tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15770212038459280572024-02-07T22:19:10.469-08:00A Journey To The Celestial City..Christian life - A journey from the city of destruction (this world) to the Celestial City (Heaven)!Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-44737871847043873192019-04-25T20:03:00.002-07:002019-04-25T20:03:32.223-07:00How do we trust God despite hopeless circumstances?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">We all go
through stuff that we don’t understand and we often wonder why God allowed them
in the first place. Does our faith in God, waver based on happenings and
circumstances? I believe that our very humanness will at times influence our
faith negatively, especially when we try to walk by sight, and to live by
feelings.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">What is Faith/Trust in God?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Faith is deeper than trusting God for good things in life. Faith
on one hand, is trusting the goodness of God, that He is a good Father who
provides good gifts for (or satisfies the needs of) His children in His perfect
time. On the other hand, it is also trusting the heart of God, that even if He
allows us to go through a painful or a humbling experience, it is only to help
us grow more in love and humility, to shape us into His Holy image, to allow
His character to shine through us, and to enable us to empathize with others
going through similar situations so we can comfort them and share the Source of
our hope. So the core of faith is to know who God really is and to have an
unwavering trust that whatever our lot in life, His grace will carry us
through. Somebody said, “<b><i>If you can’t trust God’s ways, trust His heart!”</i></b>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">What do we do when the problems get the better of us?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">I’d be lying if I say I never get discouraged when bad things
happen or when good things do not happen. But I’ve found that the best thing to
do when in pain or in hopelessness, is to cast it all upon Jesus - to be honest
with Him about my feelings and to surrender all those brokenness right under
His feet - day after day after day. I’ve learnt that at the place of surrender,
His grace renews our burdened soul, and this continuous dependency on God helps
us develop a deeper intimacy with Him like never before.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">What if we are too broken to trust God, or when the problem
starts feeling like a bottomless pit, with no escape route whatsoever? <b>Take
it to the Lord in prayer. </b>Prayer<b> </b>is<b> </b>the most
wonderful privilege we have from God. A sincere, heartfelt cry - “Help thou
mine unbelief!” - is all that God expects of us when doubts creep into our
hearts, making it difficult to trust in God’s goodness towards us.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Can’t help but share this beautiful hymn that sums is all up..</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to
bear!<br />
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!<br />
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,<br />
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?<br />
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.<br />
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?<br />
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?<br />
Precious Savior still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.<br />
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!<br />
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens
bear<br />
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.<br />
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer<br />
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-2486943785091331692019-02-18T17:02:00.004-08:002019-02-18T19:36:12.446-08:00Soulish vs Spiritual Christian<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Soulish vs Spiritual Christian</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians are
controlled by their soul - the emotions and thoughts and their intellect.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians are led
by the Holy Spirit</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians react
based on how they feel</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians respond
based on the promptings of the Holy Spirit</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians
desperately want to reason things out, and are busy seeking proofs and
justifications</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians walk in
faith, and not by sight</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians are
propelled to live the Christian life by their natural human zeal</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians are
propelled to live the Christian life, by experiencing the love of God, and
responding to that grace in love and humble submission to the leading of the
Holy Spirit.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians are moved
by the intellect and magnificent power and creativity of God</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians are
moved by the heart of God!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians read the Bible
to know about God, and to see what He can do</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians read
the Bible to know God, and to see who God is - His character and His heart</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians can get
worn out very quickly in their walk with God, as they tend to use their own
strength</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians renew
their strength day by day, by waiting patiently on God, and they are sustained
and carried by the grace of God</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians talk a
lot about God</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians talk a
lot with God</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
- Soulish Christians focus on
spiritual activities</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Spiritual Christians focus
on spiritual living - Walking in the Spirit</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<b><i></i></b><b><i>Is it bad to be a soulish Christian?</i></b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
It is a great thing to know about God, to talk about God, to
marvel at His great knowledge and intellectual design that we see around us and
to research His great power and the wonders of His miracles. But, we should not
forget that there's more to God than what the brain can comprehend! It is His
character and Heart that's all the more beautiful and precious, and it is in
our deepest heart - in our spirit through the enlightenment from the Holy
spirit - that we can begin to comprehend it. Being a soulish Christian could
mean that we're missing out on the core of who God really is.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<b><i></i></b><b><i>How can a soulish Christian grow to become a spiritual Christian?</i></b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
A soulish Christian needs to let go of his intellectual reasoning
in order to go deeper and to experience God in a whole new level. He needs to
shed his pride, become poor in spirit, resting on God's grace alone, and be
completely vulnerable and transparent with God, to know and walk with Him, in
deeper levels of intimacy.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">May
we all receive the grace to live this life for God, by being led by the Holy
Spirit, for He alone can enable us in living out God’s will in God’s way. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Summary</span></b><span style="color: #333333;">:
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">We are called to love God with all our heart, and all our
mind, and with all our strength! (In that order)</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-798121677959408302018-01-22T20:25:00.004-08:002018-01-22T20:25:50.740-08:00Surrender to God's will<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Teach me to listen to what You say,<br />
As I submit my life and my will;<br />
Let Your Spirit guide me today<br />
I'll know You're my God, as I stay still<br />
<br />
Transform me by renewing my mind<br />
Cleanse and purify my heart,<br />
In Your Holy Spirit I find<br />
the real joy that never parts<br />
<br />
Take me and mould me,<br />
For am a broken vessel in the Potter's hand<br />
Protect me and shield me,<br />
As you keep me in the palm of Your hand<br />
<br />
Give me the grace to lean on You<br />
As I walk in the path You have for me<br />
Give me the strength to continue<br />
To walk in Your grace and be free<br />
<br />
You answer, When I call<br />
You love me, Even if I fall<br />
You raise me up, when am humble<br />
You lift me, when I stumble<br />
<br />
My mind grows restless<br />
When I cant feel Your presence<br />
Your grace is priceless<br />
that brings me home again<br />
<br />
Help me to draw near<br />
to You alone, O Father God<br />
Take away all my fear<br />
And discipline me with your loving rod</div>
Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-34270731799342311542018-01-22T20:22:00.002-08:002018-01-22T20:22:40.891-08:00Remember your real home - Heavenly mindedness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">John 14:1-3<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">II Corinthians 17,18<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">There are times, when we get so bogged down with the cares of this world, that it's easy to forget where we're going. At times of worship, we get a glimpse of how Heaven would be like, when our soul is flooded with joy beyond comprehension as we experience the divine Love that surpasses our understanding. It's so exciting to recall the wonderful fact, that we're here on this earth, as mere ambassadors, our homeland is elsewhere. Jesus, at this very moment is preparing a place for us – And what a privilege is that!? It's a mind-boggling thought, that although we fell short of the glory of God (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God</span></i></b>), He chose us through His grace (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Ephesians 1:4<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup> </sup>just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love</span></i></b>), and has glorious plans to reward us for the life we live here, leaning on His grace and mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When our time comes to leave home, or when the Lord raptures the Church, whichever is early - we're in for the real party, a real celebration, the time when God Himself will wipe our tears, for there will be no more sorrow, and no more pain (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Revelation 21:4 - And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away</span></i></b>). What an exciting thought is that! This thought becomes all the more glorious for those who've endured pain, and those who've longed for greater things that the world could never offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">There’s no better words than the Psalmist’s to express the reason we love to go home:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i><span style="color: red;">"Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You." – Psalm 73:25</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">― Thomas Brooks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">See you in heaven!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Apple Color Emoji'; font-size: 11pt;">☺</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMPn0gTPooc" style="color: #954f72;">What a day, that will be!!<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">There is coming a day,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When no heart aches shall come,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">No more clouds in the sky,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">No more tears to dim the eye,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">All is peace forever more,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">On that happy golden shore,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">What a day, glorious day that will be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">What a day that will be,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When my Jesus I shall see,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">And I look upon His face,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The One who saved me by His grace;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When He takes me by the hand,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">And leads me through the Promised Land,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">What a day, glorious day that will be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">There'll be no sorrow there,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">No more burdens to bear,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">No more sickness, no pain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">No more parting over there;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">And forever I will be,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">With the One who died for me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-15107332058997826442017-12-28T20:43:00.001-08:002017-12-28T20:43:33.382-08:00The Root cause of all good things!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">James 1:17</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I got acquainted with the words "root cause" so much in my work (thanks to my on-call cycles!), that the connotation it brings with it always has me thinking that something went wrong somewhere. When a Severity 2 ticket dings, especially after I push in a one-liner code change that I thought was too trivial and innocuous to be "tested", I invariably get into panic mode. I hope and even pray, that my little code fix does not turn out to be the culprit, or the "root cause" for the high impact issue. If every negatively impacting issue has a "root cause", what about all those other times when those issues don't occur or when something good happens? Those "good" times should also then have their own good reasons - or root causes. Those potential issues that could've happened, didn't happen because someone took enough care to avoid the pitfalls (In software development terms, I'd equate it with 'some disciplined developer diligently tested his/her code before shipping it!' :)). And those good things that happen, didn't just appear out of thin air, but came into existence because someone made a deliberate attempt through their efforts, to create something of value to those around them.<br /><br />This led me to thinking about those times, when we tend to feel that there’s nothing exciting happening in life, when in fact there's Someone guarding us from all negative stuff that we're vulnerable to, and that Someone is orchestrating a million other things that we can't see or understand, to cause things to happen for our good as Romans 8:28 says. The Greatest Designer and Programmer of all times - who's never required a QA cycle for even the complex DNA code that He came up with - well, He is the root cause of all good things that are happening and will continue to happen. Take any good thing that's happened - Keep asking the 'Why's' and you'll finally arrive at the Source of all things (<b><i><span style="color: red;">John 1:3 - All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made</span></i></b>). And all good things we've done in the past or the ones that we're capable of doing in the future – are possible through Him alone.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">2 Corinthians 9:8 -<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">Philippians 2:13<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">- for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">.<br /><br />And what a privilege to know this great God - the Grand Designer and the real root cause of every good thing that's ever been - as our Best Friend and as our Guide!</span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-85310978761021491202017-12-05T20:21:00.003-08:002017-12-05T20:21:58.994-08:00The unseen war - Won through Praise!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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“Why does God allow me to go through this pain?”, “Why does God seem to be silent when I need Him the most?”, “Why me, Lord?”, “What did I do to deserve this?”, “I can’t see how You can work out this horrible evil for my good!”. We wrestle with such thoughts and questions, that shake the core of our Faith when we go through difficult times that don’t make sense. We<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>know</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>deep down, that God our Father, is loving, and will never let anything happen to us, that does not include a divine plan of redemption and deliverance, bringing joy to us in the end. And yet, when we face the reality of the painful situations we go through, it becomes difficult to proclaim the truth of the goodness of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The moment we see/hear words like Trials/Tribulations, we remember Job, from the Old Testament of the Bible. We learn what “Walking by faith, and not by sight” looks like, when we look at how, Job, unaware of the reasons behind the series of losses he experienced, chose to utter the words, “<b><span style="color: red;">The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.</span></b>” This is a difficult form of worship - Glorifying God right in the midst of fiery trials, through the very pain that the enemy purposefully inflicts upon us, to cause us to doubt the goodness of God. Little did Job know, that behind-the-scenes, God had His great victory and Satan his worse defeat – when Job uttered those words of “Praise” from the depths of His heart – that proved once and for all, that Job worshipped and pursued God for who He is, not for the good gifts he received from Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When we are pushed to the edge, when we feel like there’s no hope, when we assume that God has probably forgotten us and has ceased to answer our prayers – it’s a prime opportunity to praise Him in the storm, to glorify His Holy Name through the trials, and to prove that our love towards Him is not shallow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A great quote from Rick Warren:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of the pain, thanking God during the trials, trusting him when we’re tempted to lose hope and loving him when he seems so distant and far away. At my lowest, God is my hope. At my darkest, God is my light. At my weakest, God is my strength. At my saddest, God is my comforter.</span></b></div>
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Praise His Name - By Jeff and Sheri Easter: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgqAN2i7GM0)" style="color: #954f72; text-size-adjust: auto;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgqAN2i7GM0</a></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-75716904287389502172017-11-09T01:47:00.005-08:002017-11-09T01:47:46.207-08:00A Reminder of God's goodness.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes, when we complete a simple task at work or a mundane chore at home or cross-off a to-do item for an errand, we begin to wonder if God could ever be involved in such an insignificant work that we just got done, and if it even required God's strength or enablement at all. But if we pause, and look around, we will realize that there were a host of different internal and external factors working together in the right measure and in the right order, that was conducive to accomplishing the task (however insignificant it might seem on the outside).</div>
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It’s human nature to disregard these minute details, and take them all for granted. If you’d ponder more, and then list down those factors that were but a direct result of God's goodness towards us, we would be surprised how blind we’ve been to God’s goodness.</div>
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I came up with the following short list to help me get deeper into the awareness of God’s goodness over my life, when I completed a task that’s not even worth mentioning!<br />- I had the desire to complete the task<br />- I was healthy to be able to do the work at hand<br />- I had the sane and right mind to be able to know what to do and how to do it<br />- I had all my physical body parts working well and in sync with the brain, that aided me to do the actual work<br />- I had the right circumstances and other external factors, that helped me stay focused and undistracted<br />- I was breathing and I was alive!<br />and the list would continue if we looked more closely into the situation...<br />Then it occurred to me, that if not for God, I couldn't even be alive, let alone accomplish a task!</div>
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<br />It doesn't take even a split-second, for God to withhold His goodness, and I could be as useless as anything inanimate. A healthy dose of gratitude towards God, is required to keep us focused on God's goodness and to keep the negativity and a sour attitude at bay. Every morning is a wonderful opportunity to take time to cognize all the wonderful gifts we are bestowed with (which we often take for granted) and to thank God for them. Not many had the privilege to see "today". And there are many who consider it a far-fetched dream to live a life that you now live. It's all a matter of God's goodness and His mercy, that we are here in the now, alive and well. We have all that we need, to live a life that God wants us to live. Let's thank Him for enabling us every single day for the tasks up ahead of us. God is not just in the mighty things He does through us, He is also in the every-day stuff we do, for He controls the minute details of our lives!</div>
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<b><i>Whenever you think something could've been a mere coincidence, remember that you might be overlooking a miracle!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><i>We are a people who believe in Grace and not luck!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: 'Apple Color Emoji';">☺</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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Don Moen’s song –<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8BEOHy9qBo" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8BEOHy9qBo</a></div>
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Where would I be<br />If You had not been by my side<br />How could I rise to meet<br />The morning of the day<br />Your tender mercy<br />Always calling from behind<br />At times I could not see You<br />Even though You were close by</div>
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Lord You are good, You are Good<br />And Your mercy forever endures<br /></div>
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Help me to see Your loving kindness<br />Help me to see You as You are<br /><br />As You really really are</div>
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And Your mercy forever endures</div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-83363393442497494442017-11-09T01:47:00.002-08:002017-11-09T01:47:15.583-08:00If life is a trekking..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Psalm 32:8<br />I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;<br />I will guide you with My eye.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br />I had an interesting conversation with one of my friends, who identifies himself as an atheist. We usually chat about the philosophies of life and shared our views on the “purpose“ of life, about the morals that govern what's good and what's evil, and the million dollar question that's been intriguing humanity all through history - "Does God exist?". He introduced to me, a new school of thought called "existentialism that he had found to be very persuasive and reasonable. The essence of existentialism is that there is no inherent purpose for our lives; we create our own by exploring our passion. The sense of "fulfillment" is when you pursue and excel in your passion and start making valuable contributions to your field of expertise, making the world a better place, and leaving behind a legacy for others. When it was my turn to express what I believed, I told him how I found no meaning/satisfaction in what this world could offer, and that I found fulfillment in a<b><i>Person</i></b>, and he quickly figured out that it was Jesus I was talking about. I told him that life didn't make sense to me a lot of times, and I saw a lot of evil in the world, and if I try to define my own purpose and try to pursue it, I'd mess up big time as I have no idea of how life works, as I am confined by the physical parameters of the natural world, and I have no foreknowledge of what can unfold in the future. Given these factors, and given the truth of my belief in the existence of Highest Wisdom called God, I'd prefer walking this journey with a Guide with unlimited wisdom, who defined the physical constraints of time, matter and energy, who knows the beginning from the end, who also lovingly offers to help me navigate this world. He wasn't very convinced of this belief system as it's not based on anything tangible. It all sounded like a fantasy and for a rational person like him, it's silly to believe in anything that lacked solid proof.<br /><br />The conversation continued, and he narrated his experience on a solo trip he'd just been to, and how he loved the freedom of having to make his own decisions with no external influence or need to compromise. We discussed how life was, in a sense, like trekking - finding your purpose is like finding your mountain and the fulfillment is when you get to the mountain top. I asked, "What if you chose your own mountain, and once you make it to the top, feel empty on the inside and regret that you climbed the wrong one?" and added, "That's one of the reasons why I think having a Guide is so vital for me, for He knows all that could be known. I don't have to fret about choosing the right mountain, I only need to yield to His loving instructions, for His plans are greater than mine". My friend responded that making mistakes was okay, for you can always try again, a mountain at a time. He felt that it was okay to keep experimenting, but I stated that life was too short for such experimentation, and there's always a possibility that we could end up "unfulfilled" when we hit the finish line. To him, having to abide by the Guide's plans, and having to obey His instructions meant sacrificing his cherished "freedom". He then asked me, "What if the Guide made you to climb the mountain that he wanted to, and not the one that's necessarily the right one for you?". And I did not answer that one. I knew things about my Guide that He didn't and I couldn't find the right words for a satisfactory explanation. I knew that my Guide - the One who gave His life to save me from this dark world of sin and evil - always had the best in store for me, for am not just someone that's going on a trek with Him,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>am also His beloved child</i></b>. I thought to myself, if only he knew my Guide and experienced His love, he'd know why I trust Him with my life, as He is not just a Guide,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>He is also my Father and also my Savior</i>. As I pondered upon this, he kept the conversation alive by suggesting that I take a trek myself so I could know the beauty of traveling to unknown places. He said, "There are organized groups that travel together for fun, and there are "Guides" too. They help setup tents, show you the path, warn you of leeches. So it's safe, adventurous and really beautiful.". Hearing those statements, I knew that he knew what a Guide's role was, more than I did. And I said, "That's true. And that's why I trust my Guide, to help me wade through life.". I believe that he got the answer for why I trusted my Guide for he himself gave the best possible explanation for who a Guide really is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />So, to re-iterate on what Jesus, our Guide, does for us:<br /><i>1. Setup tents - Divine Providence for this "temporary" life</i><br /><b><span style="color: red;">Philippians 4:19<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br /><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2. Show us the path - Guidance and Correction<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Proverbs 3:6<br />In all your ways acknowledge Him,<br />And He shall direct your paths.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;"><br />Psalm 119:105<br />Your word is a lamp to my feet<br />And a light to my path.</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br /><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">3. Warn us of leeches - Safety and Protection (Psalm 91)</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><b><span style="color: red;">Psalm 91:10-12<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">10: No evil shall befall you,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">11: For He shall give His angels charge over you,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">To keep you in all your ways.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">12: In their hands they shall bear you up,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Lest you dash your foot against a stone.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br /><b>Let's remember that we're not going through life alone. We have a Guide, who is also our Father, our Provider, our Comforter, our Coach, our Healer, our Savior, our King, and our very best Friend. He promises to take us to beautiful places, to keep us safe, if only we trust Him. It doesn’t matter if we didn’t know where we’re heading in life; for it’s part of the thrill in this adventure called life.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">One of my favourite songs from Tobymac,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFPq9p559II" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFPq9p559II</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Call it a reason to retreat<br />I got some dreams that are bigger than me<br />I might be outmatched outsized the underdog in the fight of my life<br />Is it so crazy to believe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">That you gave me the stars put them out of my reach<br />Call me to waters a little to deep<br />Oh I've never been so aware of my need<br />You keep on making me see<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's way beyond me<br />It's way beyond me<br />Yeah it's out of my league<br />It's way beyond me<br />It's way beyond me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's way beyond<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Anything that I got the strength to do<br />In over my head keeps me countin' on you<br />I'm leaving the sweet spot sure shot tradin' it all for the plans you got<br />Is it so crazy to believe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">That you gave me the stars put them out of my reach<br />Call me to waters a little to deep<br />Oh I've never been so aware of my need<br />You keep on making me see<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's way beyond me<br />It's way beyond me<br />Yeah it's out of my league<br />It's way beyond me<br />It's way beyond me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">You take me to the place where I know I need You<br />Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own<br />And Lord I know, I know I need You<br />So take me to Your great<br />Take me to Your great unknown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's way beyond me, way way beyond me<br />It's it's way beyond me, way way way beyond me</span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-59905503493205891912017-10-10T09:03:00.001-07:002017-10-10T09:03:55.585-07:00From the miry clay to the Solid Rock of Salvation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Every decision we make without involving God, can bog us down with guilt, shame and regret. This is a lesson am learning over and over again. We rarely see the consequences when we make a choice, for we’re so obsessed with the temporary gains that we’re blinded to the permanent effects it could bring about in our lives and in the lives of those around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">After a series of such foolish choices, we suddenly realize we are struggling in a miry clay, where we’ve lost our joy and peace, where we’ve lost sense of our purpose. As I reflected upon the times I felt in such a messy place, the pattern was the same: I had left out God in the decisions I made, for some of them (I thought) were too petty to be brought before Him. And after such decisions, another pattern followed: self-justification. I knew I had not done the right thing, but I was so focused on making it look right (by blaming the circumstances or trying to justify with other unreasonable reasons) that I hardly came towards God with a repentant spirit. But here’s the good news: God’s never done with us; and we can never get too far for His reach. He loves us too much to leave us prey to our own foolishness. He will gently convict us and lead us towards genuine repentance and reconciliation. Oh, what a God we serve!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Apple Color Emoji'; font-size: 11pt;">☺</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I’ve noticed that my decisions tend to be controlled by one of two things that make up the soul: the mind and the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Using the mind - Rational decision:<o:p></o:p></span><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We tend to always lean on our own understanding, overthinking the situation and giving space for the enemy to build strongholds in our minds that can keep us captive to his lies. (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Proverbs 3:7 - Do not be wise in your own eyes</span></i></b>). But, there’s hope for us, for the Bible says in II Corinthians 10:4,5: “For the weapons of our warfare <i>are</i> not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, <b><sup>5 </sup></b>casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;">We need to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>identify those strongholds (mental ideas that are not from God) and pull them down in Jesus’ Name by declaring and believing the Word (Truth) of God</b>. If what God says sounds irrational and impossible, we should remember that that’s what walking in Faith is all about; knowing it doesn’t make sense and yet believing the Word because the One who uttered it never lies. (</span><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that He should lie</span></i></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;">)</span><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Using the heart - Emotional decision<o:p></o:p></span><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We tend to be swayed by our emotions sometimes, and make quick decisions that seem to temporarily soothe our emotions.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We ought to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>fix our eyes on Jesus, and build our lives on the solid Rock of Salvation</b>, asking God to lead our hearts into His will, and ask Him the strength to stop living based on the whims and wishes of our deceitful and self-obsessed heart (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Jeremiah 17: 9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Wherever we are right now, if we think we aren’t as close to God as we desired, let’s remember that we’re just a prayer away from His beautiful presence and comforting arms!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Here’s a beautiful song “One step away” by Casting Crowns:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hktP9LHaRI0" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hktP9LHaRI0</a></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-43953438517196115192017-09-17T19:37:00.001-07:002017-09-17T19:37:41.336-07:00Through it all...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A Faith-filled perspective in the storm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">We all go through the storms of life, when the failures of the past haunt us, when the present circumstances are discouraging, and/or when the future looks hazy and uncertain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">During these storms, that threatens to capsize our boat called “life”, we have a choice to make: Linger in fear or stay in Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">While Fear looks at the circumstances, Faith looks at the omnipotent God, who is right inside the boat! (<b><i><span style="color: red;">He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world – I John 4:4</span></i></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">While fear cripples us, Faith enables us to draw strength from God (<b><i><span style="color: red;">I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me</span></i></b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i><span style="color: red;">– Philippians 4:13</span></i></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">While fear focuses on worldly statistics, faith shows us the miracles God has done in the past (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Thus far the Lord has helped us – I Samuel 7: 12</span></i></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">While fear believes the bad reports, Faith believes in the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i><span style="color: red;">Word of our God, that stands forever (Isaiah 40:8)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">While fear anticipates the worst, Faith makes us trust in God’s goodness and mercy. (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; - Psalm 23:6)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">While fear magnifies our weakness, Faith magnifies the unmerited grace from God, that has the potential to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i><span style="color: red;">raise the poor from the dust and lift the beggar from the ash heap</span></i></b><span style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>(I Samuel 2:8)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Looking back at past struggles and God-given victories…</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />"Why does God allow me to go through these valleys of sufferings, if He loves me?" is a question that that we cannot attempt to answer completely, because of our intellectual limitation to understand an infinite God. But looking back at past struggles, we can all testify that if not for those tough times, we couldn’t have gotten closer to God, couldn’t have tasted the sweet intimacy with our Savior that mitigates every pain, wouldn’t have learnt to trust in the unfailing love of the Father, wouldn’t have known the power of the Word of God and the comfort of God’s Healing presence through His Holy Spirit.<br /><br />Through every trial, through every season, God through the Holy Spirit, molds us into the image of Jesus, teaching us wonderful truths about Himself and reveals to us His Holy ways and His beautiful Heart. He also<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">refines us through the fire (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. – Isaiah 48: 10</span></i></b>)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color: red; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;">strengthens us through the tough times (</span><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">But may<sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></sup>the God of all grace, who called us<sup></sup>to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. – I Peter 5:10)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">deepens our root in Him (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Colossians 2:7 - ..rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving</span></i></b>)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">trains us to fight a good fight for the Kingdom of God (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Psalm 144: 1 - Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle</span></i></b>)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">comforts us, so we can comfort others (<b><i><span style="color: red;">Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3,4)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">What more do we need than this beautiful promise that God gives to each of us:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Isaiah 43: 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">When you pass through the waters,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I <i>will be</i> with you;</span><br />And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.<br />When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,<br />Nor shall the flame scorch you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Am reminded of this beautiful song by Andrae Crouch:</div>
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<i>I’ve had many tears and sorrows,<br />I’ve had questions for tomorrow,<br />there’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong.<br />But in every situation,<br />God gave me blessed consolation,<br />that my trials come to only make me strong.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Through it all, through it all,<br />I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,<br />I’ve learned to trust in God.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Through it all, through it all,<br />I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I’ve been to lots of places,<br />I’ve seen a lot of faces,<br />there’s been times I felt so all alone.<br />But in my lonely hours,<br />yes, those precious lonely hours,<br />Jesus lets me know that I was His own<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I thank God for the mountains,<br />and I thank Him for the valleys,<br />I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.<br />For if I’d never had a problem,<br />I wouldn’t know God could solve them,<br />I’d never know what faith in God could do.</i></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-90753646286953824562017-08-17T17:31:00.001-07:002017-08-17T17:31:28.466-07:00Breaking free from secret sins!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Biblical Answers for questions related to overcoming secret sins<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: Are we always perfect and can we ever be without sin on this earth?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: No. I John 1:8 says: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: Is sin done in secret?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: Mostly yes; John 3:20 - For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: What impact does willful secret sin have in a Christian’s life?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death. Spiritual “death” can occur to a person in continual willful sin that can cut him off from God. Satan wants to extinguish the Light of Jesus that's within us; And he uses secret sins as weapons to make Christians spiritually ineffective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: Can we overcome secret sins by ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: No. Will power has limitation and cannot help in the long run; For Paul talks about our “natural state” in Romans 7:18 - For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: How do we receive forgiveness for what we’ve already done?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: I John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: How do we start living a life that pleases God?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: A genuine desire in the form of a prayer: Psalm 19:12,13 Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: Will we have temptations, once we’re cleansed by the blood of Jesus?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: Yes; I Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: Will we ever be tempted more than we can bear?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: No; I Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Q: How can we overcome temptations that seem to always triumph?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A: Dependence on God’s strength: Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me; Resist and rebuke the devil: James 4:7 - Resist the devil and he will flee from you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-75400300471622166632017-08-12T01:10:00.000-07:002017-08-12T01:10:08.470-07:00Sufficient for you today, is His amazing Grace!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 12:9<br />My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Proverbs 3:34<br />God gives grace to the humble.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How Grace works</td></tr>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-58850118009909659542017-07-29T05:01:00.002-07:002017-07-29T05:01:23.928-07:00From Fear to Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br /><b><i>What is fear?</i></b><br />- Fear is the acknowledgement of the existence of something or someone who has greater power than you do, and can impact your life directly or indirectly.<br /><br /><b><i>But, what is fear of God?</i></b><br />- Fear of God, is not a negative emotion (like fear of future or fear of loss); It's rather a positive declaration of God's Sovereignty and power over everything.<br />- Fear can take the form of respect, given to the One in authority.<br />- Fear of God could also mean an unconditional submission to God's plans<br />- The fear of the Lord is the attitude that enables us to seek God's will<br /><br /><b><i>How do we know that the "fear of God" manifests in us?</i></b><br />- When there's an increasing tendency in us to move away from places or things or people or practices, that can negatively impact my relationship with God. (Proverbs 3:7 - Fear the Lord and depart from evil)<br />- When we lean on the Holy Spirit all the time, in order to please God through obedience to His Words, which are in accordance with His perfect will.<br />- When we fear the prospect of missing out on God's will (when I lean on my own understanding).<br />- When we value obedience to God; and do not compromise with the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">- When we fear God, we fear nothing (and no-one) else.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Enter Love</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />Perfect love casts out fear (I John 4:18)<br />-<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Fear -> Wisdom -> Love</b>: Fear is the beginning of Wisdom; And the Highest form of Wisdom is Love.<br />- Love is all-inclusive and overshadows everything else; For God Himself is LOVE.<br /><br />- When you value God's will in every aspect of your life => You fear God<br />- When you seek God's will in every area of your life => You are wise<br />- When you're ready to pay any cost for following God's will => You love God<br /><br />- When you know God's power => You fear Him<br />- When you know God's heart (His character) => You love Him<br /><br /><b><i>When we love God, do we stop fearing Him?</i></b><br />Psalm 2:11<br />Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.<br />- Even though we love God, there are times we worship Him with absolute awe and adoration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">- It takes wisdom (given by the Holy Spirit), to know when to love God and when to fear Him.</span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-44507521011548457932017-07-03T23:02:00.001-07:002017-07-29T05:03:59.474-07:00Being a vigilant Christian<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;">Hebrews 12:1<br /><br />Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, <i>let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance</i> the race that is set before us.</span></b><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /><br />I came across this article a couple of days back,</span><i>"When Roberto Goizueta took over as CEO of Coca-Cola in the 1980s, he was faced with intense competition from Pepsi that was eating into Coke's growth. His executives were Pepsi-focused and intent on increasing market share 0.1 per cent a time.<br />Roberto decided to stop competing against Pepsi and instead compete against the situation of 0.1 per cent growth.<br /><br />He asked his executives what was the average fluid intake of an American per day? The answer was 14 ounces. What was Coke's share of that? Two ounces. Roberto said Coke needed a larger share of that market. The competition wasn't Pepsi. It was the water, tea, coffee, milk and fruit juices that went into the remaining 12 ounces. The public should reach for a Coke whenever they felt like drinking something.<br /><br />To this end, Coke put up vending machines at every street corner. Sales took a quantum jump and Pepsi has never quite caught up since."</i><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /><br />Well, that was quite a strategy! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">But when I read this, I could sense that this principle of “gaining” market share applies to our spiritual lives as well. The enemy's goal is to increase his market share in our human "hearts". To this end, we see that every aspect of human life in this fallen world, is heavily influenced by the devil, which is a deliberate attempt to trap not (just) the unbelievers, but rather the elite warriors of God's kingdom. From sinful addictions, all the way to seemingly innocuous entertainment and luxury, we see the crafty setup that has the potential to pull us away from pursuing the things of eternal value.<br /><br />Some might think that these worldly pursuits will not affect our spiritual walk, as long as we believe that the One who is in us, is greater than the one in the world. While I genuinely believe that there's no force that can defeat us because of the power we have through Christ Jesus, I also believe the reality and the craftiness of the enemy and that he will try his best to pull us into his territory through subtle means. As Peter says, we ought to “<b><sup> </sup></b>Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8)<br /><br />Samson was a man of God, and he was a strong warrior, who single-handedly brought victory after victory for Israel. When the enemy camp (Philistines) knew they couldn't overpower him through direct attacks, they devised a scheme and used Delilah as a trap. The Philistines (who symbolically represent the devil and his army) said, "Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him;" (Judges 16:5)<br />Was Samson not a man of God? He certainly was! Did he not have God's power dwelling within? He certainly did! The devil was totally aware of the power given to him, but what he also knew was that he had to employ a different strategy to defeat Samson. If he can't come as an enemy assaulting us, (for He knows we'd use God's power to overthrow him), he'll come as an angel of light to deceive us! All he needs, is to turn our hearts away, little by little, not merely towards sin, but to ANYTHING (even the good things in life!) that can keep our focus off God. The enemy will try and do everything in his ability, to keep us from running the race. As the author of Hebrews says, we ought to lay down <b><i>every</i></b> <b><i>weight</i></b> (and not just turn away from sin) that can bog us down and interfere with our race.<br /><br />How do we know what's keeping us from running the God-given race? "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things" (John 14:26). We ought to rely on the Holy Spirit, to know what is it that's keeping us from doing God’s perfect will. As He reveals and convicts our hearts of anything that's adding unnecessary weight and slowing us down, let His grace lead us into repentance and obedience to His Word that purifies and edifies us, as we live our lives in surrender to our Holy God. Let the Psalmist’s prayer be ours as well,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">“Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.” (Psalms 119:37)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">The MSG paraphrase puts Psalm 139:23 this way,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Investigate my life, O God,<br /> find out everything about me;<br />Cross-examine and test me,<br /> get a clear picture of what I’m about;<br />See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—<br /> then guide me on the road to eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-60539702637826558282017-06-27T22:19:00.002-07:002017-06-27T22:19:55.755-07:00Unconditional Surrender<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: red;">Luke 22:42<br />..nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.</span></b><br /><br />"God, if you do this for me right now, I promise to serve you for the rest of my life!", I've mumbled to God, when I found myself in situations, where I saw that there was absolutely no escape route. There may not be anything inherently wrong with making such promises to God, but there’s a hint of "conditional" commitment in it. But as I grow in Christ, as the Holy Spirit deepens my root in the Father’s unfailing love, I've come to understand that the only appropriate response to "Unconditional Love" is Unconditional surrender. When we introspect our lives and see how, in-spite of our selfish motives and proud demeanor, God chooses to fellowship with us through His Spirit (as we repent), and guides us (when we ask Him to) with His love - that's when we experience the beauty of the Agape love of God. We learn through every season of life (particularly the dark ones), that God loves us no matter what, and His plans are always the best. Along the journey of life, I learn that He turns water into wine, mourning into dancing, and gives beauty for ashes. When that gets deep in my heart, I slowly let go of my own will, my own plans, and surrender to the perfect and Holy will of God, even if it meant momentary pain and suffering, even if it meant venturing into the unknown and the unsafe.<br /><br />Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not know what was on the other side of surrender and obedience to God. They did not allow "fear" that could've led them into thinking "What if obedience to God means death??", but they surrendered to God through "Faith" saying "..even if He[God] does not [deliver], we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.". Faith is an essential ingredient in unconditional surrender.<br /><br />In life, I've learnt that we might go through troubles which might seem unnecessary to us, but we will never know what lies on the other side of “suffering”, until we get there. During times when we are tempted to quit or even grumble, let the Holy Spirit remind us of Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."</div>
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For,</div>
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<i>It took "unconditional surrender" of three young men, to bring a pagan king into God's kingdom. It took "unconditional surrender" of Jesus, to bring the whole of humanity into God's kingdom.</i></div>
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Such is the power of complete surrender to God, when our "What if.."s become "Even if.."s. Surrendering to God - is not an indication of weakness, it is the most courageous act of a human who chooses to let go of his own plans, disregard his own calculations, and follow-through the painful situations – by choosing to trust the Highest Wisdom and rest in the Unconditional Love.</div>
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<br />No life is more secure than a life surrendered to God (from the internet; not sure of the original author).</div>
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And Minnie Louise Haskins's poem "God knows" goes like this,</div>
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<br />I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year,<br />"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."<br />And he replied, "<b><i>Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God</i></b>.<br />That shall be to you <b>better than light</b>, and <b>safer than a known way</b>."</div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-52700532425539932712017-06-21T02:31:00.001-07:002017-06-21T02:31:22.367-07:00Too broken for a fix? Too late for a miracle?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Genesis 18:14<br />
Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you,
according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.</span></b><br />
<br />
Living in a world where we have instant coffee, instant messaging, instant
payments, it's hard to digest the fact that God's timelines are not how we'd
like it to be. I watch encouraging sermons, listen to uplifting songs, read
promises of God's deliverance and blessings from the Word - to carry the hope
of the promise of deliverance as I plod through every day of my life, waiting
for God to come through. "Is there a deficiency in my faith? Am I not
praying according to God's will? Why do I feel like my prayers are bouncing off
the ceiling? I have been patient for months and years now, am I waiting on God
for the right thing?" - These are some of the thoughts I struggle with
every other day. <br />
<br />
What do we do when we feel too broken to be fixed? When it seems like it's too
late for a miracle?<o:p></o:p></div>
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We look at the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12) in the
Bible, the ones that have gone before us, who've gone through some amazing
waiting periods, yet hanging on to the truth that the unchanging and
ever-loving God, will never leave them nor forsake them. Somedays I think, is
it even possible for someone in the right mind to wait for the promised child
at the age of 100? How heartbroken would Martha and Mary have been, when
Lazarus died, because Jesus chose not to respond quickly to their crisis? But
when every ounce of possibility of a miracle is gone, there is still a way for
God to bring the best out of nowhere. For, is anything too hard for the Lord?<br />
<br />
Isn't it great, when He was four days late, He was still on time?<br />
<br />
Four days late - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se7yAkqu3Ek" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se7yAkqu3Ek</a><br />
<br />
But You're four days late And all hope is gone<br />
Lord we don't understand why you've waited so long<br />
But His way is God's way, Not yours or mine<br />
When He's four days late, He's still on time<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-35951663488540430362017-06-13T22:48:00.002-07:002017-06-13T22:48:48.410-07:00Which way, Lord?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Psalm 37:23<br />The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,<br />And He delights in his way.<br /><br />Psalm 143: 10<br />Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.</span></i></b><br /><br />Often times in life, I feel like am at a crossroad, and my mind starts contemplating on the best possible course that I could take. The Corporate world teaches me that I need to meticulously weigh the Pros and Cons of each option, before locking on a decision. Google doesn't help either. All it does is compound my problem, making a mountain out of a molehill - by providing more "options" to consider, ruining my peace. After a lot of thought and second thoughts, I end up with, not a "solution", but increased "confusion". I blame my indecisiveness and I give up. As my mind slowly withdraws from frantically evaluating options, my heart reminds me that I have a better way to deal with this chaos. "How could you forget that you have Someone who has promised to be by your side at ALL times, protecting you and leading you?", my heart says. And then my mind slowly agrees, "Yes, my God, my Good Shepherd, and my Best Friend, directs my path and orders my steps. He leads me beside quiet waters, and I, as His sheep, need only to hear His voice and follow Him.”<br /><br />It's a wonderful and a comforting truth, the more you reflect on it, the more marvelous it is. The One who knows everything that could possibly be known, the One who holds the universe with the power of His Word, the One who created everything that exists in and around me, the One who's already seen my future and knows it better than I know my past - HE offers to lead me and guide me by His nail-pierced Hands! What an awesome privilege is that? My mind is too small to understand the greatness of this truth - How can a God who is so great, come down and die for me, to teach me and lead me to live a beautiful life, that's better than my wildest dreams and fantasies? True that I have had to cross some valleys of humiliation and depression, true that am clueless as to what God's will for my life is, but it is also true that I'm still alive, basking in the goodness of God even in the midst of every chaos and struggle, as am carried by the One, who once carried the weight of the sins of the whole wide world. It will take Heaven, for me to understand the depth of such unconditional and pure love.<br /><br />When this great truth dawns on me, the questions like "Which way should I go?", "Which is the best option to choose?" do not torment me anymore. "I will follow Your lead, Lord, wherever it may be, whatever be the cost" is my response to that divine, inexplicable Love, that has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I then understand that like an aircraft, I just need to acknowledge and obey the instructions from the control room (promptings from the Holy Spirit), one instruction at a time, and I will safely reach my destination (Proverbs 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths). And I quietly bless the Lord, for all that He's done and trust Him for all He's yet to do, and continue with the routines of life, with a peace that surpasses all understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-44420416439327914672017-06-05T21:52:00.001-07:002017-06-05T21:52:09.278-07:00Our minds - playground or battleground?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">II Corinthians 10:4,5</span><br style="font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">4: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,</span><br style="font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">5: casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.</span></span></b><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are surrounded by sources that constantly inject worldly ideas into our minds. These worldly themes and opinions are so popular that if we let those thoughts take root in our minds, they can easily influence the decisions we make day in and day out. If we keenly observe the various messages that we are bombarded with every single day, it's clear that although they don't seem ungodly at first, they are in direct contradiction to God's Word. </span><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Follow your heart" they say, but the Bible says "The heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9); lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)". "Plan for the future" they say, but the Bible says "Do not worry about tomorrow, sufficient for today is it's own troubles". "My life, my rules" might seem like a cool motto, but we know that "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." The worldly philosopher might conclude that "Happiness is the chief end of man", but God's Word reminds us that "Holiness, is God's will for man" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). The fashion world emphasizes that your beauty is what you look like on the outside, but God's Word says, "the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, is very precious in the sight of God" (I Peter 3:4). The opportunist says, "Go for it now, for the future is promised to no one", but the Psalmist says, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him".</span><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our mind is not a playground for various thoughts to dwell and have their way; it's a battleground where there's a constant battle between these conflicting ideas (worldly and Godly) forcing us to choose one over the other, as we cannot serve two masters.</span><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do we overcome this battle? How do we choose to live according to God's Word? It may not be easy for us to discern the worldly thoughts, because they often seem very close to "good" thoughts, but when we open up to the Holy Spirit, humbly imploring Him to search our hearts and reveal our anxious thoughts, He will help us with the discernment and lead us in the way everlasting (Psalms 139:23,24). Once the Spirit enlightens us with the Truth of God's Word, there's another enemy that's waiting to pull us down - fear. What if the world does not accept what I believe according to God's Word? What if I look like a lunatic when I apply God's wisdom in my decision making process? What if I wait on God and His unwavering promises and miss out on the pleasures of this life? Someone said, "When fear knocks at the door, send Faith to answer". I John 5:4 says, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith". When doubts and fears arise, let the Holy Spirit strengthen our Faith, to trust in God's Word, which is the ultimate Truth and Wisdom, to surrender our lives to Him who knows the beginning from the end. Amen.</span></span></span></div>
Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-64898175372235945852017-05-22T21:54:00.000-07:002017-05-22T22:02:35.666-07:00Growing in the knowledge of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Apple Symbols";">Colossians 1:9,10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><sup><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Apple Symbols";">9 </span></sup></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Apple Symbols";">For this reason we also, since
the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ask that you may be filled with
the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; <sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">10 </span></sup>that you may walk worthy
of the Lord, fully pleasing <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Him,</span> being
fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Apple Symbols";">I
remember the childish desires I had when I was a kid. I was so obsessed with
sugar that I said to myself, "When I become an adult, I'll make sugar
syrup and use it instead of plain water". To me, heaven was a place where
ice-cream keeps falling from above and there's glitter all around. As Paul says
in I Corinthians 13: 11 - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put
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I know I lacked sense and maturity as a kid. And now, I appreciate the taste of
plain water and am amazed at how I could drink lots of it without ever feeling
sick. And I know that an excess of sweetness does not lead to more sweetness,
but rather to bitterness. The change in my desires and needs indicates the
growth and maturity I've had through life's varying experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Apple Symbols";"><br />
As a baby in Christ, we might be obsessed with little things, and might be
always asking our Heavenly Father for materialistic blessings. It is perfectly
okay to bring our needs to God (for God wants us to rely on Him for everything),
but if all we ever do when we come to Him, is ask for something we need – that is
an indicator that we need to grow spiritually. As we grow in the knowledge of
God through the Holy Spirit, we begin to understand the bigger picture. We
begin to realize that God didn't design our lives to be lived according to our
whims in cushiony comforts, but rather to carry out His perfect will on earth,
glorifying His Holy Name. Once we begin to spend time with God, knowing His
awesome character and His amazing ways, our focus in prayer starts shifting
from "my needs" to "God's will". We sense God's heart and
we begin to know through the Spirit's revelation that we are called to live a
deeper life, with godly standards, as a "light" and a
"salt" in this dark world. Knowing God and loving Him is the ultimate reason for our existence. The more we know God, the more we can love Him. The more we love Him, the more we desire to please Him. So it all starts with knowing God through His Holy Spirit. Let's not allow life's busyness and self-obsessions to make us blind to the godly purposes of life. Life itself has meaning because of just one thing - GOD. There's no meaningful purpose of life apart from the Creator. Let's grow in the knowledge of Who God <b><i>is</i></b>, not just what He can do.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Apple Symbols";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Apple Symbols";"><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i>Philippians 3:8</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Apple Symbols";"><i><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </span><span style="background-color: white;">Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ</span></i></span></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-23579082445217661562017-04-30T21:54:00.000-07:002017-04-30T21:54:11.778-07:00Disciple vs Follower<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus had 70 followers, among whom 12 were His “disciples”. Disciple is someone who’s disciplined, is a matured imitator of his Teacher. A follower is more casual in his approach of following the teachings of the Teacher. As I meditated on it, I felt that we can be either a disciple or a follower at any point of time – a disciple is a matured Christian having a close relationship with the Teacher (Jesus), while a follower lacks maturity. We reflect the characteristics of a disciple when we follow God whole-heartedly, and the moment we lose focus on God, we tend to become a mere follower. It’s the spiritual maturity that defines a “disciple”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let God work in us as we become His favorite disciples, as He molds us into the image of His Son Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just outlined some attitude differences below:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Disciple vs Follower<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Lord, teach me how to pray.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Can someone pray for me?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Lord, make me more like You.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Lord, please help me become like this, or like that<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - I trust in You, no matter the cost<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Desires to trust in God, but cost and the risk seem too high, keeps backups<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Marvels at God's character and His ways<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Marvels at God's power and His wonders<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Accepts God's chastening as it is God's love that disciplines His children<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Assumes God is punishing for their actions<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - God is his only priority, at all times<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - God is one of his priorities in life<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Loves spending time with God, as a close and intimate friend<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Spends time with God occasionally, more like a formal meet-up for placing requests<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Neither worldly success, nor religion makes sense<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Sees worldly success as a gift from God, and religion as a way of paying back to him<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Values the fruits of the Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Values the gifts of the Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Loves God with all of his heart<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Loves the concept of God, and how He "fits" in his life<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Knows and acknowledges human weakness; transparent with what he feels<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Rebukes human weakness and relates it to being unbelieving<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - No masks, brutally honest with God as with a close friend<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Thinks it's a sin to question God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Matured enough to not judge people by their outward appearance<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Criticizes people merely by seeing what they do or by hearing what others say about them<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Set apart from the world; unable to tolerate the sinful and ungodly spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Finds it quite amusing to mingle with the world and still stand for God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Learns to be led by the Holy Spirit, day by day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Not much aware of how the Spirit leads and so takes decisions mostly by himself or by listening to others<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Overwhelmed with emotions seeing God's directions and timing; Answerer excites them more than the answer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Excited about the answers received from God; answers excite them more than the Answerer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Knows that he is highly valued, not by works, but by grace<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Often feels he needs to do something for God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Knows when it’s his time to fight, and when he is to stand still and let God fight<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Not really sure when to fight or whether to even fight<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Is able to differentiate Holy Spirit's conviction from Devil's condemnation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Unsure whether he's convicted or condemned; leading to rebellion or shame<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Is loving towards his critics and says, "Lord, forgive them; for they know not what they do!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Is not able show love, to someone who hurts him and says, "Vengeance is from God"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Learns from the Holy Spirit to be like Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Learns from disciples or the people around to be like someone they admire<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple - Knows that brokenness is valuable and it lets God's light to shine through<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower - Equates brokenness with weakness<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Disciple – Carries the cross and follows Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Follower – Does not think needs to carry the cross, as Jesus has already done it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-2899606512893693962017-04-20T06:18:00.002-07:002017-04-20T06:18:57.430-07:00Patience pays<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">James 1:4<br />But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br />Patience, is waiting with good hope for something better than what you can get in the "now". In a world where everything is geared towards instant gratification, it's hard to see people who are willing to wait and not give in to temptations to act according to their whims. It's always hard to wait, be it in a long queue at the grocery store, or at the traffic or for a promotion at work that you feel is long time due. It's painful, but <b>patience</b> is one of the fruits of the Spirit that God desires to produce in His children. To make matters worse, we often see that people all around us are “prospering” even without having to wait! Well, the Psalmist knows how that feels and asks us to be patient even in such situations (Psalms 37:7 - “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way..”)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: red;">Hebrews 6:15<br />And so, after he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.</span></i></b><span style="color: red;"> </span><br />Abraham had to wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise even after all the circumstances became humanly impossible. Joseph had to endure humiliation for extended periods of time, before he rose as a ruler as his God-given dreams came to pass. Moses had to wait till the strength of his youth faded, before he became the promised Deliverer of Israel. Mary and Martha waited for their brother's healing even until his death. But we know that all those seemingly "end-of-story" turned out to be the beginning of their breakthroughs. The Bible is full of such stories that shows that God's favor didn't come by in an instant to the heroes of faith, but it took years for the fulfillment of the promises, and in this painfully slow process, they<b><i>learnt to patiently wait for God to come through </i></b>in their difficult and often impossible situations.<br /><br />Here's a story from the internet:<br /><br /><i>Once, a king had announced that he wanted to appoint a new minister to serve in his kingdom. The people of the kingdom, who envisioned themselves as capable to be in the king's service, gathered in the palace, eagerly waiting to know what would be their test. The king led all those candidates to a small pond and said, "Whoever will fill this pond's water in this pot will be chosen as my minister. But remember, there is a hole in the pot."<br /><br />Some people who wanted to merely test their luck, left without a single try, as they thought it's not worth the effort. While some people, who thought they were capable of accomplishing the task, tried for once, and some others for a couple more times before they gave up in exasperation saying, "The king has already chosen someone else. This must be an eye wash. Let's better quit this contest and save our time and energy."<br /><br />But there was one man, who kept filling the pot with the pond water patiently. He filled the water in the pot to the brim and upon reaching the ground, he saw that the water was draining completely. He kept doing this again and again till there was no more water in the pond, to fill his pot! The man found a diamond ring in the empty pond and he gave it to the king. At this the king said, "This ring is a reward for your patience and hard work. You are fit for the job."</i><br /></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">In the same way, we might think our test is to perform well in the area of life we often find ourselves struggling in, like "filling the pot", but who knows, the real test could be something else - maybe it’s a test of patient perseverance, or a process that God uses to produce in us the fruits of the Spirit, to make us more like His perfect Son, Jesus.<br /><br />- Patience with family - When someone in your family asks for your help all the time without even being grateful, and you show your patient kindness through your actions, that's <i>love</i>.<br />- Patience with self - When you don't perform well, but you know that there's always a second chance and that you can do better next time through God's grace - that's <i>confidence</i>.<br />- Patience with others - When someone hurts you, and you don't hurt them back but you wish them well, and you show love to your enemies, that's <i>respect</i>.<br />- Patience with God - When you are waiting for God's help and you've been praying about your situation for years or decades now, and you still patiently trust His timing, that's <b><i>faith</i></b>.</span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-31880536922638782242017-03-01T02:00:00.003-08:002017-03-01T02:00:44.280-08:00Lessons I learnt on Humility<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">James 4:6<br />
God resists the proud,<br />
But gives grace to the humble.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I had been meditating on this
virtue called “Humility” for some time now. I knew that I’ve been a person who
has had constant struggle with walking in humility as I was known (at least at
home) to be someone with a high self-esteem, someone who is quick to judge
others and someone who would grumble when asked to help with boring chores. I
knew I needed help in this area and I looked up the Scriptures on humility and diligently
noted them down for some in-depth study. But God knew this weighty matter was
not something learned through notes, but through experiences, and was orchestrating
some situations that brought out my arrogance and pride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Here’s a backstory of how God
helped me learn some of the most difficult lessons I’ve learnt in life:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
was a wonderful night, when we engaged in some casual discussions as a family,
talking about how God has been faithful in the past and how God can turn around
the circumstances that we were going through. The reminiscence of God's
marvelous ways and sharing of perspectives and opinions with each other has
always reinforced the family bond. At some point during this lovely time, my
mom asked me to lookup a word in the dictionary. Not wanting to take my phone,
open Dictionary app, type the word and then lookup its meaning, I let out a
sigh and said, "Do we need to lookup this word right now?" and added
that "it just wasn't worth the time and energy". My mom, who is always
brutally honest and unhypocritical, criticized me for acting so selfishly. I
started debating that I saw no urgency that warranted the immediate lookup of
the word. And then followed a stream of harsh words that I didn't want to hear,
explaining how I was behaving like a spoilt child who's too focused on comforts
and never thinks about others. To an outside person, I was always behaving well
and was helpful, but inside the four walls of my home, there were occasions
when the rays of my selfishness and pride had escaped through the crevices (and
I was blind to see that!), as I sometimes vent out suppressed stress or
feelings of hurt on the very people God had placed in my life to love and
cherish. Every such instance was cited and my unpleasant behavior was questioned.
Mom went on to emphasize that my writings on “overcoming self” were utterly futile,
as I wasn’t putting them into practice. Although I didn't talk back audibly, I
was resisting everything that was being said, in my mind. That beautiful family
moment halted right there!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent the
night in tears, not reflecting on my arrogance and selfishness, but on thoughts
that were motivated by self-pity - recalling how I did not deserve the harsh scolding
for something as trivial as questioning the urgency of looking up a word in the
dictionary. I found myself innocent, and couldn’t see that deep down, I was
falling prey to my biggest enemy (pride), which was the first and the worst sin
ever committed and was also responsible for the hurling down of Satan from the
Heavens in the first place!<br />
<br />
And it was the next day and last night's incident was still fresh in my mind,
and I didn't want to discuss it with anyone, not even God. Dad called me a
couple of times when I was at work, to check on how I was doing and if I felt
better. I kept an indifferent attitude and restrained myself to not let out a
single word in response to his questions, and bluntly responded with a "hmmm".
Being compassionate towards me, he said that he had been praying for me the
whole time, that I would perceive the whole episode of last night, as God's
chastening. I was being too cold to care about anything he said. He also asked
me to pray as God would teach me humility. I resolved that I wasn't going to
ask God for help in this matter, thanks to my adamant belief that there was
nothing wrong with me. I knew I was hardening my heart in the process,
convincing myself that there was nothing to repent of, and was constantly
rationalizing my behavior.<br />
<br />
Looking back upon all this now, I learnt these important truths:<br />
- Justification and self-righteousness are symptoms of pride.<br />
- My pride can shut out God, even at a time when all I needed was only Him.<br />
<br />
I suffered a loss of peace and a loss of focus at work. With no other option, I
slowly let go of my pride and began mumbling a few words in prayer, pleading
God to help me understand what went wrong and how I should've reacted in the
situation where I was being scolded for something that I thought, was not worth
being yelled at. After much struggle, I gave the reins of my thoughts to the
Holy Spirit, and God began to reveal those subtle hints of pride, in all those
instances when I was being nasty and arrogant. These then, are the lessons I’ve
learnt:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1.
Humility is love in action - thinking of others first</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Philippians 2: 3-8<br />
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not
only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind
be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did
not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of
men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became
obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.</span></i></b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, who is our ultimate example to live
by, was ever ready to reach out and help the needy people; He was available at
ALL times to all who sought Him. Although He was the King of kings, He didn't
restrict access to Him by asking His disciples to setup appointments when
people wanted to meet Him or when they sought His help. If God - the Son, who
had the responsibility of the most important mission ever commissioned on earth
(saving mankind), was not too busy to stop by and attend to people's needs, no
one else has the luxury of blaming "busy-ness" as the reason for not
reaching out to people who are in need. At the very core of this servant-like
attitude is Love. When you truly love someone, you don't mind what time of day
it is, what kind of favor is being asked of you, and you instantly extend your
helping hand with a smile on your face. I learnt that pure love is always ready
to dive into action to satisfy someone's need (no matter how trivial it might
be) without asking questions to validate the urgency of the need.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2.
Humility does not seek self-validation<br />
</i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">I Peter 2:21-23<br />
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin,<br />
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in
return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who
judges righteously;</span></i></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, the innocent Lamb, stood in
trial before the Pharisees and the people. Some bribed witnesses were setup for
false accusations, but Jesus’ humility radiated through His meek and gentle
demeanor, infuriating His adversaries all the more. He did not retaliate or
even make an attempt to politely respond in His own defense, against those
baseless claims. When Jesus (who is the epitome of true humility), who was the
only truly innocent Man, sought no validation for Himself and never attempted
to act defensively, how much more should we, who are indeed flawed, need to
embody humility in our words and actions and not seek self-approval. It’s
important to remember that God approves us because of Jesus, and not because of
our good works.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">3.
Humility opens our eyes to our own flaws</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Psalm 19:12,13<br />
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your
servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I
shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.</span></i></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest problem with pride is that
it makes us blind to our own flaws. It's a sad truth that when pride manifests
in us, everybody else can see it, except us. When being criticized for our
actions, it's easy to get defensive and play the blame-game, but it takes
genuine humility to bring down that wall of defense, to allow ourselves to see
our faults and to fix it through God’s strength. It's humility that paves the
way for conviction of sin through the Holy Spirit and leads us to true
repentance through grace.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-74082399180168033792017-02-13T20:00:00.001-08:002017-02-13T20:00:44.789-08:00Fill your void before your adversary does!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Colossians 3:2</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">With all the booming technology around us, there’s no lack of distractions today, that can instantly carry our thoughts into the things of the world, conditioning our mind to think as the people of the world think and to keep us engaged in thoughts that have minimal or no value. We are living in a world today where technology has made itself a master over people’s lives, tempting us to frequently check our mails where there’s a load of marketing, and to scroll through social media feeds that promote online socialization, meaningless and shallow relationships and narcism. I believe that it’s an everyday struggle to keep our focus on God and things that really matter, as I’ve felt that my mind wastes no time in constantly prompting me to check the news website, to follow trending hashtags to stay updated, to keep checking my phone for notifications! Satan’s crafty plan is to keep every mind busy – with the thoughts of the world, and to take away the seed of the life-giving Word. As goes the saying, “An idle mind is the Devil’s workshop”. There’s therefore a need for us to intentionally fill our minds with Godly thoughts. Of course, our flesh will rage against it to pull us towards the worldly things, but that’s when we reach out to God and ask for His grace to focus on things that really matter, on things that are eternal.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Paul instructs that as children of God, as we walk in the light of God’s Word through God’s grace, we are to guard our thought life in Christ. It’s easy to be carried away by the wind (<b><i>The ungodly are… like the chaff which the wind drives away. – Psalm 1:4</i></b>) – but it sure does take a lot of effort to swim against the current, to take our steady stand on our Rock (<b><i>The righteous... shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water – Psalm 1:3</i></b>) and to say “No” to the worldly distractions - every single day. Taking time to shut off all these distractions and to spend time with God, pondering on His Word, His mighty deeds and His incredibly amazing character – is so vitally important in our spiritual growth towards Holiness and to become like Christ. Let’s be reminded today that our mind is a battleground and let’s pray for God’s grace to overcome the world through the One who overcame! Let the Holy Spirit lead our thoughts today towards what’s right, what’s pure and what’s noble and in a word – what’s Godly. Let our <b><i>heavenly attraction be stronger than the earthly gravitation</i></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Philippians 4:8</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><b><sup>8 </sup></b></span><span class="s1"><b>Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things <i>are</i> noble, whatever things <i>are</i> just, whatever things <i>are</i> pure, whatever things <i>are</i> lovely, whatever things <i>are</i> of good report, if <i>there is</i> any virtue and if <i>there is</i> anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.</b></span></span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-47944003497222022012017-02-02T02:08:00.003-08:002017-02-02T02:08:45.668-08:00Decisions that matter along the way to the Celestial City!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><b>Matthew 7:13,14</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>The Narrow Way</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><sup>13 </sup>“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide <i>is</i> the gate and broad <i>is</i> the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><sup>14 </sup>Because narrow <i>is</i> the gate and difficult <i>is</i> the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sharing a few thoughts from the Pilgrim’s Progress</span></div>
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<span class="s1">There’s a lot of different places that Christian goes through in his journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. I believe that the spiritual journey of our lives, can be related to “decisions” that we make every day that can either glorify or disappoint God.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Just pondering on two instances where Christian was led astray through his own (silly) decisions, much like how we mess up life through some hasty decisions! In this temporary life, as we live “in the world” and at the same time being NOT “of the world”, there are some distractions that can keep us out of God’s best. The two key things that Christian learns in these instances are as below:</span></div>
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<span class="s2">1.</span><span class="s3"> </span><span class="s1">Don’t settle where you are - Keep moving!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">When Christian climbs the Hill of Difficulty, he finds a "shady resting place" that the <b>King</b> had made for the traveling pilgrims to rest for a while before continuing on their journey. Christian <b><i>decides to rest for a while and then dozes off</i></b> in that refreshing, comforting place and ends up missing his scroll (the seal of the Holy Spirit). We read on to see that Christian realizes that his scroll was missing only after crossing the Hill of Difficulty. He's then forced to go through the Hill of Difficulty once again to find the lost scroll!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The world is no permanent resting place for us. When we settle for the comfortable lifestyle, finding our sweet spot where there’s no risk involved, being hesitant of any changes that can throw us out of our comfort zone - it's easy to lose the zeal for God's kingdom and the desire for His will to be done in our lives, and settle for mediocrity! This is a dangerous condition where Christians can lose the Holy Spirit in their life and the Light inside them is put off. At times when we tend to settle where we are, let’s not forget that there’s a Holy calling – an adventurous journey up ahead of us, as we do life with God, learning to trust Him along the way.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Philippians 3:13,14 ..but one thing <i>I do,</i> forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, </b></span><span class="s4"><b><sup>14 </sup></b></span><span class="s1"><b>I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2">2.</span><span class="s3"> </span><span class="s1">Sticking to the King's Highway – At any and every cost!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">When the two pilgrims Christian and Hopeful come to a sidetrack called the By path meadow, which ran parallel to the "straight and narrow path" and they saw that the by path meadow seemed a lot easier to walk along than the path they were already on. They <b><i>decided to take the easy alternative</i></b> that ran “alongside” the Highway. This was a distraction setup by their adversary, the Devil to lead them away from the highway and lead them into the Doubting castle where the giant called "Despair" captures and chains the pilgrims and Diffidence (Shame/Shyness), the giant's wife asks him to beat the pilgrims without mercy. They finally use the "Key of God's promise" to escape the prison and the giant, and they made it back to the "King's highway".</span></div>
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<span class="s1">There’s just ONE way to our Celestial City (Heaven), which is along the <b><i>straight and narrow path</i></b> shown by God’s Word (</span><span class="s5"><b>Your word <i>is</i> a lamp to my feet and a light to my path - Psalm 119:105).</b> </span><span class="s1">Sidetracks and shortcuts do not lead to our destination. Anything that seems like a better alternative to “God’s way” will lead us into prisons of doubts where Despair and shame capture our souls! Nonetheless, we have the Key of God’s promise to get out of such prisons!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">There are times in our lives when we seem to wait (forever?) on God to come through, for a situation to change. These are the times when the Devil suggests an “easy” alternative and tricks us into thinking that we will still be on a “parallel” road to God’s will if we choose the “easy” way out to the problem we’re facing. When we yield to that temptation, we miss out on God’s best and find ourselves in places God never intended us to be in! Let’s pray for the strength to overcome such distractions in our lives right now and God will help us make Godly decisions that glorify Him! Amen.</span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577021203845928057.post-10882719803759088632016-12-06T20:59:00.001-08:002016-12-06T20:59:36.191-08:00Renewal of Hope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><b><i>Psalm 42:11</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i><sup>11 </sup>Why are you cast down, O my soul?<br />
And why are you disquieted within me?<br />
Hope in God;<br />
For I shall yet praise Him,<br />
The help of my countenance and my God.</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Psalmist has always reminded his soul to cast all its burdens upon the ROCK of his salvation. This is so important in our lives as well. When we walk through the valleys, when there’s darkness all around, when it’s difficult to sense the presence of God - It is all the more important to renew the hope in our never changing God. From the above scripture, we see that there are two things that helps in renewing and restoring our hope in Christ.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">1) Reassuring our soul that God is our Keeper and so there is no need to despair – reminding ourselves of all the things God has done in the past boosts up our faith.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">2) Praising Him in the dark and stormy circumstances – thanking Him for the lessons God is teaching us through the tough times and for the amazing things God has stored up in our future.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">For we know, that</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Many <i>are</i> the afflictions of the righteous,<br />
But the Lord delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19)</span></div>
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Eunice Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14222080661787048331noreply@blogger.com0