Musings
Wednesday, 01 April 2009
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new blog
Hello everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that I have switched my blog over to http://joy.courvillefamily.com/
For now I will leave up my xanga (for networking reasons as well as keeping up all of the pictures stored on here), but I decided that I wanted to set up a new blog using www.wordpress.org (this involved buying a domain name and setting up all of that stuff) But Wordpress does offer free blogging on www.wordpress.com
I've enjoyed blogging on xanga, especially the network that it has provided in meeting some of you. :) But to use free xanga involves having their ads associated with my blog (some of which I cannot endorse). So that is one of the reasons I'm switching blogs.
If you need to get in contact with me my email address is glory5god@gmail.com and I am on www.facebook.com under 'Joy Courville'.
May Jesus bless you and fill your life with His peace and grace.
~ Joy DeAnne
Friday, 27 March 2009
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A story of a saved life
We often hear of the numbers of children who are murdered in our land through the means of abortion. Occasionally, we hear of the story of someone who changed their mind at an abortion clinic, but even more rare are the follow-up stories of the announced birth of a child who was saved from being aborted. Here is such a story and praise God for His intervening Hand in the life of this child.
Praise God, a child has been born! I have the great joy of announcing to you the birth of Nathan Joshua. He comes with great excitement as all babies do, but his beginning had a near brush with death. Read the accounts below to see what God has done to save this child's life!
Sat 8/9/08
Praise the Lord, a couple changed their minds about the abortion they planned on having today! *Marie and *Robert drove up to go into the Fort ___ abortion clinic parking lot, but stopped first as I reached out with a gospel of John with prolife information and resources inside. I was able to talk to them for a good 5 minutes. Their vehicle was right in the middle of the little road, but 2-3 cars came around them with no trouble. One of the cars was a police car checking to make sure everything was going okay.
At first, Marie tried to give me a story. She said she wasn't going in for an abortion, she was just going in for someone else. Suspicious of this I asked who that was. She said she was acting on behalf of one of her clients who was not treated right by them. We've been told a lot of stories in the past and this was another one. I said, 'I'm going to be very honest with you. We have people come in here and talk to us and say they are not going to have an abortion. Then they go on in and don't come back out. They have the abortion.' I paused and asked, 'Are you the client?' She gave in and admitted she was planning on having an abortion. Then she spilled out the real story. She, who is the daughter of a minister, and Robert are not married and they already have 2 children. They were separated and were talking about getting back together, and here they were today at the abortion clinic because they 'can't have anymore'. They barely make it anyway, she says, and her sister lives next door to them and she has 8 children and all they do is cuss at them. Whew! Lots of needs for truth in this family. I was able to tell her that God gave this baby, whether they were planning on it or not, and if they obey Him He will provide for this baby. He provides for what He gives. And so we were able to talk about obedience to God verses the tears of deep grief in doing what the devil coaxes you into doing, and how he delights in condemning you after he has been successful in getting you to disobey God. She listened and then one of the volunteer parking lot escorts (many prolifers refer to them as the deathscorts) drove up into the little road we were on. I knew this would not go over well with *Linda as she and the other parking lot volunteer escort, *Jean, try to disrupt our conversations with poeple if they can. I motioned for her to go around us. But no, she pulled right up behind Marie and Robert's vehicle and layed on the horn until they moved. I tried to get them to move over to the curb so we could continue to talk, but they drove into the parking lot! Linda was quick to park her car and get right over to Marie. As she was talking to Marie, they see their role as protecting the clients from the likes of us, she motioned toward us. They will try to talk to them all the way to the door to block what we say to them from across the parking lot. I was glad I had their names and pleaded with them, by name, to not do it. They went in, seemingly very willingly. I was so discouraged, and angry that the devil seemed to win ~ for the moment.
We went to praying for God's intervention and about 10 minutes later they came out! Sometimes the girls will come out to smoke or get something from the car. But Marie got in the vehicle and they started pulling out of the parking lot. I got a baby bag and headed toward them as they came out of the parking lot. They stopped and she immediately said, 'I'm not doing it! They are so rude in there!'. She went on to explain how Linda was very rude to her in the parking lot and spurtted out, 'We don't talk to those people!' and was just very cold and rude to her. Then she got inside and one of the workers was very rude to her. The clinic staff pointed at her and said, 'You. You come in here.' and she took her into a room and scolded her for not being early. Marie explained that she was talking to us outside and she said the worker scolded her again with, 'We don't do abortions to people who talk to them!' I'm not so sure that is how it went off, but nevertheless, Marie was very upset by their rudeness and left! Praise God! He turned the clinic workers against her! Marie accepted the baby bag and we talked. I told her I had more resources for her to equip her Biblically with her children, that God's ways work. They were willing to go over to where my car was parked to get them! This has never happened. I gave her S.M. Davis' message on how reverence builds or tears down a husband, (and I would add also with fathers, supervisors, etc.) Robert perked up at this point. :) I found that I had unpacked all of the child training dvd's by S.M. Davis when I arrived home the night before from being gone for 6 weeks, but Marie was willing to give me her address so I could mail it to her. I urged them to get right with God, to get married and to live for God, that He would help them and teach them. They accepted prayer, in which I asked God that they not be a mediocre family, but a family strong for Him. Marie cried, seemingly mixed tears of how she has lived her life and of hearing words of hope that God's ways really do work and are right. She asked to use my cell phone to call her dad who was suppose to meet them at the abortion clinic. He was definitely against abortion, so she wanted to call him and tell him they weren't going through with it. She excitedly told her dad, 'I'm not having the abortion. There's this lady here and she is against abortion' (at which point he exclaimed that he was also to remind her that he had tried to talk her out of it too). She went on,'... and she is giving me Biblical resources!' She did ask for my phone number in case she started 'having those thoughts again.' I told her to call anytime. They left to go meet her dad, equipped by God and His servants to learn how to live for Him. Praise the Lord!
I thank God for all of the things He has put together for the baby bags ~ the hymns cd, the baby hats, the Biblical messages that I am sure Marie's dad would be very interested to hear also being some kind of a minister, and the baby items. Please do pray for Marie and Robert to get real with God and surrender their lives to Him.
There was another car in the parking lot with a man, a woman and a toddler waiting for someone inside. Many people will wait outside while the other person gets the abortion, about a 2 1/2 hour wait in all. Well, their window was down, so I had a good 6-7 minutes to proclaim the gospel to them; that they had come here for murder of this child, but I wanted to tell them about another murder. The murder of God's Son and why it was so; what God requires for our sin, and it went on from there. I believe we need to put things up for God to work with, like setting up a volleyball to be spiked. So I told them I would be praying for God to reveal Himself to them in a mighty way and that if they didn't have a Bible for God to give them one within 24 hours. Not until heaven can we know what all God delighted to do with such opportunites as these! Let's set God up to do some major spiking into peoples' lives! 'Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.'
Bless the Lord!
Lynn
Update 8/11/08
I sent Marie a promised dvd today with a note to please call, that I wanted to stay in contact with her. Well, she didn't wait to get the note. She called tonight and we talked for an hour and 20 min. She has a lot of needs. They live in the north side of town, not a good area. There are lots of drugs and gangs there. She is checking into going to a shelter with her 3 and 1 1/2 year old children until Robert, the father, has gotten enough money to get them moved to another location. Marie said they are abstaining. She had the children watching the Life of the Messiah dvd that was in the baby bag while we were on the phone. She said that abortion is all in her mom's side, including that her mother has had one. Marie's mother did tell her about 3 months ago that she, Marie's mother, was also on the abortion table when pregnant with Marie, but felt her move so she decided not to do it. Praise the Lord! But her mom is angry at her for not having the abortion. I told her about Jesus telling us that we must be willing to leave father and mother... for His sake; that she was obeying God to not do what her mother wanted her to do and do what Jesus wants her to do. She also explained that Robert, the father, had a dream about the baby about 3 weeks ago, only it wasn't a baby in the dream, but about 4 years old and a boy. So when they opened the baby bag and saw the green crochetted (sp?) baby hat, it was another confirmation and encouragment that they were doing the right thing. She also told me why she cried when I prayed for her. It was when I prayed for her and her 3 children that she knew it was a real. She really had 3 children now.
I encouraged her to get with the Pregnancy Help Center, a Christian run center that we are connected with. They know all of the resources available in Tarrant County and offer child training classes from time to time. She was encouraged that people knew of her change of mind to keep her baby and were praying for her, including the ones who made the baby cap and recorded the hymns.
She is 19 with a 3rd child on the way. She has a lot of needs. But she knows some biblical truth and has attended church off and on throughout life. I encouraged her to read her Bible every day. She said she was afraid that she may have hurt the baby by not wanting it; an emotional hurt. I counseled her to ask God's forgiveness for this sin of considering to kill the baby and to take back the ground she gave over to the enemy; and then to simply begin to bless her baby and read Scripture to him/her. I believe there will be many opportunities to come to pour truth into her.
Praise the Lord for His wonderful works toward the children of men!
~Lynn
There were several more opportunities to discuss Scripture and hear Marie's seeking heart. Marie and I stayed in contact over the next several months. When Robert's job phased out in November, they decided to make the move to live with his mother in Georgia. Marie turned 20 in February and had a due date of March 13. I wondered what God would do. It would be so neat if the baby would be born March 15, which is my birthday! Marie had delivered her previous two children on or before their due dates. March 14th came and she had been having labor pains off and on for a week! This was unusual for her. I arrived to visit friends near Springfield, MO March 14 and as we gathered for church the next day we prayed for Marie and cried out to God to deliver this baby and Marie of the labor. I got the text message from Robert that the baby was born at 6:08pm that day, March 15! How very special of God to bring that baby into the world on the same date that I was born! Nathan Joshua V____ weighed 7lbs 15oz. Praise God for His mercy and power!
Nathan in Hebrew means 'Given' Inherent Meaning: 'Gift of God' and he certainly is!
Joshua in Hebrew means 'God of Salvation' Spiritual Connotation: 'Messenger of Truth'
And so, God has given this gift of Nathan's life to the world and may he learn the ways of God and walk faithfully with Jesus Christ to be a bold proclaimer, messenger of truth to our darkening nation and world!
If anyone would want to send them a note of encouragment I know they would be very excited to receive it. Here is their address:
[edited out for privacy. Message me if you're interested]
Big brother is Timothy 4 y/o and big sister is Neveah almost 3 y/o.
From Nathan's spiritual grandmother, ~smile~
~Lynn
P.S. I was very exhausted that Saturday morning back in August as I had just driven over eight hours to get back home from being gone for six weeks. I always unload the car when I get home, regardless of the time, because I know I will not have any strength the next day to do it. As I went to bed that night I told the Lord that if He wanted me to go to the abortion clinic, I would need Him to wake me up. And He did. I drug myself there, just exhausted. The strength and joy of the Lord came immediately when the conversation with Marie began. The Lord has reminded me of that morning several times. What if I had not obeyed His prompting to go, choosing to get my own rest? This compels me to be all the more alert to the Lord's promptings and heed His statutes, His appointments!
*Names changed to protect identity. If you would like to contact Lynn about her story message me for her email address.
Monday, 23 March 2009
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Get to Know the Voice of God
God wants us to know that no matter how difficult things may get for us, he will sustain all who trust in him—by the power of his still, small voice, speaking to our inner man daily.
This is confirmed by the prophet Isaiah: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). You have to understand, Isaiah delivered this word to Israel in the very worst of times. The nation was under judgment, in absolute ruin, with everything breaking down. And so Isaiah told Israel’s leaders, “Turn to the Lord now! He wants to give you a word of direction—to speak to you, saying, ‘Go this way, go that way, here’s the way…’” But they wouldn’t listen. They decided they would turn to Egypt to deliver them! They thought they could rely on the Egyptians’ chariots, horses and supplies to see them through.
What matters—what’s vitally important—is that you get to know the voice of God. He is still speaking. He made it clear, “My sheep know my voice.” There are many voices in the world today—loud, demanding voices. But there is that still, small voice of the Lord that can be known and heard by all who trust what Jesus said.
-David Wilkerson
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Saturday, 07 March 2009
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Keeping our eyes on Jesus in times of Economic crisis
I thought this video from David Wilkerson was very timely and encouraging. Especially in light of his recent blog post
What a blessing it is to know that the promises contained in Matthew 6 do not change for God's children!
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:25-34
Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!
"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith.
The beginning of faith is the end of anxiety."
~Mrs. Charles Cowman
Thursday, 05 March 2009
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Book Give Away - What He Must Be
Over at Joyfully Home Jasmine Baucham is offering a book give away for her father's new book:
All parents want their daughters to marry godly young men. But which qualities, specifically, should they be looking for?What will you say when that certain young man sits down in your living room, sweaty-palmed and tongue-tied, and asks your permission to marry your daughter? What criteria should he meet before the two of them join together for life? What He Must Be… If He Wants to Marry My Daughter outlines ten qualities parents should look for in a son-in-law, including trustworthiness, a willingness to lead his family, an understanding of his wife’s role, and various spiritual leadership qualitiesAuthor Voddie Baucham follows up on his popular book Family Driven Faith with this compelling apologetic of biblical manhood. By studying the principles outlined in his book, parents who want their daughter to marry a godly man—as well as those who want their sons to become godly men—will be well equipped to help their children look for and develop these God-honoring qualities.
Visit here to enter the book give away
Tuesday, 03 March 2009
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My sister's blog
Hello everyone,
I have another blog for you to visit.
My older sister Jennifer has started a blog to share ideas and tips for living healthier lives:
Thoughts on a Healthy Life
Here is one of her recent posts on finding good deals on health products:I don’t know about you, but I love to find deals on health food products!
For those of you out there like me who like to save money and get good deals on Health Food Products. Check out iherb.com I have found this to be a great company that offers great prices and cheap shipping costs. They offer great discount prices on main brand products, plus if you order using this code SIM813 you will get a instant $5.00 discount on your first order!
So check out their site today and start saving. I have used them for the last couple of years without any problems.
Also, after you order you will then have a opportunity to become a part of there rewards program. So start saving today, visit iherb.com and use referral code SIM813 to save $5.00.
Discounts on Natural Health Products
Have a blessed day!
~Joy
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
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Gospel For Asia
I would like to recommend a ministry that I have been looking into over the past few months.
Gospel For Asia (from their About section)
Sharing the Gospel
The primary aim of Gospel for Asia's ministry is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who have never before heard His name.
Sending Native Missionaries
Gospel for Asia trains and sends native missionaries because they have proven extremely effective. They are already familiar with the language and culture, and they live at the level of the people they serve, thus removing many social barriers.
100 Percent Goes to the Field
Gospel for Asia sends 100 percent of the money you donate for work on the mission field to the field. Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses.
My Dear Friend,
In our busy lives, it is easy to be so preoccupied with our own dreams and pursuits that we lose our eternal perspective. Both the joys of heaven and the crying needs of a lost world can seem unreal and far away.
But the harsh reality is that 2.7 billion people of our generation are still unreached with the Gospel. What answers are we prepared to give to the living God when He asks about the blood of these multitudes on our hands?
Today, we have the great privilege of helping them come to know Jesus. If we will commit to live for what is eternal, this generation can be reached with the Gospel.
I pray that Gospel for Asia will become like a bridge, giving you the opportunity to walk away from your own preoccupations to the harvest fields of Asia—and see the perishing multitudes through the eyes of Jesus.
May you allow God to use your life to change the destiny of millions through your prayers and partnership with our native brothers and sisters.
A hundred years from now, you will be glad you did!
Yours for the lost multitudes of Asia,
Dr. K.P. Yohannan
Founder & President of Gospel for AsiaI just finished reading Road to Reality by K. P. Yohannan and was greatly blessed by it. Now I am listening to sermons from brother K.P. and am being challenged to consider what more I could do toward world missions and being a 'world' Christian, not a 'worldly' Christian.
Sermon resources from K. P. Yohannan
May God bless you, my friend, and give you wisdom in using the resources He has give you so that when your sojourn on life is over, it will be known of you that eternity was also stamped on your eyes.
~Joy
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
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The Voice in the Twilight
I was sitting alone in the twilight,
With spirit troubled and vexed,
With thoughts that were morbid and gloomy,
And faith that was sadly perplexed.
Some homely work I was doing
For the child of my love and care;
Some stitches half-wearily setting
In the endless need of repair.
But my thoughts were about "the building,"
The work some day to be tried;
And that only the gold and the silver,
And the precious stones should abide;
And, remembering my own poor efforts,
The wretched work I had done,
And, even when trying most truly,
The meagre success I had won;
"It is nothing but wood, hay, and stubble,"
I said; "it will all be burned—
This useless fruit of the talents
One day to be returned;
"And I have so longed to serve Him,
And sometimes I know I have tried;
But I'm sure, when He sees such a building,
He will never let it abide."
Just then, as I turned the garment
That no rent should be left behind,
My eye caught an odd little bungle
Of mending and patchwork combined.
My heart grew suddenly tender,
And something blinded my eyes,
With one of those sweet intuitions
That sometimes makes us so wise.
Dear child, she wanted to help me;
I knew 'twas the best she could do;
But oh, what a botch she had made it—
The grey mis-matching the blue!
And yet—can you understand it?
With a tender smile and a tear,
And a half-compassionate yearning,
I felt her grown more dear.
Then a sweet voice broke the silence,
And the dear Lord said to me—
"Art thou tenderer for the little child
Than I am tender for thee."
Then straightway I knew His meaning,
So full of compassion and love;
And my faith came back to its Refuge,
Like the glad returning dove.
For I thought when the Master Builder
Comes down His temple to view,
To see what rents must be mended,
And what must be builded anew;
Perhaps, as He looks o'er the building,
He will bring my work to the light,
And, seeing the marring and bungling,
And how far it all is from right,
He will feel as I felt for my darling,
And will say as I said for her—
"Dear child, she wanted to help me,
And love for me was the spur;
"And, for the real love that was in it,
The work shall seem perfect as mine;
And because it was willing service,
I will crown it with plaudit divine."
And there, in the deepening twilight,
I seemed to be clasping a Hand,
And to feel a great love constraining me,
Stronger than any command.
Then I knew, by the thrill of sweetness,
'Twas the hand of the Blessed One,
Which would tenderly guide and hold me,
Till all the labour is done.
So my thoughts are never more gloomy,
My faith no longer is dim:
But my heart is strong and restful,
And mine eyes are unto Him.
(Published under the title, "The Voice in the Twilight," by Holness,
14, Paternoster Row, 6d. per hundred,post free.)
Saturday, 31 January 2009
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Heart-Searching for Prayer Preparation and Personal Revival
Confession of sin is necessary for fellowship with God and revival among God's people.
One of the problems we face as Christians is that many people do not look on sin as being very bad. Seeing it as high treason has revolutionized my thinking. Ezekiel 39:23 (NAS). In other words, when a Christian is Christ-controlled, Christ is on the throne of his life. Ego-self is dethroned. When the slightest sin is committed: a thought, word, deed or attitude, Christ is dethroned and ego-self is enthroned. That is treason! It is self usurping the throne from Christ. Because He is King of kings and Lord of lords, it is high treason.
Perhaps this is one reason James could say. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10). It is not so much the sin that is bad, but the very nature of sin itself. It is high treason.
Prayerfully, consider the following questions. Go through these questions one by one. Answer truthfully each question. Every ‘yes’ answer means sin in your life.
In reading these questions, as you are convicted of sin, confess it at once to God. Be willing to make it right…then you can claim cleansing and forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".
(1 John 1:9).
Be sure to name your sin to God, as…"Lord, I have not put Thee first in my plans," or "I have neglected Thy work and prayer." Do not make the least excuse for sin of any kind in your life. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13).
No matter what others do, or not do, Christian, leave nothing undone on your part. God wants to work through you to bring about a great spiritual awakening. He can begin by your fulfilling every requirement shown by the Lord through the Holy Spirit and His Word. A revival from the presence of the Lord begins today, if you desire it. (Read the scriptures first. Ask the question. Give a truthful answer… "yes" or "no"). Do not go to the next question until you have settled the one at hand. This is not just to be read, but prayed through.
(1) Matthew 6:12-14
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
● Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge?
● Anyone you have not forgiven?
● Anyone you hate?
● Anyone you do not love?
● Are there any misunderstandings that you are unwilling to forget?
● Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment, or jealousy?
● Anyone you dislike to hear praised or well spoken of?
● Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another?
(2) Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
● Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first?
● Have your decisions been made after your own wisdom and desires, rather than by seeking and following God’s will?
● Do any of the following in any way interfere with your surrender and service to God: ambition, pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition, money, your own plans?
(3) Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
● Have you failed to seek the lost for Christ; Have you failed to witness consistently with your mouth for the Lord Jesus Christ?
● Has your life not shown to the lost the Lord Jesus?
(4) John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
● Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of others?
● Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another?
● Are you guilty of any contention or strife?
● Do you quarrel, argue, or engage in heated discussions?
● Are you a partaker in any division, or party spirit?
● Are there people whom you deliberately slight?
(5) Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
● Have you robbed God by withholding His due of time, talents and money?
● Have you given less than a tenth of your income for God’s work?
● Have you failed to support mission work either in prayer or in offerings?
(6) 1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
● Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord’s work?
● Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for the things of the Lord but doing nothing about it?
(7) 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
● Are you in any way careless with your body?
● Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit?
● Are you guilty of intemperance in eating or drinking?
● Do you have any habits which are defiling to the body?
(8) 1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
● Do you take the slightest credit for anything good about you, rather than give all the glory to God?
● Do you talk of what you have done rather than of what Christ has done?
● Are your statements mostly about "I?" Are your feelings easily hurt?
● Have you made a pretense of being something that you are not?
(9) Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
● Are you self-conscious rather than Christ-conscious?
● Do you allow feelings of inferiority to keep you from attempting things you should in service for God?
(10) Ephesians 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
● Do you underpay?
● Do you do very little in your work?
● Have you been careless in the payment of your debts?
● Have you sought to evade payment of your debts? ● Do you waste time?
● Do you waste time for others?
(11) Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.
● Do you complain?
● Do you find fault?
● Do you have a critical attitude towards any person or anything?
● Are you irritable or cranky?
● Do you ever carry hidden anger?
● Do you get angry?
● Do you become impatient with others?
● Are you ever harsh or unkind?
(12) Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
● Do you listen to unedifying radio or television programs?
● Do you read unworthy magazines?
● Do you partake in worldly amusements?
● Do you find it necessary to seek satisfaction from any questionable source?
● Are you doing certain things that show that you are not satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ?
(13) Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
● Have you neglected to thank Him for all things, the seemingly bad as well as the good? Have you virtually called God a liar by doubting His Word?
● Do you worry? Is your spiritual temperature based on your feelings instead of on the facts of God’s Word?
(14) Phillipians 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
● Are you taken up with the cares of this life?
● Is your conversation or heart joyful over things rather than the Lord and His Word?
● Does anything mean more to you than living for and pleasing God?
(15) Phillipians 2:l4
Do all things without murmurings and disputings.
● Do you ever by word or deed seek to hurt someone?
● Do you gossip?
● Do you speak unkindly concerning people when they are not present?
● Do you carry prejudice against true Christians because they are of some different group than yours, or because they do not see everything exactly like you?
(16) Phillipians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
● Have you neglected to seek to be pleasing to Him in all things?
● Do you carry any bitterness toward God?
● Have you complained against Him in any way?
● Have you been dissatisfied with His provision for you?
● Is there in your heart any unwillingness to obey God fully?
● Do you have any reservations as to what you would or would not do concerning anything that might be His Will?
● Have you disobeyed some direct leading from Him?
(17) Col. 3:9
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.
● Do you engage in empty and unprofitable conversation?
● Do you ever lie?
● Do you ever exaggerate? Cheat? Steal?
● Carefully consider…do you overcharge?
(18) 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
● Do you have any personal habits that are not pure?
● Do you allow impure thoughts about the opposite sex to stay in your mind?
● Do you read that which is impure or suggests unholy things?
● Do you indulge in any unclean entertainment?
● Are you guilty of the lustful look?
(19) Hebrews 10:25
25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
● Do you stay away from the meetings of preaching the gospel?
● Do you whisper or think about other things while God’s Word is being read or preached?
● Are you irregular in attendance at services?
● Do you neglect to attend or participate in meetings for prayer?
● Have you neglected or slighted daily or private prayer?
● Have you neglected God’s Word?
● Do you find the Bible and prayer uninteresting?
● Have you neglected thanksgiving at meals?
● Have you neglected daily family devotions
(20) Hebrews 3:17
But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
● Do you hesitate to submit to leaders in the church or elsewhere?
● Are you lazy?
● Do you rebel at requests given to you to help the work of the gospel?
● Do you in any way have a stubborn or unteachable spirit?
(21) James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
● Have you allowed yourself to become "spotted" by the world?
● Is your manner of dress pleasing to God?
● Do you spend beyond what is pleasing to God on anything?
● Do you neglect to pray about things you buy?
(22) James 4:6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
● Do you feel that you are doing quite well as a Christian?
● That you are not so bad?
● That you are good enough?
● Are you stubborn?
● Do you insist on having your own way?
● Do you insist on your rights?
(23) James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
● Have you dishonored Him and hindered His work by criticizing His servants?
● Have you failed to pray regularly for your pastor or other spiritual leaders?
● Do you find it hard to be corrected?
● Are you more concerned about what people will think than what will be pleasing to God?
If you have been honest and true in the matter of admitting your sins, then you are ready for God’s cleansing. Sins that are admitted, are sins that are confessed. Remember these three things:
1. If the sin is against God, confess it to God, and make things right with God.
2. If the sin is against another person, confess it to God, and make the sin right with the other one.
3. If the sin is against a group, confess it to God, and make it right with the group.
If there is full confession, there will he full cleansing. Then the joy of the Lord will follow. There can be testimony and prayer in the power
of the Holy Spirit. Revival will follow.
Psalm 19:12— "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults."
roniya
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- Name: Joy
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 8/13/2007
About Me
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Seeking Christ and knowing Him is the goal of my life. My position is that of a handmaiden of the Lord. (A handmaid is a female bondslave whose will is altogether lost in the will of the Master's). To God be all the glory!
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