"The Great, Subtle Lie" of Contemplative Spirituality

http://www.christian-mommies.com/special-features/bible-studies/the-great-subtle-lie-of-contemplative-spirituality/

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Making the Right Choice: The Battle of Wills

It is not unusual for Christians to resist God's known will over their own will.  The apostle Paul spoke very directly about this matter in his epistle to the Believers in Galatia (Galatians 5:17).  

Discerning and choosing to obey God's will begins with an understanding that  Bible is not a catalog of multiple options. The Bible is God's provision for direction that is moved by eternal values. Yet, so many believers feel very uncertain.  Many feel this way because they are nurtured by circumstances that leave them suspect of God's leading. The only  choice God demands of us is to trust Him. All other pursuits will rob us of a tenacious desire to obey God.

The clear evidence that a Believer is led by the Holy Spirit will be evidenced by a decisive act of trust characterized by pure obedience to the will of God based on sound knowledge of God's Word.

The highway of reality is the Bible. The Holy Spirit will never direct us contrary to the Word of God. Thus the fundamental concern for the believer is to understand the Word of God as the only means for direction. The Bible is the only resolve that instills a pure ambition for the glory of God. Hiding God's Word in our hearts is the only way to be discerning of God's direction and purpose.

Sincerely Dr. Arthur Belanger 

Fasting & Prayer...When, Why & How To Fast?

There are many who have seriously considered adding fasting to their prayer life; but were not quite sure how to go about it.

How you begin and conduct your fast will largely determine your success. By following these basic steps to fasting, you will make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding.

#1: State Your Reason. 
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance... etc. Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His leading and objectives for your prayer fast. He will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.   Remember, through fasting and prayer we humble ourselves before God so that the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches.

#2: Start Reasonably 
A. Physical Preparation - Fasting requires reasonable precautions physically. If you take prescription medications or have a chronic ailment, you should consult your physician before engaging a fast. Physical preparation will make the drastic change in your eating routine easier to cope with so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer. If fasting is not a consistent routine for you... start slowly: Fasting a meal and eventually working up to a 48 hour fast. The ideal routine, is to maintain one 24 hour fast every week. Ideally, fasting should begin in the evening.

• Do not rush into your fast.
• Prepare your body. Eat lighter meals before starting your fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods.
• Eat raw fruit and vegetables and drink plenty of water (half your body weight in ounces each day) for two days before starting a fast.

B. Spiritual Preparation - The key to fasting and prayer is repentance.   Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare spiritually:

• Ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23)
• Confess every sin the Holy Spirit calls to your attention and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
• Seek Forgiveness from all you have knowingly offended and forgive all who have hurt you.
• Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
• Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
• Yield your mind and body and spirit to the Lordship and leadership of Christ (Romans 12:1,2)
• Meditate on the attributes of God: His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, and holiness.
• Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Heb. 11:6). 9. Do not underestimate spiritual opposition (Galatians 5:16,17)

#3: Stay Resolved 
Jesus instructed that all of His followers should fast (Mt. 6:16-18; 9:14,15).  For Christ, it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would.

#4: Starting Your Fast
Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord.  Here are some helpful suggestions to consider:

• Avoid medication, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies.
  
• Limit your physical activities.
• Rest as much as your schedule will allow.
• Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety. 
• Remember to ALWAYS keep your Bible open. An open Bible leads to an open and obedient heart. This is the sole purpose of fasting and prayer.

#5: Stopping Your Fast
When your designated time for fasting is finished, you will begin to eat again. But how you end your fast is extremely important for your physical and spiritual well-being. Begin eating gradually. Do not eat solid foods immediately. Try several smaller meals or snacks to start. If you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued good health both physically and spiritually.

Finally, If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and meditate on God's Word; you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). You will find yourself to be mentally, physically, and spiritually renewed (Romans 12:1,2).
Ultimately, the key to prayer and fasting is a sound confidence in the Word of God. Making the study of God's Word a priority will enable you to pray effectively.     Begin  your  study  of  God's  Word   today  with College Of The Open Bible where the Bible is the only authority and the Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher. 

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger              

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity 1 Corinthians 13:13

Please help this ministry which takes care of orphaned children and widows in Pakistan. They provide food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education and more. Check out the website below to find out more and how you can help ♥ God Bless

http://chcpk.webs.com/

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. James 1:27

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. Deuteronomy 16:17

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:17 

Gambling and Christians...The Deception

In what way does the Bible portray gambling? Consider the following:

#1: Its Reputation is that of a thief. Proverbs 1:19 
#2: Its Association is with darkness/vanity - Proverbs 13:11 
#3: Its Contemplation is endless trouble - Proverbs 15:27

#4: Its Damnation is irreversible - Luke 9:25 

Gambling is not the risk that is familiar to all life; it is a determination of risk for profit at the expense of others.

Gambling is a tolerated risk with the desire for excessive gain that far out-weighs what the investment of time, money or talent would dignify. It is a transaction whereby one person's gain is someone else's loss.

Gambling is parasitic; producing no spiritual benefit, achieving no social good, and is always at someone else's expense. Gambling is self-centered and complicit with the root of all evil... the love of money. 

WHAT GAMBLING DOES IS A MATTER OF FACT.

At the root of gambling is the love of money... the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Gambling and its influence affects all of us because it corrupts our society, increases crime and police and crime prevention costs, and perverts politicians. It is a constant temptation to the selfishly inclined and compulsive people that enslaves them to false hopes. It violates the principle that we should earn our bread by the sweat of our brow, and the commandment, "Thou shalt not covet."

The void of any threat against gambling has created a gamble with crime. Bank robberies on the Mississippi coast increased 400 percent in one year after casino gambling came. Tragically, gambling is tolerated by virtue of a seductive justification that it will produce revenue for essential causes that benefit society. The government that promotes and supplies gambling is gambling the future of the nation, it will always lose.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger      

Psalm 24

Lord of Hosts

1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into thehill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pureheart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive theblessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is thegeneration of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up , ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in . 8 Who is thisKing of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up , ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in . 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart...Won't you let Him in?

We all go through so many things in this life. Sometimes there is heartache and pain that seems beyond what we are able to handle. The good thing is, we don't have to go through it alone, we don't have to suffer by ourselves. Jesus is here for us and loves us so much! If we will be willing to put aside our pride and unbelief and the lies the world tells us and open our hearts to Him, He will come in and change everything. He makes us a new creation in Him, truly being spiritually reborn. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life ♥

Scales Falling From Our Eyes

The rulers of this world,
Who sit on thrones of gold,
Are not godly men at all,
But foolish ones with hearts of stone
Who serve the "gods", the serpent of old.


They all worship idols,
Whether made of paper, metal, earth or stone.
Their leader is the one who blinds us,
Secretly laying chains upon our souls.
With lies he speaks, with venomous tongue
And the world has believed him, hence the fall.


Better to trust in the One and only,
Creator of Heaven and Earth.
His Love is here for you and I
And precious are we in His sight.
He is the Lamb of God,
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
God the Son, He is Jesus Christ.


His love for us is endless
And finished on the cross.
He died and rose again.
He gave His life for all of us,
For we are sinners lost.
If only we'll believe in Him
And trust in Him alone
He'll save us from the darkness,
For He is the Light, alone.


We must repent and turn away from sin,
And in it's place, turn only to Him.
His Forgiveness is complete,
For His blood cleanses us and sets us free
For us to live with Him, for all eternity.
In Heaven He sits on His mighty Throne,
Beckoning ceaselessly for us to come Home.


Dying to ourselves daily
Being crucified on the cross with Him.
We are His sacred children
And ever belong only to Him.
Scales falling from our eyes, 
letting go of this world and letting Him in.


He knocks at the door of our hearts
And all who open it will receive of His loving Grace
Some day each one of us,
Will stand before Him face to face,
Bowing down in humble praise,
Giving thanks for His Heavenly Reign.


Copyright © 2012 Kristin Willruth