Category Archives: Christianity

Being Holy

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What is being holy all about? We are called to be holy. I have thought and thought about this thing of being holy for a very long time. I thought I didn’t have it, but I really wanted it.

God said, in the first verse of Leviticus 19, “Be holy, because I am holy!” He then goes on to tell us how to do that. I know Leviticus is not one of the modern Believer’s favorite books. It’s full of rules and customs and laws that are ancient, and, well we’re New Testament Believers, right?

I used a bit of sarcasm here because Jesus definitely had something to say about that. He said, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come  true.” Matthew 5:17NLV  

I hope you will take the time to read the whole chapter of Leviticus 19. It’s amazing!  (Just click on the blue letters and it will take you to Bible Gateway.) There are so many answers to our culture’s questions about what God says about so many issues. When God said, “Be holy, because I am holy”, He didn’t just leave it at that. He went on to explain in the next verses how to do that. I picked out 10 that stood out to me. I’ve paraphrased some of them for you:

1. Worship God ONLY

2. Keep the Sabbath. God does not say worship on the Sabbath. He says rest on the Sabbath. The expectation here is we can and should worship every day. But since we work every day we need to rest so we have the energy to do our jobs effectively. God knew that so He said, do it.

3. Give your offering sacrificially. Remember the woman with the 2 mites. It was all she had so she gave all she had.

4. Obey His commandments. Yes, all 10 of them!

5. Do not use His Name for anything but worship. This OMG stuff is completely unacceptable to Him. When I hear it or see it the Spirit within me cringes.

6. Care for the needy. That’s why we have the admonition to leave the edges of the fields unharvested. It’s a really creative way to give to the needy. Those who need it can harvest it.

7. Be just. Don’t skew the law because of race, color, creed, wealth, age… or just because you want it your way.

8. Be loving and treat all with respect. I discovered early on, in my teaching career, that respecting my students made a huge difference in what they learned.

9. Do not lie! Can we please go back to just saying what is true? Political correctness and tolerance for everything and anything are way out of control.

10 Avoid hate, violence, and sexual immorality.  We are living in a time where these sins are rampant. Stay away from all three!

So how do we ‘become’ holy? It really is a daily process. It doesn’t just happen when the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. There’s more to it. Holiness requires some thought and work. We are called, invited, and commanded to make holiness a part of our lives.

He created us in His image. He wants us to show the World who He is.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Guide Me!

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I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:8

God breathed these words into David’s heart. This King of Israel knew he could do nothing without God’s guidance. It’s the same for us!

Abba, Father, teach me what I need to know. Direct me on the path You have chosen. Open my heart, mind, and soul to Your voice.

20 Ways To Practice Lifestyle Evangelism

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Marie's avatarA Satisfied Spirit

Are you looking for creative ways to show Whose you are?  Here are a few I’ve used.  Add your suggestions in the comments.

Wear a piece of jewelry that invites discussion.

Take a glass of something cold to your neighbor, or the person doing lawn work, etc.

Visit someone in a hospital or nursing home that doesn’t get visitors.

Call to say I’m thinking of you.

Volunteer!

Invite the person who is sitting alone (in church, in a restaurant) to sit with you.

When someone’s name pops into your mind send them an ‘I’m thinking of you’  note.

Follow through when you’ve said you would do something.  If you said I’ll call, then call.

Don’t hesitate to pray anywhere and anytime you’re asked. 

Be sincere in your compliments.  People can always tell when you’re ‘just sayin’.

Ask someone you don’t know (while at the doctors, grocery, or other public places)…

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Never Alone

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We live in a world of more than 8 billion people (7.87 billion in 2021). With that many people, why is it so common to feel alone at times?

God creates loneliness in us so we will seek Him. When we do this He gives us wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 4:5) When we are troubled, stressed, and just plain tired He gives us strength. (1 Chronicles 16:11)

Merriam-Webster defines this feeling as being without company/cut off from others. In Hebrew, it can also mean solitude and desert.

Yet, this (God) was something Jesus sought often. In nine different passages of the Gospels, He goes to a solitary place to seek God. (I’m sure there were more!) Why? Because He needed to set apart alone time, to be away from other people and distractions, to seek His Father’s will. (Luke 9:18)

We are rewarded when we diligently seek God. (Hebrews 11:6) When we spend set apart time with Him what we ask we will receive, what we seek we will find, when we knock He will open the door. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Abba, Father, help us recognize that our feelings of aloneness are invitations from You to talk. Open our hearts to Your welcoming voice. Comfort us and give us the peace that comes from being in Your Presence.

Ask For Prayer

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Never be ashamed or hesitant to ask another Christian to pray for you!

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Paul was a firm believer in the power of prayer for one another. In seven of his letters, he requested prayer from fellow believers. In Romans 15:30-32 he asked the church to join in his struggle and pray for protection from those who persecuted him. To the church at Ephesus, (Eph. 6:18-19) he asked them to pray that he would be given the right words to share so others would understand the Word. He asks other Believers to pray – for deliverance (Phil. 1:19), for open doors to share the Word (Col. 4:3), without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), that God’s Word will be honored ( 2 Thess. 3:1), for safe travels (Philemon 22).

There are 650 prayers mentioned in the Bible and 450 recorded answers! That tells me that prayer is important to God. He wants us to talk to Him about every part of our lives. That includes all our joys, sorrows, successes, problems, people, requests, EVERYTHING!!!

Set aside a specific time to pray and do it every day. It will eventually become a habit and the day won’t be right without it.

Find 2 or 3 friends who will pray for and with you. Ask God who He wants to be your prayer partners. Build the kind of strong, trusting relationships where you can feel safe, be totally honest, and completely comfortable in your requests.

Abba, Father, hear our prayers, incline Your ear, and grant us Your peace. (Psalm 17:6)