Do You Know the Key Question to Help with Solving All Problems?

I want to share with you a key question you may ask yourself whenever you need to make a major decision. When a major (or minor) problem comes into your life, and you need to resolve it, you can always ask this question of yourself to help gauge your options and guide your decision making.

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The key question:

"Is the way I am handling this problem bringing me closer to God, or is it taking me further away?"

Likewise, if you have two or more paths, or two or more choices you can make during a decision for solving a problem - then choose the option that will  help you be nearer to God. 

If the action you end up chosing is one that keeps you close to God, then you can be assured that you are still walking in his will for you.

Remember Psalms 25:12 tells us, "Those who have reverance for the Lord will learn from him the path they should follow."





If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today


If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing 

closer to God, then you would enjoy Weight Loss for Christians, An 

Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings


Book on Amazon

If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ. 


The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks


Instagram: @gospellifelearning


Twitter: @gospellifelearn


Youtube: Gospel Life Learning

Author's other books can  be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

Season 1 of Gospel Life Learning Blogs & Audios Pinned In One Place

I have been reviewing and reflecting on all that has grown with this little blog and book ministry, and I am so looking forward to what is coming! I want to share a reminder from Psalm 37:23 - God directs our steps and delights in every detail of our lives when we choose to stay near to him.

Did you miss any of the 16 short teachings from GLL this past season? You can catch up on any missed
teaching blogs or audio episodes that interest you.Take the time now before our next series starts the first week in July!

Each message was planned to teach you something you may not have known before about the Scriptures, in 10 minutes or less, whether you are new to the faith or have been following Christ for decades. Here is a direct link (via pinterest) to all the "blogcast" posts, in the order released.


I have pinned the 16 teaching blogs with audios there as an easy way to find them all, while a new website is being worked on over the next few weeks that will be more user friendly.

In July, we will begin a blog and "blogcast" series of 12 sessions on the "Gospel Life, Emotions, and Mental Health" I'm really excited about this upcoming project as I get to weave together my "expertise" with my love of God's word.

Stay tuned!

- Sherry

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If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today


Book on Amazon

 

If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ. 

 

The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks

 

Author's other books can  be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

God's Abounding Love? What Does That Mean? The Hebrew Word for Love, Hesed

An 8  minute listen or read. Click below on the player to listen, or read below the traditional blog post. Find all previous "blogscript" podcasts HERE or find under Gospel Life Learning on Apple, Spotify, or Google podcasts. 


"God Abounds in Love," What Does That Mean?

Why do we want to stay close to God? Why do we want to stay near to Him, day by day ? I know we have been told to do this – but why? Does it really make a difference? Why does God even care if we talk to Him? Although I cannot answer all those questions easily on my own, I can search the Bible for its truth and its promises.

So this morning, I came across Psalm 86. Psalm 86:5, and when I looked it up on my laptop the NIV
translation came up first, and this is what it said:

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call on you.” (NIV)

Isn't that beautiful and true? That is a reason we want to walk with God, a reason why we crave being near to him. The reason is because we know when we call on him, he will forgive us, he will be good to us and he will show us his abounding love.

I then looked at Psalm 86:5 in a few different modern translations, and I noticed something. It seemed that the translators over the past 100 years have struggled to translate the phrase that says God is “abounding in love.” Going back to the KJV, it didn't say “abounding in love.” Instead, it used the phrase that the Lord is “plenteous in mercy.” Then some of the older translations and even the more recent NASB from 1995 used a phrase saying the Lord is “abundant in lovingkindness.” A year later, the New Living Translation was released and translated the phrase as “so full of unfailing love.” In 2001, the English Standard Version came out and translated this saying that the Lord is “abounding in steadfast love” to all who call on him. Finally, the translators from the NIV from 2011 just translated it “abounding in love.” I suppose at that point the NIV translators just stopped trying? Just love? They didn't go for lovingkindness or steadfast love or unfailing love? Just love – that's it?

So now I'm curious about what the original word was here in Psalm 86:5. Obviously, this word has been very difficult for Biblical scholars to translate for over 100 years, so what could the Hebrew word be? I quickly pulled up the Hebrew interlinear version of the passage on biblehub.com. And here is the underlying word: