I love Charles Stanley. Don’t let his age fool you! He is wise and still humble in his writings. I found this devotional easy to read, with out feeling like “I just did my duty reading for the day”. Without spending time with God each day, life gets harder and harder. Usually, its hard to get a focus and find a place to start in Scripture. Charles Stanley gives plenty of spiritual meat in this book, and scriptures to follow thru.
I recommend this book. Even if you are not a believer, this book will give you a look at what the Christian life is about, how it should be walked, and what we should look like when you look at us. Thank you Charles Stanley for yet another awesome book!
Thank you Book Sneeze for making it possible for me to read it.
I read this on a brothers blog, and found it to disturb something deep with in me. Because I was once under the same thought of what the word “Christianity” actually meant. A person who does not know Jesus, would honestly think that we are not loving, we are not extending grace, and we are some elite little club. Could not be further from the truth! “Christianity” means that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, it means that everything in my life is to line up with HIS teachings, and What the Bible has to say about my day to day life, which includes how I treat others. I have also experienced hurt from the “Christian” church, not everytime i have encountered it but it has happened. DO NOT take that to mean following Christ is learning to be down grading or demeaning to others, its is actually the opposite. Thank you Brother Johnny for this writing. Even if you read this and don’t agree, take a minute to pray for those that have been touched by a mock christianity, a self serving , and powerful thinking. Pray they will find the TRUTH of following Jesus.
Philippians 1: 21-24 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
(ESV STUDY BIBLE-NOTES)
Phil. 1:21 Paul’s life is not a matter of seeking his own comfort or advancement. It is all about seeking the advancement of Christ’s kingdom: to live is tantamount to serving Christ. In fact, to die should be seen as gain, because it would mean that Paul would be freed from his trouble-filled life on earth to rejoice in Christ’s presence.
Phil. 1:23My desire is to depart and be with Christindicates that when Christians die they are immediately with Christ, long before their bodies are raised from the dead.
Pauls perspective is in tact weighing out what is better. It almost sounds like he is thinking out loud, and rationalizing what is happening to him. If in fact he has not already gone to be with Jesus, then there must be more to do here with the Body of Christ, and more in spreading the Gospel.
How often do we find our self at the end of the rope, and wondering if in fact we are done? We will not be done serving the KING in some manner, until HE takes us home with HIM, and then serve HIM there.
“to live is Christ”…life with all it sorrows and pains, and all its happiness and rejoicing, tears and laughter…all part of life, and all part of Christ. How can that be? Because HE also lived on the earth, and tasted and felt all that we will ever go through, and HE knows our struggles, HE overcame them. Living will not be better because of Christ, but do-able through HIS power. We are HIS hands and feet in this world, HIM working through us, and around us…to live is Christ!
“to die is gain”…where we are going when we leave this earth, has no comparison to any worldly thing. All glorious, no tears, no pain, no more negativity…ahhhh I see Paul’s dilema…we are not home yet…but when we get there..its our gain!
Don’t forget to check out Philter48 and read the comments on the study , and the other posts that are there for you to read, and interject, we would love to have your thoughts.
This is where my heart is, and where its been for quite sometime. This is my prayer, what I want to show to my children, my husband, and most of all to those around me. I am sorry if my daily walk offends or causes another to call me judgmental, but dang! I’m tryin’ to get somewhere. Walk the road with me-cool! Start taking me somewhere else-I’m out. Believers-you are supposed to want this too, Non-believers-this is beautiful…check it out!
Lyrics- Toby Mac
Lose my soul
Man I wanna tell ya’ll something, Man.
Man I’m not gonna let these material thing’s, get in my way, ya’ll.
I’m trying to get somewhere.
I’m trying to get somewhere,
Thats real and pure and true and eternal.
Father God, I am clay in your hands,
Help me to stay that way through all life’s demands,
‘Cause they chip and they nag and they pull at me,
And every little thing I make up my mind to be,
Like I’m gonna be a daddy whose in the mix,
And I’m gonna be a husband who stays legit,
And I pray that I’m an artist who rises above,
The road that is wide and filled with self love,
Everything that I see draws me,
Though it’s only in You that I can truly see that its a feast for the eyes- a low blow to purpose.
And I’m a little kid at a three ring circus.
I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don’t wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don’t wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
(Mr. Franklin, Step up to the mic sir)
The paparazzi flashes, and that they think that it’s you,
But they don’t know that who you are is not what you do,
True, we get it twisted when we peak at the charts,
Yo before we part from the start,
Where’s your heart?
You a pimp, hustler?
Tell me what’s your title,
America has no more stars, now we call them idols,
You sit idle, While we teach prosperity,
The first thing to prosper should be inside of me.
We’re free…
Not because of 22’s on the range,
But Christ came in range, we said yes now we changed,
Not the same, even though I made a fall,
Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I’m Paul.
(YEP!)
I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don’t wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don’t wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
Don’t wanna walk away,
Don’t wanna walk away
[ tobyMac Lyrics are found on http://www.songlyrics.com ]
How do I sense the tide that’s rising?
De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity,
How do I sense the tide that’s rising?
It’s hypnotizing me from living in light of eternity,
How do I sense the tide that’s rising?
De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity.
(Lord what we gon do,We’re relying on you,
all eyes are on you Lord,
all eyes are on you, all eyes are on you Jesus.)
I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don’t wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
(Don’t let me lose my soul, my soul.)
I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
(This is my honesty, Father, won’t you cover me.)
I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
(Don’t wanna walk away, and all those people say)
I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
(Don’t wanna lose, I don’t wanna lose my soul.)
Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
That fight for our love, and our passion,
As our eyes are open wide and on you.
Grant us the privilege of your world view,
And may your kingdom be, what wakes us up, and lays us down.
(Hallelujah, Don’t wanna lose our soul,
No, Don’t wanna lose my soul.)
Hey excuse me,
I’m looking or the after party,
Toby,
Haha, yeah, last door on the left, you’ll hear it.
Thanks,
No problem.
Don’t let me lose my soul, I never wanna walk away,
I don’t wanna lose my soul,
No, no, no.
Don’t let me, don’t let me, lose my soul,
I don’t wanna walk away,
Don’t let me walk away,
Na na na na no,
Don’t let me lose, my soul,
I’m never gonna walk away.
I am supposed to put this on my side bar, but I am seriously techy challenged! so when I post I will add it to the top of my post. K?
Being part of this group is a great encouragement and accountability. My commitment is to study the Word 1 hour a day X 5 days a week. Along with that keeping notes, and preparing to write a study on the Holy Spirit. So this is a learning time for me as well. Its not too late to become part of this group, so please go read, check out the other blogs listed, and stand in awe…God is on the move, and we are learning to use the gifts that HE has given to us.
In the study time this last three weeks, being overwhelmed is an understatement! Not only is time an issue, but the things the LORD is showing me are huge. Maybe not to everyone, but to me. And that causes me to be able to know and believe HIM so much more. That is an answer to my prayer.
Just an example of what I am looking at…
The Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Gensis 1:2, showing me that HE was there at the time of creation. As the Bible moves, the Spirit of God was always a gift to man, when God’s plan needed another step fulfilled. These people are aware that God has put HIS Spirit on them. They know that their accomplishments are not their own. Upon grieving the Spirit, HE is removed. They beg for HIM to stay. The Spirit is the presence of God(Psalm 51:11/Isaiah 63:10). But in the Old Testament, the Spirit does not live in them, and the redeemer of our sin hasn’t walked that walk to the cross, HE can not stay with man.
Definitely fits all that Jesus said HE would( John 14:26). One difference, a believer today has HIM within our self(Romans 8:9). Jesus paid the price for the sin we did and will do, in order for the Father to look at us through the blood of Jesus. HE is not leaving the believer. We are sealed with HIM.
The Spirit of GOd was a gift from the Father in the Old Testament and is still a gift. The saddest thing that I am finding is; Then they had no way of not grieving the Spirit, and today we do. Unfortunately it doesn’t mean much to most people. The Gift is not celebrated, and if we don’t sense HIM for days, we are sure HE will comeback..and yes, with repentance we will again hear HIM…but so much we are missing in this life by not knowing HIM, not knowing what an awesome Gift HE is!
(using the BLB and also the ESV study bible, and the NASB)
If you believe in Jesus Christ, and call yourself Christian/Christ follower..then you can walk away from the message that is laid out here, but the minute you open your front door and step out-You have entered the Mission Field…accept the mission..it’s what you were made for. Pray for you fire to be ignited again, pray to see the person that God has put in your path to witness too. By all means..show some love and mercy..that is the loudest testimony! Our life is testimony, and it should look like Worship 24/7! Peace
ponderings of a princess... 