Spiritual Growth - Christ in You (A Basic Principle to Choose by)

Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 5: A Basic Principle to Choose By


TODAY'S READING:
I Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:7-8


The Christian religion does not have a long list of do's and don'ts for you to follow, but rather a simple principle to follow.  It is stated clearly in I Corinthians 10:31 NLT

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Now read Romans 14:7-8 NLT 

"For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

These verses make it clear we should

• have behavior that shows our new life with Christ
• do everything we do to bring glory to God

For Example ... You visit a friend for supper. Your friend brings a bottle of wine to the table and wants you to drink a glass with him. What do you do?

A. Take a small sip and then no more. ____

B. Scold the friend for drinking wine. ____

C. Avoid facing it and make up an excuse. ______

D. Explain that you are now a Christian. Tell your friend that God has taken away your desire for a drink of wine. _____

Which one brings glory to God? 

Life is full of choices. It is best to always act in ways that show Christ living in you and controlling you. You do not have to act like a crazy person to do this. You should have a gentle and loving expression. People will respect you for that attitude. 

One way to help us with those situations is to know Bible verses. Write Psalm 119:11 here. 

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Writing your own Scripture memory cards is a good way to help you learn more quickly. I keep a journal and write verses in it daily to help me remember. 

Remember to have a regular Quiet Time ... to pray as you memorize and think about God's Word. A daily time of prayer and Bible study can be the best way for Christ to live in you and control your life. 

Spiritual Growth - Christ in You (Understanding the new you)

Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 4: Understanding What Has Happened to You

TODAY'S READING:
II Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 1:21-22, 27

As you develop your Quiet Time you will see changes. II Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) explains some of these changes. Read the verse and fill in the blanks.

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

Your ________________ life is passing away.

Your _________________ life is beginning.

All of these changes are made by ____________________________.

Yes, Christ makes the difference between your old and new life.

Read Colossians 1:21-22 (NLT) and fill in the blanks.

"This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault."

What was your attitude about God before you accepted Christ and became a Christian?

____________________________________________________________________________


Because you and God were enemies, you did things that were ___________________________


Now you are learning that some things you did when you were not a Christian are no fun. God is changing you! He is making you

_____________________________________________________________________________

Holy means you are reserved for God's use and no one else's. II Corinthians 5:17 explains that a different way.

Read Colossians 1:27 (NLT). 
"For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory."

Where is Christ now? __________________________________________________________

Remember discussing the hand?  Write what the palm of the hand is ____________________

Spiritual Growth - Christ in You (Learning to Pray)

Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 3: Learning to Pray

TODAY'S READING:
Matthew 6:9-13

Some Christians are afraid to pray in a public place - perhaps you know some. Praying is really pretty simple, whether it is done in front of others or in private, because all you are doing is talking to the Lord -- sharing with Him your attitudes, fears, wants, frustrations, etc. He understands, He listens, and He answers.

Jesus' disciples asked Him how to pray, so He provided them and us with a model -- a roadmap for us to use when we pray. It is called the Lord's Prayer.

The Sunday school class of which I am a part has spent the last year studying prayer, and the last two weeks specifically on the Lord's Prayer.

Here are things to consider and how to make your prayer life more meaingful.  I have used the New Living Translation, but I learned the Lord's Prayer from the King James Bible.

v.9 - "Our Father in heaven, may your name by kept holy."  =  we acknowledge and give praise to God

v. 10 - "May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." = we pray over our needs (not our wants) and bring them into line with God's.

v. 11 - "Give us today the food we need" = we remember that the same God we worship, the same God who is in control of our life, is the same God who wants to provide for our daily needs.

v. 12 -  "And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us." =  we ask God to forgive us when we do wrong as we likewise forgive another

v. 13 - "And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one." = we remember that the God who provides is the God who protects.

 v 13b KJV: For Thines is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." We  acknowledge God's eternal kingdom, His power, His glory. All to Him belongs.

The best way to learn how to pray is ... to pray!

Delivered from Satan's power, yet ...

We have been delivered, set free
from everything that keeps us prisoners to the world
Yet,
what do we choose?

Jesus set us free
God delivered us from the power of darkness
Yet,
we are like pigs in miry clay
We stay where it is familiar,
where we are comfortable,

even though it’s not where we ought to be

We accepted God’s gift of eternal salvation through His Son’s death, burial and resurrection. We were set free from every bond that kept us prisoners of Satan. We repented, turned away from Satan’s rule and turned to God’s way.

Yet,

we do not turn away completely.

 We repent, we believe God’s promises

Yet,
our faith is weak

We know we are saved,
we are children of the Living God
Yet,
we do not obey His commands
or study His Word

We cling to being Christian
Yet,
we do not follow Christ

God is always with us
When we accepted His Son as our Savior,
His Spirit came to live in our hearts,
a helper to live with us forever
God provides protection and security
His lifeline of hope
prevents the path of depression and self-pity
from swallowing us
Yet,
we look within ourselves for aid.
We think it is our resources
that will get us out of the mud
and onto solid ground.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.” – Psalm 46:1-2a

The Bible tells us to walk in the way of Christ
so we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh
Yet,
we travel paths of impatience, unkindness, unfaithfulness, disgust,
frustration, hatred, defensiveness, and much more

That which we repented from, turned away from, but have we? 

~~~~~

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” – I Corinthians 16:13-14

Watch… be ready … be prepared … be alert

“Watch therefore for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” – Matthew 24:42

“Therefore you (also) be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” – Matthew 24: 44

Stand fast in the faith … secure in the gospel of Jesus Christ of which you have received … let your conduct, your actions be worthy of the gospel of Christ, whether seen or unseen

Be strong … be strengthened through the Holy Spirit, so we are able to bear up under whatever comes upon us … persevere… push on, not giving up … endure … strengthened by the power of the Lord in us to be patient and have patience

All done in Love … rejoices in the truth… godly love believes all things, hopes all things...never gives up…endures…accepts hardships or rejection, builds up and encourages another

Don’t let the obstacles that you encounter as you walk with the Lord discourage you. Do not give up. The path will never be easy, but with the Holy Spirit, our ever-present helper, we can overcome any obstacle.  We must remember to walk with Him, in His power, not ahead of Him. It is in His timing that what He wills will be accomplished. Do not give in to stress, but slow down, keeping your focus steady and sure on Him, and through Him the darkness we experience will turn to joy.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” – Psalm 30:5

We must be prepared to do battle with everything and all that God has provided to us and for us.

“Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly (decently), as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”  – Romans 13:12-14

“… Walk as children of light. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth) proving what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”  -- Ephesians 5:8-11

To expose the unfruitful works of darkness, of which Satan and the devil and his workers prevail, we need to put on the Armor of God – the Armor of Light. That armor is not the weaponry of physical battle, but spiritual.

Jesus defeated Satan.

“He (God) has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”  -- Colossians 1:13-14

 “…Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:10-11

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (to overcome).” – v. 13

Satan is cunning. He undermines us by our very own words and actions to another. Instead of love and compassion and concern and well-being, we act destructively, we hear and respond to criticism, tones of dissatisfaction and defensiveness, condemnation, complaints, fear. That which we do not want to do, we do -- Satan helps us along to achieve all those “don’t wants.” Even with the “do wants, but know we shouldn’t,” Satan works to deceive us, and we fall prey to his every trick. Have we forgotten Jesus defeated Satan and with His power in us, we too can defeat the Enemy? I fear we do not believe we have the power, we do not believe God’s strength is in us. We give up and give in before we take any step of faith.  Satan has us where he wants us and we do nothing. We do not watch, we do not stand fast, we are not brave, we are not strong  and we are not loving. We claim allegiance to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but we fail to utilize all His provisions. It seems we still live in the world. 

God provides us with armor -- armor at our ready disposal, in His Word, in our hearts when we become His Children. We are to put on the whole armor, not just bits and pieces. How can we ever hope to defeat the Enemy if we’re not ready or only half so?!

Jesus defeated Satan and we can too, when we are encased with the battle gear God provides us --

His TRUTH

 His RIGHTEOUSNESS

 His  PEACE

 His FAITH

 His SALVATION

 His SWORD – His WORD

And PRAYER.
Without prayer, we are incomplete, unsure how to proceed.
(Ephesians 6:14-18)

With all that Jesus is in us, with us, through us, we cannot fail. But the success we look for can only be found when we abide in Christ and He abides in us, when we travel His path, when we look to Him for everything that crosses our path,  when our spiritual faith is stronger than our physical desire, when we say NO to the world, and YES to God. 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

January 7-9, 2015

Only One Thing Is Needed

God says,

Do not let distractions of life, of day-to-day living, lead you away from Me.

 Do not be weighed down by problems, trials, frustrations.

 I AM the one to go to at all times.

 I AM the one to carry your burdens.

 Come, devote time with Me and I will strengthen you to face whatever comes

 Do not think about this and that.

 Distractions come in many forms and each and all are meant to take you away from the very private, intimate relationship I have with you– souring it, dampening it.

 In Me, with Me, through Me, you have everything you now need and will ever need.

“And Jesus said, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’ ’’ - Luke 10:41-42

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” – Psalm 27:4 

Mary has chosen that good part, the one thing that is needed --

To be in The Lord’s Presence, in the midst of His glory, to listen and learn and apply that which He teaches.

Have you chosen that good part too, the one thing needed?

 Or are you like Martha, worried and troubled about many things, letting other things take precedence over that one thing?
                                                                                                         (c) Cathy Orrick Luders 

Pressing On

Why does anger show itself so vehemently?

Why do we allow it to supersede God’s Presence in us?

Why does our flesh nature -- our old self that we gave up -- rear its ugly head at times when we definitely don’t want it?

Why is our spiritual nature – our new self that we seek, that we gravitate to and for – often hidden?

Sometimes, when studying God’s Word and listening for what He might have to say to us, we hear. We are grateful for His mighty words of wisdom.

Other times, however, although we may listen and we may hear, we also remember words said by others, unnecessary words spoken that send up a red flag and result in anger.

Why can’t we just let go of the words, the comments that we have made wrong assumptions about? Just let them flow off our back. Relax. Be still. Be mindful of God.

We need to rearrange our perceptions, our misconceptions.

I struggle with this. I know where I want to be and need to be and where God wants me to be. I go up and down. On a hilltop, blessed and secure in God’s love for me – and in a valley, darkness dulling my senses.

It is a journey we all travel.

None of us have reached perfection. Only Jesus is The Perfect One and it is Him we strive to be like.

I must press on, continue seeking all He has to say to me and there is much. It is unending.

As Paul writes (Philippians 3:13a-14), and it is true,
“forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

2014 has passed -- A new year upon us.

What will your 2015 journey be like? Who will guide you along the way? What will be your response?

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Return. Refocus. Reunite / Reconcile.

LET GOD BE YOUR STEERING WHEEL

A few days ago when reading and studying the Bible, including Psalm 62, I wrote,

Whatever happens
God is our refuge and strength
our place of comfort and rest.
Abide in Me, God says
Abide in Me.
The problems are still present
but by concentrating on Me,
you allow Me to take control,
to take charge of the situation
and bring it to pass.

And then anger struck

and instead of concentrating on Jesus,
I concentrated on what made me angry.

Instead of allowing Jesus to take control
and take charge, Satan took charge

The anger grew by leaps and bounds
as pain and disappointment and irritation and frustration
and miscommunication
wormed their way to the surface
of our hearts and spewed its way out of our mouths
with no evidence of kindness or gentleness
or patience or self-control.

Failed!

God tested
and what He saw brought no rejoicing,
but only deep sadness and extreme disappointment

Is it worth it!? -- to let our anger over whatever
come between our personal relationship with and love for
the Lord Jesus?

If we truly love the Lord -- but we are human -- yes, and as humans, we make mistakes
and errors and have failings, but we do not and should not succumb to being failures.

God knows we will fail, for we are not perfect. If we were, there would have been no reason for God to send His Son to us to save us from eternal destruction, death.

So He knows how we are. But He also knows who we are -- His -- personally created and designed for Him and His purpose. He knows what is uniquely us, even though we often are way off track. We travel routes that do not seek the goodness of God. We are concerned with ourselves and in our interactions with others, instead of seeking God's response, we jump in, saying whatever comes to mind. And there we fail.

Return.
Refocus.
Reunite / Reconcile.

Let God be your steering wheel -- not just for prayer time or Bible study, or any old some time, but ALL the time.

Consider your every action -- what you speak and what you do, so it will be pleasing to the one who hears and sees and most especially, so it will be pleasing and glorifying to our Heavenly Father.

It's not about me. It's about God. The sooner we see that and acknowledge it and respond accordingly, "me" time will be "God" time and we will each see the unique person we are -- the one God designed.

Love God. Love Him more. Love yourself less. It is not our personal wants and needs that will get us where we need to be. The steps to take are
Returning to God
Refocusing on God
Reuniting and Reconciling with God

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides me Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15: 4-5 NKJV)

WE ARE, BUT WE ARE NOT

God tells us in 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9,

"We are hard pressed on every side,
we are perplexed,
persecuted, struck down ...

yet,

we are not crushed,
not in despair
not forsaken
not destroyed.

We act like we are what we're not. Jesus says we are not crushed, we are not in despair, we are not forsaken, we are not destroyed, yet we act like we are. We give in to the pressure around us. We believe we are failures. We fail to see God's goodness and our intense need for Him and all He is and all we can be through Him.

God sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts when we accepted God's Son, Jesus, as our personal Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit was sent to teach us God's way and to enable us to remember all things Jesus has said.

ARE YOU OPEN OR CLOSED?

How can we learn if we are not willing to be taught and willing to change?

How can we remember if we are not in His word daily, reading and studying?

How can we know what to remember and what is true?

Clinging to the past, to the way you've always done it, does not bring us clsoer to God.

God's attention is on us -- where does our attention lie? Are we focused on Him or are we centered on "me"?

Fear grows
Anxiety

Where is your security?

Why do you fear what may come?

If you belong to Jesus, you have your security. Not just for eternity, but here and now. Look to Him for your answers, instead of relying on your own eyes and ears and thinking.

We do not see the whole picture. We are incomplete. We see very dimly. We look in the mirror, but that is only a reflection of ourselves.

We/you/I need Jesus TODAY, TOMORROW, THIS MINUTE, ALL THE TIME.

Live in the Light of His Word,
not in the dullness and darkness
of yourself and of the world

Come.

Return
to Jesus

Refocus
on Jesus

Reunite/Reconcile
with Jesus

and be who you are meant to be.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

written Dec. 28-31, 2014

Will you be the one?

Will you see the unseen
another needs, another seeks
or simply say the Bible has all the answers?

Will you be the friend
to help another see what the Bible says
or simply ignore the quest
and go on about your business?

Will you be the messenger, the mentor
discussing with others how God’s word
applies personally and in every situation
or simply say to read it and study it for yourself?

God calls us to go
and as we go, to make disciples
teaching how to live His way
and be obedient to His commands

You may have been called by God
You may have answered His call and gone forth
but are you obedient to Him?

(Jesus speaking) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”  - Matthew 28:19-20

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

I AM there, but ...

You cannot see Me at work in your life
but I AM there
I often do my work behind the scenes
Watching
Seeing
Waiting …
for you …
a word, an outstretched hand

You accepted Me into your life
but then you left Me … lying

Where are your praises
your thanksgiving
your prayers
your moments of study and meditation

Why My Child
do you not dwell on what is good?
Why do you not waken and shine
with the Light of My Glory within you and upon you?

Why do you live as though there is no joy?
Why do you act or react with negativity surrounding you?
Why do you not see the good I have for you each and every day ?
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  – Psalm 118:24
Why do you see problems – real and perceived, and not see the blessings?
Why do you dwell on all you dislike, all that makes you angry and irritated?
There are things you want, you expect and you desire…. All from another, but,  what about you? What do you want of yourself, what do you expect of yourself, what do you desire of yourself? It is not about what another can do or be for you. It is about what you can do and what you can be with Me, your God, your Savior, your Lord.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 

See the good.
I AM good. All the Time, My Child.
See the good all around you. Soak it in. Connect yourself with Me and you will see the world you live in in a new and different way.
“Trust in the Lord, and do good. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4

 You are responsible and held accountable for only your thoughts, only your actions, not those of any other.

 “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

- Romans 12:16-19, 21

Do not fret. Do not become anxious. Do not worry. Do not be filled with jealousy. Do not be selfish. Do not be envious. Do not provoke another. Do not be conceited.  (Psalm 37, Galatians 5:20-21)

“Resist him, steadfast in the faith.” – 1 Peter 5: 9

I AM at work My child. You cannot see Me, but I can see you. You are different. You are not the person you once were. But you are not complete, you are not perfect.  Only My Son shines with the perfection you still aim for.

I offer you so much -- within the pages of My word are guidelines, instructions
for every aspect of life.

You are defeated and live as such when you dwell on what is wrong or what could go wrong each and every day.

Arise and shine
Begin each day with praise and a prayer --
“Thank you Lord for this day and guide me along the way.  Amen.”

It is short and to the point…
 thanking Me for what I give and praying to Me for guidance.

Remember the prayer throughout the day
Believe in Me
By faith you accepted Me
By faith you became a new person

You say you know I am with you always,
yet your actions do not reveal that wisdom.

When your faith is strong(er)
and your focus is less on you and more on Me
My Presence will be more known to you
and you will, without a doubt, realize
I AM really with you always.

It is a work in progress
Up and down you go
You are never too old to learn,
Never too old to grow
Never smarter or wiser than Me

For I AM
God
of the universe
and all that is,  is MINE

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

"Count it all joy"

“My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way,   for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure.   Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

  But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind.  If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord.” 

  -- James 1:2-7 Today’s  English Version 

Today’s devotional led me to James 1:2-8, which I read in the New King James version.  Perhaps this is where the Lord was leading me, which I didn’t see, couldn’t see, and only see now because it is there in black and white. 

The trials have certainly been there, but I did not consider it fortunate for being in the midst of them. I did not understand what it was God was showing me, what I was to learn. It was all hidden from me. 

What I see now is I need to remain faithful to the Lord and keep my focus on Him and not everything around me, whether it pertains directly or indirectly to me or to someone else. I have opinions, as does everyone, but that does not mean I need to express them every time. I’m supposed to learn patience. 

The testing produces patience. So far, the testing has produced frustration, irritation, anger. So, I’ve failed. Yet, for all my failures, I still seek guidance, and God still hands it out without complaint. 

He still wants the best for His children. 

There will be other trials, other occasions for me to persevere and endure and hopefully come out on top, with the Lord pleased and not filled with dismay.  

To be like Jesus … more and more – that is what we pursue. He who is perfect and complete, He who endured the cross and persevered with all of whom He came into contact. 

 He is patient, and I am not. 

But I can ask of God … I can ask for wisdom, for discernment, for fruitfulness. 

I can ask and believe He will give me what I seek. Without belief, there is only doubt. When doubt sets in, uncertainty grows with leaps and bounds, and we forget where our loyalties lie.  

We forget it is God who is in control. It is not me or you. No matter how much we think we can do, we can’t really do anything without Him.  And that includes the gift or fruit of patience given to His followers by the Holy Spirit.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Always He is with us

"The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail." - Isaiah 58:11

Even when we think The Lord has left our presence because we do not feel Him near us, He is with us, guiding us, strengthening us for His service.

We must stay in His word, focused on Him, always seeking direction from Him, listening. His voice, however quiet, may be heard in the stillness of each day, each night.

We must be alert or we will miss out on all He has for us.

God called you out from your sin

God called you out from your sin,

which kept you imprisoned -- not so much behind bars,
but your mind was divided and you leaned toward anger, filthy language, lying, rage, grumbling, bitterness and more. 

The world was your home and of all you did, you were mindful of what you heard and saw
and if it appealed to you, you followed suit. 

God called you out from your sin,

called you to Himself to come into the light of His Son's holy presence
and you came. You heard His call to you and you responded. Called to leave behind the desires of the flesh and worldly living and "to set your mind on things above."
[Colossians 3:2]

No fence sitting. No divided loyalties. 

You were dead. All who live and function based on the world and its attitudes are dead -- dead in their sin. 

God called you out from your sin, 

His Son, Jesus Christ, was persecuted and died for you, your sins. He was buried in the grave and He arose -- up from the grave He rose. 

When you answer God's call, you are no longer dead -- you have been resurrected, born again, one with Christ. 

God called you out from your sin, 

You are free.

Why do you believe and even insist who you are is who you've always been? 

You were enslaved -- You have been set free

You were a child of the devil -- You are a son, a daughter of The King, The Holy One

You said No! to the old person, the old way, the old life.
You say Yes! to the new person, the new way, the new life.
You were dead! -- You are alive! 

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." [Romans 12:2] 

God called you out from your sin, 

to live as a new creature in Him,
not to resume life as you were and claim "this is who you are." 

You are the elect of God
You are holy and beloved
You are tender
You are kind
You are humble
You are forgiving
You are patient [Colossians 3:12-13]

You are loyal
You are thankful
You are peaceful
You are considerate
You are consistent
You are faithful
You are precious
You are beautiful
You are helpful
You are hopeful
You are loving and loved
You are blessed

God called you out from your sin,

for you to submit your life to Christ, to raise you up, high on eagle's wings,
created in the "natural image and likeness of God." [Genesis 1:26]

He, whose life was given for yours, because of Love.

He, who became like you and me, because of Love,
to show a better way, a just and fair way,
without bitterness or provocation or discouragement or favoritism.

He, who was obedient to His parents, and most especially, to His Holy Father,
because of Love.

[based on Colossians 3:18-21]

God called you out from your sin,

He called you to be free.  He called you to be loving and loved. He called you to be complete in Him. 

Whose path do we follow?

What path are you on today
What was it yesterday

God tells us to walk with Him, to trust Him.
He knows the way we are to go
He knows what lies ahead, where trouble lies.
He sees all 

God tells us in Isaiah 26:3-4, He will keep all of us who trust in Him and whose focus is fixed on Him in perfect peace. He will give us strength in everything that comes and goes in our lives.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” (New Living Translation)

Listen to Jesus – to the Holy Spirit within you. He will never steer you wrong. He will guide you down the road that is best for you. Rely on Him, not on yourself. When He says go back, then go back. When He says stop, then stop. Do not consider your reasoning to be better than His.

Read what Psalm 25:4-5 says --          
“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”

And also Proverbs 3:5-6 –

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Spiritual Growth - Christ in You (Using your Bible)

Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 2: Using Your Bible For Christian Growth

Today's Bible verses are Psalms 119:11,  15-16 and 40:8

Your daily Quiet Time should always focus on the Bible.

Turn to the contents in the front of your Bible -- this will help you find the books you are looking for.

Find Psalm 119, verse 11.

Psalm 119:11 (NLT) 
¹¹  I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 


Where did the writer keep the Word of God. In ____________

It is good to memorize Scripture. Another way to say the same thing is "I know it by heart." The writer used the word heart to explain where he keeps God's Word. The last part of the verse tells the reason to keep God's Word in our hearts. What is that reason? _________________________________________________

Memorizing God's Word can help you avoid sinning against God.

Find Psalm 40:8 and read it.

Psalm 40:8 (NLT) 
⁸  I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” 


Where can you keep verses for emergencies if you don't have a Bible with you?

_____________________________________________________________

Go back to Psalm 119 and read verses 15-16.

Psalm 119:15-16 (NLT) 
¹⁵  I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. 
¹⁶  I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

What feelings will you have as you learn to memorize Bible verses?

___________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Memorization can be fun. Don't tell yourself you can't do it. Why look at the things you already know  by heart -- telephone numbers, zip codes, people's names, streets, house addresses, book titles, important dates, etc. 

No other word of advice will have as much value as Scripture verses. Memorize Scripture on a regular basis -- two verses each week. This week's verses to memorize are Psalm 119:11 and Psalm 40:8.

When you memorizing Bible verses, it will help you resist sin. It helps you tell other people about Jesus. It is used in explaining things you believe.

Write down the verses. Carry them with you. Practice repeating the verses. 

Spiritual Growth - Christ In You (Quiet Time)

Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 1: How to Establish a Quiet Time

Just like feeding your body daily by eating food, you need to feed your soul by having a daily quiet time with the Lord.

Here are some suggestions to start a daily quiet time:

1. Have a specific time and place.
   I find mornings to be best for me. The beginning of your day will be so much better if it is started with Christ.
   I used to do my Bible study at the kitchen table while having breakfast, but for the past couple of years I have used the bedroom. I spend from 20 minutes to 2 hours daily. I use a devotional, my Bible, a pen, highlighter and journal.
   I suggest you have 15 minutes to yourself.
2. Be regular.
   Skipping days makes it harder to grow spiritually.
3. Have ready a Bible, pencil and paper. 
   For now you will use the Survival Kit for your quiet time.
4. Begin with prayer.
   Open your heart and your mind to Christ. Give Him permission to teach, lead or discipline you in your Bible study.

End with a specific plan for the day that follows what you read. 
Before you stop your quiet time, decide how your life will be different because of the things you learned in the Bible.

TODAY'S QUIET TIME:
Tell God about your love for Him. Thank Him for your many blessings. Tell Him the things you need for God to do in your life. Ask Him to use you and control you in your life today.

TODAY'S READING:
1 John 4:13-15

Go to the contents in the front of your Bible and locate 1 John. It will be in the New Testament. Read the Scripture and then in your own words, write what the verses say.
If you don't have a Bible, here is the text. But if you do have a Bible, I suggest you look it up in your own Bible to familiarize yourself with it.


1 John 4:13-15 (NLT) 
¹³  And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.
¹⁴  Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
¹⁵  All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.

About these verses,
What did God give you to prove you are saved?

What do Christian people tell other people that shows God is living in them?

What other words are used to tell who Jesus is?

You have as a Christian experienced personally that God sent His Son to be your Savior. How will the things from this verse change your life today?

Write one thing you will do today that shows these verses working in your life.

Spiritual Growth - Introduction

You are a new creature. You became a Christian and began a new life when you prayed to God and accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

Now what? Do you say to yourself, "Is there more or is this all there is? What am I supposed to do now?"

You start learning.

I accepted Christ 32 years ago - Aug. 29, 1982. I participated in a Bible Study, a Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth, known as Survival Kit for New Christians.

It was a good place to begin then ... to learn more about what being a Christian means, and it is a good place to begin now - for you.

There are 5 Bible principles. You can remember them on your hand:

The Thumb represents the Body 
The First Finger represents your old and new natures (personalities)
The Second Finger represents things about salvation 
The Third Finger represents authority
The Little Finger represents the Five-and-Five Principle

The Palm of your hand represents Christ living in you and controlling everything.

You will face many problems and temptations in everyday life -- as a babe in Christ, much of your future growth in your Christian life depends on your relationship to the church.

There are 5 stages you will pass through:

1. The Honeymoon Stage  - This is when you are happy and excited. You have a new life. You have been baptized and you are a member of His church.
   
2. The Fight Stage  - The Honeymoon stage ends when you have your first fight. Frustration, temptation, jealousy, gossip, etc. crop up again -- the same old problems are present. Christ started to live in you when you began your new life. The old self, with all the sins, did not die. So, you have your old self with the sins and your new self with Christ living in you. The new nature and the old nature battle for control.
   
3. The Doubting Stage - You begin to doubt your salvation if you do not learn the right things.  You start thinking that just knowing you are saved is all that is important. Jesus promised  that when you became a Christian the Holy Spirit would be with you. He would teach you all things.
   (John 14:26 -  "But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." New Living Translation)
   You need more information about salvation when you have conflict within yourself between your old life and your new life. The more you know, not just in your head, but primarily your heart, the less you doubt. Three times to know about your salvation are: a) it happens at an exact time; b) it is a process  through time as you beat the old you; c) there is a final time when Christ will make you free forever.
   
4. The Panic-Search for what is Right Stage - Here you need to learn where to go to find what is right to be protected from this stage. You must learn how to compare the truth to other things. The only place to find the truth and what is right is in the written word of God, The Bible.
   
5. The Silent Christian Stage - A silent Christian is one who does not witness, but instead substitutes church activities. A Christian who does not witness is not effective in helping another become a Christian or influencing others in a positive way for the Lord. To become effective in witnessing, learn the Five-and-Five Principle - five people in your live you can witness to and five people you cannot witness to but can pray for.

Think about these things. The 5 principles and the 5 stages.  The next time we meet we'll begin our study.

8.26.2014

Trust God and walk in His Spirit

You may struggle to trust another, but you can always trust God. Look to Him for your every answer and He will show you how to rebuild your lives. Lean on Jesus. He is your source of strength.

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. When we have been redeemed by the blood of lamb, our old ways have been crucified, destroyed, killed – our fleshly passions and desires become a thing of the past (or at least they are supposed to). We are new creatures. Therefore, if we say we live in the Spirit, we must also walk in the Spirit – we must not be conceited, we must not provoke another, we must not envy another.

“But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.” – Galatians 5:22-26 Today’s English Version

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders 

Aug. 21, 2014

Of God -- ask, seek, knock

“Ask, and it will be given to you;” If you do not ask, how do you expect to receive?

“

Seek, and you will find;”
If you do not look, how do you expect to find what is hidden?

“Knock, and it will be opened to you.”

If you do not knock, how do you expect a door to open?

The Lord knows what you have need of and what you want, but it is up to you to make that request to Him.

The Lord knows what you are looking for, but it is up to you to acknowledge it to Him.

The Lord knows you have need of Him and His provisions, but it is up to you – it is your choice.

Won’t you choose to pray?

To ask and receive
To seek and find
To knock and open

He abides in you … always

Won’t you come and abide in Him?

“Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” = Matthew 7:7-8

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders 

August 21, 2014

Do you do what you desire or what you hate?

We talk of fresh starts, new beginnings. We want things to be different, better. We have that as our goal, yet it seems we are often stuck in the old world that we want so desperately to escape from. 

We remember too well. We remind another too often. We fail to move past the pain and hurt caused by another. We say we want to, but yet we remain burdened by our thoughts.

It is like what the apostle Paul says in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do; for I don’t do what I would like to do, but instead I do what I hate.”  

And do you know why you do what you hate? It’s because of sin. Our old sin nature. It died when we accepted Christ as our Savior. But if we do not stay focused on Him, that old sin nature awakens within us and we end up riding it for all its worth.

We want to seek purity, but our mind captures the very thing we hate.

If we truly want a new beginning, then we must seek God at every step. To claim you have no time is a cop-out.
Start your day with prayer: 
Lord, Thank you for this day. Thank you for a place to lay our heads, to rest from the previous day’s struggles. Today, guide us as we go about our day, working, playing, talking, whatever it is, Lord, show us the best way. Show us how to speak only words that bring glory to You.  In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Keep God at the forefront always. If we do not seek God, if we continue to fall prey to our selfish nature, new beginnings will be long in coming.

We cannot hope for a turnaround if we’re constantly looking at the past and reminding ourselves and others of wrongdoings.

We reap what we sow, but we do not need to continually reap havoc. 

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 NKJV)  .  

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

August 20, 2014

Where are your priorities?

“I will when I have time. “I do when I have time.”

We all have 24 hours - The same amount of time every day.

Having time is not the problem. Prioritizing our time is.

You want to improve your marriage?!    Come to Jesus.

You want healing?!  Come to Jesus.

Make time.

You cannot get what you want if you do not latch onto what you need. You by yourself cannot achieve completeness.

You think your marriage is just between each other?
Have you taken God out of the equation?
Have you forgotten He created you – both of you?
He founded marriage.

Answers to all of life are found in The Bible,  not in your personal thinking. If you do not know what God says, how can you possibly know  what is the best way to handle any and all you go through?
If you’re not in His word daily, if you’re not reading and listening and meditating on Him, you are missing the mark.

Do not be a Christian in name only.

Pray.
Make time for Jesus.
He is here for you.

How  can you bring another to Christ if they do not see Jesus in you? How will they know, really know what they are missing?

Don’t just know God – but experience Him. Have a relationship with Him.

Where is your faith? Where is your trust?

Don’t stand at the back of the line and wonder if you should move to the front or stay where you are because it requires less work.

You have a devotional?! Read it! Daily. Meditate on it. Read the Scripture references. Make time. A regular set  time when you commune with God. Maybe it’s only 5 or 10 minutes, but do it!

Where do your priorities lie?

__relationship with spouse

__sleep

__job

__family time

__children

__personal time

__God

Where does God rank? Is He at the bottom?

You will fail without Him at the top of your life.

 God wants what is best for you. Won’t you get on the same page?

Come to Jesus.

Last place is not for Him. Without Him you achieve nothing worthwhile.

Make Him No. 1.

(c) July 23, 2014