Separation can protect you when you are in an unhealthy relationship. We are not called to be subjected to abuse especially when the Bible is being used to justify the other person’s actions. We are starting a series on the concept of Biblical Separation and what it is and is not.
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There are many times in our lives when we feel helpless. They can be directly or indirectly connected to us personally. Our nature is to try to fix a problem so that we can move past it. What happens when that problem is out of our control, not ours or it is connected to someone close to us? Situations can be so great they are on a national or global scale, or we can have a child who is going through a personal crisis. Every crisis can be great in their own situation. The Bible offers us a perspective that can be counter to our natural inclinations to take control or fix the problems ourselves.
In the Book of Job we are given the example of Job’s friends. Job lost almost everything. Satan accused Job of loving God because of God’s favor and protection on his life. God allowed tragedy to touch Job’s life relationally and physically. When Job’s friends heard of the tragedies that Job endured they came together and mourned with him in silence. Job 2:12-13 says “When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. They sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.”
Jesus also gave us an example of what to do when we have no control in a situation. He was about to be betrayed, arrested, tortured, and executed, and He asked three of His disciples to stay with Him and keep watch while He prayed. The disciples kept falling asleep. Matthew 26:40-41 says “Then (Jesus) returned to His disciples and found them asleep. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ He asked Peter. ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'” Prayer is a powerful tool that God has given us during our trials and troubles. Jesus had the power to take away His own trials and sorrows, but He chose to endure them to the very end because of His great love for us. He knew that the sacrifice He was about to endure was great. Sin and death was defeated forever, and because of that we are reconciled with God.
Are you or someone you know going through a crisis? Do you feel helpless? Do you feel like you do not know what to say or do? You are not alone. Trials and troubles will always be with us. How we handle them when we feel helpless is crucial, and it can be hard too. Being present with others is so simple yet it is a great blessing. Not having words to say is ok, and sometimes the best thing we can do! And, praying is the one thing we can and should always do in every situation.
Do you have good heathy boundaries in your life. We are going to introduce to you what boundaries are and how you can start implementing them.
With Laura Dahne, and Joseph Ferreira
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Do you find yourself complaining? Here is our conversation on how to overcome complaining.
With Kevin Phillips, Laura Dahne, and Joseph Ferreira
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On Our Lips And In Our Hearts
Did you know that fewer than half of adults read scripture? According to the Pew Research Center 35% of adults read the Bible at least once a week. 10% read once or twice a month. 8% read several times a year, and 45% seldom or never read the Bible. There are 1-2% that do not know how often they read the Bible. These percentages show that there is a large majority of people who rarely read the Bible, and it is safe to say that we are living in a time where the majority of all adults do not read or study the Bible.
In the book of Joshua, chapter 1, God told Joshua to be strong and very courageous; to carefully obey all the law He gave Moses; not to turn to the left or right; to keep the law on his lips; meditating on them day and night. God said that Joshua and the people will be prosperous and successful. When Joshua died and the Israelites entered the time of the Judges, they forgot God’s law. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes, and God’s favor and protection departed. There was no peace. Horrible things happened to the Israelites from both themselves and their enemies. Even though God raised up judges to save them from the hands of their enemies the people turned away from God. His words were not on their lips or in their hearts.
How many of us are walking through this life without the Word of God on our lips and in our hearts? We want to encourage you to make the scriptures a daily diet. Consume the Word of God, so that He can direct our lives, renew our minds, and give us peace.
This is Part 2 on a talk about Grace.
With Kevin Phillips, Laura Dahne, and Joseph Ferreira
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
This is Part 1 on a talk about Grace.
With Kevin Phillips, Laura Dahne, and Joseph Ferreira
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Setting The Trajectory
Kevin Phillips
Have you ever asked yourself, “where am I going in life, what’s my purpose, what do I want to accomplish, what kind of person do I want to be or become?” Growing up I always marveled at people who somehow inherently knew what they wanted to do in life. My daughter for example has known since she was in elementary school that she wanted to be an elementary school teacher. In high school I could never relate to other students who knew what they wanted to do and what they wanted to study in college. I felt like I was on the outside looking in. I didn’t understand why I had no idea what to do in life. It was so frustrating and at times I kind of felt like a loser. I really didn’t know that my calling was to be a therapist/counselor until my late 30’s, wow talk about a late bloomer. But after I reflected on this meandering way of settling upon a profession, I realized that all my frustrations and confusion and life experiences gave me the ability to become a better, more effective, real therapist that could relate to people. Then I started to realize that as individuals we need to set a trajectory for ourselves. If not, where are we flying to, where are we going, what do we stand for, what’s the purpose?
Written by Bianca Gurciullo
Executive Assistant of Encouragement Now Ministries
“Rest time is not a waste of time. It is economy to gather fresh strength…In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.”
~ Charles Spurgeon
Rest is the opposite of anxiety, and we can find hope in that rest. Hope can get us through the hard times, but without rest, hope is hard to find. The question is: what are we hoping for? Is it strong enough to lead us to rest? Also, what are we putting our hope in, and will it cause us additional frustration?
Psalm 16:9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.