tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36171108804091560662024-03-17T22:03:43.553-05:00Gospel Life Learning"Draw Near to God, Share His Nearness with Others" -Blog of Sherry ElaineSherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-87870239824993545972023-08-26T10:56:00.008-05:002023-08-26T11:27:52.748-05:00Doubting God? How to Overcome and Strengthen Faith In a Season of Doubt<h2>Doubting God? How to Overcome and Strengthen Faith In a Season of Doubt</h2><div><p><i>(Content Choices: Watch the Video below, Listen to the Podcast, or Read the Transcript Draft here:)</i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You may wonder – well how do I genuinely seek God, even when I have doubts?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I have a few recommendations for that.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If you are having doubts about whether or not Jesus really did die and was resurrected; then that is very important for you to gain some clarity on. I recommend you research and read on “The Minimal Facts Argument” for the resurrection of Christ. You can google it or find a video on that topic on Youtube. Even Paul taught that if Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, then the Christian faith is meaningless and a lie. So if you are having doubts about Christ's resurrection – then yes – study the evidence and decide for yourself. The “Minimal Facts Argument” lays out all of the evidence that all scholars – even non-believing scholar historians – agree actually happened related to the claim that Jesus was resurrected. Remember, that the Bible clearly teaches that faith is based on evidence. The Bible teaches that “Faith is the....evidence of things not seen.” Faith is not a blind trust. Faith is a decision to believe Jesus based on the evidence we have about Him, about His life, death, and resurrection. True faith does have room for areas of doubt. Not complete doubt. Complete doubt would be unbelief; but areas of doubt.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZGVCK9sBG58" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZGVCK9sBG58"></iframe></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p>Get the book by this author to help grow closer to God and strengthen your faith. Learn simple strategies to help make spiritual practices fun, effective, and refreshing for your soul. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting/dp/197680406X" target="_blank">Click Here: Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</a></p><p><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The second recommendation I have is for
the person who did have a strong faith but then suddenly finds
themselves with huge doubts. I would also recommend this person
review the “Minimal Facts Argument” for the resurrection; but I
would also recommend following the example of Billy Graham and what
he did when He had major doubts. I read Billy Graham's biography
several years ago, and there was a time when Billy when and his best
friend and ministry partner, Charles Templeton was the man's name,
lost his faith and left the ministry completely. Graham said that he
listened to his friend's skepticism and reasoning; and it caused
Billy Graham to have major doubts too. Billy Graham wrestled with
this doubt when at a certain moment; he called out to God and told
God, “From this day forward, I choose to believe that your word in
the Bible is true and that you are true.” And that made all the
difference in the lives of those two men - from that day forward.
It's actually a really sad story for Billy's friend who left the
faith and died as an outspoken athiest who even wrote a book against
the idea of God shortly before he died. Have you ever been at a
similar crossroads before? I have- and after reading about Graham's
example years ago; his example really helped me just take my own
stand and say – I'm not going to know it all on this side of
heaven. I won't have all the answers. But I choose to believe God
and that His word is true. I have some questions, yes. I could go
back down the road of agnosticism or I can just choose to follow God
in decisive faith. Over 25 years ago; I chose the path of faith; and
I have not had one day of regret for doing so; and God has revealed
Himself to me since then; and that is all I need. No opinion, no
rationale, no skepticism can change my mind at this point – because
once you have had a true glimpse of God's work in your own life –
its all you want.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So my first recommendation is to learn
about the evidence of the resurrection through the “Minimal Facts”
approach; then second – my recommendation is to follow the example
of Billy Graham. Make a consious and finalized choice! Remember the
song many of us sang as children? “I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back. No turning back.” Remember the words from Joshua:
“Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house,
we will serve the Lord.” Because it is true that you are always
serving something or someone's worldview. Again – you are always
serving something or someone's worldview. You may think you are just
not taking a position at all and “keeping an open mind;” but you
really aren't in netural. Jesus taught there is a wide road that
leads to death and destruction; and its the default road. It's the
road most of the world's population is on just because – they are
following everyone else. Then there is a narrow road that leads to
life and the fruits and gifts of the Spirit. Jesus says you have to
find it; and it is work to find it. You have to decide to walk down
it, and not turn back. That makes all the difference.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Finally, the next recommendation I have
for dealing with doubt, is to determine the underlying source of
where the doubt is stemming from. Lee Stroebel teaches that there are
three main underlying sources of doubt within a person – and yours
could be one of these or a combination. Doubt can be from the mind,
from our emotions, or from our will or desires.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If your doubt is coming from your mind,
or from intellectual reasoning, then you may wish to talk to or
consult a book written by someone who has gone through something
similar or to a Christian who specializes in discipling others
through doubt. Lee Stroebel is one who has written the “Case for
Christ” books. C.S. Lewis “Mere Christianity” is another. J
Warner Wallace is a former police detective that has such a ministry
through books and through an online ministry. Mike Licona, Frank
Turek, and of course, if the Christian philospher William Lane Craig
is another you may want to look up. There are many more. The book
that helped me was Peter Kreeft's book the Handbook of Christian
Apologetics. It's written at a college level of vocabulary but it
addresses 100s of area of doubt you could have – everything but
does God exist to did Jesus really resurrect to does God answer
prayers; were the miracles real and all of it. I was in a season of
doubt and saw the book as I was checking out of a bookstore. Kreeft's
book played a huge part in my decision that there was more than
enough evidence to believe Jesus was who he said he was; will do what
he said he would do; and is still available to us today.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If your doubt is coming from emotion;
it's actually your thoughts and emotions tied together. Using truths
of scripture combined with cognitive behavioral strategies will be
most helpful. You may want to work with a Christian coach or
counselor who specialized in Christian discipleship or mentoring, to
help you hold up what you are feeling against what God has revealed
is true. This is the practice of “taking captive” our thoughts
and their related emotions to Christ. Many churches also have free or
very low cost counseling to help disciple you during emotional crises
that result in faith crises.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Finally, if your doubt is coming from
your will; or from your desire to live in a way that you know or have
been taught is outside of God's will and best plan for you. In other
words, if you desire sin more than God – you know - I honestly
don't know anyone who has changed their mind in this situation until
they have met some sort of unwanted consequence from their sinful
choices. In fact, someone who is actively doubting for this reason,
probably wouldn't even be reading this post or listening to this.
This is the person who is actively hiding from God like Adam and Eve
in the garden. They don't want to go even really want to hear the
word of God. This person is actually caught up in a spiritual
battle; and typically they will need a consequence before they “wake
up” and return back to God's ways. Unfortunately, many times this
person comes back to God only when they receive news that they are
dying or shortly before they die – when they are looking into the
door of eternity. This person will be saved if they return to God at
the end of their life. The Bible talks about them being saved just
barely, “like through the flames of fire.” If you know someone
caught in this spiritual trap – the prayer to pray is that God
arranges their life to bring them back to Him, sooner rather than
later. And I talk about this type of doubter with respect and with
deep care; because this was the type of doubter I was. I've actually
experienced all three of these areas of doubt, and worked through all
of them. Well, the last one – where I was doubting because doubting
validated my desire to sin - I didn't work through that one. I hit
rock bottom and that's where God found me and spoke directly to my
soul, “Hey, why don't you come back to me? I'm still here and I
love you.” I deserved to be thrown out of his kingdom and away from
His blessings. But instead, He filled me with His supernatural love
and peace. It was a conviction of my wrongs so clear; yet the
conviction was given to me wrapped in complete love.” I was at the
bottom of the pit; crying in fetal position, wondering if I had the
courage to end my life. And God picked me up; set my feet forward and
said, “Let's try this again. I'm not giving up on you. You have
another chance. I still believe in you, and I'm not holding this
against you.”</p><p>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So to sum up – with intellectual or
logical doubt or with emotional doubt – there are ways to overcome
that doubt by researching the evidence and making a decision based on
the evidence. Remember the Bible tells us that faith is the evidence
of things not seen. If the doubt is stemming from a desire to live in
sin – then you probably aren't even reading or listening to this
unless you've recently experienced a major negative consequence in
life – but if someone who loves you is reading or listening, the
solution is to pray that God arranges the path of their lives to lead
back to Him sooner rather than later, but still in His timing. </p><p>Get the book by this author to help grow closer to God and strengthen your faith. Learn simple strategies to help make spiritual practices fun, effective, and refreshing for your soul. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting/dp/197680406X" target="_blank">Click Here: Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</a></p><p>See all author's books on Amazon - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p>Visit author's website: <a href="http://www.sherryelaine.com" target="_blank">www.sherryelaine.com</a></p><p>Did you know you can subscribe to this content on Youtube or as a Podcast? Find the Gospel Life Learning podcast on your favorite podcast app or on Youtube. You can also listen right here in the pod app below:</p><p><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=yvkqz-148d485-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Garamond&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=none&btn-skin=3267a3" style="border: none; height: 150px; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Doubting God? How to Strengthen Faith In Season of Doubt" width="100%"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-79332161633738098742023-08-17T22:26:00.005-05:002023-08-19T16:54:56.295-05:00Does God Still Help Us When We Have Doubts? <h2 style="text-align: left;"> Does God Still Help Us When We Have Doubts?</h2>
<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UETcF-sCQWk" width="320" youtube-src-id="UETcF-sCQWk"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="351" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ajcIlPXeXZREbU5uAVE5UpYmn1TlENRuhaE93Hg_RhxWWWvaWnx6eUg_LMBebhaYK9bfB0wL_Q-tgRMYazyvP_W7kGbwZUJUQ6TmoNK2ze4lqMk313qW694Nw97n9QFLzRHnCAY5VPM6lSCtBbOu1Ot-z__wE-DZmG2YXKC_LRiWhq-HpkRKW0G-wF21/w146-h207/ClosertoGodBook.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>Transcript is available below </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Get the book mentioned here - <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</a> </i></div><div><i><br /><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Transcript:</div><div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Before I even want to start this topic,
I want to share that when I implemented the simple methods and
strategies in my book <i>Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</i> –
that is when my faith really become rock solid strong. The idea
behind the book is not a “What to Do” but it is a “How to do
it in our modern, busy world.” How do you find time to pray, not
even to mention how to “pray without ceasing?” How do you track
your prayers? What can you do when you don't have a clue what to
pray or don't feel like it? The strategies are simple and fun and
created for the people who are “prayer slackers” – like I was. It
takes what some call the “spiritual disciplines” and makes them
fun and effective, and turns them from dry “disciplines” to
replenishing “soul care.” The book is <i>Closer to God: Simple
Methods Starting Today</i> and can be found through my book links in the
video description or from my blog or on Amazon. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We are in the “Emotions and the
Gospel Life” podcast series; and we've discussed managing our anger
for good purposes, and in a few weeks we will be discussing the other big and often ugly emotions of depression and anxiety.
However, I want to pause for a minute for this week's talk to look at
the issue of doubt. I originally had not planned this episode, but I
felt led to add it in because so many people - both people who are
seeking Christ as well as those who are already Christians -
struggle with doubt. Many of the strategies I have been sharing,
especially the Christian, spiritual strategies assume that my
listeners already have a fairly strong relationship with God through
Jesus – but now that I have expanded to YouTube and even TikTok
(yes! There is a good side to TikTok #christiantiktok and
#theologytiktok) I am suddenly having more conversations with
non-Christians, agnostics, and those with doubt. The often unspoken
question I hear is this: “Will God help me if I have doubt? - doubt that he even exists? Doubt that he hears my prayers? Doubt that
he actually cares about me as an individual person? Should I even be
trying these “Christian-based” strategies if I have doubts?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I don't have an easy response. I wish I
could say, “Yes! God will help you even if you have doubts!” Here
is the truth though. God knows your heart. He knows it better than
you do. God knows if you are authentically seeking Him; and He knows
if you are merely testing Him. In my experience, I've seen that God
does indeed help those who have accepted Christ and are authentically
seeking His will, but still have doubt about His level of involvement
in their lives. In my experience, I have not seen God pull through
for those who are “testing Him out.” And the Bible tells us not
to put God to the test. So I say that – not as a black and white
division of truth; but just examples of what I have seen in my own
walk with the Lord; along with examples and teachings in scripture,
and in the lives of friends and family who have shared their
experiences with me.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> I can share some scriptures that back
up what I am saying that if a person genuinely believes in Jesus for
their salvation; and if that person is authentically seeking to walk
through life with Christ; and that person still has areas of doubt or
intrusive thoughts of doubt, even, that God may still be willing to
help that person. Remember one of my favorite verses in Chronicles
that I quote often is that “the eyes of the Lord search to and fro for those whose hearts are turned toward Him – so he can strongly
support them.” The Christian walk is a walk of the practice of
strengthening our faith and lessening doubt. I think that most people
know if they really are truly seeking the Lord, or if they are more
apathetic and just testing Him, thinking if he doesn't respond like
they wish – then they aren't going to continue seeking Him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Moses doubted God, telling God he had
chosen the wrong person to speak to Pharoah and to lead the Jews out
of slavery in Egypt. John the Baptist doubted. Do you recall that
when John the Baptist was arrested, he sent some of his own disciples
to Jesus to ask him: “Are you really the Messiah? The one we are
waiting for; or should we be seeking someone else?” Later, Jesus
called John the Baptist one of the greatest men who ever lived. Of
course we know that Peter doubted while he was walking on water; and
the disciple Thomas also doubted that Jesus had been resurrected
until he saw his wounds for himself. Even some of those disciples who spent time
with Jesus after his resurrection had some doubt. Yes, it's true –
Matthew 28:16-17 tells that the 11 remaining disciples went to the
mountain in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. Verse 17 then
says, “When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.”
We don't get any more information than that – how kind of Matthew
not to “call out” the disciples who doubted. The point is that
doubt is a normal part of the Christian walk. I still have doubts. I
will write more about doubts I have been through, with specific
stories when my book on emotions is released – hopefully in the
early part of 2024 – but for now, let's just see that having some
doubt does not preclude receiving help from God. God knows
our hearts. He understand the human condition, our emotions, and our cognition! After all – he created us; and He came and dwelt among
us in Jesus. He understands us. That is why he is so merciful and
forgiving. Jude taught that we should have mercy on those who have
doubts in Jude 1:22.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There are also a number of examples in
the Bible where doubt was not met with God's willingness to help. In
these cases, though, if you look at the motivation of the individual,
you will see the indviduals were actually testing Jesus. Like the
religious leaders asked Jesus to “give them a sign” so that they
would believe; and Jesus knew their motivation was to merely test him
or even to entrap him, so he did not do any signs or miracles for
them. He replied that the only sign he would give them would be the
“sign of Jonah;” and by this he meant that – as similar to how
Jonah was captured in the belly of the big fish for 3 days; Jesus
would be in the tomb for 3 days and then would be resurrected. Jesus
said this would be the sign that would be given to prove He was who
He said he was.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So to sum it up – will God help if
you have doubts? The answer from the Bible is – yes - when your heart
is genuinely seeking more of Him. Probably not if your desire is not
pure. It's not about doubt itself – it's where the heart is. There
is a difference between having doubt and being very skeptical and
merely testing the state of one's unbelief. I heard a testimony
once of a young man who came out of the New Age belief system. He said he
had thought he had “tried God” or sought Him before; but God had
never revealed Himself. But one night – he really truly was
seeking God with a commitment to change and follow Jesus. He said;
honestly; that he wasn't truly seeking before. God showed up when his heart
was truly ready.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Next, you may wonder – well how do I
genuinely seek God, even when I have doubts?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I have a few recommendations for that - a few practical recommendations; however, we will discuss that next time. In the next video, we will look specifically at what to do to strengthen our faith even when we are in a season or circumstance of doubt. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: x-large;">-Sherry</i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div>Get the book mentioned here - <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</a> </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Other teachings in the Emotions series: <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/emotions-series.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Subscribe for updates and free resources: <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/free-study-resources.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></p></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=u37te-1483b95-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Garamond&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=none&btn-skin=3267a3" style="border: none; height: 150px; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Does God Still Help Us When We Have Doubt?" width="100%"></iframe> <div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-84065001889533272912023-08-02T21:38:00.003-05:002023-08-19T16:54:30.135-05:00How Do We Steward Our Emotions For Good? Series Has Begun...<p><span style="font-size: medium;">The "Emotions and the Gospel Life" se<br />ries has begun with the first four episodes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Check them out directly below, on Apple, Google, or Spotify podcasts, OR or at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Uqu2ZKm9tcpIpoUc90Hag" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">podcast YouTube channel.</a><b> </b>In the Podplayer below, you would start from the title at the bottom titled "Is There a Theology of Emotions?" if you want to go in order. </span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cyIAF_InCvI" width="320" youtube-src-id="cyIAF_InCvI"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">A more in-depth book is in the works. Transcripts are available on YouTube through the<br /> video's "Show Transcript" feature on both desktop and your phone/mobile devices. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Additional Reminder: All of our books are <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"><u><b>still marked down on Amazon Here</b></u>.</a> Extended another two weeks. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next Up...we will address Doubt (Emotion or Thought Cycle....or Both?); Depression, and Anxiety. Stay tuned! I always strive to share simple, doable strategies or knowledge to encourage, to help you strengthen your walk with the Lord, and improve your relationships </span><span style="font-size: large;"> and your general level of contentment in life. </span></p><p><br /></p><iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="480" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=8mtr8-e1105a-pbblog-playlist&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Garamond&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=none&order=episodic&limit=4&filter=all&ss=d478e8812599deb72aed893f84e27af5&btn-skin=3267a3&size=480" style="border: none; height: 480px; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Gospel Life Learning" width="100%"></iframe> <div><br /></div><div><br />
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<!--END - We recommend to place the below code where you want the form in your website html--></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-84657246694840621472023-07-28T23:57:00.018-05:002023-08-19T16:55:50.316-05:00How Do We Use Anger for Good Purposes? Anger and the Bible<h2 style="height: 0px;">How Do We Use Anger for Good Purposes? Anger and the Bible</h2><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This weekend you may listen to the blogpost/blogcast at YouTube or on the embedded videos below. We have our main topic on "Using Anger For Good Purposes"; and then a Follow Up Videopost/Blogcast on "When Does Anger Need a Professional?" </span></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Did you know that every blog post also gets read and posted on the Gospel Life Learning YouTube Channel? Please subscribe as I am working over this next year to grow the GLL YouTube channel from nearly zero to 1000+ subscribers. YouTube has proven to be a very strong media outlet which is also friendly to our Christian message. This will help us reach and encourage even more with our focused purpose: providing resources to help others "Draw Near to God; and Share His Nearness with Others." Just go to the </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Uqu2ZKm9tcpIpoUc90Hag" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">youtube channel HERE</a><span style="font-size: large;">, click Subscribe when you get there.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wB2uMzVMbfk" width="320" youtube-src-id="wB2uMzVMbfk"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Also - the GLL summer book sale officially ended last week; but I've realized the prices for several of my ebooks are still at the sale price. So if you missed it - you may not have missed it. Visit my page at amazon to see what is available. Sometime soon I will share with my whole readership the story behind why I began writing under the author name Sherry Elaine Evans, even though my real legal name is Sherry Pevey. Most of my books can be found under either name now on<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"> Amazon Here</a>. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KWnpAHXb3dA" width="320" youtube-src-id="KWnpAHXb3dA"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For My Readers: Written Transcripts are Available through the YouTube</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"View Transcript" option</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For the book mentioned, <i>Closer to God, Starting Today</i> - </b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting/dp/197680406X" target="_blank">Find It Here</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
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<!--END - We recommend to place the below code where you want the form in your website html--></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-25356256857707121022023-07-20T22:53:00.005-05:002023-08-19T16:56:26.594-05:00Goodbye to the Grudge (and Anger, Resentment, Bitterness) | How To Use Anger for Good Purposes | The Biblical Prescription for Anger, Grudges, Bitterness<h1 style="text-align: left;"></h1><div><h2><br /></h2></div><div><span><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span>You may listen the audio below, which is read by the author and reveals more of the encouraging tone and nuances of the teaching. If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span></span></i></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span><br /></span></i></span><p></p></span></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=igi4q-145f349-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Garamond&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=none&btn-skin=3267a3" style="border: none; height: 150px; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Goodbye to the Grudge (Anger, Bitterness, Resentment) - How the Bible Tells Us to Use Anger for Good Purposes." width="100%"></iframe></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*Find all episodes in this Season 2 Emotions Series as on the page list here - <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/emotions-series.html" target="_blank">Emotions Series</a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnICvIjrDV3cA38eY3QN2CpCnduN_oUR-hFAO4k1lrfbRKgCqUM7AQG0uxs1RoN2YhCP-cUZUnDJVnDqdrl-KwQzlkt53gCIGKSIcpQnc0k-gld84aE_z6LlXPNOvL5QzkiEuTWp9lpbFISePXu3VDz6VjwTlhxbVLCv8ohZ8LU1cfy8UBWsati8mXjhWn/s940/WhatDoesBibleSayOnAnger.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnICvIjrDV3cA38eY3QN2CpCnduN_oUR-hFAO4k1lrfbRKgCqUM7AQG0uxs1RoN2YhCP-cUZUnDJVnDqdrl-KwQzlkt53gCIGKSIcpQnc0k-gld84aE_z6LlXPNOvL5QzkiEuTWp9lpbFISePXu3VDz6VjwTlhxbVLCv8ohZ8LU1cfy8UBWsati8mXjhWn/s320/WhatDoesBibleSayOnAnger.png" width="320" /></a></div></div>Do you have an anger problem and don't
know it? What are the biblical teachings on anger? <br /><br /><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So last week we left off and I had
asked each of you to think about the last time something really upset
you or made you really aggravated or angry.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I do want to warn everyone, that this
series may not feel so encouraging at first, because in each lesson
each week, we are going to be reflecting on our own attitudes and
behaviors. That is not typically real fun to do, right? However,
let me encourage you to go through the process anyway. Because on
the other side of it – once we have done the personal reflection
and implemented the strategies and plans to overcome our personal
strongholds related to our emotions and attitudes – when we do that
– even though it doesn't feel so great when we are identifying our
shortcomings – there really is a new day and a new closeness to the
Lord that can be realized. Because part of doing this kind of work
on ourselves involves directly inviting and allowing the Holy Spirit
to co-labor with us in becoming more like the character of Christ.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So as you go with me through this
teaching series, I remind you that if you are convicted in your
spirit to do some work – in cooperation with the Spirit – to
follow through on it. When we invite the Holy Spirit in our prayer
time - to search our hearts and to convict us of areas in our
beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes that need an adjustment - the Spirit
will do so. He helps us strongly. That is part of his job
description and one of the reason why Jesus sent the Spirit to us. So
if you are convicted, as 1 Thessalonians 5:19 commands, “Do not
quench the Spirit.” Don't suppress that conviction or set it aside
or think it is not important. If you are being convicted; there is a
reason. God is calling you closer, and the closeness is on the other
side of that conviction. In Romans 8:26-27, it says, that “the
Spirit helps us in our weakness....He who searches our hearts, knows
the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints
according to the will of God.” Those two verses just told us that
when a person who has the Spirit (and that is anyone who has fully
accepted and believes that Jesus is indeed the Son of God – and
believes in his life, death, and resurrection) – so anyone who has
the Spirit searches their own hearts, they will know what the Spirit
wants them to know. They will know what weakness the Spirit wants to
be addressed. Then Romans 8:28 says “because God works all things
together for our good.” Yes, that is Romans 8:28 – did you
realize that the teaching about God working all things for our good –
that it came right after the teaching about the Holy Spirit helping
us in our weaknesses? Yes, it's the Spirits job to convict us about
our thoughts and behaviors; and then the Spirit works and helps us in
our weaknesses; and it is all for our good. One of those good
reasons, is that there is more contentment and even a closer walk
with God when He has helped us over to the other side of overcoming a
weakness. Especially a weakness that has become as a spiritual or
emotional stronghold, meaning the weakness that is holding us back in
our lives and in our purpose, whether we realize it or not.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So with that – let's return to the
opening question. Do you maybe have an anger problem and don't know
it? Do you know about the different levels of anger? I'm only sharing
these teachings over the next few sessions because it's something the
Lord has very recently led me to identify and work on in myself, and
that is – having to identifying and take captive unhealthy, lower
levels of anger – in myself So just in case you think I am
approaching these lessons on anger as a person who has fully
overcome; I am not. I am doing the work too right alongside you, and
truthfully, this kind of reflection and surrendering to God's will in
our lives is ongoing and life long for all of us.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">See, anger can be demonstrated in
different ways. Not everyone expresses or demonstrates anger as
“being mad,” or having a tantrum or lashing out verbally or being
aggressive. There are lower levels of anger, and more elevated levels
of anger. And there are lower levels of persistent anger such as
bitterness.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">So
what does the Bible tell us about anger?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There are two Greek words in the New
Testament for the word anger, one refers to more of an “energy, or
a rising up of indignation;” and the other word is related to
“furious or raging.” For example, irritability is a form of
anger. Resentment and holding grudges is a form of a potentially
persistent, simmering, low-level energy of anger. Did you think
about that before? When you are feeling irritable, that
psychologists often view irritability as a low level of anger related
to feeling displeased?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But backing up a bit with some
background on emotions in general. ..</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">First of all, we know that God designed
us with emotions, including anger. Emotions, at their basis are a
good thing, a good gift. Could you imagine a life without feeling
any emotion? Emotions are given to us by God and it is because we
have our minds and our emotions that we are able to experience God.
If we didn't have emotions, we wouldn't have the wonderful gift, for
example, of being able to experience the amazing gift of the peace
of God. Emotions in and of themselves, are not necessarily sinful.
This includes the feeling of anger or the rising up of anger within
ourselves.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Ephesians 4:25-26 is a well known
verse that says, “In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go
down on your anger, and do not allow the devil a foothold.”</i> It
is interesting because the original language of this verse reads this
way: “<i>Be angry and yet do not sin.”</i> Listen to this: <i><b>Anger
can be an energy for you that directs you to solving a problem </b></i>–
that problem may be within yourself or in your relationships or your
area of influence around you.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Anger can be a response to feeling
mistreated or to a perceived injustice. Those are examples of anger
that could be used and directed for good. Sometimes, when we are
angry because we are aware of or have witnessed an injustice, we may
feel that anger as an “energy” to do something to somehow help
fix or correct the injustice. If you experience this type of
“energizing anger;” or “righteous anger” as it is sometimes
called - it may even be a problem that God is calling you to help
remedy– for example if you are angered by the plight of the poor,
or the evil of human trafficking, or how some groups of people in
society are maligned, or overlooked, or mistreated. Maybe you are
being called to get involved in support ministry in those areas.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Anger,
on the other hand, can also be a response to feeling entitled.
Entitlement is not a good reason for anger. So again, anger alone on
its own is not always wrong or sinful; but it depends on the
circumstances whether it is a potentially healthy anger motivating
you to address a problem; or unhealthy anger. The truth is most
anger, even if it started as a healthy anger - when left to simmer
and when it is not dealt with promptly – will become unhealthy
anger.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The verse we read in Ephesians, gives
us a prescription for anger; which we are going to look at this
biblical prescription – the what to do - for anger in our next
session next week. In the meantime, I want you to think about what
type of anger – or level of anger – is most common or the biggest
struggle for you. Some of these levels of anger you may not even
recognize as being “anger.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For example, lower levels of anger look
like or feel like irritability or aggravation. We may call
irritability or aggravation a Level 1 of anger. A higher level of
anger might be called aggravation with a sense of urgency. This is
when you become upset or aggravated simultaneously with a sense of
urgency that something needs to be done very soon to address this
wrong or injustice. This might be called a Level 2 Anger, and it may
be described, as we called it “being ticked off.” A Level 3
Anger is when you are upset enough that you start thinking about
revenge or start secretly wishing something bad would happen to a
person. At this point, you are allowing your anger or dissatisfaction
to bring your mind and thoughts out of alignment of God's ways. If
your anger gets to the point where you are maybe thinking of ways to
get revenge – even if you know you aren't go to do anything; or if
you are wishing something bad to happen someone – you want a curse
to fall upon the person who made you angry – you have now left the
door open a crack and have given the devil a foothold. We want to
catch those thoughts as quickly as we can and take them captive.
Those are all the lower to moderate levels of anger. Then a Level 4
of anger is being furious to the point of losing control and lashing
out verbally. Level 5 is when a person is aggressively raging and
becoming physically aggressive, either towards objects or towards
people.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of those lower levels of anger, we
don't readily recognize as being a problem, and we tend not to put
much effort in identifying the lower levels of anger which turn into
resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness or a critical spirit. However,
if we don't address these lower levels of irritability and
aggravation in our relationships – it will eventually do damage. I
really like how Priscilla Shirer refers to these feelings as
“turbulence.” Emotional turbulence. All anger, whether high level
or low level, is a type of stirred up turbulence within ourselves,
and as she says, “Turbulence leads to misguided battles.” That
is another way of saying, emotional turbulence can easily lead to a
place where the devil gets a foothold. So we want to use both our
psychological and spiritual resources to promptly address the
turbulence of anger. The first step of that is to identify and admit
to the types of turbulence you struggle with most often. So between
now and the next session, identify where you struggle most in these
levels of anger. Ok, so this is your homework between now and when
you listen for the next lesson.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Complete this multiple choice sentence,
and you can mark more than one answer. Mark all that apply for you</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The types of anger I struggle with are
___________________ (mark all that apply for you):</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-Level 1 – Irritability or
Aggravation</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-Level 2 – Aggravation with a sense
of urgency to do something (being “ticked off”)</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-Level 3 – Aggravation with
revengeful active thoughts or passive revengeful wishes</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-Level 4 – Furious – losing control
and lashing out verbally</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-Level 5 – Aggressively raging –
physically towards objects or others</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Then there is the Persistent Level –
Holding long term grudges; persistent bitterness towards someone or
towards an idea; or generally find yourself being hyper-critical or
unforgiving – you may need to admit that you are a level 1 or 2 but
it has become chronic, persistent.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Most people will struggle with a few of
those areas; many people have some struggle wih all those levels.
The first step to breaking free from unhealthy anger – even
unhealthy level 2 and 3 anger - which is a spiritual stronghold in
our lives – is to identify specifically where we struggle. This
week, think about that and identify where you struggle, and then you
will be ready for next week which begins the teaching on the strategy
to overcome.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Also – I have a bonus – if you send
an email with “Personal Anger Survey” in the subject to gospellifelearning AT gmail.com, we will send you a copy of an anger checklist – one that is often
used in christian counseling, It can help you really identify any
areas, especially those low level areas, that you may not have
thought of at first. (It's not automated, you will need to send us an
email and then it may take several hours or maybe the next day or so,
but we will send it to back you.) Remember you can find all this
information including the transcript of this blogcast, the checklist,
and how to request the Personal Anger Surveyat
GospelLifeLearning.com.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So if you are listening to this as a
blogcast, we will put some of the information in the episode notes;
or go to Gospel Life Learning.com to review it later if you are not
in a place where you can review this now. When you get to the
website look for the tab that says “Emotions Series.” Between
this week and next – identify what your area of struggles are
related to anger. Next week, we will learn about the biblical
prescription for all these types of anger and we will also start
looking at practical strategies we can do to take control of our
anger – whether it is lower level or higher level, or persistent.
We will also discuss how to know when your or someone's anger is at a
level where it needs a professional counselor or specialized coach. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Until then, I leave you with this verse: It's in Leviticus actually, chapter 19, verse 18- "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." That is one of the Old Testament laws that Jesus confirmed is still one of the higher laws to guide us as his followers. This is what we are asking the Holy Spirit to help us work towards. This has been the message the Lord gave to Moses and the Israelites in ancient history, and Jesus taught and reinforced - it's a biblical lesson and a thread that is related to the most important command that Jesus told us to live out - to love our neighbors and treat others as we would like to be treated. It's hard, so hard to battle against our human nature which wants to hold grudges, wants to keep hanging on to unforgiveness, irritability, or wanting to lash out. It's a struggle - but it is worth it to overcome. We will be looking at more practical strategies related to overcoming our anger - whether low or high levels of it - next week, next time. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
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<!--END - We recommend to place the below code where you want the form in your website html--><div><h2><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">*Find all episodes in this Season 2 Emotions Series as on the page list here - <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/emotions-series.html" target="_blank">Emotions Series</a></span></span></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing </p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">closer to God, then you would enjoy <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Weight Loss for Christians, An </a></i></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings</a></i></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank"><br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gospellifelearning/" target="_blank">@gospellifelearning</a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/gospellifelearn" target="_blank">@gospellifelearn</a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@gospellifelearning6858/videos" target="_blank">Gospel Life Learning</a></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Author's other books </span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">can be</span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p></h2><div><br /></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-74898495623191827772023-07-16T22:42:00.009-05:002023-08-19T16:56:50.869-05:00Is There a Theology of Emotions? What Does God's Word Teach About Mental Health? <h2 style="text-align: left;">Is There a Theology of Emotions? What Does God's Word Teach About Mental Health? </h2><div><div><h2><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">You may listen to the 12 minute audio </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">right here </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">on the website by </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Player for the episode title below. </span></span></i></h2></div><div><span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span>You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span></span></i></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span><br /></span></i></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><p></p>
<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ahrf6-14595c0-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Garamond&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=none&btn-skin=3267a3" style="border: none; height: 150px; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Is There a Theology of Emotions?" width="100%"></iframe> </p></div></span></div></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">*Find all episodes in this Season 2 Emotions Series as on the page list here - </span><a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/emotions-series.html" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">Emotions Series</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTVhU6mE5jOhcNRKW3Wmgz0H12uYwT6bAw38hsAkGt9HmBNlM9dy-gtAl-KWosbP5HAwr4hz3yxe5XlyqE-trJyix8AHaaAzlpMiVzZFJOXZHpa3quf0BmantqcrgnwyJSECsjm9el84Sy2zWmAQnIDJxTfHnlm5b4FJFntxB_yDrbSnDHYTsrmUvGC-R/s940/TheologyOfEmotions.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTVhU6mE5jOhcNRKW3Wmgz0H12uYwT6bAw38hsAkGt9HmBNlM9dy-gtAl-KWosbP5HAwr4hz3yxe5XlyqE-trJyix8AHaaAzlpMiVzZFJOXZHpa3quf0BmantqcrgnwyJSECsjm9el84Sy2zWmAQnIDJxTfHnlm5b4FJFntxB_yDrbSnDHYTsrmUvGC-R/s320/TheologyOfEmotions.png" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">We are beginning this new series now on <i>Emotions, Mental Health, and the Gospel Life</i>, and yes, there is a
theology of emotions - at least there is one in development. There
is a field of study called Practical Theology, of which Christian
psychology and Christian counseling are subsets of the field. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So we are starting this series on Emotions. I've been working on what I've felt led to share; and I have come to realize that I need to be careful with my words. Some of the topics of this series are really best held in conversation back and forth, one or one, or in small group. It's not really best for me to be on one side of the internet and the reader or listener on the other - because too much could be mispoken or misunderstood. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The reason for this series topic is
this:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The purpose of Gospel Life Learning is
to provide resources to help others <i>draw near to God, and share
his nearness with others.</i> That is the mission purpose of this
ministry. Here is where the ministry and the topic of emotions comes
together. When we are having difficulty with our emotions – and
that can include both over-reacting to our emotions or denying or
stuffing our emotions – either end of it – then that can create a
barrier to our level of closeness with God, and difficulties with our
emotions can cause us to be ineffective in being a representative of
Christ and a true source of help and support or encouragement to
those around us.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next few topics are coming from two
foundational statements:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1) Our emotions are given to us by God.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2) Emotions in and of themselves are
neutral signals; and we are to handle and steward these signals well
and in a way that honors God. In doing so, we also grow closer to God
as we rely on his Spirit to guide us.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With that understanding, I am really
just going to scratch the surface of this topic of emotions and the
Bible, or psychology and Christian thought. I want to discuss it
though, not so much for just thinking about it or pondering it. I
have a very practical reason, and it's this:</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our world and the people in it; are in
a lot of hurt. And I have come to realize – that a lot of people
out there don't know what is available to them as far as helping them
to handle their emotions, their feelings, their behaviors, and
difficulties in their relationships. There is so much help
available, but a lot of people either don't even realize that they
have a problem and are on a path to more problems. You know, Proberbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." </span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So the first reason is that I hope to
spread some awareness about how to identify when you, yourself, or
when your loved ones, are having a mental health or emotional
problem. Because when these types of problems go unidentified and
unsupported, things typically get worse and not better on their own.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The second reason is that so many
people have a misunderstanding of what counseling is or what therapy
is or even what medications for depression or anxiety are available
and what those medications do. There is so much help available, but
people have all kinds of misconceptions about what that help is or
what it looks like or what is involved; so they continue to suffer
difficulties and setbacks and struggles in their lives, when they
just need someone to come alongside them and give them some direction
and counsel.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For example, I think a lot of people
think that going to see a counselor or a therapist is going to be
something like in the 1950's where they are lying on the couch
and they have to tell all about every embarrassing thing or traumatic
thing or hurtful thing that ever happened to them. But no!
Psychoanalysis like that has been discredited and it is not evidenced
based and that is not what happens at all.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Part of what I want to do with these
blog teachings is inform you of some biblical perspectives of
identifying and managing emotions, as well as informing you of
resources that are available. Again, I am doing this because I have
come to realize that many people live in constant patterns of low
level distress, irritability, anger, or bitterness, anger, anxiety,
or depression and sometimes they don't even know it. They don't even
realize that there are supports available, or strategies that they
could be implementing, to help them feel better, and live better.
Many people don't even realize they have an emotional or mental
health issue, because, it's just the way they have always been. And
it was also the way their parents and sisters or brothers were too. I
hear that a lot. “This is just how we are.” I just want to say –
the way you are is broken, and you don't have to be broken. And I
say that with all humility because the truth is – we are all broken
and out of place in this world. I'm broken. I had a little emotional
melt down earlier this week over some upcoming unknowns and potential
changes in my life. I honestly didn't handle my emotions well at
first – I started by expressing my angst to and towards another
person (ok. It was my husband. Who else would it be?) But anyway, I started off handling my emotions wrong
towards my husband – but I did catch myself after several minutes.
Even though it was not a perfect implementation of emotional
stewardship; I did catch myself and was able to pause and make some
adjustments using some of the counseling and psychological tools that
I have learned – so in the end I was able to realize where I had
veered off course and was able to apologize and converse about what
my real concerns and fears were. However, years ago – I would not
have even realized that I was having a problem. I might have thought
that someone else was causing a problem for me, and that I was fully
justified for expressing myself in any manner in which what I needed
to say needed to be said. See, I had a problem, and I didn't even know it. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me give you another example, which
is actually quite common. If you experience feelings of just wishing
you could escape or disappear; or even wishing for death in
order to escape the stresses of your life – you likely have a
clinical level of depression. Even if you just think about it in
general terms but you know you would never take any action towards
hurting yourself; you still have a thought issue that could be helped
if you knew the best strategies or have a qualified coach or
counselor to help you. It may be the way you have always been...going
even way back to your childhood – but this person would still have
a cognitive/behavioral condition that doesn't have to be that way. It
can be helped. Psychologists would consider that type of thinking as
low levels of suicidal ideation. It may not get better on its own;
and you've been struggling and managing, and you don't realize that
it's a condition and there are methods to help.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We have done a very, very poor job in
our society in teaching people about what good mental health is;
about when mental health problems start to creep in; and about ways
to bolster our mental health and prevent problems. We don't teach
resiliency, and for most people it's not something that is easily
figured out on our own. Sometimes, if we notice our issues early
enough, we can benefit from self-help reading or podcasts or
workshops. Other times, when that is not enough to be effective and
to maintain improvement, we need a coach or counselor to help us
along.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Again, the vast majority of people, and
yes – even the majority of Christians - don't even realize that
they are living with a condition that is hampering their ability to
live “abundantly” in spirit. When I say “abundantly” in the
spirit; I mean living with more peace, joy, contentment, with a focus
on the good things in their lives, as opposed to living in lower
levels of irritability, resentment, sadness, or a generally “downcast
soul.” Remember that when we are living and walking with the Spirit
of Christ, we are able to have peace and contentment no matter the
circumstances. Let's not forget Paul who said, “for I have learned
to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in
need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret
to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or
hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Then the next verse
he says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me
strength.” That is Phillipians 4:11-13, and yes, that is the
context of the verse, “I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.” That verse is taken out of context quite a bit and
used in a manner as if to say, “I can rely on Christ to help me
reach my own lofty goals!” However, in context, that is not what
Paul is saying. He is saying, I have learned that by relying on the
Spirit of Christ, right? - Because Paul did not have an in-person
friendship with Jesus and never did. Paul was not one of the 12
disciples. He began walking with Jesus through the Spirit of Christ,
just like we do. And Paul was saying I have learned that is the
secret of being content no matter what is happening around me or to
me. Pretty powerful stuff.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So I'm closing off now as this is just
an introduction and I will have another post and audio up each week with more. In the meantime I want you to think about the most recent time
you got really upset about something. A time when you either got
angry, or were very irritable or aggravated, or just upset. Or as we
used to say, a recent time when you were “ticked off.” Have
something in mind for our next upcoming sessions or lessons -
because you will have a chance to learn and develop a few strategies
for those types of situations. In the mean time, remember James 4:8,
when you <i>draw near to God, he will draw near to you</i> and in 2
Chronicles 6:<i> The</i> <i>eyes of the Lord search the whole earth, looking
for those whose hearts are turned towards Him, so that He may
strongly support them</i>.
</span></p><br /><p></p>
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<!--END - We recommend to place the below code where you want the form in your website html--><div><h2><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">*Find all episodes in this Season 2 Emotions Series as on the page list here - <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/emotions-series.html" target="_blank">Emotions Series</a></span></span></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing </p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">closer to God, then you would enjoy <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Weight Loss for Christians, An </a></i></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings</a></i></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank"><br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gospellifelearning/" target="_blank">@gospellifelearning</a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/gospellifelearn" target="_blank">@gospellifelearn</a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@gospellifelearning6858/videos" target="_blank">Gospel Life Learning</a></p><p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Author's other books </span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">can be</span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p></h2><div><br /></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-9017157047155702572023-07-14T17:21:00.007-05:002023-07-16T23:14:39.105-05:00Pre-Season Book Sale - Lowest of the Year - This Weekend Only!<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Pre-Season Book Sale - Lowest of the Year - This Weekend Only!</h1><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span>This weekend only through July 16th. </span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">All three of these books have received bestseller status and have together earned hundreds of positive, completely unsolicited reviews.</span></h2><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="6.99 on Kindle" border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX5aKBw2LNFt2LqCx5UYuOrR_dUPQUxbTOZAWBdiJB36MIfETMySaf4N_OF8nlbNnMpA9-vPJW3w6jH-mEfiw5NQnk616u2JQi5a-Cfys120N3GeimEnJkaaFCfWnPJ9coVXf1KPJvHAIzFO_PCSG0dI5thld_gdY3o19b4SFDu8bvyxSKdDLpgf36W2c/w201-h320/weight%20loss.jpe" title="6.99 on Kindle" width="201" /></a></div>Weight Loss for Christians: Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings</i> - This is a book to teach you ways to bring God into your health or weight loss journey. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6">$6.99 on for ebook this weekend only. Click Here to buy. </a></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></h2><div><i><br /></i></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjR4z0vt4UFQhhYJi0ZYYQYYEV9IL9grtpwQAQLFsgjm-jImhMyAroezNy3DXp5rkR80u9l-yeqS9HGZvHn_UXu2lVsWDR9qbaEim2lYYP_9pa4a3lEQJvLGDbREfmW3gtOTF7k15sSAB_N9R5rByIW_MshWMj-YwGuq27OE8x7bFVClPh3bHQvjWBtcr/s320/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today </i>- This is a book to teach you unique and simple ways to grow closer to God, even if you don't think you have an extra minute in your day for a "quiet time." You don't need to have any extra time as these methods "go along" with you. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6">$4.99 for ebook this weekend only. Click here to buy. </a></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITpp60DSb0xPXckehfBPpy8_xEOcaS8-FRoW7AwjnRM9iRzIG5rHoa6G8emQ4OAfn6UsvIBWN6zTr1LOX7iqzVN7KocU-FhGRfPFVxOgNAENQyUgdMuaG9oN8k0SnMZRf3QxGPQSX7CSdvWHcOjVUAy0yGRh0f-rCgotejck1Sk4BQ7qvNyYz0vPUxby_/s320/HeCalledPaperback.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>He Called: 56 Daily Studies & Reflections with the Words of Jesus</i> - In just 10 minutes a day, this book is part commentary, part devotional, part reflection. As one reader said, "It gives so much background and it really makes you think!" This is a great resource for those who love to go deeper into the biblical backgrounds and focuses on the teachings of Jesus. This would be great book for a small group to read through and study and share their reflections together.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6"> $5.99 for ebook this weekend only. Buy here. </a></h2><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Testimonials and Reviews: </h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>"The only way to lose weight and keep it off is conquering the food cravings. This book shows you a brilliant and simple method to do that. God bless and guide you always."</i> - Tina B, Amazon Customer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">review for <i>Weight Loss for Christians</i></a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"><i><br /></i></a><i>"A refreshingly new way of looking at loosing weight. Rather than the usual don’t eat this/don’t eat that. Gym work outs and a plethora of exercise programs: rather a spiritual gym where the word of God is your exercise equipment. Fantastic!"</i> - Amazon Customer -<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"> review for <i>Weight Loss for Christians</i></a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"><i><br /></i></a><i>"I did not expect to like this and I doubted it would work. I bought it out of desperation! As a mature committed Christian with a stone to lose I seemed to keep my weight loss difficulties separate from my spiritual life separate. This book allowed me to open up in an amazing way! After reading this short book, I am closer to God and have lost 3 lbs in two weeks! Looking forward to reading more by this lovely lady who writes like she is chatting with you over coffee!"</i> - Kathryn, Amazon Customer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">review for </a><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">Weight Loss for Christians</a> </i></h3><div><i><br /></i></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Scroll for More Books with Testimonials and Reviews Below</h2><div style="text-align: center;"><b>or</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Click on Image to Buy this Weekend for $6.99</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX5aKBw2LNFt2LqCx5UYuOrR_dUPQUxbTOZAWBdiJB36MIfETMySaf4N_OF8nlbNnMpA9-vPJW3w6jH-mEfiw5NQnk616u2JQi5a-Cfys120N3GeimEnJkaaFCfWnPJ9coVXf1KPJvHAIzFO_PCSG0dI5thld_gdY3o19b4SFDu8bvyxSKdDLpgf36W2c/s320/weight%20loss.jpe" width="201" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>"Thanks for this book. Its a great read and its packed with reminders and new insights on drawing closer to God. I want to re-read again because I want to glean from this book by following the steps she listed. By the first 2 steps I felt the difference." </i>- Amazon Customer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">review for <i>Closer to God</i></a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"><i><br /></i></a><i>"Great methods for drawing closer to God. She (the author) was very honestm and she is straight forward, and has very good ideas. I can't wait to put them into practice."</i> - Debbie W, Amazon Customer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">review for <i>Closer to God</i></a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"><i><br /></i></a><i>"This book teaches about more methods to draw closer to God. She (the author) wrote about ways to make prayer more potent. Examples are praying with the Psalms, praying with journaling, and keeping God in mind through Jesus. Her book, indeed, shows the reader how to get "Closer to God."</i> - Dr. Daniel, Amazon Customer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">review for </a><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">Closer to God</a> </i></h3><div><i><br /></i></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Scroll for More Books with Testimonials and Reviews Below</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>or </b></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Click on Image to Buy This Weekend only ebook - $4.99</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjR4z0vt4UFQhhYJi0ZYYQYYEV9IL9grtpwQAQLFsgjm-jImhMyAroezNy3DXp5rkR80u9l-yeqS9HGZvHn_UXu2lVsWDR9qbaEim2lYYP_9pa4a3lEQJvLGDbREfmW3gtOTF7k15sSAB_N9R5rByIW_MshWMj-YwGuq27OE8x7bFVClPh3bHQvjWBtcr/s320/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>"The sharing of Jesus words on forgiveness was beneficial and uplifting. As Christians we can always receive more understanding every time we read and study about forgiveness and the sayings of Jesus. Sherry's writing was encouraging and informative. Her writing is a good read for both saint or sinner."</i> - Wes, Amazon Customer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">review for <i>He Called: 56 Daily Studies w/Jesus</i></a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"><i><br /></i></a><i>"It will make you think. Very good book, and it will make you think as well as giving a good starting place to improve your relationship with Christ...It's easy to read with many references."</i> - Lars D, Amazon Customer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">review for <i>He Called: 56 Daily Studies w/Jesus</i></a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank"><i><br /></i></a><i>"Marvelous! I can really identify and use this book, I would also love to recommend it to my friends and sisters in Christ, as it will really help keeping us focused, on being faithful in praying."</i> - Felicity R, Amazon Customer - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">review for <i>He Called: 56 Daily Studies w/Jesus</i></a></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Click on Image to Buy</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>$5.99 ebook This Weekend Only</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITpp60DSb0xPXckehfBPpy8_xEOcaS8-FRoW7AwjnRM9iRzIG5rHoa6G8emQ4OAfn6UsvIBWN6zTr1LOX7iqzVN7KocU-FhGRfPFVxOgNAENQyUgdMuaG9oN8k0SnMZRf3QxGPQSX7CSdvWHcOjVUAy0yGRh0f-rCgotejck1Sk4BQ7qvNyYz0vPUxby_/s320/HeCalledPaperback.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: center;">This weekend only through July 16th. </h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Nourish Your Soul with...</h2></div><div><br /></div><div><h2><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="6.99 on Kindle" border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX5aKBw2LNFt2LqCx5UYuOrR_dUPQUxbTOZAWBdiJB36MIfETMySaf4N_OF8nlbNnMpA9-vPJW3w6jH-mEfiw5NQnk616u2JQi5a-Cfys120N3GeimEnJkaaFCfWnPJ9coVXf1KPJvHAIzFO_PCSG0dI5thld_gdY3o19b4SFDu8bvyxSKdDLpgf36W2c/w201-h320/weight%20loss.jpe" title="6.99 on Kindle" width="201" /></a></div>Weight Loss for Christians: Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings</i> - This is a book to teach you ways to bring God into your health or weight loss journey. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6">$6.99 on for ebook this weekend only. Click here to buy. </a></h2><h2><i><br /></i></h2><h2><i><br /></i></h2><h2><i><br /></i></h2><h2><i><br /></i></h2><div><i><br /></i></div><h2><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjR4z0vt4UFQhhYJi0ZYYQYYEV9IL9grtpwQAQLFsgjm-jImhMyAroezNy3DXp5rkR80u9l-yeqS9HGZvHn_UXu2lVsWDR9qbaEim2lYYP_9pa4a3lEQJvLGDbREfmW3gtOTF7k15sSAB_N9R5rByIW_MshWMj-YwGuq27OE8x7bFVClPh3bHQvjWBtcr/s320/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today </i>- This is a book to teach you unique and simple ways to grow closer to God, even if you don't think you have an extra minute in your day for a "quiet time." You don't need to have any extra time as these methods "go along" with you. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6"> $4.99 for ebook this weekend only. Click here to buy. </a></h2><h2><i><br /></i></h2></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITpp60DSb0xPXckehfBPpy8_xEOcaS8-FRoW7AwjnRM9iRzIG5rHoa6G8emQ4OAfn6UsvIBWN6zTr1LOX7iqzVN7KocU-FhGRfPFVxOgNAENQyUgdMuaG9oN8k0SnMZRf3QxGPQSX7CSdvWHcOjVUAy0yGRh0f-rCgotejck1Sk4BQ7qvNyYz0vPUxby_/s320/HeCalledPaperback.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>He Called: 56 Daily Studies & Reflections with the Words of Jesus</i><span style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700;"> - In just 10 minutes a day, this book is part commentary, part devotional, part reflection. As one reader said, "It gives so much background and it really makes you think!" This is a great resource for those who love to go deeper into the biblical backgrounds and focuses on the teachings of Jesus. This would be great book for a small group to read through and study and share their reflections together. </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700;">$5.99 for ebook this weekend only. Buy here </a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;">Enter Your Email to Learn About Free Online Group and Individual Studies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<!--END - We recommend to place the below code where you want the form in your website html--><div><h2><span style="font-weight: normal;">Readers report finding new and fun (yes, fun!) methods to <i>nourish the most important parts of ourselves - our souls which ache for more of life spent nearer to God.</i> It doesn't matter how busy you are. These methods go with you and nourish your soul as you go. </span></h2><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><h2><span style="font-weight: normal;">Gospel Life Learning (GLL, for short!) is officially releasing the first blog and blogcast series for its second season this weekend! This series is titled, <i>Emotions, Mental Health, and the Gospel Life.</i></span></h2><h2><span style="font-weight: normal;">To celebrate, we are announcing the biggest, and only, sale of the year on the GLL bestsellers. </span></h2></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-61832591621970545062023-06-11T16:32:00.007-05:002023-08-19T16:57:31.305-05:00Will Only A Few Be Saved? How Did Jesus Answer? What Did Jesus Mean? (Matthew 7:13-14 and Luke 13:22-24)<div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">You may listen to the 10 minute audio </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">right here </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">on the website by </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Player for the episode title below. </span></span></i></h2></div><div><span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span>You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span></span></i></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span><br /></span></i></span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none;"><i>Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </i></a></span></p></div></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=sp7am-142f5c0-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Will Only A Few Be Saved? How Did Jesus Answer? What Did He Mean?" width="100%"></iframe></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><h2><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Will Only a Few Be Saved? How Did Jesus Answer?</span> </span></h2></span></div><div><span>There are two places in the New Testament where Jesus is recorded as teaching about the narrow gate,<br /> or the narrow door to life, and then states that few people find it. In Matthew 7, in the same chapter as the Sermon on the Mount, we have a teaching from Jesus that reads in the English NIV: </span></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)</i></div><div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggohs0RbcOBLGGZzAg9jyC8H5aeg-Um2ApRRfpgpn3xwsIDxio-5jotSelEO7R11l6McD1WW-csxStMw5r21Q-ho3U-YZbibU83IKj3KBLTUIrVFR9Sl0JF9FSYFDX6IzkQbkVhwBTY3ApV6Q7SX1ke5OlfLjN16S_TZ1AQyWMadMg6C7uLRuISz6DhA/s940/OnlyAFewSaved.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggohs0RbcOBLGGZzAg9jyC8H5aeg-Um2ApRRfpgpn3xwsIDxio-5jotSelEO7R11l6McD1WW-csxStMw5r21Q-ho3U-YZbibU83IKj3KBLTUIrVFR9Sl0JF9FSYFDX6IzkQbkVhwBTY3ApV6Q7SX1ke5OlfLjN16S_TZ1AQyWMadMg6C7uLRuISz6DhA/s320/OnlyAFewSaved.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span>This teaching has tugged on me for some time, because I've seen it used out of context for various purposes, but I had not studied it enough to know why it was "nagging on me" or tugging on me to dig deeper. However, For example, a bit later in Matthew 8:11 and Matthew 20:18 - both have Jesus saying that many will be coming from the north, south, east, and west into the kingdom. Also, in Luke 13, right after Jesus talks about the narrow door and only a few finding it, he again emphasizes that people will arrive into the kingdom from all over - from the north, south, east, and west. So Jesus says "few" will find it; but then shortly thereafter, he reports that many will be enjoying the kingdom. Hmm...</span></div><div><p>I finally got to spend time this past weekend to dig deeper. By digging into the original language, some true gems were gleaned. By sharing more about the context and the underlying Biblical Greek we begin to grasp a fuller meaning. Here it is in an expanded way in order to capture more of the nuances in the original Greek language. It would go like this:</p><span><!--more--></span><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><blockquote>To all of you - Enter through the narrow gate. Because the wide and spacious <u>road is leading </u>to <u>ruin</u>* A great many people are being led to enter the wide road. But narrow and pressured is the gate that is leading to <u>life*</u>; and only a small number of people <u>are finding</u> it. </blockquote></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's start with two of the underlying word choices: The underlying word for ruin or destruction; and the underlying word for life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*t<u>o <i>ruin</i> </u>- the underlying word is sometimes used to imply leading away from what could or should have been</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>*life </u>- this is the word zoe (pronounced zoe - ay) and combines the concept of both phyisical and spiritual life</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Some more aspects to notice: First, when Jesus says "Enter the narrow gate;" the verb used is the verb for the plural you imperative. He is not just replying just to one person who asked a question. He is addressing all the listeners. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, here is something I find to be insightful. It is a nuance in the underlying Greek language that is not carried over into most English translations. In the original language, the wide road is active and the people on the wide road are described as passive. The wide road <i>is actively leading away to ruin, but t</i><i>he great many people who are entering the wide road are doing so passively. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In contrast, the gate to life is also actively leading to life; but the people who find it are actively finding it. No one is passively finding and entering this narrow gate. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So the first sentence about the wide road - the road is actively leading; the people are passively going onto is. The second sentence about the narrow gate; the narrow way is also actively leading; and the people are also actively having to search for it and find it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, in the modern English, this passage is often taught as if there are two gates, or two paths, and the burden is on the individual to make the right choice. In the Greek, however, there is recognition that - the perspective of Jesus as he was teaching - there is a great many people on the wide path during Jesus' time are not there because they chose it; rather - the language indicates they are passively on the wide road leading to ruin, because it's what the majority seem to be doing. It may be what society is telling them is best to do. These people being taken on the wide road perhaps don't realize that there is another way. They don't realize that they are living a wasted life leading far away from what could have been based on God's plan for them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me, the image that this creates brings to mind the verse from Romans 10:14 about "How will they know if no one tells them?" Who will tell them about the better way? It also brings to mind the words and perhaps the perspective of Jesus from the cross, when he looks down at the soldiers with compassion and calls out, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." Jesus understood that these men who were killing him were on the wide road without knowing there was another way. They did not know there was another way. Jesus even wanted his executers to know the way to life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, as an aside, are you aware that the earliest followers of Jesus in the Bible did not call themselves Christians? They called themselves "the followers of the way." It's throughout Acts, as you can see in Acts 9 and Acts 19 where there are two examples. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's go back and remember the question that Jesus was asked in Luke:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jesus was asked, "Lord are only a few going to be saved?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jesus did not answer the question. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I agree with New Testament scholar, Scott McKnight<a href="numbers http://www.walkingwithgiants.net/bible-study-notes/new-testament/matthew/matthew-7/" target="_blank">(1)</a>, that this teaching is not about literal numbers, statistics, or percentages. Jesus was using a technique of rhetoric; he was using "an exaggerated rhetoric" in order for the listeners to be faced with a choice, to better understand the circumstances, and to question their own walk of life. <a href="numbers http://www.walkingwithgiants.net/bible-study-notes/new-testament/matthew/matthew-7/" target="_blank">(1)</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>Jesus didn't answer the question. Instead, he described the the circumstances. He gave a command and a description that would have caused the listeners to develop more important questions. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After hearing Jesus' reply, I imagine that some of the people were prompted to ask many questions of themselves. We may also ask these questions of ourselves too. Questions such as...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Am I one of the many who are on the wide road leading me away from the good things that God has planned for me?" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Do I believe what Jesus is teaching, that following him is the way to this life, this <i>zoe life</i>, he speaks of?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"What might I lose or miss out on if I choose to follow Jesus? Will this life he speaks of truly be worth it?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Do I reject this, and keep doing what I'm doing? Or do I accept it and follow what Jesus is teaching?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span>Finally, we know that the conditions Jesus spoke of are still the same conditions in place today. There is a wide, spacious, and supposedly easy road. Many are on it, and now - it is true now - that many are purposefully choosing it. Many have had the truth shared with them but have not believed it. Others are unaware that they are being led along the wide road; they had no one to teach them the way as they grew up. </span><span>They are unaware that there is another way.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>The good news is that there is a well defined way, defined by Jesus, that leads through the gate to spiritual life, a rich, spiritual life that is for both now and in the future. It's the life of which Jesus taught. It's the way that Jesus commanded his disciples to continue in the way and to teach it to everyone they could. It's not an easy way necessarily; but it is a good and rewarding path. Is the</span><span> </span><span>spirit of Christ calling you to persevere on the narrow path or to return to his way if you have left and chose to go the wide way? You won't be alone on the narrow way. You will find many others along the way to join you in community and to encourage you. Even more importantly, Jesus promises that his Spirit will be with you all the way on it. Even to this day, he is calling us to follow him on the well defined and narrow path to the spiritual life and purposes that only He can lead us to. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing </p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">closer to God, then you would enjoy <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Weight Loss for Christians, An </a></i></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings</a></i></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/s408/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans" target="_blank">Book on Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gospellifelearning/" target="_blank">@gospellifelearning</a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/gospellifelearn" target="_blank">@gospellifelearn</a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; 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font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-28382137006141214032023-05-27T18:40:00.004-05:002023-05-27T18:54:47.966-05:00Do You Know the Key Question to Help with Solving All Problems? <p>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.</p><p></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5070DqELcLU5RU7ISnFI-4IdPHYfEnn0TlDM65h68mZcwNqTa3RA54XvlpSts2VHsmDcDRwnJ2kdMF50rwEKGhfxsW7p8eA2Q_G7skSnqoaqTDLYwT-PrGkrGm1MFXSPyHZoRTUoNV38o9RnDWsdoMtaCxhet--UAq6tls0KSuUS-A6na2HatZhoUHg/s1080/Gospel%20Life%20Learning%20Reels.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5070DqELcLU5RU7ISnFI-4IdPHYfEnn0TlDM65h68mZcwNqTa3RA54XvlpSts2VHsmDcDRwnJ2kdMF50rwEKGhfxsW7p8eA2Q_G7skSnqoaqTDLYwT-PrGkrGm1MFXSPyHZoRTUoNV38o9RnDWsdoMtaCxhet--UAq6tls0KSuUS-A6na2HatZhoUHg/w200-h200/Gospel%20Life%20Learning%20Reels.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">Shop Author's Books</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The key question:</p><p><b><i>"Is the way I am handling this problem bringing me closer to God, or is it taking me further away?"</i></b></p><p></p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>Remember Psalms 25:12 tells us, "<i>Those who have reverance for the Lord will learn from him the path they should follow."</i></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I70d1RDMVXY" width="320" youtube-src-id="I70d1RDMVXY"></iframe></div><br /><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing </p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">closer to God, then you would enjoy <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Weight Loss for Christians, An </a></i></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings</a></i></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/s408/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans" target="_blank">Book on Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gospellifelearning/" target="_blank">@gospellifelearning</a></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/gospellifelearn" target="_blank">@gospellifelearn</a></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@gospellifelearning6858/videos" target="_blank">Gospel Life Learning</a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Author's other books </span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">can be</span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-77382018781962709772023-05-19T22:07:00.005-05:002023-05-21T14:32:00.845-05:00Season 1 of Gospel Life Learning Blogs & Audios Pinned In One Place <div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you miss any of the 16 short teachings from GLL this past season? You can catch up on any missed <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSm8UbEUdQdLPbGk4RzFuV85INMsE0P2dBFBDFsqQnkPiUXzonfyCZwkxc0F2SGF3HYzqGC9qcDM95WNr7hvn0FSW02tY6d70lMnxstVfi_-cnmO46aBSXjMSUzmqm6QVH7Bh4GOgKCiAhG8grwRVSEVLduxPapJQwPZ8JEoXiKVNN-Kllc479Ck1vA/s640/GLL-Pinterest-Season1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="369" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSm8UbEUdQdLPbGk4RzFuV85INMsE0P2dBFBDFsqQnkPiUXzonfyCZwkxc0F2SGF3HYzqGC9qcDM95WNr7hvn0FSW02tY6d70lMnxstVfi_-cnmO46aBSXjMSUzmqm6QVH7Bh4GOgKCiAhG8grwRVSEVLduxPapJQwPZ8JEoXiKVNN-Kllc479Ck1vA/s320/GLL-Pinterest-Season1.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>teaching blogs or audio episodes that interest you.Take the time now before our next series starts the first week in July! </span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each message was planned to teach you </span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sherryfp/all-season-1-gospel-life-learning-blog-audios/">Click Here -> All 16 Season One: 10 Minute Blogs and Audios Here</a></span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> 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. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay tuned!</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>- Sherry </b></span></i></div><div dir="auto" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">--------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="s15" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/s408/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans" target="_blank">Book on Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="color: black; white-space: normal;"></p><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="s15" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"></span></span></p><p style="color: black; white-space: normal;"></p><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="s15" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="s15" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0in; white-space: normal;"></p><p class="s2" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="s15" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Author's other books </span></span><span class="s15" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">can be</span></span><span class="s15" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p></span></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-87499799398153401392023-05-06T20:17:00.015-05:002023-05-19T22:34:12.985-05:00God's Abounding Love? What Does That Mean? The Hebrew Word for Love, Hesed<span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">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 </span><a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">HERE</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"> or find under Gospel Life Learning on Apple, Spotify, or Google podcasts. <br /></span><br /><div><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=526jb-13ff22b-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="”God’s Abounding Love,” What Does That Mean?" width="100%"></iframe>
<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"God Abounds in Love," What Does That Mean?</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2o9mtn6CUfe1dlH5fE_EXG0cWYmcp9PJvH9Zj9BqNLrTtLHBdwSzRzQ3FMf62_sq9mXHsGYjcA_5N-9KNQUqVzP4CoY-RG8KC2nD5F_kVAkxg5hchNx4i8D54nuXwqn19KO4MqoRUSMhsFJLQ67BrxK03EIPWjCYe1uf3WGLzX86Suqa-A6qXTiKdg/s940/GodsAboundingLove.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2o9mtn6CUfe1dlH5fE_EXG0cWYmcp9PJvH9Zj9BqNLrTtLHBdwSzRzQ3FMf62_sq9mXHsGYjcA_5N-9KNQUqVzP4CoY-RG8KC2nD5F_kVAkxg5hchNx4i8D54nuXwqn19KO4MqoRUSMhsFJLQ67BrxK03EIPWjCYe1uf3WGLzX86Suqa-A6qXTiKdg/s320/GodsAboundingLove.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">So this morning, I came across Psalm 86. Psalm 86:5, and when I looked it up on my
laptop the NIV<br /> translation came up first, and this is what it said:</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in <u>love</u> to all who call on you.” (NIV)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">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?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">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:</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVABLJaSC07DvHOFO9z5XqooI8gpJ2eFf_Q5VECgcsV-g5Q79AA-49fSmI7OqpJK7z4tGIisf15dLUYaU8cTItDcB4uG3T9u4VWAaWUZmO1N3bpdPAW0M872QkMMh67u4WZMTmo1rzK4CrOlm_XzVABur64QArpQvb_I5WlZH2R9eEFLy7T_A84gj9w/s379/Hesed1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="379" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVABLJaSC07DvHOFO9z5XqooI8gpJ2eFf_Q5VECgcsV-g5Q79AA-49fSmI7OqpJK7z4tGIisf15dLUYaU8cTItDcB4uG3T9u4VWAaWUZmO1N3bpdPAW0M872QkMMh67u4WZMTmo1rzK4CrOlm_XzVABur64QArpQvb_I5WlZH2R9eEFLy7T_A84gj9w/w108-h65/Hesed1.png" width="108" /></a></div><br /><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />transliterated it is</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>Hesed</i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>with
the accent on the first syllable and sounds like, in my Texas-style
Hebrew, more like “Heh-sed.”</i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now
we have some clues that there is probably really more to know here
about this word <i>hesed</i>, so I began digging into some word
studies, and then I found an article online by a woman named Avital
Snow.Much of what I tell you next comes from her research and
writing, so I want to make sure I give her credit. Her article was
published recently in May of 2021 on FirmIsrael.org with the title
“The Meaning of Hesed: Hebrew Word for Love.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Are you ready to hear all about it?
Yes, of course!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">First of all, <i>hesed</i> is difficult
to translate into English, as we have just discovered. There are a
range of meanings for it. One theologian (John Oswalt) explains that
<i>hesed </i>is “a complete undeserved kindness and generosity.”
Lois Tverberg states, “<i>Hesed</i> is not just a feeling; there is
action behind it. It is an action that “intervenes on behalf of
loved ones and comes to their rescue.”<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <i><span>-Lois Tverberg, ourrabbijesus.org</span></i></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think that this may be why a number
of the English versions of Psalm 86:5 translate <i>hesed</i> as
“l<i>ovingkindness.</i>” The word lovingkindness at least
recognizes that one word in English cannot encapsulate it, so it
slaps two words together, loving and kindness. And those two words
together do pull in just a bit of the idea that it is a love backed by
action. <i>Hesed</i> is love as shown by kindness. Well, even
<i>lovingkindness</i> doesn't come anything close to the depth of
this word.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bible Scholar Darrell L. Bock, from
Dallas Theological Seminary here in Texas has said this: </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b></b></i></span></span></span></em></p><blockquote><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Hesed</b></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>
</b></i></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>is</b></i></span></span></span><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“</i></span></span></em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic;">wrapping
up in itself all the positive attributes of God: love, covenant
faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty–in short, acts of
devotion and loving-kindness that go beyond the requirements of
duty.”</b><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"> </b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">-Darrel L Bock, [NAC] Judges, Ruth</span></span></span></span></blockquote><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></span></span></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: normal;">Let's
look at that again, and now we understand why it's so hard to
translate. That definition is more than 24 words long in place of
just the one word.</span></span></span></span></span></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: normal;">Let's
break down and look at each phrase here:</span></span></span></span></span></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hesed</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
is all the positive attributes of God (as if wrapped up in a
package).</span></span></span></span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hesed</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
is also God's love, his covenant faithfulness, his mercy, grace,
kindness, and loyalty – all of it!</span></span></span></span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hesed,
</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
short could be described as God's acts of devotion and
loving-kindness. But it is those things given to us especially when
we don't deserve it, nor haven't earned it, and there is no
requirement or duty for God to give it to us.</span></span></span></span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">That
is all </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hesed</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></span></span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
when does God give us his</span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
hesed</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">?
Let's go back to Psalm 86:5 and look. “You, Lord, are forgiving
and good, abounding in </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hesed
</span></span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
</span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">all
who call on you</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.”
(NIV)</span></span></span></span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">God
gives us the kind of love that takes 24+ words to describe it kind of
love. He gives his </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">hesed</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
to us </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">abundantly</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
when we come near to him and call on him. He gives it when we stay
near to him, when we walk with Him. When we turn to him and call on
him.</span></span></span></span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Why
would he do that for us? I don't understand it, do you? I just don't
know why God does this, but I know he does it. Oh, thank the Lord he
gives us his </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">hesed</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
We can't fully explain it or comprehend it. We know we don't deserve
it. So the next time we are reading in our Bibles and we see a word
that has been translated as God's goodness, or love, or
loving-kindness, or steadfast love, or faithful love, we may just
want to check and see if it is the Hebrew word </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">hesed</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
that underlies the text. Now we know, that any single word in English
only is able to slice off the top of the depth of the gift of God's
</span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">hesed</span></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
A single English word is only able to serve us a small crumb of it.</span></span></span></span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Finally,
in closing, let's look at one more verse in the book of Isaiah that
uses the word. It's a wonderful verse to know and meditate on,
especially during these current, stressful times. We are living now
in a world that seems to be spinning out in uncertainty. With all the
natural disasters it sometimes seems that perhaps parts of the Earth
itself may be about to implode. Let's close by looking at Isaiah
54:10 which says, </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“Though
the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing
</b></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><i><b>hesed</b></i></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: #11293e;"><span><span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>
for you will not be shaken.”</b></span></span></span></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The <b><i>hesed</i> </b>of God. It may take
24+ words to describe it. Yet it is what we may experience when we
stay near to him and call on him.
</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s14" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">-----------------------------------</span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/s408/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans" target="_blank">Book on Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"></span></span></p><p></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Author's other books </span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">can be</span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p><p></p></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-814169503241692222023-04-15T21:20:00.012-05:002023-05-19T22:32:52.808-05:00"Jesus Redeems." What Does That Mean? <p><br /></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">A 7 minute listen or read. Click below on the player to listen, or read below the traditional blog post. Find all previous "blogscript" podcasts </span><a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"> or find under Gospel Life Learning on Apple, Spotify, or Google podcasts. </span></p><p>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=qcaaj-13e378a-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="”Jesus Redeems.” What Does That Mean?" width="100%"></iframe>
</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Jesus Redeems. What Does That Mean? </h2><p>We Christians use a lot of "insider" terminology<i>. </i>One of the words we frequently use is the word redeem. We say that we are <i>"redeemed" </i>by Christ, or that God is our<i> Redeemer. </i></p>Whatever does that mean? Usually in today's world, the only time we see the word <i>redeem</i> outside of a Bible study is on a coupon! For example, "Redeem this voucher for one free Chik fil A sandwich!"<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNQdB_HpOIxDvBDlJZ8atAYMujaFEPS0u3szJDbroWxh8x0rTR8sxnZUDS-L_W5AlrF5NZs4FeJmWEm6CEOKPIfWl7d17bBks_xzpkugQw9TubenltfR2259F2nO-cbYhwSQWhgZR5dx0oAdThlp18eKlAIAknNk9aQw6uWmahnDoy4YCyCQK5hfJhQ/s940/Jesus%20Redeems.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNQdB_HpOIxDvBDlJZ8atAYMujaFEPS0u3szJDbroWxh8x0rTR8sxnZUDS-L_W5AlrF5NZs4FeJmWEm6CEOKPIfWl7d17bBks_xzpkugQw9TubenltfR2259F2nO-cbYhwSQWhgZR5dx0oAdThlp18eKlAIAknNk9aQw6uWmahnDoy4YCyCQK5hfJhQ/w320-h269/Jesus%20Redeems.png" width="320" /></a></div>We studied this word, <i>redeem</i>, in Bible study group this past Sunday, and I had some "<i>ah-ha</i>" moments. So today I wish to share some!<br /><br />Of course, in Hebrew, early Latin, and in New Testament Greek, the word <i>redeem</i> had nothing to do with coupons for free fast food items nor other prizes. The Biblical term <i>redeem</i> always meant <i>to buy something back, or to rescue from a distressful situation - </i>usually as part of a legal-type agreement or <i>even as a ransom</i>.<br /><br />If you check a modern Merriam-Webster English dictionary, you will see all of the early Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and the modern definitions represented.<br /><br />You will see that the word <i>redeem</i> means <b><i>to buy back or to re-purchase. </i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b>The word may also mean to <i><b>free from something distressful or harmful</b></i>, or<br /><br /><i>to free from captivity</i> <i style="font-weight: bold;">by the payment of a ransom</i>, or<br /><br /><b><i>to extricate or rescue </i></b>something or someone <b><i>from a detrimental situation</i></b>.</div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /><br />In Job 19:25, Job confirms boldy that he knows that he will be <i>redeemed, or rescued</i>, -- not by chance, and not by a coupon -- but <i>by a Living Being who is present throughout the ages.</i><br /><i><br /></i>In Isaiah 43:1, we are told that our redemption by God<i> is individual and personal</i>. In this verse we are told that God redeems each of us by name! God tells us,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name. You are mine."</b></div><br />When I read this verse in Isaiah, the first image that popped into my mind was an image of when my daughters were little. They would often argue (loudly!) over the ownership or possession of some object. Often, in order to boldy end the argument, one girl would grab the object, hold it close to her chest clasped in both arms, plant her feet down, and then adamantly declare, "It's mine! So-and-so gave it to me. It's MINE!"<br /><br />And in a way -- this is what God does for us when we believe on Him and call on His help in our times of trouble. The enemy may be out to cause trouble for us or to defeat us; or we may just be experiencing the ever-pressing difficulties of living in a fallen world. Yet, when we call on God, He metaphorically grabs us up in the safety of His arms. He seizes us right out of the enemy's grasp, and protects us and declares, "She is mine. I have paid the price of her ransom, and she has accepted my offer. She's MINE!"<br /><br />Of course, this example is not a perfect reflection of the way God rescues us. He is much more mature than children rescuing their toys from another child who wants to take it away. But in effect, when an enemy is about to influence us, or when we find ourselves in a depressive, fearful, or turbulent situation, we can call on God and ask Him to redeem us, to rescue us, because we are His. We have the right to call for Him to rescue us, because He has rightfully redeemed us by paying a ransom that competely covers our redemption for life!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">Enjoy these writings? </a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">Find the author's books here.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>In response to our call for help, our Redeemer, God, grasps us and holds us close spiritually. He rescues us right out of the hold of the ones who are against us. He rescues us from turbulent times, or He walks alongside us during those times. If we weren't asking nor desiring His help during those times; He will still help us to heal later, when we do turn to Him and accept Him as our Redeemer.<br /><br />And as God does this for us, He declares,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"I know this one by name. I have <u>redeemed</u> her. I have rescued her. </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I have paid the price of her ransom, and she has accepted me as her Redeemer. </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>She is MINE!" </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>One of the most important benefits of the Redeemer is that <i>the Redeemer does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. </i>At some point or another in life, we will all find ourselves in situations in which we cannot rescue ourselves. Most all of us will need a Redeemer at some point during our lives! Even if we live a fairly easy life with few problems throughout, we still all will need a Redeemer at the time of death.<br /><br />The good news is that God offers to be the Redeemer for all humanity. We all can accept His offer, or we can reject it and try to unsuccessfully rescue ourselves. During our difficult times, including during the time of spiritual judgement that comes after death -- <b><i>God, as our Redeemer, does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.</i></b> We cannot rescue ourselves from the spiritual traps and pitfalls that we cannot see. We also cannot earn the right to enter into eternal life in God's spiritual kingdom on our own.<br /><br />We simply cannot redeem ourselves. </div><div><br /></div><div>God does the work for us -- by redeeming us, rescuing us, and by having paid our ransom. </div><div><br /></div><div>We need a Redeemer. We need our Lord.</div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">Enjoy these writings? </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" target="_blank">Find the author's books here.</a></div></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-52718345158397701422023-04-07T15:54:00.014-05:002023-04-15T21:05:21.044-05:00Tetelestai - "It Is Finished" <p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God's Plan Has Been In Process, Jesus' Work Is Now Finished, And It Will Remain Finished, with Continuing Effects (Greek Perfect Tense, Koine)</b></span></p><p>The Greek Perfect Tense in the Bible is only used a handful of times in the New Testament; and unlike our English verb tenses, the Greek perfect tense holds three layers of meaning within it's form. </p><p>One way of stating the full meaning of the perfect tense is this: it is both punctiliar and linear, or, in other words, it is both happening at a point and time (punctiliar) and ongoing in time (linear). </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3z5hEvJU-7PtSQ4TmXMLoWhm-j3KDZ4vX0VKyq1AwzoU34m1bSbdMKHXmeqQC7eOAH4vnrwkJ45ruOjrYE6wo7V-kkKS-8N2IZJVxuzni2A4sbs9AwutCfrHAaIPWjVsRhb03sGNNLAUcJVSlCwO5BsJoZrpo4ICyJ8s6vlBrj6ah_dpJ9_UgVGSFQ/s488/tetelestai.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="488" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3z5hEvJU-7PtSQ4TmXMLoWhm-j3KDZ4vX0VKyq1AwzoU34m1bSbdMKHXmeqQC7eOAH4vnrwkJ45ruOjrYE6wo7V-kkKS-8N2IZJVxuzni2A4sbs9AwutCfrHAaIPWjVsRhb03sGNNLAUcJVSlCwO5BsJoZrpo4ICyJ8s6vlBrj6ah_dpJ9_UgVGSFQ/s320/tetelestai.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>I also like to describe the perfect tense verb as having 3 layers of meaning all within the one word. </p><p>1st layer - The action has been in process. </p><p>2nd layer - The action has just been completed.</p><p>3rd layer - The action will remain completed, with its continuing effects. </p><p>When it was written that Jesus said "<b><i>Tetelestai</i></b>," the word <i>tetelestai</i>, the Greek word for "<i>finished</i>" or for "<i>fulfilled</i>" was written in the rare perfect tense. </p><p>Let's look at the layers:</p><p><i><u>1st layer </u>- Jesus' work has been in process of being finished.</i></p><p><i><u>2nd layer</u> - Jesus' work is now completed. His work is finished. </i></p><p><i><u>3rd layer</u> - This completion will remain completed, with continuing effects. </i></p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i><b>"It is finished" is 3 words sharing 3 layers of truth. The work and the purpose of Christ had been in process. Christ's work was finished at his last words on the cross. His work will remain finished, along with its continuing effects. </b></i></blockquote><p></p><p></p><p><i>(One other time the perfect tense was used in the New Testament was when <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/2022/07/Jesus-teaching-kingdom-is-near.html" target="_blank">Jesus announced the nearing of the kingdom of God </a>at the very beginning of His ministry. It was his first teaching we have written down in the New Testament. I wrote a blog about that teaching and the perfect tense <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/2022/07/Jesus-teaching-kingdom-is-near.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.) </i></p><p>Long ago in the year 1686, Matthew Henry began preaching. He was 24 years old, and he continued to preach and to pour over scripture - word by word and phrase by phrase - until his death at the age of 51. Henry wrote this in response to Jesus' last spoken word on the cross:</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><blockquote><p><i><b><br />"It is finished;</b> that is, the counsels of the Father concerning his sufferings were now fulfilled.</i></p><p><i><b>It is finished;</b> all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the sufferings of the Messiah, were accomplished.</i></p><p><i><b>It is finished;</b> the ceremonial law is abolished; the substance is now come; and all the shadows are done away.</i></p><p><i><b>It is finished</b>; an end is made of transgression, by bringing in an everlasting righteousness.</i></p><p><i>His sufferings <b>were now finished,</b> </i><i>both those of his soul, and of his body.</i></p><p><i><b>It is finished</b>; the work of man's redemption and his salvation is now completed."</i></p></blockquote><p> </p><p>As poignant as Henry's words were, there is even more to grasp, for with this word "finished," we are informed of the ongoing nature of our salvation. <i> Tetelestai,</i> the completion of Jesus' work was not just for that point in time; and not just for His followers and close friends at the cross.</p><p>The Bible tells us, "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)</p><p>This is true only because of what happened at the point in time that Jesus spoke "It is finished" and what happened three days later. And this remains true and has remained true from that point in time until now. </p><p>His work on the cross was a plan in process for hundreds of generations. </p><p>His work on the cross was completed on the mount of Golgatha in 33 A.D. </p><p>His work on the cross remains completed to this day, for those who believe, to be assured of their place amongst the family of God. </p><p><i>Tetelestai </i>- it more than just a place of completion. Is is now our place of confidence and hope.</p><p><i>Tetelestai </i>is our resting place. It was finished at the cross. It is still finished today. </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Maranatha!</i></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">________________________________________________</p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;"></a></span></p><blockquote><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Click HERE and enter email for free resources and monthly updates </a></span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Author's books can be found: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="font-family: verdana;">HERE</a></p><blockquote><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You may also listen to the Gospel Life Learning blog read aloud by podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or YouTube. You may also find the most recent episodes at the <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" target="_blank">Podcast tab.</a></span></p><div><br /></div></blockquote>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-81603913791978620452023-03-31T23:12:00.013-05:002023-04-07T15:30:31.397-05:00What Did Jesus Mean When He Said, "I am the Resurrection?"<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"> What Did Jesus Mean When He Said, "I am the Resurrection?"</span></h1><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">A 7 minute listen or read. Click below on the player to listen, or read below the traditional blog post. Find all previous "blogscript" podcasts </span><a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">HERE</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"> or find under Gospel Life Learning on Apple, Spotify, or Google podcasts. </span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><div>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=rimm9-13d0854-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="”I Am the Resurrection;” What Did Jesus Mean?" width="100%"></iframe> </div><div>What did Jesus mean when he said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life”? (John 11:25)</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the time of the year where we are
coming into Holy Week and all Christians around the world will have
their minds on the crucifixion of Christ and then his miraculous
resurrection by which he showed us that death is not an ultimate end.</div><div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-fllbdh-BCebAELYMlevv_mtQCRdH_yGUv4YAUJpCUZBWdbF522hSPp10GL0zozvr36mjJ9D2jQI6viVzWmlLuRcd9c5IqYgW9Nm8ps_f6ukc-Qev0hXoVIThmIyRVwTDwc3q1eR9BXS2flyllKFOAV-Mh_L6jBgPpIkvWa21gty9jQ_Dlosk27KqQ/s940/I-Am-The-Resurrection.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-fllbdh-BCebAELYMlevv_mtQCRdH_yGUv4YAUJpCUZBWdbF522hSPp10GL0zozvr36mjJ9D2jQI6viVzWmlLuRcd9c5IqYgW9Nm8ps_f6ukc-Qev0hXoVIThmIyRVwTDwc3q1eR9BXS2flyllKFOAV-Mh_L6jBgPpIkvWa21gty9jQ_Dlosk27KqQ/s320/I-Am-The-Resurrection.png" width="320" /></a></div>So let's tap our brains a bit and see
what we already know or what we recall about what was happening when
Jesus said this. When Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the
life;” who was he speaking to, where was he, and what were the
circumstances happening?<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If you recall correctly, you remembered
that Jesus said this to Martha. This happened after Lazarus had died,
and had in fact been dead for a few days. Jesus was just outside
Martha and Mary's town, and Martha knew he was coming and went out on
the road to meet him.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And Martha was not exactly happy. She
was perhaps, exasperated and flustered. She said to Jesus, “Lord,
if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Then Martha
tells Jesus that she still knows that God will do for Jesus whatever
he asks. And how does Jesus respond? Jesus says, “Your brother will
rise again.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Martha then answers and says, “I know
he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” And
then Jesus replies, “I am the resurrection and the life.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And right here I want to pause for a
little while; and look at what Jesus said to Martha. It is
another one of those many instances when the word we use to translate
misses a little something; but that little something is actually
quite meaningful.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">See Martha said to Jesus, “I know my
brother will rise again at the resurrection of the last day.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Martha is talking about the belief that many of the Judeans and Galileans had at that time. They believed in a resurrection event that would occur in the future, on the
last day. All the righteous that had died before would be resurrected at that point in the future. The word she uses is <i>anastasei.</i> Martha refers to the
<i>anastasei </i>– and every single place in the Bible where it
talks about the resurrection in the Gospels in the New Testament that is the way the word is used – <i>the anstasei</i>. The resurrection;
referring to the the future event. When Jesus replies, however, he
uses a different form. He does not say, “I am the resurrection
event.” He doesn't say I am the <i>anastasei</i>; instead, he
replies I am the <i><b>anastasis</b></i>.” And truly to get the
deeper meaning here, it is this –</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Martha says, “I know my brother will
rise again at the resurrection.”</p>
<blockquote><span><b style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">And Jesus replies, “I am the
raising up and the life." What he means is, "I am that which resurrects. I am the life.”</b><span style="font-size: medium;">
And the word life is the word z</span><i style="font-size: large;">oe</i><span style="font-size: medium;">; and that word in the Greek implies within it</span><i style="font-size: large;"> both physical life and spiritual life,</i><span style="font-size: medium;"> particularly
the spiritual future life.
</span></span></blockquote><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Then Jesus goes on and says, it's translated in most English versions something like this: “the one who believes in me, will live, even though he
should die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” Now I am going to read this to you
in a more close word for word reading or translation more directly
tied to the original language. I like the way it flows, and the way things are juxtaposed in the original it reads more like this: Jesus says, “<i>The one believing in me – even though he should
die; he will live. </i>(Those two are juxtaposed - side by side. Even though he should die; he will live.) <i>And everyone living and believing in me will never
die, never, for eternity." </i>There is also some extra emphasis in the original. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So Martha says, maybe even she is
sighing, “Yes I believe my brother will resurrect at the final
resurrection event.” Then Jesus gives her a whole new knowledge. I
believe this is the first time Jesus explained anything this deeply
to anyone about the eternal, spiritual life that continues on after death. He explained it to Martha, "The one believing in me – even though he should die; he
will live. And everyone living and believing in me will never die, never, for eternity.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He knew he could trust Martha with this
knowledge; and then he asked her, “Do you believe this? Do you
believe this knowledge, this insight, this spiritual truth I just
gave you? And Martha says. “Yes, Lord. I believe you are the
Christ, the Messiah - the one the world is expecting.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Oh be like Martha. She has her close
moment with Jesus on the road – in her grief – in her
disappointment; and Jesus meets her where she is coming to him; and
he reveals this great truth about who He is; what He does; and what
this means for our future.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">________________________________________________</p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;"></a></span></p><blockquote><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Click here and enter email for free resources and monthly updates </a></span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Author's books can be found: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6" style="font-family: verdana;">HERE</a></p><blockquote><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You may also listen to the Gospel Life Learning blog podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or YouTube. You may also find the most recent episodes at the <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" target="_blank">Podcast tab.</a></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p></blockquote><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6"></a></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-30783512917861827602023-03-19T00:23:00.016-05:002023-07-25T07:00:01.141-05:00Which Parable Can Give Us A Quick, Daily, Spiritual Self-Assessment? <div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">An 11 minute listen or read. Click below on the player to listen, or read below the traditional blog post. Find all previous "blogscript" podcasts <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html">HERE</a> or find under Gospel Life Learning on Apple, Spotify, or Google podcasts. </span></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="yes" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ka4ip-13bdfb4-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Should We Rename the Parable of the Sower? A Quick Daily Spiritual Self-Assessment" width="100%"></iframe><p>The Parable of the Sower? Or maybe this parable needs a new name. </p><p>From what perspective did you learn to understand Jesus' parable of the sower? It is Mark chapter 4. A lot of us, were taught to read this parable from the perspective of the farmer, from the perspective of the person who is scattering the seed. After all, it is subtitled in our Bibles "The Parable of the Sower," and it starts with Jesus telling about the main character, saying "The sower went out to sow." </p><p>However, as I was taking notes and reading this parable for the book <i><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ</a></i>, I felt like the Lord was showing me to read this parable from the perspective of the seeds and the soil. From that perspective, this story gives us a framework for a quick, daily, spiritual assessment of ourselves. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGYcdajdkYNqsbyKwv1Oh-tokmPCtoy_G8JJ8d_PgO_JNlDiqKYZhM7W3OsKa_ULfNUdsdM7NUt0RoqbyJZDvMQBt80uePb9BSOOTxM2vMoaGKHijgmQKwZnA7dYU-RwokR8VNjckQzI8GYeu1smuvCk8VT05oj-ALQq6KByl1zmzZ4GAKZrpLZvi3A/s940/Parable%20of%20Sower.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGYcdajdkYNqsbyKwv1Oh-tokmPCtoy_G8JJ8d_PgO_JNlDiqKYZhM7W3OsKa_ULfNUdsdM7NUt0RoqbyJZDvMQBt80uePb9BSOOTxM2vMoaGKHijgmQKwZnA7dYU-RwokR8VNjckQzI8GYeu1smuvCk8VT05oj-ALQq6KByl1zmzZ4GAKZrpLZvi3A/s320/Parable%20of%20Sower.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>In this story, there is actually only one sentence in it about the farmer. The first sentence. For the rest of the story, the entirety of it is about the seeds and the conditions of the soil. In my opinion, I think this parable should be called "The Parable of the Seeds and Soils." It is a very important teaching of Jesus. Let's picture the scene:<div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /><p></p><p>Jesus goes out on a boat in the lake to make room for himself from the crowds of people who have come to hear him. There are hundreds or thousands of people crowding along the shoreline to see and hear Him. Jesus begins by calling out, from the boat to the crowd, "Listen! Behold!" In the Greek text, Jesus uses two words of emphasis here, in order to get the crowds attention. That word "behold" indicates that He is going to teach something very profound or meaningful. Then at the end of the teaching, Jesus closes with one of His signature phrases: "He who has ears to hear, let them hear." The way Jesus started this teaching and ended it with this emphasis and closure indicates it is very important to try to understand. Also, Jesus later talks to his disciples about the meaning of the parable, and he tells them, "<i>The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you..." but there are others who can see but they do not perceive; and there are those who can hear but they do not understand.</i></p><p>Jesus said they see and hear, but they do <i>not perceive</i> nor <i>understand</i>. Those second verbs, <i>perceive </i>nor<i> understand, </i>are written in a special tense in the Greek (called the aorist subjunctive). The use of this tense indicates that it is something that happens <i>habitually.</i> </p><p>Habitually. There are people who see and hear his word but they habitually, over and over again, do not understand it. I watched a sermon from Alistair Begg on this parable recently, and he said that this sentence and this concept should "keep us up at night," wondering, am I one of the people who is not able to receive and understand from God? Am I not able to go deeper with God? Am I missing something or not perceiving? Are there things God wants me to know and understand but I am not receiving them? </p><p>It could keep us up at night, but that is not what I want for you, my readers and listeners. It doesn't have to happen for you or for us if we understand the Parable of the Seeds and Soils, and if we use what we learn from it to do a quick, daily, spiritual assessment of ourselves. We just need to ask ourselves each day, or at least once a week - ask ourselves, what has my soil been like today? What is the condition of my soil? When we ask that question, we are actually asking ourselves to reflect on the condition of our environment, and <i>maybe more importantly, the condition of our hearts.</i> </p><p>From the Parable of the Seeds and Soils, we learn that there are four spiritual conditions we may be in, and we will refer to these as the soil on the <i>path</i>, the soil on the <i>rocky ground</i>, the soil among <i>thorns</i>, or the soil that is in <i>good</i> condition. <i>In order to grow deeper with God, we need to make sure that the soil of our hearts are in an ongoing good condition to be receptive to what God wants to share with us. </i>If anoyne has tried to grow a garden from seeds, or a vegetable garden, we know that we have to maintain the soil and monitor the environment to keep everything, like the tomatoes, growing. It is not a one and done plant the seeds and go. And just like that, we also must monitor the soil and environment of our hearts to keep our seeds growing deeper and closer to God in order to receive from Him his insights and truths, in order to be guided by Him, and in order for us to be productive spiritually. </p><p>1. <b><i>First question: Is my heart laying on the path? Or we might say is my heart out dying on the sidewalk?</i></b> Outside of the tilled field? This is the heart condition where the heart is hardened or becoming hardened. Our hearts can be laying out on the path due to a number of reasons. It could be due to poor influences we are allowing into our lives, like the birds who come and take our seed away. It could be due to our selective refusal to not obey God in an area of our lives. Honestly, is the condition of my heart right now laying out on the hard path? Be honest with yourself, are you on the path, or have you been out there on the sidewalk before? If so, if you have been out on the scorching sidewalk before, resisting God or having a hardened heart - when was it? And how did you come out of that condition to hear and understand God again (if you did)?</p><p>2. <b><i>Second question to ask yourself: Have I been on rocky soil? Was I growing with joy with God at one time - but I've become more "shallow" and apathetic about it lately?</i></b> Am I finding that hearing from the word has been kind of dull lately, and nothing is really springing up or coming from it? Let's be honest with ourselves, have we been in the rocky, shallow soil lately? </p><p>3. <b><i>For the third possible condition, let's ask - "Have I been in the soil with thorns?"</i></b> I think that this is where I get caught up a lot if I am honest with myself. <i style="font-weight: bold;">The thorns, as Jesus described, are usually two things. It says it directly in the text of the chapter -- the thorns are the worries and stresses in our lives or the desire to chase worldly wealth or wordly offerings over the things of God. </i>Am I failing to grow more deeply because of all the worries or distractions or messages or temptations that the world puts in front of me each day? Is that why maybe I feel like I am missing something? Is that why I am feeling weary and burdened or burned out? Do I need to take care of these thorns and ask the Holy Spirit to till and nurture my soil and rid me of the temptation to focus on thorns of worry or thorns of distraction?</p><p>I just referred to the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit is the key to our getting back in a place in the farmer's field that is growing and joyfully learning with God. <i><b>The fourth question: How do we remain in or return to the good soil? How do we renew our hearts to draw closer back to the things of God?</b></i> The answer is this: We ask the Holy Spirit to re-condition the soil of our hearts; and we spend time in prayer and in God's word. Perhaps we go back to a small group studying God's word or we go back to church if we are well and able, but have been staying home. My mother was an avid gardener, and I remember if she had spent time with a plant and the plant was failing, she would take some of the soil and take a leaf or part of the stem of the plant to the expert gardeners or the horticulturists at the nearby nursery. They could test the soil and look at the condition of the plant leaves and tell her what to do, what changes she needed to make in the growing conditions, in order to enable that plant to return to healthy growing and to flourish. </p><p>Spiritually, that expert grower for us is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the tiller of our soil and the preparer of our hearts to receive what God has to teach us or to reveal to us. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us change our condition, to reset our posture towards receptivity to God. We do this by praying to God to draw us back to Him through the working of His Spirt. We ask God to soften our hearts, to open our eyes and ears so that we no longer are in a state of habitually hearing but not growing, or habitually seeing but not understanding anything fresh or new. </p><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div></div>
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<!--END - We recommend to place the below code where you want the form in your website html--><br /><div><br /></div><div><h2><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing </p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">closer to God, then you would enjoy <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Weight Loss for Christians, An </a></i></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings</a></i></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank"><br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; 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What Are They, and How Do We Wear Them?</b></span></span></h2><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE61S96feUs1LRj2DGTaS9-nhoDc81kKsi41lCkGM9r4jfDAmcxkJlLekQ4W8L4p2Ysyty6lBkmsQotB1_i02-BUIJ_Tdf5hPqYtX4Yu8c7F9otrMyh37Us3rdB9CEHc_6AzyOXidoUze_1GRMg1XBtgFl7ppkqeDoIeq8Ymm9bJBOSTkY_6OCb5JpIQ/s940/ShoesOfPeaceBlogPodCast.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE61S96feUs1LRj2DGTaS9-nhoDc81kKsi41lCkGM9r4jfDAmcxkJlLekQ4W8L4p2Ysyty6lBkmsQotB1_i02-BUIJ_Tdf5hPqYtX4Yu8c7F9otrMyh37Us3rdB9CEHc_6AzyOXidoUze_1GRMg1XBtgFl7ppkqeDoIeq8Ymm9bJBOSTkY_6OCb5JpIQ/s320/ShoesOfPeaceBlogPodCast.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></span></span></p>You may listen to the 10 minute audio </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">right here </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">on the website by </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Player for the episode title below. </span></i><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span> If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span></i></span></span><p></p><p></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"></span></i></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><p></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;"><i>Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </i></a></p></div><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
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</p><h3 style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>"Shoes of Peace." What Are They, and How Do We Wear Them?</b></span></span></h3><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">As
this new year turned over, I began trying to think of a word that
would be "my word" to hold onto for the year. Typically
this shouldn't be too hard to come up with a word, but as January 1st
passed, and then the second, and then the 10th, I still didn't have a
good, single word.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">However,
there is a phrase that has been both convicting me and inspiring me
for the past few months, and it is also a phrase that I want to hold
on to this year and implement daily this year so that it becomes not
just a phrase in my head, nor just a note in a notebook. I want this phrase to be something to hold onto and to anchor me this year and future years as
well.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">The
phrase is "shoes of peace."</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">The phrase is inspired from the description of the Armor of God in the book of
Ephesians 6:14-16:</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">"<i><b>Stand
firm then</b></i>, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and <i><b>with your
feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.</b></i>"</span></span><br /> <br /></span></p><p></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Shoes
of Peace.” Don't those shoes sound like comfortable and restful footwear? If I were to go shopping today at Macy's or DSW
looking for shoes of peace, I would expect to find some shoes that
look like these below (actually I googled "buy peaceful shoes" and these came up as possible examples.)</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5kus2ZH-m6mUUt2poVbfZ_Jn0SbV3pMf0gwrX8OXOTVNW6ei-w4BGTC0ysDmwMhgYdLo3LBviK07d-iSH7W796qIgHostsJgUS88IepJ__-PsI3K_M8Vjp4XNVB5IDauRBi6QSLNPqDH6u_l3Kl1D5DQQjlk6G4TxxQRP62UkJ6QekgH66SBPcdRtA/s800/shoesofpeace1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5kus2ZH-m6mUUt2poVbfZ_Jn0SbV3pMf0gwrX8OXOTVNW6ei-w4BGTC0ysDmwMhgYdLo3LBviK07d-iSH7W796qIgHostsJgUS88IepJ__-PsI3K_M8Vjp4XNVB5IDauRBi6QSLNPqDH6u_l3Kl1D5DQQjlk6G4TxxQRP62UkJ6QekgH66SBPcdRtA/w200-h200/shoesofpeace1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those
shoes would certainly be comfortable and peaceful on the feet! I
actually have worn shoes similar to these. I can confirm that these
are very comfortable with their inside orthopedic cushioning. It's
like walking on a peaceful cloud.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However,
I think we all know that Paul wasn't talking about these types of
modern day, comfortable, orthopedic shoes. What we may not all know
is that the picture below represents what Paul was referring to as
the “shoes of peace:”</span></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXs6KxD5-rxYwuoKJyCB8nl3U2wNC_VIgBoyQ9y5Uxa3KlWYW1aNEP_XVgbpH8hOuMkU9d51kRdL80lcbOfVNdBh3VKU2_1soxBeWKpJGWVLSWAqkSINUkjuM2A3Xcfy-5ScX0ipO8ajKx5NzmGOyAs_QALd8XQkkJ-LPFOOadi6vLe6TBcDsnSRvBQ/s2592/ShoesOfPeach-RomanReplica.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="2592" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXs6KxD5-rxYwuoKJyCB8nl3U2wNC_VIgBoyQ9y5Uxa3KlWYW1aNEP_XVgbpH8hOuMkU9d51kRdL80lcbOfVNdBh3VKU2_1soxBeWKpJGWVLSWAqkSINUkjuM2A3Xcfy-5ScX0ipO8ajKx5NzmGOyAs_QALd8XQkkJ-LPFOOadi6vLe6TBcDsnSRvBQ/w200-h149/ShoesOfPeach-RomanReplica.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
picture is of a shoe that is in the Roman Army Museum in the UK. It
is a replica of a Roman soldier's shoes from over 2000 years ago. The
photo is shown from this particular angle so you can see one of the
most important features of these ancient army shoes. Look at those
hobnail spikes on the bottom of this "shoe of peace!"</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those
hobnail spikes help us understand Paul's metaphor for these shoes.
Let's look again how Paul describes the purpose of the footwear, in
context with the full sentence it is found in Ephesians. Paul writes,
“<u>Stand firm then.</u>...with your feet f<u>itted with the
readiness </u>that comes from the <u>gospel of peace</u>.”</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Obviously,
then, these peace shoes are not a comfortable, relaxing, walking upon
a cloud type of shoes. These <u>peace shoes </u>are <u>battle shoes.
</u>They are fighting shoes – with short spikes on the bottom.
Those short spikes helped the soldier stand firm upon the dirt ground
in battle. <i><b>However, when we face our battles, we have been
instructed to be firmly planted in the gospel of God's peace</b></i>.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When
we wear this battle-ready footwear, we are choosing to stand firmly
in the good news of God's peace. Those spikes are on the bottom
because we are to stand firmly in the ground of the peace that comes
only from knowing and walking with God. By standing firmly in God's
peace we are able to successfully battle with all of the following:</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the
disruptions and the chaos of life;</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the
unexpected events that blindside us;</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the
surprise and unwanted encounters that should have never happened;</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and
the turbulence of society which affects us in ways we have no control
over.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Priscilla
Shirer, in her Bible Study <i>The Armor of God </i>says that without
the shoes of peace, “turbulence leads us into misguided battles.”
She also writes in lesson 4 of the book: “Mark it down. Whenever
you feel an overriding sense of unrest inside or overwhelming
distress...the enemy is somewhere in the middle, stirring it up.
Anywhere peace is lacking, you can be sure he's at work.”</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She
goes on to explain the following: “<i>Shalom</i>, the familiar
Hebrew word for <i>peace </i>which permeates the Old
Testament, does not refer to the absence of chaos, but rather to an
overall, deeply entrenched sense of harmony, health, and wholeness in
the midst of chaos. In fact, true peace is best detected and measured
against the backdrop of commotion and confusion—when instability
abounds, yet you remain steadfast; when disappointment and confusion
are near, yet you’re still capable of walking with Spirit-infused
confidence, stability, and steadiness. [Priscilla Shirer (2015).
Lesson Four. <i>The Armor of God - Bible Study.]</i></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes,
that is what I want to intentionally experience this year and beyond.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This
year the phrase for me will be “Shoes of Peace.”</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
know this year will likely bring surprises and unwanted circumstances
and turbulence at some point. The year has already brought some
unexpected and unwanted turns, actually, and we haven't even fully
closed out the month of January.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
don't want to fight against such circumstances with a spirit of
anxiety, or fear, or anger - or with a sense that I can somehow
respond in a way to somehow control the outcome.This year, I'm
wearing these spiked-bound Shoes of Peace, and I will remember that
no matter what comes my way, I will keep my feet grounded in the
knowledge of God's promises and in His peace.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
of course, the best news of all is that these “Shoes of Peace”
are available to anyone and everyone who places their trust in God.
So we don't have to go shopping for our orthopedic-comfortable peace
shoes. God has a pair for each of us who put our trust in Him through
Jesus.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </a></span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">You may also listen to the Gospel Life Learning blog podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or YouTube. You may also find the most recent episodes at the <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" target="_blank">Podcast tab.</a></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Author's books can be found at: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6">https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6</a></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-21924647195551171762022-10-09T22:00:00.011-05:002023-03-31T23:22:13.196-05:00What to Do While Waiting for God to Answer Prayer? Especially When It Is A Long Wait...<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMhBei22wrjhEZQOn9V8XNDtqcnsZk9jA7EjEdl2-MhMvTbLc1dCUWj3gpJK6ET6GmFjsBQ4qMLucRkCloi1OYj-MjDWM2rhWcHXqGyOKiELyYVu3rOtQPkv0x-WrWEzf36UyQsBJM7HVmW9VfmBuhCm0ARqcUB6CPX32GZl_DLwovedNobphiveR9A/s940/WhatToDoWhileWaiting.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMhBei22wrjhEZQOn9V8XNDtqcnsZk9jA7EjEdl2-MhMvTbLc1dCUWj3gpJK6ET6GmFjsBQ4qMLucRkCloi1OYj-MjDWM2rhWcHXqGyOKiELyYVu3rOtQPkv0x-WrWEzf36UyQsBJM7HVmW9VfmBuhCm0ARqcUB6CPX32GZl_DLwovedNobphiveR9A/s320/WhatToDoWhileWaiting.png" width="320" /></a></div><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">You may listen to the 10 minute audio </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">right here </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">on the website by </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Player for the episode title below. </span></i><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span> If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"></span></i></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none;"><i>Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </i></a></span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=9cri3-12e394e-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="What To Do While Waiting For God? Especially When It’s A Long Wait..." width="100%"></iframe></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>What do we do when we are waiting for God to answer a prayer? I'm referring to all types of prayers which require waiting, but especially to those types of prayers that will likely take years or decades before an answer comes. </p><p></p>The past two weeks we've looked at two passages in Scripture that reference how God's perception of time is not like our perception of time. If you remember, we know from 1 Peter and also in the Psalms that to God, 1000 years is like a day, and that our lives are like mere seconds when we consider our time spent in our present bodies versus time in eternity. <br /><p></p><p>Unfortunately though, this also means that to us, it feels like we are often waiting on God for a long time for an answer or for direction in response to our prayers. And unfortunately, there aren't any direct, clear, step-by-step instructions in scripture on what to do while waiting specifically for answer to prayer. We are told that those who wait on the Lord will be blessed and rewarded. However, there are those of us, like myself, who have a default setting of "worrying while we are waiting." I find waiting hard to do because I want resolution or direction - right now, and I don't know what to do in the meantime other than wondering and worrying about what the answer will be. In other words, some of us, including myself, find that we are prone to "getting stuck" when we are waiting. </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p>I actually had a special session with God this week in my quiet and prayer time where I finally felt led to focus on this question, and I asked Him to reveal to me or to remind me what He wants me to do while waiting. These are the promises, scriptures, and examples that His Spirit quickly brought to my mind when I lifted this question up to Him. I'm sharing these now.</p><p>First, let us remember that God has promised to bless us and reward us when we wait for Him. In Isaiah 30 we are told, "blessed are all those who wait for Him."</p><p>Second, remember that Jesus himself had a lot to say about worrying while waiting, and that it is a waste of our time! In Luke 12:25, Jesus asked the rhetorical question, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"</p><p>We have to recognize, as Jesus wants us to, that "worrying is wasting." We need to recognize that God wants to take our worries, He wants to work them out and work out the outcomes in our lives, and we need to keep living, and especially to keep living for our purpose in Him, to keep pressing on. </p><p>This brings me to the final scripture God brought to my mind this week as I asked Him to show me what to do while I am waiting. What do I do instead of worrying? The answer?</p><p>We are to press on. Specifically, in Phillipians 3, Paul shows us that we are to follow his example by this verse: "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize that God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."</p><p>But press on for what? What does Paul mean by "<u>press on</u> towards the <u>goal</u> to win the prize that God has <u>called</u> me to?" </p><p>I'm going to step back a bit to tell you about the greek underlying the words "goal" and "press on," and "called" here. The word used for "goal" is <i>skopon</i> and it is related to the English word for scope. The word for "press on" is pronounced <i>dee-o-ko</i>, and it means to pursue something quickly and with urgency. The word for "called" is pronounced <i>klaysayohs - </i>and in the English the translators of the NIV have changed this to the verb "called" for conciseness in the translation. However, in the greek, <i>klaysayohs</i> is a noun! And it means the calling God has for us, or it is our purpose that God has for us! So Paul says here that, instead of just waiting and worrying, we are to pursue with urgency, with our scope focused on our purpose that God has for us. </p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i><blockquote>Instead of waiting and worrying, we are to pursue our purpose with urgency and with our scope focused on our purpose that God has for us.</blockquote></i></h3><p></p><p>Now, some of us may have an idea of what our longer term purpose and focus is in our walk with God is; some of us, most of us likely, don't have much of a clue. We need God to reveal that to us. And here is what I know to be true; God reveals our purpose to most of us in little steps, and we have to take the first little step and then the next one is revealed. It is a daily adventure to purpose with God, as it tells us in Psalm 32:8 that God "will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go."</p><p>So here are some strategies to help us let go of the worrying while waiting, to help us get unstuck, and to press on in both discovering and fulfilling the purpose God has for us. </p><p>First. Accept the truth that Jesus spoke to us that "worrying is wasting." Now I know that we cannot always easily just turn off our worries. So a strategy that cognitive therapists teach is to actively plan and limit the time you spend worrying. We have all heard of a prayer journal; and I recommend for those of us who struggle with worry, to also have a worry journal. The important thing about the worry journal is to decide when you are going to worry and how much time you are going to worry, and then - when you decide when and for how long - to make yourself worry for that full amount of time. For example, make yourself worry and journal your worries at 4:30 pm for 10 minutes. Set a time and make yourself worry for those 10 minutes. Journal your worries for those minutes. Eventually you will discover that either you are able to keep your worries confined to shorter and shorter amounts of time each week, or you may discover you don't need to worry at all about the thing that had its grasp on you. </p><p>Second. Each day, when you wake up in the morning, ask God to show you something he has for you to do that day. Ask God to reveal to you even just a "little step" towards purpose that you may take for that day. Ask God, what is something you want me to do today that will contribute to the purpose that you have for me? Then see what He brings to your mind. If for some reason nothing is brought to your mind, it may be He merely wants you to spend set aside time with Him that day. You may need to set a basic foundation of time and relationship building with God before he begins revealing the next steps. Or, God may bring to mind, for example, a friend you haven't spoken to for awhile and prompt you to make a phone call to check in and connect with them. He may bring you to a person who needs some help and prompt you to help that person. He may show you something that was already on your "to do" list for the day; but that you now need to do with more conscientiousness because you are completing it for Him as part of your divine purpose. </p><p>All in all, recognize that worrying is wasting; so therefore we are going to minimize the time wasting by limiting the time that we worry to a prescribed, fenced-in time slot each week or each day. Then - as far as what we are to do during these times of waiting - we will daily ask God for direction in what to do, or what steps to take towards our purpose for the day. </p><p>And using these strategies will help us when we find ourselves in a state of waiting and worrying. It will allow God to help us set aside and overcome the worrying, while pressing on towards the purpose that He has for us, the purpose both in this life and for the one that is coming. </p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </a></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You may also listen to the Gospel Life Learning blog podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or YouTube. You may also find the most recent episodes at the <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" target="_blank">Podcast tab.</a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p style="line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Author's Books can be found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s13" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p><p style="line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s13" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a> </p>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-79238792561130117092022-10-01T11:57:00.004-05:002023-03-31T23:22:42.042-05:00God's Plan Is Taking SO Long! Should We Give Up Hope?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtthrLqcCz7quCfWs6trl-uH2egaIp7kQLKuy3Wr0Y0FiZVo830gM4tZPXdQNFseOmMknmlmWvq-c8Bp245xu2FZMa1F0-r9i3_pYIa78rKGxMynbQCwi_xbWgShN-PlP9H_6o1FqCsITRKXMRQN_JeCOib0PgEC8ha4HKWbFyP35o19eGKfzKM9Ln7A/s940/GodsPlanIsTakingSoLong.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtthrLqcCz7quCfWs6trl-uH2egaIp7kQLKuy3Wr0Y0FiZVo830gM4tZPXdQNFseOmMknmlmWvq-c8Bp245xu2FZMa1F0-r9i3_pYIa78rKGxMynbQCwi_xbWgShN-PlP9H_6o1FqCsITRKXMRQN_JeCOib0PgEC8ha4HKWbFyP35o19eGKfzKM9Ln7A/w320-h269/GodsPlanIsTakingSoLong.png" width="320" /></a></div><i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><p><i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">You may listen to the 6 minute audio </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">right here </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">on the website by </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Player for the episode title below. </span></i></p></span></i><p></p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><span>You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span><br /></i></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none;"><i>Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </i></a></span></p></div><p><br /></p><p>
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</p><p><br /></p><p>God's plan...</p><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It is taking so long, so very long.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Do we give up hope?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">There are many passages we could read to remind us of the assurances and promises that we have from God. However, today, I want us to find assurance in what may, at first, seem like an unlikely passage in the New Testament. </span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It's in a passage of scripture from the first part of Matthew. Let's look at Matthew 1:1. </span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">This is where we are going to find our hope today, from Matthew 1:1 to Matthew 1:17. </span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Let's look at it. What it this section about? </span></span><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span>Verse 1: "<i>This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of...."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh! Did you think maybe I had the wrong passage? This is just a genealogy. How are we going to find hope in this list of names? Let's see, let's keep going: Boaz and Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse the father of King David. We are in verse 6 now. "<i>David was the father of Solomon who's mother was Uriah's wife"</i> - that's Bathsheba. Solomon, Rehoboam, Hezekiah, Manasseh, "<i>Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Now we are in verse 12. I don't even recognize any of these names. Azor. Matthan. Okay, that's interesting. <i>"Matthan the father of Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah."</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>And there it is, verse 17. "<i>Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile in Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.</i>"<br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">That's right, it is a genealogy -- a really long genealogy, from Abraham to Jesus Christ. </span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">No, this passage for today's source of hope was not a mistake. We are going to find a source of assurance and hope in a lengthy New Testament genealogy. </span></span><div><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Think about the question, "How many generations passed between Abraham and Christ?"</span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">If you look at verse 17 and then add up the generations, you will get the answer. It's 14 and 14 and 14 which is 14 times 3. </span></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></span><blockquote><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It's</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> 42 generations passed from Abraham and the birth of Isaac, to the birth of Jesus. </span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">And therein lies our hope. </span></span></b></blockquote><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">God works, and has always worked, through many, many generations to fulfill his great plan for the world. He is patient. Early on, God promised His people that He would send the Christ. </span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">From Adam to Jesus, we know the fulfillment of His promise took 6000 earth years.</span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">From Abraham to Jesus, the time that passed was approximately 2100 earth years.</span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">David knew the Christ would come. David longed for his coming. Yet, God fulfilled His promise at least a full 1000 years after David’s birth.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">All of these years - that 1000 years and the 2100 years prior to that - those are just days in God's timing. We talked about that last week, or it was in the blogpost last week, about why God is so patient to remove the evil, and we remembered that with God a thousand years is like a day. Since God is eternal, this is true. Just like when we are 50 or 60 years old and a year goes by so, so fast. We can imagine that if living eternally, 1000 years is a very short time. And our time on this earth - when maybe we might make it to 100 years - is seconds, it's seconds, when considered within eternity. </span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">So we know that Jesus will return as he has promised. </span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We shouldn't be doubtful because it seems to be taking so long. </span></div><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i></i></span></b><blockquote><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>Instead, we should expect it to take so long. For that is the way God has always worked out His plans. He is outside our time and works through our time in a manner that seems so long to us, but it is not long for eternity. And that is the way God fulfills His promises. </i></span></b><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>God works through the generations. Long, long lists of generations. </i></b></blockquote><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></b><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">This is our assurance for these times. May your will be done, Lord. May your will be done in your time, Lord. </span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><br /></span><span>Amen. </span></span></div></div><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </a></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You may also listen to the Gospel Life Learning blog podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or YouTube. You may also find the most recent episodes at the <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" target="_blank">Podcast tab.</a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p style="line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s12" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s12" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s13" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Author's other books can be found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s13" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p></span></span></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-22306519731226400462022-09-24T13:23:00.008-05:002023-03-31T23:23:38.607-05:00Why Hasn't God Removed Evil Yet? Jesus Answers, Heaven's Timeline. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafZAfoq-g9x4lUqA8HdmuDuBqXVMDps50_tNZ4CRM2B8PNOvG9v8dMbOBN1mIt1u6SjHcX5l1_7a553CzJjcZRczgcekx1IvGkH4OOe6PrTgR_dmLIL_reAgG85K9aIJbQvYZdiRnna4UnMYRwLLRp0bPspDU9tKU1N3VuN-2QbPlT0-p7QGz8BNaCA/s940/WhyHasn'tGodWipedOutEvil.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafZAfoq-g9x4lUqA8HdmuDuBqXVMDps50_tNZ4CRM2B8PNOvG9v8dMbOBN1mIt1u6SjHcX5l1_7a553CzJjcZRczgcekx1IvGkH4OOe6PrTgR_dmLIL_reAgG85K9aIJbQvYZdiRnna4UnMYRwLLRp0bPspDU9tKU1N3VuN-2QbPlT0-p7QGz8BNaCA/w320-h268/WhyHasn'tGodWipedOutEvil.png" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><br />You may listen to the 10 minute audio </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">right here </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">on the website by </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Player for the episode title below. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span><br /></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </a></span></p></div>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=f5vjx-12cfbcf-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=2baf9e&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=3267a3" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Why Hasn’t God Removed Evil Yet? Jesus Answers, Heaven’s Timeline." width="100%"></iframe>
<br /><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4678ff25-7fff-ef10-62a2-6a119b23f256"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why doesn’t God wipe out evil now?” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a big question. Many of us have wondered, “Why is God taking so long to fully restore all to Him and His kingdom? Why doesn’t God just speak the needed words and wipe out evil immediately? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus explained why, in a parable. He told the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and after he told the parable, he then explained specifically to his disciples what each part of the parable meant. Jesus didn’t do this for all of his parables and teachings. There are only a few, where it is recorded, that Jesus told a parable, and when the disciples didn’t quite get it, Jesus then went back and explained each part of the metaphor. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is the passage for this, in Matthew 13. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' The slaves said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Now there is our question being asked. The servants asked, “Do you want us to go and remove the evil plants now?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” – </span></blockquote><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But he said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">'</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the harvest, I will say to the reapers, 'First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.'”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now if you are on the Gospel Life Learning website and reading or listening to this from the blog, then there is a picture. If you are listening through a podcast host, then I will put a link to the website with the blog and the photo so you can find it later and also see it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K37NdDbxzv7kkXSOjPfAf9NFtXA78_vuzvkCgHlvJl3tv3wgvyH012m2Coh_2QxXWoJMl6HIatcua0ev5Hefr3aYCFoyMcFwDHBp4j-H-4L4O4PEoIA7MRyeDnssHANaTtZ0-mNulI7pwhzzLd1SPi3BsMw2ldaykABIsqwSsjaQRYJkH9WAopWS-g/s1600/E9D0B8A2-8CC0-45F0-8D84-DF641F64E4EB.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1600" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K37NdDbxzv7kkXSOjPfAf9NFtXA78_vuzvkCgHlvJl3tv3wgvyH012m2Coh_2QxXWoJMl6HIatcua0ev5Hefr3aYCFoyMcFwDHBp4j-H-4L4O4PEoIA7MRyeDnssHANaTtZ0-mNulI7pwhzzLd1SPi3BsMw2ldaykABIsqwSsjaQRYJkH9WAopWS-g/s320/E9D0B8A2-8CC0-45F0-8D84-DF641F64E4EB.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you see the picture, you will see a stalk of wheat, and then – next to it - a tare, side by side, before they are ripe. It is very, very difficult to tell them apart. One of the main things to notice is that the wheat is a little 'puffier;' the fruit of the wheat is larger than the tare. However, as the two plants are growing it is very, very hard to tell which is which – which is the wheat, the good crop, and which is the tare, the useless crop. Now, once the wheat is matured and is ripe, you can tell which one is a tare. You can tell much better because the wheat limps over when it is ripe.It is very flexible and it limps over when it is ripe, but the tare - it sticks straight up.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WZcPwljwyuKH2T7BIyXLWqEfGYPnr1GjeztZ1r7Dho8qFqbO-eT2iEhjTv-j0auJpwcKhSgbgWfo4vSt39czL_weiAaDQzdEO92EF53LTZ2qDU11JrAB5JHyY-LnGeLYc6urkitegRKUjKWsy5Rh1LSKKn4bp_EKikm3bwIhoolTx4lEGnmkcxO9UA/s904/F711767D-B4E2-4330-81D1-E62B45E90885.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="904" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WZcPwljwyuKH2T7BIyXLWqEfGYPnr1GjeztZ1r7Dho8qFqbO-eT2iEhjTv-j0auJpwcKhSgbgWfo4vSt39czL_weiAaDQzdEO92EF53LTZ2qDU11JrAB5JHyY-LnGeLYc6urkitegRKUjKWsy5Rh1LSKKn4bp_EKikm3bwIhoolTx4lEGnmkcxO9UA/s320/F711767D-B4E2-4330-81D1-E62B45E90885.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still, what does this mean? Well, further down in Matthew 13, starting at verse 36, Jesus actually explains.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Then he left the crowd and went into the house. And his disciples came to him and said, 'Explain to us the parable of the wheat and the tares of the field.' And he said to them, “The one who sows good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So why doesn't God just wipe out all evil right now?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s take this teaching and make it personal. The parable tells us that the tares have been sown by the enemy right among the wheat in the field. Some translations say the bad seed has been added right in the midst of the wheat. And don’t we all see that now in our fields and in our sphere of influence? I am currently facilitating a Bible Study and nearly each one of the women in the group have shared that they are dealing with something that has been sown in their fields right now. They are dealing with tares and they don’t know what to do with the tares. Do I deal with this directly right now? Or do I wait for a time for maturity and see how this works out?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See, we have families, and our friends, our communities and our work places. These are our fields we tend to. And we all know people in our family or amongst our friends, in our work places and in our neighborhoods and communities – we all know people who are not ready for the harvest. So let’s really think, if God were to wipe out all those who have rejected Him as of right now – who would potentially be gone that we know and love? When you look at it from that perspective, it’s easier to see the other perspective, God’s perspective, and why He wants to wait for more time. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bible tells us that God is patient, not wanting any to perish and all that is possible to come to salvation and reconciliation with Him. That is in 2 Peter 3:9. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also remember, even though it seems like it is taking so, so long – remember 2 Peter 3:8 that time is different for God. This passage tells us that a thousand years is like a day to God. You know, I used to hear that when I was younger and I just did not “get it.” I though, “That is a wonderfully, almost poetic way of describing God and time, but it doesn’t make sense because a day is measurable, right?” A day is 24 hours and it is always 24 hours, and a day is a day, and a week a week, and a month a month and a year a year. However, now that I have lived only 4 or 5 decades, I DO get it! When I was a child, a year felt like….well a year, or even longer! It was a long time to wait! But now, after living 4 or 5 decades, a year goes by so fast! Time goes by so fast! The weeks just fly on by. A month feels like a week. A week feels like a couple of days. A year feels like 3 months. And 10 years feels only like 2 years. So as we get older, there is a perception and an undeniable experience that time goes by much faster. So if that is true for us humans; how much moreso is it for God who has lived for eternity! Yes, I get it now. A thousand years is like a day for God who is eternal. It makes sense now.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><b>Our entire lifetimes are mere seconds in comparison to the time we have in eternity.</b></blockquote></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God's timeframe is not the same as ours. And this parable explains why he is patient to remove the tares; why he is patient to not have the harvest right now. He is giving everyone as much time as possible to find Him. He does not want to start the separating process too early. He is patient. He is patient for our friends, our family members and loved ones, for those in our neighborhoods and communities. He is patient for everyone, and He is patient for us. Thank God for that. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email for free study resources and monthly updates </a></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You may also listen to the Gospel Life Learning blog podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or YouTube. You may also find the most recent episodes at the <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" target="_blank">Podcast tab.</a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p style="line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s12" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s12" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s13" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Author's other books can be found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s13" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-36840396309696969902022-08-27T18:07:00.006-05:002023-03-31T23:24:25.674-05:00Cast All Your Anxieties on God…But How?<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><br />You may listen to the 10 minute audio </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">right here </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">on the website by </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Player for the episode title below. </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg657nND-MHbewxGfuqDLPKkyu_132a2-ako3F4H1WJP_mLE36HWebfNP5K9Lmk9UTX82XKQhbyf5XprW9fV8-lpqZDkterEwrIcVfJaDw0JaNJkWV_QbEJFwfpPqLRAc813Zcn9XWQiGqqyfoZQAn4iGMeKmW3WFRZ6w6o0tq7wVJzr6GK4XG8QUIjYg/s940/A7155A70-A88A-4FA3-9B41-77C3D5E239E1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg657nND-MHbewxGfuqDLPKkyu_132a2-ako3F4H1WJP_mLE36HWebfNP5K9Lmk9UTX82XKQhbyf5XprW9fV8-lpqZDkterEwrIcVfJaDw0JaNJkWV_QbEJFwfpPqLRAc813Zcn9XWQiGqqyfoZQAn4iGMeKmW3WFRZ6w6o0tq7wVJzr6GK4XG8QUIjYg/s320/A7155A70-A88A-4FA3-9B41-77C3D5E239E1.png" width="320" /></a><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span><br /></span><div><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released</a></span></p>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=spc9a-12abeaa-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=2baf9e&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=3267a3" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Cast All Your Anxieties to God...But How?" width="100%"></iframe>
<div><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Have you ever thought about how we are told in the Bible</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> to give all our worries and concerns to God? Ok, but have you ever thought, “How do I do that?” Today we are going to give you a strategy for that. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Life is hectic </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">isn’t it? Not too long ago, I came across a Snoopy comic strip, or a </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Peanuts</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> comic strip, and it said</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">– it’s Charlie Brown and Linus sitting by the fence – and this is what it said:</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiitIYWRqlvOc9m38dLj4YhZfJlB6-ChkQ8EwhpxGDao6CtPfaFdw0bVJo6kpRB4qI1LXV0SgnpvIAypor3hONSxgPs1pjaDIHh3mvQu8mAT8rWbbs2Nt8bWNSwnN0c9Octa4WFTOuANEZwU4emoPOqgFbJGIDcji7K6LZ7YYnu7xBgGNwEZRaLGrfKQ/s320/63A477BA-B09D-416D-A567-084805F17868.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="320" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiitIYWRqlvOc9m38dLj4YhZfJlB6-ChkQ8EwhpxGDao6CtPfaFdw0bVJo6kpRB4qI1LXV0SgnpvIAypor3hONSxgPs1pjaDIHh3mvQu8mAT8rWbbs2Nt8bWNSwnN0c9Octa4WFTOuANEZwU4emoPOqgFbJGIDcji7K6LZ7YYnu7xBgGNwEZRaLGrfKQ/s1600/63A477BA-B09D-416D-A567-084805F17868.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: thin solid rgb(238, 238, 238); color: black; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 0px;"><tbody><tr style="vertical-align: top;"><td class="s5" style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: middle; word-wrap: break-word;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="s7" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 265px;"></div></td></tr><tr style="vertical-align: top;"><td class="s5" style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: middle; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 265px;"><p class="s7" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s8" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8px; line-height: 9.6px;">(Peanuts comic strip credit to Peanuts Worldwide @ schulzmuseum.org)</span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">This is from Charles Schultz. It’s a comic strip. I thought comics were supposed to be funny! It caught my interest, and I realized that </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">it struck a chord with me</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> – Charlie Brown’s words did.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">See, I can remember periods in my life when I would live by this philosophy. I didn't choose to live this way; it just seemed to be my default setting when things</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> got really busy or when things</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> got tough.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I can make it to Friday afternoon, the weekend will be better.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I finish grad school, I can get out of this job and get a really good one.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I can find a better job or get a transfer to a better school, or a better area, or closer to home; things will be better.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I can survive my child's terrible twos, or fours, or twelves, or teens; things will get easier.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I can get caught up on these work deadlines; my days will be more relaxed.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I can get past my required daily routine; I will have time to rest.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">I could go on and on, but the point is that I was living during those times by just "mentally surviving" day by day. My hope was in some potential future state of "better,”just</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> a future better than “right now.”</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Now m</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">aybe I am only one of a small percentage of people in the world who ever lives this way. Though, I suspect I'm not. I suspect there are many who put on a happy face sometimes; but inside they are just </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">getting through, </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">day by day.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">With thoughts like…</span></span><p></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I made more money....</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I could find the right boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse....</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only this bad thing hadn't happened in my past...</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only I could make time to go on vacation....</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If only someone hadn't left me</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">....or</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> if that person hadn’t</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> passed away....</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Stop. Just stop.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">There’s</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> a better way</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">. There’s</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> a better daily philosophy</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">, Charlie Brown!</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> And </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">let me tell you </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">that philosophy is based on this:</span></span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"></span></span></p><blockquote>"Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7</blockquote><p></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">And</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> now,</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> that is exactly what I do. When I wake up, and as I'm getting ready for the day, I just cast it over to Him.</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> Oftentimes, if it’s really something that’s got ahold of me or I can’t stop ruminating over, I will </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">actually </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">imagine</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> myself, close my eyes and</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> visually</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">imagine that I have a really large sack with all these things that could potentially be dreadful or anxiety producing or just not fun. It’s a big sack like a big stuffed laundry bag, and I just</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> visual </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">myself tossing it, and Jesus catching it. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">I</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> don't even ask for anything specific. I don't ask for any particular outcome. I literally</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> in my vision or in </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">my </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">imagination</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">, my visual imagination, I just toss it to Him. </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">It says cast! </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">So</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> I cast it! Toss it! </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">He asked for </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">our</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> anxieties! </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">It finally dawned on me that if we </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">don't give</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> our anxieties to Him </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">after He asked for them; then </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">we are</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> just </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">taking responsibility for making our own mess in our own heads. </span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">The reason I typically do not ask for a particular outcome is because I can trust that He already knows the best outcome -- and </span></span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">if I give it to Him; with no strings attached, and with no demands for a particular outcome, then </span></span><span class="s11" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">He will work out what He wants -- in His way - without my interference.</span></span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">And His way is much better than</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">our</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> ways</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">.</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> His way is better than my way. This strategy helps </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">to </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">develop</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">within me a better attitude. His way helps me to focus on the positive and on the small victories and</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">the</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> pleasant moments within each day.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">At the end of the day,</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> you know what I find? And I think you would find the same at the end of each </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">day, if</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> you tried this strategy.</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> I find th</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">is:</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">My way brings me overwhelm and stress.</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">His way brings me peace and rest. </span></span></blockquote><p> </p><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Typically, my</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> pray</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">er will sound</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> something</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> like this: </span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">"Lord, I wake up. I don't even know what to ask for or what to look for today. I'm starting to feel stressed about all I </span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">have to</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> do, and I'm becoming overwhelmed. I just give it to you. Go before me and work things out according to what you know is best. I know it may be a tough day; but I am trusting you to get me through...and </span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">get my through </span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">with a right attitude."</span></span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">God</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> is with us in spirit day by day. When we remember th</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">is</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> as often as we can throughout the day; </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">if at the beginning of the day we “toss” those things – just toss that bag of worries and concerns over to him, and </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">"practic</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">e</span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> His presence" </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">throughout the day as well, then </span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">everything changes in perspective.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Let me close with this verse:</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." -Psalms 143:8 (NIV)</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If we are, in the morning, putting our trust in Jesus, giving over our concerns to Him, and doing this because if we can entrust Him with our lives, then surely we can trust Him with our day. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released</a></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You may also listen to the Gospel Life Learning blog podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or YouTube. You may also find the most recent episodes at the <a href="https://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/podcast.html" target="_blank">Podcast tab.</a></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s12" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s12" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s13" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s9" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Author's other books can be found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s13" style="background-color: white; color: #2381be; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-51061821504797957322022-08-20T21:54:00.007-05:002023-03-31T23:39:43.800-05:00What Is Active Faith? Should I Be Worried If I Think I Don’t Have It?<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sV2qvnoiF46fV7XFWE6ll5Tsag5I1J8wy1VkXnmvx1NTRdbnVDJRWScGY0eiBzyXgruxHoloMMq8-8woq8jhMuk2YNdAVaunKI3H2SfMEmWm6ip0PYq8QbR_oEML72pnYYeTc4kLisFCG4jUoFAAe2xUM37fTP3_8KbaIAKW8UQEEPHJP5_Em-yfTQ/s940/2002AD54-F598-4C95-AE31-4579E7E05101.png" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sV2qvnoiF46fV7XFWE6ll5Tsag5I1J8wy1VkXnmvx1NTRdbnVDJRWScGY0eiBzyXgruxHoloMMq8-8woq8jhMuk2YNdAVaunKI3H2SfMEmWm6ip0PYq8QbR_oEML72pnYYeTc4kLisFCG4jUoFAAe2xUM37fTP3_8KbaIAKW8UQEEPHJP5_Em-yfTQ/w320-h269/2002AD54-F598-4C95-AE31-4579E7E05101.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">You may listen to the 10 minute audio </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">right here on the website by </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Player for the episode title below. 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If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #2381be; font-size: x-large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #2381be; font-size: x-large; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=8mtr8-e1105a-pbblog-playlist&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&order=episodic&limit=10&filter=all&ss=a713390a017602015775e868a2cf26b0&btn-skin=7&size=315" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Gospel Life Learning" width="100%"></iframe>
</span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What is “Active Faith” Anyway? Should I Worry If I Think I Don’t Have It?</span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">What is</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">active faith</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">? </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Take just a second</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and think about how you would answer that question. </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Many of us have ideas about this related to different types of works or service related to faith. </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Active faith, however, at its basis, is very simple. </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">If you study the words</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and actions</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> of Jesus in the entire book</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">s</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> of </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Matthew and </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Mark, you will learn that active faith is the faith that enables </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">you</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> to discern where God is </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">working in your life and in the lives of those around you. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">You will also see that</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, over and over </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">again, </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">people</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> were praised by Jesus</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s7" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">for their faith</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">when they did nothing more than this: </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">they made an effort to come to Jesus for help. </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">We’ve been complicating the idea of “active faith” or “faith vs. works” for way too long</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and it’s time to </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">truly understand what it is and how powerful it is.</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><i></i></span></span></p><blockquote><i><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Over and over again</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, Jesus praised individuals for their great faith based on just one choice that person made. And that choice was the decision and the action to come to Jesus for help. </span></span></i></blockquote><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><p></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><div class="s9" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s8" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">When the </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">paralyzed man’s friends </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">brought him to Jesus for healing</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">,</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> Jesus acted when he saw their faith. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">(Ma</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">tthew 9</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">)</span></span></div><div class="s9" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s8" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">When the </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">women with internal bleeding pushed her way through to the crowd to get to Jesus, he praised her for her faith. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">(Mark 5)</span></span></div><div class="s9" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s8" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Jairus’s daughter was healed due to his faith, and the only action he had taken was to go to Jesus. (Matthew 9)</span></span></div><div class="s9" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s8" style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 21.6px;">• </span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">When the blind man, Bartimaeus called out to Jesus and requested that h</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">is</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> eyesight be restored, Jesus healed him and credited Bartimaeus’s act of faith. (Mark 10)</span></span></div><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">In every instance, the action these persons were praised for was this: they believed enough to </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">actually come</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> to Jesus</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, to make an effort to get to Him,</span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and to ask Him for help. </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">They believed that Jesus could intervene and do what they asked of him. </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">And Jesus called that FAITH. </span></span></blockquote><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><p></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">How does th</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">is</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> apply today? </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Even the </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">well known</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> verse in Hebrews 11:1 gives us a direct definition of true faith. It says that faith is defined in part as “the evidence of things not seen.” </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px;">Friends, our answered prayers are the evidence of the unseen actions and activity that God takes when we pray</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px;">.</span><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span></span></blockquote><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><p></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Authentic, heartfelt prayer by a person who is following Jesus and allowing themselves to be changed by Him and his teachings - th</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">is</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> is what leads to the evidence, the outcomes, that gives us strong faith. However, we </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">have to</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> be attuned to it. We </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">have to</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> remember what we have prayed and wait and record the</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> answer, because the answer is the evidence. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">In the early first century, for three years the people who lived near where Jesus was had the privilege of being able to go to him in person</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and get an immediate response to their request. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Today, we go to Jesus in spirit – through prayer. </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">The quality of our prayer life is probably the number one indicator of our level of active faith. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">We are told </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">over and over again</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> by Christ, and then later by his disciples, that we should bring </span></span><span class="s10" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.4px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">all</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> of our concerns to God. Not just the big concerns. All of them. (1 Peter 5:7)</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> If we are doing that, if we are truly bringing </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">all of</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> our concerns, the big ones and small ones, to God, and doing so with belief and trust that He can and may intervene if it is within His will for us – then we are demonstrating great, active, faith. </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">So</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> in closing, up u</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">ntil now, what has the term </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">active faith</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> meant to you? </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">And now, after you have considered how Jesus himself defined and identified those with great faith, </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">How</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> would you define </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">“active faith”</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> now? Are </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">we all</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> capable of demonstrating</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">this type of</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> active faith in such a manner </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">on a daily basis</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">? </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">How do </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">we</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> think our li</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">ves</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> might transform if </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">we</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> do? </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Let’s truly consider these questions. Do we take </span></span><span class="s11" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">all </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">our concerns to God daily? Or do we fret and stress for hours or even days first? Do we wear ourselves out before we finally realize we need to talk to God? </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of concerns over the course of the week or over a month. There is no way I can take all those concerns to God and then look for the evidence of a response without somehow keeping track of my prayers.</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Here is a tip to </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">help, if</span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> you need it. </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">If you haven't started a prayer journal yet -- start one. It is a simple record of your prayers </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">in</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">which you track and then</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> you</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> date</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">when </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">you first prayed the prayer, and then later you review your list of requests and mark down when and how each request is</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> answered. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> Don’t wait until you have the perfect journal to start your prayer journal. Grab a</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> basic notebook, a</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> sheet of paper, the back of an envelope, whatever you have available at this moment and write down your prayer concerns and take them to God. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I don’t even use a notebook anymore. N</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">ow I just use my laptop. I have a </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">word </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">document on my </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">laptop</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and I just type my prayer concerns </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">in that document </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and take them to God</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I can even put a </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">private </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">password on the </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">word </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">document </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">so it cannot be opened by anyone else</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, so that all those concerns are between only me and God</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">, </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">perhaps </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">some of the angels. </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Just the act of having a prayer journal and reviewing it supports the growth of continuing in great faith! </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"></span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">How can you deny what God has done for you if you have kept, and are keeping, an ongoing record of prayer results in your life? </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">There is nothing I can think of that you can do to track the work of God in your life other than keeping a prayer journal. You often times will even start to see how God is working even when prayers seem unanswered or seem to be a </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">“</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">no.</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">”</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">If there is one </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">thing</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> I want to encourage my readers </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">and listeners </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">to do, it is to keep a prayer journal and</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> review it and</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> update it regularly. I cannot stress enough how much this will empower both your prayer life, and your faith life!</span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Finally, if you need help with the practical aspects of prayer, such as a simple prayer method or</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> as simple process for “tracking your prayers,” </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">I will be covering those</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> topics</span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> soon in these podcasts and on this blog this season. If you do not want to wait and </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">think you need some help right now, I have written a short, but powerful </span></span><span class="s4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">book </span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">which can be found on Amazon. It is called </span></span><span class="s13" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today.</span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> I have received good feedback from many who have read it, and they have told me it has helped them to renew and get re-motivated again in </span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">their </span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">daily </span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">relationship with God</span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">. </span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">It’s just a resource I want my readers and listeners to know is readily available if anyone is trying to think of some renewed strategies to help us with our spiritual motivation and to be more present with God in our day to day lives. </span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Again</span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> it is titled, </span></span><span class="s13" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> and it is</span></span><span class="s12" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.4px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.6px;"> published under the author name, Sherry Elaine Evans. </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s14" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 21.6px;">-----------------------------------</span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released</a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/s408/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans" target="_blank">Book on Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"></span></span></p><p></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">There are also 14 videos that go along with this book on this blog here: </span></span><a href="http://www.gospellifelearning.com/p/video-series_12.html"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Teachings of Jesus videos</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">Author's other books </span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;">can be</span></span><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="font-size: 2em; line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Epiosodes and more also found on our YouTube channel:</p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="115" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iMv8qz7B3oY" width="138" youtube-src-id="iMv8qz7B3oY"></iframe></p>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-43110933490120989722022-08-13T12:42:00.002-05:002022-08-13T23:31:21.774-05:00Do You Know the Key Question to All Life’s Problems? (With Parable of the House on the Rock)<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">You may listen to the 10 minute audio </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">right here on the website by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqDDAqc-gtUIZ9yjYdYdkwuETqdtVIcf9V23_rbODzi8zDe8YXCe7oomhQysazcesIxlO4lDx3gO5ofu2rNrZUBwFYIFtR-JdQG9hgWS8geoNfktuRGNZl44JfxO_SqRUj7cVZgHDqb-zGQ41Y94VrQiICwWsG4I9lhLl1faG8KWUn0a9YV0-QzsfOA/s940/9B3E76BC-087A-487D-B043-431B1F7E8B49.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqDDAqc-gtUIZ9yjYdYdkwuETqdtVIcf9V23_rbODzi8zDe8YXCe7oomhQysazcesIxlO4lDx3gO5ofu2rNrZUBwFYIFtR-JdQG9hgWS8geoNfktuRGNZl44JfxO_SqRUj7cVZgHDqb-zGQ41Y94VrQiICwWsG4I9lhLl1faG8KWUn0a9YV0-QzsfOA/s320/9B3E76BC-087A-487D-B043-431B1F7E8B49.png" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Player for the episode title below. You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #2381be; font-size: x-large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #2381be; font-size: x-large; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /></span></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=8mtr8-e1105a-pbblog-playlist&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&order=episodic&limit=5&filter=all&ss=bcd3b6878f94d235528ab1ba3e3d596d&btn-skin=7&size=315" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Gospel Life Learning" width="100%"></iframe> <div><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><b>Do You Know the Key Question to All Life’s Problems? (With Parable of House on the Rock)</b></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Do you know that there is a key question that will help you to “unlock” the best decision to make for </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">any and all</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> of life’s problems? We are going to </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">reveal that question in today’s episode, </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">but first – let’s look at a parable from Jesus. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">I’m going straight to Matthew 7:24-27. </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">This is </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus speaking</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Ok, </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">let’s stop a minute and ponder some of the themes we have been discovering in Jesus’s words and teachings. Do you remember from a couple of episodes back, </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus was in the house</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to take a break and get away from the crowds, and when informed that his family members were outside the house within the crowd, Jesus essentially stated, </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">“Those who are learning and listening </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">to</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> me– they are my brothers and sister</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">s </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">and mother.” And now </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus extends on this by further explaining a benefit of </span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">listening and applying. </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Here, Jesus has explained, that “those</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> who hear</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> my teachings </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">and</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> implement</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> them, </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">they are wise and building their lives on a solid foundation.” </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">When we stay close to Jesus, we</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">now</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> know that we </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">receive two </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">significant </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">benefits:</span></span></i></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><i> </i></span></p><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">1) </span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">We </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">are considered to be</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> like family to </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">; and </span></span></i></div></blockquote><p><i> </i></p><blockquote><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">2) </span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">We can have assurance that by following Jesus’s teachings that we are banking our lives on a value and a purpose that is strong, good, and lasting. </span></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></i></div></blockquote><div class="s5" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><i></i></span></div><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Now, let’s look at the whole parable, back to Matthew 7:</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and </span></span><span class="s6" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">does them</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">And everyone who hears these words of mine and </span></span><span class="s6" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">does not do them</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The house or the life of the person who does not learn and follow Jesus’s teachings – </span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">his teachings</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, I want to emphasize this, </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> specifically says hears </span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">“my words.” </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">I am adding that clarification </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">in </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">to make sure we understand, Jesus said those who listen to “my words” and “do them” are living in a strong house. He does not say those who listen to other Christian leaders, or those who follow by all the rules and traditions of religion, or those who keep the commandments and laws of the Old Testament. He </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">says</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> “my words.” It is “my words” that if you follow you will be building your home and your life on a firm foundation. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s7" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Ok, so what about this house on the sand?</span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Here is where I like to take this parable and apply it to us</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">here in our ways as</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Americans</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> living today</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. See, in America when we think of a house on the sand, we think of a beach house, right? A vacation home or a vacation rental. A beach house is often built on stilts and there are methods to strengthen it</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">,</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> but the conditions are that when the hurricane comes that house has a </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">very </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">good chance of collapsing. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">So</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to the person who may be a new follower of Christ; know this – by focusing on and applying Jesus’s teachings - and again – I emphasize on Jesus’s teachings – not on church traditions or the opinions of all the people at church – you have assurance that you have are building a life based on long lasting values and purpose. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">However, I also want those of us </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">who have been walking with God for </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">awhile</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to consider that this parable is for us too. How?</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Well, here is the way I like to </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">frame</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> it. </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">I </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">actually didn’t</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> intend that pun, but since we are talking about building houses on rocks vs sand, then I also want to frame it this way: In America, we Christians are blessed that we have our houses on </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">concrete foundations; but many of us also have the opportunity to take vacations. Some of us own a vacation house and others of us will go rent a house at the beach for a week or two. And similarly, in our lives – we have two houses and two ways of living. Let’s say we have times in our lives when we are staying close to Jesus, and then other times we really backslide. We move back and forth between our main house and our vacation house.</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> And you know what? That vacation house – oh it looks so relaxing! It looks tempting! We can just move over there for </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">awhile</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">.</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">W</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">e decide to take the risk – or maybe we don’t even consciously decide to take the risk, we just kind of slide into this state of being where we are not listening or looking for Jesus in our lives, and we get comfortable there.</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">And</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> when the storm comes – whoosh – we </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">may not weather </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">it very well. We are less likely to weather it, and we may even lose things, we may even lose something in that</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> vacation</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> house</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> on the sand</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">.</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> I have friends who have lost relationships, lost friendships and even marriages, lost their sense of integrity – all because, and they will admit this themselves, it’s not me judging them – they will admit this themselves </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">– all because they had distanced themselves from Jesus</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. That’s where all the problems began, </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">and </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">they </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">let themselves get too comfortable there</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">A</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">nd whoosh – when the storms came, there was catastrophic loss. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Now for anyone who is feeling guilty about taking literal vacations from time to time – that is not the point. There is nothing wrong with vacation</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">homes, but</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> take Jesus with you</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> when you go</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Vacations are better with Jesus too. Take Jesus with you and keep Him close and he will help to strengthen that vacation house too. </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span><span class="s7" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">So</span></span><span class="s7" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> for our closing reflection, think about this: W</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">hen was the last time that you weathered a terrible storm in life? Or maybe even you are weathering one right now. </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote><i><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Ask yourself – How did you react during that storm? Or during the current storm?</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Do </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">you see any connections with the way you weathered a storm and where you were in your walk or in your closeness with God at that time?</span></span></i></blockquote><i><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></span></i><p></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">And finally </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">–</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> I want to share with you, a key question you may ask yourself whenever a problem comes into your life. </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">When you have a big problem </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">or</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> a big storm in life, or any kind of problem in life that you need to resolve – this is a question you can ask yourself to help determine if you are responding well to that problem.</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Are you ready to hear it? </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Ask yourself, “Is the way I am handling this problem, is it bringing me closer to God? Or is it </span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">taking</span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> me further away?” </span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Likewise, if you have two paths or multiple </span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">choices</span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> that you can take to solve a problem, choose the one that will bring you closer to God</span></span><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. </span></span></blockquote><span class="s4" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></span><p></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">When evaluating the </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">options</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> you have to solve a problem or to make a choice about going one way or another – choose </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">the one that will keep you </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">or bring you closer to God. That one</span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – that choice - </span></span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">is likely the right choice.</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 20px;">——————————————————</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #2381be; font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released</a></span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE/ref=dbs_a_def_awm_bibl_vppi_i2" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzRTfEcZGUC5iKqqzQxCKcA74iPySegJ0QbIugAcuzZxL22xmFkWCgNZcJGM8lk0MCOu7ffObdxCmxLHVN4qe5bYRFOofOm01SgM3sRPxSTuaqUWa6OHYO7KmUKq1oxpLMLkKbSbTIilW_bHccUHYr_R3KVMpIfi6XCfkxFJukiMKHWBlsdLjvkUdtw/s320/HeCalledPaperback.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br />If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</a><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"> </span><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">The author also posts on Facebook and interacts with her readers at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><p class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s12" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"></span></span></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And interacts with her readers at the following Facebook group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ministrymall" target="_blank">Sherry's Ministry Mall Group</a> You are invited to join this group!<br /></span></span><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">Author's other books can be found at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</a></span></div></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-78487850087836301612022-08-06T20:45:00.004-05:002023-06-18T14:42:05.841-05:00Are We Growing in Relationship with God? Or Are We Just Making Coffee?<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsJPJhy0nD5-0mwdyICt7TayGgxbuqUtrbw80ZsyfLk2FEuIPmBv0yNFijQcmmoE6q7RcnACmguNZh5gTww_ogGUFQwRHJEypULi7HBMB4CbJpSvQ07lq5POOAtncViUmGsxZYfwtOdMcGCGsEldD5Kn7OHz0wpD2RLvLZtTmChpd64Et_oNLl34d3w/s940/GrowingOrMakingCoffeeEp6.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsJPJhy0nD5-0mwdyICt7TayGgxbuqUtrbw80ZsyfLk2FEuIPmBv0yNFijQcmmoE6q7RcnACmguNZh5gTww_ogGUFQwRHJEypULi7HBMB4CbJpSvQ07lq5POOAtncViUmGsxZYfwtOdMcGCGsEldD5Kn7OHz0wpD2RLvLZtTmChpd64Et_oNLl34d3w/s320/GrowingOrMakingCoffeeEp6.png" width="320" /></i></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><i>You may listen to the 10 minute audio</i></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>script right here on the website</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">by </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">clicking on the Pod</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Player for the episode title below. You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span></i></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV" style="color: #2381be; text-decoration-line: none;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released </span></span></a></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=5eknu-12902fb-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Are We Growing In Relationship with God? Or Are We Just Making Coffee?" width="100%"></iframe>
</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Are We Growing Deeper in Relationship with God,
Or Are We Just Making Coffee?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">The personal question to reflect on for this
session is this:</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">If my personal
relationship with God was truly the most important – the number one focus – in
my life, how would my daily activities and routines be different than they are
right now?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Honestly…even as I pose that question for my
listeners and readers, I’m cringing a bit for myself. I know if I reflect on
that question with any real depth, that I might be convicted to make some
changes in my daily routine, and that can be hard for me because I’m a creature
of habits, as we all are to a certain extent – and it’s hard to change habits.
It takes a renewed commitment to do so.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Let’s look at another teaching presented by
metaphor by Jesus. This one is another metaphor, or actually two, He uses two
metaphors to make one point. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Now, this is a continuation of last week’s
episode. Do you remember what was happening in our last teaching? Jesus and his
disciples were being criticized because they were not fasting. They were not
maintaining this tradition that the Pharisees were maintaining and that John's
disciples were maintaining. And Jesus responded with a wedding metaphor. And
what Jesus said was essentially –<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Change your thinking about religious
traditions. Some things are more important that religious traditions, such as
relationships, our relationship with others and with God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Then immediately after the metaphor about His
reason for not following the fasting tradition at that time, Jesus tells two
more metaphors. Here it is in Mark 2:21-22. Jesus said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an
old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old,
and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he
does, the wine will burst the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What Jesus has done here, is He has taken his
dialogue from a specific teaching on a specific tradition (the fasting
tradition) and he then uses two additional metaphors in order to expand his
point and make it even further reaching.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jesus is telling his critics that, once again,
they should re-examine their ways of thinking and their ways of doing things.
With these two metaphors, Jesus tells them that what He teaches them is going
to seem new to them, and His ways are not going to easily mesh with the ways
that they have been focusing on their traditions, their rules, and rituals<i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you attach a patch made of new cloth onto
an old, shrunken garment – it doesn’t work. When it is washed, the new patch
will soon tear off and make the original tear even worse. Jesus is essentially
telling them, “My teachings are not going to be something new that you can just
tack on to what you are already doing. It’s not going to attach. It won’t
stick. You will stay just as torn as you are and potentially even worse
off.” Then, in the next metaphor, Jesus
shares:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote><i><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins.
If he does, the wine will burst the skins. But new wine is for fresh
wineskins.”</span></span></i></blockquote><i><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It’s the same idea, He is saying, “You can’t
pour these new teachings into the vessel that you have been using. It’s going
to burst the container. You need a completely new wineskin container. You need
to change your understanding and your perspective so it is renewed.” And Jesus
is saying all of this within the context of minimizing tradition and focusing
on relationships – on the relationship with God and with others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So let’s return back to the question for us
today. Are there any traditions or routines that we have been using or relying
on in our daily or weekly habits - that could be potentially hindering our growth
with God - or at least maybe they are holding us back, or are substituting for
a closer relationship with God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Let me give you an example from my own
marriage – in the mornings, my husband Corbin wakes up before I do, and he
makes the coffee and he typically makes my cup of coffee for me. He has been
doing this routine act of kindness for years. It’s to the point now where if he
wakes up later than me, or if for some reason the coffee isn’t made by the time
I wake up, I will joke and say, “I guess I have to make my own coffee today?” I
am intending that to be sarcastic and a bit funny when I say it– but I’m not
sure it always comes off that way. The point that I am trying to make is that
what started as an act of thoughtfulness and kindness has become routine and
with less thought put into it. And as it becomes more routine it becomes more
of an expectation on my end. The tradition of my husband making my coffee for me
is now routine and it does not substitute for other things that are needed to
keep our relationship strong. Now, I realize I’m going to probably get in a
little trouble for saying this – so Corbin, if you do listen to this or read
it, I want you to know that I love you and I’m very thankful for all the cups
of coffee you have prepared for me over the years! I’m just trying to make a
point here – that is all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The traditions, the issue with our religious
traditions and routines is – we often rely on those, after they have become
habits – as the only thing we are doing to represent our closeness with God. Just
like a cup of coffee in the morning does not substitute for the love and growth
in a close relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So if we are really seeking a closeness with
God…how would our daily routines and activities change? Would they need to
change? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />
<i><span style="background: white;"></span></i></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="background: white; font-size: medium;">The spiritual truths don't just attach by
tacking them on. </span></i></span></span></blockquote><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="background: white; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sometimes I have to stop and
reflect, “Do I think that I have grown spiritually with God over the past year
– or have I backslid or stagnated?” One way to measure this is to consider the
growth of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
Have we become more loving over the past year? More patient? More kind?
More peaceful? Are we more joyful than we were a year ago? Are we able to
withstand difficulties and trials with more peace than before?<i> </i> For me, if the answer is no – or if the answer
is that I have stagnated – it usually come down to this reason: I have allowed my relationship with God to
become marked by routines and habits, a quick morning prayer here, a quick
scripture reading there without actually reflecting on it. It’s kind of like
I’m just making cups of coffee, and yes it once was a special act, but it’s
become so routine it’s not as meaningful anymore, and I am no longer growing
because the relationship isn’t growing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">So let’s realize that it may
be time to consider that just “making the coffee” and doing the spiritual daily
habits aren’t moving us forward into new ways of growing and walking with God.
We need to consider if we are really present in our own time with Him, and if not,
we will hopefully find these teachings of Jesus to be motivators for us to
refresh our thinking and refresh our daily habits so that we truly are in a
growing relationship with God, and not just in a stagnant routine. </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Finally, if you think you would benefit from
some additional readings on methods and strategies which may be new for you and
may help you in renewing the time you spend with God, then I have written a
short but powerful book which can be found on Amazon. It is called <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank">Closer toGod: Simple Methods, Starting Today.</a></i> I have received good</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> feedback from
many who have read it, and</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> they have told me it has helped them to renew and
get re-motivated again in their relationship with God. It is only available at
Amazon and if you have a Kindle Unlimited membership, you can read it for free.
If you don’t have a Kindle Unlimited membership you can get a membership, usually
free for the first 30 days and you can still read it for free during that first
month. It’s also available as a Kindle book and as a paperback. It’s just a
resource I want my readers and listeners to know is readily available if anyone
is trying to think of some renewed strategies to help us with our spiritual
motivation and to be more present with God in our day to day lives. Again it is
titled, </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ" target="_blank">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</a></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> and it is
published under the author name: Sherry Elaine Evans</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</span></span></a></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing </p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">closer to God, then you would enjoy <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Weight Loss for Christians, An </a></i></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Christians-Extraordinarily-Cravings-ebook/dp/B0072NFN9Q" target="_blank">Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings</a></i></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/s408/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcOUdp5qG77C_QXAwEHx_digtyfjhIABOWnQJ_XeqDaqRyVgriRM99-uaf8z8Vj6BtHPJlySEZqCYiBwmu2_o617MBBCkbbyFGvsdsVtYgIP8XCU-IRvraXTCxRzhirogXDkFxxs9lYSKu09iTvSP2Va1_6cK3c5obNeiXXUI9x5Fc4FNLue5j9eG4Q/w141-h200/ClosertoGodcover.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans" target="_blank">Book on Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE"><span class="s16" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</span></span></a><span class="s17" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s15" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">The author also interacts with her readers on Facebook at </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</span></span></a></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gospellifelearning/" target="_blank">@gospellifelearning</a></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/gospellifelearn" target="_blank">@gospellifelearn</a></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="s2" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@gospellifelearning6858/videos" target="_blank">Gospel Life Learning</a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span class="s15" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">Author's other books </span></span><span class="s15" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;">can be</span></span><span class="s15" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> found at:</span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="s18" style="color: #2381be; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="line-height: 24px;"> https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-72486838125985232462022-07-30T22:47:00.005-05:002023-05-07T11:50:52.396-05:00What Did Jesus Teach About Traditions? (And What Does It Mean for Our Relationships and Grudges...)<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">You may listen to the 10 minute audio script right here on the website by clicking on the Pod</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> Player for the episode title below. You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VO2cjGpCoVQ8YFNPLqIjk1oir2POwpURQ_66wTOvQ-eDtJ-1co-VPVPHLy0cAxetjYd6DL1JGuw_XBQoulu4m_sTG482rloPeHRgZGBkEAlJH0Rq1zc0MGUuchPJ-CD9cON3pbee1rvcJssSEoeFRf8MJNqPVKBjmeP8gilxRTCrac6tAWrwppWXpg/s940/What%20Did%20Jesus%20Say%20Traditions.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VO2cjGpCoVQ8YFNPLqIjk1oir2POwpURQ_66wTOvQ-eDtJ-1co-VPVPHLy0cAxetjYd6DL1JGuw_XBQoulu4m_sTG482rloPeHRgZGBkEAlJH0Rq1zc0MGUuchPJ-CD9cON3pbee1rvcJssSEoeFRf8MJNqPVKBjmeP8gilxRTCrac6tAWrwppWXpg/s320/What%20Did%20Jesus%20Say%20Traditions.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released </span></a></p>
<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ryr4b-1287821-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="What Did Jesus Teach About Traditions? ...And What It Means For Relationships and Grudges" width="100%"></iframe> <div><br /></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">What Did Jesus Teach About Traditions? (And What Does It Mean for Our Relationships and Grudges...)</b></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">A question to ponder as we start today is
this: Do you have any traditions in your family or among your friends that are
very meaningful to you? Do you have a tradition that is so important to you -- if someone in your family or friend group breaks the tradition it
affects you emotionally? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Some things that come to mind for me are
family traditions around holidays especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.
For example, I’ll share that for the past 8 years or so,</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">I’ve been the one to host Thanksgiving at my
home, and my sister’s family came along with my parents and their children and
my children every year.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Well, last year
– suddenly my sister and her family had a change in plans, and then my own
young adult daughter decided to work on Thanksgiving rather than come home on
that day, because she could earn overtime pay for the entire shift.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">And for awhile, I was hurt. I was very
disappointed. I was even angry and judgmental. How could they be so uncaring?
So disrespectful? I birthed that girl! </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">I
stayed that way, bitter and disappointed and judgmental for about a half hour
or maybe an hour.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Now I know, some of you who are listening are thinking and would say to me, “Sherry, that’s silly. Just calm down. It’s
life, it’s not personal. Just be understanding and be thankful for the times
you do have together”. Others of you who are listening I know are saying, “Yes.
I understand. Except I would have been very upset and I would have remained
upset or held a grudge for a long time….maybe even months or years."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">And I understand both sides now. I stayed that
way for about a half hour or so, because by that point in my life</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">maturity, I knew what Jesus would say or do,
because I had studied the passage we are talking about today. I’d studied it several
times.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">However, a decade or so ago, I
probably would have held a grudge for a long time. Maybe even months…or maybe
even a year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Oh friends, those tiny grudges ….they block
relationships. We think they are no big deal, but they block growth in our
relationships with our friends and our family members; and they also block
growth with God and our ability to draw near to Him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Ok – now for our example in the life and teachings
of Jesus. Today’s scene is found in Mark 2.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">it is also found in Luke 5, and in Matthew 9. But I’m reading from Mark
2 verses 18-19.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were
fasting,” –</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Oh I need to interrupt, I want to make a point
here, that this fasting at this time was a tradition. It was not actually in
the Torah or in the law that they had to fast at this time. It was a tradition.
Back to verse 18.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background: white;"><i>“and people came and said to him </i>(they said
this to Jesus)<i>, 'Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees
fast? But your disciples do not fast?' <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Now in Matthew it tells us
that some of these people that came and asked this, some of them were actually
some of John’s the Baptist's disciples, so they were saying, “Why are we fasting, and you and your friends aren’t?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">So again – I’m going to read
it all together now –</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><i style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were
fasting, <span style="background: white;">and people came and said to him 'Why do
John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast? But your disciples do
not fast?'</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And Jesus said to them, 'Can the wedding
guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the
bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom
is taken away from them, and they will fast on that day.'”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Ok Jesus - for us today - we need a little
background on the meaning of this metaphor.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">In my research for this passage, I learned
quite a bit about Jewish wedding feasts during the time of Christ. What
happened, when a Jewish couple got married, they didn't leave and go off on a
fancy honeymoon like we do today. They stayed at home; they typically had a big
event at home; they had an open house where all the closest friends and family
of the bride and groom could come. They held this open house for a whole week
and they had feasting laid out. And there was understood to be an exception during
such a week – if it was a regular fasting day or a fasting time, they didn't
have to fast during the wedding week. The bride and groom and all their friends
and family – anyone who was participating in the wedding celebration – they
didn't have to fast.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">So when Jesus was responding to this criticism
that He and his disciples weren't fasting while the Pharisees and John's
disciples were – he indicated – this was a very special time. He and his
disciples being together was a time to celebrate. The fact that God had come
near was a time to celebrate, and so they would not be following tradition at
this time because they were enjoying their time together, and that was more
important.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">That was more important – </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">the
relationships over the tradition</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">After reading the passage today, we see how
Jesus overlooked tradition for the sake of relationships. And this is not the
only time Jesus demonstrates this. There are many other instances </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">where Jesus indicated that relationships – especially
our relationship with Him is more important than all these traditions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">But let's search our hearts today. The closing
challenge for today, or the instruction, is to really think about your habits
or your thoughts –</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Maybe, just maybe, we tend to act like the critics
in this story. Maybe there are times we are nursing grudges or a critical
spirit towards other believers amongst our friends and family - when instead we
should be appreciating them, appreciating the time we do have with them, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">and finding ways to grow spiritually with
them. Letting go of grudges and bitterness against others for small slights, or
for not meeting our expectations – letting go of these is a form of
forgiveness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">I recommend that everyday if necessary, in the
past I have had times I’ve had to do this everyday – I'm just being open
here.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">I am getting better in this area, I
believe, but I used to struggle with this a lot.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">So I would pray this prayer; and it really
helped to let the grudges go, so I could put relationships first, including the
relationship with God. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">If this is
something you struggle with too, then here is a prayer you may wish to pray as
often as needed:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God, search me...</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want you to bring to mind the grudges and
the bits of bitterness that are in my heart</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bring those to mind...</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Then when they start coming to you in your
mind, you continue to pray...)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God I give this to you.</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God I want you to pull this bitterness out of
me</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know it is not your will for me to be bitter</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whatever bitterness I have against this person
or that person</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pull it out of me</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do not want the grudge to be in me, I don't
want to be like that.</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">If that is something you struggle with – I
encourage you to pray that every single day, until the bitterness cannot even
take root anymore!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">With His Grace, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Script MT Bold"; font-size: 22pt;">Sherry</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: #050505; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Script MT Bold;"><span style="font-size: 29.3333px;">————————————</span></span></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; transition-property: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Enjoyed this blog post and/or Blog Scripts episode? <a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV">Be notified when the next one posts by clicking here and entering your email to be notified.</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</a><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;"> or one of her shorter study books also found at </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></a><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;">The author also posts on Facebook and interacts with her readers at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; transition-property: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><p class="s3" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="s12" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 16.8px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.2px;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Script MT Bold"; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; transition-property: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">And interacts with her readers at the following Facebook group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ministrymall" target="_blank">Sherry's Ministry Mall Group</a> You are invited to join this group!</span></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; transition-property: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Author's other books can be found at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-size: 18.6667px; transition-property: none;"><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;" /></div><br /></div></span></span></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617110880409156066.post-79693334450153904822022-07-28T22:30:00.002-05:002023-05-07T11:57:38.849-05:00What Did Jesus Say About His Family? <p><br /><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“What Did Jesus Say About His Family?” </b></p><p><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">You may listen to the 9-10 minute listen right here on the website by clicking on the Pod</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgKWWxUU23KXQ3fmKeLI1k5gVEcTomBp6G91VDRmB6PrXJBjR99b8SLoz6yn-lidDoM6NUvoauH0Szjjt5r2d7gS1Bxd9ahLYifurJpTNDK6yz3fNRLZmJMCM_k7oiHq0kdrvBs3_iumLFpUzx0JX2UH9hvkj6pFUtWAuuD8fWEqJsVRBV7UxZV0zCQ/s940/What%20Did%20Jesus%20Say%20Family.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgKWWxUU23KXQ3fmKeLI1k5gVEcTomBp6G91VDRmB6PrXJBjR99b8SLoz6yn-lidDoM6NUvoauH0Szjjt5r2d7gS1Bxd9ahLYifurJpTNDK6yz3fNRLZmJMCM_k7oiHq0kdrvBs3_iumLFpUzx0JX2UH9hvkj6pFUtWAuuD8fWEqJsVRBV7UxZV0zCQ/s320/What%20Did%20Jesus%20Say%20Family.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><br /> Player for the episode title below. And of course, if you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. </span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV"><span style="font-size: medium;">Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released </span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=9s8hp-127f4ba-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=666666" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="What Did Jesus Say About His Family?" width="100%"></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>New Blog Post: What Did Jesus Say About His Family? </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">What did Jesus say about His family members?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">And also – another important question - What is your host’s favorite teaching of Jesus? As you may have noticed, I try to start these audios off with a Focus Question, and so today, my focus question is a lot on Jesus and a bit on myself. What is my favorite teaching of Jesus? Well, And when I say my “favorite scene” I mean that it is one of my favorite of Jesus’s teachings because it speaks directly to us about how Jesus views his followers and what Jesus says gives me so much comfort and rest and even joy. <br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">OK, so I want to set this up – because it is truly so special to me, and I hope it becomes special for you too. It's a really short scene. Not too much information is given or is happening in this scene, there is a little background, but not to much. The focus in this is on what Jesus said. And I often wonder, “Why did they even put this scene in?” I think maybe because it made the people who were following Jesus feel so important and so comforted – just as it can for us today.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Anyway, I am so happy that Mark felt that what happened here was significant enough to write down and to pass it down so that it can be shared with us today… two .thousand years later. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">There is just a little background. In our teaching last week, we looked at one of Jesus’ first miracles when he healed the leper. He also performed more miraculous healings, and so word got out all over the area about him. So Jesus would get swamped by people when he walked through the towns. Some of the people were coming to him for healings or just to see him and hear him. Others were coming to accuse him of being a mad in the head or even of being possessed. And Jesus could be invited into homes in order to get a break from the crowds. This scene takes place - Jesus has just gone inside a home with his disciples and others, and he was continuing to teach in there. But there were crowds still outside all around the home, many of them wanting to get in. Then we are told that Jesus’ mother and his brothers came, and they were outside the home. In Matthew it tells us a little more specifically that his mother and brothers could not get inside because of the size of the crowd outside.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">So here is the passage, or the scene as I sometimes call it. It is from Mark 3: 31 to 35.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">“And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.--”</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">“And a crowd was sitting around him (around Jesus). And they said to him, 'Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.' And he answered them, 'Who are my mother and brothers?' And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, 'Here are my mother and brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.'” (Mark 3:31-35)</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Jesus said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Who? <i>And looking at those who sat around him –</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">His disciples were there. But Mark tells us that there were also others there around Jesus too. He said, “Here are my mother and sisters and brothers!” And he was pointing to the people that were listening to him, who were staying close to him, who were learning from him, and following him. And then he says, “Whoever does the will of God; he is my brother and sister and mother.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">I also want to add that I chose to read the verse in Mark, because it clearly documented in the Greek that the prompt from the people was “Your mother and brothers are here;” however the final response from Jesus included brother and sister, and mother. In Mark, both words are there in the greek Jesus said whoever does the will of God is my <i>adelphos</i>and <i>adelphi </i>and mother.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">So Jesus just said himself – “these people are doing the will of God. They are here. They are my brothers and sisters and mother. My family.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">And I love this, <i>because it is Jesus himself explaining who he considers to be his family</i>. And what are these people doing? This is still very early on in Jesus’ ministry. These people aren't going out and proclaiming him yet. They're not working to build new churches yet. All they are doing at this point is learning and following. They are merely learning and following and Jesus says….Look…they are my brothers and sisters and mother – they are in the will of God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Learning…..Gospel Life Learning – that is the whole motivation and purpose of why I began writing over 10 years ago, blogging shortly after, and now creating these “Blog Script” audios. Recently I refined defined in words, the purpose of Gospel Life Learning ministry, and it is to provide resources to help readers and listeners draw near to God and to have resources to share His nearness with others. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Learning and following…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">That is the will of God….</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Learning and following…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Learning what he has to say, and then</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">allowing that learning….and that relationship to change you</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">and</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">allowing it to prompt you in the ways you go about each of your days.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">So we will close with just one reflection today.....</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">How would you describe your relationship with Jesus today?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Are you his sister, or his brother?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Or is he just someone that you know about or heard about…or learned about sometime ago?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Or is he just someone you learned about and followed – maybe when you were much younger or in a prior phase of life, but you let a whole lot of distance creep in.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">I just want to remind you....he's still near. He's still near. He doesn't leave us; we get busy and wander off. He doesn't forget about us; we forget about him. And all it takes, all it takes if there is distance growing in your relationship with the Lord. All it takes is, turning back....listening to and learning from him again, knowing what he wants us to know, and allowing that to change us.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">With His Grace, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Script MT Bold"; font-size: 22pt;">Sherry</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: #050505; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Script MT Bold;"><span style="font-size: 29.3333px;">————————————</span></span></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; transition-property: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Enjoyed this blog post and/or Blog Scripts episode? <a href="https://4eeb7851.sibforms.com/serve/MUIEAKn_yDuVg8lUtxlBgBl5bo63j6RMvUK8slD7wyfdPrh8YwoiyTT20JUF2RPbHDaMSjOu0OhFgMYNgKvYVE7CxgzjMeaHCBuzzp35ArmxEo17MRhrcDUxf0P8qVxIpt3fuxs-CDCuPWtMS_tI1hqIo3Lwo-zkGT9y-iAKRNL9NWmnYYBmRiavpQY4czuLwUUknaezWM7MjTEV">Be notified when the next one posts by clicking here to be notified.</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078S23DBZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today</a><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ5NLYE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ.</a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"> or one of her shorter study books also found at </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></a><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;" /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">The author also posts on Facebook and interacts with her readers at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; transition-property: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><p class="s3" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="s12" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.8px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.2px;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Script MT Bold"; font-size: 22pt;"></span></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; transition-property: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">And interacts with her readers at the following Facebook group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ministrymall" target="_blank">Sherry's Ministry Mall Group</a> You are invited to join this group!</span></span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; transition-property: none; white-space: normal;"><br /></div></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">Author's other books can be found at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/e/B0073HVSD6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans</span></a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; transition-property: none;"><br /></div>Sherry Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11575038981856302784noreply@blogger.com