Nagging

Quarrelsome nagging is a form of torture. It hinders communication. It is not effective for correcting behaviors of others. But we keep doing it because we think we're not getting through to the other person. And we're right about that! When tempted to engage in nagging (which is always destructive), we should stop and examine our motives. Are you more concerned about getting your way - or being right? Are you most concerned about the welfare of the person whom you're nagging? If you are truly concerned about that other person - you will seek more effective ways to get through to them.

Sins of the Aged

Older people are usually more aware of their sins and their sinful nature is more evident to them. Age and experience have a tendency to quiet youthful self-righteousness (which goes with immaturity).

Evil's Root

An evil action begins with a single thought. So allowing our minds to dwell on lust, envy, hatred, revenge, etc. will undoubtedly lead to sin. This is why we are told to "take every thought captive." We must not allow our mind to decide what it will do.

Reach of Defeat

We are never closer to defeat than in our moments of great victory. Why? Because in our moments of great victory, we tend to be the most vulnerable - letting our guard and defenses down, being the most susceptible to deception, etc. What victories are you celebrating? What defeats may be stalking you in that time of victory?

Being Organized

It is good stewardship (and therefore Biblical) to be well organized. Good organization helps people work together in harmony and ensures that the desired goal will be reached.

Heroes

Heroes are much easier to admire than to define. Sadly we often mistake someone whom we admire for a hero. This of course does a true disservice to those who are really heroes.

Source of Good Choices

The values, attitudes and practices we have adopted from the world's system can be exposed by applying the light of God's truth to them - comparing them to what the Bible says. Once we see them for what they are, we have the opportunity to make better choices. Do you want that opportunity? Then what are you doing with the light of God's truth?

Authority's Purpose

Authority is only given, in God's perspective, to be used for useful service to God and His creation. Instead of using people and being served, leaders are to serve them. A real leader has a servant's heart. And servant leaders appreciate the value of their people. They also know that they are not above any job. So if you have been given a position of authority in life, ask yourself whom God wants you to serve with it.

Effective Living

Effective living begins with a right attitude towards God. Before religious words come from our mouths, we must make sure they are embedded in our hearts.

Escape Reality

Sometimes people try to escape reality by disguising themselves. They will change jobs, change addresses, change churches, or even change spouses. But the thing about reality - especially when it is ugly - is that it tends to follow us wherever we go. And it will not be disguised.

Advice's Value

The value of advice cannot be judged by the number of people who give it. Rather the value of advice can only be found in how well it lines up with God's truth.

Self Satisfaction

If you're more satisfied with yourself than with God, a self-sufficient attitude may be your downfall. Disaster is most likely in your future. Why is this? Because you will rely on yourself more than you will rely on God.

Confronting Problems

Problems need to be confronted in truth and in love. But there is no room for gossip or judgment in that equation.

Love's Motive

When Christ-followers lose our motivation of love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for the good in others - and see only their faults. We stop giving them the benefit of the doubt. We stop showing them good in their shortcomings. We lose our unity with them.

Prayer's Secret

God does not listen to our prayers unless we have repentant hearts. What closes His ears is not the depth of our sin - but rather the secret, unspoken intention to do it again. God hears our intention as clearly as He hears our words and thoughts. And often intent isn't a decision you have made - but is found in the decisions that you haven't made.

Ordering Your Life

Each decision that you make to obey God's Word will bring an increasing amount of order to your life. A life submitted obediently to God is a life that works (because that's how that life was designed).

Savior vs. Lord

When you turn to Christ you begin to see Him differently. Usually to really see Him as Lord takes a while and requires spiritual maturity. Until then, you can only see Him as Savior. But the longer you walk with Him, the better you will understand who He really is.

Temptation Strategy

Because temptation strikes where we are most vulnerable, we can't resist it alone. Prayer is necessary in order to include God and His strength in the struggle that we have against temptation. Fellowship with other believers is also necessary for accountability and encouragement.

Desire Activated

When desire is fully activated, people don't want advice or wisdom or even discernment. Instead, they just want satisfaction. And they'll often compromise everything else to get it.

True Character

A person's thoughts and plans reflect his or her true character. What do you think about? What do you want to do? Ultimately those answers reflect who you are.

Enthusiastic Christians

It is exciting to see people who are "on fire for the Lord." Their enthusiasm seems contagious. We are drawn to such people. But it happens that we find enthusiastic religion to ultimately disappoint us. This is because enthusiasm must be backed by faith and understanding (i.e., true, intimate knowledge of God). Otherwise, it fails.

Divine Guidance

Often we wish for divine guidance from the Lord. We want to know His will for our lives. We wish for him to guide us in one particular direction or another - or tell us what to do in a particular situation or circumstance. But divine guidance from the Lord only comes to prepared hearts.

Doing Good

Opportunities to do good in this world usually come to us in the form of choices to be made. The thing is that many of us don't realize the need to plan our choices ahead of time. So the circumstance can catch us off guard ... and we can easily make a poor choice.

Faith's Step

Faith is the step between promise and assurance. Every miracle - and the things that seem like miracles - starts with an act of obedience. We may not see the provision from God until we step out in faith. And sometimes, that "step" is simply to wait patiently on the Lord.

Knowing Sin

It is not the sin that we don't know about - but rather the sin that we excuse and rationalize which causes us the greatest problems in our relationship with God. What sin am I rationalizing or making excuses for today?

Asking God

We should not ask God to do for us that which He wants to do through us.

Moral Standards

There must be a higher moral standard than the pleasure of the majority. We must avoid being influenced by the popular opinion of the crowd. Why is this? Because mankind is not capable of the highest moral standard.

Father's Mistakes

A father's mistakes are often reflected in the lives of his children. The sins of both parents are often repeated - and amplified in their children.

Children & Discipline

Children need discipline - especially those with natural abilities and good looks. Otherwise they will grow up being deceived by what their talents and looks mean. They will believe that they can do whatever they want because those talents and good looks. (After all, many of their parents operate under such deception!)

Seekers

We often think of people outside of church as seekers. The problem with that thinking is that some people are outside of church, disconnected from God - and they don't care. They aren't thinking of anything else. They aren't seeking God, spirituality ... or anything. Strangely they seem content with whatever they have in life. How is this possible?

Trust Factors

We often think that trust is earned. The thing is that it really isn't. Rather trust is placed in someone only when we believe that we know their nature and their character. Trust is then broken when the individual we trusted acts in opposition what we thought we knew of their nature and character.