We can definitely inspire a lot of people to experience the precious positive side of life. Some people all across the world are in desperate search of what direction to take in life; The people that you look up to can either make you or break you in the future
Showing posts with label Bible Studies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Studies. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Stand up to Manipulators
A person with successful boundaries has to stand up to manipulators. Manipulators are often charming people, but their intent is to produce enough guilt with their accusations and threats that we back off. They say things like, "If you loved me you wouldn't do that", "That's not very Christian", "You are really selfish". What are some of the things manipulators have said to you to get you to back off?
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Toxic Friends- When Enough is Enough
Friends are great. They laugh with you, share your secrets, give you a shoulder to cry on and are fun to be around. Most friendships start out that way. Some friends turn out to be life long friends who are more like family. Other friendships change over time. Sometimes people drift apart and you become more like acquaintances or you just lose contact..
What happens if you have a friendship that used to be wonderful but has turned negative? Your friendship has become draining and not fun anymore. You find yourself doing things you wouldn't normally do for your friend. Maybe your friend just disappears when the going gets tough. Maybe there are other things going on. Your friend stops listening to you, puts you down, cuts you off or constantly complains. You wonder why your friendship has changed and what you could have done wrong. Could it be that this friend has always been this way and you just never noticed it? You think, 'maybe its just me and I'm imagining this.'.
These are all examples of a toxic person and sadly they are everywhere. You find them at work, at church, next door and you probably have one or two of these types in your family. If you have a feeling someone in your life is not good for you, you are probably right.
These are all examples of a toxic person and sadly they are everywhere. You find them at work, at church, next door and you probably have one or two of these types in your family. If you have a feeling someone in your life is not good for you, you are probably right.
Real friends listen to you up when you are down.
Your best friends love you no matter what.
Is Your Friend Toxic?
If you are already asking yourself this question, then the answer is most likely yes. Keep in mind, nobody is perfect. Sometimes we or our friends are going through a rough time and aren't acting like ourselves. We've all made a hurtful comment or complain endlessly to our friends. If a friend is doing these types of things constantly it's a different story. If you have a talk with your friend about her behavior and nothing changes she is toxic. Here are some red flags. Please keep in mind that even though I'm using the pronoun 'she' as an example, a toxic person can be male or female.
She puts you down. Snide and belittling comments, especially around others. Friends should never do this to each other. Especially when others are present.
It's always about her. You've had a bad day, you broke up with your man or lost your job. Maybe something really exciting happened and you want to share it with her. You're in the middle of talking and she cuts you off and starts talking about something trivial. She just chipped a nail this morning or she can't afford that designer bag she's been eying. Was she even listening? She does not seem to realize you are upset... or care. When you finally do tell her what's wrong, she displays phony sympathy and goes back to talking about herself.
You are doing things you don't want to do. You don't feel like going out tonight, hanging out at her place or meeting her for coffee but you find yourself doing it anyway. She might even have you running her errands. Her guilt trips always seem to work and you are never happy when the both of you are hanging out because you didn't want to be with her to begin with.
She is negative. Your friend is constantly complaining, has an unpredictable temper or is always upset about something. You dread her phone call because she isn't calling to chat. She'll keep you on the phone complaining or bad mouthing others. Once your off the phone you are drained emotionally.
Your other friends don't like her. Sometimes our friends see things way before we do. Listen to your other friends and ask them to give you reasons as to why they do not approve of your friendship.
She crosses lines. Your friends should never insult your family or closest friends. Even if you are fighting with someone you love and vent to her about it. That should always be off limits.
She is too competitive. Is your friend always trying to one up you? A guy is flirting with you at a club and she tries to steal the attention. You spot a pair of jeans you want but can't afford them and the next time you see her, she's wearing them. Maybe you just scored a raise or lost a few pounds and she isn't happy for you. Does she always remind you about how she's richer, thinner or prettier? The reality is that she is probably insecure and jealous of you and it's only going to get worse.
She uses you. She wants to go out but then something better comes up and she blows you off. You end up paying for her drinks or for dinner when you go out. She never pays you back. Are you the one always stuck driving when you are hanging out? She's taking advantage of your good nature.
She has too many issues. You have enough problems. You don't need an emotionally imbalanced person to add to it. Does she create her own problems? Does she use drugs, drink excessively or get into a lot of trouble? It's one thing when people have problems and try to better themselves. Toxic People don't think they have problems. They think other people do.
She puts you down. Snide and belittling comments, especially around others. Friends should never do this to each other. Especially when others are present.
It's always about her. You've had a bad day, you broke up with your man or lost your job. Maybe something really exciting happened and you want to share it with her. You're in the middle of talking and she cuts you off and starts talking about something trivial. She just chipped a nail this morning or she can't afford that designer bag she's been eying. Was she even listening? She does not seem to realize you are upset... or care. When you finally do tell her what's wrong, she displays phony sympathy and goes back to talking about herself.
You are doing things you don't want to do. You don't feel like going out tonight, hanging out at her place or meeting her for coffee but you find yourself doing it anyway. She might even have you running her errands. Her guilt trips always seem to work and you are never happy when the both of you are hanging out because you didn't want to be with her to begin with.
She is negative. Your friend is constantly complaining, has an unpredictable temper or is always upset about something. You dread her phone call because she isn't calling to chat. She'll keep you on the phone complaining or bad mouthing others. Once your off the phone you are drained emotionally.
Your other friends don't like her. Sometimes our friends see things way before we do. Listen to your other friends and ask them to give you reasons as to why they do not approve of your friendship.
She crosses lines. Your friends should never insult your family or closest friends. Even if you are fighting with someone you love and vent to her about it. That should always be off limits.
She is too competitive. Is your friend always trying to one up you? A guy is flirting with you at a club and she tries to steal the attention. You spot a pair of jeans you want but can't afford them and the next time you see her, she's wearing them. Maybe you just scored a raise or lost a few pounds and she isn't happy for you. Does she always remind you about how she's richer, thinner or prettier? The reality is that she is probably insecure and jealous of you and it's only going to get worse.
She uses you. She wants to go out but then something better comes up and she blows you off. You end up paying for her drinks or for dinner when you go out. She never pays you back. Are you the one always stuck driving when you are hanging out? She's taking advantage of your good nature.
She has too many issues. You have enough problems. You don't need an emotionally imbalanced person to add to it. Does she create her own problems? Does she use drugs, drink excessively or get into a lot of trouble? It's one thing when people have problems and try to better themselves. Toxic People don't think they have problems. They think other people do.
Friends who care about you don't want to see you sad.
It's always fun to be with your best friends.
Why Do I Attract These Types of People?
Don't be too hard on yourself. These types are everywhere. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be male or female. Sometimes you keep someone in your life because you've been friends since children or because you've been through some things together. You may have invested so much into this friendship that you want to make it work.
People who have a history of attracting these types usually have a good nature or are a bit too nice. People who come from dysfunctional families usually have a lot of toxic people in their lives. What matters is that you know now and you can start eliminating these people from your life. Knowing what to look for early on can prevent toxic people from entering your life to begin with.
People who have a history of attracting these types usually have a good nature or are a bit too nice. People who come from dysfunctional families usually have a lot of toxic people in their lives. What matters is that you know now and you can start eliminating these people from your life. Knowing what to look for early on can prevent toxic people from entering your life to begin with.
How Do I End the Friendship?
Trust me, if you continue the friendship, it will begin affecting you. You don't want to hold in all your resentment and frustrations because it will eventually come out in a negative way. Having toxic people in your life wreaks havoc on your self worth and confidence. You may even become a toxic person yourself.
Sometimes the best way to end a friendship is to simply distance yourself from that person. Don't make plans and have an excuse ready if she wants to see you. Don't call just to chat and don't take her calls. When you do talk to her, let know that you've been busy and it's hard to get together because of it. It's okay to say that some of your interests have changed and you don't think you have much in common anymore. It's always best to remain on friendly terms. This is especially important if you have mutual friends.
Sometimes the best way to end a friendship is to simply distance yourself from that person. Don't make plans and have an excuse ready if she wants to see you. Don't call just to chat and don't take her calls. When you do talk to her, let know that you've been busy and it's hard to get together because of it. It's okay to say that some of your interests have changed and you don't think you have much in common anymore. It's always best to remain on friendly terms. This is especially important if you have mutual friends.
Dealing With Toxic People
Preventing People Like This Into Your Life
I've had a lot of experience with toxic people. For a while there it seemed like just about everyone I knew was bringing me down. It was difficult but I managed to eliminate people who were affecting me so negatively. These days I'm just a bit more cautious of who I trust and let into my life.
Being a loving and trusting person is a beautiful thing- if you love and trust the right people. Keep your guards up around new people. Realize that true friendships happen over time and that a person must earn your trust before you start telling them things. Trust your gut. If someone gives you an uneasy feeling, don't assume it's all in your head. Keep a distance from people who make you uncomfortable. Those are the ones you should always watch out for.
Your true friends are the ones that bring you up when you are feeling down and they don't knock you down when you're up. They love you despite your flaws and look out for you. Your real friends listen to you and respect you.
One true friend is better than a dozen false ones, and really, who needs a dozen jerks in their life?
Being a loving and trusting person is a beautiful thing- if you love and trust the right people. Keep your guards up around new people. Realize that true friendships happen over time and that a person must earn your trust before you start telling them things. Trust your gut. If someone gives you an uneasy feeling, don't assume it's all in your head. Keep a distance from people who make you uncomfortable. Those are the ones you should always watch out for.
Your true friends are the ones that bring you up when you are feeling down and they don't knock you down when you're up. They love you despite your flaws and look out for you. Your real friends listen to you and respect you.
One true friend is better than a dozen false ones, and really, who needs a dozen jerks in their life?
Monday, July 23, 2012
THOUGHTS FROM EPHESIANS~19 GOD'S INCOMPARABLE POWER
A meditation on Ephesians 1:19
God's power is 'incomparably great' [Ephesians 1:19] – it is beyond comparison because there is no other power in heaven or on earth that can come anywhere near it. Like God himself there is nothing up there on that level that we can say 'God's power is like this.' Like God himself, his power is one of a kind. Read Isaiah 40:18,25.
Paul states that God's power is 'for us who believe'. This is an amazing and totally comforting thing. This awesome, incomparable power is on our side. It is active for us. It is not against us. All that God did in and through the incarnation and life of Christ, and through his death and resurrection was done for us, with us and our eternal well-being in mind. All the defeat of sin, death and Satan that his power achieved was done for us. All the amazing work of regeneration, redemption and renewal – all of the power of God that brought this about … was active for us.
Paul prays that we will continue to know this power of Christ increasingly. It is not that Paul prays that we will have this power available to us as our personal power, but that we will understand the greatness of God's power active for us in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul further describes this power of God active for believers as 'like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given …' [Ephesians 1:19-21].
This same power of God that raised Christ from death to life, from weakness and defeat to extreme glory and victory, is active for every believer. It is this same power of God that has raised the Christian believer out of spiritual deadness and separation from God into newness of life and permanent acceptance into the very presence of God [Ephesians 2:1-7]. Nothing of our own ability or works achieved this – but only the life-giving, incomparable power of God.
Because our salvation is entirely the result of the power of God active for us, it is also entirely a gift of his grace. If it took this incomparable power to bring us out of the clutches of spiritual death and into life in the presence of God, how ludicrous for us to think that our own actions can contribute even a miniscule part towards either gaining or maintaining our salvation.
How ludicrous also to think, even for a moment, that any action of ours can undermine or diminish our salvation, when all of this 'incredibly great power' of God, is active for us!
God's power is 'incomparably great' [Ephesians 1:19] – it is beyond comparison because there is no other power in heaven or on earth that can come anywhere near it. Like God himself there is nothing up there on that level that we can say 'God's power is like this.' Like God himself, his power is one of a kind. Read Isaiah 40:18,25.
Paul states that God's power is 'for us who believe'. This is an amazing and totally comforting thing. This awesome, incomparable power is on our side. It is active for us. It is not against us. All that God did in and through the incarnation and life of Christ, and through his death and resurrection was done for us, with us and our eternal well-being in mind. All the defeat of sin, death and Satan that his power achieved was done for us. All the amazing work of regeneration, redemption and renewal – all of the power of God that brought this about … was active for us.
Paul prays that we will continue to know this power of Christ increasingly. It is not that Paul prays that we will have this power available to us as our personal power, but that we will understand the greatness of God's power active for us in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul further describes this power of God active for believers as 'like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given …' [Ephesians 1:19-21].
This same power of God that raised Christ from death to life, from weakness and defeat to extreme glory and victory, is active for every believer. It is this same power of God that has raised the Christian believer out of spiritual deadness and separation from God into newness of life and permanent acceptance into the very presence of God [Ephesians 2:1-7]. Nothing of our own ability or works achieved this – but only the life-giving, incomparable power of God.
Because our salvation is entirely the result of the power of God active for us, it is also entirely a gift of his grace. If it took this incomparable power to bring us out of the clutches of spiritual death and into life in the presence of God, how ludicrous for us to think that our own actions can contribute even a miniscule part towards either gaining or maintaining our salvation.
How ludicrous also to think, even for a moment, that any action of ours can undermine or diminish our salvation, when all of this 'incredibly great power' of God, is active for us!
Friday, December 23, 2011
“Are you going through something and you’re wondering where God is in all of this?? Well remember this. The teacher is usually quite during a test.”
We push ourselves so we can have a better tomorrow. Why can’t we push to have a better today? We work hard so that we will appreciate life in the future. Why can’t we appreciate what we have right now, today? We worry about dying and forever being forgotten.
Why can’t we focus on living in the present and being remembered in the heart of a single individual by making a difference in their life, today?
everyday we face different circumstances and some of it are beyond our control, but as hard as it may be, “giving up” should not be an option. just make it through this day…
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Getting the Most from God's Word
As you embark on taking a journey, I encourage you to engage with God’s Word following these four steps so that your life may be touched and changed in the most meaningful way.
Pray to God to connect with you here. Ask Him to help you understand.
Read the selected section of Scripture slowly. Mark the words and phrases that intrigue you, read them for a second time.
Reflect on what grabs you here. What is God communicating to you? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.
Respond to the passage. Speak directly to God about what is on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you find and bring what you find to others.
Pray to God to connect with you here. Ask Him to help you understand.
Read the selected section of Scripture slowly. Mark the words and phrases that intrigue you, read them for a second time.
Reflect on what grabs you here. What is God communicating to you? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.
Respond to the passage. Speak directly to God about what is on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you find and bring what you find to others.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
New Bible Study
Just joined a new bible study with Adventure members. Now I have homework and I'm wondering how well I will do.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
A VALUABLE WOMEN
Do you sometimes think that God is limiting you rather than opening doors of opportunity because you are a women? Then you believe the wrong press about him. God is the one who showed women to inherit the land. God is the one who put the Savior of the world into a woman's womb. Jesus is the Lord who appeared to women first after his resurrection. God is not biased toward men; on the contrary, he teaches us that men and women have equal value in his sight. When you give him your devotion, when you sit at his feet and learn from him (see Luke 10:38-42), he'll treat you with dignity and give you the delights of your heart.
As a woman, are there particular qualities of God that you relate to differently than a man would? What is your view of how God treats women?
As a woman, are there particular qualities of God that you relate to differently than a man would? What is your view of how God treats women?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Speak the Word; God’s Word Has Your Answer!
You can open your life to God’s best and defeat the enemy in every area by speaking His Word over your situations and circumstances.
WISDOM
I am filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; I am a new creation in Christ; I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Because of this. I have His wisdom and my decisions are ordered of Him.
(Colossians 1:9; Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 2:16)
JOY
I will have joy by the answers of my mouth so today I speak His words of power. I will enter into the joy fo the Lord today.
(Proverbs 15:23; Matthew 25:23; 11Corinthians 1:24)
HEALTH
The Lord sent His Word and healed me an delivered me from all destruction. I serve the Lord and He blesses my food and drink; He takes away sickness from me and my family; He heals all our diseases.
(Psalms 103:3, 107:20, Exodus 23:25)
SAFETY
I hear the voice of the Lord through His Word. Therefore, I dwell safely and am quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:33)
FAMILY
God has sent before me life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore I choose life; that both my seed and I may live. I know that my home shall be in peace and my seed shall be great and my offspring as the grass of the earth. The wicked are overthrown, and are not; but my house shall stand.
(Deuteronomy 30:19; Job 5:24-25; Proverbs 12:7)
FAVOR
I thank you, Father, that you surround me with favor as with a shield and therefore I have favor with my family and coworkers and also with all the people I come in contact with today.
(Psalms 5:12)
LEADERS
Our nation, pastors, and churches are blessed because our God is the Lord and we are the people He has chosen for his inheritance.
(Psalms 33:12)
Previously put on Mountain Testimonial Movements by me :-)
WISDOM
I am filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; I am a new creation in Christ; I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Because of this. I have His wisdom and my decisions are ordered of Him.
(Colossians 1:9; Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 2:16)
JOY
I will have joy by the answers of my mouth so today I speak His words of power. I will enter into the joy fo the Lord today.
(Proverbs 15:23; Matthew 25:23; 11Corinthians 1:24)
HEALTH
The Lord sent His Word and healed me an delivered me from all destruction. I serve the Lord and He blesses my food and drink; He takes away sickness from me and my family; He heals all our diseases.
(Psalms 103:3, 107:20, Exodus 23:25)
SAFETY
I hear the voice of the Lord through His Word. Therefore, I dwell safely and am quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:33)
FAMILY
God has sent before me life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore I choose life; that both my seed and I may live. I know that my home shall be in peace and my seed shall be great and my offspring as the grass of the earth. The wicked are overthrown, and are not; but my house shall stand.
(Deuteronomy 30:19; Job 5:24-25; Proverbs 12:7)
FAVOR
I thank you, Father, that you surround me with favor as with a shield and therefore I have favor with my family and coworkers and also with all the people I come in contact with today.
(Psalms 5:12)
LEADERS
Our nation, pastors, and churches are blessed because our God is the Lord and we are the people He has chosen for his inheritance.
(Psalms 33:12)
Previously put on Mountain Testimonial Movements by me :-)
How to Lead Small Group Bible Study Effectively~Great Information-
Small groups or Cell groups are essential part of christian church or community. Today, almost every church has its small group bible study. However, it is not at all a newly found concept. Jesus himself had his own small group of 12 people And although he had much larger community of followers, he invested majority of time and efforts in the lives of these few people.
Leading small groups can be one of the most exciting and satisfying experience of your christian life. You can really influence and impact your group members. Today, we are going to discuss principles to effectively leading small group bible study. You may be leading students, married couples, men, women, teenagers, youth, or any age group, these principles remain the same. So here are some of the key principles for leading a bible study small group.
1. Know Your bible study Group:
Know every member of your small group. Show genuine interest and care for them.
Names are extremely important. There is nothing more pleasing to ears than our name. You must know every member of your group by name.
If there is a new member or visitor, make sure that you acknowledge him and introduce to the group.
If you have more than 2-3 visitors, you can take some time for the introduction with some fun questions or game. (Like, what is the weirdest food, you have ever had?…)
2. Preparation:
Preparation is the most important part of leading bible study group.
There is nothing more painful than to see under prepared bible study leader. I am amazed to see that people spend so much time on assignments or job at school or workplace, yet when it comes to leading a group, they are so under-prepared!
Prepare well, spend lot of time in the Word of God.
Don’t think that since it is a discussion, you don’t have to work as hard as ‘Preaching’!
Write down your thoughts, ideas, notes, questions, answers… I don’t know about you, but I can not remember everything. Writing notes will also be helpful in future bible studies.
Note down the questions. Don’t just ask, “What do you think about this verse?” Form a question from that verse. Rephrase the question.
If you use study guides for preparation, use it as a guide only! You don’t have to exactly follow them. (After all, they are just a guidelines!)
You can use bible dictionary, commentary, but use your own insight also. (Make your own commentary!)
3. Be Creative and Imaginative:
Be creative in your discussions and questions.
Visualize the situation.
Use maps, whiteboards, games, time lines.
Give some small assignment, quiz or fun group activity to the group, keep the engaged.
4. Facilitator and Not a Preacher:
Remember that you are not a preacher, you are facilitator of the discussion group. Make sure that you don’t keep talking.
Communicate your questions well, rephrase it if possible.
Don’t let it be silent for long time, give hints, ask individuals.
5. Equal Opportunity:
Make sure that every one participates in the discussion.
You will always find few people, more responsive than others.
But, don’t let it be discussion between just 2-3 persons. Ask individual, remembering names will be useful here.
You will often be surprised to hear insight from people who generally remain quiet.
Remember that silence does not always mean non-participation.
6. Diversion:
Many times, you will find the discussion being side tracked or distracted in particular topic.
Use your judgment, to continue or bring the group back to the main idea or passage.
If there is some major important issue, let the discussion continue. The idea is to learn here and not stick to the passage.
7. Time Management:
25-30 minutes of bible study time is perfect. Don’t make it too long.
Don’t let the group loose focus.
If there is some important theological discussion going on, you can conclude bible study, but continue the discussion, so that those who need to leave can go.
Don’t try to finish the passage because you run out of time. You can continue next week. (So many times, I have seen leader’s finishing the passage or topic suddenly, so that they don’t have to lead next week.) Again, good preparation will be helpful here.
8. Finish Strong:
Spend enough time in the application of the word.
Challenge your group for the not only ‘learner of the word but the doer of the word’.
Don’t make it too emotional. After all, the things that will stay with the group is not the emotion, but the teaching.
Encourage them for personal bible study.
Previously put on MTM by me :-)
Leading small groups can be one of the most exciting and satisfying experience of your christian life. You can really influence and impact your group members. Today, we are going to discuss principles to effectively leading small group bible study. You may be leading students, married couples, men, women, teenagers, youth, or any age group, these principles remain the same. So here are some of the key principles for leading a bible study small group.
1. Know Your bible study Group:
Know every member of your small group. Show genuine interest and care for them.
Names are extremely important. There is nothing more pleasing to ears than our name. You must know every member of your group by name.
If there is a new member or visitor, make sure that you acknowledge him and introduce to the group.
If you have more than 2-3 visitors, you can take some time for the introduction with some fun questions or game. (Like, what is the weirdest food, you have ever had?…)
2. Preparation:
Preparation is the most important part of leading bible study group.
There is nothing more painful than to see under prepared bible study leader. I am amazed to see that people spend so much time on assignments or job at school or workplace, yet when it comes to leading a group, they are so under-prepared!
Prepare well, spend lot of time in the Word of God.
Don’t think that since it is a discussion, you don’t have to work as hard as ‘Preaching’!
Write down your thoughts, ideas, notes, questions, answers… I don’t know about you, but I can not remember everything. Writing notes will also be helpful in future bible studies.
Note down the questions. Don’t just ask, “What do you think about this verse?” Form a question from that verse. Rephrase the question.
If you use study guides for preparation, use it as a guide only! You don’t have to exactly follow them. (After all, they are just a guidelines!)
You can use bible dictionary, commentary, but use your own insight also. (Make your own commentary!)
3. Be Creative and Imaginative:
Be creative in your discussions and questions.
Visualize the situation.
Use maps, whiteboards, games, time lines.
Give some small assignment, quiz or fun group activity to the group, keep the engaged.
4. Facilitator and Not a Preacher:
Remember that you are not a preacher, you are facilitator of the discussion group. Make sure that you don’t keep talking.
Communicate your questions well, rephrase it if possible.
Don’t let it be silent for long time, give hints, ask individuals.
5. Equal Opportunity:
Make sure that every one participates in the discussion.
You will always find few people, more responsive than others.
But, don’t let it be discussion between just 2-3 persons. Ask individual, remembering names will be useful here.
You will often be surprised to hear insight from people who generally remain quiet.
Remember that silence does not always mean non-participation.
6. Diversion:
Many times, you will find the discussion being side tracked or distracted in particular topic.
Use your judgment, to continue or bring the group back to the main idea or passage.
If there is some major important issue, let the discussion continue. The idea is to learn here and not stick to the passage.
7. Time Management:
25-30 minutes of bible study time is perfect. Don’t make it too long.
Don’t let the group loose focus.
If there is some important theological discussion going on, you can conclude bible study, but continue the discussion, so that those who need to leave can go.
Don’t try to finish the passage because you run out of time. You can continue next week. (So many times, I have seen leader’s finishing the passage or topic suddenly, so that they don’t have to lead next week.) Again, good preparation will be helpful here.
8. Finish Strong:
Spend enough time in the application of the word.
Challenge your group for the not only ‘learner of the word but the doer of the word’.
Don’t make it too emotional. After all, the things that will stay with the group is not the emotion, but the teaching.
Encourage them for personal bible study.
Previously put on MTM by me :-)
Aspect
1 John 4:7-12
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and knows God.
does not know God, because God is love.
among us: He sent his one and only Son
through him.
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for
loved us, we also ought to love one another.
if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Keywords: Love – 13, God – 10, us – 6
8Whoever does not love9This is how God showed his love[b] into the world that we might live10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so12No one has ever seen God; butA: About God
Love comes from God.
God is love.
God showed his love by sending his Son, as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God lives in us if we love one another.
S: Sin
Sin requires sacrifice.
Sin brings death.
P: Promise
If we love one another, God lives in us; his love is made complete in us.
We have a life in him.
God love us!
E: Example
We ought to love one another, as he loved us.
Brotherly love, sacrificial love
C: Command
all the parts/features of ASPECT.
There is nothing in particular related to command. Passage may not contain)T: Teaching
Thank you for loving me in spite of my failures and sins.
Help me to show your love in tangible ways
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and knows God.
does not know God, because God is love.
among us: He sent his one and only Son
through him.
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for
loved us, we also ought to love one another.
if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Keywords: Love – 13, God – 10, us – 6
8Whoever does not love9This is how God showed his love[b] into the world that we might live10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so12No one has ever seen God; butA: About God
Love comes from God.
God is love.
God showed his love by sending his Son, as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God lives in us if we love one another.
S: Sin
Sin requires sacrifice.
Sin brings death.
P: Promise
If we love one another, God lives in us; his love is made complete in us.
We have a life in him.
God love us!
E: Example
We ought to love one another, as he loved us.
Brotherly love, sacrificial love
C: Command
all the parts/features of ASPECT.
There is nothing in particular related to command. Passage may not contain)T: Teaching
Thank you for loving me in spite of my failures and sins.
Help me to show your love in tangible ways
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Hearing God: An Amazing story
By Craig von Buseck
CBN.com Ministries Director (Had to share this great story)
I have been blessed by the numerous e-mail responses that I have received from this audience regarding hearing God's voice. Many of you have shared dramatic stories of the Lord's leading. Others have shared how they have had difficulty knowing whether they are hearing God's voice or not.
To encourage the people who read these columns I thought I would share a personal testimony of a time when God made His direction very clear to me in a time of transition in my life.
I want to emphasize the many channels through which God communicated to me during this major life change. I also want to point out that while I sensed the Lord's leading, I was very concerned that I move forward in His timing. I wanted to obey God, but I didn't want to rush out in front of Him, or wait too long to do what He was calling us to do.
I served for a time as an associate pastor in a local church in Pennsylvania. After more than five years on staff I began sensing that the Lord wanted me to leave this church to complete my ministry training. Relations were beginning to become strained between myself and the senior pastor. While we remained friends, as time went by I began to recognize that we had differing leadership styles and different visions for the church.
In more than 10 years of serving the Lord up to that time I had learned that you don't make major moves in your life because things are uncomfortable. Sometimes God places us in difficult situations because He wants to grow our character. Other times He puts us into a tough spot so that we will be there to pray for His will to be done. Over many months I had sought the Lord in prayer about my situation at the church. I came to the conclusion that in this case either I needed to leave the church, or the vision needed to change.
Transition was inevitable, but how it would come about was unclear to me.
And so I waited for the Lord to guide my steps. In the meantime I went about my duties at the church, working as unto the Lord. As my mother taught her seven children, "bloom where you're planted."
In this time, God did some dramatic miracles in that church that to this day cause me to be in awe of His power. In the course of a year we were given a full-price offer on the downtown church building with no parking that we had struggled to sell for years. We were also given a warehouse a block away. We later sold that warehouse and used the proceeds to help purchase a church building that had parking and wonderful facilities -- at a fantastic price. At the same time we were given -- yes, given -- 21 acres of prime land in one of the most desirable parts of town. This donation was without strings -- it was truly miraculous.
And yet in the midst of all this I did not have peace -- one of the seven keys to God's guidance.
I began to consider my options. I had ministered in this city for more than ten years. It would not have been difficult to go down the street and start another church. I was also a part of a national network of churches, and some of these congregations had expressed interest in me coming to work with them. But the more I prayed, the more I believed that God wanted me to go on for more education.
A friend had recently bought me a book called Manners and Customs of Bible Times. As I sat on my front porch reading it I was struck by the lives of Moses and Paul. Both men were highly educated, and both made a significant impact on their world for the Gospel. I decided to look at various seminaries across the country. As I investigated, my heart kept coming back to Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
After much prayer and discussion, I decided to schedule an appointment for an interview. I was beginning to feel peaceful about this direction, but there were still many stressful hurdles to cross -- paramount in my thoughts was God's timing in the transition. I had learned that in the mouth of two or three witnesses all things should be established (another of the seven keys). So I asked the Lord for confirmation.
I prayed that God would make His will clear to me.
The following week clarity began to come. I received a telephone call out of the blue from a minister friend in Florida, a respected prophet who I had grown to love and trust. "Craig," he said. "I don't know what's going on there, but I felt like I needed to call."
"I've been praying for you," he continued, "and I feel like the Lord is saying that you are coming in to a time of transition. I believe you need to get ready because God is about to make some major changes in your life."
Wow! Talk about confirmation. I filled him in on what I was feeling and he said that it witnessed with his spirit. We hung up the telephone and I rejoiced, wondering what the timing would be for this transition.
Two days later another minister friend called from New York. "Craig, I don't know what's going on there, but perhaps the Lord is leading you into a time of transition."
Another two days passed and my former pastor called from Indiana. Guess what he said…
"Craig, I don't know what's going on there, but I feel like the Lord is saying you need to get ready because you're entering a time of transition."
I had heard from the Lord as to His will, and I knew that I was to go forward with the plan. Now I just needed to discover His timing.
At the time I was a licensed minister with Christian International Network of Churches (CINC) under Bishop Bill Hamon. One of the requirements for being in the network was that I attend two CINC conferences per year. I planned to go to an upcoming conference in Columbus, Ohio, and then leave from there for vacation and my interview at Regent. I knew that there would be time made available for prophetic ministry by seasoned prophets, and so I prayed that the Lord would give me clarity of vision and His timing in this transition.
With the busyness of the conference I was not able to make it to a prophetic session until the final day. It just so happened that my pastor and his wife were also there at that time. Beside them there were only a handful of others, and a prophetess I didn't know named Sharon Stone.
After ministering to several people, Sharon called me up and laid her hands upon me. The words that came out of her mouth were both amazing and humbling.
"The Lord says, 'I'm allowing you to stand in places of training. I'm allowing you to stand in places of co-laborship, and I'm allowing you to be one who is trained in diversity. And you're getting to do all things that I might build an ability to know things from the inside out.' For the Lord says, 'Know this, there will be a day that I will plant you -- you're grooming for the anointing of the house now...'"
I began to smile as the Lord confirmed that there was to be more training. That was one answer, now what about the timing?
Sharon continued to prophesy,
"I saw a quick thing that the Lord was doing in the midst of you. The Lord says, 'Know this, I'm changing your home ... I am readjusting you, picking you up and I am transplanting you, just like someone whose pot is too narrow.' The Lord says, 'You're root-bound. I'm picking you up and putting you in a bigger place.' And the Spirit of God says, 'You're going to see that out of that place that I've centered you, I've located you, but I've also put you in a place where your children are going to be blessed."
By now the tears were filling my eyes. One of my greatest concerns in this transition was for my children, and here the Lord promised that He would take care of them. Hallelujah!
The prophetess finished with these words, "I'm going to cause you to be one that no longer puts yourself down for areas where you seem to have lack of training, and lack of investment within the midst of you.' For the Lord says, 'I took Saul out upon the backside of the desert and I trained him. Son, I've had you in places of on-the-job training ... No longer say that you are 'less than' because you did not follow the ways others would acknowledge that training ought to come.' The Spirit of God says 'Son, know this, I'm not holding you down, I'm holding you steady.'"
"And the Lord says, 'Son, you'll see that timing is the issue within your heart. But the Lord says, 'As the sons of Issachar knew not only the seasons, but also the timing, I am releasing understanding within the midst of you that no longer is the heart made sick because of hopelessness.' But the Lord says, 'Son, you might be one that has an understanding of My time.'"
After receiving this word I met with the pastor. As you can suspect from this prophecy, he wasn't surprised when I told him that I was leaving to attend Regent University. After a frenzy of painting and cleaning I put my house up for sale. It sold quickly -- and with a decent profit. A few months later I moved to Virginia Beach where I enrolled in the Divinity School.
In the midst of that first year I began sensing that the Lord wanted me to minister through the media -- a calling He had placed on my heart while I was still in high school. I learned that there was a special program in the College of Communication called Religious Journalism, where students spent half their studies in Bible training and the other half in the study of communication. I decided to schedule an appointment with my mentor and writing professor Bob Slosser. I told him that I felt like God was leading me to minister through my writing, and I asked him what he thought.
"Brother," he replied, "There are a lot of right-thinking pastors out there. And there are an awful lot of right-thinking missionaries and Bible teachers. But there aren't a lot of right-thinking writers and communicators. If this is what the Lord is speaking to you, then I encourage you to go after it with all you've got."
His godly counsel shot through me like an arrow (counsel: another of the seven keys). He didn't have to say 'thus saith the Lord' -- I knew he was speaking God's word directly to me.
Two years later I graduated from Regent University with an MA in Religious Journalism. I was hired in the Direct Marketing department at CBN as a staff writer. After another couple of years the Lord opened the doors for me to become Spiritual Life Producer and later Ministries Director for CBN.com -- a position that allows me to minister through the media, just as the Lord had revealed to me more than fifteen years earlier.
What an awesome God we serve! He has been faithful. I have grown to know that no matter how difficult the road ahead may seem, I can trust that God is good and His word is true. And He has given us the seven keys to His guidance to "lead us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3).
CBN.com Ministries Director (Had to share this great story)
I have been blessed by the numerous e-mail responses that I have received from this audience regarding hearing God's voice. Many of you have shared dramatic stories of the Lord's leading. Others have shared how they have had difficulty knowing whether they are hearing God's voice or not.
To encourage the people who read these columns I thought I would share a personal testimony of a time when God made His direction very clear to me in a time of transition in my life.
I want to emphasize the many channels through which God communicated to me during this major life change. I also want to point out that while I sensed the Lord's leading, I was very concerned that I move forward in His timing. I wanted to obey God, but I didn't want to rush out in front of Him, or wait too long to do what He was calling us to do.
I served for a time as an associate pastor in a local church in Pennsylvania. After more than five years on staff I began sensing that the Lord wanted me to leave this church to complete my ministry training. Relations were beginning to become strained between myself and the senior pastor. While we remained friends, as time went by I began to recognize that we had differing leadership styles and different visions for the church.
In more than 10 years of serving the Lord up to that time I had learned that you don't make major moves in your life because things are uncomfortable. Sometimes God places us in difficult situations because He wants to grow our character. Other times He puts us into a tough spot so that we will be there to pray for His will to be done. Over many months I had sought the Lord in prayer about my situation at the church. I came to the conclusion that in this case either I needed to leave the church, or the vision needed to change.
Transition was inevitable, but how it would come about was unclear to me.
And so I waited for the Lord to guide my steps. In the meantime I went about my duties at the church, working as unto the Lord. As my mother taught her seven children, "bloom where you're planted."
In this time, God did some dramatic miracles in that church that to this day cause me to be in awe of His power. In the course of a year we were given a full-price offer on the downtown church building with no parking that we had struggled to sell for years. We were also given a warehouse a block away. We later sold that warehouse and used the proceeds to help purchase a church building that had parking and wonderful facilities -- at a fantastic price. At the same time we were given -- yes, given -- 21 acres of prime land in one of the most desirable parts of town. This donation was without strings -- it was truly miraculous.
And yet in the midst of all this I did not have peace -- one of the seven keys to God's guidance.
I began to consider my options. I had ministered in this city for more than ten years. It would not have been difficult to go down the street and start another church. I was also a part of a national network of churches, and some of these congregations had expressed interest in me coming to work with them. But the more I prayed, the more I believed that God wanted me to go on for more education.
A friend had recently bought me a book called Manners and Customs of Bible Times. As I sat on my front porch reading it I was struck by the lives of Moses and Paul. Both men were highly educated, and both made a significant impact on their world for the Gospel. I decided to look at various seminaries across the country. As I investigated, my heart kept coming back to Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
After much prayer and discussion, I decided to schedule an appointment for an interview. I was beginning to feel peaceful about this direction, but there were still many stressful hurdles to cross -- paramount in my thoughts was God's timing in the transition. I had learned that in the mouth of two or three witnesses all things should be established (another of the seven keys). So I asked the Lord for confirmation.
I prayed that God would make His will clear to me.
The following week clarity began to come. I received a telephone call out of the blue from a minister friend in Florida, a respected prophet who I had grown to love and trust. "Craig," he said. "I don't know what's going on there, but I felt like I needed to call."
"I've been praying for you," he continued, "and I feel like the Lord is saying that you are coming in to a time of transition. I believe you need to get ready because God is about to make some major changes in your life."
Wow! Talk about confirmation. I filled him in on what I was feeling and he said that it witnessed with his spirit. We hung up the telephone and I rejoiced, wondering what the timing would be for this transition.
Two days later another minister friend called from New York. "Craig, I don't know what's going on there, but perhaps the Lord is leading you into a time of transition."
Another two days passed and my former pastor called from Indiana. Guess what he said…
"Craig, I don't know what's going on there, but I feel like the Lord is saying you need to get ready because you're entering a time of transition."
I had heard from the Lord as to His will, and I knew that I was to go forward with the plan. Now I just needed to discover His timing.
At the time I was a licensed minister with Christian International Network of Churches (CINC) under Bishop Bill Hamon. One of the requirements for being in the network was that I attend two CINC conferences per year. I planned to go to an upcoming conference in Columbus, Ohio, and then leave from there for vacation and my interview at Regent. I knew that there would be time made available for prophetic ministry by seasoned prophets, and so I prayed that the Lord would give me clarity of vision and His timing in this transition.
With the busyness of the conference I was not able to make it to a prophetic session until the final day. It just so happened that my pastor and his wife were also there at that time. Beside them there were only a handful of others, and a prophetess I didn't know named Sharon Stone.
After ministering to several people, Sharon called me up and laid her hands upon me. The words that came out of her mouth were both amazing and humbling.
"The Lord says, 'I'm allowing you to stand in places of training. I'm allowing you to stand in places of co-laborship, and I'm allowing you to be one who is trained in diversity. And you're getting to do all things that I might build an ability to know things from the inside out.' For the Lord says, 'Know this, there will be a day that I will plant you -- you're grooming for the anointing of the house now...'"
I began to smile as the Lord confirmed that there was to be more training. That was one answer, now what about the timing?
Sharon continued to prophesy,
"I saw a quick thing that the Lord was doing in the midst of you. The Lord says, 'Know this, I'm changing your home ... I am readjusting you, picking you up and I am transplanting you, just like someone whose pot is too narrow.' The Lord says, 'You're root-bound. I'm picking you up and putting you in a bigger place.' And the Spirit of God says, 'You're going to see that out of that place that I've centered you, I've located you, but I've also put you in a place where your children are going to be blessed."
By now the tears were filling my eyes. One of my greatest concerns in this transition was for my children, and here the Lord promised that He would take care of them. Hallelujah!
The prophetess finished with these words, "I'm going to cause you to be one that no longer puts yourself down for areas where you seem to have lack of training, and lack of investment within the midst of you.' For the Lord says, 'I took Saul out upon the backside of the desert and I trained him. Son, I've had you in places of on-the-job training ... No longer say that you are 'less than' because you did not follow the ways others would acknowledge that training ought to come.' The Spirit of God says 'Son, know this, I'm not holding you down, I'm holding you steady.'"
"And the Lord says, 'Son, you'll see that timing is the issue within your heart. But the Lord says, 'As the sons of Issachar knew not only the seasons, but also the timing, I am releasing understanding within the midst of you that no longer is the heart made sick because of hopelessness.' But the Lord says, 'Son, you might be one that has an understanding of My time.'"
After receiving this word I met with the pastor. As you can suspect from this prophecy, he wasn't surprised when I told him that I was leaving to attend Regent University. After a frenzy of painting and cleaning I put my house up for sale. It sold quickly -- and with a decent profit. A few months later I moved to Virginia Beach where I enrolled in the Divinity School.
In the midst of that first year I began sensing that the Lord wanted me to minister through the media -- a calling He had placed on my heart while I was still in high school. I learned that there was a special program in the College of Communication called Religious Journalism, where students spent half their studies in Bible training and the other half in the study of communication. I decided to schedule an appointment with my mentor and writing professor Bob Slosser. I told him that I felt like God was leading me to minister through my writing, and I asked him what he thought.
"Brother," he replied, "There are a lot of right-thinking pastors out there. And there are an awful lot of right-thinking missionaries and Bible teachers. But there aren't a lot of right-thinking writers and communicators. If this is what the Lord is speaking to you, then I encourage you to go after it with all you've got."
His godly counsel shot through me like an arrow (counsel: another of the seven keys). He didn't have to say 'thus saith the Lord' -- I knew he was speaking God's word directly to me.
Two years later I graduated from Regent University with an MA in Religious Journalism. I was hired in the Direct Marketing department at CBN as a staff writer. After another couple of years the Lord opened the doors for me to become Spiritual Life Producer and later Ministries Director for CBN.com -- a position that allows me to minister through the media, just as the Lord had revealed to me more than fifteen years earlier.
What an awesome God we serve! He has been faithful. I have grown to know that no matter how difficult the road ahead may seem, I can trust that God is good and His word is true. And He has given us the seven keys to His guidance to "lead us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3).
Thursday, January 20, 2011
How to Do Quiet Time – Time Alone with God
Quiet time is one of the most essential aspects of your Christian life. Many Christians take some time reading the bible everyday. While it is very useful, just reading the bible will not lead you to much fuller Christian walk with Christ. You need to spend time in his words, study and learn from it everyday. Without daily regular quiet time, our spiritual life can be seriously malnourished just as our body can be Mal-nutritioned without proper food and water! I often wonder when people talk about forgetting to do their quiet time due to busy schedule; I have never found anybody who forgot to eat for a day due to work!
Here I am presenting simple steps for how to do your daily quiet time.
Time: Quiet time should be about 10-15 minutes long. You can choose time according to you schedule. For some, morning works better, for others, night may work well. While, I recommend the morning time as you are much calmer and fresh, any time can work fine. It is also important to set fixed time everyday, as it brings discipline and consistency.
What do you need?
Your bible, note and pen. You can occasionally refer to bible commentary or dictionary for difficult passages of bible (Free bible study resources). But I would recommend studying bible as it is and ask God for his guidance to understand the passage. It is a very good practice to take notes in your quiet time. You will be amazed when you will see your quiet time notes years later!
How To do Quiet Time?
■Start with prayer:
■Spend just few minutes in worship and thanksgiving.
■Spend some time in asking God for forgiveness for our sins.
■Ask for his guidance in today’s quiet time
■Passage for Quiet time: It is good to select any book of bible and read it continuously. It will help you to get the whole picture and can enjoy your quiet time more. Select about 8-10 verses, don’t select whole chapter, as you may not be able to cover it all. Select small paragraph according to passage.
■Read the paragraph for 2-3 times. This bible study method is also called ASPECT method. From the paragraph, ask following questions.
■A – About God – What can you learn about God through this passage?
■S – Sin – Does it talk about any sin?
■P – Promise – Is there any promise in the word?
■E – Example – Is there any example, I can follow?
■C –Command – Which command I need to obey?
■T – Teaching – What can I learn from this passage?
■Concluding Prayer:
■Thank God for his guidance in quiet time
■Worship God for his characteristic
■Pray for deliverance from any sin
■Ask for strength for the day.
■Here is a simple example of Quiet time using ASPECT method
Here I am presenting simple steps for how to do your daily quiet time.
Time: Quiet time should be about 10-15 minutes long. You can choose time according to you schedule. For some, morning works better, for others, night may work well. While, I recommend the morning time as you are much calmer and fresh, any time can work fine. It is also important to set fixed time everyday, as it brings discipline and consistency.
What do you need?
Your bible, note and pen. You can occasionally refer to bible commentary or dictionary for difficult passages of bible (Free bible study resources). But I would recommend studying bible as it is and ask God for his guidance to understand the passage. It is a very good practice to take notes in your quiet time. You will be amazed when you will see your quiet time notes years later!
How To do Quiet Time?
■Start with prayer:
■Spend just few minutes in worship and thanksgiving.
■Spend some time in asking God for forgiveness for our sins.
■Ask for his guidance in today’s quiet time
■Passage for Quiet time: It is good to select any book of bible and read it continuously. It will help you to get the whole picture and can enjoy your quiet time more. Select about 8-10 verses, don’t select whole chapter, as you may not be able to cover it all. Select small paragraph according to passage.
■Read the paragraph for 2-3 times. This bible study method is also called ASPECT method. From the paragraph, ask following questions.
■A – About God – What can you learn about God through this passage?
■S – Sin – Does it talk about any sin?
■P – Promise – Is there any promise in the word?
■E – Example – Is there any example, I can follow?
■C –Command – Which command I need to obey?
■T – Teaching – What can I learn from this passage?
■Concluding Prayer:
■Thank God for his guidance in quiet time
■Worship God for his characteristic
■Pray for deliverance from any sin
■Ask for strength for the day.
■Here is a simple example of Quiet time using ASPECT method
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