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Handling Personal Crisis
by Bruce Campbell
When I made Jesus Christ the Lord of my life by truly believing on him, a truly remarkable change happened instantly. This change did not take place in my physical stature or appearance- Still I was radically transformed beyond my faculty to understand. This supernatural CHANGE took place in my human spirit.
Now whether that change ever becomes obvious in this physical world depends on the way I think.Since my natural self pulls in one direction and my spirit another! Then what I think determines what I will experience good bad or indifferent.
If my mind stays on carnal things then I will be limited and dominated by the old sinful nature, but if I think on spiritual things then I am unlimited and dominated by the spirit of God. I made a decision a long time ago that I would obey God and live in the spirit and by that I mean, by the word of the living God. The B I B L E.
I've found out that you CAN be spiritually minded. Whatever I continually think on dominates me so I make a conscious choice to think on who I am and what I have in Christ. This is quite necessary if his promises are going to be made obvious in my life. All things are indeed possible for me when I believe God.
One third of my salvation is already complete. My born again spirit is not in the process of growing or maturing. I am complete in Christ in my spirit,exactly the way i'll be throughout all eternity. (By this love is perfected with us,so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment;BECAUSE as He is so are we in this world. 1 JN 4:17) The only thing that's subject to change for me is my body and soul.
God Wants You To Prosper
by Bruce Campbell
I don't know about you but I agree with what the title of this article suggests. From the book of third John chapter 1 verse 2 there is a greeting tendered to a christian brother named Gaius from the author of the letter.... Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.
I don't mind telling you, that is the kind of greeting that will edify and encourage you in a new york minute. It's great food for thought and for me presents a proposal that I find too good to ignore.
The possibility that my physical life could prosper (health) as my soul-(mind) is enriched. That jewel of wisdom is priceless,because it may lead us to discover the power of right thinking. It promotes an attitude. What if we used our minds the way God intends by filling it daily with His thoughts,maybe just maybe there would be more cheerfulness, peace, and the actual accomplishing of goals in our lives.
Paul thought prospering mentally was so important that in Romans chapter 12 he practically begged believers to renew their minds that they would be able to demonstrate the perfect will of God. In his second letter to Timothy he encouraged him to be strong - to remember his spiritual inheritance, and that God had not given him a spirit of fear but a spirit of POWER, LOVE, and a Sound MIND !
Timothy was suffering mentally, we all suffer mentally sometimes you know. Lord knows I have been criticized before for simply believing and teaching people to be at peace with what God has said, because what you think about will determine what you do as well as what you acquire.
It is hard to understand the multitude of believers who suffer mentally- it's as if they don't believe the principle delivered to us from the book of Proverbs chapter 23 verse 7 "that as a man thinks so he becomes." Many feel that they can't help themselves worrying is natural and a necessary part of who they are ! The truth is they are new creations in Christ Jesus the old has gone and the new has come, but if they won't accept that truth, they deactivate the supernatural power of a renewed mind in Christ!
It is impossible to think two opposing thoughts at exactly the same time. Test yourself. Think a positive and a negative thought at the same time ready-set-GO!
What kind of thoughts do you empower, Righteous or Unrighteous ones? It's not easy- it is a serious battle to renew your mind, but reader -YOU can do it if YOU choose. You are not a product of your environment- the way you were raised - or your experiences, YOUR life is a result of what you think. Are you willing to see yourself scripturally? Let me give you something to think about. THINK "From this moment on I know my God given ability is greater than any challenge that I can face"
Why Not Be Quick To Forgive
by Bruce Campbell
John beleived he had a great friend in Randy they had so much in common. They had attended and graduated from the same university. They both are christians. Randy was John's best man when he married his high school sweetheart Annabelle. So it was no small shock when John discovered that Randy had spread lies about him on the Job that seriously damaged his reputation and cost him a promotion.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another FORGIVING each other just as in CHRIST God FORGAVE you" Eph 4:32
Friends when forgiveness is necessary don't wait too long. What excuse would God accept for us holding onto our pain through unforgiveness? If we don't forgive the offenders , we will choke out our own joy and kill our soul with grief. People who carry resentment and hate can invest themselves so deeply into those emotions that over time they are defined by them. The longer you wait the greater the risk of you changing intoa person who is defined by your anger rather than a person who just has a grievance. Do you want to be a person who is so possessed by their offense and your personal anger until your identity is demonized by resentment!
Of course not, so when forgiveness is necessary God encourages us to do it as quickly as possible, because forgiving has two great benefits. The first is your own release from guilt,anger and resentment, and the second is the possibility of reconcilliation between you and the offenders.
"Adoption Is A Matter Of The Heart"
by Bruce Campbell
I am blessed by the number of people in my state who are adopting children. These children are precious blessings from God in need of a loving set of parents. Many of these wonderful people have children already, some have raised families but have decided to share their love with children in need. Today I was listening to the local news and was blessed by a young african american couple who had adopted four children to raise and love. Alaska may be a cold state during the long winter-but the hearts of our people are warm and precious.
Here is something we read today I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed Felicia and me.
Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted. A little girl said, 'I know all about adoption, I was adopted..''What does it mean to be adopted?', asked another child. 'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'
For the christian that is exactly what it means to be adopted into the family of God. We're in God's Heart and continually on His mind.
"Sowing Change Reaping Corruption" by Bruce Campbell
I think I know why this little girl is angry. America's leaders claim to be seeking peace, but what they find is war! Jesus said what you seek is what you will find. I submit to the reader that if you seek peace and find war then war is what you were really looking for in the first place. Every republican President since the Roe VS Wade decision has claimed to seek to end abortion and what do we get - more abortions! Ever wonder how people can say one thing but mean something else. The something else is what they wanted all the time. The heart knows and wants what it wants.
This is why righteousness can’t be gained through the sheer will of human beings. I will bet you dollars to donuts that very few if any politicians in our country from either camp would pass a polygraph test on the issues they claim to believe in that matter to us. President Bush told us that Islam was a peaceful religion and almost had his head whacked by a Muslim’s shoe. Current President Obama is saying the same thing but does he really believe it. Take a polygraph George & Barak.
I wonder would the average christian pass the same test.What about our church leaders? Here are a few simple questions answer them for yourself. Do you believe whole heartily and without reservation in what Jesus taught in Matthew Chapters 5-7? Do you really care about what God wants? Do you love your friends? Your enemies? Do you forgive men their trespasses? Do you believe God has forgiven your debts? I remember a show I watched last year called “The Moment of Truth” It was stunning to see what people really believe and try to hide. God said the heart is desperately wicked. That may be why so many Christians are being caught in lies today. Is anybody really listening to the Holy Spirit in today’s America? “The bible says "Be not deceived God is not mocked whatever a person sows is what they are going to reap.” Okay it’s the moment of truth do YOU really believe that?
Who would deny that America is reaping what its political powers have sown from generation to generation as they chose to resist the truth given to them from America’s Spiritual leaders. In today’s pluralistic society many so called believers have more of a societal/cultural worldview than a biblical one.
Few appreciate what the Apostle Paul taught concerning the fullness of Grace. They practice a mutant form of Christianity where they attempt to mix the law and grace. Friends, that’s a recipe for dis--grace. (more on that in a later release) They care more about their personal comfort and freedoms than the maturation of Godly virtue. Those who Dis - Grace find comfort fighting others with the Law!
They see conspiracies everywhere. Doctored pictures and videos of government corruption abound and carnal Christians are feasting on them to their own detriment. Does God care more about our comfort rather than the development of our character?
There was a time when Jesus visited a couple of sisters. When he arrived one of them(Martha) was very busy and continued to labor (some prefer to work for jesus rather than with him.) However her sister(Mary) stopped working and sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to him. Martha grew angry and demanded that Jesus send Mary to help her. Jesus replied Martha you are concerned about many things but there is only one thing that is necessary and your sister has chosen it.
What I have learned from writing this article is this Our heart knows what we really want and that is what will become obvious in our lives. Do we want war or peace- unity or divison- Jesus or the world.
Examine your mind and motive because what you truly seek is what you will find.
Shalom
BRUCE CAMPBELL
Scrpture References: Matthew Chapters 5-7 Galatians 6:7 Luke 10:38-42l
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Do you imagine that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to people and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply “accepting Christ” as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin If I do so, I tell them a lie, pervert the gospel,insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.
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Materialism says, “Buy your way out.” The politician says, “Legislate.” The army says, “Fight.” Industry says, “Work.” The philosopher says, “Think.” But Jesus says, there’s no way out but through Me. Jesus will save you by His grace, and He’ll save you all by Himself or you won’t be saved at all. When you are saved by the grace of God, you are saved instantly, and you are saved eternally. Your goodness is not enough to save you, and your badness is not enough to keep you away. Jesus loves you so much that He died to save you.
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Pray...Lord I am a sinner in need of your saving grace. I believe in your life your death your burial and that you arose from the dead. Lord save me. AMEN
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Christian Liberty
by Bruce Campbell
While studying the “law of liberty” found in Romans Chapter 14 I found that I had to pause for a few minutes and just share with the Lord my gratefulness for his plan and undeniable love for mankind and especially for those of us who have received the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Let’s face it there are unnecessary points of contention at some point in every believer's life.
In this great chapter Paul is continuing to call Christian people to unity, specifically between those who were weak or strong in their faith and walk with God! There was just too much judging going on and friends the church should be marked by how we love rather than how we judge one another.
Accepting all members of the household of faith regardless of denominational affiliations and other differences is basic to spiritual growth. From the text we learn that those who didn’t eat the meat sacrificed to idols were considered weak in the faith and exhorted to accept and not judge harshly those who did. This reminds me of the lite battle between those who like meat and those who are strict vegetarians today in the church world. Those who ate the meat were exhorted to accept and not regard with contempt those who didn’t. Acceptance of one another is the key. Even today similar battles are being fought in today’s church and there are some who will disagree with my position yet we tell people all the time to come to Jesus because he will accept them just as they are. What many don’t seem to realize is that after you are saved Jesus still accepts you whether you’re right or wrong. He’ll see to it that you get right for his LOVE will change you.
Are you accepting? How about those in our lives who may disagree with us on issues that are taboos in evangelical circles today? ….Going to movies….Playing cards…going to a restaurant that sells alcoholic drinks….Listening to certain music… Dancing….Buying a Lottery Ticket! There are many other things I could list but believe me in several places in the good ole USA or the world many of theses things are taboo.
If you knew me you would know that I always speak from a grace perspective. My goal is acceptance of one another’s positions from that frame of mind. When it comes to these things I accept the fact that our decisions are our responsibility and if God does not take away our right to decide let’s agree with the wisdom from the text.
LET EACH BE FULLY CONVINCED IN HIS OWN MIND and if whatever we do can’t be done in FAITH towards God then why do it! God has given us the freedom to make choices. We can all remain friends even when we disagree. Even then we can and should agree to love each other regardless. He who eats the meat is no greater in God’s eyes than He who doesn’t ! But I would rather limit my liberty than cause my brother to stumble. That’s the good thing about our right to choose for the one who loves the most is the one who’s always right.
