RENEWINGMYMIND.NET

Pruning the Spirit of the Past Part 2

Renewing My Mind — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:24:00 GMT

Back to the pruning the spirit of our past…   The first traits I want to write about are anger and bitterness that we have toward others. These are results from unforgiveness either toward yourself or someone else. Back to the trees… It’s really important to remove dead leaves, limbs, etc from a tree because they continually draw from the healthy part of the tree. This drains the tree of the nutrients needed for the rest of the healthy tree. Eventually more limbs begin to die. Over a course of many years, the tree could completely die if not taken care of. That’s what happens to us in our lives.

Have you ever been involved with someone that is always negative about everything and everyone around them? I have. When we don’t let go of the anger and bitterness within us, it begins to take over and destroy our whole life. You begin to try to hide that anger, hurt, or bitterness through abuse of ourselves and others, addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling and others forms of addiction that keeps our minds temporarily focused off our past. OUR PAST- something we can’t change! Change doesn’t happen in our past. Change only happens in our future. The key to changing our response to our past is FORGIVENESS of ourselves and others.

Forgiveness to most of us that have been hurt and abused in some form, find it almost impossible to forgive. We continue to blame that person or persons over and over again for making us what we are today. But you see forgiveness towards ourselves and others is not a choice if you want be saved. The Word says in Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Think it about it. That’s a pretty strong statement! We won’t be forgiven if we don’t forgive. You see, unforgiveness affects you and everyone else that you are involved with. The anger, bitterness, abuse to others and yourself all come from unforgiveness in your life. Look at what Hebrews 12:14-15 says, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Those ugly traits that you have taken on will defile others as the Word of God says. We want to think we are hiding them from others but we are not. Our actions toward others is a result of what is in our heart. Those that have been abused will abuse either themselves or others in their lives.   The Living Bibles says it this way in Hebrews 12:14-15, Try to stay out of all quarrels, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God's best blessings. Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.

Yes, you can overcome unforgiveness! It takes only one day at a time by renewing your mind in the Word. Every time you have a past memory come to you that causes you negative feelings, give it to God. Tell Him I forgive that person and what they have done to me. Get specific if that is what comes to your mind. As you are doing this you are renewing your mind and releasing yourself from those negative emotions that is stealing your life from you and keeping you from being saved.   I remember my pastor’s wife telling me a few years ago, Tammy, you can make to heaven physically handicapped; without hands, feet, legs or arms. But you can’t make it to heaven emotionally or spiritually handicapped; unforgiveness, hatred, bitterness, anger and all the other negative attitudes buried in our hearts. Ephesians 4:31-32 says, Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. To be continued…

Pruning the Spirt of our Past - Part I

Renewing My Mind — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:54:00 GMT

We have a new home that was finished in December. A couple of months ago we had a patio poured and some evergreen trees planted on either side for privacy. Our spring has been really windy and rainy. The trees that we planted cannot be planted very deep because they will die. The strong winds and rain came often and would blow several of the trees over and my husband would have to plant them over and over again. This of course traumatized the trees. They had brown limbs all over some of them. Well if you know what type of tree I’m talking about the brown limbs are very prominent against the dark green. I got really tired of looking at those dead limbs all over the trees. So… I got the hand pruners and began to clip all of the dead limbs off! I got really clipper happy. I was really proud of the accomplishment I made in making those trees look green all over. Sunday afternoon my husband and I were sitting on the patio enjoying the birds, flowers and the cool breeze. He questioned me on why the trees looked weird. I didn’t notice it when I had finished pruning them. So I said, “What’s wrong with them?”. He said they were shaped funny. Well…. I noticed it when he pointed it out that the trees... the trees were really misshapen. They had huge caves in the sides of them! I told him don’t worry, I fertilized them and the trees will regain shape in no time and will be very nice and green with new growth instead of dead brown limbs.

I begin to think about this scenario as we were sitting there and about how it is with our relationship with other people and God. Sometimes we go through trials that causes trauma in our life. It’s the ugly traits in our lives that makes us unattractive to people whether it be abuse, addictions, rejection, etc. These trials can cause “ugly limbs” to grow on our lives called, anger, bitterness, violence, malice, filthy conversation or any other negative attitude toward others. You know we can live that way and negatively affect people by those unsightly limbs or we can prune them with God’s Word and His Spirit. John 6:63 says….the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. God gave us His Word so that we would have instructions on how to remove those dead ugly traits. Is it easy to cut those ugly limbs off? Absolutely it is! Does it hurt sometimes? Sure it does! We can remove those traits that have become a part of us by renewing our mind in the Word. It doesn’t happen overnight but through consistent dedication and commitment to prayer and reading the Word. More to come…. Be Blessed!

Have You Looked In the Mirror Lately?

Renewing My Mind — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:05:00 GMT

Over the last few weeks as I look in the mirror each morning, I have noticed some unwanted changes in myself. My first thoughts every morning are, I am looking old! My mind begans to race thinking what can I do to change the course of nature that is attacking my face! Brown spots, dark circles under the eyes, wrinkles, hair growing in places it shouldn't be! Ok ladies, you know what I mean. Who wants to look in the mirror each morning to face the inevitable? You know we want the mirror to show a young beautiful face that never changes! We go to the store to buy products that only try to slow down the aging process, cover up spots or get rid of those unwanted hairs! Some of us spend a lot of money, time and effort into changing what the mirror throws at us every time we look in it. Sometimes I laugh thinking about how much work we put in the process of changing what we don’t like when it comes to our physical image.

You know the mirror is like the Word of God. Every time we open it, it reflects our spiritual image. It reflects things in our hearts that we don’t want to deal with. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. If the Word is God then that means God is holding that spiritual mirror up and saying, “Ok Tammy, there is something there that needs to be removed because it doesn’t reflect what I am”. James 1:22-25 says but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. The Living Bible says it this way, And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don't fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn't obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can't see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God's law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says but we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.

The more we look at the Word and become doers of the Word as John said, the more we will be like Jesus. I heard a young lady's testimony on the internet not too long ago stating that the devil didn’t attack her in her prayer life but in reading the Word. You know why? Because the devil knows Word of God is powerful and will change us if we will be doers and not hearers only. We don’t read the Word more because we don’t like the reflection we see when we read it. What if we decided to do this to our physical image; never look in the mirror because we don’t like what we see? Our image would look pretty scary after a while and no one would want to be around us. That’s what we are doing to our spiritual image when we don’t keep in the Word. David said in Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. The more we stay in the Word the more we will renew our minds and transform into the image of Christ reflecting His glory. I challenge you as I challenge myself. Stay in the Word!

The Forgotten Reason for Celebration...Thankfulness

Renewing My Mind — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:05:00 GMT

Well…. It’s that time of the year; food, parties, shopping, turkey time, family gatherings and reunions. It began as a time of celebration of the harvest which started in 1621 with the pilgrims and Indians.   However, when Thanksgiving became a national holiday, it was written into law on October 11, 1782 right after the Revolutionary War as a religious holiday to give thanks unto God for all his goodness and mercy. You can find an actual copy of this proclamation on www.history.com. The beginning of this proclamation says and I quote, “IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf”. The end of the proclamation says this and I quote “…Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness”.

When I read this today, tears welled in my eyes to think that we have conformed ourselves to the worldliness of thanksgiving and have forgotten the proclamation given to us by Congress so many years ago. I begin thinking about my families personal celebrations of Thanksgiving. I can’t think of one time that our focus was on thanking God for his goodness and mercies to us but was just a time of getting together with our families and eating and eating and eating, and playing games sometimes. But most of the time was spent just spending time with our families. All of this is great and I do not want to portray that I have ever regretted times I have spent with family and friends. But doesn’t it seem to you and it does to me that we have left the most important thing out of Thanksgiving and that’s giving thanks to God for all of His blessings?

I challenge you today to make a concerted effort to put God back into our Thanksgiving as you spend time with your family and friends. Start a tradition with your family and friends. Here are some ideas I have created and some that I have found online:

1)     Have each person generate a "What I'm Thankful For List." You could go around the table before the
        big dinner is served so that each person can say aloud what he/she is thankful for or you could have each
        person write their list down on sheets of paper so that they can be hole-punched and stored in a 3 ring
        binder. Throw in some photos of everyone at the Thanksgiving celebration and the binder can serve as your
        Thanksgiving family memories book.
2)     One year volunteer at a local shelter to serve food or at Meals On Wheels to deliver the Thanksgiving Day
        meal to those less fortunate Americans.   What a lesson of gratitude this would be for everyone including
        your children.
3)     Have each person write a Thank You Card to God to read to everyone before you gather at the table and
        eat. Then as a group, offer up a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the freedoms we have in America, the
        blessings God has given us a family and the opportunity we have to worship Him freely. Pray for our troops
        who are once again fighting for our freedom; this time through terrorism and pray for their safety while
        overseas.
4)     After dinner is over, create a craft for the children to remember that this is the day to be grateful for all that
        God has done for us.
5)     With the economical turmoil that our country is in, now is the perfect time to invite over a family that may not
        have much or a place to go. There may be someone laid off that doesn’t have the money for a good
        thanksgiving or have the money to travel to their extended families this year. What a testimony that would
        be to your children!

There are many more ideas that you can create to begin to teach ourselves and our children to be grateful for what God has done for us. Remember gratitude is an attitude. It is the art of being grateful. Please join me to make a change this Thanksgiving by renewing our minds with the attitude of gratefulness.

Whose Life Have You Impacted Today?

Renewing My Mind — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Whose Life Have You Impacted Today?

A friend e-mailed the story below to me and I wanted to share with everyone. Every good word we speak could impact and/or change the way someone perceives themselves and others around them. Our country has changed to a culture that says “it’s all about me”. Few take time to let their family and friends know that they are important in this world. Things and substance doesn’t matter if we have no one to share it with. When we get offended or angry toward our family, children, etc. our first response is to allow the human nature to take over and respond which will do more damage than we realize. We need to step back and ask God to help us to respond in the correct way with wisdom and understanding from His Word. James 3:17-18 says, 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

We hurt each other with words and then we justify it because “they deserved it”. Our children are being raised to stand up for themselves and that’s great to a certain extent. But it gone too far! They bully each other and taunt each other with hurtful words for whatever reason. We need to teach our children to prefer the other and make peace with one another. We don’t know how that child is being treated at home. They may live in a home that is addicted to drugs and alcohol and their parents or family members could be very abusive. If we can educate our children from the beginning what we say to each other, how we say it and how we live when we are with those children can make a big impact on their lives.

I heard so many times, “Oh let children be children”. They will grow out of it. But I beg to differ with you. Human beings are the most impressionable as children than any other time of their lives. Paul wrote to Timothy when he was young and said this in 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Samuel was used by God at a very young age. God loved David and used him at very young age. Joseph was used at a young and saved his family from death.

Today we excuse our children for their actions because “we live in such a corrupt world”. If that is your reasoning, then what about Samuel and the example he lived under? It says in 1 Samuel 2:22 that Eli’s sons lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle. Can you image that? Your son’s having intimate relations at the door of your church? What about Joseph? His brothers sold him into slavery. Then he was thrown in jail for many years before God brought him out of it. David killed Goliath at a very young age. His brothers taunted him and told him to go back home. How would you like it if your siblings were not supportive of you and humiliated you in front of everyone else? Our world has been corrupt from the beginning of time.

Instead of wars and slavery, we now allow Hollywood to influence our children through TV. They watch violence constantly. They hear cursing and fighting and others being cursed at as if this is the way to fix an argument. They have become callus to any violence they see. You say “let children be children”? My friend, if you are a Christian and you are disagreeing with me, then you need to take a look at your relationship with God and get into the Word. We must renew our minds daily in prayer and reading the word of God. If we have children at home, we need to have prayer and devotions with them EVERY DAY, teaching them the Word of God and how they can live an overcoming life through Christ. Impact your child or someone else’s child today with your positive actions and edify them with your conversation. We must not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds so much so that we impact the youth of our day! I hope the story that you are about to read challenges your life as it has mine.

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much," were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.
The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon.. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said, "It's in my diary."

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late. –Arthur Unknown-

"Have You Been Conquered Today?"

Renewing My Mind — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:20:00 GMT

“He Who Angers You Conquers You”

My husband and I were on our way to church one Sunday. As we were driving along, a sign caught my eye at one of the businesses we passed. It simply said, “He who angers you, conquers you.” Is there someone in your life that angers you easily? Or may I should ask, is there a certain type of person that angers you easily? Is so, then you are allowing yourself to be conquered by their attitude and spirit. Paul was referring to “Christians” when he said in Colossians 3:8, But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. When we are filled with God’s Spirit we take on a new nature. As I have said previously sweet water and bitter water cannot flow from the same fountain. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The Living Bible says it this way, When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! Wow! What’s inside of you? Is there still some of the old man? If so, we much let go of that. It will affect our lives at some point in time. A friend of mine sent the following story to me recently titled “What’s inside of You?”:

WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU?

A brother placed two identical jars on the table next to the Podium, both filled with a gold colored liquid in each. He quoted 1 Samuel 16:7, But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

"These jars came from the same factory, were made of the same materials, and can hold the same amount. But they are different," he explained.... Then he upset one and out oozed honey. He turned over the other, and vinegar spilled out. "When a jar is upset, whatever is in it comes out."

Until the jars were upset, they looked alike. The difference lay within, and could not be seen. When they were upset, their contents were revealed.

Until we are upset, we put on a good front. But when we are upset, we reveal our innermost thoughts and attitudes, for "out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh" (Luke 6:45).

What if someone tipped you over today? What would flow out? Would you reveal the "honey" of self-control and patience, or the "vinegar" of anger and sarcasm? 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Do you still have some of the old man in you? Have you been conquered today? Then it’s time to give it to God. It is VITAL that we have a daily prayer life and read the Word of God for it is our instructions and guidance for living a victorious life! Until next time…

Order My Steps Lord

Renewing My Mind — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:44:00 GMT

I'm still stuck on edifying each other. I can't get this off my mind! Edifying each other is so important.  But not only do we need to speak positive and uplifting to each other, our regular conversation and our thoughts should be uplifting also. David said in Psalms 19:14, Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. I want my every thought to be acceptable to God. When David said "meditations of my heart", he was talking about the very center of our will; that our inner being or thoughts would be acceptable to God. It's not just what we say to each other but what we think about and the decisions we make in life.

I sat down at the piano last night and began playing and singing as I sometimes do for relaxation. The presence of the Lord became so strong in the room as I sang to Him. It wasn't long that He brought a song back to mind that Brooklyn Tablernacle Choir recorded several years ago called "Order My Steps". Many churches have sang this song over the last few years and I wonder how many of them have really paid attention and took to heart the words to this beautiful song. I began to play and sing it last night and the tears flowed as I sang with all my heart :

                                Verse 2

                                Bridle my tongue, let my words edify
                                Let the praise of my lips be acceptable in thy sight
                                Take charge of my thoughts both day and night
                                Order my steps in Your Word
                                Please order my steps in Your Word

Wow! Lord, I want to take control of my tongue and make sure that my words, conversation, and even my thoughts are pleasing to You. Psalms 39:1 says, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I want to be uplifting to every person that I meet no matter the cost.   I am so challenged right now and if you are truly a Christian as you say you are, this should be challenging you also. One of deepest desires of mine is to make sure I don't offend anyone purposefully. James 3:2 says, For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. What James is telling us, if anyone can control his tongue, it proves he has control over every other area of his/her life. Can you say that scripture applies to your life?

I am so challenged by the Word of God to edify others, not to tear them down, that my conversation and even my very thoughts are pure in His sight. If you do not have the recording to the song "Order My Steps", I strongly urge you to purchase it and listen to it over and over until you have it in your heart and sing it to God as a prayer.

The bridge and chorus say this:

                                I want to walk worthy, thy calling to fulfill
                                Please order my steps Lord and I'll do Your blessed will
                                This world is ever changing, but You are still the same
                                Please order my steps Lord and I'll praise Your name

                                Order my steps in Your Word dear Lord
                                Lead me, guide me, every day
                                Send Your anointing Father I pray
                                Order my steps in Your Word
                                Please order my steps in Your Word

Be Blessed!

Now Is That Edifying?

Renewing My Mind — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:19:00 GMT

I remember as a child my sister picked up a little phrase from someone at church. The phrase was “Now is that edifying?” I smile now over the many times she would ask our family “the question”. Every time one of our siblings would have a disagreement, we would challenge the other one with the question, “Now is that edifying!?” Somehow over the years, I had forgotten about this challenging question until the Lord began talking to me about renewing my mind through His Word in my attitude toward others.

As Christians, Christ has given us much instruction on making our conversations uplifting to each other. Edify means to build or lift up. Paul wrote in Romans 14:19 to follow after things that make peace and that will edify another. As Christians, we are too quick and bold to criticize each other behind our backs and to our face. We are too easily convinced that the only way to justify ourselves is to point out the negative in a person instead of the positive.

Many times my husband and pastor has discussed with me the need for making peace no matter who is right or wrong. As Christians, it’s time we stop pointing out the things that are wrong in each other and start building each other up. Sometimes a negative person is negative because he or she has been criticized continually and they have put up a wall of defensiveness. I have seen by husband over and over look for a way to compliment a person who desperately needed to be lifted up. He knew that the person had problems but he chose to look for something good to edify that person. When he would do this, you could see a light come in their eyes. Romans 14:19 says, Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Recently, we were eating dinner at another family’s house and he complimented the woman on being a great hostess that night, for making us feel so welcome and for the great meal she prepared. The lady responded a little surprised and said, “Thank you, I’ve never been told that before”. It was so disheartening to hear that this woman who does such a great job serving her family and others, had never been told how great she was in that area.

What if the person you are eating with isn’t a very good cook? May I challenge you to find something good to say to the person regarding the meal or their hospitality? What if they don’t dress the way you dress whether it be modest or immodest? Can we find something good in them to let them know that we care about them? What if they curse you to your face? Should we let our spirit be angered and find something bad to say back? No. Absolutely not. That is, if you call yourself a Christian. Proverbs 15:1 says, A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels. Proverbs 15:4 says, Gentle words cause life and health; griping brings discouragement.

It’s not always easy to respond appropriately when we are angered or humiliated by someone who isn’t a Christian and it’s really hard when they claim to be a Christian. For we know to call ourselves a Christian simply means we are a follower of Christ. Unfortunately, we have given ourselves and God a bad reputation to those that are not believers when we do not live our lives as the Word of God instructs. I challenge you to find something good to say about everyone you meet today. Stop before you respond harshly to someone who may have been harsh to you. Ask yourself as my sister used to ask us, “Now is that edifying?” Romans 15:2 Let's please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good and thus build him up in the Lord. Who knows, you just might win them over to Christ. After all, isn’t that our goal?

*All scriptures are taken from The Living Bible and King James Version.

Dirty Talk

Renewing My Mind — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:51:00 GMT

Are you ready for Challenge #1? As I wrote earlier, to renew means to change. Paul was speaking to those who became Christians to rid themselves of the world and those evil habits they had picked up in the world. In other words, Paul was saying, we need to purify our minds.

One of the first steps in renewing our minds is in our conversation. Matthew and Luke both admonished us that the man’s heart determines his speech. How can we say we are pure in heart if the words that come out of our mouth are not pure? As Christians we must work on a daily basis through prayer and practice to make our conversation pure. It has always troubled me that people could call themselves Christians and allow cursing, swearing, filthy conversation come out of their mouth. If we really are Christians as we say we are, then our old life is dead to sin and it should not be coming from our lips. James 1:8 says a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. We can’t have a pure mind and have filthy language or be involved in inappropriate conversation with others.

Paul wrote to the church while he was in prison in Ephesians Chapter 4. He instructed us to throw off the old evil nature and put on the new nature which is in Christ. Our attitudes and thoughts must change for the better becoming a new and better person. Paul admonishes us to tell the truth for we as the body of Christ are joined together. So when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves also. He goes on to say don't use bad language. That means stop cursing and using language that is inappropriate at all times. Nowhere does it say that it’s ok to talk inappropriate talk with our buddies just because we find it’s “cute and funny” or “it’s just the ladies” or “it’s just the men”. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing. That includes telling others bad things about someone that has upset you. That’s not blessing them. That’s cursing them. Paul said stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. We must learn to practice these things if we call ourselves Christians.

1 Peter 1:15 says but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. The word conversation in the Greek is described as our behavior. If we think it is ok to curse every once in a while, or have inappropriate conversation for fun every once in a while, we are sadly deceived. Sweet water and bitter water both can’t come from the same fountain any more than light and darkness can mix together. We are either one or the other. A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears. Such persons claim they know God, but from seeing the way they act, one knows they don't. They are rotten and disobedient, worthless so far as doing anything good is concerned (Titus 1:15-16).

David said in Psalms 24:4-6, Only those with pure hands and hearts, who do not practice dishonesty and lying. They will receive God's own goodness as their blessing from him, planted in their lives by God himself, their Savior. These are the ones who are allowed to stand before the Lord and worship the God of Jacob. Ephesians 5:1-9 says follow God's example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ's love for you was like sweet perfume to him. Let there be no sex sin, impurity or greed among you. Let no one be able to accuse you of any such things. Dirty stories, foul talk, and coarse jokes-these are not for you. Instead, remind each other of God's goodness, and be thankful. You can be sure of this: The Kingdom of Christ and of God will never belong to anyone who is impure or greedy, for a greedy person is really an idol worshiper-he loves and worships the good things of this life more than God. Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible wrath of God is upon all those who do them. Don't even associate with such people. For though once your heart was full of darkness, now it is full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! Because of this light within you, you should do only what is good and right and true.

Wow! The Word of God is really strong in our manner of conversation. You are probably thinking right now, Tammy your thoughts are pretty harsh! But I didn’t write these scriptures. This is God’s Word! The Word is here to expose that which is not pleasing in God’s sight. Hebrews 4:12-13 says for whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are. He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done. Is your mind conformed to this world or is it transformed to Christ?

We must take control of our conversations and ask God to forgive of our impure thoughts and conversations. Forgiveness means that we will make an 180 degree turn in the opposite direction and continue in that direction not looking back at any time. There are so many scriptures concerning our conversation. I challenge you over the next 30 days to stop all conversation that is not pleasing to God and see what a change it will make in you. Are you up to the challenge?

*All scriptures are taken from The Living Bible and King James Version.

The Challenge Part 2

Renewing My Mind — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:27:00 GMT

I talked about being conformed as Romans 12:2 talks about so let’s talk about what being transformed means. Webster’s dictionary says “To change in composition, structure or character”. In the Greek it says basically the same thing. The Greek word is metamorphoo (met-am-or-fo'-o) to change, transfigure, transform. It means becoming something you are not. In other words CHANGE. Do we really want to challenge ourselves; our lifestyles, our conversation, our character? Is it that important? According to the word of God it is. Ephesians 5:5 and Galatians 5:21 both say that those conformed to this world (I’m paraphrasing), shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. I’ve heard many so called Christians kill with their tongue, lie, curse, have inappropriate conversation with others, steal, commit adultery and fornication. The Word of God is so plain with the topics I just mentioned. We must renew our minds of all carnality that we have adopted. Many of the topics I will be discussing are the following: our conversation, gossip, the tongue, character, honesty, being judgmental of others, lying, respect for ourselves, respect for others, holiness, the women’s lib and how they have affected our families, peace of mind in Christ, how TV has made us callus to right and wrong, among many other things. I could go on and on but you get the picture. We must change our way of thinking. Paul says in Philippians 4:8-9 And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.
Until next time…

The Challenge Part 1

Renewing My Mind — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:34:00 GMT

My husband has been teaching on the “Personality of Jesus Christ” during Sunday School Adult Class. His teaching challenged me to begin to seek God for direction on the topic of how to do just that, become more like Jesus. In prayer one morning the Lord brought to my attention Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. “ I began to think about this scripture and the desperate need to renew our minds in Jesus Christ. First of all we are not be conformed to this world. What does that really mean? Webster’s Dictionary says conformed means: To bring into harmony; to be similar or identical; to be obedient or compliant; to adapt oneself to prevailing standards or customs. I looked it up in the Greek dictionary and is said the Greek word is suschematizo (soos-khay-mat-id'-zo) which means to fashion alike, i.e. conform to the same pattern. A light came on in my mind of all the many, many things we have conformed ourselves to in this world over the years and yet we think we are like Jesus and call ourselves “Christians”. The Living Bible says it this way: “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you. “

This blog was created for this reason, to discuss those issues that we have conformed to in this world that is preventing us from being obedient to the Word and have the “Personality of Jesus Christ”. I pray that you will be open to my thoughts and comments of what the Word says about this topic as I update my blog. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Sometimes it hurts when we are exposed through the Word of God because it exposes our carnality and the flesh doesn’t like it. The Living Bible translates Hebrew 4:12 this way, “For whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are.” It exposes us for what we really are. We must go from being conformed to transformed by renewing our minds of the deception that we are ok Christians when we do not line up with the Word of God. Either you believe the Word of God or you don’t. This blog will challenge you to search your heart and mind to see if you really do believe that the Word of God is truth. If you do then you will began to search your heart and mind as I am and let’s begin a journey together on renewing our minds in Jesus Christ! Talk with you soon!