Welcome To The Christian Journeyman!

Welcome To The Christian Journeyman!
A CHRISTIAN TEACHING AND RESOURCE MINISTRY!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

The Power Of Selfless Love

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."(1 John 4:8) There are those people who think that the right approach to making people see the error of their ways, is to really come down hard on them. To enlighten some people, to what they feel is the right direction for their lives, they are willing to throw words of lightning steel, into their hearts. But the question comes: Is this love? I worship and serve a God who is a God of Love. He is so patient, and full of Grace. Yes, He does discipline His children, and yes that discipline is severe at times. But with out a doubt there is the display of a selfless love. And the more you fellowship with the Heavenly Father, the more you will see this virtue coming through, loud and clear. John 3:16a says "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.." For us to have the salvation He wanted us to have, He gave it through His Son Jesus Christ. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let Him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without approach, and it will be given to Him." (James 1:5) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulations." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4a) God gives to us over and over again. He wants His best for us. That is how He wants us to treat others. To those who error against us, to those who need to see the fault of their actions. He wants us to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) for their well-being, not for anything that we could gain. How far will a selfless love take us, in restoring lives and relationships? love is the most powerful thing in the world. "... but the greatest of these is love.."(1 Corinthians 13:13) GP
Picture By ID 7507667 © Andreblais | www.dreamstime.com Thank you!

Monday, June 16, 2014

How God Loves Restoration

Amos 9:13-15
The prophet Amos declares that, even though Israel would see the judgment of God, because of their disobedience to Him; they would also see a time of restoration and blessing. There would be a short time before the ground is broken by the plow, and the seeds are placed in the ground. A time of great productivity and fulfillment in the land. That is what we can find in Jesus Christ. In the Lord Jesus Christ, the ground of the heart is broken, and the seeds of the Gospel are sown. And when one responds to the Gospel, and allows the Lord to do His work, we become as the Apostle Paul writes "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) It has been God's goal through the ages, that man-kind be restored.Through the giving of His Son, as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, God made a way for the world to be restored. I remember when my parents would restore a piece of wooden furniture. There was much sanding, varnishing, and the installing of new hinges, and fixtures. A lot of work went in to making this piece of furniture look brand new. God is so pleased when one is made brand new, through His Son. That's what He sent His Son to do; to make it so, we could be free of the old sinful life, and have it replaced with a life of faith, hope, and love. If you need a new heart, and a new life, come to Jesus Christ today, and let Him restore you, for all eternity. GP
Picture By Daniel Xiyin Deng: Shanghai, China www.dreamstime.com Thank you!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Where Is God In All Of This?

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

If someone who had gone through a terrible trial, came to you and asked the question: "Where is God in all of this? How would you answer that person? If God is our keeper, as Psalm 121 strongly states, why didn't He keep us from this trial? Why did He allow this to happen? While it is true that God works in mysterious ways, the Apostle Paul knew that God always had his best interest at heart. There are times that God will not keep us from trouble, but you can count on the fact, that God will always keep us, while we are going through the trouble. He is, and will always be with us, when we go through the storms of life. Even if we die and leave this life, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we will go and be with Him, in the presence of our heavenly Father. It is like when someone bakes a cake. All the ingredients of themselves, may not taste that great, but when they are mixed together, and have gone through the baking process, they make that cake taste really good. Life is made up of good times, and bad. God allows us to go through hard times, so we will develop a strong maturity, and character. And wisdom comes when we turn to God during those hard times. To answer the question: "Where is God in all of this?" is to confidently say; He is always with us, and knows quite well, what our situation is. Just as the Lord spoke to Joshua these words: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9) Just as God was with Joshua, when he and the nation of Israel took control of the promise land, God is with us, and will help us get through the storms of life. I have heard it said,"If there were no rocks in a stream, the creek would have no song to sing." Trials help us to sing a song of faith and victory. When the storm is through, and we are standing strong in the Lord, we proclaim to the world, the truth, that "all things DO work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." GP
Picture By Keith Midson https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Keith+Midson

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

A Shepherd's Leadership

"He Leads me beside the still waters" (Psalm 23:2b) General Dwight D Eisenhower would demonstrate the art of leadership with a simple piece of string. He would lay the string on a table and say, "Notice what happens when I pull this string; it goes wherever I lead it.
Now watch what happens when I push this string; it goes nowhere at all. That's assault, not leadership."
* Biblical Shepherding is Oriental, or Eastern - one who leads, knows each one by name, only has their best interests in mind, and is willing to "Lay down their lives" for the sheep. This is in contrast to the Western idea of "sheep herding" where sheep are herded like cattle and are driven against their docile nature." *(c) Gracestoration
In Psalm 23, David describes the Lord, as being The Good Shepherd who leads His sheep. He leads them to times of peace, described as "still waters"and instead of corrupt and sinful activities, He leads then in "the paths of righteousness." What a beautiful picture. As shepherds in the Lord's church, I encourage us to never herd our sheep. When we try to be overly dominating, beating our people over the head with the Bible, and trying to force (these who the Lord has placed in our care) to go our way, or it's no way; that is not the kind of Shepherd, the Lord wants leading His flock. Peter said it best: "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint, but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." (1 Peter 5:2-4)
The successful shepherd, must first and foremost, fellowship with the Chief Shepherd, and submit to His will for his life. How can we lead people to a place, we have never been? If we don't know where our Shepherd wants us? how can we lead them to where The Lord wants them? Be loving, gentle, exemplary, patience, instructive, always out in front, leading the way. Remembering that every sheep is important. No one sheep is more important than another. How rewarding this work is, when it is done, according to the teachings of the Word of God. (GP) Picture By The Good Shepherd Print, art by Brandon Kidder,  www.kidderfineart.com

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Don't Be Proud Of Your Pride!




"The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."(Proverbs 8:13)

If there is one attitude I see, not only in society, but also in the church; it is the attitude of pride and arrogance. The Apostle Paul writes to the Church at Philippi and says" "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Philippians 2:3)

Is it wrong to have ambition? No, as long as we have the attitude that in all that we do, we will try to be a blessing to others. Too many people try to get what they want at the expense of others. They will do anything to get ahead, even if it means hurting others. 

James says: "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have, because you do not ask.."(James 4:2) We may not say this with our lips, but a lot of people say this with their lives." "Look at me, don't you wish you could be me? Don't you wish you could have what I have?" That is conceit. This is thinking more of ourselves, than we ought to. And conceit, causes a lot of people to covet, and desire what other people have. 

Paul tell us that we must show a "lowliness of mind" This is a humility that is essential in life. It is not a feeling of inferiority, but a good balanced feeling of one's self. The feeling that, I am special to God, I am loved by God, but I am no more special, or loved, than anyone else. And than lastly, Paul says that we are to esteem others better than ourselves. 

In essence he is saying that we are to have our focus on others, more than on ourselves. To answer the question: "How can I be a blessing to others?" How can I make a difference in the lives of the people around me?" I have seem churches come apart because of pride and arrogance. In Scripture, we find that the Lord wants "Unity" in His church. (John 17:21) 

If pride and arrogance are dominating factors, that will not happen. And the devil will make sure that it doesn't happen. But with love, and humility, the Holy Spirit will help us to have victory, and instill peace in our hearts, and in our fellowship. (GP)

Photo: Copied