LET'S TALK ABOUT "KEEPING THE FAITH"- Even Better, Let's make it STRONGER

SSGood Afternoon to All!

Bible Reading for July 6, 2019

For who has known the mind of the Lord,or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11:34-36

Christian Faith isn’t a one-time decision and you’re good to go. It’s not as simple as “I believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God and as my Savior” and you’re set for life. Faith is an ever-evolving state of mind. That’s why it is called one’s “walk with God.” Faith is a lifelong journey in which we can stray from the path without even realizing it. Yet, faith is our most important connection to God.

Hebrews 11:6

In this article, we’ll outline four steps for keeping your faith strong and moving forward.

Faith is like fitness

Anyone who’s ever exercised to get in shape knows it’s an ongoing and constant process. The minute you stop exercising, everything you’ve gained regresses. The same thing can happen with your faith. Just like a muscle stays strong with exercise, but shrinks when not used. Faith also needs to be continually exercised to retain its strength.

We can get apathetic about our faith. It’s easy to get caught up in the world and its concerns and put

less focus on Scripture and Christ. Because we’ve done work in the past, we tend to think we’re covered, and we take our walk with the Lord for granted.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believehim.”

In this article, we’ll outline four steps for keeping your faith strong and moving forward.

Faith is like fitness

Anyone who’s ever exercised to get in shape knows it’s an ongoing and constant process. The minute you stop exercising, everything you’ve gained regresses. The same thing can happen with your faith. Just like a muscle stays strong with exercise, but shrinks when not used. Faith also needs to be continually exercised to retain its strength.

We can get apathetic about our faith. It’s easy to get caught up in the world and its concerns and put less focus on Scripture and Christ. Because we’ve done work in the past, we tend to think we’re covered, and we take our walk with the Lord for granted.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

– Romans 10:17

4 steps for keeping your faith strong and progressing

Just as there are basics to fitness like aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, writing) and strengthening

exercises (lifting weights, resistance bands) – there are basics for keeping your faith in shape.

Here are the four most important things necessary to keeping your faith strengthened…

1. Reading the Bible

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

– 2 Timothy 3:16

Make time for reading the Bible every day. If you can only get 5 minutes, do that. If you can only get 10 minutes, do that. The point is – do something, whatever it is you can. Any progress in keeping yourself in the word is better than no progress.

. Pray

“Pray without ceasing,”

– 1 Thessalonians 5:17

The best way to walk with God and have a connection with him is to pray. Ask God to help you increase your faith. Pray for understanding and wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray for others.

3. Attend church

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

– Hebrews 10:24-25

Attending church not only gives you instruction in God’s word from someone who has been trained in it, but it also gives you fellowship with other Christians. Keeping company with other Christians helps support our faith by being with like-minded people.

4. Share your faith with others

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

– Matthew 28:19

Not only is it Christ’s commission that we spread the gospel, but the act of sharing the good news with others forces us to demonstrate and reaffirm our faith. To encourage others to embrace the gospel literally requires us put our faith in use, which only serves to strengthen it.

I'm not a Preacher, Pastor or Bible Scholar, but I am in true belief that it is my Obligation as a Child of God and Christian to spread His Word, and help those who are unsure to understand and know what to do and where to look to come to Christ.  He is our only hope is this world today, no matter what others would have you believe.  He says in His own words that no one shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven but by Him.  His is the ONLY NAME under heaven by which we can be saved.

I once told someone who was adament about not being serious about living for God and believing in Him, that it is better to be SAFE THAN SORRY. I would much rather live the way He wants me to and take a chance of being in Heaven for eternity, than take a chance, Not live according to His Word and end up in Hades.  For an unbeliever, as I said wouldn't it be prudent and better to be "safe than sorry"?

Please, Take time to  ponder this post, maybe even apply what it says and see if your life doesn't get better?  I have NO DOUBT that you will see changes in your life for the better.

AMAY GOD BLESS!  Have a WONDERFUL DAY!

Book Review—THINK, ACT, BELIEVE LIKE JESUS by Randy Frazee with Robert Noland

Hi Y'all!

I like to do my Book Reviews in a different manner. I review it and take notes while reading it, as I don't retain for a long period of time. By doing it this way, I can actually help you feel as you are reading it with me and benefiting from it as well.

This is an excellent book. This author makes it an interesting read, as well as an intellectual tool. For example, he reminded me that there is a difference in “knowing what God's Word says, and BELIEVING it. To be a real Christian we MUST BELIEVE it.

I was sent this book titled Think, Act, Believe like Jesus, becoming a new person in Christ by Randy Frazee from Harpercollins Christian Publishing.for the purpose of reviewing it. My honest opinion is offered and given for no monetary compensation. Just the wonderful copy of this book 

To continue with my review, this book makes you REALLY THINK and search yourself as to “I say I'm a Christian, what is the evidence”? We are created in God's image, but do I ACT the way Jesus did when he was physically on this earth? Do I Think the way Jesus did then and does now?, To do this, and be an authentic Christian, I would have to BELIEVE the way He does. The Actual Title of this book is Think, Act Believe Like Jesus. In other words we are to actually Think like He does, Act like He does and BE like He is. Yes, Jesus is the only perfect being, so we cannot totally BE like Him, although God's Word says “Be ye perfect, as I am perfect”. We are to STRIVE to be the way He is.

I may not agree with everything this author says, as we have doctrinal differences, but I do know that I am learning A Lot from this book. Practical ideas, and general knowledge as well as a wonderful insight to help me continue my “self searching” is helping me.

This book is broken down into Parts such as “Think like Jesus” What do I Believe?” Part two; Act Like Jesus “What Should I do?”, Part 3 ; Be Like Jesus, “who Am I becoming? Part 4; Transformation; The Think, Act, Be Revolution and Becoming a New Person in Christ.

It even takes it a step further and has an Appendix which covers Taking it To the Next Level”.

As I said, I am writing this as I am reading, so you will get the full idea of what this author is trying to convey to us.

I am enjoying this book completely. I look forward to seeing and reaping the benefits of putting this book to work in my life and becoming a better Christian as well as creating a closer relationship with Jesus.

It reminds me, yes, I said I receive Jesus as my Savior, but how serious am I? Just as Colossians 2:6-8 says, “Just as your received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as your were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

This shook me to my bones. I love to say I'm a Christian. I am Not afraid of the Gospel of Christ, but how do I show it? Do I walk the walk and talk the talk? Would God look at me and say “well done thy good and faithful servant at this point?

I think I need to check myself, and re-evaluate myself.

This is what this book has done for me. It is not only someone's views, or help because of personal stories and events, but he actually helps us to put this book to work and apply these strategies of helping us to become better Christians in our hearts as well as our minds. He helps me to realize that ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

I recommend this book highly for anyone who finds themselves wondering if there is more to being a Christian than lip service, knowing scriptures, and good deeds. There is so much more.

Read this book! I guarantee you will consider it a blessing!

Have a great day! May God Bless!