Today's Blog with Wood

April 4, 2008

Have you ever said, "That guy will never learn," or, "She just doesn't get it"? Sometimes we're all like that. I taught today from the letter to the Philippians, and it is filled with very practical, down-to-earth guidance on finding joy on in life in situations just like this. 
 
But the lessons of this biblical epistle are of little value to us unless we learn them. So what about you? What lessons pop off the page to you from our study of Philippians? What have you learned before in your own study of Philippians? How have you learned to be patient with people who, "just don't get it"?

April 4, 2008

I have often heard persons quote Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strentheneth me". So, inspired by your study, I decided to consider the context. Verse 12 is very important: "...I have learned the secret of being content...". I think the secret is having faith in God

Joy on the Journey

It was a great two weeks learning about Paul. We printed out every transcript and used them to deepen our Faith. Thank you Dr Kroll for providing this series. It has helped us to realize that through our struggles we can find the joy that is also in our life. It has been a blessing.

April 3, 2008

If you're a regular, red-blooded American, you probably feel confident about yourself. You feel a little like Superman or any of today's super heroes. You feel, "enabled," and "with it." But when it comes to living the Christian life, none of us is a super Christian. 
 
Superman could "leap tall buildings in a single bound," etc. But we as Christians need help. We need the Holy Spirit. And I've found that the sooner I remember that, the sooner I can get back to changing the world. 
 
So, what areas of your Christian life are you struggling with? Where are you trying to make it on your own? Leave your comments below and be sure to read what others are saying by scrolling down.

April 2, 2008

One of the great words in any language is "friend." But the adjective you use before the word changes everything. Good friend, long-time friend, best friend. All good things. 
 
How about this word--former? There aren't many things sadder than the concept of former friends. Sometimes distance or time separates friends and makes them former friends, but many times bad things happen to separate good friends. What are you doing to feed your friendships? 
 
What are you doing to make sure your friendships are strong and stay strong? How much do your friendships mean to you? Are they worth working on?

friendship

friends are very important . Be honest and sincere with them. to be safe at all times and not worrying about hurting them you do as the WORD says 
"YOU TREAT THEM AS YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO TREAT YOU. AMEN

April 1, 2008

What do you want your life to be like? What's on your agenda? Here's a suggestion. Write a personal mission statement and list all the goals you have in life. Write down everything you have to do in this life to have an impact on your eternal life. Make a list. 
 
You know what? Don't bother. You might as well throw that list in the wastebasket because it takes more than paper to make an impact. 
 
While you're at your table writing out all the ways you're going to impact your world, a dozen opportunities are drifting by. Yes, it's important to plan, but it's even more important to act. What are your plans to do something about your goals? What are you willing to stretch toward and pursue with all you've got? You don't accomplish what you plan; you only accomplish what you do. Think about it and tell me what you come up with by leaving a comment below.

instructions

I once spoke to a group in my home study it was concerning what they wanted to do in their life. as it progressed it came to how much they really trusted Jesus with their life I gave them a blank piece of paper asking them to sign their name at the bottom that's all. letting Jesus plan their life. everybody just stareed at me some took the paper others didn't

March 31, 2008

How important are motives to you? If you said, "Very important" were you talking about other people's motives? We all want our friends to be honest and have the right attitudes when they interact with us. But what about your motives? 
 
Do you know how to make sure your motives are pure? Do you have a standard, a benchmark, a "motive-meter"? On today's program we talked about Paul's "motive-meter." It was a meter with the arrow pointing straight up at Jesus. 
 
Paul made sure his motives always put Jesus Christ at the center of his life, and so can we. But I'll leave that to you and God to figure out. And be sure to let me know how you're doing.

March 31, 2008

In today's message we discussed "running our race". In Philippians 3:13 Paul talks about forgetting those things which lay behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. What do we do when those things which lay behind become stumbling blocks? Or even stop us running all together?

March 28, 2008

One of the easiest things in the world is to be a friend to friendly people. One of the hardest things in the world is to be a friend to unfriendly people. So who do you think needs your friendship more? 
 
As hard as it is, I'll bet that if you look at your friends, you'll find some surprises. People who at one time annoyed you to no end, but today are valuable friends. What caused that transition? 
 
Good friends are a great treasure, but good friends that help you become a good friend are an even greater treasure. Got any prospects in your day who might become your future best friend? What will you to do make it happen?

caution

at times like that I start looking at the person when I get a little nudge from the HOLY SPIRIT. now remember to treat that person nice BECAUSE you will reap it all back on yourself. case closed

March 27, 2008

Did you know that how you say something says as much about you as what you say? Sometimes we try to mask an ungrateful spirit by saying the right words. "Thank you. I appreciate that." But under our breath, everybody knows we're grumbling the whole time.  
 
Today on the program we talked about finding the joy in our Christian journey. And discovering that joy means actually meaning what you say. What will that look like in your life? Maybe it means being honest when you might otherwise wouldn't. Maybe it means sometimes just keeping your mouth shut.  
 
Let me know how your facing this challenge today, or how you've met it in the past. I'd love to hear.

March 27, 2008

To walk in Truth is a challenge today. Where do you draw the line without becoming legalistic? personally, I try to walk very circumspectly because I have a past of dishonesty due to covering up a drug problem. Sometimes my church brothers and sisters think I'm a little strange because I'm unusually forthright without being unkind. How truthfully do you answer the question "How are you today?"

March 26, 2008

So, is it easier to do what you want to do or what others want you to do? Be honest. But what if what others want you to do is the right thing? What if you have to take one for the team or give up something very dear to accomplish something really spectacular? 
 
That's what Jesus did when He left heaven behind, became a man, died on a cross--all in order to accomplish God's plan for our salvation. It wasn't easy to do, but it was the right thing to do. What does it take that have that kind of mind in you? To do the right thing even when it's not really what you want to do? I'd love to hear your comments. You can leave them below.

Do the right thing?

In this world, doing the right thing is always a struggle, because you have to live in the world and you have to live for Christ. It is one thing to know to the Word and another to actually abide by it. That's why my prayer is for strength and integrity, both of which feed the conviction of my faith. Jesus didnt die on the cross because of the accolades it would get him. He didnt go willingly either, in fact he asked God if there was any way other than him dying to make the ultimate sacrifice. Doing the right thing is making the ultimate sacrifice for the greater despite your fears.

What does it take?

I believe it takes a lot of prayer. No matter how much a person thinks they are gracious, selfless, righteous...they are nothing without God. And our connection to God is only through prayer. I find when I am doing what I am supposed to be doing in my spiritual life (prayer, giving, reading the Bible, etc.) life seems to flow so much better. It's easier to make those "right" decisions. I can do ANYTHING through Christ who strengthens me! THANK YOU GOD!

Sacrificical Love

When Christ left heaven, He knew why He was going, and He knew it was the right thing to do. So He left everything behind in heaven, became a lowly man, and died on the cross because He loved the world. That's the kind of Love we should all have as christians.

March 25, 2008

Ever have anyone make fun of you at school or at work? Have they ever laughed when you prayed over your lunch at work or talked about what the pastor said last Sunday? 
 
Well, if so, you are in good company. The apostle Paul was ridiculed often for his faith, sometimes even by those who shared it. What's your game plan when people make fun of you? How do you react to snickers or giggles when you do what a Christ follower is supposed to do? What gives you the strength to do the right thing?

Puzzled

Before I got saved 6 years ago I was very active in the occult and new age. At one time I was a priestess of a coven of 150 witches in Chicago. My current friends are new agers and learned of my conversion. They have been puzzled. They cannot understand the choice I made, but they do see changes in my life. We belong to a book club and each member gets a turn to pick a book. When they pick books, they pick ones with characters involved in new age things. They then look at me and say, "What do you think about this book, Heather." I tell them, before I became a Christian this is what I thought, now I feel...." They know my testimony and they know me, and they watch. I suspect they think that one day I will come to my senses, but I also know that what I do matters even far more than what I say. God has been good in my life, and I would not go back to those false beliefs for the world, but I do go back into the world to plant seeds and keep praying for my lost friends. God bless your ministry here.  
Heather

Puzzled

If someone makes a comment about me praying over my meal I will take that time as an opportunity to talk about the God. Because I am not ashame of the Gospel. Every chance I get I will use just to bring up the Word, or plant a seed.

March 24, 2008

How often do you pray for your friends? Once a week? Once a month? Never? I think one of the reasons we don't pray for our friends as often as we should is because we don't really know their needs. 
 
So, try this. Instead of just a polite "Hey" or "What's Up," why not try to get a little deeper into their lives, figure out what's bugging them and ask them how you can pray for them. Make it a serious question and don't give up until you get a serious answer. 
 
How about you? Have you noticed a difference in your prayers when you really know what to pray for a friend?

Guest

Change 
 
I pray for friends and family almost everyday But you are right they are general prayers Health,Friendship,safety etc. But not really personal, actual needs. I really need to ask more about them and there needs.  
 
God Bless you and your staff for your time and efforts to help others like you help me everyday with your study of Gods Word.

March 20, 2008

It's easier to become a strong athlete when you play football, soccer, basketball, baseball or any other team sport. Why? Because it's a team sport. You've got your teammates behind you. You've got others to sub for you when you get tired. You've got the cheers and support of the crowd. But it's harder to be disciplined in solo events like a marathon for instance. There, it's just you and a few others. 
 
After Jesus' Crucifixion, the curious crowd dispersed. Jesus was left hanging on the cross. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were virtually left alone to bury His body. They discovered what it was like to lose the comfort of the crowd. 
 
How do you feel when you're left alone in your witness for the Lord? When you have no back-up, no substitutions? How can you muster the inner strength to go it alone when you have to? You may have to sooner than you think.

meh..

i usually end up on my knees in my room crying for mercy. this probably isn't the best thing on my part.