Jesus^Savior……….my playlist..

Life from God’s View

The way you see your life shapes your life.

Your silent life metaphor influences your life more than you appreciate. It determines your expectations, values, relationships, goals, and priorities. Such as, if you think life is a party, your primary value in life will be having fun. If you see life as a race, you will value speed and will probably be in a hurry much of the time. If you view life as a marathon, you will value endurance. If you see life as a battle or a game, winning will be very important to you.

What is your view of life? You may be basing your life

Meaning of Life

You will find out your uniqueness and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His intent for your life predates your conception. you may choose your career, hobbies and many other parts of your life, but you don’t get to choose your purpose.

We approach into a special relationship with the Lord when we make life’s most judgment – the turning mark referred to past.

God’s Delay May Be a Test of Your Patience

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay.’” Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)

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If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is NOT a denial. Just because the answer hasn’t come – YET – that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer or that he’s forgotten you or that he doesn’t care about you.

What Will You Give Jesus?

by Rick Warren

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (MSG)

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What do you give the guy who’s got everything?  What do you give to Jesus? You can give him your trust.

Because God gives you a choice, he doesn’t have your trust until you give it to him. Faith is voluntary. God will never force you to trust him. It is up to you to decide how much you will trust God in 2011.

Meet God at a specific time

by Rick Warren

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35 (NIV)

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Give God the best part of your day, when you are the freshest and most alert. Don’t try to serve God with your leftover time. Remember, too, that your best time may be different from someone else’s.

For most of us, however, early in the morning seems to be the best time. It was Jesus’ own practice to rise early to pray and meet with the Father: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).

You might even consider having two quiet times (morning and night). Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, used to have code letters for his night quiet time: HWLW. Whenever he was with a group of people at night or home with his wife and the conversation seemed to be ending, he would say, “All right, HWLW.” HWLW stood for “His Word the Last Word”; and he practiced that through the years as a way of ending a day with one’s thoughts fixed on the Lord (from Daws: A Man Who Trusted God by Betty Lee Skinner).

Whatever time you set, be consistent. Schedule it on your calendar; make an appointment with God as you would with anyone else. Make a date with Jesus!

God is real, no matter how you feel

by Rick Warren

The Lord has hidden himself from his people, but I trust him and place my hope in him. Isaiah 8:17 **** **** **** **** “To mature your friendship, God will test it with periods of seeming separation—times when it feels as if he has abandoned or forgotten you.” It is easy to worship God when things are going great in your life—when he has provided food, friends, family, health, and happy situations. But circumstances are not always pleasant. How do you worship God then? What do you do when God seems a million miles away? The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving him when he seems distant. Friendships are often tested by separation and silence;

Be patient with God and with yourself

by Rick Warren

Everything on earth has its own time and its own season. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (CEV) **** **** **** **** “The reason we must relearn lessons is that we forget them. Reviewing your spiritual journal regularly can spare you a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache. “ As you grow to spiritual maturity, there are several ways to cooperate with God in the process – Believe God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it. Spiritual growth is sometimes tedious work, one small step at a time. Expect gradual improvement. The Bible says, “Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, CEV) There are seasons in your spiritual life, too. Sometimes you will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter). What about those problems,

Obedience unlocks God’s power

by Rick Warren

Let the Spirit change your way of thinking. Ephesians 4:23 (CEV) **** **** **** **** “God waits for you to act first. Don’t wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings.” Throughout the Bible we see an important truth illustrated over and over: the Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take a step of faith. When Joshua was faced with an impassible barrier, the floodwaters of the Jordan River receded only after the leaders stepped into the rushing current in obedience and faith. Obedience unlocks God’s power.

Worship: The barrier of pride

by Rick Warren

It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 (NLT)

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Life is a struggle, but what most people don’t realize is that our struggle, like Jacob’s, is really with God! We want to be God, and there’s no way we’re going to win that struggle, but we try anyway.
A.W. Tozer said, “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves. We’re still trying to give orders, and interfering with God’s work within us.”

We know God’s Truth Jesus Christ

by Rick Warren

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)

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The Bible says that Jesus was full of grace and truth. Truth is not a principle. Truth is a person; truth is Jesus Christ.
One of the clearest and best-known statements by Jesus is: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NLT)
Notice Jesus says, “I and the truth ….” He doesn’t say truth is a religion, or a ritual, or a set of rules and regulations. He says “I.” Truth is a person.

Your Weakness, God’s Glory

by Jon Walker

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NIV).

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In the same way God spoke light into the darkness at creation, today he speaks light into the darkness of our hearts. He fills us with the light of the Holy Spirit, so we’re able to see God’s face, Jesus, with greater clarity even as he transforms us into the likeness of Christ.

Our brother, Paul, explains we are jars of clay–fragile, chipped, imperfect–exactly as God designed us to be so others will see the “all-surpassing power” of God through our fractured and shattered lives.

We Love Because God Loves Us

by Rick Warren

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

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This Christmas season is a good time to remember that the reason God wants us to love is because he is love, and he created us to be like him – to love. The only reason we’re able to love is because God loves us: “Love comes from God … because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV).
We were created in God’s image to do two things on earth: Learn to love God and learn to love other people; life is all about love.

Worship in the Hard Times

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Habakkuk 3:18 KJV

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Habakkuk was a prophet during a period of history when Israel was quite wicked. Habakkuk asked God to judge the wickedness of His people, and God obliged. But the prophet was astonished that God chose the Chaldeans to inflict this judgment. The Chaldeans or Babylonians were much wicked than the Israelites.

A Conversion Leads to a New You

by Rick Warren

 ”Your name will no longer be Jacob . . . From now on you will be called Israel” (Genesis 32:28 NLT).

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You don’t have to stay the same! In a conversion, we’re given a new identity. Once Jacob confesses his need to be in control, God’s loving and gracious response is to give him a new identity.

Now the transformation begins! Notice three things happen:

- God gives Jacob a brand new identity. God says, “Jacob–manipulator. That’s the old you.

Healing Choice: Self-Control is Christ’s Control

by Rick Warren
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV).

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There’s nothing you can do as well without Christ as you can with him. Any struggle you/re facing will be easier to conquer with his help.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to clean up all your messes before you ask God for help. That’s like curing yourself of a disease before you drive down and see the doctor. Go to God first and get his help in all your battles.

A Confession Helps You Move Toward Transformation

by Rick Warren
“‘What is your name?’ the man asked. He replied, ‘Jacob’” (Genesis 32:27 NLT).

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God allows a crisis to get our attention, and then he uses the crisis to develop our character. One thing that signals we’re changing is when we confess that we’re the problem. We stop blaming other people and we admit, “I am the problem with my life.” Until you understand this, there can be no major change in your life.

Healing Choices: Don’t Give Temptation Power

by Rick Warren
“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT).

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Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself?

This is the power of suggestion working within your mind. We naturally move toward whatever our attention is focused on.

It Takes Energy to Do God’s Will

“Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer” (Psalm 94:19 LB).

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The fact is it takes energy to do God’s will. What do you do when you run out of energy?

God suggests when we’re feeling uneasy, perhaps low on energy; we should be still and get quiet before him: “Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer” (Psalm 94:19 LB).

But many of us have trouble getting quiet.

Tell God You Love Him by Remembering What Christ Did for You

“And anyone who is ashamed of Me and My message in these days of unbelief and sin, I, the Messiah, will be ashamed of Him when I return in the glory of My Father, with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38 LB).

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You can’t say you love Jesus Christ and be ashamed of Him at the same time. In Mark 8, Jesus’ words could be summarized this way: “If you’re ashamed of Me on earth, I’m going to be ashamed of you in heaven.” We need to publicly identify ourselves with Christ. That’s how we show our love for Him.

Easter Means Jesus Paid for Our Sins

“Through the blood of His Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of His overflowing kindness” (Ephesians 1:7 GWT).

Jesus’ death and resurrection paid for our sins.

There have been a lot of great religious teachers throughout history. They’ve all had good things to say, but what makes Jesus different from every other religious teacher throughout history is the fact that He died and rose again.

That’s of critical importance because it’s not the life of Jesus that saves you; it’s not the teachings of Jesus that save you; it’s His death and resurrection that open the door for your salvation.

Three Habits to Help You Grow Spiritually

by Rick Warren

“But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress” (Psalm 59:16 NLT).

We all want our relationships to be characterized by persistence and self-sacrifice. But we can never do that on our own. The kind of love we long to show others is only found in a growing relationship with God. Without God’s power in our lives, our love will run out.

You don’t build that kind of relationship with God—one that will help you love others when you want to give up—by accident. You do it through habits.

Real Servants Pay Attention

by Rick Warren

“Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now” (Proverbs 3:28 TEV).

Real servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us: “Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10 GWT).

Servants Make Themselves Available

by Rick Warren

“No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4 NASB).

Real servants make themselves available to serve. Servants don’t fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called on.

Self-Control Is Christ’s Control

by Rick Warren

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV).

There’s nothing you can do as well without Christ as you can with him. Any struggle you’re facing will be easier to conquer with his help.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to clean up all your messes before you ask God for help. That’s like curing yourself of a disease before you go see the doctor. Go to God first and get his help in all your battles.

Ministry: Shaped to Serve

Rick Warren

God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each has a particular role to play based on the way they were shaped by God. The same is true with humans. Each of us is uniquely designed, or “shaped,” to do certain things.

Before architects design any new building they first ask, “What will be its purpose? How will it be used?”

When the Future Seems Uncertain

Rick Warren

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans … to give you a future and a hope … You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.” Jeremiah 29:11, 13 (LB)

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No matter what the pollsters, pundits, and prognosticators claim, no one can accurately predict all that is going to happen in the next year, let alone the next few days or weeks.

A Resolution Worth Keeping

by Jon Walker

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)

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How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? You remember that list you made with optimistic enthusiasm but unrealistic expectations.

Christmas Is a Time of Salvation

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)

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Today in the town of David (that’s Bethlehem) a Savior (there’s the salvation part) has been born to you (for you – a savior for YOU); he is Christ the Lord.

No doubt you’ve heard the phrase, “He was saved” or “She was saved,” but maybe you’ve wondered what that really means?

Let me give you a simple illustration.

Christmas: Celebration!

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10 (NIV)

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This may come as a shock to you, but God really likes parties. God is into parties; God likes to party; God is constantly throwing parties. In fact, the Bible says that God’s angels throw a party every time a single person trusts Jesus as the Lord and Savior of his or her life. They party for joy whenever someone turns away from self-centeredness and turns toward Jesus.

Fruit Grows From Spiritual Seeds

by Rick Warren

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 (NIV)

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When you think about your walk with Jesus, some days you may wonder, “Why is this so hard? I’m still struggling with so many problems. When will I finally get it right?”

Surviving Your Schedule

Rick Warren

An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions. Proverbs 17:24 (TEV)

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Do you ever get to the end of your day and think “Did I accomplish anything today?” Where does all the time go?

If you don’t master your schedule, it will master you. Here are three suggestions from the Bible for reducing the stress of your schedule:

Line up your priorities. Obviously, you don’t have time to do everything. You must make choices. You must decide what’s really important and what isn’t. Take some time to consider the direction of your life.

Who’s Advising You?

Rick Warren

Counsel in the heart of man is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding draws it out. Proverbs 20:5 (AMP)

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We all need mentors – people who personally coach us in our walk with God.

When I am with a mentor, I ask questions.

Connect with People

James Smith

If you desire for people to follow you, you have to connect with them.  The catalyst of your relationship with them at any level may very well have to be a result of your constant effort to associate with them. An unbeliever’s only basis for coming into the knowledge of truth may well be his relationship with his teacher/preacher.

Connect with them on a personal level. Find out what it is that interests them and try to find a common interest.  Get to know them personally.  Visit their home.  Invite them to yours.  Go places with them.  Let them know you care for them on more than a Pastoral level.  If they consider you to be their friend, they will support you much more than if you are only an authority to them.

Connect with them on a professional level. If he is a doctor, read a few books on the latest surgery procedures.  If he coaches football, learn a bit about the game.  If she is a teacher, talk education with her. 

Tired Of The Results You Are Seeing?

James Smith

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  If you are not pleased with the results you are seeing in a given ministry or program, make a change.

Positive change requires vision.  Vision is always needed to begin a new ministry or program, but it is also needed to continue it.  We too often allow vision to guide us to begin something, but then leave vision out of the picture when growth or decrease begin to happen.  It will take constant vision casting to cause a given ministry to continue to have growth.

When no one cares who gets the credit

James Smith

There is no limit to what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.  It is important to cast a vision of servanthood to lay leaders and those in the church who serve the body of Christ.

Preach servanthood. There can be no greater example of servanthood than Jesus Christ.  He was someone who could have expected everyone to serve Him.  However he continually offered himself as the servant of all.  You get what you preach.  If the church needs to be reminded to serve one another, Preach servanthood.

Live servanthood. If Jesus can do it, so can the preacher. 

Jesus Taught Nothing Is More Important Than Relationships

Tom Holladay

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 (NIV)

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Relationships are filled with both wonder and pain. When I think of the pain of relationships, literally hundreds of pictures flood into my mind from my thirty years as a pastor:

· A couple on the verge of a divorce neither one wants yet both are choosing.

· Parents who can’t get through to their child, no matter how much time, money, and heartache they invest.

Jesus Taught We’re to Love One Another

Tom Holladay

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 (NLT)

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Relationships are painful. Relationships are wonderful. We all live in the drama that plays out between these two truths.

I think of Neal and Robin when I think of the drama of relationships. Married for only a few years, their life together had started strong. And then, with a suddenness that tore their world apart, Robin suffered a brain hemorrhage.

Nurturing a Quiet Soul

Jon Walker

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2 (NIV)

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We keep our hearts humble. This doesn’t mean we have a low opinion of ourselves. A humble heart means we know our position in Christ, and so we stop being responsible for the things of which we were never responsible. This frees us to live like God intended and allows us to make uncluttered choices that will move us closer to God.

Growing through Temptation

Happy is the man who doesn’t give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterward he will get as his reward the crown of life that God has promised those who love him. James 1:12

My temptations have been my masters in spirituality.

Every temptation is a chance to do well.

On the trail to spiritual age, even temptation becomes a stepping-stone rather than a faltering block when you understand that it is just as much a juncture to do the right thing as it is to do the wrong thing. Temptation simply provides the option.

Life on Earth is a Trust

Our time on earth and our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are all gifts from God that he has entrusted to our care and supervision. We are stewards of whatever God gives us. This concept of stewardship begins with the identification that God is the holder of everything and everyone on earth. The bible says, “The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD; the earth and all who live on it are his.”

We never really own anything during our concise stay on earth. God just loans the earth to us while were here. It was God’s possessions before you inwards and God will loan it to someone else after you die. You just get to take pleasure in it for a while.

“[God] blessed them, and said, ‘have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in change.’”

The first job God gave humans was to deal with and mind of God’s “stuff ” on earth. This task has never been rescinded.

Life on Earth is a Test

This life image is seen in stories throughout the Bible. God constantly test people’s character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. Bible also gives us many examples of people who conceded a great test, such as Joseph, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel.

Character is both developed and revealed by tests and all of life is a test.

You are always being tested. God all the time watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather! He watches the simplest proceedings such as when you open a door for others, pick up a piece of trash or when you’re polite just before a clerk or waitress.

How I Become a Christian

Since I was child, I don’t know what the meaning of “Christian” is. I know Jesus, just only a God and nothing followed…

One day, in my high school year, my mother approaches me to go in church. When I followed her, I met the Pastor of Baptist Church. Until he teach us in the beginning of life and especially he introduced Jesus Christ, if who is He?

How To Start Over After Failure

by Rick Warren
A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance. Proverbs 28:13 (LB)

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Here are four steps to take when starting over after a failure:

1. Accept responsibility for your own failure. If you’ve made a mistake, admit it. Welcome to the human race! Don’t blame others. To blame others is to “be lame.” Losers love to blame bad luck, the economy, the boss, their spouse, or even God for failure.

But winners never accuse others and never excuse

The Essence of a Computer Science Student

“Every huge advance in science has issued from an innovative courage of thoughts.”

With the advancements being through in technology, the responsibility of information technology and computer science is vital to civilization, business, and education for the students.

The essence of computer science students is to gain knowledge of even some simple programming language that is almost certainly at start.

Servants Finish Their Tasks

Rick Warren

“Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” Matthew 25:23 (NLT)

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Real servants are faithful to their ministry. Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments.

When Tempted, Realize Your Vulnerability

Rick Warren

 

Don’t carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them. Proverbs 14:16 (TEV)

 

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When you’re tempted, keep your vulnerability in mind and work out ways to protect yourself. God warns us to never to get cocky and overconfident about our ability to handle temptation; that’s the recipe for disaster.

In fact, the prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV).

How to Balance Your Schedule

Rick Warren

So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

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 We all have the same amount of time – 168 hours a week. The only question is, “How am I investing it?” We want to learn to invest it wisely

How to Deal with Your Anger

Rick Warren

If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. Don’t give the Devil a chance. Ephesians 4:26-27 (GNT)

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 Conflict happens. There’s no avoiding it, and so there’s no avoiding anger in your life.

In fact, ignoring or denying your anger will simply make things worse. When conflict comes up, deal with it head on and quickly. Don’t let it fester. It’s a big mistake to think, “Let’s ignore it and hope it will go away.” 

Resist the Devil

Rick Warren

 

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NIV)

 

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After we’ve humbled ourselves and submitted to God, we’re then told to defy the Devil. We don’t passively resign ourselves to his attacks. We’re to fight back.

The New Testament often describes the Christian life

Servants Maintain a Low Profile

Rick Warren

And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 (TEV) 

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Real servants maintain a low profile. Servants don’t promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they “put on the apron of humility, to serve one another” (1 Peter 5:5 TEV). 

If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow notoriety to distract them from their work.