Joyce Meyer
The Spirit of God lives inside you. He wants to guide you and provide for you each and every day. Discover how, with Him as your source, you never need to say, “There’s no way!”
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Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Never Say...No Way! - Part I
Joyce Meyer
The Spirit of God lives inside you. He wants to guide you and provide for you each and every day. Discover how, with Him as your source, you never need to say, “There’s no way!”
Monday, March 19, 2007
Laugh a Little...
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall
never cease to be amused.
One day, Joe, Bob and Dave were hiking in a wilderness area when they came upon a large, raging, violent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do so. Joe prayed to God, saying, "Please God, give me the strength to cross this river."
Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was able to swim across the river in about two hours, although he almost drowned a couple of times.
Seeing this, Dave prayed to God, saying, "Please God, give me the strength and the tools to cross this river."
Poof! God gave him a rowboat and he was able to row across the river in about an hour, after almost capsizing the boat a couple of times.
Bob had seen how this worked out for the other two, so he also prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength and the tools, and the intelligence, to cross this river."
Poof! God turned him into a woman. She looked at the map, hiked upstream a couple of hundred yards, and then walked across the bridge.
Think on These...
FreshOutlook Magazine
With each passing day, I realize more and more the impact our attitude has on our life.
Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ...a church ...a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past; we cannot control how other people will act or react. The only thing we can do is make a choice ~ choose life or death ~ and that is often determined by the attitude we choose to have. I believe that life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it. I also believe that it is often our attitude that gives God the door in to work on our behalf or our attitude that keeps that same door closed. Today, choose your attitude carefully – it will determine your outcome.
Worry, or Worship?
Joel Osteen
Today's Scripture
"We have no power against this large army that is attacking us. We don't know what to do, so we look to you for help." (2 Chronicles 20:12)
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
The enemy would love to get you worrying instead of worshiping God. When the devil brings you thoughts of worry, anxiety and fear, let them be a reminder for you to thank God that His answer is on the way. Say, "Devil, thank you for reminding me," and then say, "Father, I thank You that You are at work on my behalf." That's what King Jehoshaphat did. The people of Judah were surrounded by three major armies. It didn't look like they had a chance. This godly king was probably bombarded with thoughts of fear and anxiety. But he gathered the people together, lifted his eyes toward heaven, and prayed the simple prayer in today's verse. Jehoshaphat's prayer was answered. God told the people to march right in to the enemy's camp, singing and shouting praises on their way. Notice, they weren't worrying—they were worshiping—and God delivered them. Do you need a victory in your life? Then learn to worship instead of worry!
A Prayer for Today
God, You are truly the great God who is the Provider of everything we need, and much more. I want to be a worshiper instead of a worrier, so today I claim Your promise of deliverance from thoughts of fear or anxiety. Thank You for giving me the victory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Habits That Will Change Your Life - Part III
Joyce Meyer
Do you desire more joy, peace and a greater sense of accomplishment? These inspiring teachings include some of the building blocks you will need to begin a whole new way of life.
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Stand Against the Devil's Strategies!
Kenneth Copeland
"Leave no room or foothold for the devil give no opportunity to him." (Ephesians 4:27, Amp)
If you give the devil place, he will take it. You have to stay alert and keep your shield of faith high because if you don't, he'll turn around and steal back from you the ground you just took.
There have been people who have received their healing and have fallen back into their old thinking patterns of sickness. They let their faith down and gave the devil an opening. When he came along with an old symptom, they weren't ready for him. They fell victim to his counterattack.
You can stand successfully against the devil's strategies! But before you do, you're going to have to make three quality decisions.
First, you must make the Word of God the final authority in your life. Line up your thinking with whatever the Word says.
Next, you must decide to live your life by faith in what God has said. The Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
Finally, you must decide to live by the love of God because faith works by love. Without love, your faith won't function. Without the Word, you can't have faith. So don't try to make one of these decisions without the other two. You need to make all three of them. This lifestyle of the Word, faith and love keeps you in a place of resistance to the devil!
I suggest you get alone with God and pray:
In the Name of Jesus, I commit myself from this day forward to live by the Word of God, to live by my faith, and to live by the love of God.
Decide today to give the devil no place!
Scripture Study: John 15:7-12
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Nothing to Be Afraid Of
Gloria Copeland
"He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Self-consciousness is a major problem in the Body of Christ today. It keeps us from doing the things God tells us to do. Instead of simply obeying Him, it makes us start to wonder, "Now what will people think of me if I do that? What if I command that person to get out of the wheelchair and he doesn't get up? What if I start believing for prosperity and go broke? What about that, God? I won't look too good, will I?"
If you've ever been through that, let me tell you something: It doesn't matter how you look! It's obeying God that counts. When it comes to obeying God, your own reputation doesn't count; and the sooner you forget it, the better off you'll be.
But you know what's ironic? Once you do that, your reputation gets better. It's a funny thing. When you lose that desire to protect your image, your image will improve. Why? Because then when people look at you, instead of seeing that puny little image you have of yourself, they'll see the image of the Lord Jesus coming through.
So put aside that old self-consciousness and develop God-consciousness instead. Stop being dominated by the fear of man and start being motivated by faith in what Jesus can do.
After all, He has promised He will never leave you or forsake you. Grab hold of that. Believe it. Act on it. Once you do, you'll realize there's really nothing to be afraid of anymore!
Scripture Study: Romans 8:29-39
Friday, March 16, 2007
Raising Politically Incorrect Christians - Part 2
JoJo Tabares
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." -1 Peter 3:15
As we discussed in part one of this series, our Christian children are going to face opposition to their faith, both in college and in their career. How should our Christian teens respond when their faith is questioned, when their beliefs are mocked, when their rights are trampled upon? Sometimes it is easier to look at a question in reverse, so let's start with how Christians should not respond. Here are a few items that occurred in the past year that will help illustrate.
Rosie O'Donnell told The View audience, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam." This comment was illogical and inflammatory, and I am certain Miss O'Donnell does not really believe that a large, organized group of Christians exists who are blowing up innocent people. Miss O'Donnell lives a lifestyle in opposition to some of the Judeo-Christian values of the Bible, and certain laws she would be in favor of would not pass if Christians had their way. So it seems what she really meant to say was that Activist Christians would be a threat to the laws she would like to see passed. A very different comment than the one she made, and it doesn't pack the same punch.
Many Christians were highly insulted and either asked for or demanded an immediate apology. Some called for her resignation. I asked a different question that I would like you to consider: What would bring Miss O'Donnell to say something like this that was obviously not true?
I believe what fuels the fire for accusations such as hers are those who call themselves Christians but who do not behave in a very Christ-like manner. Each time someone calling himself a Christian speaks out in anger, it only serves to inflame. Unfortunately, the mainstream news media is only too willing to run their stories because they make Christians look like intolerant wackos.
This brings us to another story. A Christian guest on the Hannity and Colmes show stirred up some controversy after the Amish school shooting last fall when she expressed the opinion that the five little Amish girls killed at that school had so angered the Lord with their sins that He had them murdered. Apparently, no other sinners walking the earth that day deserved God's wrath. Two other things kept running through my mind as she spoke. 1) If she really believed that the Amish and our country are on the wrong path, wouldn't it have been more persuasive and Christ-like to share those opinions in love and with respect? 2) As it stands now, the only thing she succeeded in communicating is that she is a Radical Christian Wacko. You know, like the kind Miss O'Donnell warned you about!
"A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle." –Proverbs 18:19
Another incident of a Christian responding inappropriately occurred not too long ago when a secular band released a new CD that was explicitly anti-Christian in its content. It shouldn't surprise us when these types of groups use Satanic hype in order to rally fans and sell CDs. It has been going on for decades in the music industry. These are usually lost souls, ignorant of the truth. They are caught up in things that, for the most part, they do not fully understand. As Christ said, "They know not what they do."
I came across a website on which people were discussing the new CD. Most of the comments were, as you might expect, primarily the rantings of young teens cheering the band on using foul language and very little intellect. Most entries made fun of Christians or denounced any responsibility in life. Some comments were from kids who just did not want to answer to anyone. Life was one big funfest to them and Christians were raining on their parade! However, one comment in particular caught my eye. It was posted by a woman claiming to be a Christian. I was deeply disappointed and saddened to find that her comment was harsh and hateful as she told the band to, "burn in hell." Here was a Christian's chance to speak up and defend the faith or plant a seed for Christ, but she failed to do either. As we might expect, the responses to her comment were even angrier and more focused than the original comments. When you respond in anger, it only turns the level of anger up a notch. What it almost never does is raise the level of persuasion!
Does the Lord really want the members of this band to burn in hell? No, He wants them to come to Him! But would you come to someone whose followers told you to "burn in hell"?
"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." -Colossians 4:6
These are extreme examples and situations in which most Christians may never find themselves. However, there are many other ways to respond that are also less than Christ-like. Have you ever replied to an e-mail or an online comment out of anger or disrespect? Has your son or daughter ever been upset by something someone said and spoken out in a harsh tone? Each and everything we say and do communicates something to those around us. If we call ourselves Christians, we must be careful to speak in love and with grace and respect. Anger only begets anger. Comments that bring anger may elicit the thought, "If that's a Christian, I sure don't want to be one!"
The fact that we are right about something doesn't give us the right to hit someone over the head with it. It also doesn't make it an effective way to persuade someone of something. If we respond in anger or with disrespect, we are only doing what I call screaming in a deaf man's ear Screaming does not help a deaf man understand you better. It only serves to make him certain that he does not want to!
As Christians, we should also not respond to others with an attitude of judgment, condemnation, scorn or arrogance. These also cause others to turn a deaf ear. Nobody wants to be told he is an awful person or that he is wrong. No one enjoys having his beliefs attacked. Most people who are treated this way will not be receptive. What might happen is that they will be far less inclined to listen to anything else about Jesus. This does not mean that we have to be "tolerant" of everything that people do. However, we would be wise to remember the old saying, "Hate the sin, love the sinner." We can speak the truth, but we should do it with a spirit of love and grace.
Instead of getting angry and defensive when someone makes a rude comment, we should train our children to "bless those who curse us." Instead of firing off a rude or mean-spirited response, they should share, in a spirit of love, what they know about Jesus. We need to teach our children to be Christ-like in their reply even when they are attacked or mocked for their beliefs.
The Bible tells us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. While silence is not an answer, the Lord asks us to love our neighbor and turn the other cheek. He tells us to respond with gentleness and respect. The reason He tells us to respond in this manner is that God knows the hearts of men He knows that when we respond with anger, condemnation, disrespect, judgment, sarcasm, hurt or arrogance, we will not be effective witnesses for Him.
"He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend." –Proverbs 22:11
The Lord doesn't want any of His children to perish, but wants all to come to Him and be saved. That is the message we need to share with non-Christians. When the Lord deems it time, He will come to judge. But right now there is still time to share God's love, grace and mercy with the lost. Condemnation will not turn a soul's ear toward Christ; it will only lead it further away. Those who continue to speak up for their beliefs by telling others to "burn in hell" or by becoming angry or judgmental are actually enabling Satan to lead others away from the saving grace of Christ Jesus.
So before your daughter rattles off a response to Aunt Jenny, before your son types that e-mail response, teach them to take a look at the tone of their communication. Is it respectful? Does it share God's love? Is it something that is going to make the other person listen with an open heart or is it merely designed to make your child feel better after his or her beliefs have been attacked?
By sharing our beliefs in a spirit of love, we can have a far more positive impact on those around us than if we react with hostility, anger or scorn. Let's work now to raise up a generation that will speak out boldly for the cause of Christ, sharing the light of His love in the darkness of the world.
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication. Her Christian and humorous approach to communication skills has made her a sought after speaker. She is the author of the Say What You Mean communication curriculum, and has had articles published in various homeschool magazines and websites. JoJo and her husband live in Southern California where she homeschools their two children. For more information, please visit www.ArtofEloquence.com
Habits That Will Change Your Life - Part III
Joyce Meyer
Do you desire more joy, peace and a greater sense of accomplishment? These inspiring teachings include some of the building blocks you will need to begin a whole new way of life.
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Train Your Senses
Kenneth Copeland
"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 5:13-14)
You're spiritually "grown up" or mature when, through practice, you have trained your senses to discern between good and evil. You've practiced walking in the Spirit and renewing your mind by the Word of God until even your flesh habitually goes God's way instead of the world's way.
Stop and think for a moment. Aren't there some things your old flesh used to pressure you to do before you made Jesus Lord of your life that you don't even want to do anymore?
There are for me. For example, I used to smoke tobacco, and I felt sorry for all those Christians who couldn't. But you know what? Now that I'm a believer, I have no desire for tobacco anymore. It is not even part of my thoughts much less my lifestyle.
That's the kind of thing that happens as you feed and renew your mind on the Word of God. It doesn't necessarily happen quickly or easily. Your flesh may fight and buck for a while because it's been trained to go the way of the world so long. But if you stick with the Word and keep growing, your flesh can develop the habit of righteousness just like it developed the habit of unrighteousness.
Don't starve your spirit by trying to get by on just a little spiritual milk now and then. Develop the habit of feeding on the solid food of the Word every day and find out what real maturity is all about.
Scripture Study: Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-3
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Habits That Will Change Your Life - Part II
Joyce Meyer
Do you desire more joy, peace and a greater sense of accomplishment? These inspiring teachings include some of the building blocks you will need to begin a whole new way of life.
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Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Habits That Will Change Your Life - Part I
Joyce Meyer
Do you desire more joy, peace and a greater sense of accomplishment? These inspiring teachings include some of the building blocks you will need to begin a whole new way of life.
Watch the Broadcast
Podcast
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Starting Your Day Off Right
Joel Osteen
How you begin your day usually determines the kind of day you experience. If you begin your day in a hurry, rushing from one task to another or stressed out, often you will become uptight and stay on the edge the rest of the day.
In the Bible, David says, "Early in the morning, my song will rise to You."
If you're going to be your best and live life to the full, then God needs to receive the first part of your day. Before the stress and busyness comes, before you read the newspaper and before you think about all you have to do, take time to thank God for His goodness. Read the Scriptures, meditate on His promises and speak words of victory over your life. When you do this, you're giving God your first fruits and he'll walk with you the rest of the day!
How you begin your day usually determines the kind of day you experience. If you begin your day in a hurry, rushing from one task to another or stressed out, often you will become uptight and stay on the edge the rest of the day.
In the Bible, David says, "Early in the morning, my song will rise to You."
If you're going to be your best and live life to the full, then God needs to receive the first part of your day. Before the stress and busyness comes, before you read the newspaper and before you think about all you have to do, take time to thank God for His goodness. Read the Scriptures, meditate on His promises and speak words of victory over your life. When you do this, you're giving God your first fruits and he'll walk with you the rest of the day!
Living by Faith-- It's a Lifestyle
Gloria Copeland
"Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3)
Times of hardness are inevitable. You need to know that. It's true that we've been redeemed from the curse, and there's nothing Satan can do to reverse that, but he is going to challenge you on it.
So don't be surprised when things get tough. Times will come when you have to stand strictly by faith, when you'll have to speak and act as though what God says is true even when you can't feel it or see it happening around you. There will be times when everything looks terrible. That's when you must endure hardness as a good soldier.
So many people hear the word of faith about healing or prosperity and they think, "Hey! I'm going to try that." Then when the hard times come, they give up and cave in.
Let me warn you, living by faith is not something you try. It's a lifestyle. You do it when it's hard. You do it when it's easy. You do it all the time because you're not doing it just to get in on the benefits. You're doing it because you know that faith pleases God (Heb. 11:6).
Things may get a little rough at times, but let me assure you, you'll always come out on top if you endure hardness as a good soldier. If you refuse to faint and fall away, you will have the victory. The only defeated Christian is the one who quits!
Scripture Study: Numbers 14:1-24
"Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3)
Times of hardness are inevitable. You need to know that. It's true that we've been redeemed from the curse, and there's nothing Satan can do to reverse that, but he is going to challenge you on it.
So don't be surprised when things get tough. Times will come when you have to stand strictly by faith, when you'll have to speak and act as though what God says is true even when you can't feel it or see it happening around you. There will be times when everything looks terrible. That's when you must endure hardness as a good soldier.
So many people hear the word of faith about healing or prosperity and they think, "Hey! I'm going to try that." Then when the hard times come, they give up and cave in.
Let me warn you, living by faith is not something you try. It's a lifestyle. You do it when it's hard. You do it when it's easy. You do it all the time because you're not doing it just to get in on the benefits. You're doing it because you know that faith pleases God (Heb. 11:6).
Things may get a little rough at times, but let me assure you, you'll always come out on top if you endure hardness as a good soldier. If you refuse to faint and fall away, you will have the victory. The only defeated Christian is the one who quits!
Scripture Study: Numbers 14:1-24
Monday, March 12, 2007
God Is Gearing You Up for a Miracle
Today’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 13:1–20
Key Verse: Numbers 13:18
[Moses said,] “See what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many.”
Just as God led the Israelites to the land of promise and told them to “see what it is like,” so He will tell you to go to the place He has promised you. He wants you to open your eyes and assess what is going on. Is the land strong, weak, or overwhelming?
God shows you how you are outnumbered and overwhelmed so He can get you geared up for a miracle. He wants you to look at the promise so He can tell you, “I have something for you, but I want to show you what lies in front of it: I have your enemies guarding your blessing.”
Are you bold enough to press in? God is setting you up so that no one can get the credit but Him. There was a day when you would not face trouble, but after coming through so much, you now look at trouble and say, “Trouble, you cannot stop me.”
God says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isa. 54:17 NKJV). That may mean that He will let you see your enemy form the weapon, but it just will not be successful. That is what happened in the lives of Queen Esther and Mordecai—they watched Haman form a gallows for Mordecai and a death decree for Esther and the Jewish people. Yet those weapons went unused. When God shows you the weapon, just pray:
Today's Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, that this weapon is not going to prosper. Thank You for revealing the enemy’s plots and plans and for removing their power to hurt me. You are gearing me up for a miracle, for my life is not my own; I have been bought with a price. I bless You, Lord of heaven and earth.
Key Verse: Numbers 13:18
[Moses said,] “See what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many.”
Just as God led the Israelites to the land of promise and told them to “see what it is like,” so He will tell you to go to the place He has promised you. He wants you to open your eyes and assess what is going on. Is the land strong, weak, or overwhelming?
God shows you how you are outnumbered and overwhelmed so He can get you geared up for a miracle. He wants you to look at the promise so He can tell you, “I have something for you, but I want to show you what lies in front of it: I have your enemies guarding your blessing.”
Are you bold enough to press in? God is setting you up so that no one can get the credit but Him. There was a day when you would not face trouble, but after coming through so much, you now look at trouble and say, “Trouble, you cannot stop me.”
God says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isa. 54:17 NKJV). That may mean that He will let you see your enemy form the weapon, but it just will not be successful. That is what happened in the lives of Queen Esther and Mordecai—they watched Haman form a gallows for Mordecai and a death decree for Esther and the Jewish people. Yet those weapons went unused. When God shows you the weapon, just pray:
Today's Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, that this weapon is not going to prosper. Thank You for revealing the enemy’s plots and plans and for removing their power to hurt me. You are gearing me up for a miracle, for my life is not my own; I have been bought with a price. I bless You, Lord of heaven and earth.
Watch Your Language
Kenneth Copeland
"In a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent."
(Proverbs 10:19, Amp)
We believers need to start watching our language! We need to quit throwing words around like they weren't important and start using them like our lives depended on it--because, according to the Word of God, they do! (Prov. 18:21).
Too many of us have what Proverbs 19:1 calls a perverted mouth. Having a perverted mouth means more than lying and using profanity. It means having a disobedient mouth. It means saying things that are out of line with the Word of God.
All of us have done that at one time or another. We'll say, for instance, that we're believing God for our healing and then we'll turn right around to someone and make a statement like, "This pain is about to kill me!"
That's perverted! It's backwards from what God's Word says.
"Oh well, Brother Copeland, I know I said that, but it's not really what I meant."
Listen, the world of the spirit doesn't operate on what you mean. It operates on what you say. Mark 11:23 tells us that "whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Take note. That verse didn't say you shall have whatsoever you mean. It says you'll have what you say. It's what you say that counts.
Now, I'm not suggesting you should be tied up in knots all the time worrying about what your next phrase might be. Just use the wisdom God has given you. Train your mouth to be obedient to His Word. Then, when you need it most, you'll find that Word dwelling richly in you.
Scripture Study: Proverbs 10:11-21
"In a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent."
(Proverbs 10:19, Amp)
We believers need to start watching our language! We need to quit throwing words around like they weren't important and start using them like our lives depended on it--because, according to the Word of God, they do! (Prov. 18:21).
Too many of us have what Proverbs 19:1 calls a perverted mouth. Having a perverted mouth means more than lying and using profanity. It means having a disobedient mouth. It means saying things that are out of line with the Word of God.
All of us have done that at one time or another. We'll say, for instance, that we're believing God for our healing and then we'll turn right around to someone and make a statement like, "This pain is about to kill me!"
That's perverted! It's backwards from what God's Word says.
"Oh well, Brother Copeland, I know I said that, but it's not really what I meant."
Listen, the world of the spirit doesn't operate on what you mean. It operates on what you say. Mark 11:23 tells us that "whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Take note. That verse didn't say you shall have whatsoever you mean. It says you'll have what you say. It's what you say that counts.
Now, I'm not suggesting you should be tied up in knots all the time worrying about what your next phrase might be. Just use the wisdom God has given you. Train your mouth to be obedient to His Word. Then, when you need it most, you'll find that Word dwelling richly in you.
Scripture Study: Proverbs 10:11-21
Humility in Relationships
Os Hillman
1 Peter 5:5 - All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
1 Peter 5:5 - All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
I'll never forget the first time I discovered what a feeling was. It was in my early forties. Surely not! you may be thinking. Yes, it is true. Since then, I have discovered many men still live in this condition. It took an older mentor to help me understand the difference between information and a feeling. Wives are frustrated because their husbands share information, but not their feelings. They want to know what is going on inside their man. The fact is, most men have not been taught to identify feelings, much less how to share them. It is something that men must learn to do because it is not a natural trait. If they do share their feelings, society often portrays them as weak. No man willingly wants to be portrayed as weak.In order to become an effective friend and leader, one must learn to be vulnerable with others and develop an ability to share feelings. It is a vital step to becoming a real person with whom others can connect emotionally. This is not easy to do if your parents did not teach you to share your emotional life with others. Emotional vulnerability is especially hard for men. Author Dr. Larry Crabb states,
Men who as boys felt neglected by their dads often remain distant from their own children. The sins of fathers are passed on to children, often through the dynamic of self-protection. It hurts to be neglected, and it creates questions about our value to others. So to avoid feeling the sting of further rejection, we refuse to give that part of ourselves we fear might once again be received with indifference. When our approach to life revolves around discipline, commitment, and knowledge [which the Greek influence teaches us] but runs from feeling the hurt of unmet longings that come from a lack of deeper relationships, then our efforts to love will be marked more by required action than by liberating passion. We will be known as reliable, but not involved. Honest friends will report that they enjoy being with us, but have trouble feeling close. Even our best friends (including spouses) will feel guarded around us, a little tense and vaguely distant. It's not uncommon for Christian leaders to have no real friends. [Larry Crabb, Inside Out (Colorado Springs, Colorado: Navpress, n.d.), 98-99.]
If this describes you, why not begin on a new journey of opening up your life to others in a way that others can see who you really are? It might be scary at first, but as you grow in this area, you will find new freedom in your life. Then, others will more readily connect with you.
Perception Is Not Reality
Os Hillman
Job 4:10 - The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.
In the advertising business we often say that "perception is reality" for the person who views our advertising message. It does not matter whether the audience believes the message to be true, only that they perceive it to be true. Their actions will be the same whether they believe it or only perceive it.
The enemy of our souls is very good at this game. He may bring on us what we perceive to be true when it is a lie. It may appear that there is no way around a situation. He may bring great fear on us. When we buy into his lie, we are believing only what we have chosen to perceive to be true. It usually has no basis of truth. Such was the case when Peter looked on the waters during a night boat journey with the other disciples. At first glance, he and the disciples screamed with fear, thinking that what they saw was a ghost. It was actually Jesus.
Satan's name means "accuser." He travels to and fro to accuse the brethren. He brings an impressive front to all he does, yet behind that front is a weak, toothless lion with a destination that has already been prepared in the great abyss. He knows his destination, but he wants to bring as many with him as possible; so he often has a big roar, but little bite.
The next time some event comes into your life that creates fear and trembling, first determine the source. Look past the emotions and evaluate the situation in light of God's Word. Perception is not always reality.
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