Saturday, January 10, 2009
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Hostage week 2-Worry
4 Reasons Not to Worry
What Does the Bible Say About Worry?
1. Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing.
Worrying won't help you solve a problem or bring about a solution, so why waste your time and energy on it?
Matthew 6:27-29 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
2. Worrying is Not Good for You.
Worrying is destructive to us in many ways. It becomes a mental burden that causes us to grow physically sick as well as age faster.
Proverbs 12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
3. Worrying reveals I am not trusting God.
Here's a little formula to remember: Worry replaced by Prayer equals Trust.
Matthew 6:30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
4. Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction.
Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn't care, we can choose to focus our trust toward the Lord and on his kingdom.
Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
What Does the Bible Say About Worry?
1. Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing.
Worrying won't help you solve a problem or bring about a solution, so why waste your time and energy on it?
Matthew 6:27-29 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
2. Worrying is Not Good for You.
Worrying is destructive to us in many ways. It becomes a mental burden that causes us to grow physically sick as well as age faster.
Proverbs 12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
3. Worrying reveals I am not trusting God.
Here's a little formula to remember: Worry replaced by Prayer equals Trust.
Matthew 6:30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
4. Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction.
Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn't care, we can choose to focus our trust toward the Lord and on his kingdom.
Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Breaking free from Bitter thought life
Over the weekend I spoke of the work of Dr. Leaf in the area of thought anatomy. Here is an excerpt from her website drleaf.net
The process of "bringing all thoughts into captivity"
There are four simple techniques involved:
1. Understanding that thoughts are real and have an actual anatomy
Thoughts are real things: they have a structure in your brain and occupy space. Thoughts are the same as memories. Thoughts and memories look like trees and are called neurons or nerve cells. You build a double memory of everything as a mirror image of each other. This means that the memory on the left side of the brain builds from the detail to the big picture; and the memory on the right side builds from the big picture to the detail. When you put these two perspectives of thought together, you get intelligent understanding taking place. As information comes in from the five senses, you process it in certain structures of your brain, then you grow branches on the "trees" to hold this information in long term memory. In fact, as you reading this, you are growing thoughts, because, thoughts are the result of what we hear and read and see and feel and experience. This means that whatever you grow is part of you, actual branches in your brain that create your attitude and influence your decisions.
2. Increasing conscious awareness of your thoughts and how you are feeling.
Knowledge of the anatomy of thought naturally leads into the process of actively analysing incoming information and thoughts constantly. You should never let a thought or thoughts roam chaotically and unchecked through your head. Examine every thought you have and ask yourself: is this good for me? Is it from God or the devil or my own confused thinking? Conscious awareness of your thinking should become like a habit. A habit takes twenty-one days to create. Today is the first day of that twenty-one...
3. Doing something once you have analysed the thought.
So, technique two is developing a conscious awareness of what you are thinking about. Now technique three is doing something about the thought. This means making a conscious decision to actively accept the thought (if it is good for you) or reject it (if it is bad for you). This means you use your God-given ability of free will (this also has actual structural position in the brain) to do something about the thought you are consciously aware of. Thoughts have as much control as we give them.
4. Building new memories over the old.
This is the really exciting part in dealing with our thought life because, accepting or rejecting the thought is changing the neural circuitry of your brain: you brain is growing while you think ad you have control over the process. Technique four happens when the brain steps in and creates a structural representation of what you have chosen to accept (adds more branches on the tree) and converts what you have chosen to reject into hot air!
Lets see how these four techniques work if you have an unforgiveness in your memory trees towards someone:
Technique one: this unforgiveness looks like a thorn tree and will hurt you - visualize the twisted bitter thorn tree.
Technique two: be consciously aware of this thought of unforgiveness - where it comes from, how long it has been there, and so on.
Technique three: ask the Holy Spirit to help you use your free will to make the wisdom decision to reject unforgiveness and forgive. Picture the unforgiveness disappearing as hot air.
Technique four: now build a new de-thorned memory to replace the thorny unforgiveness with for example, quoting scriptures, singing a worship song, praying for the person, and so on.
The process of "bringing all thoughts into captivity"
There are four simple techniques involved:
1. Understanding that thoughts are real and have an actual anatomy
Thoughts are real things: they have a structure in your brain and occupy space. Thoughts are the same as memories. Thoughts and memories look like trees and are called neurons or nerve cells. You build a double memory of everything as a mirror image of each other. This means that the memory on the left side of the brain builds from the detail to the big picture; and the memory on the right side builds from the big picture to the detail. When you put these two perspectives of thought together, you get intelligent understanding taking place. As information comes in from the five senses, you process it in certain structures of your brain, then you grow branches on the "trees" to hold this information in long term memory. In fact, as you reading this, you are growing thoughts, because, thoughts are the result of what we hear and read and see and feel and experience. This means that whatever you grow is part of you, actual branches in your brain that create your attitude and influence your decisions.
2. Increasing conscious awareness of your thoughts and how you are feeling.
Knowledge of the anatomy of thought naturally leads into the process of actively analysing incoming information and thoughts constantly. You should never let a thought or thoughts roam chaotically and unchecked through your head. Examine every thought you have and ask yourself: is this good for me? Is it from God or the devil or my own confused thinking? Conscious awareness of your thinking should become like a habit. A habit takes twenty-one days to create. Today is the first day of that twenty-one...
3. Doing something once you have analysed the thought.
So, technique two is developing a conscious awareness of what you are thinking about. Now technique three is doing something about the thought. This means making a conscious decision to actively accept the thought (if it is good for you) or reject it (if it is bad for you). This means you use your God-given ability of free will (this also has actual structural position in the brain) to do something about the thought you are consciously aware of. Thoughts have as much control as we give them.
4. Building new memories over the old.
This is the really exciting part in dealing with our thought life because, accepting or rejecting the thought is changing the neural circuitry of your brain: you brain is growing while you think ad you have control over the process. Technique four happens when the brain steps in and creates a structural representation of what you have chosen to accept (adds more branches on the tree) and converts what you have chosen to reject into hot air!
Lets see how these four techniques work if you have an unforgiveness in your memory trees towards someone:
Technique one: this unforgiveness looks like a thorn tree and will hurt you - visualize the twisted bitter thorn tree.
Technique two: be consciously aware of this thought of unforgiveness - where it comes from, how long it has been there, and so on.
Technique three: ask the Holy Spirit to help you use your free will to make the wisdom decision to reject unforgiveness and forgive. Picture the unforgiveness disappearing as hot air.
Technique four: now build a new de-thorned memory to replace the thorny unforgiveness with for example, quoting scriptures, singing a worship song, praying for the person, and so on.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Are you bound by bitterness?
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE BITTER
No one wants to admit they are bitter. Sometimes everyone else can tell but us. Let me give you another test. Let me ask you to be honest with yourself and answer a few basic questions:
Does it irritate you when people don't agree with you?
Do you think you are usually right and others are usually wrong?
Do you find yourself giving more criticisms than compliments?
Are you short with people?
Do you ask people "loaded" questions just to irritate them?
Is it difficult to talk to someone who has hurt you in the past without constantly bringing it up again?
Do your conversations tend to turn into arguments?
Do you feel disappointed, mistreated or betrayed?
Do you feel like God has let you down?
Do these kind of questions make you defensive?
This weekend @ NCC I will offer practical help to those held hostage by bitterness.
No one wants to admit they are bitter. Sometimes everyone else can tell but us. Let me give you another test. Let me ask you to be honest with yourself and answer a few basic questions:
Does it irritate you when people don't agree with you?
Do you think you are usually right and others are usually wrong?
Do you find yourself giving more criticisms than compliments?
Are you short with people?
Do you ask people "loaded" questions just to irritate them?
Is it difficult to talk to someone who has hurt you in the past without constantly bringing it up again?
Do your conversations tend to turn into arguments?
Do you feel disappointed, mistreated or betrayed?
Do you feel like God has let you down?
Do these kind of questions make you defensive?
This weekend @ NCC I will offer practical help to those held hostage by bitterness.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Hostage to Bitterness
Bitterness is caused by nursing an unforgiving spirit and results in negative and critical attitudes. If left unchecked, it embeds itself deep into our lives and becomes a subconscious reality.
Bitterness motivates habitual complaining. (Job 7:11, 10:1) Bitter people find pleasure in gossip. (Psalm 64:3 KJV) Bitterness affects other’s lives as well. "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Hebrews 12:15)
Bitterness is self induced misery-it produces chain sinning. The bitter person is his own worst enemy and always difficult to maintain a good relationship with.
It's important to regularly give yourself a checkup for roots of bitterness. Perhaps its the real silent killer, the cause of sleepless nights, ulcers, agitation irritability, angry words, lost friendships, ruined marital relationships, separated families and a host of other expensive consequences.
If you are like me, you have plans and dreams for your life and for the lives of your children, friends, families and your community. If they are significant, beautiful, Godly dreams, they can only be realized through the power of the Spirit filled life. Bitterness robs us of the power to achieve those dreams.
Peter told Simon that the Holy Spirit and bitterness cannot co-exist in the same life. One or the other has to go. For example, if we harbour a root of bitterness, we infect and damage our children, spouse and workplace. A root of bitterness will impact the bottom line of your business. It throws a wet blanket over the worship and sense of community in a church. It's important that we identify and deal with our bitterness.
I can't afford to nurse bitterness in my life. The consequences are too costly. I have two clear choices, I can choose bitterness and risk loosing everything I hold near and dear. Or, I can choose the Holy Spirit and His positive power (Grace) which I need for the fulfillment of my dreams. The choice is mine.
Bitterness motivates habitual complaining. (Job 7:11, 10:1) Bitter people find pleasure in gossip. (Psalm 64:3 KJV) Bitterness affects other’s lives as well. "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Hebrews 12:15)
Bitterness is self induced misery-it produces chain sinning. The bitter person is his own worst enemy and always difficult to maintain a good relationship with.
It's important to regularly give yourself a checkup for roots of bitterness. Perhaps its the real silent killer, the cause of sleepless nights, ulcers, agitation irritability, angry words, lost friendships, ruined marital relationships, separated families and a host of other expensive consequences.
If you are like me, you have plans and dreams for your life and for the lives of your children, friends, families and your community. If they are significant, beautiful, Godly dreams, they can only be realized through the power of the Spirit filled life. Bitterness robs us of the power to achieve those dreams.
Peter told Simon that the Holy Spirit and bitterness cannot co-exist in the same life. One or the other has to go. For example, if we harbour a root of bitterness, we infect and damage our children, spouse and workplace. A root of bitterness will impact the bottom line of your business. It throws a wet blanket over the worship and sense of community in a church. It's important that we identify and deal with our bitterness.
I can't afford to nurse bitterness in my life. The consequences are too costly. I have two clear choices, I can choose bitterness and risk loosing everything I hold near and dear. Or, I can choose the Holy Spirit and His positive power (Grace) which I need for the fulfillment of my dreams. The choice is mine.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Hostage
5 week seriesWe’re all held hostage by something...what is your captor? Maybe it’s past hurt, fear of the future, lust, or deception, or even anger. The good news is that our ransom has been paid in full. Join us for Hostage and discover how to break free, once and for all, from the traps of life.
Week 1-Contaminated by Bitterness
Week 2-Overwhelmed with Worry
Week 3-Trapped in Addiction
Week 4-Consumed with Anger
Week 5-Living in Lies
Don't miss any of the messages in this series and visit my blog often over the next 5 weeks. Prepare to break free! http://newcommchurch.blogspot.com/
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