Be A Light, Be A Help

Good Morning!! It's my belief that; sharing our own personal experiences and insight may help our friend understand how to deal with a life-altering problem. We need to keep the conversation positive, talking about our mistakes,...but focusing more on how God helped us, and the things you learned through the process. Don't allow self-disclosure to shift the focus of the conversation, by talking too much about ones self, and away from the person you're wanting to help. It is also important that while sharing with others, that we not be too judgmental,...talking down to them, making them feel as though we're treating them like a child,...or an inferior person.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.—Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

Our self-disclosure should have a clear goal, of providing insight or a perspective, that our friend does not appear to have, that can and will move them toward healing. Try to stay at a level of sharing and insight, relevant to the person's need. Freedom from a life-altering problem is a process. Pray that God will help us disclose all that will assist our friends in that process,...but not so much as to produce confusion. And pray that God will use what we say to help set our family, friends and loved ones free. 

Appropriate self-disclosure, can be a useful tool in a helping relationship.

Holy Spirit, help us be generous with our hurts, heart aches, and experiences,...sharing with the people in our lives, those things that will hasten deliverance and healing. I pray that our self-disclosure will be an encouragement to our friends,...to open up to God. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"If we're not Spirit-controlled, it unlikely that we'll ever be what God intended."  

Renew

Good Morning!! Here's a thought, as we begin a short work week; Re-state, Re-commit and Re-assure,....In all these cases " Re" means to do it again. I use to think that if something had been done, there was no need to do it again,...but I think we all know better now. Even though I've dedicated my life to Jesus, and am doing what amounts to evangelical work, my heart, my prayers, and my witness for Christ are in constant need of checking and cleansing. We are in nearly constant danger of following the desires of our hearts, rather than the Will of God.


Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him.—Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NRSV)

The Holy Spirit urges us to rededicate our lives to the Lord. Our hearts can become so easily weighed down with evil thoughts, temptations, and other burdens that block the flow of God's power through us. Sustaining spiritual growth and effective witness requires that we continually attend to the condition of our heart.

Day by day, the Holy Spirit gives us power to live for God,...if we remember to seek it.

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We should be offering ourselves to God every day in order to keep the way clear to receive His Holy Spirit.

 

"If we're not Spirit-controlled, it unlikely that we'll ever be what God intended."

 

The 10th Commandment

Good Morning!! The tenth commandment focuses on a person's unseen evil motives and desires. This one last commandment, can lead us to break the other nine. To covet is to wish for enviously, to long for or crave something,...especially something that belongs to another person. This includes spouse, real estate, car, position, success, prosperity and on, and on. A covetous person always wants more. It is not wrong to desire things that will better our lives, but these desires can become a trap when they replace our focus on God.

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."—Exodus 20:16 (NIV)

We live in an age of instant gratification. Advertising touts stuff and more stuff. Everything from cars to designer clothes to the latest electronic gadgets. But all the stuff in the world cannot bring us peace or lasting joy. Only a relationship with God can do that,...it is important to keep our perspective. Don't think that more money and stuff and power will produce happiness. Instead, seek above all else a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father.

 What God has for us, is for us. 

Father God, help us to keep our perspective,...and not to covet anything or anyone. Forgive us for the times we've focused so much on our desire to advance our career,...or to obtain some thing,...or just to have our own way so much that it distracted us from focusing on Your Will. Amen.

"Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct, and ethical decisions, is essential for every believers life." 

The 9th Commandment

Good Morning!! The ninth commandment tells us; that we are not to speak dishonestly about our neighbor. Who is our neighbor?...The whole world,...and more so today, than ever before! This commandment is broken not only when we tell an outright lie, but also when we use deception of any kind. We've probably all been guilty of participating in gossip, either by carrying tales ourselves or by listening to others gossip and remaining silent, failing to stand up for the accused.

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."—Exodus 20:16 (NIV)

With Christians, gossip is often masked with seemingly caring language: I never would have expected this, of that person,...or I don't mean to put this person down, but did you know,...or Isn't it sad that they are losing their house, because of gambling,...or I wouldn't tell you this, but you need to know how to pray them. If for some reason we do need to share something negative about another person, we first need to be absolutely certain that we have our facts straight. Then we need to examine the real motives for wanting to tell someone about it,...and we should tell only those who really do need to know. Sometimes even the truth, can be destructive,...think before you speak. Strive to always speak the truth,...in love.

The Bible says that "the tongue has the power of life and death" (Proverbs 18:21).
Are we using ours for life? 

Holy Spirit of God, forgive us for the times we've participated in gossip, and for any times that our careless words have hurt others. Help us to always speak the truth,...but out of love. Amen.

"Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct, and ethical decisions, is essential for every believers life." 

The 8th Commandment

Good Morning!! The eighth commandment focuses on the right of ownership. While most of us would never go out and rob a bank, there are other forms of stealing: tax evasion, failure to pay debts, fraud, abusing copyright laws, charging excessive interest, being less than honest on an insurance claim. In short, stealing is; any act of taking something that doesn't belong to us,...and we all know that. Yet we do, and try to justify these acts with thoughts like; That insurance company has plenty of money,...and they overcharge me on my premiums, or These taxes are unfair,...I  shouldn't have to pay them, or If I don't someone else will, or best of all,...everyone does it. But God says: "You shall not steal." 

"You shall not steal."—Exodus 20:15 (NIV)

Ultimately,...everything belongs to God. We are stewards of what he has entrusted to us. To abuse a person's right of ownership, whether they are rich or poor, is wrong. The rich should not rob their employees, and the poor should not rob the rich,...even when they feel entitled or justified. The Christian example should be that of a giver, not a taker. If you've been drawn into the all-too-common attitudes of selfishness and compromise, that invade our world today, it's time to turn your back on those attitudes and focus on doing things God's way.
  

God places a high value on private property.

What's yours is yours,...until you willfully give it away.

Holy Spirit of God, help us not to rationalize our way to dishonest behavior. In all things, help us to be givers, not takers. Amen.

"Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct, and ethical decisions, is essential for every believers life."  

The 7th Commandment

Good Morning!! This is the seventh commandment, and it serves to protect and purify the sexual urge, and the marriage relationship. When followed, the commandment protects against the degradation of human relationships that accompanies adultery. As with all the Ten Commandments, God gave us this one, out of love for us. He wants to protect individuals and families from the hurt that adultery is sure to bring. God knows that breaking this commandment will rob people of peace, love and affection,...while giving them misery and sorrow.

 "You shall not commit adultery."—Exodus 20:14 (NIV)

 We are surrounded by sexually impure thoughts and behavior,...movies, television programs and even advertisements. Unless we stay focused on God, and the pureness and beauty of the marriage relationship, it can be so easy to stray. Getting emotionally involved with someone or indulging in a little fantasizing now and then might seem innocent enough at first, but adultery is usually committed in stages like these before the actual act occurs.

Be on guard.

 Don't allow yourself to get into compromising situations. And above all, focus on God and trust Him to help you be all that he wants you to be.

Father, help us to be, and remain faithful,...mentally, emotionally and physically. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct, and ethical decisions, is essential for every believers life."

The 6th Commandment

Good Morning!! The sixth commandment focuses on the sanctity of human life. It is designed to protect us, in our relationship with others. Many in our world today have less and less regard for God,..or the life He has given us all. Along with that decline comes a lessening of the value of life. This decline is apparent in the growing number of mass shootings, and other acts of murder. Every life is important to God,...even the poor, the elderly, the sick,...and the unborn. Everyone. And He calls us to value and protect every life.

"You shall not murder."—Exodus 20:13 (NIV)

You might say; "I really don't have to be concerned about this commandment,...I'd never kill anyone." But it goes beyond the actual crime of murder. It includes the condition of our heart,...that lack of love.  Jesus said, "You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder." (Matthew 5:21, 22) Hidden emotions in the form of anger, malice, rage revenge, and yes, indifference, are all in violation of the sixth commandment. If you are holding on to anger or bitterness toward someone,...ask God to help you let go. If you are witness to someone's unfair or mistreatment,...ask God for the courage to speak up and out.

We must not let anger build and fester. Just as Jesus, in his love, paid the price on the cross for our sins, he calls us to show the same kind of love and forgiveness to others.

Father in Heaven, forgive us, for any unforgiveness or anger in our hearts. Forgive us, for turning a blind eye to injustice, and the pain of others. Help us to let go, and to demonstrate Your love, compassion and courage to all people, in all situations. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct, and ethical decisions, is essential for every believers life."