Saturday, February 29, 2020

Encouraging words


Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, 
but only such as is good for building up, 
as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29 ESV


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Please join me this week in praying for God to give us positive, Christ-honoring language. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray that through our language, others will see Christ through us and be drawn to Him.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Friday, February 28, 2020

OMG


Oh, my Lord.
Oh, my God.
Jesus Christ.
These should be said with reverence when addressing our Creator.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for God to give us positive, Christ-honoring language. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray that through our language, others will see Christ through us and be drawn to Him.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Thursday, February 27, 2020

Emotional words virus

I love this image. It clearly shows how our anger and angry words spread to others. Our dispute may be with our spouse, but then each spouse may turn that anger onto their children who may turn their anger to their friends. It's true with other emotional speech as well. It's like a virus that spreads from person to person. Fortunately, the opposite emotions can be spread, also. A kind word, a compliment, can infuse positivity through the home, office, and other environments.
     Since I've been working on this where I've had the most difficulty in the past (at the office), I've already noticed a difference in others.
     One time my mom said "I don't like it when people say "Have a nice day." It sounds fake."
I said, "But, I say that."
She said, "Yeah, I know."
     Whether it sounds fake or not, I'll keep saying it because others respond to it; it makes them smile. Maybe those four little words spoken in the elevator will lift someone's spirits for the day and they'll say something encouraging to a co-worker who'll then be able to put a positive spin on a situation addressed in a meeting and all of those people, well, you get the picture.
     There are so many bible verses about our words which tells me it is something that God takes very seriously; so much so that we will be held accountable for it on the day of judgment.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:36-37 ESV

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, 
this person's religion is worthless.
James 1:26 ESV

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 29:20 ESV

For as long as I can remember, I had a banner in my bedroom with different colored happy faces on it (pink, blue, yellow) and a poem that I probably read about every single day. I still remember most of it, but had to look up the rest:
Begin the day with friendliness,
keep friendly all day long,
keep in your soul a friendly thought,
your heart a friendly song.
Have in your heart a word of cheer
for all who come your way,
and they will greet you too, in turn,
and wish you a happy day.
Have a nice day, my brothers and sisters in Christ :D

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Please join me this week in praying for God to give us positive, Christ-honoring language. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray that through our language, others will see Christ through us and be drawn to Him.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Like nails in a fence

Words have so much power that negative speech can render eternal damage. My daughters and I were victims of verbal (and emotional) abuse and even though we're no longer subjected to it, we still deal with the after-effects.
     When a child uses language to tear others down, we see him (or her) as a bully but when an adult does the exact same thing, they are sometimes seen as powerful, without the negative connotation, and that's just wrong. That type of harmful language can affect the entire life of the abused, their very path.

The people who I know who are "verbal bullies" seem to have a few characteristics in common:
- narcissistic
- spoiled or neglected as a child
- insecure
- angry
- prone to temper tantrums when they don't get their own way
- vengeful
- spiteful

One of my professors was like this and as a result, I dropped out of college and seemed to have no path or direction for years.
     A landlady sent my first husband a story about a man who, with every harmful word, drove a nail into a fence. When he did come to repent and removed the nails, the holes left by his words would never go away.
     The other side of this story though, was that she professed to be a Christian yet did not forgive. Forgiveness would have filled those holes, no matter how deep.
     We need to pray for those who speak harmful words just as diligently as we need to pray that our own words are pleasing to God.

“Telling lies about others is as harmful as 
hitting them with an ax, 
wounding them with a sword, or 
shooting them with a sharp arrow.”
Proverbs 25:18

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Please join me this week in praying for God to give us positive, Christ-honoring language. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray that through our language, others will see Christ through us and be drawn to Him.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Words and meditation

How did you do yesterday with your words? I did okay; not great. There were so many "opportunities" for negative comments that I just followed the advice of Thumper's papa, "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all." However, it occurred to me that if I'm going to do this right, I need to also work on my mind and heart.
     This morning, I opened my list of relevant bible verses, and this one was the very first one:

Let the words of my mouth 
and the meditation of my heart 
be acceptable in your sight, 
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 ESV

     How perfect. This will be part of my daily prayers while God helps me with this.

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Please join me this week in praying for God to give us positive, Christ-honoring language. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray that through our language, others will see Christ through us and be drawn to Him.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Monday, February 24, 2020

Pray for Christ-honoring language


It has been on my heart lately to do a better job of thinking before I speak. I've been paying more attention to what I say, and there are days when it's pretty negative. Some days it's gossipy. Some days I speak badly about others.
     We've been learning about Colossians in church and the lists of sins that Paul gives. Several are manifested in what we say. He wrote in Colossians 3:8 (ESV) But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
     "Obscene talk" isn't limited to cursing. (I've also learned that the "substitute" curse words still count as cursing, so I'm trying to watch that, also. Someone in my family used to say, "shoot, darn, heck, fire" which sounds harmless enough but the cursing is the reason or conviction that we're saying it for/with.)
     I was reminded of a sermon from 8 years ago; it touched me that much. The preacher spoke about just one verse: But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36 NKJV
     He told us to think about all of the negative things we say in a day. At the end of the sermon, he told us to be silent, close our eyes and imagine a world where we all only spoke in a way that was honoring to Christ. That means no negativity, no name-calling, no gossip, no tearing each other down. After a couple of minutes, someone from the congregation shouted out, "wow!"
     If you have two minutes this morning, do that for me and I'll do the same. Maybe through prayer and meditation, we can lift each other up and be a light to all those we come in contact with today. I would love to hear from you and find out what a difference it made.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, 
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for God to give us positive, Christ-honoring language. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray that through our language, others will see Christ through us and be drawn to Him.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Sunday, February 23, 2020

Love is


Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Instructions for Christian Households Part 2

I've always wondered if Adam resented Eve for offering him that fruit, if he blamed her instead of owning up to the fact that he took the fruit of his own free will. I imagine angry words spoken on more than one occasion and there were probably times when he talked himself into believing this was entirely her fault. I also imagine a time or two when they had an argument that Eve probably threw this in his face as if she were blameless in the whole thing. Yes they were literally made for each other but since the fall, their lives had to have been difficult which undoubtedly put a strain on their marriage from time to time. But, with all of the stress of being evicted from the garden, and having to learn how to take care of themselves, and populate the earth, etc...I imagine that their love was like none other. Eve was created from Adam; she was a part of him.
(I wish I had a segway from those ponderings to what I was planning on writing about, but I don't. It was just stuff I think about.)
     After Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands, he tells husbands to love their wives. You would think that would be a given, after all, people usually get married because they love each other, right? But men sometimes have a difficult time showing their love, or at least, showing it in a way that the wife perceives it as love.
     John MacArthur wrote that husbands are to love their wives "with the same unreserved, selfless, and sacrificial love that Christ has for His church."* I would say that's as difficult as wives submitting to their husbands. Both commands are necessary to make a happy, healthy marriage.
     Think about something you expect or need from your spouse and how you feel when that need isn't met. Is the need rooted in respect or love?
     A friend of mine really needs her husband to look up from whatever he's doing when she comes home. She needs him to see her. When he doesn't, she doesn't feel loved, like she isn't important enough to distract him from his phone. In turn, her husband really needs her to do her share of the work around the house. When she doesn't, he feels like he has to do it all which builds resentment and frustration. He feels like she isn't respecting his wishes or his time. Both expectations may seem small, but if they're ignored, over time, it could do a lot of damage to the relationship.
     If you're talking to someone going through marital problems, see if they will allow you to pray with them. I had so much I wanted to write about this subject, examples from my own marriages, etc., but I'm running out of days of the week. Each example that I thought about, though, came down to a lack of love or respect. Whenever we stray from God's plan, things don't work out well. Sometimes it takes a set-back to get us back on track.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:25-33 NKJV

* MacArthur, John (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible, New King James version.
     Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, TN.

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Please join me this week in praying for a married couple whose relationship is in trouble. If you don't know anyone whose marriage is struggling, please pray for the ones at my church. I don't know who they are, but God does and will hear our prayers to lift these couples up and soften their hearts.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Friday, February 21, 2020

Instructions for Christian Households Part 1

A long time ago wedding vows used to include the word "obey". When asking the woman, "do you take this man to love, honor and obey...", the Pastor was asking the woman if she will adhere to the teachings in Ephesians 5:22 (see verse below). However, with our struggle for equality, a lot of us had that word removed from the vows. For my first marriage, which was not a Christian marriage, I had it replaced with the word "cherish" which is the man's vow "love, honor and cherish..." so that our vows would be the same, equal. What I didn't understand until just recently is that men and women were not created equal; we are not the same.
     I have been a feminist my entire life. As a child, I would follow my mom around the house while she cleaned, and she would tell me things like, "when you get married, make sure everything's in your name." It was easy to understand the concept of inequality back then because it seemed to be reflected on television shows, and on the news, we would see marches and protests, and I'd hear my parents talk about it. So it is totally ingrained in my personality, in who I am and how I came to be the person I am, do the work I'm doing. So when I learned about this passage in Ephesians, it was a tough pill to swallow.
     I've taken the time to read different commentaries about it and listen to different sermons on the subject and pray about it which has been really worthwhile. I feel like I understand this better and why we're to submit and what that means for me in this time and place...
     I try to look at relationships as being modeled after the characteristics of the Trinity. The Son submits to the Father to do His will, yet the three are one and are equal. For a married couple, the wife is to submit to the husband yet we are "one flesh", so we are one and are equal. It is more about "respect" which we see in Ephesians 5:33, and a softened heart and attitude toward our husbands. If both husband and wife are struggling to be in control, it makes for a very tumultuous relationship. We bear the penalty of Eve's sin, and Christ bore the penalty of all of our sins. Christ is the bridegroom and we, the church, are the bride. He is the head and we are the body. He rules over us and we submit to His will. It all ties together.
     I pray that we all examine our marriages and see that we are respecting our husbands. If not, pray for a softened heart and see what a difference it makes.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Ephesians 5:21-24 NKJV
(emphasis mine)

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Please join me this week in praying for a married couple whose relationship is in trouble. If you don't know anyone whose marriage is struggling, please pray for the ones at my church. I don't know who they are, but God does and will hear our prayers to lift these couples up and soften their hearts.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Love each other


Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for a married couple whose relationship is in trouble. If you don't know anyone whose marriage is struggling, please pray for the ones at my church. I don't know who they are, but God does and will hear our prayers to lift these couples up and soften their hearts.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Why marriage isn't easy

Marriage is difficult. If it were easy, everyone would get married and stay married and there would never be any divorce. We like to believe that if we're married to "the one" that everything should be harmonious and perfect but even the strongest marriages need to be nurtured (or so I assume).
     I'm going to tell you about the very first marriage. You think you have problems? Imagine spoiling paradise for the entire world for the next several thousand years! That would put a strain on anyone's marriage! This may seem like a Bible lesson, but I have a reason for going through this, so please bear with me. We need this review every so often to remind us why marriage works (or doesn't work) the way it does and why we have the roles we do.

It all started in the garden...
     God made Adam in His Own image but didn't want him to be alone. So God caused a deep sleep to fall over Adam and took one of his ribs. From that, He created Woman. God didn't create Eve from the dust of the ground as He created Adam, which He very easily could have done. Instead, God took a part of Man to form a helpmate for him so that Man would never be alone. 
     One of my absolute favorite quotes is: 
“The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”
― Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

     It sets up this relationship that God intended from the start, like Adam said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23 ESV)
     God provided the couple with food; herbs and trees of fruit. He gave them dominion over every living thing. He gave them a perfect garden in which to live. When it was all said and done, God declared that it was "very good."
     God's only commandment was that Adam and Eve were not allowed to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He even told Adam that they would die if they did. We all know from experience that if you tell someone not to do something, the temptation to do that one thing is sometimes overwhelming. Even if we don't particularly care about that one thing, it seemingly calls to us. So, when Satan entered the garden, he compounded the problem even more. He was able to deceive Eve by casting doubt; 'surely you won't really die.' He made the fruit of that one tree even more tempting and more appealing by telling her that it would make her like a god. So, she ate. 
     This is the part that always confused me. We're taught this is Adam's sin, yet Eve was the one who gave into temptation. She was the one who offered it to Adam. However, what I learned was that Eve was deceived by Satan. When she offered the fruit to Adam, he just took it. He wasn't deceived. He knew better but ate the fruit anyway.
     Notice in Genesis 3:3 when Eve was telling the serpent about the tree, she said: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” (NKJV) God didn't tell Adam that he couldn't touch it, so most likely Adam added that extra rule to ensure that Eve wouldn't go near the tree (which, I'm guessing, made it even more tempting) yet, he was standing right there with her when she took a bite and didn't try to stop her and then took a bite himself without putting up any resistance. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6b NKJV).
     On top of that, when God confronted Adam, the first thing he did was throw Eve under the bus AND blame God since He gave Eve to him (Adam). When I realized all of that, I didn't feel so bad that Adam got the bulk of the blame.
     Eve, in turn, blamed the serpent. Here's the point I'm getting to...in handing out punishments for disobeying God and allowing sin into the world ...
To the woman He said:
“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16 NKJV) (emphasis mine).
     We always remember the pain of childbirth part of the curse, but I think we tend to gloss over the second half. As a woman living in the 21st Century, we don't take too kindly to being "ruled over"; some don't even like the idea of needing or desiring someone. We like to be independent and self-sufficient. But, because of the curse, this just isn't how it works. This is compounded even more in what God says to Adam before laying out his punishment.
...“Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’... (Genesis 3:17a NKJV)(emphasis mine).

Keep that in mind as we continue this topic.

Note:
Except where cited, I'm paraphrasing the first three chapters of Genesis.
Also, please note that nowhere does it say the fruit is an apple, nor does it call the serpent a snake. The serpent is a creature with legs until after the curse when part of his punishment is: 
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life. Genesis 3:14b NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for a married couple whose relationship is in trouble. If you don't know anyone whose marriage is struggling, please pray for the ones at my church. I don't know who they are, but God does and will hear our prayers to lift these couples up and soften their hearts.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power



Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Steadfast love


Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Psalm 85:10 ESV


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Please join me this week in praying for a married couple whose relationship is in trouble. If you don't know anyone whose marriage is struggling, please pray for the ones at my church. I don't know who they are, but God does and will hear our prayers to lift these couples up and soften their hearts.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Monday, February 17, 2020

Pray for a married couple

The Pastor has mentioned a few times that there are several couples in our church who are struggling in their marriages. My husband and I used to be one of those couples.
     I feel so grateful and blessed that we were able to reconcile and I attribute it all to God. He answered my prayers by sending our Pastor to intervene and mediate for us at a time when communication (or lack thereof) was our downfall. I'll share more about this in the coming days.
     Some of the bible verses I share this week may rub you the wrong way, but they are the word of God and as such, we have to honor what they say. I believe at the root of most marital woes is a lack of adhering to this command:
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, 
and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:33 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for a married couple whose relationship is in trouble. If you don't know anyone whose marriage is struggling, please pray for the ones at my church. I don't know who they are, but God does and will hear our prayers to lift these couples up and soften their hearts.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Sunday, February 16, 2020

Jesus set an example

For to this you were called, 
because Christ also suffered for us, 
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps
1 Peter 2:21 NKJV





I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV













But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV









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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Saturday, February 15, 2020

The new self

It's scary praying some things like asking God to show you His will for you, or (even scarier) asking Him to show you your sin. Once He does that, then we really don't have an excuse to keep doing the sin, so it means having to give it up; but, that's difficult because we are sinners. We lie, get angry, lust, have trouble forgiving others ... but if we want to be more Christ-like, we have to at least try...
...To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV

     When I was saved, I was a teenager. I was on fire for Christ and told others about Him and tried really hard to be "good." But over time, it was kind of like a new year's resolution and I started slipping backward. I knew I was saved and therefore God would forgive me no matter what, but I was missing the whole point of being an image-bearer of God. People back then probably looked at me as a hypocrite, and they had every right to. Unfortunately, I can't go back in time and change the past, but I can try to do better each and every day. Yes, it's reassuring to know that if (when) I mess up, God will forgive me, but the goal is to do the very best that I can so that maybe He doesn't need to spend as much time forgiving me.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Luke 6:46 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Friday, February 14, 2020

If you love Me


“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:15 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Walk the walk

Being a Christian is so much more than just saying we believe. Once we are saved (Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved), we are making a commitment to live our lives differently. People should interact with us and be able to see something different that sets us apart from non-believers. They should see the characteristics of Christ in us: humility, loving-kindness, peace, patience, love, hope, a servant's heart, virtuous, obedient, giving, charitable, forgiving, compassionate. If they see that, they'll want to know our "secret," giving us the opportunity to share the gospel. All last week we learned how to 'talk the talk' so now it's time to focus on how we can 'walk the walk.' Pray about it. God answers all prayers. Just yesterday evening, He answered a prayer I prayed on the way home from work. I'll talk about that on Saturday or Sunday's post.
     As you all know, I'm constantly working on curbing my pride. When I was saved, I didn't change overnight, in fact, I don't think I changed my habits significantly at all. I rested in the love of Jesus, but I didn't necessarily reciprocate. It's been 40 years and I'm just now working everything out (I think. I hope). I really regret those "lost years" but there's nothing I can do about them so I just need to do what I can now, in this time and pray for guidance to keep moving forward in His will.

 For we are His workmanship, 
created in Christ Jesus for good works, 
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Perfection

Monday I said something about believing to be Christ-like meant trying to be perfect, which is an impossible task and is a set-up for failure but then I came across Matthew 5:48 (below) and had to go to the commentary to see what this meant.
     In case you're questioning this verse, also, it's saying that God needs for us to perfect in order to be with Him. He cannot accept an unrighteous being into His presence. However, He loves us and wants to be with us, and us with Him, so He arranged it so that that could happen. He sent His Son to be a mediator for us. Christ is perfect for us and He died for our sins so that we can have eternal life with the Father.
     The very least that I can do in return is to be as Christ-like as humanly possible. What I've been trying to do this week is to pray whenever a situation comes up that I would normally be very un-Christlike. I pray for patience, guidance, calmness, insight, humility...whatever I need to handle the situation with grace. It has worked really, really well.

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:48 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Rest for your soul


Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, 
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 
and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29 ESV


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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Monday, February 10, 2020

Humility like Christ

Back in the day when Pastors would say that we need to be Christ-like, I jumped to the conclusion that they were telling us to be perfect (which is impossible, in my mind) and whenever I tried to be perfect, I failed miserably (of course). But now I'm seeing it a little differently. To me, it's more of a heart thing, and/or attitude. To be Christ-like is maybe more about how we handle situations and treat others. As it says in John 13:15: "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." From the verses below, I see Jesus' characteristic of humility, so today I'll strive to be more humble. What characteristic(s) of Jesus do you see that you incorporate into your life?

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:13-17 NKJV



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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Romans Road fifth verse


Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 5:1 NKJV

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Romans Road fourth verse


that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus 
and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, 
you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 NKJV

Note: This is a two-fold process.
(Emphasis mine)

Orality

I think I shared about the orality class I took at Missions College, but if not, a brief recap: "orality" is a means of teaching the bible to people who either don't have a Bible in their heart language, or don't read, or whose culture is such that story-telling is the means in which they share information. (That's just my own definition.) It was a fantastic class that taught me much more than just storytelling, but also in how to look for the characteristics of God (and man) in every bible event. So, I was excited when I came across this video in which he shares the gospel in just 90 seconds.

     If you're interested in more resources, I came across this website navigators.org which seems to be pretty great and has a lot of information available.
     I really hope you've enjoyed this week and have gotten something out of it. It's a little different than our normal prayers, but it is so important to know this material and to take the time to commit these bible verses to memory. I encourage you to do more research and continue to work on becoming comfortable sharing your faith with others. I'm told by others that it just takes practice, and praying about it.

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 (NKJV)

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Please join me this week in praying for the wisdom, courage, and words necessary to share the gospel, utilizing our spiritual gifts, in such a way that will plant seeds and ultimately bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Saturday, February 8, 2020

The Gospel in 6 words


As I continue to research this topic of "how to share the gospel", some of the same bible verses appear in nearly every resource and surprisingly, I'm starting to be able to commit some of them to memory, {{{happy dance}}} which makes me think that if I read them daily, they just might stick. 
     The above video demonstrates a way to share using G.O.S.P.E.L. as an acronym for God Our Sins Paying Everyone Life. (And yeah, it kind of bothers me too, that it isn't a real sentence, but I just can't seem to figure out how to change it right now, so I'll just have to let it go).
God 
Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Our 
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 
Sins 
Isaiah 64:6a But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like a filthy garment;
Paying 
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Everyone 
John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Life 
John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Another video by Pastor Nelson of Bible Munch talks about "Spiritually focused answers" (click here) which is something that I make a conscious effort to do anyway and is becoming more natural the more I do it. {{{another happy dance}}}

 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for the wisdom, courage, and words necessary to share the gospel, utilizing our spiritual gifts, in such a way that will plant seeds and ultimately bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power


Friday, February 7, 2020

Romans Road third verse


But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 
in that while we were still sinners, 
Christ died for us. 
Romans 5:8 NKJV

Give me 5 minutes

I really enjoyed this and hope you will too. There's an echo for the first 30 seconds but then it goes away.

At the end, there's a link to their website (click here) which takes you to a more "formal" version of the 3-2-1 presentation. It has the following bible verses associated with each number:

3 - God
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17 NKJV

2 - World
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22

1 - You
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-18 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for the wisdom, courage, and words necessary to share the gospel, utilizing our spiritual gifts, in such a way that will plant seeds and ultimately bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power