Saturday, December 21, 2024

Will We Accept God's Greatest Gift – His Wonderful Son?

The Book of Isaiah was written when the Hebrew people faced an uncertain future. Threats from a powerful country and threats from within existed because the nation was seen as weak and careless in their faith. Still, God’s resounding message promised a child would be born to be their Redeemer and Messiah.

Listen to the royal titles Isaiah attributes to him, all of which are designed to bring light and peace into our present-day lives. JESUS is called Wonderful, for he is our Counselor, the Almighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Please accept these attributes as lights to shine in your heart. Merry Christmas and God bless you!  

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For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.”

~Isaiah 9:6 The Living Bible 

Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others.

~Philippians 2:9 Contemporary English Version

…they saw the wonderful things he was doing and the children shouting in the Temple, “Praise to David’s Son!”

~Matthew 21:15 Good News Bible

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From Thursday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs are posted daily to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

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Friday, December 20, 2024

What Is God Challenging You to Change in Your Life?

Making the best of any significant change is one of life’s greatest challenges. It’s important to believe change can be a friend rather than an enemy. God designed his people to change, to walk a different pathway that was never considered.

What is required is opening your eyes and mind so you can see and understand the way God intends for you to live at this time in your life. This is God’s world that you can enjoy, where you can blossom and grow in ways that please him.

What does God want you to change with his help? God’s plan for you is to be teachable to what he wants you to do now as you go forward to celebrate the coming of Christ Jesus.

Jesus challenged his listeners and us with these words: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Ask God for a special vision and good hearing so you will be alert to do what counts for this moment and for all eternity.                                 

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For if anybody is in union with Christ, he is the work of a new creation; the old condition has passed away, a new condition has come.

~2 Corinthians 5:17 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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On Saturday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas".  

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

How Does Faith Give Promise of a New Day for You?

So many people are extremely sensitive about their age and try to hide growing older with all kinds of disguises. However, what creates a crisis far more severe than the inner tensions that accompany just getting older are the worries and stress that are produced.

Dissatisfaction and disappointments are a common part of life but are capable of producing good, provided the right attitude is present. Fear, anxiety, and worry are the usual triggers related to the stress of aging.

What helps us navigate through each stage of life is simple faith that there is positive significance for me in getting older. Faith is God’s gift and comes with assurance that life can be good even though there may be a dark night of the soul somewhere in the future. Faith in Jesus Christ brings light to darkness along with the promise of a new day awaiting me in the future. 

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So let us come boldly to God’s throne of love to get mercy and find love to help us when we need it.

~Hebrews 4:16 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today
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On Saturday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 


Monday, December 16, 2024

How Are We Empowered to Do God's Work?

A crisis doesn’t usually happen without some advanced warning. A prelude to a health crisis is often pain at some level. Relationship troubles usually evolve over time as a warning that changes need to be made.

A series of events that determine the future can be the introduction to possible trouble ahead for a person or a relationship. On a positive note, indications of trouble can be the time for making corrective changes to intercept possible trouble. It’s comforting to know that God observes with compassion each person’s pain and potential suffering.

His Word assures us he knows our sorrow and opens his heart to those who seek comfort and healing. One gift God offers us is strength to endure trouble that’s unavoidable. 

Our part is to activate changes the Holy Spirit empowers us to make. Christ Jesus is honored as we comply.  

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Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!

~Hebrews 4:15  Contemporary English Version

 

…I, the Lord All-Powerful, will be here to help you with the work… Don’t worry. My Spirit is right here with you.

~Haggai 2:4-5 Contemporary English Version

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On Saturday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 


Friday, December 13, 2024

How Does Each Stage of Life Present Opportunities?

The aging process cannot be avoided, as it involves moving progressively to another age bracket. How a person feels about getting older determines whether each stage in life is greeted with enthusiasm or dread. The signs of aging are connected to changes in body features and physical endurance.

For many individuals this natural phenomenon creates anxiety or even panic. Perhaps it’s equating happiness and acceptance with being young, strong, and energetic. A life crisis is often precipitated by thinking one’s youth has slipped away so the future lacks promise.

This attitude falsely concludes happiness is impossible. The solution is believing God intended for each stage of life to present opportunities for fulfillment

God helps us grieve and let go of what cannot be held on to. Grieving promotes godly healing, which enables us to see clearly God’s plan for our future. 

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That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are [changing daily and] wearing out, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

~2 Corinthians 4:16 God’s Word Translation

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Wednesday, December 11, 2024

What Determines Whether We Win or Lose in Life?

Life periodically delivers up disappointments, some insignificant and others very significant. Disappointments cause us to examine what really matters in life, including the talents God so graciously has given us. How we manage disappointments determines if we go forward or become fixated in failure.

Whether we win or lose in life is not necessarily dependent on performance, but on conditions and circumstances beyond our control. Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, developed stomach cancer and died at age 50. Apparently it was difficult to please his father, who made life stressful for Edsel.

Living on the edge can create emotional and physical crises, as experienced by Edsel Ford. Pleasing God should be our highest priority, and this is possible when we love him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength

That’s asking a lot, but not too much for you and God.   

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For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!

~Deuteronomy 20:4 New Living Translation
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Monday, December 9, 2024

Is It Possible to Keep Faith Active and Alive?

What do you want to do with the remaining time God has given you to live? What often sparks a crisis is feeling life has become so predictable that you’re stuck with monotony. If this attitude persists for an extended timeframe, it can create sadness or even depression, often defined as an emotional crisis.

God intended for most people to reevaluate how they derive meaning and purpose for life. Reevaluation is required when a person reaches the point where life takes a turn toward uncertainty created by loss of a job, an illness, or just getting older.

Our faith is sometimes tested as we search for what would honor and please God. Listen to Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” So what changes need to be made now that would please God? As you reflect, consider what God has called you to be at this time in your life.  

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…Keep on building yourself up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and keep yourself in the love of God, as your wait for our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life.

~Jude 20-21 Good News Bible
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Friday, December 6, 2024

Is It Possible to Renew Deferred Personal Dreams?

Investigations into how to use the life you’re given actually begin in early adolescence. What a young person thinks may be a perfect choice will predictably be modified as maturity evaluates other possibilities more suitable to their personality and interest.

Enquiries concerning the reason for making an earlier choice may surface periodically to clarify apparent confusion. What influenced a choice may or may not be obvious, but being thankful for what God has given you is a privilege to explore.

Adulthood can be the time to rediscover a personal relationship with God that was shelved earlier because of distractions. Now you can return to the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to 1 Peter 4:11: “Whoever will serve, let it be as one who serves by the strength God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” What is more important?   

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Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and he shines forever without change or shadow.  

~James 1:17 The Living Bible
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Wednesday, December 4, 2024

How Is Faith Related to Expressing Thanksgiving?

In our culture we give fun-filled birthday parties for anyone who has reached the magical age of 40. In good humor we joke about being “too old to cut the mustard,” about being “over the hill,” and youth being gone forever. Yet for some folks, the anxiety of aging is no joking matter.

A marriage may disintegrate overnight, and careers may become threatened by fears of being replaced by artificial intelligence. These issues cause anxiety if allowed to crowd out your capacity to be thankful for God’s faithfulness in providing for you.

Comfort is found by voicing your trust and faith in Christ Jesus.

The strength to endure and stand firm is made possible by God’s gift of faith. Articulating thanksgiving is an affirmation of the faith God has given you. Being thankful doesn’t always come easy, so it’s necessary to practice this virtue until it’s a natural representation of your identity.                          

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Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts [given to] us by God. 

~1 Corinthians 2:12 Revised Standard Version
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Monday, December 2, 2024

Can Unmet Expectations Be a Blessing?

Most people will never write an autobiography of their lives because their lives are too ordinary to capture the interest of those who buy books. However, each phase of life can be anything but ordinary. God intended for each person to master specific tasks in their ordinary lives.

What can create a crisis for adults are important expectations which never come to fruition. If unmet expectations are contributing to your lack of self-fulfillment and happiness, perhaps now is the appropriate moment to be honest with yourself and ask the Lord God to help you change your expectations.

It takes tremendous resilience and determination to successfully change what you expect from God, others, and yourself. Be realistic about what God has provided for you from your birth forward, then be thankful and celebrate. Listen to Ephesians 6:10: “Build your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power.” Begin now. 

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Let your roots grow deep into [Christ], and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.  

~Colossians 2:7 New Living Translation

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Friday, November 29, 2024

What Does It Take for You to Have a Heart of Gratitude?

By the time most people have reached 50 years of age, enough history has been experienced to cover the pages of a book. Making the transition can be joyful simply because children have become self-reliant – have left home for college or work and basically are supporting themselves.

However, making the transition into the next half-century can be disruptive due to unavoidable changes. Looking in the mirror portrays a mature person. Making a healthy transition depends on accepting who you have become and what you will become.

Looking back over the past, is your heart filled with gratitude for how you’ve been blessed by God and how you are a blessing to others? If not, please take the Apostle Paul’s advice “not to conform any longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by renewing your mind.” 

Then you will please God by being in his perfect will and serving him. 

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Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

~1Thessalonians 5:16-18 New International Version

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Wednesday, November 27, 2024

What's Keeping You from Owning an Attitude of Gratitude?

Parents are often amused by their teenagers who cannot wait to become older to enjoy the privileges of adulthood. Yet as adults cross the line between being young and older, obsessing with aging can evolve into a crisis for those who feel life is passing them by.

However, each stage of life presents opportunities to develop and strengthen the virtue of being thankful for the things you possess. Owning a mindset of gratitude is the antidote for depression and sadness created by the losses you’ve experienced in life.

God’s desire for you is to be at peace with yourself and others as you enter each stage of adult development. Inner peace and peace with God and others is possible only as you permit yourself to have a heart of gratitude. This becomes realistic as you surrender to the help God provides and as you practice being thankful. 

         

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...Fear the Lord [with awe and profound reverence] and serve him faithfully [and thankfully] with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.

~1 Samuel 12:24 Amplified Bible

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Monday, November 25, 2024

What Reasons Do You Have for Expressing Gratitude?

The adult stages of life are as predictable as those of childhood. Young adulthood is concerned with finding a marriage partner, gaining career success, having children, and creating a home. The body naturally begins a transformation due to natural changes or neglect and abuse.

When too much emphasis is devoted to acquiring all the trappings that comprise our identity, a personal crisis can develop. As individuals reach a transitional phase in adult development, changes occur that can be surprising and often will create anxiety associated with an uncertain future.

God intended for us to live with gratitude for all he has provided from our childhood onward.

This season of Thanksgiving is a special reminder for expressing gratitude to God and other people for the joy they have provided that’s made life worth living. Praise God for giving us Jesus, the Prince of Peace!     

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All you that are righteous be glad because of what the Lord has done! Remember what the Holy God has done, and give thanks to him.

~Psalm 97:13 Good News Bible
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Friday, November 22, 2024

In What Ways Is God Taking Care of You?

Every individual and family will experience a crisis at some level in due time. A crisis may appear totally unexpected, creating surprise, confusion, and sadness. It is possible to diminish the impact of a crisis by realizing there are ways of managing a response when it does come.

God is in the business of helping us when we seek his guidance in every aspect of life. Psalm 32:7 provides these assuring words: “You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” When a crisis occurs, help is available.

Counter weaknesses with your strengths instead of delaying to take action. Permit challenges to be a blessing by realizing change is needed. Take care of your body, for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. In this season of Thanksgiving, praise God with gratitude for his love, guidance, and provision.                         

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God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you…Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!…Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

~Psalm 63:1,3,7 New Living Translation

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Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Is It Beneficial to Identify Positive Attributes in Others?

We are all aware of what happens when important issues are not addressed and solutions found. Delaying to take action to find solutions is fertile ground for a crisis to evolve. A crisis can be avoided by seeking help from God and expressing gratitude for what he provides.

Rare is the situation where it is impossible to express gratitude. I  realize that resentment and fear can so dominate a relationship or a situation that the expressions of gratitude seem beyond utterance. Yet the desire for peace and acceptance seldom escapes our consciousness.

Consider the other person’s positive attributes and tell them what you observe. Permit mutual love for God to create a sense of gratitude within you. This can be the beginning of a relationship of peace for each person. God gives insight, hope and peace to those who love him.            

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Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called… And be thankful.

~Colossians 3:15 Revised Standard Version
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Monday, November 18, 2024

Is a Crisis Preventable?

Procrastination may eventually create a crisis in significant areas of a relationship. If important issues are neglected and unresolved, they can be responsible for creating a crisis. Failure to adjust to personal differences leads to misunderstandings and miscommunications in relationships.

Efforts to discuss issues may digress into anger if differences in personalities, beliefs, and feelings are allowed to dominate and potentially cause tension. If just thinking about certain issues arouse acute anxiety, postpone discussing these issues until after Thanksgiving celebrations. 

By focusing on mutual feelings of gratitude, tension and irritability can be averted. God’s word encourages us to “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.” Isaiah 26:3 promises to “keep in perfect peace those who trust in him.” So do not delay in asking God for wisdom and peace.  

                    

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Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.

~Ephesians 4:3 Good News Bible

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Friday, November 15, 2024

How Does Procrastination Change Your Identity?

Procrastination has been characterized as the art of delay, which means to successfully put off doing a task until later or never. Biblical history credits God’s people with delaying to do what they knew was God’s will. Adam and Eve delayed confessing their sin to God until it could not be avoided.

Procrastination is defined as passive resistance rather than open rebellion. Passive resistance knows a task needs to be done, but it sabotages that commitment through delays caused by anxiety or by deliberate resistance.

Overcoming procrastination will change your identity as you permit God to redeem you with his unconditional love. Remember, God sent Jesus to redeem you from the irresponsibility of sin and its penalty. He chose you to be at work in his world to do what is set before you to do. If you cooperate with God, you will definitely be blessed with confidence.  

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There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets [you] free from the law of sin and death.

~Romans 8:1 New International Version

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Wednesday, November 13, 2024

How Does Anxiety Weigh a Person Down?

Procrastination can become a habit comparable to an addiction when it takes control of a person’s life. A wheelchair-bound movie director, dependent on an oxygen tank for breathing, continued smoking against his doctor’s advice. He promised his family to quit smoking but would not keep his promise.

Procrastinating gives rise to others losing confidence in you to keep your word to do what is right. David in Psalm 39:2 said, “My suffering grew worse and I was overcome with anxiety.” David’s delay caused his burden to grow heavier.

Proverbs 12:25 affirms, “Anxiety inside in a man’s heart weighs him down.” But is there a better way? The answer is, yes! 

Ask God for courage to act immediately, and step up to the plate to do what is right. Believe you’re worthy of God’s help, and he will empower you to overcome procrastination. Trust in God to keep his promises.    

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When I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you, [O Lord]. Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting in [you, my God], what can mere man do to me?

~Psalm 56:3-4 The Living Bible

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You are invited to listen as I will be the guest on "Vital Issues in the Christian Home" tomorrow morning (Thursday, November 14) from 10:30-11:30 Central Time on KHCB radio at 105.7 FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, AR, and FL, please go to www.khcb.org.

Monday, November 11, 2024

Can Negative Effects of Procrastination and Anxiety Be Defeated?

While anxiety is helpful at appropriate levels, it can be harmful if allowed to build where it sabotages daily objectives. Anxiety can serve as motivation to study for exams or to complete a task for recognition at work. Anxiety prompts individuals to take seriously the important issues of life.

A negative example is that of a young man who related how he had avoided calling a friend to apologize for comments that had produced hurt feelings as well as an ongoing conflict between them. Embarrassment, combined with shame and guilt, produced the anxiety that fueled his procrastination.

God’s word can defeat the negative effects of procrastination and anxiety. Listen to Philippians 4:6: “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Procrastination can be defeated by asking God for help and by thanking him for his guidance.  

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Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 55:22 New Living Translation
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 You are invited to listen as I will be the guest on "Vital Issues in the Christian Home" this week on Thursday morning, November 14 from 10:30-11:30 Central Time on KHCB radio at 105.7 FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, AR, and FL, please go to www.khcb.org.


Friday, November 8, 2024

Is There an Answer for the Anxiety Created by Deception?

Habitual procrastination will ultimately produce a negative identity. Procrastination promotes a negative identity which cannot be hidden from yourself. It’s also embarrassing because you cannot deny the guilt and shame caused by deception and broken promises.

With many individuals anxiety is responsible for delays in getting started on a given task. Ivan Goncharov, the Russian novelist, wrote that anxiety provoked complaints which quickly evolved into weariness and indifference known as procrastination.

The solution for anxiety associated with procrastination is to pull yourself together and begin the task to be completed. Simply trust that God cares for you and will enable and strengthen you to do what’s before you if you sincerely desire to change your attitude. Permit the Holy Spirit to change your thoughts and attitudes and replace the anxiety with courage.  

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

~Ephesians 6:10-11 Revised Standard Version
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You are invited to listen as I will be the guest on "Vital Issues in the Christian Home" next week on Thursday morning, November 14 from 10:30-11:30 Central Time on KHCB radio at 105.7 FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, AR, and FL, please go to www.khcb.org.


Wednesday, November 6, 2024

What Makes Apathy So Debilitating?

The danger of procrastination is that it can evolve into apathy. Apathy can be described as a lack of emotional caring about whether life is good or bad. Apathy can produce a lack of passion for life

When a person has passion for life, there is motivation for what has to be done.

The first step in turning procrastination into achievement is to change your attitude. God desires for you to achieve and be successful, so take ownership of what’s causing you to procrastinate. By your taking ownership, God is in a position to heal you spiritually and emotionally.

God designed you to achieve and care about your future. He never intended for you to be apathetic and uncaring. Listen to God’s word from Galatians 6:9: “So let us not become tired of doing good, for if we do not give up, a time will come when we will reap a harvest of blessings.” This attitude and the resulting action open the door for a new life filled with achievement.  

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Love sincerely. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Love one another tenderly as fellow Christians. Outdo one another in showing respect.

~Romans 12:9-10 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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Monday, November 4, 2024

Can You Refrain from Procrastinating?

Edward Young, the English poet and playwright, advised his readers that “Being wise today is madness deferred.” Seemingly, there’s always a better time for the procrastinator to begin a task. To defer means, delay doing whatever until later. Edward Young says it’s foolish to defer what you can do now.

Do you know why it’s foolish? A college freshman had to face the consequences of delaying writing term papers and studying for exams. He was busy enjoying a new-found social life. Opportunities and blessings go by the wayside by deferring responsibilities.

Only when he ceased blaming others and confessed to his irresponsibility one year later did he become a successful student. The words from the  prophet Ezra are relevant today: “Confess to the Lord and do what pleases him.” It pleases God for you to be wise and refrain from procrastinating. So be thankful for that opportunity.  

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He who troubles his household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.

~Proverbs 11:29-30 Revised Standard Version
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Friday, November 1, 2024

What Value Is There in Confessing Irresponsibility?

I’m sure you’ve heard the story of the youngster who came to class empty-handed proclaiming, “My dog ate my homework.” A teacher might excuse a student once for concocting such a story, but if procrastination is the issue, then blaming the dog will cease to be acceptable.

Why is it so difficult to own up to procrastination and say, “Yes it’s my fault. I put off finishing the task until it was too late to finish. This is a bad habit.” Confessing to a fault is painful, and courage is required to be honest, but taking ownership to procrastinating is necessary for change.

God’s word assures us that confession of irresponsibility is what God honors. Listen to James 5:16: “Admit your faults and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Pray for courage to be the kind of person who is honest in all things.          

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For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

~2 Peter 1:5-7 New International Version

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Wednesday, October 30, 2024

What Makes Self-improvement Challenging?

Novelist Patrick White penned these words, “Few people take easily to a plan of self-improvement.” We will discover procrastination attempting to dislodge our commitment to accomplish what we know needs to be done. Self-improvement is an easy target for procrastination.

So many individuals in their thirties and forties discover they’re no longer satisfied with their work or career. It fails to provide the joy and fulfillment of earlier days. Because they are fearful of new challenges or even failure, self-improvement opportunities are delayed.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come into the world to save perfect people. He came because all people are imperfect and blemished. Nor does he expect you to be perfect after you have been redeemed. God wants you to be in the process of maturing, to trust him for faith to stretch the limits of who you are. You don’t have to be perfect to be loved by God or for the Holy Spirit’s power to help you mature. 

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We receive from him whatever we ask because we [carefully and consistently] keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight [seeking habitually to follow his plan for us]. This is his commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and confident trust] in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and [that we unselfishly] love and seek what is best for one another, just as he commanded us. 

~1 John 3:22-23  Amplified Bible
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Monday, October 28, 2024

How Is Procrastination Outside of God's Perfect Will?

Overcoming procrastination takes determination. It also requires believing in your heart that absolute perfection is not required. The true perfectionist falsely believes he or she will be judged harshly by oneself or others if whatever needs to be done isn’t done perfectly.

The procrastinator tends to be in conflict at some level with family, friends, or fellow employees. This often leads to delays in completing a given task. The procrastinator will predictably lead a life of dissatisfaction and underachievement.

It is difficult to change, so it’s imperative to believe it is God’s will to do so. 

God is the giver of hope and strength to put into action what he intends for you to do. Let God’s word from Hosea 10:12 speak to you: “It’s time for you to turn to the Lord and he will come and pour blessings upon you.” By believing God’s words, you can defeat procrastination.  

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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

~Galatians 6:9 New International Version

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Friday, October 25, 2024

What Is Needed to Repair Broken Promises?

Are you putting into practice the changes you promised to make so you would be free from all guilt and shame for delaying to complete a task? You may be someone who has learned the art of procrastination, meaning you put off until later what could be done now.

The procrastinator wants to wait until everything is perfect to begin a task. If you’re a perfectionist who needs everything to be predictable, that expectation may be out of bounds.

Have you made promises to God and others but failed to keep your promise?

Deuteronomy 23:21 has this to say about forsaking promises: “When you make a vow to the Lord, be prompt in doing whatever you promised; it’s a sin not to.” One step in overcoming procrastination is to promptly do whatever you promise. It doesn’t have to be done perfectly. Pray for strength of character to do it.

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We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.

~Hebrews 12:11 God’s Word Translation

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Wednesday, October 23, 2024

What Is Difficult about Confronting Procrastination?

A wise person made this observation, “The best time to do something worthwhile is between yesterday and tomorrow. What that leaves is today.” The procrastinator will invent reasons to delay. Proverbs 27:1 warns us not to “boast about tomorrow, for we know not what tomorrow will bring.”

What causes a person to procrastinate? John Peck, the author of The Road Less Traveled, says he avoids trying to repair something because he’s afraid he will mess it up. He asked a neighbor who was repairing his lawn mower how he knew what to do. The man replied, “Well, I try to fix things and I’m usually successful.”

Confronting procrastination involves a commitment to deliberately make a concentrated effort to move forward on a task rather than choosing to delay. Remember, God is there to help and encourage you. He provides understanding, insight, and wisdom for completing a given task.    

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Work hard and [you will] be a leader; be lazy and[ you will] never succeed.  

~Proverbs 12:24 The Living Bible

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