Rev. Sidnei's Blog – August 2009 Archive (25)

Initiate Solutions

have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19

Somethimes we complain about things that we could change if we would stop feeling sorry for ourselves long enough to do something about them. For example, if we are lonely, we can make the effort to be a friend to someone else. We can choose to be free or remain in bondage to self-pity. We can choose to be pitiful or powerful.

Psalms 25:12-14 says, "Who is the… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 31, 2009 at 10:10am — No Comments

Give God Control

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Romans 5:4

You will not enjoy your day if anything is out of control. You can keep your temper, moods, emotions, appetite, mouth, and thought in line with God's Word if you give Him control over the areas you want to subdue with faith. God created us with a free will, and we can choose the… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 28, 2009 at 1:54pm — No Comments

Use Self-Control

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to know knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perserverance, godliness; and to godliness; brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV

The Word says that a person… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 27, 2009 at 9:21am — No Comments

You Are Secure

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Prov. 3:5-6

Following God is not a part-time lifestyle. The Bible clearly teached that we are to be cautious at all times because the devil looks for opportunities to devour us (see 1 Peter 5:8).

But God… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 26, 2009 at 10:09am — No Comments

Choose Excellence

I am Your servant; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension), that I may know (discern and be familiar with the character of) Your testimonies. Psalm 119:125

The Word says, "Learn to see what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and ...be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied,… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 25, 2009 at 1:29pm — No Comments

Control Your Speech

A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life. Proverbs 15:4

The Bible says that if a person can control his speech, he can curb his entire nature: "for we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature" (James 3:2).

No one is completely mature in the Lord, so… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 24, 2009 at 10:34am — No Comments

Get Rid of Hindrances

Purge(clean out) the old leaven that you may be fresh(new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ. 1 Corinthians 5:7

If you are serious about growing in the Lord and reaching a maturity of faith, you will embrace Matthew 5:29-30. It is a powerful Scripture which basically says: "If your eye offends you, pluck it out; if your hand offends you, cut it off."

In 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Paul said, "I am running a race, and I am running it to win. Therefore,… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 22, 2009 at 10:56am — No Comments

Be Diligent

But we do [strongly and earnestly] desire for each of you to show the same diligence and sincerity [all the way through] in realizing and enjoying the full assurance and development of [your] hope until the end. Hebrews 6:11

Proverbs 22:29 says, "Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men." A diligent man lives by the principle of "just do it!" He is the one who does it, does it, does it, and then does it… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 20, 2009 at 4:26pm — No Comments

Complete Your Work

Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work. John 4:34

I believe the Lord wants us to finish whatever He calls us to do, even when it requires patience, perserverance, and hard work. God wants us to grow roots and learn to endure until the fruit of His promise is manifested.

Be willing to endure patiently to see God's plan take place in your life. If God has given you a… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 20, 2009 at 4:26pm — No Comments

Fruit of the Spirit

If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] Galatians 5:25

People crave love, happiness, and peace. They try to buy these things and pay therapitst to help them find them. All these qualities are available by trusting as their Savior, Jesus, who sends the Holy Spirit to help them walk in obedience to God. Living the Spirit-filled life will… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 17, 2009 at 6:03pm — No Comments

Appreciate Correction

Happy, (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God's Word and life's experiences], for the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold. Proverbs 3:13-14

Ask god to reveal areas in which you need to apply self-control. You can even enjoy the journey to becoming all that He has in mind for you to be, if you learn to appreciate… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 16, 2009 at 7:24pm — No Comments

Don't Be Lazy

Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Prov. 22:29

Proverbs 24:30-34 gives a clear warning about being lazy. Laziness allows everything in our lives to get overgrown or broken down. We are to observe the fate of a lazy man and receive this instruction: "Yet a little sheep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep--so shall your poverty come as a robber."

God will help… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 15, 2009 at 12:38pm — No Comments

Develop Self-control

He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. Prov. 25:28

Self-control is a fruiit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). It develops as we spend time fellowshipping with God and practicing obedience to Him. Sometimes we would rather that God control us and make us do the right thing. but He wants us to rule over our spirit.

Proverbs 16:32 says, "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own]… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 15, 2009 at 12:37pm — 3 Comments

Have A Plan

Make me go in to the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight. Psalm 119:35

Go to sleep at night with a plan in mind for the next day. Don't be vague about what you hope to accomplish. ONe morning I was lying in bed when the Spirit of hte Lord said to me, "Stop being ambiguous." The dictionary defines ambiguous as "doubtful or uncertain," and "capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways."

Don't be double-minde.… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 13, 2009 at 9:57am — No Comments

Keep a positive attitude

Keep your foot [give your mind to what you are doing] when you go [as Jacob to sacred Bethel] to the house of God. For to draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools [carelessly, irreverently] too ignorant to know that they are doing evil. Ecclesiastes 5:1

People who take a positive attitude and say, "I can do it. I am going to do right now. It is no problem. Everything will work out fine," are wonderful to be around and work with… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 12, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Brace Your Mind

I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord --but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. John 5:30

One of the reasons people don't get things done is that they mentally see their unfinished assignments as monstrous undertakings. If they would just take care of those projects, they would find they aren't that big of a deal.

First Peter 1:13 says, "Brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 11, 2009 at 12:00am — No Comments

Win the Race

But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]. I Cor. 9:27

It is easy to leave unpleasant tasks for later. But God wants His people to finish the race that He sets before them to run (see 2 Timothy 4:7). Don't be afraid to do what seems to be… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 10, 2009 at 10:45am — No Comments

Act Now

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah} to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity]. Luke 4:18

Good intentions are not acts of obedience, and procrastination devours opportunities to Whatever God has… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 9, 2009 at 6:52pm — No Comments

Keep Alert

Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are those servants whome the master finds awake and alert and watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself and have them recline at table and will come and serve them! Luke 12:37

In Ephasians 6:10 God's word teaches, 'Be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from HIm [that strength which His boundless might provides]." We are to put on God's armor so we… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 8, 2009 at 12:16pm — No Comments

Stay on course

Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27

Jesus knew what His purpose was. He disciplined Himself to stay on course, living His life t fulfill that purpose for which He came. As Christians, we need to follow in His steps and focus on our… Continue

Added by Rev. Sidnei on August 7, 2009 at 12:23pm — No Comments