We should make sure that we are consistently spending time alone with God. There are definitely benefits to studying the Word with others, and listening to teaching/preaching by others, but we also need to study the Word for ourselves. We need to spend time in prayer, and we need to spend time alone worshiping God. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:23-24<br><br>
It's important to realize that the Christian walk is about more than just avoiding sin. Now don't get me wrong avoiding sin is very important, but what I mean is that if person only focuses on avoiding sin, yet they don't spend time alone with God, they are missing the big picture. Here's an analogy to illustrate the point. There's a married women that is determined to never cheat on her husband. She also wants to make sure that she doesn't say anything disrespectful to him. When she's around other people, she says great things about her husband, and she never cheats on him. The thing is, she barely spends any time with him. She's very busy with her career, friends, etc. In her mind she's being a great wife because she hasn't committed adultery. In the husband's mind, he's thinking, man I wish she would spend more time with me. The Bible likens the relationship between Christ and the church, to that of a husband and a wife. (See Ephesians 5:22-23). <br><br>
It's important that we don't just focus on what we aren't doing wrong, we should also take steps to continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus. If a person has been delivered from drugs and they no longer do drugs, that's definitely a good thing. However they shouldn't stop there. They should spend the time that they use to spend doing drugs, to do something productive for God. “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. - John 12:26 <br><br>
So as we grow in our walk with Christ, let us continually spend time alone with Him. There comes a time where we need to turn everything else off (TV, computer, music,etc) and focus on Jesus. Christian entertainment (Christian based movies, music, etc) can definitely have benefits, but our walk as Christians needs to go deeper than just watching, and listening to Christian based material. We need to go directly to the source, Jesus Christ. <br><br>
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” - Mark 12:30<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1283072011-12-13T08:38:59-05:002011-12-13T08:38:59-05:00Dealing With The RootWhen dealing with a problem, it's important that we address the “root” (the cause of the problem) and not just the “branches” (the symptoms of the problem). “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” - 1 Timothy 6:10. The subject of today's blog entry is "Dealing With The Root".<br><br>
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” - Colossians 2:6-7<br><br>
As born again believers, we should be rooted in Christ. We should constantly be making an effort to grow in our relationship with Him. We should be producing good fruit. As it says in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” A Christian should be growing in the areas mentioned in these verses. If we're having a challenge growing in a certain area, we should take an honest look at our lives, and see what we could be doing that is contributing to the challenge. We need to make sure that Christ in truly number one in our lives. God knows our hearts and He sees our motives. We should consistently spend time reading the Bible. We should also put what we learn from reading the Bible into practice. We should be willing to give up anything that God tells us to give up. Nothing comes before God. <br><br>
The Bible uses the example of a runner running a race to describe the Christian life (see 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1). I think back to a time when I use to run cross country in high school and the coach was addressing the team making a point of how you can't be afraid to hurt when you're running. By “hurt” he wasn't referring to a physical injury. But rather to the pain your body can feel when you're really pushing yourself has hard as you can go. People who have run long distance can probably relate to this because when you're coming down the last 100 meters of that race, and you're trying to pick up the pace as fast as you can, your body can definitely hurt...lol...The bottom line is regardless of how hard it hurts, you still want to finish strong. In our Christian walk, God may have us do things that appear to be very hard (it could be letting go of a certain person in your life, moving to a different place geographically, etc), but we should be obedient and do what God says regardless of how hard it seems.<br><br>
“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” - Hebrews 12:15 <br><br>
Here's another analogy to illustrate the point I want to make. Say you have a person that has broken a bone in their body. As a result they are having severe pain and go to the hospital. After they get to the hospital they are eventually given medication for the pain and as a result they no longer feel pain at the time. The doctor begins to talk to them about the plan to treat the broken bone moving forward, but the person says “No thanks Doc, the pain is gone, I'm all better now, so I'm leaving” and tries to leave the hospital. This person is obviously overlooking the fact that the pain medication only treated the symptoms and the bone is still broken. In our Christian walk let us remember to look at the root of the issue, not just the symptoms of the issue.<br><br>
“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” - Jeremiah 17:8-10<br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1268772011-12-06T09:39:07-05:002011-12-06T09:39:07-05:00Unconditional LoveGod loves us unconditionally and we should love others unconditionally. “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” - Luke 6:27-28...Today's blog entry deals with Unconditional Love.<br><br>
Before I go to far into this subject I want to make it clear that I'm not advocating that a person stays in an abusive relationship, or stays in a situation where another person repetitively hurts them (physically or emotionally). I also want to make it clear that a person who dies without receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. I make these points because I don't want people to take what I'm saying about love out of context. God loves us, and He made a way for us to avoid eternal torment and spend eternity with Him (By Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins). However, if a person rejects Jesus and dies, they will not spend Eternity with God (even though God loves them). <br><br>
With that being said, as Christians, it's important for us to love others. We may get along better with certain personality types, but we should love a person regardless of how well our personalities click with them. Sometimes God may allow a certain type of person to be involved in your life to help you and the other person grow. For example, say you have two people who are students and have been assigned to work on a class project together (I'll refer to them as student A and student B....Both students are Christians). Student A is a person that is always on time for things in their life in general, and gets extremely irritated when people are late. Student B is a person that is often late for things in their life in general. Both students are nice people, and get good grades. During the first scheduled meeting to work on the project, Student A is on time and Student B is about 10-15 minutes late (which really irritates Student A). This continues to happen in future meetings. Student A feels like going off (they normally would have) but since this is a class project, they try to keep their cool. During the next meeting Student A finally says something (in a nice tone). “I noticed you've been about 10-15 minutes late to these meetings, could please try to get here on time in the future?” Student B apologizes, and says “I'm going to try to do better”. Student B then arrives at the next meeting about 7 minutes late and apologizes. The meeting after that, Student B arrives about 2 minutes late. And then every meeting after that Student B arrives about 5 minutes EARLY. Throughout the entire process Student A felt like criticizing student B, but didn't. And when Student B arrived early, Student A was shocked and learned the importance of being patient with people. <br><br>
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4<br><br>
"For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same". - Luke 6:32-33 <br><br>
You may encounter some people who test your patience, but don't give up on a person that God has placed in your life. They may not be as strong as you in some in areas, they may have some maturing to do, but don't write them off. Remember where God has brought you from, and the growth process that you went through (and are constantly going through). Also, if you have a person that has abused you in the past, it's important that you forgive that person. By forgiving that person, I don't mean that you go back to that situation. But rather that you let go of any bitterness that you have towards the person. Remember that God forgave us, so we should forgive others. It's not good to carry bitterness from a past relationship in to a future relationship. So as we live our lives, let us strive to grow in our ability to love others. <br><br>
"Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins." - Proverbs 10:12<br><br>
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." - 1 Peter 4:8<br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1257372011-11-29T08:39:13-05:002011-11-29T08:39:13-05:00Don't Be Weary In Well DoingHave you ever been at a point in your life where you've been working hard on an assignment that God has given you, yet it seems like you aren't making much progress? “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” - Galatians 6:9...Today's blog entry deals with not being weary in well doing. <br><br>
Throughout our Christian walk we may encounter challenges in our lives that are hard to understand (This can happen even when a person is focusing on God, praying, fasting, reading the Bible on a regular basis, etc). There are examples of a number of people in the Bible that had to endure challenges in order to carry out God's will for their lives. Jesus is the ultimate example of this. He lived a life without sin and yet He was crucified so that we could receive salvation. Jesus did not quit at any point during the process. When He was being arrested He didn't try to run. When He was beaten prior to being taken to the cross, He didn't try to fight back. He endured the entire process. In our Christian walk it's important that we endure the entire process no matter hard it may seem. Don't let fear, frustration, impatience or anything else stop you from being obedient. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. - John 14:1. <br><br>
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12 <br><br>
When we are dealing with challenges in our lives, temptations may come our way to try to get us off track. Don't give in to them. Remember to resist the devil (See James 4:7). Don't open up the door to the enemy in any area of your life. Be mindful of the places you go, and of the things you watch and listen to.<br><br>
It's also important that we don't try to force something a head of God's timing. Think about the story of Abraham. God promised him (Abram at the time) a son (See Genesis 15:1-6). Abraham's wife Sarah (Sarai) had not be able to have children, and she later recommended that Abraham have a child with her maidservant Hagar (see Genesis 16:1-4). Hagar went on to have a son named Ishmael, however it says in Genesis 17:21 “But My convenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” God intended for Abraham to have a child (Issac) with Sarah, and Issac was eventually born in God's timing (see Genesis 21:1-3). It's important for us to wait on the Lord.<br><br>
So as we live our lives, let us remain faithful to every task that God has given us. Stay encouraged. Keep praising God. Don't give up!<br><br>
“For we walk by faith, not by sight:”- 2 Corinthians 5:7 <br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1245592011-11-22T03:50:00-05:002011-11-22T03:50:00-05:00Don't Be DeceivedSometimes the enemy may send people into our lives to try to take us off the course God has us on. “And He spake that saying openly. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned about and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” - Mark 8:32-33...Today's blog entry deals with not being deceived.<br><br>
In the verse that preceded the verses I mentioned above, Jesus speaks of his death and resurrection. “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”- Mark 8:31. Upon hearing this, Peter began rebuking Jesus. He did not want Jesus to die, however Jesus knew that it was necessary for Him to die in order for Him to bring salvation to mankind, and He rebuked Peter. On the outside looking in, someone who didn't fully understand the situation, may have thought to themselves, “why is Jesus rebuking Peter, Peter doesn't want to see Him die, isn't that a good thing”. However Jesus was looking at the big picture, and He knew that what Peter was saying was not from God, but rather from Satan. <br><br>
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” - 2 Corinthians 11:14 <br><br>
It's important that we do not allow Satan to deceive us. He may not always attack the way that we expect him to. He's the father of lies (see John 8:44), and he has many different ways of carrying out his deception. One example people may think of, is a person that has recently gotten saved and has really been growing in their walk with God. They have gotten established in a good church and have been faithfully attending for the few months they have been saved. Then all of a sudden they start hearing from old friends they haven't heard from in months/years trying to pull them back into their former lifestyle. An outsider (that is a born again Christian) looking at a situation like this could obviously realize that the newly converted Christian should not go back to their former lifestyle. They should continue to live for Christ.<br><br>
On the flip side, lets revisit that scenario again, with a different set of circumstances. The person has recently gotten saved (we'll say they've been saved for about 3 months). They've been growing in their walk with God, faithfully attending church. And then they come across some church going people that they went to high school with. The church going people are happy to hear that their former classmate is saved, and began to try to convince their former classmate to leave the church they are currently attending, and join their church. They begin to talk about how their Church is bigger, and has more activities for young people, etc. The newly converted Christian decides not leave the church they have been attending because they feel like it's God will for them to stay. On the outside looking in, it may not be as obvious to an outsider to figure out which decision is the best. Someone who does not fully understand the situation could think to themselves “we'll hey if the church is bigger, and has more activities, then that's were they should be”. However, the important thing to look at, is that if it's God's desire for that person to stay at the church they were at, then that's what they should do. There could be a number of reasons why God has that person where they are.<br><br>
And while I used the analogy of church in this blog entry, it applies to life in general (jobs, marriage, geographic location, etc) So as we live our lives, let's seek God with all our heart, and ask Him for discernment. Never let someone else pressure you into making the wrong decision. A person could have good intentions (like Peter did with Jesus), yet if they are trying to get us to do something that is not in God's will, we shouldn't do it.<br><br>
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” - Mark 8:34<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1234242011-11-15T07:22:16-05:002018-07-07T03:48:52-04:00Make the Most of the Opportunites God Gives You“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. - Matthew 25:25-27...When God gives us an opportunity, we should do the best that we can with it. Today's blog deals with avoiding missed opportunities. <br><br>
The scriptures listed above are from a passage in the Bible known as “The Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30). It deals with 3 different servants that were given talents. One servant was given 5 talents, one servant was given 2 talents, and one servant was given 1 talent. The first two servants went out and gained more talents (The one who started with 5 gained 5 more giving him a total of 10, the one who started with 2 gained 2 more giving him a total of 4) . While the third servant, buried the (1) talent that he received and didn't gain any additional talents. And as a result here's what happened.: <br><br>
“Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” - Matthew 25:28-30<br><br>
The servant that received 1 talent became fearful, and didn't take advantage of the opportunity that he received, and the 1 talent that he had was taken away. In our Christian walk it's important that we don't allow fear (or anything else) to stop us from doing what God has assigned us to do. When God gives us an assignment, we need to go out and complete the assignment. We shouldn't make excuses as to why we can't do it, we should seek God for guidance and direction, and we should move forward. <br><br>
It's important that we truly submit ourselves to God, and avoid trying to take things into our own hands. We shouldn't try to control things that God has not given us the authority to control. We may not always feel comfortable with the things God has called us to do, but we should obey him regardless. <br><br>
“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” - Isaiah 1:19-20<br><br>
Make no mistake about it, God loves us (see John 3:16). He knows what's best for us. He wants us to complete the assignments He has given us. With that being said, we should never get to the point, where we waste time, and feel like we are the only person that God can use for a specific task/role in life. God could easily raise up another person to fulfill that task/role. So as we live our lives, let us take advantage of every opportunity that God gives us. Stay encouraged...Keep your faith in Jesus Christ!<br><br>
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6 <br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1222962011-11-08T08:28:24-05:002011-11-08T08:28:24-05:00HumilityRegardless of how much success we attain, or how much knowledge we accumulate, we should always remain humble. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” - James 4:6. Today's blog entry deals with humilty.<br><br>
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O Magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. - Psalms 34:2-4<br><br>
God has blessed each of us with different types of gifts/abilities, and we should be using those gifts/abilities to glorify Him. We should remember that He is the one that gave us the power to be successful (See Deuteronomy 8:18). Being humble doesn't mean that you verbally hurl insults at yourself (It's ok to say thank you when someone gives you a compliment such as “You did a really good job when you spoke last week). However a person that is humble doesn't think more highly of themselves than they should. The Bible gives a lot of instruction on how we should carry ourselves.<br><br>
A humble person realizes that they don't have all the answers. This can be especially important to remember when we're dealing with challenges in our personal lives that we don't understand. An attribute of a humble person is to be obedient to God through tough situations, instead of trying to take things into their own hands. We should not have self pity, we should cast our cares upon the Lord.<br><br>
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humilty.” - Proverbs 18:12<br><br>
Being humble goes beyond the words we speak. Humility is also shown through a person's actions. It's important that we truly live lifestyles that are Christ centered, and not self centered. If we have unresolved self esteem issues, we should pray to God about it, and seek Him for the how to overcome it. We shouldn't allow ourselves to get caught up in getting vain glory. Avoid being a people pleaser. Remember God sees our hearts. He knows what's driving us.<br><br>
It's important that we take the time to learn the things that God desires for us to learn. We should play the position that God has given us to the best of our abilities. And if God blesses you with something always remember to keep things in their proper perspective. Never make an idol of it. Remember that just as quickly as you received it, it could also be taken away. Live life to the fullest in Jesus Christ. Be thankful. Be humble. <br><br>
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. - Phillippians 2:5-8<br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1210932011-11-01T02:26:17-04:002011-11-01T02:26:17-04:00Trust God Regardless Of What You're FacingHave you ever went through a situation where you were praying about something, believing God would work things out for you a certain way, yet time went on, and things did not end up going the way you expected them to? In a situation like that, we should not lose faith in God. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." - James 1:2-3...Today's entry deals with trusting God regardless of what you're facing.<br><br>
It can be very difficult when challenging things are happening in our lives, and it doesn't seem like there is any solution to the situation we're dealing with. But remember that God is in control, and has the solution for any problem that could ever come our way. It's important that we keep our composure if we find ourselves in tough situations. Do not give in to any sinful desires that may try to rise up in your flesh. Don't allow yourself to become depressed. Instead, stand on the Word of God. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17. Instead of responding to things based on how we feel, we should respond based on what the Word of God says. We as humans do not have all the answers. There may be things that happen that we don't understand, but we should never, and I repeat never get mad at God. God loves you, and wants what's best for you. "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." - Isaiah 64:8<br><br>
It's also important that we continue to pray during challenging times. Continue to express your love to God. Continue to give God praise. And be very mindful of the words you speak. Don't complain, but instead speak words of life. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."- Proverbs 18:21. We should never allow anything to drive us away from God, our desire should be to draw closer to him. And if we ever start to feel like there is no one that can relate to what we're going through, remember that Jesus can relate, He endured much worse. "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:3-5 <br><br>
Be strong my brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember to cast your cares on Jesus. Don't be afraid, seek God, and trust Him regardless of what you're facing. <br><br>
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."- Philippians 4:7<br><br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1200392011-10-25T02:46:35-04:002011-10-25T02:46:35-04:00Resist the DevilSubmit yourselves therefore to God. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7...Remember to obey the Word of God regardless of what challenges you face in your life. Don't give in to temptation. Don't allow your emotions to cause you to sin. Today's blog entry deals with resisting the devil.<br><br>
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" - 1 Peter 5:8<br><br>
It's important as Christians to remember that we have an adversary, the devil, that wants to kill, still and destroy. This does not mean that we should live in fear (See 2 Timothy 1:7), however we should be aware of the type of tactics he uses. Another thing that I want to point out is that we should take responsibility for our actions. If a person commits a sin, they shouldn't have a "the devil made me do it" mindset. Instead they should repent and avoid yielding themselves to the devil. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" - Romans 6:16<br><br>
When talking about resisting the urge to do something sinful, one of the first things that can come to mind is avoiding sexual sin. And while sexual sin (and all sin) is definitely something that we should avoid, it's important to remember that sexual sin is not the only way that a person can fall into sin. Different people may have different things that trigger them. For instance, some people's challenge may be to resist the urge to go off on the person that just tried to cut in front of them in line at the store (not saying you have to let people cut in front of you, but there's a right and wrong way to address something like that). While another person's challenge may be to resist the urge to gossip about others. The important thing to realize is that sin is sin. Certain types of sins may be talked about more than others, but we should be striving to avoid all sin. We should study/read the Word of God on a regular basis, and apply what it says to our lives. We should spend time in prayer on a regular basis. We should keep Christ first in our lives and have a genuine desire to grow in our relationship with Him.<br><br>
So let us resist the sinful desires of our flesh, and instead live a lifestyle that is pleasing to Christ.<br><br>
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." - Matthew 16:24<br><br>
<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1189732011-10-18T02:30:09-04:002011-10-18T02:30:09-04:00Getting Out Of Our Comfort Zone"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps". - Proverbs 16:9...There are times in our lives where God may call us to do something that is out of our comfort zone (or different than the way we've previously done things). In times like these, we should continue to trust and obey Him. Today's blog entry deals with getting out of our comfort zone.<br><br>
Change can be a very exciting thing that people look forward to. But in some situations, change can be a difficult/intimidating thing. For example, say you have someone that has played basketball since they were a child. They continued to improve as they got older, and as a result they get recruited to play at the college level. In high school they played the forward position, yet all of the colleges are recruiting the player to play the point guard position. The person in this situation has gotten used to playing forward, and doesn't want to stop, so he asks one of the coaches recruiting him "Why does everybody want me to play guard? I want to play forward...I've always played forward, that just my position." The coach responds by letting him know that while playing forward was a suitable position for him to play in the past, he thinks the player would have much more success as a guard at the college level because of his size and skill set. In high school the other players playing forward were closer to his height, however in college the guys playing forward are 4-5 inches taller than him. The coach doesn't doubt the players ability. In fact, he knows that the player could still have success playing forward, but he thinks the player will have more success playing guard. After the having the discussion with the coach, things make a lot more sense to the player, and he starts the transition from forward to guard. He was very uncomfortable with the change at first, however as time went on, he makes the adjustment, and goes on to have much success.<br><br>
Likewise, in our Christian walk, there are times in our lives when God may transition us into something different. And while the reasoning may be different than in the scenario listed above. We should take comfort in the fact that God knows what He's doing. He may cause us to work in a different area of ministry than we're used to working in. Or He may cause to move geographically to a different region for a job. Regardless of what it is that God calls us to do, we should have faith that He knows what's best for us. We shouldn't complain to God about why we don't want to do it. Instead, we should prepare to make the transition, and carry out the assignments that He has given us. <br><br>
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6<br><br>
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7<br type="_moz">Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1181172011-10-11T03:32:47-04:002022-06-01T14:19:31-04:00Marriage MindsetAre you an unmarried person that feels like God is leading you in the direction of marriage (maybe you already have began the courtship process, or maybe you’re on the verge of starting a new relationship)? Today’s blog entry deals with having a marriage mindset. “For this cause shall a man leave his Father and Mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” – Ephesians 5:31<br><br>
Marriage is a very serious and important commitment. Whether you are currently in a relationship or not, there are things that you can do to prepare yourself for marriage. For starters, we should make sure that we are truly seeking God’s will, and putting Him first in our lives. When we’re focusing on God’s will (instead of our own desires) we can avoid a lot of potential problems. The Bible lets us know that God desires for us to live a holy lifestyle (see Romans 12:1-2). A person that is not married should not be involved in any type of sexual activity. We should not be driven by lust, we should apply God’s word in our lives and walk in the victory that Jesus Christ has given us.<br><br>
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” –2 Corinthians 5:17<br><br>
It’s also important that we don’t let things from our past hinder us from progressing in the future. If you’ve had a bad experience in a past relationship, pray and ask God to deliver you from the negative effects it has had on you. Do not carry baggage from a previous relationship into a marriage. Make sure that you not trying to get in a relationship as a way to cover up insecurities in your life. It’s important that we deal with any insecurities we may have. <br><br>
We should study the scriptures well, and have a good understanding of what it truly means to love. If you truly love someone, you should be willing to make sacrifices for them. It shouldn’t always be about what you want, you should also take an interest in what they want. We should make sure that we are not being selfish. We should also manage our money well, and develop good spending habits. <br><br>
Jesus Christ should be the foundation of every marriage.<br><br>
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. – Ephesians 5:22-28<br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1170982011-10-04T03:30:46-04:002011-10-04T03:30:46-04:00Live The Word, Share The WordYe are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: -2 Corinthians 3:2….As born again Christians, we should be spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s important that we share the Word of God with people. It’s also important that we live it out in front of people, so that our actions line up with our words. Today’s blog entry deals with Living/Sharing the Word of God.<br><br>
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. –Mark 16:15<br><br>
Every Christian should be sharing the Gospel with unbelievers. We shouldn’t let fear, or anything else stop us from doing so. We may come across people that reject the Bible, but that shouldn’t detour us from sharing the Gospel with others in the future. As Christians, we are set apart. We should never allow our desire to be liked by others to cause us to compromise what the Word truly says. Our love for Christ should cause us to want to obey Him (see John 14:15). Our love for people should allow us to be willing to speak to them about Jesus even if it means they may possibly crack a joke about us, or give us a “funny look”. It’s important that we look at the big picture, and remember that if the person never receives Jesus Christ as their savior, they will end up in Hell. This isn’t to say that we can make the decision for them, or force them to be saved. But we should at least do our best to make sure we have clearly shared the Gospel with them.<br><br>
Our lifestyles should match up with how the Bible says Christians should live. This isn’t to say that we will never make mistakes. But we should be giving our best effort to obey the Word of God, and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. If we make a mistake, we should repent. One of the big things that can turn people off from church, or wanting to hear about the Bible is a hypocrite. Our lifestyles should be evident of the fact that we have a relationship with Christ. <br><br>
After we lead someone to Christ, it’s important that we help them get connected with a good church home. We should help other Christians grow in their walk with Christ, by teaching them what the Bible says.<br><br>
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: - Matthew 28:19<br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/691552011-09-26T03:50:00-04:002020-06-23T08:27:44-04:00Live A Lifestyle Of Praise To GodPraise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. - Psalm 135:3…Regardless of the challenges or obstacles we face, we all have a reason (many reasons) to praise God. Never allow the enemy to cause you to give up hope. God Almighty is strong and powerful! God is in control. This week’s blog entry deals with living a lifestyle of praise to God.<br><br>
One way to define the word praise, is to approve or admire.<br><br>
Can you think of a time when you witnessed emotion driven praise for something that happened in everyday life? For example during a sports game, when a team makes a good play, fans of that team may get excited, and show their excitement by cheering and yelling things such as “wow, that was an amazing play”. As Christians, we have a lot more to be excited about than an athletic event. We have received salvation through Jesus Christ. We serve a great God that loves us very much. We should praise God because of who He is. We should thank God for the things that He has done. We should trust God even if things are happening that we don’t understand. <br><br>
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6<br><br>
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. - Proverbs 16:9<br><br>
You may be thinking to yourself, “I really love God, but sometimes things can get difficult to the point where I just don’t feel like praising God at the time.” It’s important to remember that we should not allow how we feel to stop us from praising God. If we’re feeling discouraged, we should go to the Word of God. We shouldn’t allow negative thoughts to break our focus. For example, if a wide receiver drops a pass during a football game, they shouldn’t allow it to dominate their thoughts. Instead they should refocus, and get ready because the quarterback may very well throw them the ball again during the next play. When we are praising God, the focus should be on Him, and not on ourselves. <br><br>
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. - Philippians 4:8<br><br>
As we continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus, Let us continually praise Him. Let us strive to be more like Him. Let us remember to stand on the Word of God regardless of situation we’re dealing with. <br><br>
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. – Psalm 150:6<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1151372011-09-20T03:22:30-04:002011-09-20T03:22:30-04:00Jesus Is The Only WayJesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. – John 14:6. Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven. It’s important that we share the true Gospel, and don’t allow ourselves to accept anything that is contrary to the Word of God.<br><br>
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10<br><br>
We live in a society where there are a lot of people that oppose the Word of God. There are many people that promote/push lies to try to get others to accept their agenda and belief system. As born again Christians, it is our job to tell people the truth in love. By “in love”, I mean that our motives should be pure (we should be kind); we should genuinely want to see people get saved. We shouldn’t allow fear (of any type) to stop us from sharing the truth.<br><br>
In today’s culture, there are many people who are much more concerned with pleasing people than they are with pleasing God. There are people that live sinful lifestyles, and have no intention of repenting, yet feel if they die, they will still go to Heaven because they believe that God exists. Believing that God exists is not enough, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” – James 2:19. The preceding verse lets us know that the devil believes that God exists.<br><br>
When you speak the truth, there may people that ask you questions such as, Why are you on this God stuff so much, or Why don’t you wait until you get older to get more into that church stuff? The thing they fail to understand is that when a person has a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, they want others to know about it, and they want others to receive Jesus as savior. Think about a husband/wife relationship. If the husband never mentions his wife to his friends (they don’t even know that he’s married), and then one day the friends find out that he has been married for a while, they probably would say something like, hey how come you never told me you were married. If a husband and wife really love each other, they would want others to know about their spouse.<br><br>
People can get so caught up in a routine, and living life a certain way that they lose focus of the reality that we all will be judged one day. People who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will go to Heaven, those who don’t will go to Hell. <br><br>
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1141742011-09-13T03:25:00-04:002011-09-13T03:25:00-04:00Stand Strong“But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” – 1 Peter 1:25 …Don’t allow difficult situations to cause you to lose faith. Continue to stand on the Word of God. Today’s blog entry deals with Standing Strong.<br><br>
“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11<br><br>
Have you ever been going through a difficult situation, that you had absolutely no idea how you would make it out of? If we ever find ourselves in a situation like that, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to panic. We should, however remind ourselves of what the word of God says. We can take comfort in the fact that God will never leave us nor forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5). If you find yourself in a challenging situation, don’t allow it to take your focus off of Jesus. As Christians, we should be praising the Lord on a regular basis. We should truly be thankful that we have received the gift of salvation. We should believe what the Word says, and obey what the Word says.<br><br>
If we have made a mistake(s) that caused us to be in a challenging situation, we should be honest about it, learn from it, and avoid making the same mistake(s) in the future. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8. We shouldn’t open the doors of our lives to the devil, and we should not allow the devil to intimidate us. We also shouldn’t continue to beat ourselves up over a past mistake. After we repent of something, we should move forward. If people mock you…keep moving forward anyhow. If people try to discourage you…encourage yourself using scriptures. Don’t back down from what God has called you to do. Don’t allow another person to cause you to embrace a mindset of doubt or unbelief of God’s Word. It’s very important that we do not let the opinions of others hinder our walk with Christ. Remember what 1 Peter 2:9 says “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” <br><br>
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” – Luke 21:36<br><br>
Our prayer life is extremely important. Prayer allows us to take our minds off of whatever situation we are going through, and communicate with God (putting our focus on Him). When we pray, we should not try to get God to conform to our will; instead, we should seek to conform to God’s will. God knows what’s best for us, so it’s important that we follow His plan.<br><br>
So regardless of the situation you’re dealing with, remember that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (see Nehemiah 8:10). Don’t allow fear or frustration to cause you to avoid the assignment God has given you. Stand strong my brothers and sisters. Stand on the Word of God.<br><br>
“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1129982011-09-06T04:07:24-04:002011-09-06T04:07:24-04:00Repentance“If my people, which are called by name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 2:14 …It’s important that we repent on a regular basis, and avoid opening the doors of our lives to the enemy. Today’s blog entry deals with repentance.<br><br>
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23<br><br>
Each and every one of us has done sinful things (both before and after receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior). It’s important that we are constantly examining ourselves to make sure that we are not opening the door to the enemy in areas of our life. We should never get to the point where we feel like we can’t make any mistakes. There’s always room for growth. If you find yourself in a sinful situation, you should repent (turn away from it, and stop doing it). Never try to justify doing something that is sinful. Instead be honest with yourself, and with God (He already knows what you’re dealing with anyway), and work towards a solution to avoid the same problem in the future. “And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 3:2. As born again Christians, we have a role to play in the body of Christ. Allowing sin (regardless of how “small of a sin” we may think it is) into our lives can definitely disrupt how we function in the assignments God has given us. Remember that the pleasures of sin only lasts for a season (see Hebrews 11:25).<br><br>
“But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:14-15<br><br>
The above passage of scripture in James helps us to get an understanding of the process of sin. It’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to be enticed by sinful things. As Christians, we should have a mindset to serve God to the best of our ability. Instead of focusing on what our flesh wants to do, we should focus on what God’s Word says to do. If we find ourselves being enticed by sinful things, we should renew our minds with the Word, and spend time in prayer, asking God to help us avoid being drawn away of our own lusts. Sin is serious, we shouldn’t take it lightly. Don’t give into temptation. Don’t make excuses for sinning. If you have been battling with a specific sin, make sure that you close off the entry points. Speak the word of the Word of God. Encourage yourself. Be strong. God has given us the strength to endure the challenges that we go through.<br><br>
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” - Luke 24:47<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1118972011-08-30T04:05:35-04:002011-08-30T04:05:35-04:00Count The Cost“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it.” - Luke 14:28. It’s important to realize that when we take on a certain task, there is responsibility that comes along with it. <br><br>
Picture this, there is a very talented basketball player that recently finished up his college career and is now ready to make the jump to the NBA. A lot of teams are interested in him, and he ends up getting drafted at the number 1 pick. After being drafted, he starts working out with the team and getting prepared for the upcoming season. Then during a meeting with his coach he says “Hey coach, there’s something I wanted to let you know. I really enjoy playing basketball, but I really dislike traveling to a lot of different states. I could deal with it in college because I didn’t have to travel as much or as far, but after looking at this schedule, I can tell you right now that I’m probably going miss at least 15-20 road games.” The shocked coach replies, WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?! This is the NBA, you know we (and every other team) take a lot of road trips throughout the season.<br><br>
If the basketball player really wants to play in the NBA, he should be willing to travel with the team and play in all the road games. Likewise in our lives, it’s important that we make the necessary sacrifices that go along with the different tasks that God has called us to complete. Romans 12:1 lets us know that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God. Being willing to deny our own wants and desires, in order to carry out what God desires us to do, is an important part of the Christian walk. Luke 14:27 says “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”<br><br>
Sometimes we may wonder why things aren’t happening in our lives as quickly as we would like them to. There could be a number of reasons for this, but one reason could be because God is preparing us to be able to endure the different challenges that will come along with the assignments He has given us. If we try to take on an assignment prematurely, our lack of experience could lead to mistakes that we would not have made if we had waited and done things in God’s timing.<br><br>
“Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established.” – Proverbs 24:3<br><br>
And don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying that we should shy away from responsibility. However, I do feel that it’s important to be lead by God in the decisions we make, and not by our own agenda. Let’s continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and be willing to make the sacrifices He requires of us. Salvation is a great gift from God, and we should always remember that.<br><br>
“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterward build thine house.” Proverbs 24:27<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1108812011-08-23T03:45:00-04:002011-08-23T03:45:00-04:00Be PersistentThings may not be happening as quickly as you want them to, but don’t allow that to get you off the path that God has set you on. “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.” –Lamentations 3:25 …. Today’s blog entry deals with being persistent. <br><br>
Have you ever watched a child during the process of learning to ride a bike? If so, have you ever seen a child that has never rode a bike before, jump on a bike and immediately ride off at full speed….Probably not. Riding a bike tends to be a process. Some people may learn how to do it at different paces, but there is generally some type of learning period. A child can be very eager to ride a bike and have good intentions, however if they try to rush the learning process, it could result in injury. On the other hand, if they have some difficulty during the learning process, and decide to totally give up on learning how to ride the bike, they could actually be quitting something have the ability to do.<br><br>
One thing that a person who wants to ride a bike successfully needs to do is have proper balance. In our Christian walk, it’s also important that we have proper balance. When God is allowing us to grow through a learning process, we should be trying to learn as much as we can learn. We shouldn’t complain, we shouldn’t rush the process. We also shouldn’t allow ourselves to quit if things aren’t happening as quickly as we expect them to. For instance, picture someone who grows up wanting to be a medical doctor, and by the time they reach the ninth grade, they get frustrated with the school work they’re doing, and want to immediately move on to medical school. By skipping over their other classes, and trying to jump right into medical school, they would obviously be missing out on a lot of valuable information (and requirements) that would help prepared them to become a doctor. On the other hand if they keep working hard and complete the entire process they can achieve their desired result of becoming a doctor. <br><br>
“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” – Romans 8:25<br><br>
As Christians, we should keep our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We should work hard to complete every assignment that He has given us. If we’re having a challenge in a certain area, we should renew our minds with the Word of God. Remaining obedient to God is essential. Never let a fit of emotion to cause you to make a bad decision. Stay motivated. Keep praising God even if challenges come your way. Be determined to please God. Be a faithful servant. And when it is time to move forward…then step out and move forward, don’t allow fear to hold you back. Be strong, and rely upon Jesus to lead and guide you. <br><br>
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” Psalm 40:1-4<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1091722011-08-16T04:24:18-04:002011-08-16T04:24:18-04:00Worship God“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth.” <br>
John 4:24…Worship is an essential part of the Christian walk. It’s a way of life that goes beyond music. Today’s blog entry deals with worship.<br><br>
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” <br>
– Matthew 22:37-38<br><br>
God should be Number 1 in all of our lives. We should love Him more than everything/everybody else. Our actions and everyday life should reflect our love for God. Romans 6:16 says “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants are ye to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.” In order to worship God, we need to be obedient to God. We need to understand what His Word says, and follow His instructions. We should be renewing our minds, and putting God’s will above our own. As it says in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. <br><br>
We should consistently spend time reading our bible, and praying. Reading the Bible helps us get an understanding of God’s character, and the things that He desires for us to do (2 Timothy 2:15 says “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word.”). Praying allows to us communicate with God, and express our love and thankfulness to Him (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”). <br><br>
It’s important that we do not allow ourselves to become dominated by the cares of this world. We should not let society/pop culture to dictate to us what is/isn’t acceptable. Instead we should do what Colossians 3:15-16 says “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”<br><br>
We should have a desire to continually to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and be more like Him everyday. We should live a lifestyle that’s pleasing to Him. We shouldn’t allow the fear of how we will be perceived by others to stop us from worshiping God.<br><br>
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 <br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1082902011-08-09T03:35:00-04:002011-08-09T03:35:00-04:00Honor Your Parents“Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy Father and Mother which is the first commandment with promise.” - Ephesians 6:1-2…No matter how old we get, we should continue to honor and respect our parents. Today’s blog entry deals with honoring our parents.<br><br>
Many of us learned at an early age the importance of obeying of our parents. We understood that if we didn’t do what they told us to do, there would be some sort of punishment. Consequently, many kids avoided being disobedient in the presence of their parents; however at times when they felt like their parents weren’t watching, they would do things contrary to the way their parents raised them. With that being said, I think it’s important to take a look at what the word honor means. To honor can be defined as having “inward respect and reverence for”. A person who is honoring their parents should do so both outwardly and inwardly. They should realize that their actions can honor/dishonor their parents even if their parents aren’t physically there. For instance, an individual can honor their parents by working hard in school, and helping out in the community. A person can dishonor their parents by being a troublemaker in school, and being a negative influence in the community. As Christians we should also realize that our actions can either honor or dishonor God. If a person tells a lie, it’s more than just being dishonest; it’s also a form of dishonoring God.<br><br>
As a child grows into an adult, they may start to feel like they have life figured out, and as a result ignore good guidance/advice that their parents are attempting to give them. When God uses parents to warn us or give us insight about something, we should not allow pride to cause us to reject the truth they’re speaking. “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18.<br><br>
And some people reading this blog post may be thinking, “Yeah I hear what you’re saying, but you don’t know my family, and the things I have to deal with.” I’m definitely not going to pretend that I know each person’s specific situation. I understand that some people may have parents/authority figures in their life who are not the easiest to get along with, I also understand that different people come from different family backgrounds (some people may be raised by parents, others by their grandparents, older siblings, other relatives). The point that I want to emphasize is that we should always show our parents (the people who raised us) respect. This isn’t to say that a person is always going to agree with everything their parent says or does, but rather that they should always show forth the love of Christ to their parents. And if your parents have done something wrong that has hurt you in the past, be sure to forgive them. <br><br>
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7<br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1075782011-08-02T04:05:00-04:002011-08-02T04:05:00-04:00Be Faithful To GodHave you ever seen someone who was really passionate about God? However, after receiving a blessing from God in a certain area (maybe a job promotion, a spouse, a business opportunity, etc) they started to focus less on God, and instead put the focus on themselves. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:6. Today’s blog entry deals with being faithful to God.<br><br>
As Christians, it’s important that we keep God first in our lives, and continue to seek Him, following His plan for us. There may be times when God blessed us with an opportunity that causes a change to our previous schedule; however we shouldn’t allow a change in our schedule to cause us to stop spending time with God. We should always make time for God; He should always be our first priority.<br><br>
“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” - Proverbs 3:7<br><br>
A Christian should never get to the point where they feel like “Ok God, I can take it from here”. And while most of us would probably never say it that way, we should also make sure that our actions are not conveying it. For instance, say you have someone who used to pray and read their Bible everyday, asking God to guide them through all their decisions. However after starting up their new business, they barely pray or read their Bible anymore. This is the type of situation that we want to make sure we avoid. Sometimes things like this can happen very subtle. The person may not have intentionally set out to stop reading their Bible, but regardless of the intent, the effects of them not reading their Bible start to show.<br><br>
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2<br><br>
The way to avoid getting ourselves into a scenario like the one mentioned earlier is to renew our minds with the Word of God. By constantly keeping the Word of God in our minds, it can help us to keep things in their proper prospective. It can help to reiterate that God is our source (not the things of this World). Think about it in the natural sense, If a husband stops communicating and spending time with his wife, it can cause a lot issues in the marriage. Likewise if we stop spending time with God, it can cause a lot of issues in our lives. <br><br>
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” - Proverbs 1:7 <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1067682011-07-26T13:08:44-04:002011-07-26T13:08:44-04:00Be Secure In Christ“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 2:5…As Christians, it’s important to know who we are in Christ, and to approach each day with the proper mindset. When a person has the wrong mindset, it can lead to insecurity, and insecurity can open up the door to a lot of other problems. Today’s blog entry deals with being secure in Christ.<br><br>
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17<br><br>
It’s important for a born again believer to realize that they are a new creature. We should embrace the new person that we are in Jesus Christ, and strive to be more like Him each and every day. We should learn from the mistakes that we’ve made in the past, however we should not continue to beat ourselves up over the mistakes that we’ve made in the past. We also should realize that when God has chosen us to do something, it is Him that gives us the power to do it. Don’t focus on your weakness; focus on God’s strength.<br><br>
For instance, say you have someone who had a bad experience when giving a speech for class back in Junior High (Classmates laughed and cracked jokes about their speech). So as a result the person developed a complex and avoids public speaking even as an adult. They later get saved, and their Pastor is really moved by their testimony and asks if the person would take 15 minutes and share their testimony with the entire congregation in the future. The person says “I’m sorry Pastor but I don’t do public speaking”. What this person doesn’t realize is that there are a number people at the church who would really be ministered to by hearing their testimony. Instead of focusing on what happened to them in the past when they spoke in public, they should rely upon God to give them the strength to overcome their fears/insecurities. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7<br><br>
Male/Female relationships are another area where insecurities can come to the forefront in a lot of different ways (more ways than I’m going to go into detail here). Say for instance there is an individual that had a bad experience in a relationship with someone of the opposite sex. The person they were dating may have made some rude remarks about their appearance, or about something that they do, and as a result they second-guess themselves. However, they eventually get saved and end the relationship with the person that made the rude remarks. Moving forward it is very important for this person to avoid continuing to relive the negative things that were said about them. Instead they should rehearse what the Word of God says. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” – 1 Peter 2:9. They should also forgive the person who wronged them (by forgiving I don’t mean jump back in a relationship with them unless of course God brings the two of them back together down the road, but by forgiving I mean letting go of the past and not holding a grudge against them). If a person doesn’t let go of the past in a situation like that, it can cause problems in a future relationship. <br><br>
We live in a society where many people seek validation from other people, however as Christians, we should be focusing on pleasing God. Be secure with who you are in Christ. Renew your mind. And keep progressing in the Lord!<br><br>
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 2:16<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1060692011-07-19T06:43:34-04:002011-07-19T06:43:34-04:00Healing “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: By whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24…Never allow a negative report from a doctor to cause you to lose faith in God. Today’s blog entry deals with Healing.<br><br>
Before I go any further, I want to acknowledge that I understand that this can be a touchy subject. Sometimes questions such as why did person A recover from a certain ailment, while person B didn’t, can be asked. I certainly do not claim to have all the answers, however I do believe the Bible gives instruction and insight on how we should respond if we are given bad news, and today I would like to take a look from a Biblical perspective. I also want to make it clear that I’m not against doctors, but rather pointing out that they don’t have the final say in our lives….God does!<br><br>
We live in a society that tends to put a lot more emphasis on the natural realm than the spiritual realm. What I mean by this is, a lot of people live their lives as if there is no God (even if they believe in God). If a news broadcast reports that there is no cure for certain disease, many people with just take it as a fact without even taking into account God’s ability to heal. Likewise if a doctor gives a person bad news, the natural human response can often be panic/fear. And while hearing certain types of news can definitely cause concern, a Christian should not allow him/herself to be overtaken with fear (see 2 Timothy 1:7). I’m not saying that we should totally ignore the issue, but rather that we should remain in faith, and not allow ourselves to give up. As it says in John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” <br><br>
As Christians, it’s important that we read, understand, and rehearse God’s Word. We should believe what it says. If the enemy tries to make a Christian think there is no hope of recovery for them, that person should remind him/herself of scriptures such as:<br><br>
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5<br><br>
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” – Matthew 8:17<br><br>
I think it’s important that we speak scriptures such as these out loud. You may be thinking to yourself, what’s the big deal about speaking it out loud. Proverbs 18:21 lets us know that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” When negative words are spoken over us (whether they are malicious or not) I believe that we should condemn those negative words, and speak what the Bible says. For instance, say you have a child that has been verbally abused by an adult who tells them they will never amount to anything. If the child only hears negative things like that for a long enough period of time, there’s a good chance they will start believing it. However if that child speaks positive words over their life such as “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13 (or has someone else speaking positive words over their life in their presence) there’s a good chance that the child will start believing those positive words. <br><br>
Likewise if a doctor tells a person there’s nothing else they can do for that person, and predicts that the person will only live another two weeks, and that person believes that it’s God’s will for them to live much longer, I believe that person should take the same approach and speak the Word of God over their life. While the doctor’s words were not said in an abusive way, they can still cause a person to get into unbelief. The doctor is viewing things based on what can be done naturally not taking into account the spiritual, in essence just doing what he/she is trained to do.<br><br>
I also want to point out that there are things in the natural that we should be mindful of. For instance, if a person’s health problems have been cause because of an unhealthy diet, they should make the necessary changes to their diet. If their doctor gives them recommendations in that area, they should listen. Once again, I want to point out that I’m not against doctors.<br><br>
So as we live our lives, let us remember that our faith should be in God, and not in man. <br><br>
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17<br><br><br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1054432011-07-12T09:19:28-04:002011-07-12T09:19:28-04:00God Is Faithful“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 1:9…There are times in the Christian walk when challenges may arise, however we can always take comfort in the fact that we serve a faithful, loving God who is there to guide us through any situation we face. Today’s blog entry deals with the Faithfulness of God.<br><br>
“O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” – Psalm 136:1<br><br>
The Christian life should be filled with thanks and gratitude to God; in our words and in our actions. The mindset that we approach life with is extremely important. When we focus on God and how awesome He is, it can help us put everything else going on in our lives in proper perspective. When we rehearse all the things that He has brought us through, it can help to serve as a reminder that He’s been there for us time after time. If we have times of uncertainty when we’re wondering, “how will we get through this”, or “what we will do next”, we should never become bitter with God, instead we should remember that He will never leave us or forsake us. <br><br>
Since faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, we should meditate upon the scriptures believing them to be true regardless of what our current situation looks like. This isn’t to say that everything will be easy when you do this, however it does give us a way to combat the things we’re up against. For instance, say you have two different football teams, one has been having two a day practices prior to the season starting, while the other team hasn’t been practicing at all. When the season starts and each team starts playing games, the team that has been practicing will likely have more success than the team that hasn’t. This isn’t to say that the season will be easy for the team that has been practicing, but by practicing, they are better prepared to be successful, and weather the storms that arise throughout the season. Likewise when we meditate upon the Word of God, we are better prepared to handle challenges that may arise in life.<br><br>
God’s Word will not return Him void. He always does His part, it’s important that we remember to do ours. Don’t allow the enemy to get you into unbelief. If you ever start to feel like God doesn’t care about you, open up your Bible and rehearse the scriptures that talk about how much He loves you. <br><br>
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” – Romans 5:1-5<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1048042011-07-05T06:58:52-04:002011-07-05T06:58:52-04:00Finish The ProcessHave you been facing some challenges in your Christian walk? Don’t give up!!! “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31. Today’s blog entry deals with Finishing The Process.<br><br>
Picture this…There’s a student that is very close to graduating. He/She has worked very hard over the years, and only has one more final exam to complete before graduation. The day before the exam the student gets upset and complains about how tired they are of school. The student comes to the conclusion that he/she can’t handle the pressure any more, so they never take the exam, and as a result they don’t graduate. <br><br>
Could you imagine if you had a friend or relative in the situation mentioned above, and you had an opportunity to speak with them while there was still a chance for them to take the exam? You would probably say something along the lines of “Don’t quit now, you’re so close, it doesn’t make sense to put in all this work and then not graduate because you didn’t take the last exam.” The student is this scenario isn’t thinking about the big picture, they instead are going off of how they feel at the moment.<br><br>
On the outside looking in, it can be easy to see the problems with making a decision like that, however if we’re facing a situation like that in our lives, we may not always think about the consequences. There are number of ways this can be applied to the Christian walk, but right now I’m going to focus on male/female relationships. Before I continue, I want to make it clear that I’m not trying to be harsh towards people that have made mistakes in the areas I’m about to mention (See Romans 3:23, Romans 8:1). However, I think it’s important to hit on issues like these because they have affected some born again believers. If you’re involved in the things I’m about to mention, I admonish you to Stop, repent, and focus on Jesus. <br><br>
When it comes to relationships and the desire to be married, some Christians have taken the same path as the student mentioned above and quit the process. This can be done in a number of ways. For example, some people have gotten tired of waiting, and started fornicating (having pre-marital sex). Other people (while they may not be committing sexual sin) have gotten into a relationship with a person who doesn’t love God, and is drawing them away from God. Or sometimes, a person may even jump in a relationship with another Christian, yet know in their heart (by obvious warning signs) that this is not the person that they should be with. You may be thinking now wait a second, if both people are Christians, what’s the problem? There could be many problems with a situation like that. For example, say you have one Christian who has been saved for 5 years, and the other Christian has been saved for 1 month, and has had a history of being in a lot of relationships in the past. It’s probably not going to be a good idea for them to start a relationship, at least not at that time (God could make a situation like that work if He wanted, however my point is that a person should not prey on another person’s weak areas to draw them into a relationship).<br><br>
When God is preparing us for something (or someone), we should be doing our best to learn, mature, and improve. We should not complain, and we should not try to take things into our own hands. Let us strive to do God’s will throughout our Christian walk regardless of what comes our way. Don’t let the cares of this world cause you to disobey God. Keep renewing your mind with the Word, trust in God, and press through! <br><br>
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1040682011-06-28T07:56:20-04:002011-06-28T07:56:20-04:00Avoid Jealousy“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:14 –15. Jealousy and envy should have no place in the life of a Christian. Today’s blog entry deals with avoiding jealousy/envy.<br><br>
The accounts given in the Bible of Saul’s jealousy of David, provide a lot of insight of how jealousy can effect a person. Saul was the first King of Israel, however he was disobedient to God, and God ended up rejecting Saul as King (See 1 Samuel 15). David however was obedient to God, he had courage and faith. Saul and the people of Israel were afraid of Goliath, yet David went up against Goliath and killed him (See 1 Samuel 17). Saul became jealous of David and attempted to kill him multiple times. Saul was unable to kill David, God chose David to be king.<br><br>
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” – James 3:16<br><br>
When a person allows jealousy and envy in their life, they open themselves to all kinds of trouble. It’s important that we are secure in who we are in Christ. When a person is insecure, they can start paying more attention to what other people think, seeking validation from others. We should understand that God has blessed each and every person with gifts and abilities. Instead of being mad about the gifts/opportunities that other people have, we should be thankful for our relationship with God, and focus on utilizing the gifts that He has blessed us with to carry out His will.<br><br>
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men.” – 1 Corinthians 3:3<br><br>
The word carnal can be defined as fleshly, worldly. As Christians we should not allow our flesh to direct our behavior, we should instead walk by the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:22-25<br><br>
If a person notices they have an issue with jealousy (or any other sin), they should repent (turn away from it). They should renew their mind with the Word of God, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. As the body of Christ, we should be working with each other to complete our God given assignments. Realize that God has given us the ability to overcome things we battle with in our flesh. <br><br>
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1034832011-06-21T07:35:16-04:002011-06-21T07:35:16-04:00LeadershipHave you ever seen a manager who was able to come into a work situation and get much better results from the people that he/she managed than the previous manager who had the same core group of people? Today’s blog entry deals with leadership. “Lead me, O Lord in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.” - Psalm 5:8.<br><br>
As Christians, it’s important that we do our best to represent Jesus at all times. You may not always realize it, but there’s a big chance that someone else is watching you and learning things from you. The way we act, the things we say, and the image that we portray can greatly impact people’s view of Christianity. There are many people who don’t go to church, so they form their opinion of what Christianity is about based on their interactions with people who say they are Christians. We should always realize who we are in Christ, and never compromise who we are in Him in order to be considered cool by others.<br><br>
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. Psalm 78:72<br><br>
When God allows us to be in any type of leadership position (whether it’s inside the church or outside the church) we should lead with the utmost integrity. A manager at a job should not be taking prolonged breaks (not authorized by the company) since they know that they’re in charge and “no one else in watching” (God is always watching). Instead, they should set a good example for the other employees, and do their work as unto the Lord.<br><br>
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7<br><br>
A leader should be humble and they should never abuse their authority. Leaders should always seek God for direction; they should realize that they themselves don’t have all the answers. As it says in James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” A leader should be strong, and able to endure challenges.<br><br>
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. – 1 Peter 4:10<br><br>
Someone who leads should be able to effectively communicate with the people they are leading without being fearful, and without losing their composure. If there is a problem that needs to be fixed, the leader should be able to speak to the parties who are responsible for fixing the problem in a way that is respectful. A leader should know how and when to delegate responsibilities to others. Leaders should want to see the people they are leading grow and mature. So as we lead throughout our daily lives, let us make sure that we are always following Christ’s example. <br><br>
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.<br>
1 Peter 5:2-3<br><br><br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1027912011-06-14T06:35:58-04:002011-06-14T06:35:58-04:00Be UnselfishHave you ever been around someone who constantly asks for the help/support of others, yet when they have the opportunity to help/support other people they decide that they would rather spend their time doing something else? Today’s blog entry deals with being unselfish. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:4<br><br>
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15<br><br>
Jesus Christ is the epitome of unselfishness; He laid down His life so that we could receive salvation. His love for us was shown by his willingness to go through suffering, ridicule, and death. As Christians, we should be willing to make sacrifices. It’s good for us to have goals and aspirations, but we shouldn’t allow the pursuit of goals to cause us to become selfish.<br><br>
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36<br><br>
Sometimes it can be easy to look at how things directly affect us, but it’s important that we consider someone else’s perspective before we jump to conclusions in situations. For instance, say person A has been repeating calling person B and hasn’t been able to reach them. As a result, person A eventually gets mad at person B, and even starts saying negative things about person B to others. However, as time goes on, person A finds out that person B had lost their phone, and wasn’t intentionally trying to avoid person A. When we only focus on how things affect us, we can lose sight of the fact that the other individual(s) may be dealing with their own set of issues.<br><br>
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:24-26<br><br>
If we want to live an unselfish lifestyle, we should follow Jesus’ example. We should continually renew our minds, and avoid vanity. We shouldn’t allow jealousy or envy in our lives. We should love people, we should encourage people, and we should be willing to help people grow in their walk with Jesus.<br><br>
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” Romans 15:1-3 <br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1021132011-06-07T10:23:14-04:002011-06-07T10:23:14-04:00The Role Of The Woman“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”-Proverbs 31:10-12. Last week’s blog entry dealt with the role of the man, this week, the focus is on the role of the woman. <br><br>
I want make it clear that this blog entry only highlights some of the key areas of the role of the woman. The Bible has a lot to say about this topic, and goes into much more detail than this blog entry. I also want to mention that there are some things (such as being devoted to Jesus, living a holy lifestyle, etc) that apply to both men and women, however in this blog entry, I’m focusing on the attributes of a woman. <br><br>
First and foremost, every Christian (Man and Woman) should constantly be working to grow in their relationship with Christ. Having a genuine relationship with Christ will help a Christian understand his/her role in the body of Christ.<br><br>
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.” - Genesis 2:18<br><br>
The verb form of the word “help” can be defined as aiding or supplying someone in need (the word help is not meant to be degrading). The word “meet” comes from the Hebrew word meaning opposite. So in essence, a woman helps and complements a man. It’s a good idea for a young female to develop the ability to help others. This will be especially important if the woman goes on to get married and have a family. If a woman is not yet married (or has no plans of being married), she should still have the mentality of one who helps others, whether it be her father, mother, other relatives/people, etc.<br><br>
Check out the following verses that give insight into the role women played as it relates to Jesus:<br><br>
“And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.” - Matthew 27:55-56<br><br>
“And the women also, which came with him from Galilee followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment ” - Luke 23:55-56<br><br>
Within a marriage, a wife should be submitted to her husband. “Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”- Ephesians 5:22. A wife should love and support her husband acknowledging that He is the leader of the household (the husband should love and protect his wife). She should also be focusing on developing her inner qualities as it relates to growing in the Lord. A woman should never be so focused on beautifying her outward appearance to the point where it causes her to the neglect her inward growth as a woman pursing God. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek a quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” This passage serves as a caution letting us know that the priority should be on the inward things.<br><br>
“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” 1 Timothy 5:14<br>
A woman who is married with a family should be able to manage her home. She should be able to nurture her children, speaking words of encouragement to them. Proverbs 31:26-28 says, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her.”<br><br>
As a women grows and matures she should be ready and willing to help other women who maybe be going through things that she as already been through. A woman, who is a wife and mother, should love her husband and children. She should be helping all of them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.<br><br>
“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1014022011-05-31T12:10:00-04:002011-05-31T12:10:00-04:00The Role Of The ManFor if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? – 1 Timothy 3:5….Today’s blog entry deals with the role of the man from a biblical perspective.<br><br>
I want make it clear that this blog entry only highlights some of the key areas of the role of the man. The Bible has a lot to say about this topic, and goes into much more detail than this blog entry. I also want to mention that there are some things (such as being devoted to Jesus, living a holy lifestyle, etc) that apply to both men and women, however in this blog entry, I’m focusing on the attributes of a man. So for example, if I talk about men being called to lead, that doesn’t mean that women can’t lead, but rather there are some areas that the Bible specifically says men should take the lead in.<br><br>
First and foremost, every Christian (Man and Woman) should constantly be working to grow in their relationship with Christ. Having a genuine relationship with Christ will help a Christian understand his/her role in the body of Christ. <br><br>
An important attribute of a man is to be a provider and a protector. It’s a good idea for a male to start developing the mindset of being a provider/protector from an early age, having a plan to be able to care of himself and others (with God as their source). This will be especially important if the man goes on to get married and have a family. And even if a man doesn’t plan to get married or have a family, he should still have the mentality of a provider and protector. The following passage of scripture deals with the way men in a certain place responded when they found out Jesus came to their area. <br><br>
“And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased.” - Matthew 14:35<br><br>
A man should also be mature and able to endure temptation. He shouldn’t fall apart if things don’t go the way that he wants them to. He should rely upon the Lord for direction and remain committed to Christ. It’s important for men to understand that young boys and teenagers often tend to imitate the things they see other men doing. A Christian man should be striving to be the best example they can be.<br><br>
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” – Genesis 18:19<br><br>
Within a marriage, a man should be the spiritual leader. Ephesians 5:25 says “Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” It addition to being a provider/protector for his wife, a husband should also be helping his wife grow in her relationship with Christ. A husband should speak positive words to his wife, and realize the things he says (and the way he says those things) have an impact on her. If a husband notices that his wife is doing something contrary to scripture, he should correct her in a loving way, and likewise if his wife notices that he is doing something contrary to scripture and brings correction, he should receive the correction (without getting an attitude). A husband should always be building up his wife, never tearing her down. <br><br>
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4<br><br>
A man who has children, should be a good father to them. He should be actively involved in their lives, teaching them about Jesus, and helping them grow in their knowledge of the Bible. A father should never ridicule his children, but he should love and protect them.<br><br>
"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him." - Proverbs 20:7<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/1007732011-05-24T11:01:32-04:002011-05-24T11:01:32-04:00Giving“I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to be able to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” - Acts 20:35….Do you give (your money, time, resources, etc) to help others? Today’s blog entry deals with giving.<br><br>
We live in a society were a lot of emphasis can be put on getting as much as we can for ourselves. And while handling our own responsibilities/obligations is important, we should always remember to give to others. Giving is a biblical principle that is mentioned in the Bible many times. When we give (with the right heart the way that God says we should) we are not only helping other people, but we are also honoring God (see Matthew 25:35-40).<br><br>
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” –2 Corinthians 9:7 <br><br>
Make sure that when you give, you always do it with a cheerful attitude. For example, if you help someone in financial need by paying one of their bills, don’t say something like “Well geez I was going to use this money to buy some new shoes, but here take it (as you look at them with a frown on your face).” Instead do it with a smile on your face, be thankful that God has put you in a position to be able to give. <br><br>
If you donate your time by volunteering, don’t constantly gripe to the people you’re helping, saying things such as “man I was wish I wasn’t here.” But rather, make the most of the time that you have with them. Show forth love when you give. <br><br>
We should never allow our own wants and desires to cause us to become greedy. I’m not saying that it’s wrong to buy some things for ourselves, but rather that we should never get to the point where we spend all of our money, time, and energy on selfish desires. Remember, the material things that we have on earth will eventually pass away, but the work that we (born again Christians) do for God (Evangelism, Discipleship, etc) will be remembered throughout eternity. Let us give God our best effort, and strive to honor Him in everything we do, always keeping Him first.<br><br>
“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38<br><br>
“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.” – Proverbs 3:9<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/997972011-05-17T07:44:37-04:002011-05-17T07:44:37-04:00Pure Motives“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” - 1 Corinthians 13:3 …God looks at the things we do, and He also looks at our motives. Today’s blog entry deals with having pure motives. <br><br>
Have you ever seen someone that was only being nice to another person because they wanted to get something from that person (and once they got what they wanted, they abandoned the person)? If you have witnessed something like this, you may have thought to yourself something such as “that’s a shame, they are only being nice to them because….” Something on the inside of most (if not all) of us would probably get an uneasy feeling if we witnessed something like that. And with that being said, we should be mindful of the fact that God knows the motives behind everything we do.<br><br>
Whether it’s helping another person, going to church, preaching, etc…God is looking at both the action and the motive. In Matthew 6:5 Jesus said “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they my be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” <br><br>
Love should be the motivation behind the things we do. Jesus Christ loves us, and laid down His life so that we could have eternal life. We should follow His example of love in our daily lives, and examine ourselves to make sure our motives are Christ-centered and not self-centered. If we help someone out, we shouldn’t try to use it as leverage down the road to force them to do something for us. And don’t get me wrong, I understand that it can be difficult when you have been there to help someone when they were going through something, and yet that same person is nowhere to be found when you’re going through something. But even in a situation like that we shouldn’t hold a grudge.<br><br>
Matthew 5:44-46 says “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?”<br><br>
If we realize that we have had the wrong motives in a certain area of our life, we should repent and ask God to help us overcome it (see 1 John 1:9). Don’t allow a past mistake to keep you from moving forward in your walk with Christ.<br><br>
“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/993142011-05-10T12:45:00-04:002011-05-10T12:45:00-04:00ObedienceCan you think back to a time when you were younger and your parents told you to do something that you didn’t understand (and really didn’t want to do), but you did it anyway out of respect, and as time went on, you later understood why they asked you to do it (realizing how beneficial it was to you)? Today’s blog deals with obedience to God.<br><br>
“If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”- Isaiah 1:19-20<br><br>
Obedience to God is essential in the Christian walk. By growing in our knowledge of God’s word, we can have a better understanding of what God desires us to do, and how to go about doing it. It’s important to remember that we should always put God’s will ahead of our own. We should never be so attached to something (or someone) that we are willing to disobey God to hold on to it. <br><br>
As humans, we may sometimes want to try to analyze certain things that happen in our lives and only move forward after we feel that we have a sufficient amount of understanding regarding a situation. However, 2 Corinthians 5:7 says… “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” A Christian’s trust in the Lord, should always carry more weight, than the temporary circumstances they are dealing with.<br><br>
“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” – Proverbs 13:10 <br><br>
When dealing with other people, it’s important that we do not allow pride to cause us to be disobedient to God. For instance, if someone comes over to us and makes a mean/rude comment about something we have on, we shouldn’t allow that to cause us to lose our composure/act ungodly. This can obviously go against our human nature, that basically says, “If you hurt my feelings, I’m going to hurt your feelings too” ”If you make me feel bad, I’m going to make you feel worse”. As Christians this should not be the case.<br><br>
This is not to say that we can’t respond to someone in a situation like that, but rather that we should not respond in an ungodly way. There’s a difference between calmly saying “You know, I really would appreciate if you would not come around me with negativity.” versus yelling “I KNOW YOU NOT TALKING BOUT MY CLOTHES WITH THAT WRINKLED SHIRT YOU GOT ON, DO YOU EVEN OWN AN IRON!!!” <br><br>
Never allow the pride associated with “getting back at someone” cause you to compromise who you are as a Christian (never let anything cause you to compromise who you are as a Christian for that matter). Realize that there’s a reason why people act the way they do…Romans 6:16 says “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”<br><br>
Let us make a conscious effort to obey God in every area of our life.<br><br>
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” – John 14:15 <br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/988472011-05-03T07:49:52-04:002011-05-03T07:49:52-04:00Honor Your WordWhen you tell someone you are going to do something (such as help them with a specific task) do you actually follow through? It’s important that we maintain integrity, and avoid making promises that we know we can’t keep, and or don’t intend to keep. Today’s blog deals with keeping your word.<br><br>
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:11<br><br>
When God speaks a word, it comes to past. God will never violate His own Word because He is holy and just. He takes what He says very seriously. Likewise, we should take the things we say very seriously. A Christian is to be a living epistle (see 2 Corinthians 3:1-3), an epistle is a letter to be read. So in essence, when people watch our life, they should see a lifestyle that is Christ like. This does not mean that we won’t mistakes, however we should be striving to improve and be more like Christ.<br><br>
Now I would like to visit a passage of scripture dealing with the parable of two sons which reads as follows:<br><br>
“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go to work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said, I go, sir: and went not.” <br>
– Matthew 21:28-30<br><br>
In other words one son said he would not go work in the Father’s vineyard, but then repented and ended up going, while the other son said he would go, but didn’t end up going. <br><br>
Saying yes (to do something) is only one part of the process. If a person goes around telling other people they will help them with things, but never shows up when it is time to help, other people may view them as unreliable and question their credibility. As Christians we are to be ambassadors for Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador is a representative, and we should make sure that we our representing Christ the right way. <br><br>
Now obviously there may be times when a person says they will do something, yet are unable to do it because of an unforeseen circumstance that happens. I’m definitely not saying that things will always go exactly as we plan them. I do however, believe that it’s very important that we seek God, and are lead by Him in the decisions that we make. If God impresses upon our heart to do something, we should do it (even if we don’t feel like doing it). When you are doing something out of love, you should be willing to make sacrifices to see that the overall objective is accomplished.<br><br>
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.” – Ecclesiastes 5:4<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/983402011-04-26T04:45:00-04:002011-04-26T04:45:00-04:00Will You Be Ready?“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28 …We will each stand before Christ one day and be judged. It’s important that we are ready…<br><br>
Whether you are young, old or somewhere in between, you have probably known someone around your age that has died. Death can definitely be a difficult thing to deal with, and while I understand that it may not be the most exciting topic to talk about, it’s important for us to acknowledge that life on earth will one day end, and each person will either spend eternity with God or eternity the in Lake of Fire (see Revelation 20:14-15).<br><br>
Sometimes it can be easy to get into a routine, and get caught up in the cares of this world (making money, being accepted by peers, having fun, etc). However, our first and most important priority should be to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and from there we should be making a constant effort to grow in our relationship with Him. We shouldn’t allow things such as being accepted by our peers to dominate the way we live our lives. We should be impacting the world positively, instead of allowing the world to impact us negatively. This is not to say that we should go around insulting people who are living a sinful lifestyle, however we should speak the truth in love, and be uncompromising when we do it. <br><br>
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:36-38<br><br>
A born again Christian should love God more than anything else (including their own life). We should be obedient, and willing to follow Him regardless of the circumstances/consequences. Growing in our relationship with God is a process; we should be striving to be more like Jesus each and everyday. When we see areas of our lives that we need to do a better job in, we shouldn’t be discouraged, but we should ask God to help us overcome the issues that we are dealing with.<br><br>
Philippians 1:21 reads as follows “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” For a born again believer, living should consist of serving God. We should love Christ with all of our heart and obey Him. Regardless of how bad the world gets, a born again Christian can take comfort in the fact of knowing that they will be with Jesus Christ after their death.<br><br>
The question is are you ready? If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I admonish you to do so today. If you’re already saved, continue to live for Christ, and spread the good news!<br><br>
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/978192011-04-19T07:30:00-04:002011-04-19T07:30:00-04:00PerseveranceDo you speak the Word of God (The Bible) over your life? When you face a challenge do you say things such as “I can’t do this”, or do you say things such as “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:2….Today’s blog deals with perseverance. <br><br>
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” <br>
- Galatians 6:9<br><br>
Each and everyday we should be renewing our minds with the Word of God. We should read and rehearse scriptures, and continue to build upon the knowledge of God’s Word that we already have. The mindset that we have can play a large role in the way that we approach life. Instead of focusing on what has gone wrong in our lives, we should focus on God’s glory, and all the great things He has done for us.<br><br>
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” - Philippians 4:13<br><br>
As born again Christians, it’s important for us to remember that our strength comes from Christ. When God has given us an assignment, we should have faith that He will allow us to successfully complete what He’s chosen us to do. Instead of trying to explain to God why you aren’t the right person for the task, realize that God has given you the strength you need to carry out the task.<br><br>
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28<br><br>
When we truly love God, and are focused on obeying Him, we are able to appreciate that He’s in control, and that He knows what’s best for us. Growth is a process and sometimes things may not always make sense to us as humans, but when we love God, we can trust that He is doing what’s best for us. <br><br>
When I was in high school, I took a pottery class during my senior year. The teacher of class had also coached me in athletics in the past. Looking back, there was so much to be learned from that class because I got to see/participate in the pottery process first hand. And let me tell you, it is a process! I’m not going to go into great detail here (if you get a chance you may want to research the pottery process), but there’s a lot that goes on during the pottery process (some of which can vary from project to project) such as: putting your clay on the wheel/shaping, having your clay put into the kiln/heating, coloring/glazing, etc…It can be a very interesting process to see something that was a slice of clay end up as a bowl, mug, etc. At some stages of the process the object may look funny or awkward to people who don’t understand what the end result is going to be, but after they see it, it makes a lot more sense. Likewise in our walk with God, it may be hard to understand why we’re going through certain situations, but when we see the end result, it will make a lot more sense. Stay encouraged!<br><br><br>
“But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” – Isaiah 64:8<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/972352011-04-12T08:30:00-04:002011-04-12T08:30:00-04:00PuritySEX….When done God’s way (in a Marriage) is a blessing…However, when it’s done outside of the way God intended it, it’s sin. Today’s blog deals with Purity.<br><br>
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2<br><br>
We live in a fallen world that has a lot of ungodly things going on. And if we’re not careful, we can start to compare ourselves to the World focusing on the things “we’re not doing bad” instead of focusing on being in God’s will. The above scripture lets us know what our reasonable service is (regardless of how bad the world gets).<br><br>
Sex outside of marriage has become the norm for a large portion of the world’s population. However, the bible makes it clear that sex outside of marriage is wrong… “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;” –Ephesians 5:3. Fornication is premarital sex, uncleanness is sexual impurity, and covetousness is excessive desire of someone else’s possessions.<br><br>
An unmarried Christian should not be taking part in sex, nor should they take part in activities that sexually arouse them. And rather than going down a list of things that people shouldn’t be doing, I’ll go to Matthew 5:28 which says “ But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” <br><br>
The specific things that cause people to be aroused may very from person to person, so an individual should abstain from the things that they know will lead them down that road (even if it’s not one of the things often mentioned by other people as being wrong). For example, if an individual spends an excessive amount of time looking at pictures of people they are attracted to (I’m talking about pictures of people who are fully clothed with nothing sexual going on in the pictures) and that gets them aroused, that is still wrong. <br><br>
It’s important that we look at the motives of our heart. Sometimes we can put a lot of emphasis on trying to abstain from specific actions (don’t get me wrong it’s important that we conduct ourselves the right way) to the point where we lose focus of the fact that those actions are byproducts of what’s going on in our heart. If we find ourselves in sexual lust (or any other type of sin) we should repent, and put our focus back on Jesus. Meditating on, and obeying the scripture passage I mentioned at the beginning, (Romans 12:1-2) can serve as a great help to living a life of sexual purity. God Bless and continue to fight the good fight of faith!!!<br><br>
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” – Proverbs 4:23<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/966652011-04-05T08:45:13-04:002011-04-05T08:45:13-04:00The Importance of PrayerIn today’s society there are many different methods that people can use to communicate with each other (phone conversations, texting, internet, etc). And while we may spend a lot of time communicating with other people, it’s important that we spend time in prayer (communicating with God). Today’s blog deals with the importance of prayer.<br><br>
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”- Matthew 6:5<br><br>
When we pray, it should not be done to gain human recognition for ourselves. It’s also important to realize that prayer doesn’t force God to do what we want Him to. However, prayer allows us to speak to God and speak forth the confidence that we have in Him. <br><br>
Matthew 6:9 it says “After this manner therefore pray ye, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” This scripture lets us know that it’s important to come before God with reverence. By focusing on the fact that God is our Heavenly Father, it helps us pray with the right mindset (acknowledging that He is powerful and He is the one who is in control). Matthew 6:10 says “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”. Our prayers should deal with us conforming to the will of God, we should desire for our will to conform to God’s will.<br><br>
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reads as follows “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”<br>
During our prayer time, we should be sure to give God thanks. Each and every one of us has things to be thankful for. Giving thanks for the things that God has already done for us allows us to rehearse the blessings he has already provided and continues to provide. <br><br>
During our prayer time, God also gives us space for us to ask Him for things as shown in the scriptures below (remember when we ask God for something it should always be done with reverence):<br><br>
“Give us this day our daily bread. - Matthew 6:11<br><br>
“I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” 1 Timothy 2:1<br><br>
The word supplications (or supplication) can be defined as specific requests. Intercessions are prayers concerning/regarding other people (It’s important that we remember to pray for others).<br><br>
“And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” – Matthew 6:12-13 <br><br>
Asking God for forgiveness of sins is a very important thing that we should remember to do, and if we’re having trouble with temptation in a certain area we should pray and ask God to help us to overcome what we’re dealing with.<br><br>
So as we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let us remember to always make time for prayer.<br><br>
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:16 <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/960762011-03-29T11:30:00-04:002011-03-29T11:30:00-04:00FriendshipIs genuine friendship something that you value? When you think of your friends, who are some of the people that come to mind? What are some characteristics of an individual who you would consider to be a good friend? Today’s blog entry deals with friendship.<br><br>
“A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24<br><br>
For many of us, the process of choosing friends started at an early age. It may have been in pre-school or kindergarten when you made a decision of who you we’re going to play with when the class went outside. It may have been when you watched the neighbor’s kids build a snowman one winter, and decided you wanted to go out and join them. There are a number of ways that friendships can be developed (sharing common interests, living in the same neighborhood, playing sports together, etc), and today I will be focusing on some of the things that contribute to genuine friendships.<br><br>
One of the first things I would like to hit on is communication. Proper communication is important to friendships (and relationships in general). Communication gives people the opportunity to know each other’s viewpoints on things; it also gives insight on what people value and are passionate about. Communication serves as a way for two individuals to learn about each other, and maintain an understanding of what’s going on in each other’s lives. In a friendship, it’s important that each person listens to what the other has to say. If one person in a friendship only wants to talk and never wants to listen to the other person, many problems can arise. It’s important that both parties care enough about each other to genuinely listen to what the other has to say. <br><br>
Trust is another important thing in building/maintaining a genuine friendship. Being honest with each other helps build trust, and trust helps friendships grow. If someone is constantly lying, it can raise questions about their overall credibility as a person. As brothers and sisters in Christ, if we see a friend of ours getting off track (doing things contrary to the Word of God), we should be willing to speak to them about it, and try to help them get back on track. This is not to say that they will always listen, but rather that out of love it’s better to speak up, than just act like we don’t see it. When trust has been built in a friendship, and Person A really feels like Person B is speaking the truth because they care about them, and not speaking something for reasons of selfish gain, Person A is more likely to take to heart what the other person is saying.<br><br>
It’s very important that we choose our friends wisely. If you have a person in your life that has been a negative influence, and been hindering your walk with Christ, it may a good idea to put some distance between you and them (I would recommend praying for them, and seeking God for guidance regarding your specific situation). I want to make it clear that I definitely think it’s important to witness to our unsaved friends. The point I’m making is if you are hanging around a person that is negatively influencing you and/or doesn’t respect your beliefs as a Christian, it's probably a good idea to give them some space. You shouldn’t allow them to take your focus off of Christ. <br><br>
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” - Proverbs 17:17<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/954762011-03-22T11:13:30-04:002011-03-22T11:13:30-04:00The Fruit Of The Spirit Series-Part 3Are you growing in faith, meekness, and temperance? Today’s blog entry is part 3 of the Fruit of The Spirit series that I’ve been blogging about. <br><br>
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”- Galatians 5:22-23<br><br>
We are coming down the home stretch of this series dealing with the fruit of the Spirit, and today’s topics deal with three more aspects that are extremely important to the Christian walk.<br><br><b>Faith</b><br>
Faith is a word that many of us hear on a regular basis. As it says in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” One way to define faith is dependability. As humans it can be easy for us to depend on ourselves, and try to accomplish everything that we do in our own power; however, it’s it important for us to realize that God is the source of our strength. We should constantly be growing in our dependence on Jesus. This is not to say that we become lazy, but rather that we confidently trust in God believing that He will do what His word says He will do. <br><br>
“He must increase, but I must decrease”. John 3:30<br><br><b>Meekness</b><br>
Meekness can be defined as courtesy and consideration in one’s relations with others….Strength under control. When we’re in the midst of situations, we should also look at things from the perspective of others. Sometimes it can be very easy to jump to conclusions and write certain individuals off. For example, say a teacher has a certain student that has really been acting up in class (being disruptive, causing problems with other students, etc). This really upsets the teacher, so she removes the student from class and does some investigating. The teacher later finds out that the household the student lives in has been having some major problems, and the student has been getting abused. The teacher then gets the student some help, and notices a big change for the better. If the teacher would have just wrote the student off as a “bad kid”, the student’s life could have taken a turn for the worst. <br><br>
If people act out against us it’s important that we keep our cool, and realize that there could be a number of reasons why (this doesn’t excuse their behavior, and it doesn’t mean that we should allow others to walk all over us, however being meek can give us insight on how to pray for them).<br><br>
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5<br><br><b>Temperance</b><br>
Temperance can be defined as self-control, the ability to harness and control one’s passions and lusts. Matthew 26:41 lets us know that we should “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” It’s important that we keep our flesh (our human nature) in control and submitted to God’s will. Following our human wants and desires outside of the will of God is a recipe for disaster. It’s important that we monitor what we allow to come into our lives. It’s also important that we pray for wisdom and guidance from God. <br><br>
“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” – Romans 12:1<br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/691002011-03-15T09:26:09-04:002011-03-15T09:26:09-04:00The Fruit Of The Spirit Series-Part 2Do you know anyone that has a “hot button” (something that will totally set them off to the point where they just totally lose it every time they are aggravated in a certain way)? The Bible gives great insight on how to overcome something such as this. In today’s blog entry I’m continuing the Fruit of the Spirit series, which covers: Long-suffering, Goodness, and Gentleness.<br><br>
Once again the scripture passage that I’m focusing on for this series is:<br>
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23<br><br>
Longsuffering<br>
Long-suffering can be defined as “Patience with others, the opposite of a short temper.” If the enemy knows that there is a specific button he can press that will always set an individual off, there is a good chance that he will continually press that button. Let’s look at athletics for example, one way that some players try to upset their opponents is through trash talking. If a player can mess with their opponent’s mind by talking trash, it can take away the opponents effectiveness as a player. Likewise if a Christian allows another person to dictate the way they will act, it can take away their effectiveness of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Proverbs 14:29 says “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” Immediately responding to something that another has said or done may not always be the best thing to do because emotions can sometimes play a role in clouding a person’s judgment. Once we have had time to digest/understand the situation, our response will likely be more level headed.<br><br>
Gentleness<br>
Gentleness can also be described as kindness. It’s important that we are genuinely kind to other people. If we’re having a bad day, we shouldn’t take it out on everybody else. If we have a position of authority and someone makes a small mistake, we should be nice to them when we’re correcting them. For example, say you’re the manager of clothing store and a new person accidentally places some folded clothes in the wrong pile; don’t yell at them and embarrass them in front of everybody, but rather kindly let them know where the clothes should be placed. This is not to say that we should let people walk all over us; There are definitely times when we may have to assert ourselves more than others, but just going around being mean to people is not something a Christian should be involved with. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” - Ephesians 4:32<br><br>
Goodness<br>
Goodness can also be described as generosity. God has blessed each person in a number of ways, and it’s important that we are also a blessing to others. Being generous can be done in a number of ways. Volunteering time for a good non-profit organization may be the way some people chose to show their generosity. Treating people to lunch every now and then maybe a way that some people choose to show goodness towards others. Assisting someone with yard work/home improvement can also be a way that people display goodness. These are just a few of many ways that generosity can be shown. “I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” - Acts 20:35<br><br>
The Fruit of The Spirit series will be continued in my next Tuesday blog entry.<br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/945632011-03-08T04:10:00-05:002011-03-08T04:10:00-05:00The Fruit Of The Spirit Series-Part 1When you think of the word fruit, what are some things that come to mind? If you’re like me, you may think about apples, oranges, bananas, etc…However, there is also a type of fruit that the Bible speaks of which is called the fruit of the Spirit. There are nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit and today I will begin part one of a series dealing with them.<br><br>
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23<br><br>
The above passage of scripture speaks to areas that we as born again Christians should be growing in. Growth is a process, and some people may grow at a different pace than others, but every Christian should be growing. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” - John 14:26. <br>
Today I will be focusing on love, joy, and peace.<br><br>
Love <br>
One definition of love is “The willing, sacrificial giving of oneself for the benefit of another without thought of return.” It can be human nature to respond to people the way they respond to us. For example, if someone is rude and gets an attitude with us, our flesh may want to respond the same way and get an attitude back. However as we grow in Christ, we should be developing a greater ability to respond in a way the shows the love of Christ. Likewise in our friendships/relationships, it’s important that we forgive others when they make mistakes. We also should be willing to help people even if we get nothing in return from them. As it says in John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”<br><br>
Joy <br>
Joy can be defined as “gladness of heart” regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes people may ask what the difference is between joy and happiness. Happiness tends to be based on circumstances (which can change). Joy is based on our relationship with God (and God doesn’t change). When we show forth and display the Joy that God gives us, it can serve as encouragement for other people who are in our lives observing us. This is not to say that everything will always go as planned and that there will never be challenges. But rather that we can continue to grow in the way we respond when dealing with challenging things. As it says in Nehemiah 8:10 “…. for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” <br><br>
Peace<br>
Peace can be defined as “Tranquility of mind, freeing one from worry and fear.” Worry and fear can be a big distraction in the Christian walk if it is not dealt with properly. Meditating on the Word of God is a way to counteract worry/fear. God gives us the ability to have peace regardless of what the problem/situation is that we’re facing. As we continue to lean more upon God, and less upon ourselves (and the things of this world), we can get a much better perspective of how powerful God is. As it says in Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee….And in Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” <br><br>
I will continue The Fruit Of The Spirit series in my next blog entry.<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/939442011-03-01T11:15:13-05:002011-03-01T11:15:13-05:00Responding To ChallengesHave you ever been at a point in your life when you’ve felt like you’ve had too much weight to carry on your shoulders? As Christians, it’s important to remember that we can cast our cares upon Jesus. God has equipped us with the tools that we need in order to overcome the barriers we face. Today’s blog entry deals with our response to challenging times/situations.<br><br>
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27<br><br>
When we’re dealing with difficult situations, one of the first human instincts that may come to mind is panic/worry. However, the scripture above lets us know that we should not allow our hearts to be troubled. In my Christian walk, I haven’t always done the best job of this. There have been times when I allowed my mood to be dominated by temporary circumstances, instead of standing on what the Word of God said. As I’ve continued to grow in the Lord, I’ve gotten a better understanding of what it means to have faith in God even when the natural circumstances may seem to indicate that there’s a problem. This isn’t to say that I ignore what’s happening, but rather that I apply God’s Word to the situation, and respond the way that He says I should (I still have a lot to learn, but my goal is to constantly progress in this area).<br><br>
For example, say there’s a situation at a pool where a person is in danger of drowning, so people at the pool go and alert the lifeguard on duty. If the lifeguard on duty starts running around in circles frantically yelling “OH NO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO”!!! That’s not going to help the situation; it would probably cause the other people to be even more worked up. However, if the lifeguard was informed of the person in danger of drowning, and yet just sat there and did nothing, but stated “O everything will be fine, I’m a lifeguard I’ve been trained to save lives.”…that would not help the situation either. The lifeguard would need to both use the training, and keep their composure as they came to the rescue of the person.<br><br>
I use this analogy because it is possible to fall into one of those categories throughout our Christian walk. Sometimes people may try to ignore a certain issue that God has trained and equipped them to deal with. Or sometimes people may totally overreact to a situation that God has trained and equipped them to deal with. In last week’s blog entry I dealt with our thoughts and the way they can be influenced. The way we think, and the perspective we have on things can play a major role in our faith and the way we react in various situations.<br><br>
No matter how bad a situation gets, born again believers can take comfort in the fact the God is protecting and watching out for us. When we rejoice and praise God, it can help us shift our focus from the challenges we’re facing, to the One that is much bigger than any challenge we’re facing.<br><br>
“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Psalm 5:11<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/933832011-02-22T07:15:00-05:002011-02-22T07:15:00-05:00Our ThoughtsImagine if your thoughts from the past week could be broadcast to the entire world. What would they reveal? Our thought life can play a major role in the results we produce and the direction our life is heading in. If thoughts that are not of God come into our mind, it’s important that we counter-act those thoughts with the Word of God. Today’s blog entry deals with our thoughts.<br><br>
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee, but his heart is not with thee.” – Proverbs 23:7<br><br>
We live in a society that constantly exposes us to things that are contrary to God’s word. For example, the Bible lets us know that there should be no sex outside of marriage, however this is something that a large percentage of the population totally disregards. Many television shows have characters living in fornication like it’s normal and acceptable. <br><br>
And it doesn’t just stop with fornication. In general, many of the things shown on television show people dealing with things in a way that doesn’t line up with the Word of God. Things like the news, or even a medical drama can sow seeds of unbelief when they only present man made solutions to problems. For example, if your favorite news program or medical drama says/portrays that there is absolutely no cure for a specific type of medical condition, and you know someone with that condition, it can make you feel like there’s no hope. However shows/programs that make statements like that aren’t taking into account God’s healing power. Now don’t get me wrong television in and of itself is not bad. And television is not the only way that seeds of unbelief can be sown into people’s life (music, books, etc can also sow seeds of unbelief), but television may be one way that seeds of unbelief are being sown without people even realizing it.<br><br>
It’s important that we constantly renew our minds and guard our minds against thoughts of unbelief. If you think about someone who is guarding something in a natural sense, they are basically defending a specific designated area so that nothing enters in that should not be there. We should take a similar approach with the things that we think about and meditate on.<br><br>
Sometimes we may be in situations (such as work environments) where negative things are being spoken around us on a regular basis. And while we may not be able to control what everybody else is saying or doing, we can control the things that we mediate on. We need to continue to rehearse the Word of God. Sometimes the enemy may try to place ungodly thoughts in our mind, if those thoughts come, don’t dwell on them, instead shift your focus to God. <br><br>
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”<br>
2 Corinthians 10:5<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/928772011-02-15T07:39:48-05:002017-02-01T15:40:18-05:00Sibling Rivalry (Song)Instead of doing my normal Tuesday Blog entry...I decided to do something different and share a new song of mine with you. It's called Sibling Rivalry, and it deals with the fact that as Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we shouldn't be fighting with each other, but instead working together. You can check it out at the YouTube Link below...God Bless!<br><br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWudCzVcIuc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWudCzVcIuc</a><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/923852011-02-08T06:20:00-05:002011-02-08T06:20:00-05:00Don't Take It For GrantedHave you been seeking God, truly desiring to do His will, yet it seems like things in your life haven’t been happening the way you thought they would? At times you may have even felt like you weren’t progressing at all. When God is maturing us, He may allow us to go through some things that are tough for us to understand. With this being said, we should remain in faith, and never take for granted the things that God has blessed us with, and the process He allows us to go through.<br><br>
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory and the appearing of Jesus Christ.” - 1 Peter 1:7<br><br>
As we live our lives, it’s important that we do so with a spiritual/eternal perspective on things. We should consider the long-term effects of the decisions we make and the things we are going through. When a mother is going through a pregnancy, she may go through many challenges in her body, but the end result of the baby being born is often what can help the mother endure the pain and keep going.<br><br>
Sometimes we can get so used to things going a certain way in our lives that we can start to feel uneasy when God begins to take us down a different path because we are out of our comfort zone. And while remaining in our comfort zone may allow us to feel safe and secure, it can also lead to us being more dependent on ourselves than we are on God (this is not always the case, but it can happen). However, when we our out of our comfort zone, we may tend to be more dependent on God, and we may also learn more about ourselves, and the things we need to work on.<br><br>
For example, I used to run cross-country, and some team practices were definitely harder than others. Sometimes the coaches would let us go on distance road runs that were at a nice brisk pace, but sometimes we had to do these things called mile repeats. Basically a mile repeat consisted of running a mile over and over again. The objective was to run the mile hard, take a break, then go run another mile hard, and continue this until the coach said we could stop. Doing those mile repeats could be incredibly tough at times, but they also could help us gage just how in shape we were and how we needed to improve as runners. The coaches weren’t putting us through those tough practices because they disliked us, but rather because they wanted to see us improve. And as a result I became a better runner.<br><br>
As Christians, it’s important that we don’t look at God taking us out of our comfort zone as Him disliking us. God loves us and He wants us to continue to grow and improve, so we should follow His instructions, and stay on the path that He has put us on. We should also be thankful and never take God (or the things He does for us) for granted. I would like to end this blog entry with a passage of scripture coming out of Luke chapter 17. In this instance Jesus healed 10 people, yet only 1 of those 10 thanked Him. Let’s remember to always be thankful to God.<br><br><br>
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed turned back and with a loud voice glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, were not ten cleansed, but where are the nine? There are not found to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole.” - Luke 17:15-19<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/917712011-02-01T04:10:36-05:002011-02-01T04:10:36-05:00Remembering God's WordDo you believe what the Bible says? Do you believe it is important to obey what the Bible says? Ok, now let me ask you this….Do you STILL believe what the Bible says when YOU’RE “under pressure”….Do you STILL believe it is important to obey what the Bible says when YOU’RE under pressure. It’s important that we don’t allow pressure (trials and challenges of this world) to break our focus when we’re following Jesus. Today’s blog entry deals with remembering God’s Word.<br><br>
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55: 7-8<br><br>
If you’ve ever played or closely followed athletics you’re probably familiar with the term “Clutch” or “Crunch time”. Crunch time is the time towards the end of the game when running the plays correctly/carrying out the game plan is especially important because an error could impact the outcome of the game or shift the momentum for one team. A player that performs well in the clutch is someone who doesn’t allow the pressure to overcome them, but remains calm, overcomes the pressure, and doesn’t back down from the challenge. There are some players who may do great in practice, or even in games where the score isn’t all that close, but once the score gets close they may start to second guess themselves or start doing things contrary to the game plan the coach set.<br><br>
In our Christian walk it’s important that we follow God’s plan for our lives. Knowing and understanding the Word is essential, but it doesn’t stop there….We also need to obey the Word (even if things get very tough in our lives). As Christians, we should be more in tune to what God says than we are to other things going on in the world. We need to learn how to block out the things that the enemy says to try to distract us. For example, say there’s a basketball team playing an away game, and the team is just coming out of a timeout. There’s very little time left in the game. The coach draws up a play that gets the star player the ball for the final shot. The ball is thrown inbounds to the star player just as the play was drawn up, and as the player gets the ball someone from the opposing team’s crowd yells out “You’re no good, you’ll never make the shot”. After hearing this the player doesn’t even attempt the shot, he sits the ball down and walks off the court with his head down.<br><br>
If most of us were watching a game and that happened, we would probably be thinking what in the world is going on. Yet if we as Christians allow the enemy/other people to cause us to deviate from the course that God has us on by telling us what we can’t do (when God’s word as already told us what we can do), we are essentially sitting the ball down and walking off the court. We need to learn how to tune out the enemy and listen to God.<br><br>
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” - Isaiah 55:11<br><br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/913762011-01-25T03:37:02-05:002011-01-25T03:37:02-05:00ResponsibilityHow do you view God? How do you view yourself? The answers to these questions can give a lot of insight on the condition of our current situations. It’s important that we don’t approach God like a vending machine thinking that we can get whatever we want on our terms…Today’s blog entry deals with responsibility.<br><br>
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” – Luke 22:42<br><br>
The scripture above shows Jesus’ willingness to carry out the will of God the Father even if it meant doing something that would be extremely difficult. As we live our lives, it’s important that we never lose sight of the fact that we are here to carry out God’s will. And while many of us may not lose sight of that, we may sometimes lose sight of the way that God operates. <br><br>
Here’s what I mean. Sometimes we as people approach God asking Him to change things about us on a “surface level” instead of getting to “the root” of the issue. Say for example, there’s a person who constantly overspends money, and they constantly pray that God would bless them with more money. By praying this type of prayer, the individual is focusing on trying to fix the by- product of an issue instead of going right to the issue of overspending. A better prayer may be to ask God to help them to be a good steward over the resources they have been blessed with (and a good steward in general). <br><br>
While I used the example of money, this can apply to many other areas. I use this illustration to point out the fact that we as humans have responsibility. If we are unhappy with results in our lives, it may be a good idea to examine ourselves to see if we are opening the door to some of the issues we’re dealing with. With that being said, I also understand that we have an adversary, Satan that comes against us (See Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8). It’s important that we guard ourselves against the enemy by putting on the whole armor of God, and at the same time realize that some of the things we’re dealing with may be by our own doing. <br><br>
We live in a society where many people want a quick fix. And while God can definitely move in our lives quickly, we should also realize that God often has a process that he takes an individual through in order to help them grow and build character. As it says in Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter and day and night shall not cease.” This scripture mentions the word seedtime, and there are other examples in the Bible that mention the seed. A seed goes through a process, and it’s important that we go through the process that God has for us. We live in a fallen world were we are constantly exposed to things that are Anti-God. We need to renew our minds daily, and uproot the things in our lives that are taking us off of the course that we should be on. <br><br>
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” – 1 Peter 5:6<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/910682011-01-18T01:46:08-05:002011-01-18T01:46:08-05:00Avoid DistractionsAre there tasks in your life that you know you should be completing, however you constantly find yourself putting them off? Distractions can be subtle in nature, and they can play a major role in a person being disobedient to God. Today’s blog entry deals with distractions.<br><br>
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33<br><br>
Distractions can come in a number of ways. Sometimes they can come in the form of watching excessive hours of television. They can also come in the form of pursuing success (in school, work, relationships, etc) to the point where the focus is taken off of God’s will for an individual’s life. As born again Christians, it’s important to realize that we have an adversary, the devil, who wants to kill, steal, and destroy. The methods that he uses to try to get a person off track may vary from person to person. While he may tempt some people with things such as: fornication, drugs, power etc. He also understands that there are some people who wont go out and do those things. So in those cases he may try a more subtle approach.<br><br>
For example, say there is an individual that God has gifted to write a book (to be released at a later time) that will positively impact the lives of many people in the body of Christ. If the devil knows this individual wont go out and do something to ruin their own credibility, then he may try to get them to constantly waste time (surfing the internet, being obsessed with climbing the corporate ladder, or a wide variety of other ways). If the devil can get that person to continue to focus on their own wants and desires over God’s wants and desires, then the devil can cause that person to get off course and into disobedience. With that being said, I want to point out that we have a choice in the matter, the “devil made me do it” is not a valid excuse. The devil has tempted many people. Some people choose to give in to the temptation, while other people choose not to give in. <br><br>
If you were to take an inventory of your time over the last month or so, how much of your free time was actually spent reading the Bible, praying, fellowshipping with other Christians, etc…these are questions we may want to ask ourselves from time to time. The way a person spends their time, and the way a person spends their money can often give a lot of insight on where they place their value.<br><br>
Let’s take a few moments to think back to school (Elementary, Middle, or High School). During school there are some students who may try to throw the teacher off (and avoid doing work) by being loud, disruptive and causing a scene. There can also be some students who want to avoid doing work but instead of causing a scene, they try to charm their teacher by asking questions about their spouse, children, or other things they know their teacher is passionate about, as a way to take the teachers attention off of their lesson plan. While both sets of students may have had the same objective, they went about doing things using different kinds of distractions.<br><br>
It’s important that we do not allow distractions to take our focus off of the things that we should be doing for God. We should always seek Him first and desire to carry out His will for our lives. It’s also important that we do not let our guard down, and think we our incapable of committing certain types of sins thus becoming lax in certain areas. We should be renewing our minds on a regular basis. <br><br>
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 2:5<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/908492011-01-11T06:47:50-05:002011-01-11T06:47:50-05:00Maintaining Your FaithHave you ever had something totally unexpected happen in your life that made things a lot more difficult, and left you wondering how you would recover, or what your next move would be? Throughout the course of our lives, unexpected things can happen that force us to do things differently than we planned. During these types of times, it’s important that we keep our composure, and continue to rely upon Jesus. Today’s blog entry deals with maintaining your faith through difficult times.<br><br>
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” – Hebrews 13:5 <br><br>
As born again Christians, we have so much to be thankful for, and we can take joy in knowing that God will never abandon us. It’s important that we develop (and continue to live) a life style that consists of praising God and being thankful for everything He has done for us. When we praise God, we put the focus on who God is, which helps us keep things in perspective. There is no issue or problem that is bigger than God. <br><br>
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17<br><br>
Learning the Word of God allows us to build our faith, and understand God’s principals. The Bible gives guidance and instruction on how to respond in various types of situations that we face in life. Whether it’s a health situation, a relationship, a financial situation, etc , the Bible gives insight on how we should respond and progress. When unexpected things happen, it’s important that we do not focus on the things that we have no control over; Focusing on things that we can’t control can lead to frustration, disappointment, and complaining. <br><br>
Instead, we should cast our cares upon Christ. Make a conscious decision to believe that Jesus is watching out for you, and that He will get you through the situation you’re facing. Pray to the Lord for guidance and wisdom for your particular situation, and meditate (continually think about) scriptures that pertain to the type of issue you’re facing. It’s also important to realize that the way Jesus gets you through a situation may not be the way that you were expecting it to happen. Sometimes we may expect God to things the same that we would do them, but it’s important to remember that His ways are higher than our ways. <br><br>
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” – James 5:7<br><br>
Patience is an important part of the Christian walk, we shouldn’t try to put time constraints on God. We instead should be obedient, and believe that He will not put more on us than we can bear. If thoughts try to rise up in your mind telling you that you can’t make it, reject those thoughts, and speak the Word of God. <br><br>
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13<br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/905562011-01-04T06:47:11-05:002011-01-04T06:47:11-05:00Forgiveness BlogIs someone holding a grudge against you? Are you holding a grudge against someone else? Forgiveness is essential to the Christian walk. As we progress in this New Year, it’s important that we do not bring negative baggage from the past along with us. Today’s Blog deals with forgiveness.<br><br>
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”<br>
Matthew 6:14-15<br><br>
We all have committed sins (Romans 3:23), and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Therefore we are all deserving of Hell. Going through ritualistic practices will not pay the cost of our sins. Jesus paid the debt for our sins (1 John 2:2), and He’s the only one who paid the debt. Therefore if a person receives Christ as savior, their debts are forgiven. This is something that society in general may not always grasp. Sometimes people may make comments (about someone who is still alive) such as “man you know he/she is going to hell because of what he/she did”. However people who make statements such as that are discarding the fact, that the individual who committed the offense can receive Christ, and receive forgiveness.<br><br>
Throughout the course of our lives, people may do things that hurt us. There are so many ways this can happen; I’m not even going to begin listing examples. When people do us wrong, it can definitely be a difficult thing to handle. That’s why it’s important that we rely upon Jesus and not our own strength. I have made the point before that bitterness is like a seed. If you let it take root in your life, it will continue to grow, and the end result can be an even bigger problem than you were originally dealing with. When an individual has unforgiveness in their heart, they’re actually hurting themselves. They are often the ones who are constantly reliving the offense. <br><br>
It’s important to remember that God forgave us so we need to forgive others. And you may be thinking, “yeah but that’s a lot easier said than done, how can I possibly do that”. The Bible let’s us know that it can be done. God has equipped us with the tools we need in order to carry out what He has said to do. <br><br>
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11<br><br>
We also need to make sure that we ask others for forgiveness if we have done things that have wronged them. Put yourself in their position, how would you feel if they had done to you what you have done to them. <br>
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As we grow in our walk with Christ, remember the example of forgiveness that Jesus has taught us.<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/900802010-12-28T05:50:50-05:002010-12-28T05:50:50-05:00Dealing With ConflictDo you have someone in your life that is difficult to get along with? Maybe they have done something that you really didn’t appreciate. Throughout the course of our lives, we may not always see eye to eye with people. The way we respond in times like these can play a role in how much better/worse the overall situation gets. Today’s blog entry deals with handling conflict. <br><br>
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother.” – Matthew 18:15<br><br>
The scripture above gives a lot of insight on the way we should handle conflict. Many times when people have an issue with someone, they may go and complain to other people about the situation before they have even brought it to the attention of the person they have a problem with. <br><br>
For example, say you have two co-workers (I’ll refer to them as person 1 and person 2). Person 1 is upset and annoyed by person 2 because person 2 always cuts off person 1 in the middle of conversations. As a result of this, person 1 tells some other people: “Person 2 is so rude and annoying, always cutting people off”. From there these other people go and tell even more people, and then the word gets back to Person 2. Now both people are really mad, and other people are adding fuel to the fire.<br><br>
If person 1 would have come to person 2 and brought up the issue in a kind and sensible manner, there is a chance that person 2 would have apologized (maybe they didn’t realize they were doing it, or maybe it is something that they have recognized as a weakness and have been trying improve upon). Now as your reading this you may be thinking, yeah, but what if they don’t apologize, what if they know what they are doing is bothering me. <br><br>
In situations like these (and life in general), things can happen that we have no control over. However one thing that we can control is the way that we react, and respond to people. In some situations, the desire may be to avoid the person altogether, however in some environments (such as a work place) this may not always be possible. When dealing with conflict, it’s important that we are willing to honestly look at the role we may have played in contributing to some of the problem. <br><br>
It’s important that we take responsibility for the things that we do, and avoid blaming others for the way we act. If you have a “hot button” that people can press to set you off, then focus on getting rid of that “hot button” instead of focusing on ways to keep people from pressing it.<br><br>
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” - James 1:19 <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/897902010-12-21T11:12:12-05:002010-12-21T11:12:12-05:00Overcoming FearHas fear ever distracted you and or caused you to second guess yourself in regards to doing something that God said you need to do? It could be fear of criticism, fear of messing up, etc. The Bible lets us know that God has not given us the spirit of fear. Today’s blog entry deals with overcoming fear.<br><br>
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind.- 2 Timothy 1:7<br><br>
Can you think of a time in your life when you were really afraid to do something, only to find out after completing the task, that it “wasn’t so bad” after all? For example, it could have been the first time you had to speak publicly in front of a large audience. Or maybe it was when you had to take a test for school that would greatly impact your grade. Each day people are faced with tasks that have the potential to produce undesired results. With this in mind, it’s important to understand what the Bible says in regards to fear. <br><br>
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18<br><br>
One reoccurring point that I have focused on in past blog entries is the importance of seeking the will of God. When we get to place when we are truly seeking God’s will, and receiving instruction from God, it’s very important that we obey the instructions we receive from Him. Never allow being accepted by other people to cause you to hold back from doing what God has said to do. Don’t let other people’s criticisms of you discourage you from obeying God. Our focus should be on pleasing God. What good does it do to receive a bunch of accolades from people, yet be in a position that displeases God. As John 5:44 says “How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?” <br><br>
I also want to point out that there is a difference between criticism that is brought up to distract/detour you, versus constructive criticism that is meant to help you grow in your relationship with God. We should never get to the point where we think we’ve “arrived” and have everything together.<br><br>
One of the main points that I want to make is, that we as people often provide fear with the fuel that it needs in order to become a stumbling block in our lives. Sometimes we may focus on the bad things that could happen, instead of focusing on the promises of God. Numbers chapter 13 tells a story that gives excellent insight; I admonish you to read it when you get an opportunity. I would like to draw from two verses (Numbers 13:30-31) from the chapter, which reads as follows “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”<br><br>
In this particular case we see Caleb was ready to move forward and possess the land (Numbers 13:2) that God had for the children of Israel regardless of the “barriers” that stood before them. Caleb was in faith, however others were not in faith, and they allowed fear to discourage them. <br><br>
It is important that we do not allow fear to dictate what we do, but rather continue to put our faith in God, and be lead by Him. Instead of running from challenges, we need to learn to overcome them by obeying God.<br><br>
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. – Joshua 1:9 <br><br><br><br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/894032010-12-14T07:38:16-05:002010-12-14T07:38:16-05:00Handling RejectionREJECTION! Have you ever dealt with it before? I have…Rejection can come in a number of different ways for various reasons. It can be difficult to deal with, however if it’s not dealt with correctly it can lead to other problems down the road. Today’s blog entry deals with handling rejection….<br><br>
Before I go to deep into this, there are a couple of scriptures I want to list:<br><br>
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” <br>
– Proverbs 3:5<br><br>
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33<br><br>
I list these scriptures because I will be dealing with wants/desires we have as humans, and when dealing with something like this, I want to be clear that our focus should always be to seek God’s will over what we desire to do.<br><br>
Ok, so here’s the scenario…You’re a very hard worker at your job. You have a positive attitude, complete your work tasks timely and effectively, and you also provide help to your co-workers on a regular basis. There is a particular promotion that you have desired to have for quite some time, and now you have reached the time of the year when you get to meet with your boss to discuss promotion opportunities. You have prayed about it, and thought things through, putting together a very good presentation of why you should be selected for the promotion. At the end of your presentation, you ask your boss if you can have the promotion, and he/she says they will get back with you. A few days later you find out that you did not get the promotion, on top of that you find out the individual who did get the promotion is a co-worker of yours that’s a big time slacker….<br><br>
While the type of scenario mentioned above may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of rejection, most people would be displeased if they found themselves in that equation playing the role of the hard worker. As mentioned earlier, rejection can come in a number of ways and rather than list out more examples/categories of rejection, I would like to focus on our reaction to not receiving what we desire. Feelings of anger, hurt, and resentment can try to bombard us as a result of us being “rejected” by an individual; but it’s important to realize that God is in control, and He knows what’s best for us. Instead of focusing on what other people have done to us, we should examine ourselves, and look at the things that we can improve upon. <br><br>
If we are not careful, one isolated incident can cause us to have a victim mentality where we feel like everybody is against us. This can lead to a lot of complaining, and ultimately serve as a big distraction, taking our focus off of what we should be doing as Christians.<br><br>
We should never allow being “rejected” by a person to cause us to lose our cool. Don’t try to retaliate, but rather rest in the knowledge that you have of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.” - Isaiah 53:4 …No matter how rejected we may feel, remember that Jesus carried our sorrows.<br><br>
Before I end this blog entry, I would like to revisit the fictional scenario of the hard worker mentioned earlier. The hard worker was very upset about not getting the promotion, and even wanted to protest, however instead of doing this, the worker gracefully congratulated the employee who got the promotion. The hard worker then found out that they also we’re being promoted, but for a much higher position than they had originally asked for. The worker was very excited, and happy about the new opportunity. Had the worker, made a scene and protested, the new promotion never would have happened.<br><br>
No matter what we go through, it’s important to always put our trust in God. <br><br>
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee; yeah I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”- Isaiah 41:10<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/888362010-12-06T03:37:21-05:002010-12-06T03:37:21-05:00Maintain Your IntegrityHave you ever been around someone that appears to be a good trustworthy individual, yet in certain types of business situations, they lie, cheat, and do dishonest things to try to get ahead? In today’s society many people lie on a regular basis within the course of doing business (and outside of business as well). Today’s blog entry deals with maintaining your integrity.<br><br>
“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit serving the Lord.”- Romans 12:11<br><br>
In today’s society, many people are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their definition of success, even if it means compromising their integrity. As Christians, it’s very important that we do not allow ourselves to adapt those types of practices. We should always work as unto the Lord. What I mean by that is, even when we are working “secular” jobs, we should still do them in a way that gives God glory. If you’re a salesperson, be honest about the product/service you are selling. If you’re selling a product that will last approximately 5 years, don’t tell your prospective customer that it will last for 15. If you’re a builder, building a house for someone, don’t use products that are cheaper (and thus wont be as durable) than what you and your customer agreed to, and then try to pass them off as the same thing. These are just a couple of examples, but in just about every job situation there is some type of way that people can “work the system”. It could be misrepresenting time logs, adding more than what you have really done to your production numbers, etc. <br><br>
In some cases lying can even be ingrained into the culture of a company. And if an individual is not careful, they can find themselves doing some of the same dishonest things as their co-workers. That’s why it’s so important that we renew our minds daily. Remember that we are in the world, but not of the world. <br><br>
“A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/882612010-11-30T02:10:53-05:002022-05-10T02:03:39-04:00Be Aware Of The Jezebel MentalityHave you ever heard of Jezebel? She was a woman who opposed God, and used intimidation, control, etc to try to carry out her ungodly agenda. There are people (both male and female) in society today that use the same type of tactics as Jezebel to try to accomplish their agenda. Today’s blog entry deals with being aware of the Jezebel mentality.<br><br>
Jezebel was a corrupt woman who married Ahab, The King of Israel (1 Kings 16:31). She worshipped a false god named Baal and supported his false prophets. She was in opposition of worshiping The True and Living God. Jezebel had a strong influence in Israel. <br><br>
King Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel was in direct violation of God’s law due to the fact that she was a pagan (see Deuteronomy 7:1-5). Ahab’s disobedience allowed Jezebel an entry point to establish her influence. It’s important that we are very careful about who/what we allow to influence us. The Word of God lays out the way we should live our lives. If people are trying to get us to do things contrary to the Word of God, that’s a definite red flag. This applies to being influenced by both non- Christians, and professing Christians as well. Sometimes people may love God, and mean well, yet still be operating contrary to His Word unknowingly (see Hosea 4:6).<br><br>
There came a time when Elijah, a true prophet of God spoke to King Ahab letting him know there would be a drought (1 Kings 17:1). The drought that Elijah spoke of came to pass, and God sent Elijah back to Ahab after a period of time (1 Kings 18:1, 18:17-18). Elijah then had Ahab gather 450 false prophets of Baal. Elijah’s reasoning behind this was to show the people of Israel that Baal was a false god, and that The True and living God of The Bible was real. <br><br>
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to call on the name of their false gods, and he called on the name of True God (1 Kings 18:24). Elijah basically said, if your god is real, let him light the fire of your sacrifice by calling on his name. The false prophets called on the name of Baal, but the fire was not lit (1 Kings 18:26). However when Elijah called upon The True God, “Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” -1 Kings 18:38…. All of the false prophets were put to death (1 Kings 18:40), and the drought ended (1 Kings 18:45). <br><br>
After Jezebel heard what Elijah had done, here’s how she responded: <br>
“Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of them by tomorrow about this time. – 1 Kings 19:2<br><br>
In essence, she sent Elijah a message threatening his life. She used fear as a tactic to attack Elijah mentally (God had just used Elijah in a mighty way, yet Jezebel still came against him). It’s important that we do not let the fear of people take us off of the course that God has placed us on. We should always stay focused on fulfilling the will of God in our lives; When God provides us with victories/successes in situations, we should be thankful, and give Him praise. We should also be mindful of the fact that the devil still continues to use tactics to try to get Christians out of the Will of God. Jezebel is just one example of a person who yielded herself to the devil; there are many more examples throughout the Bible. With that being said, I admonish you to be on alert when you see people trying to gain authority in areas that God did not give them access to. <br><br>
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” – 1 Corinthians 14:40<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/527002010-11-16T18:55:00-05:002010-11-16T18:55:00-05:00Quality Time With GodIf you were looking for a spouse, would the ability to spend quality time with them be a characteristic that you desired? Do you think that you are giving God the type of quality time that you would want your spouse to give to you? Today’s blog entry deals with spending quality time with God.<br><br>
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Luke 10:27<br><br>
Before I go to deep into this, I want to acknowledge that I understand as humans living in society, we have responsibilities such as jobs that take up a big portion of our time. So I’m not saying that you should tally up all your work hours, and then tally up all your prayer time hours, and weigh out how your relationship is with God based on that. I also want to let you know that these blog entries are not meant to condemn people, but rather to encourage and promote Christian growth. I definitely have a lot to learn, and I definitely don’t think that I have everything together. My desire is to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ, and help others in their walk in ways that I can.<br><br>
Ok, so back to Quality Time….The way that we spend our time, can be a big indication of the things we value. Keeping God first is obviously an important part of the Christian walk. If you ask most professing Christians “who they love most” or “what’s most important in their life”, most would answer God (hopefully all would, but that’s another discussion). However, if we examined the actions of many Christians, they would indicate something totally different. Here’s what I mean…. Let’s take something like Television for example. Some people will make all kinds of time to watch sports (I’ve done this in the past), their favorite TV shows, movies, etc, and then before bed, say a quick prayer and read some Bible verses without even really taking in what they’ve read. Think about how a wife would feel if her husband barely acknowledged her at all the entire day, except for 10-15 minutes right before he went to bed. I think we all know, that she would not be very happy. <br><br>
Prayer allows us to communicate with God!!! Just think about how major that is. If some people had the opportunity to meet their favorite celebrity, they would drop everything on their agenda to do so, yet we have opportunity to speak with the creator of World (who is obviously much greater than any human), and many people take it for granted. It’s sad when you really think about it.<br><br>
Reading the Bible helps us get a better understanding of the nature of God, and what He requires of us. The word of God is an incorruptible seed (see 1 Peter 1:23). The very nature of a seed is to grow. If someone has a garden and they plant seeds, and care for the garden properly (watering the seeds, etc) the seeds will grow based on the type of seed that was sown. The person doesn’t have to beg the seeds to grow, but the seeds will grow because it’s the very nature of seeds to grow. If we sow the seed of the Word of God in our lives and obey what it says, we will reap the harvest of that seed, and have a closer relationship with Christ. It’s a privilege to spend time with God, so we should definitely make the most of the time that we spend with Him.<br><br>
May God continue to lead and guide as you serve Him.<br><br>
Ja’ Van<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/573862010-11-09T10:32:17-05:002010-11-09T10:32:17-05:00A New Creature In ChristAre you a born again Christian who loves the Lord, but every now and then finds yourself reverting back to old habits that you dealt with before you got saved?…Or maybe the issue isn’t that you’re reverting back to old habits, but rather that friends from your past keep bringing up the way you used to be, and things that you used to do…Today’s blog deals with being a new Creature in Christ...<br><br>
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17<br><br>
The beautiful thing about salvation is that God forgives us of our sins, and we become a new person in Christ Jesus. Once we are saved, God views us in a different way than He did prior to salvation. He “reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ” (see 2 Cor. 5:18). And while God views us in a different way, people may not always see you in a different light. <br><br>
Regardless of how much an individual changes (after salvation), there may people who always want to hold on that individual's past and the way things used to be. As Christians, it’s important not to allow this to get us off track. Be sure to know you’re bible well, and have an in depth understanding of what/who the Word of God says you are as a born again believer. If people speak negative words against you, counteract what they say with the Word of God. This doesn’t necessarily mean audibly speaking to the other person, but you should meditate on scriptures in the Bible, and use it to build your faith.<br><br>
You may be saying to yourself, I’m not really having issues with other people, however I do have some concerns about old habits resurfacing. With this in mind, I would like to go to Matthew 26:41 which reads as follows: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” It’s important to realize that our flesh (human nature) outside of God is weak. We need to make a conscious decision to be dominated by the Word of God, instead of being dominated by the desires of our flesh. If you are ever feeling doubt or a lack of faith, remind yourself of what Jesus has done for you. The following passage in Isaiah 53 gives great insight on this:<br><br>
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:4-5<br><br>
When dealing with a topic like this, I also think it’s important to point out that there are consequences for sinful actions committed before salvation. For example, say you have two teenagers who commit fornication, prior to getting saved, which results in a baby being conceived. If the teenagers come to Christ, they will be forgiven and God will help them, however they will still have to deal with the challenges of raising a child as young parents. <br><br>
Continue to fight the good fight of faith, and don’t allow the mistakes of your past to distract you from what God has called you to do now….Remember what Romans 8:1 says…”There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/641392010-11-02T06:01:29-04:002010-11-02T06:01:29-04:00LoveDo you remember the first time (or any other time) that you felt “loved”? So many people are searching for love in variety of ways, and from a number of different sources. Today’s Blog entry deals with love.<br><br>
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” 1 Corinthians 13:4<br><br>
At an early age many of us were exposed to some type of idea of what love was/meant. It may have been through a cartoon movie, where the princess and prince live happily ever after. Or it may have been through the way we have seen various adults that we are close to interact with each other. Some people even do ridiculously crazy (negative) things, and cite love as the reason why they did it. With all this being said, I would to take a look at what the bible says about love. <br><br>
In the scripture above, (1 Corinthians 13:4) attributes of love are listed (the word charity can also be used to describe love).<br><br>
*<b>Suffereth long</b> is like another way of saying patient. How many times have you seen a person who says they love someone, yet at the first sign of any type of conflict in the marriage, they totally give up and walk out on the person (I want to point out that when I say conflict I don’t mean physical abuse or anything of that nature). For example, you have a newly wed couple, and the husband starts to notice that he really doesn’t like his wife’s cooking, so he starts thinking about how a girlfriend he had in the past was a much better cook and thus begins the cycle of second guessing the whole marriage. If the husband truly loves the wife, this is definitely something that he will work through. <br><br>
*<b>Kind</b>- If a person truly loves another person, they should be kind to them. This is not to say that you will always agree, but even when there is a disagreement the person should still show forth respect. Lets revisit the newly wed example. Say the husband and wife have agreed that the husband will take out the trash each week, however the last two weeks, the husband has been running late for work, and thus left the house in a mad dash forgetting to take out the garbage, leaving his wife to handle the duties. When the wife addresses the husband on this issue, she should do so in a civilized manner, and avoid yelling at him, calling him lazy, etc. <br><br>
*<b>Envieth Not</b>- A person that is truly showing forth love, should not be envious of the things that God blesses other people with. Instead they should be thankful for the blessings they themselves have received from God. Show forth support to others when you see God advancing them.<br><br>
*<b>Vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up</b>- Being boastful, and prideful is not a way to show forth love. When God blesses you with something, realize that it is a gift from Him, and be thankful, but make sure you’re not arrogant. <br><br>
Jesus Christ showed us the ultimate example of love by laying down His life so that we could be saved. In order to truly understand love, a person needs to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.<br><br>
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/868572010-10-19T19:31:52-04:002010-10-19T19:31:52-04:00Living According To The TruthHave you noticed how society often places a large emphasis on the “majority’s opinion” when it comes to determining whether or not something is right or wrong? The bottom line is the Word of God overrules any man made rules/regulations. Many people are constantly doing things to suppress the truth. But suppressing the truth does not change reality. We all will stand before God one day, and have to give an account for how we lived on earth. Today’s blog deals with living according to the truth. <br><br>
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32<br><br>
In today’s society, many people are trying to avoid the truth. There are various methods that people use to try to avoid dealing with the truth. These methods can include (but are not limited to): getting drunk, using drugs, having sex, talking on the phone, watching TV, etc. Doing these things (or other negative distractions) may make you feel better temporarily, but it does not help the root of the problem. Think of it like this, if someone has an injury, and is given medicine to take away the pain, they may feel better, but the injury (the root issue) still has to be dealt with. <br><br>
It’s important that we live our lives according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of what the world says is ok. It’s a good idea to be careful of: what you allow yourself to take in (whether it be what you listen to, what you watch, who you hang around, etc).<br><br>
“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:<br>
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” - Jeremiah 9:23-24<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/864352010-10-12T19:49:28-04:002010-10-12T19:49:28-04:00Be ThankfulCan you remember the last time that you genuinely thanked God for the things He has done for you? It’s important that we highly value our relationship with Jesus, and keep Him at #1 on our list of priorities. Today’s blog entry deals with valuing our relationship with Christ.<br><br>
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” –Ephesians 5:20<br><br>
As Born Again Christians we have so much to be thankful for. We have received the gift of salvation, which allows us to have constant fellowship with Jesus Christ! It’s such a blessing to be saved, and it’s important that we do not allow ourselves to take it for granted. If we truly value our relationship with Christ, it should show in our actions, and in the way we spend our time. This is not to say we “work” to earn salvation, but rather to say that one of the byproducts of salvation is the desire to spend time with God. For example, think about a husband who says he loves his wife very much, yet he avoids her, and spends lots of time hanging around other women. Clearly his words are not lining up with his actions. It’s important for us to honestly examine ourselves to see where Christ is in our life. <br><br>
There may be times when we experience challenges or disappointments, however this should not cause to start griping or complaining. Instead we should focus on Jesus, and all that He has done for us. We should give thanks, and praise God on a continual basis.<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/859302010-10-05T06:05:08-04:002010-10-05T06:05:08-04:00Overcoming Barriers and NegativityHave you ever had people in the world do/say really mean things to you? If the answer is yes, don’t feel bad, you’re in good company. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”- John 15:18. Today’s blog deals with overcoming barriers and negativity.<br><br>
Many Christians who have truly been taking a stand publicly to live for Christ have under gone some type of ridicule. Sometimes it may be something such as someone cracking a joke, sometimes it can be something such has a group of people trying to sabotage things being done by a Christian. The Bible let’s us know that Christians will have opposition, however God will help us through the challenges we face. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all”. - Psalms 34:19.<br><br>
There may be someone reading this that has really been going through some challenging times. You may feel like everyone has forgotten about you. I want you to know that God has not forgotten about you. He created you for a specific reason, and He loves you very much. The important thing to remember during challenging times (and other times as well), is that we should rely on what the Word of God says instead of relying on how we feel. Satan is the enemy of our Soul, and He often uses deception (by trying to influence how we feel) as a way to get people in the wrong state of mind, and out of the will of God. With this in mind we should always allow God’s Word to override our feelings. <br><br>
This Christian walk is a battle, however God has equipped with the tools we need to accomplish the assignments He has given us. Ephesians chapter 6 deals with putting on the whole armor of God (I admonish you to read/mediate on this chapter when you get the opportunity). It is so important that we put on the whole armor of God on a continual bases. Sometimes, as Christians we can get going with a lot of zeal and energy for a while, and then over time start slacking when it comes to putting on parts of the armor of God (I have been guilty of this). This is very dangerous because if we don’t have on certain parts of the armor we leave ourselves vulnerable for attack in certain areas. For example think about the way a Knight’s armor is (yes I mean a Knight like the ones that ride upon horses and what not). Every piece of the armor has a specific purpose, and area that it is protecting. If the Knight decides to go into battle one day without the armor, he leaves himself exposed, which could lead to devastating injuries (or worse).<br><br>
As we continue to grow in Christ, it important to remember to properly use the tools that He has given us. Stand strong in Christ my brothers and sisters!<br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/855552010-09-28T19:10:57-04:002010-09-28T19:10:57-04:00The Mentality Of A ServantHave you found yourself in situations where you are doing things that you don’t necessarily want to do, but know you are suppose to do because of the call of God on your life? <br><br>
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45<br><br>
Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant. He willfully gave His life so that we could have eternal life. He endured a lot of suffering, however the end result was the tremendous gift of salvation for those who receive Him as Lord and Savior. Life is filled with many different processes. Never despise the preparation process that God is taking you through. It’s important that we look at the big picture, and not allow ourselves to lose focus if we experience challenging times. As we continue to grow in our Christian walk, we may be put in situations where we have to do things that we are uncomfortable doing or plain just don’t want to do. Instead of solely looking at what we can do to benefit ourselves, we should also look at things we can do to benefit others. Sometimes, being a listening ear, or setting aside time to mentor a young person can make a huge difference in an individual’s life.<br><br>
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23<br><br>
As born again believers, we are to always place God’s will above our own fleshly desires. There are many things that our flesh may desire to do that are totally contrary to the will of God. When we take on the mentality of a servant (desiring to obey and please God), we are in a position to carry out the assignments that God has for us. <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/851062010-09-21T05:48:40-04:002010-09-21T05:48:40-04:00Love The LORD with all your heart“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not the way of evil men.” – Proverbs 4:14.<br><br>
In today’s society there are so many things vying for our attention. With this in mind, it’s important that we do not allow ourselves to develop inordinate affections (idolize) towards things in this world. Many times we see people who elevate certain athletes, entertainers, public figures, etc making them a “god” in their life. Some people literally worship other human beings through their actions. One thing to keep in mind, is that many non Christians have not been taught the Bible and their lack of understanding the Bible has adversely effected the way the live their life. If they knew the truth, they may be living their life dramatically different. The problem is, there are many professing Christians who have been taught right from wrong, who have a good understanding of the Word, yet they allow unbelievers to dictate the way they act. This should not be the case. We should be having a positive impact on the world (instead of allowing the world to have a negative impact on us). My brothers and sisters, it so important that we take the lead, we need to speak the Truth, and let people know that Jesus Christ is Lord. It’s important that we do not allow idolatry to creep into our life in any form. We should not follow the trends of the world inside the body of Christ. Never elevate Pastors, Christian Recording Artists, Leaders, etc, to a level that God did not intend for them to be in. <br><br>
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” – Luke 10:27.<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/843542010-09-07T05:07:49-04:002010-09-07T05:07:49-04:00Wisdom To RecieveSo picture this… you FINALLY receive the thing you have desired to have…or you are FINALLY given the opportunity that you have long been waiting for. Would you really be able to handle it if it where given to you??? Many times we desire to have things, but it’s important to make sure we have the wisdom to maintain what God gives us. <br><br>
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7<br><br>
Many times in society we see people who were provided with great opportunities, or who made large sums of money, only to squander it, and be back in the same (or sometimes worse) position they were in prior. Being blessed with an opportunity or desire of our heart can be a great feeling, however it is very important that we are faithful in maintaining the blessings/assignments that God gives us. Matthew 25:14-28 deals with the parable of the talents (talents represent large units of money in this parable). In this passage of scripture there were 3 individuals who were given talents. Two of them doubled what they had however the other person buried their talent (didn’t put it to use). Many times when we are blessed with something, it’s only the beginning of a process that will take a lot of energy and effort on our part. For example, an athlete can be extremely talented, however if they don’t train and keep themselves in shape, they will not reach their full potential. Proverbs 12:24 says “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.” <br><br>
Another unfortunate thing that happens to some people after they are blessed with something they have long desired, is that they make an idol out of it and take their focus off of God (I’m not saying this always happens, but it does happen sometimes). This is obviously a huge mistake. It’s important to make sure our hearts are pure before God, and that we truly put (and keep) Him first in our lives. As we walk down the path God has set before us, we should do so with integrity. We should never allow ourselves to compromise by doing sinful things in order to “get ahead in life”. “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.”- Proverbs 13:11.<br><br>
When you believe that God will do something for you (whether it’s providing you with a new job, or allowing you to lead a ministry), it’s important that you put works with your faith and prepare yourself. It’s a good idea to have some sort of roadmap specific to your situation that details what you will do, and how you will get things accomplished. For example, in many cases, someone who is a potential investor in a business will want to see a business plan, before they invest money. They want to know how you will put their money to use. Have you thought about how you would put God’s resources to use if He allowed you to have what you’ve asked Him for?<br><br>
When we obey and seek God, we put ourselves in a position to receive from Him. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” - Hebrews 11:6......If we are obedient to God, then we will be able to handle recieving the blessings He gives us.<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/839362010-08-31T04:32:57-04:002018-06-01T02:50:17-04:00Stay Encouraged!Stay Encouraged….There are times in our Christian walk when things can become quite challenging. These challenges can come in a number of ways, but regardless of the situation, God has a solution. <br><br>
As Christians, it is essential that we continue to keep our faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what our current situation looks like (Without faith it is impossible to please God.- see Hebrews 11:6). Sometimes it can be tempting to start depending on (trusting in) other things such as: money, a job, spouse, friends, etc. However, without God, everything else will fail. Remember God is the source, the things/people that he uses in order to bless us are resources. Never put more emphasis on the resource than you do on the source. With that being said, we may come to times in our lives where we are like, “God what do I do next?” You may have a bill(s) that will soon be due, and you have absolutely no idea how you will pay it. Or you may be seeking God for a new job because they are doing you wrong at your current place of employment. In times like these, when you have done what you are suppose to do (meaning that you are putting works with your faith –remember faith without works is dead- see James 2:20), then be sure that you have casted your cares upon Christ (1 Peter 5:7). God let’s us know that He, “…will not suffer us to be tempted above that ye are able.” (1 Corinthians 10:13). So if we feel like we have more on us than we can handle, it may be because we are trying to carry things around that are not meant for us to carry (I have definitely been in this category at times…lol). <br><br>
There are so many things that can happen throughout our Christian walk that may not make sense to us. I have personally learned that it is very important not to lean unto my own understanding. Some things are not for us to understand, and other things may be revealed to us at a later time. It’s not my job to figure out why God is doing what He’s doing at every specific moment. Instead, I am to read God’s Word, and obey it and follow Him. <br><br>
We can take comfort in the fact of knowing, that God will never leave us nor forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5). There can be various reasons why God allows us to go through challenging things. The important thing is to know that God will guide His children through any and every storm we face. I believe one of the reasons that praising God is so important is because when we praise God, it helps us to take our mind off of our current situation and focus on how great our God is. When you realize how big and powerful our God is, your problems tend to seem a whole lot smaller than they originally did (I also want to point out that God inhabits the praises of His people). <br><br>
So no matter what comes your way, stay encouraged saints! Meditate on the Word of God, make sure it is written upon your heart. Be Blessed. <br><br>
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/835312010-08-24T07:37:35-04:002010-08-24T07:37:35-04:00It's Important To Keep Our Emotions In Check“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” – Proverbs 14:29<br><br>
Sometimes there are things that happen in our lives that can really irritate/frustrate us, or make us angry. With this being said, it’s so important that we do not allow the words of other people or our circumstances to control the way we act. An important thing to remember is that “….we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” -Ephesians 6:12…. The devil is here to kill, still, and destroy, and he gladly tries to use other people to attack you. If the devil can use another individual to tempt you to slip up and do/say something out of character, then please believe he will try. The enemy wants to take away the credibility of Christians to discourage people who are currently non-Christians from coming to the faith. I even heard a quote that went something like this, “I would have become a Christian until I met one”. This should not be the case. We need to make a constant effort to show other people the love of Christ.<br><br>
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” – James 2:19 <br><br>
We all make mistakes (I know I’ve made many- “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23), but we should really make a conscience effort to have good temperance. It’s not necessarily always wise to say the first thing that comes to your mind after someone has aggravated you. Remember, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”-Proverbs 18:21. It’s important to meditate on God’s Word on a daily basis. When you pray and read the Word of God (and know the Word of God), you are better equipped to handle the trials and tribulations that come your way. In Matthew chapter 4, when the devil came to tempt Jesus, Jesus responded by speaking the Word. Jesus kept His cool, spoke the Word, and the devil eventually left Him. It’s important that we follow Jesus’ example. <br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/831132010-08-17T04:25:31-04:002010-08-17T04:25:31-04:00The Single Life- Dating, Relationships, MarriageIn today’s society so much emphasis is put on dating, relationships, marriage, etc, among both Christians, and non-Christians. For a high percentage of the population, it has become the norm to engage in relationships prematurely from a very young age, which then begins a cycle of getting in and out of relationships (break up here, hook up there, another break up, then another hook up) until the individual eventually gets married. In some situations, it can almost be like a badge of honor to say how many relationships you have been in. Something is incredibly wrong with this system of dating. <br><br>
For starters, the most important relationship in our life is with Jesus Christ, and we should be seeking His will (Ok now I know some people maybe thinking O here we go with a seek God lecture, but please hear me out). Romans 12:1-2 reads as follows “I Beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service…And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”<br><br>
Before we jump in a relationship, we should make sure that we are being a living sacrifice to God, and living holy. I think one of the problems is that the World’s system has crept into the church (as far as dating, and several other areas). As Christians it’s important that we renew our minds, and do not conform to the world’s way of doing things. The last part of verse 2 really hits the point home “…that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” It’s basically letting us know, that if you want to prove the Will of God in your life, this is how you do it. This could possibly mean spending a significant amount of time outside of a relationship with another person. <br><br>
Ok…so you may be saying to yourself, but I really have been seeking God. Really, Reeeeeally seeking God…lol. For those in that category, I feel you, believe me I do. One thing that’s important to realize is that God know’s what’s best for us, and he has a process for us to go through. Use this time to really get to know God in a more intimate way. This can be done by increasing the amount of time you spend studying and reading your Bible, and increasing the amount of time you spend in prayer and worship. Realize that even if it is God’s will for you to be married, the person you marry cannot, and will not fill the role of Jesus in your life (The greatest husband/wife in the world, will still pale in comparison to Jesus). I think one problem with relationships is that people are expecting their spouses to love them in ways that only God can. The reality is that people have flaws, we make mistakes, we don’t always do things the right way. But God always does things the right way! Now please don’t get me wrong, marriage is a beautiful thing when done the right way. And there are things that both the husband and wife are held accountable for as outlined in scripture. But the point I’m making is to make sure we don’t expect our spouses to fill the God role in our life.<br><br>
Alright, now lets go a step further, you’ve been seeking God, and you believe he has shown you/ been preparing you for you future mate…This could very well be the case if you have been seeking God, and marriage is part of His will for your life. Psalms 37:4 says “ Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” If you have truly been seeking God, I believe that you will desire to do His will for your life, so in essence you desire to do what he desires you to do. Psalms 37:5 says “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust in Him and He shall bring it to pass.” I think the territory between verses 4 and 5 can be where many of us are challenged, and here’s what I mean. For instance, say God has been dealing with you about marriage, so then you get excited, and basically through your actions say “Ok God Thanks…Now I can handle it from here” because you begin to try to make things happen by yourself. Once we know God’s will for our life, it’s also important that we follow God’s will. If we do what verse 5 says (“…Commit thy way unto the Lord….”), then we can be receptive to God’s instructions about timing.<br><br>
Another important thing about moving towards marriage is to think about the big picture, and plan for life beyond the wedding. So many times the emphasis can be put on the wedding day (which I do understand is important), but what about after the wedding. It’s so important that the couple is clear about what they expect from each other, and how the household will be ran. Now there are obvious moral guidelines in the Bible that Christians are aware of... In addition to this you may also want to address things (prior to getting married) like: how you will handle/split up the household duties (cooking, dishes, cleaning, etc), will you have separate or joint bank accounts (or a combination of both), will you have a weekly date night, and other appropriate expectations. <br><br>
When dealing with a topic like dating and relationships there are so many different angles that can be discussed, but for now I will bring this blog entry to an end. In the meantime, remember Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”<br>
God Bless.<br><br>
Ja’ Van<br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/827152010-08-10T07:13:42-04:002010-08-10T07:13:42-04:00Yeah It's Been A WhileWhat's going on! I hope things have been going well for everyone. There have been a lot of things going on since my last blog entry in late May. I've been writing/producing and working on some new songs. This has definitely been a season of growth in my Christian walk, and I believe that my music is reflecting that. As I dig deeper into the Word, I'm getting a better understanding of the way God operates, and the things that I can do to improve my walk with Jesus. The Bible has so many layers to it man! It's such a great book!!! It's so important to let the Word of God dominate your life. Never let circumstances, people, or fear distract you from what God has directed you to do. <br><br>
Something else that has happend since my last blog post is that my hairstyle has changed. The Afro has been cut off....lol...I'm wearing a shorter cut now. In the future I plan to put up more pics with the new cut. After 10 years of wearing the fro, it's cool to have a different style. I actually cut my hair as part of a Fundraiser for my home church called the "My Strength is Not In My Hair Challege". Some other brothers grew and then cut off their beards. The actual haircuts took place at "The Summer Capture 2010" which by the way went very well. I really enjoyed myself. For those who aren't familair with the Summer Capture. It's an annual community outreach outdoor event put on by Divine Grace Ministries Church. There were activities for Children, free haircuts, free food, music, etc...Fun Stuff! <br><br>
Moving forward I'm going to make an active effort to keep this blog of mine updated more frequently. Thanks for taking the time to read it. God Bless!<br type="_moz">Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/748792010-05-31T16:18:36-04:002022-05-11T10:05:26-04:00About Time For Another Blog EntryWhat's Going On Everybody!<br><br>
I haven't done a lot of blogging as of recent, but there have been some really good things going on. The Month of May was definitely a blessing. I have been continuing to grow in my walk with Christ. I've been getting a better understanding of what it means to "walk by faith and not by sight". Sometimes things that happen in our lives may not make any sense to us when we look at it with our "natural eyes". However when we put our faith in Christ and look at things from a Spiritual perspective, we can often get a much better understanding of the process we are going through. And even if we don't understand certain things, we can still rest in Christ, when we put our trust in Him. Praise God for His love! My Birthday Concert on May 7 was definitely a blessing. I have some footage available for viewing at : <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/WWDMusic">https://www.youtube.com/user/WWDMusic</a> <br>
I hope things have been going well for you. If you every have any prayer requests, feel free to send them to me via my contact page. Take Care. God Bless.Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/663542010-04-06T08:23:53-04:002022-03-24T08:03:38-04:00Podcast UpdateWhat's going on everybody!!! For those who read my last blog entry, you may be thinking "What happend to Podcast #2"??? I want to let you know that Podcast # 2 titled "The World's System" and Podcast #3 titled "Consistency In Christ" have been added to ChristianOracles.com. "The Oracles" is a fairly new ministry, and we are still working on various updates for the site, so last week a new Podcast was not added. To access the Podcasts feel free to go to the following link http://christianoracles.com/media.html <br>
Rather than post the Podcast on both this site and ChristianOracles.com. The Podcast will be posted on solely on ChristianOracles.com for the time being. I hope all is well God Bless.<br><br type="_moz">Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/636422010-03-22T08:55:00-04:002010-03-22T08:55:00-04:00New Weekly Podcast...Week One: StrongholdsWhat's going on everybody. I have a new Podcast called Right Now that will air online on a weekly basis. The show is about 30 minutes long, and deals with living a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. The show can be heard on ChristianOracles.com, and it can be heard under the blog section of my site (where you are right now). ChristianOracles.com is the official website for the new online ministry "The Oracles", in addition to the Podcast, there will also be articles, and other written information. <br type="_moz">27:32Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/615722010-02-27T20:45:09-05:002010-02-27T20:45:09-05:00WSNL Radio VisitI had a great time on Saturday night at WSNL Radio with host Brian Goodman. We listened to a lot of music, and had some good discussion both on and off air. It was a blessing for me to get the opportunity to go on the program. To God Be The Glory! Pictures from my visit to the radio station can be seen under the photo section of EternalExample.com.<br type="_moz">Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/585802010-01-12T11:22:58-05:002010-01-12T11:22:58-05:00MistakesMistakes….We all make them. The important thing is how we respond once we have made the mistake (so that we do not continue the pattern over and over again). Take athletics for example, if a person is playing in a basketball game, and they turn the ball over at a critical time of the game, they can either dwell on that mistake (and never get past it for the rest of their basketball career), or they can learn from it, keep playing the game and overcome the mistake by making an impact in another way. As Christians, God gives us instructions through His Word on how we should live our lives. It’s important that we have a proper understanding of what He expects of us (and that we are also obedient to Him). By reading (and mediating on) His word we greatly increase our chances of being obedient to God, however even reading the Bible on a regular basis does not ensure that we will never make mistakes. If you commit a sin, be sure that you ask for forgiveness and repent (turn away from the sin). 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If you have sincerely repented of the sin, then don’t dwell on the sinful act, instead focus on the things of God. Also be sure to make things right if your mistake caused hurt to another individual. We should be careful to guard what we say, and be mindful of the things we do. Be encouraged people!<br><br>
Ja’ Van<br><br><br>Ja'Van Johnsontag:eternalexample.com,2005:Post/579482010-01-04T08:51:04-05:002010-01-04T08:51:04-05:00New Year, New BlogWelcome to entry number one of my blog (yeah I’m doing something new for 2010)! This blog will be a place where I will write about Christian topics, current events, what’s going on with me as a recording artist/musically, etc. I hope everybody had a fantastic Christmas, and New Years Day. We had a great service at Church to bring in the New Year, followed by a delicious breakfast!<br><br>
So anyhow, 2010 is already upon us, the beginning of a new year, and a new decade. It seems that it has become tradition for people to set goals at the beginning of a new year for things they would like to accomplish. I know there are so many things that we would like to see happen in our personal lives, careers, etc… However as we move further into 2010, it’s important that we continue to keep our focus on Christ, and renew our minds daily. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The body of Christ should always remember that we are put on this earth to glorify God. What are you going to do to get closer to Christ this year? <br><br>Ja'Van Johnson