Many people have concerns about the images children – especially girls – see, and the things they think about. Especially because a recent study showed that girls are hitting puberty at an incredibly early age, something which will have many far-reaching social consequences.

Thankfully, such children don’t have to go through life worrying. While it’s normal, and okay, to be concerned, we can be certain that if we cast our cares on Jesus, He will help us through.

This problem can seem especially daunting, of course. Children don’t develop extremely complex comprehension of things quickly. One could say that God, in His love and wisdom, allowed children to enjoy the fun of childhood longer, so their minds could develop before their bodies underwent a change. Even if the more extreme findings from the early 1800s aren’t typical, there has certainly been a decrease in the age of puberty over the last few decades.

Mankind consistently messes up the perfection of God’s system through sin, and this is no exception. Whether its chemicals, the many images Hollywood and Madison Avenue throw at our children, or a combination, mankind has warped things to the point that it’s hard enough for young adult women, let alone girls, to understand the simple truth.

What is that simple truth?

God knows you’re beautiful. He made you, and He loves you, just the way you are. You are a champion in His sight.

Different societies have different images of beauty. But, all focus on the outside. The Bible tells us that “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) When children hit puberty, they begin to look more and more on the outward appearance of things. They won’t just think of a boy or girl as a nice playmate, or a good friend. They’ll start to think of how cute they are. Their hormones will take control. When they haven’t mastered the art of resisting those many impulses that cause them to act before thinking, problems surface.

They not only start to think about others in a different light, they begin to think of themselves that way. They may play grownup or teenager when little, but the ability to comprehend all that is involved in real life is limited. It’s like a three-year-old who pretends to cook dinner. They may throw something into a play oven, then get it out, without any comprehension of cooking time, recipes, or anything else that goes into making a meal. Let alone the mess that can result when they fix breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day, only to leave Mom with much more work when she comes downstairs.

We can see, then, that the problem of girls hitting puberty as younger ages is a big one – not only for the girls, as there will be those who reach it at the age they were meant to, but also for boys. And, this hasn’t even mentioend the parents!

So, what is the solution? The solution is the focus on the fabulous princess that God wants every girl to be – and the wonderful prince He wants every boy to be. Fabulous and wonderful not for what is on the outside, but for what is on the inside.

See, everyone has an internal monologue, which tells them things about themselves and the world. It can send positive or negative messages. The Psalmist may have hidden God’s Word in his heart, that he might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11), but God’s Word also has plenty of verses we can teach young people to hide in their hearts so they can learn to enjoy life and be free from the temptation to look like some Hollywood supermodel – someone who has likely been photo cropped, anyway, so doesn’t even look like that.

Consider verses such as Philippians 4:8 (things to think on that will help them: true, honest, just, lovely, etc.), Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, etc.), Romans 8:1 (“There is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” – which deals with sin being taken away, but which can help those who try to condemn themselves for not being good enough for something), all of Psalm 139 (such as being fearfully and wonderfuly made), and so on. So many thoughts can be part of girls’ and boys’ lives, thoughts which can build them up, as we are taught to edify one another.

How to Have that Perfect Relationship with God

That Holy Spirit guidance is there so that we may have life, and lfe more abundantly. (John 10:10) God wants us to have a good self image – but He wants us to have the right self image. An image based on the inside, which is the most important. It’s the part that is ultimately going to matter.

It’s true, of course, that we all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. He can’t have that perfect relationship with us because of that sin, so we can’t go to his perfect Heaven when w4e die, and we keep turning from Him here – as noted, messing up His perfect plan.

Thankfully, as quoted in Romans 8:1, there is a way for you to have no condemnation in you. You don’t have to be condemned for that sin, separated from God’s perfect love forever in a horrible place of suffering.

He reconciled Himself to each of us while we were yet sinners; He died for us before we could do anything for Him. (Romans 5:8) Then, the third day, He rose fromt he dead. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, etc.) He defeated sin and death, because He – jesus Christ – is God in the flesh. He was able to take our sin away, and make a way for us to have that perfect relationship with God again.

We just have to receive that forgiveness. He sees each person – you – as a wonderful person, beloved of God. And, all you need to do is believe with your whole heart that He has saved you from your sin, and call on Him to forgive you. It is by grace you are saved through faith – and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

It’s as easy as AB: Admit you’re a sinner, Believe Jesus Christ – God in flesh – died for your sins, and rose fromt he dead, and Choose to repent – turn from those sins and invite Him into your heart to make you new on the inside.

Dealing With Problems Once You’re Saved

of course, teens, tweens, and everyone has temptations. Even Christians can fall for those negative thoughts if they’re not careful. That internal monologue needs to be closely guarded.

There are resources out there which can help. There’s a great book called “Before You meet Prince Charming” for girls, which can help them to see and learn to focus on that wonderful beauty they have – the ministry which promotes this, “Tomorrow’s Forefathers,” has a number of good resources. There are probably a number of local ministries, such as “Stealing Hollywood,” which help girls to understand these things.

The most important thing to remember, though, is that a positive self-image starts by realizing that you are someone special for your inward beauty. Kindness, gentleness, long suffering, and so on are fruits of the Spirit for a reason – they help to build in us the kind of people God wants us to be. People who care about the heart of others, and who want to make a difference in the world by putting God first in their lives.

Because when we start to see God as the ultimate goal, and Christ as the way, then we start to see how those things of the flesh really don’t matter in the long run. Oh, they’re wonderful tools to provide pleasure for a time, between a married couple.

But, that same married couple will grow old together, become wrinkled, feeble, and son on together, and lose the outward things of youth. However, if a person has placed his or her trust in Christ, their joy, kindness, peace, love, and so on will be forever. Because while those crushes of youth will fade, there is nothing which can separate us from the love – deep, unconditional love – of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Step out on faith and let God

do a “New Thing” in your life!

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”         Isaiah 43:18-19a (NIV)

Kairos Moments

As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1,

“to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

“The hour is the God-given moment of destiny not to be shrunk from but seized with decisiveness, the floodtide of opportunity and demand in which the unseen waters of the future surge down to the present.” (Os Guinness, Character Counts **)  Nothing is more critical than to recognize and respond to such a moment.

What Matters is Being Ready

A moment is all the time it takes for God to change things.  Philippians 2:13 (NIV) reminds us: “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

When God presents you with an exciting opportunity do you eagerly step out of your comfort zone and proceed with enthusiasm? Or like many people do you cower in fear and say to God, “Not me Lord, send someone else!” ?  How can God do a new thing today, if we are still hanging on to yesterday’s hurt, pain and disappointment?  We must declare as David did, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24)

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands;                                                   Psalm 31:14-15a (NIV)

Are you positioning yourself for a Kairos moment?

** click here for more information on writer and speaker, Os Guiness

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

For more about Jack Canfield’s Success Principles click this link to go to his site.

I hadn’t thought about my grammar school days for a long time, but one day they boldly invaded my thoughts.  I remembered the friends I played with and even recalled the names of my favorite teachers.  My classroom, with the big clock on the wall and the old-fashioned desk I sat in, were as visible in my mind as if I’d seen them just yesterday.

Somewhere along the line, I began thinking of the school’s lost-and-found department. That’s where lost sweaters, lunch pails, broken toys and miscellaneous items were kept until their owners came to find them.

As my thoughts wandered, it occurred to me that, in a sense, there are many people who are like these items in the lost and found.  They’re “lost,” and whether they realize it or not, are very much in need of being “found.”

Although they keep busy each day, deep inside they feel empty and without purpose, wishing for something or someone to bring meaning to their lives.  Even if they’re successful in business or have all “the toys” the world has to offer, they don’t feel satisfied.  They’re confused about the meaning of life, and even wonder why they were born.  They ask themselves, “Is this all there is?”

Does this sound like you?

There is a book we don’t hear mentioned much anymore, but for hundreds of years it has shown people how to be “found.” Years ago, many people believed what it said and lived their lives by its words.  It brought peace to the reader’s heart and gave guidance for their daily living.  In this book, they found instructions for living successfully, now and in the afterlife, as well.  And this book was the first place to which those people turned for help when they were stressed or didn’t know what to do.

Today people think it’s too old fashioned to be any value in the twenty-first century.  How could this particular old book, written so long ago, have all the answers for people living today?

Let’s just say it is unlike any other book ever written, and if you take the time to read it, slowly and thoughtfully, you will see just how pertinent it is to today’s world – and to you!

It’s no secret.  This book is the Bible, and here are things you might not know about it:

            First of all, although it is only one book, it’s really a compilation of sixty-six short books.  It is good to begin reading it, not at the beginning, although that’s okay, but in one of the little books toward the back, called The First Epistle of John.  It talks about the most pressing need of mankind in this or any century, and it tells how to take care of that need.  Another little book to read is called The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans.  Check out Chapter 3, verses10-12, and 23.  From there, find Chapter 5, verse 12, Chapter 6, verse 23, and Chapter 5, verse 8.  Then read Chapter 10, verses 9-13. If you read the verses in that order, you’ll learn some pretty amazing stuff, showing both a problem and the solution.  From there, you might want to meet the man who is talked about in the books of The Gospels According to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In the middle of this big book is a little book called The Book of Psalms.  It actually contains words to songs written a long time ago.  Chapter 139 tells about you before you were born. Cool, huh?

Do you wonder about the formation of earth?  Then start reading in the very first book, The First Book of Moses Called Genesis.  And if you want to learn about the end of the world, read the last book, The Revelation.  It’s pretty heavy stuff, and it will cause you to think serious thoughts about what it says.

Here are some other places to look:

When you think nobody loves you, read The Gospel of John Chapter 3, verse16 and Chapter 13, verse 34.  You’ll see someone actually does love you – a whole lot.

If you can’t figure things out, consult The Book of Proverbs Chapter 3, verses 5-6. It shows you what to do.

When you can’t forgive yourself, the most important person can. Read The First Epistle of John, Chapter 1, verse 9 and The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans Chapter 8, verse 1 to see who it is, and what He has already done for you.

If you’re always worried and frustrated, you’ll love The First Epistle of Peter Chapter 5, verse 7.

When you’re feeling lonely, The Epistle to the Hebrews Chapter 13, verse 5 tells you who is there for you.

Are you in an impossible situation?  See who The Gospel According to Luke Chapter 18, verse 27 tells you to talk to.

            Yes, all this information, and more, is found in the Bible.  Many have read it attempting to prove it is just a myth, full of errors, or at the very least, not pertinent to their lives.  Instead, those who once felt “lost” have been “found,” finding meaning and purpose for their everyday lives. And they have become believers in this book and the man about whom the entire book refers.

            Okay. That was a good book for people long ago, but what about you?  Have you ever read the Bible?

What do you think would happen if you did?

AS a Man Thinketh in His Heart, so is He.

From Proverbs: 23:7

We are composed of a body soul and Spirit.

Body = anything physical about you.
Soul = emotion, ego, id, will, logic mind, subconscious mind….all that is not body.
Spirit – anything of you that is not of body and/or soul.

The subconscious mind is the way or path that our spirit speaks to God through.  This is where God ‘lives’ in us.
The aphorism “AS a man thinketh in his heart” is referring to:
heart= your ego id…your subconscious identity of yourself. the core of you. the part that drives you but from the background where you are not even aware of it. id ego whatever you personally call it.

The subconscious mind ‘pushes’ you according to how it is programmed.  It will be programmed by whatever prevalent thoughts it receives.  You can control those or not. your sub mind will still operate on what it is fed.  REGARDLESS of what your logical mind says.
“I do the things I do not want to do…..” that is because your sub mind is programming your actions and you may have let ‘weeds’ program it.
When you ‘dwell’ or ‘abide’ in God’s Word… you are programming His Truth into the control room of your heart…your subconscious mind.  You are now taking control of what you are putting into your sub mind and ordering it to follow God’s Word…not the junk from the world it has been receiving.  Seeds fall as the wind blows them and they grow where they can take root. Seeds of thought…even wrong thought…will grow in your sub mind just as quickly and easily as seeds of God’s truth.
This is why I say Guard your MIND. Turn off the TV. Cancel the newspaper.  Feed your mind God’s thoughts.  Let Him live in that mind and so control it… you could then say…”As a Man thinketh [through God] so is he.”

A lot of it is in a way semantics. but the old world definition of Heart…is really your subconscious mind…your radio channel to God.  It is from your sub mind that you hear God speak.  This is your control room. I think of it like Windows running in the background of your computer.  The computer represents your life and windows is your subconscious.  No matter what you logically tell your computer to do, it will ALWAYS do whatever windows is programmed to make it do.
So is your life.  AS a man thinketh in his heart (how your subconscious has been programmed), so is he [because your sub con mind is YOU. and that is what dictates how you act, what you say...what results you get...everything about you comes from here.)

The world [satan's system] wants to program your sub mind for you.  That rat knows as well as we do how we operate.  In fact, maybe even more than we do, because people will not study how they ‘work’.
To change who we serve, we must know this.  We have to ‘program’ ourselves with God instead of letting ’satan’s weeds’ just grow willy-nilly.  Faith comes by Hearing…and hearing from the Word of God.  Words are seeds.  We have to plant the seeds to get the crop.  If you do not consciously PLANT a crop…any old crop will grow…. and guess who is planting those seeds?  The world…satan’s system.
You do not just WISH good things to happen here. You have to make them happen.  Making things happen takes effort……….and so people (generality I know) do not program their minds for righteousness.  And so, weeds grow.  This is why I will not listen to words that attack my self-esteem.  This is one of the most hateful things anyone person can do to another…attack their self-esteem the ego the id the core of who they are. Instruction and communication are one thing….attacks are another.
Jesus said “Be careful how you listen.”  I believe He was also saying “Be careful how you hear and allow into your guarded mind [sub conscious] because untruth will program you just as much as real truth will.

Because our minds work this way, and because of the power of whatever seeds you are planting in your subconscious mind, you can begin to see the power that your associations have on you.  Are you letting the television set and its negative messages into your mind?  Are the books you read positive and edifying to you?  Are your friends loving and supporting of you, or do they try and knock you and are sarcastic and critical of you?
Remember, your subconscious will feed on whatever it is given.  It does not evaluate what is true and what was said in ‘fun’.  It just acts on whatever seeds are allows to be sown there.

Guard your mind if you want to control your future.

Who gets into Heaven?  How well do you know your Bible?  Get the answer here!

Do you really know what it means to be a Christian and what the bible takes to get into heaven?

Person A…
…has a heart for serving.  She even goes to India and all her life serves the poor.  She heard about Jesus and believes that he was a good man but does not believe that he is her savior.  Will person A get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page... 

 Person B…
…was raised in a Christian home, and was baptized as a baby.  He tries to live a good life to be worthy of getting into heaven.  Will person B get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page... 

Person C…
… believes that there are many ways to get into heaven.  Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed will all get him into heaven.  Will person C get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page... 

Person D…
…was a Nazi responsible for killing 500,000 people in one of the concentration camps.  At the end of his life he repents for his many sins and accepts Jesus as his personal savior.  Will person D get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page... 

Person E…
…is a dedicated Muslim.  He prays five times per day and follows all the laws and traditions of his faith.  Will person E get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Person F…
…believes that Jesus died for all of mankind.  He goes to Church frequently and loves to sing worship songs.  He does not see the need to personally accept Jesus since he died for all of mankind.  Will person F get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Person G…
…believes that all of us will go to heaven because God is a merciful God.  Will person G get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Person H…
…followed all the 600+ laws and commandments of the Bible that are humanly possible. Will person H get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Person I…
…said the sinners prayer and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior many years ago.  However, his life never Changed.  He does not read the Bible and has not been to church since the day he accepted Jesus.  Will person I get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Person J…
…had classmates in grade school tell him about Jesus, but he thought those messengers were narrow minded and angry.  Later in his life others invited him to Jesus but he the other messengers were flawed too.  Will he be able to say he never heard the Gospel?  Will person J get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Person K…
…accepted Jesus has his personal savior.  He still makes mistakes, however, one can see a real difference in his life.  He has a personal relationship with Jesus, reads the bible, is involved in Church.  He realizes that his good deeds will never get him into heaven, but Jesus’ did for him so that he can.  Will person K get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Person L…
…he died many years ago but is trying to work it out in purgatory.  Will person L get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Person M…
…made some mistakes in this life but hopes to get another chance and be better in the next life.  Will person M get into heaven?

See the answer on the next page...

Click Here For The Answers

Try Our New Quiz Format

Also, check out some of these resources I found…like Desiring God, that talk about how to teach our children.

…   Successful People Get Results

If you ask me, many people are successful in their lives today because they know how to get things done. Not only do tasks get completed, they get done efficiently and on time.  To be successful in any endeavor, you must accomplish your assigned task, do it well, and get it done by the deadline that was given.  If you make the most of the talents that God has given you,  you will be greatly rewarded.

Successful people are also the ones who know how to solve problems, not create new ones. You should always strive to be the person that solves problems.  According to Jeffrey J. Mayer, in his book, Success is a Journey:  7 Steps to Achieving Success in the Business of Life, “It is your ability to overcome and find solutions to problems that will make you a huge success.”  Mayer goes on to explain two points you should keep in mind concerning problem solving:

a)  People who don’t  solve problems,  never get anything done.  Instead of spending time solving the problem, they waste time complaining about them.

b)   When a problem isn’t getting solved, that means something is not getting done, someone isn’t happy, and that leads to complaining and someone leaving to go somewhere else where it can be solved.

Follow these Three Steps whenever  Solving a Problem:

1) take the time to analyze and identify the problem

2) create a plan of action to solve the problem

3) execute your plan

Keep this in mind:  unsolved problems are a drain on your mental, intellectual, and physical strength;  problems don’t just go away by themselves. They must be dealt with, worked through and brought to a final resolution or else they remain a problem forever.

How to Have Your Debt Paid in Full

The current national debt of the Untied States is an amount so staggering, few can grasp it. It’s one of the big reasons why national help with health care is so hotly debated, and people worry so much about Social Security.

There is an even bigger debt, though, than the tens of thousands of dollars owed by each man, woman, and child in the United States. And, it, too, is a debt each person owes.

What is that debt? When we see someone do something wrong, we all like to think “They’ll get what’s coming to them.” That faith helps us overcome the incredible evil that is all around us. It is a debt that wrongdoers owe. In fact, people released from prison are sometimes said to have “paid their debt to society.”

The problem is, we all commit wrongs, called sins. We all have a debt – and the combined total of that debt is great far greater than the U.S. National Debt. Think about all the lies that have been told. With so many people in the world, there are far more lies per second than the amount the National Debt increases per second. That’s not even counting the number of times people steal, hurt others, act mean, and so on. This sin debt grows higher and higher every day.

We can pay off credit cards bit by bit. Sometimes, we can agree to pay a certain amount, and a case will be closed. But, in order to do this, you have to not charge any more, right? You can’t pay a minimum balance of $100 on a credit card and then spent $150 per month on that card. It wouldn’t make sense. The debt would never be paid. And, this doesn’t even take into account the interest on that debt. More must be going to pay the debt than the amount added to the debt, in order to spend it down.

In order to get out of debt, we have to work to manage things so we are spending less than we take in. that includes interest. And, we need to manage thigns so we aren’t racking up so much interest we can’t repay.

Think about that debt that we owe because of our human nature, then. Each of us owes a debt because of those things we say, think, or do that are wrong. They’re usually not like the “debt to society” that is paid for with prison. Most of them are things that need a simple apology, or something else. But, even that is not enough to pay off the debt of sin.

It’s important to apologize sincerely, of course. It helps a lot when we do. But, the problem is, by the time we apologize for a particular sin, things have been added to that sin, like interest. For instance, let’s say we have told a lie, and later apologize and change our heart attitude, so we don’t tell that same lie anymore. In the meantime, someone found out that we lied. An amount of trust will have vanished, that had been there before. It will take more effort to build that trust back up. That trust is like an interest payment for the debt that we took on when we sinned. In a way, then, that lie indirectly causes something to be stolen, as well. And, it isn’t even the only thing that can be lost. Someone may act on that lie, and wind up losing money, losing a relationship, or something else based on it, when that thing should never have been lost.

As much as we try, we can’t be perfect. Even if a person sins 3 times a day – and even if you believe you’re a “good person,” I’m sure you’ll accept that there are 3 times a day – that’s over 1,000 sins a year.

Think about it. We get cut off in traffic, and we curse the person even though they could have a sick relative they’re rushing to visit in the hospital. We say something to hurt or tear others down instead of building them up. We rush to selfishly do something instead of thinking of others first. We commit adultery in our heart through how we look at another. As we can see, then, the debt of sin is huge.

It’s one we can’t repay. We can’t even repay the sin debt on each individual sin. But, to make matters worse, we add to that debt every day. We add to it through mean-spirited things, gossip, selfish thinking, and many other things that not only hurt people, they hurt God. What an enormous debt we owe!

Our debt to society isn’t paid with prison, though. The wages of sin is death. It’s separation from God’s perfect love and goodness forever., in a horrible place filled with sin. God, in His justice, must keep sin from His perfect Heaven, because in His love, He provides a perfect place once this life is over. It’s a place filled with goodness, where there’s no pain, no suffering, and no tears.

But wait, you ask: If the wages of sin is death, if we have all this sin, how can we reach that place? How can that debt be paid?

Thankfully, the story doesn’t stop there. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It’s a free gift.

See, that debt was so huge, that no person could pay it. No person could pay it, because each person would have to pay his or her own sin debt. So, god came to this world, in form of a man. Jesus Christ was 100% man and 100% God while here on Earth. He paid all your sin debt when He died on the cross for you, and rose from the dead.

Think about it. It wouldn’t do to be 51% good and 49% bad, because that sin debt would still be there. Yes, we should try to be good. But, you can’t repay a debt just by promising to not go any further into debt. The debt will still be there. But, that’s what people do when they trust in being good. They try to ignore those little debts and just focus on not having any more debt. But, that debt still has to be paid. No amount of good work can cause that debt to be paid. Thankfully, the sin debt has been paid in full. Jesus Christ is God in flesh. He, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, all His disciples (though they were tortured and killed for it), Jesus’ miracles, and the Old Testament all testify that He is the sinless one, who became sin for us.

That’s how he took on our debt. He marked it “Paid in full” when He shed His perfect blood, as the sacrifice for our sin. All the lambs that were sacrificed from the very beginning were a sign of what Jesus Christ would do someday. He was the sinless Lamb of God. He laid down His life so we could be saved from our sin debt. And then, He rose from the dead the third day.

Archaeology confirms so much of the Bible. The testimony of people like John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace,” who have been radically changed, proves that it’s possible, and it happens. Most importantly, His Holy Spirit moves in peoples’ hearts to tell them how much God loves them.

See, God is just, but He is also a God of mercy and forgiveness. God wants to forgive your sin debt. He hung on that cross, suffering agony for hours as He endured the wrath of God the Father, as the sinless substitute for each of us. Then, as He died, He cried out, “tetelestai,” which means “It is finished!” The entire debt had been paid!And, he rose again the third day; He had defeated death, so all who believe can rise with Him.

That repayment must be accepted, though. If you knew it was free, you wouldn’t refuse a person’s offer to pay off all your credit cards and other debts, right? And yet, until that person paid them off, you would still have debt, because you wouldn’t have accepted it.

In the same way, Jesus paid all your sin debt for you. And, He just needs you to accept that He did, and receive it by simple faith. God is love. He wants to pay your sin debt. You just need to:

Accept you’re a sinner, that your sin debt keeps you from His perfect Heaven, that no amount of good work can get you there;

Believe that He is God in flesh, that He died on the cross and rose from the dead for you, personally, to take all your sin debt away;

Choose to turn away from your sins, and trust Him to save you from your sin and forgive you, and to come live in you through His Holy Spirit.

That’s all it takes. It’s a free gift. I know it can be hard for some, but that’s okay; He understands. He knows You, and loves You. He’ll help you have faith if you just trust Him to; before trusting Him to forgive your sin debt, just call in your heart, “ Lord, I’m not sure if you’re out there, but I’m giving this a try, and I trust that if You are real, You will hear and answer.”

Of course, once we receive Him as our Savior, and He comes to live in us, we still sin. We have a human nature that causes us to sin. But, we have Jesus Christ living in us so we can turn to Him and get help, so we don’t sin. And, whatever happens, He will forgive and cleanse us, if we just confess our sin to Him.

The Holy Spirit living is us is His guarantee that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He will keep working in us to get us to be good. He might have to work pretty hard to get some peoples’ attention if they wander far away in sin. But, He will always lovingly guide us back, and watch over us, and help us. Because, God is love. And, He loves you. He wants you to be totally free from the burden of sin.

Baseball great Yogi Berra’s “déjà vu all over again” quote will likely appear often, as Brett Favre threw another interception at the end of a conference championship game, just like in January of 2008. Will he retire, or not? And, if he retires, will he stay retired? Between him and Conan O’Brien, who list the battle with Jay Leno over the 11:30 time slot, future employment will be in celebrity news for weeks or even months.

Interesting that, in each case, they likely want to do something. It’s doubtful O’Brien will give up comedy, though he could with his severance package. As for Favre, pro athletes are so used to competition and cheering, it would be hard to imagine him spending his whole life golfing and fishing, even if we think we would with his millions.

The reason it’s hard to imagine is, we are born with a desire to do something. Even the first man, Adam, didn’t just sit around doing nothing. His job was to till the garden in Eden, to dress it and keep it nice. This was a much easier job before the Fall, of course.

When Adam and Even sinned, things changed. To use our present examples, a Brett Favre can’t play quarterback without 300-pound guys clobbering him. The old adage is that football is not just a contact sport, it’s a collision sport. Because sin came into the world, these collisions cause Favre to get banged up, and to age to the point where someday, he’ll realize his body can’t take it. Similarly, Conan O’Brien is in a job where jokes fall flat sometimes. Sometimes, communication fails, and there can easily be someone better who can take that job.

These are the “thorns and thistles” of their jobs, the problems of working that have existed since sin entered the world. Tilling the garden would have been easy for Adam. But, because sin was brought into the world, with his job came problems. And, the ground would produce thorns and thistles. (Genesis 3:18)

Every difficulty we encounter, no matter what our work, can be traced back to these thorns and thistles. Every task that seems fruitless, every attempt to get something done that fails, comes because of this. Favre’s interceptions, his many bruises and aches, come because this world is not the perfect place it was created to be. Conan’s struggles with his employer, as well as times when any comedian is “just dying out there,” are the consequences of sin having been brought into the world back at the dawn of time.

Of course, work has success, too. God promises that success will come in that verse, when He tells Adam he shall eat the herb of the field. What he is saying, though, is that that herb is going to be hard to come by, much harder than if sin were not present. And, in the same way, Favre and O’Brien have each tasted great success in their jobs. Favre is a surefire Hall of Famer who increased his prestige with an incredible season. Conan O’Brien is seen by many as a great comedian, even with his problems.

Some jobs bring more difficulties than others, of course. In some, it’s the location – a house in a poor market might not sell for months, even with the best seller. Ratings are dependent on the competition and “lead in” viewers. A quarterback can struggle mightily with no supporting cast. At times, it’s the nature of the job. Favre’s successor, Aaron Rodgers, saw an incredible playoff game go to waste because of defensive struggles. And, the best doctor can’t save every patient. Even in a field where that doctor would rarely ever see something bad, there will always be that one case that turns out to be an untreatable cancer. Thorns and thistles come up in every field.

And yet, when all is said and done, that agent can find someone to buy, if the price is low enough. The surgeon in the busiest emergency room, with the worst accidents, will be able to save some. A truly great quarterback can still get noticed by the Hall of Fame eventually, and a great comedian can get laughs from someone. The herb of the field will come. It will just be with a lot of effort, a lot of toil, and a lot of sweat.

That toil and sweat of the brow comes at us just as it came at Adam, and just as it comes for Favre and O’Brien – whatever they choose to do. However, the next verse, Genesis 3:19, points to what Favre and O’Brien must both consider. Eternal rewards are the only ones that will last, and they must start to earn these, instead of only Earthly ones. To get those, we must receive Christ’s forgiveness.

Consider Adam’s situation. He learns that he will have to work much harder to get any yield from the land. He will do this in sorrow his whole life, realizing what once was. Yes, he would be able to get the herb of the field eventually. But, even when he did, it would seem so fruitless at times. The toil and sweat of his brow would make labor so tiring. And, after all that labor, what would he get? A physical body that would grow old, decay, and die. Just as Brett Favre and Conan O’Brien – and all of us – have.

God knew this. He didn’t want any of us to be surprised. The fact that Adam would have to toil and sweat was an implied part of that warning back in Gen. 2:17 that he would surely die. This phrase, literally translated, says, “dying, you will die.” In other words, the process of death would begin right away, and would continue until, at long last, Adam returned to dust. Gen. 3:19, then, is telling Adam just how that would happen. Just as we will turn to dust someday and so will celebrities like Favre and O’Brien.

Of course, some work is more joyful than others. When Paul Harvey, the great radio commentator, passed away, there was a clip of him stating something to the effect that he’d never “worked” a day in his life. It was always so much fun. Just as Favre, when he looks at it, keeps coming back to the thrill of the game. (And, thus, keeps coming out of retirement.) And, just as O’Brien keeps looking at the thrill of doing stand-up comedy. Sure, it takes a lot of toil and sweat, as it did for Mr. Harvey. But, if you ask them, they’d probably echo his sentiments.

This is an element of God’s grace. It shows that God, in His perfect love, has created each of us with interests that, if we hone them, will grow into lifelong work that we’ll love. We’ll love it because God has matched us to that work. Paul Harvey still worked, of course. But, he had found that one specific thing which he could do that brought him pleasure. Just as Favre and O’Brien no doubt have.

This is not a sign of salvation per se; plenty of saved people toil in unhappy situations, and plenty of unsaved love their jobs. What it means is that God loves us, and it’s one of the ways He shows that love to us. There is always that reminder – through how we age – that our bodies are but dust. However, he provides us with grace, so we can have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

However, Adam was still mortal, as we all are. He would return to the ground. Even if someone is the greatest ever at what they do, all the things they do in this life build treasures on earth. Ones that moth and rust can corrupt, and thieves can break forth and steal. (Matt. 6:19) That frail, physical body simply returns to the dust.

Yet, Adam could receive God’s forgiveness for his sin – that means forgiveness for falling short of God’s perfect glory. And, so can anyone. We must each accept that we’re sinners, in need of a Savior. Simply receive, by simple faith, God’s forgiveness, through what Jesus Christ, God in flesh, did on the cross. He was sinless, yet He became sin for us. He was the substitute, he took the punishment for our sins, when He died on the cross, and then he rose from the dead, just as we who receive Him will be raised someday. To as many as received Him, gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. (John 1:12) This means trusting Him by simple faith to forgive us for our sins.

Once a person trusts in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are assured of a home in God’s perfect Heaven, where there is no pain, no suffering, no heartache. One can only get to heaven by receiving that forgiveness, because when we do, God makes us a new creature on the inside; He comes to live in us and guide us to becoming more like Him.

When a person has received Christ as their Savior, they can earn rewards in Heaven, by serving the Lord. A person can serve the Lord in a secular job, of course – you don’t have to be a missionary to serve Him. But, to build treasure in Heaven, a Christian must live with an eye toward doing things that glorify and honor Him and draw others to Him.

It is vital that we lay up treasures in Heaven, where they can’t decay, grow old, or be stolen. (Matt. 6:20) This applies just as much to us as it did to Adam. We, too, have physical bodies that will return to the ground. However, we also have that promised Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He longs for us to turn to Him. He longs for us to be born again, through what He did for us on the cross, dying and rising from the dead. And, then, He longs for us to build those treasures in heaven, so we don’t have to be empty-handed when we approach the throne of God. We can have crowns to lay at His feet. We can have wonderful, eternal blessings that go beyond this world, into eternal rewards.

These rewards are what Favre and O’Brien should seek. Favre can’t play quarterback as long as O’Brien can do comedy. Both must realize that – while God has been gracious in giving each something that fills them with joy, no matter what they do, if they seek only Earthly gain, it will all be wasted. They can’t last forever. But, if they receive Christ, they can live forever, and they can serve the Lord in whatever He provides for them, that will glorify and honor Him.

Have you noticed how much we hear about our hearts these days?  We’re frequently reminded we should reduce the stress in our lives, eat properly, exercise regularly and have yearly check ups.  Doctors believe if we do these things we will keep healthy.

Of course, if problems arise, we can choose to ignore their advice and risk the consequences, or we can make whatever changes are necessary for a healthy heart. It is really up to us to decide.

Our “spiritual hearts”—our relationship with God, need to be taken care of as well.  Some people have very healthy spiritual hearts, but for others, there is bad news.  Their “spiritual EKG” shows severe sin problems in desperate need of forgiveness.  There are only two options available to them:  They can ignore their condition, in which case they will “die in their sin,” or they can take the healing advice of “God, the Great Physician,” and get well.  It seems like an easy decision to make, but it’s amazing how many people make the wrong one.

The Physician has a “file” about all people with unhealthy hearts.  It is entitled, The Book of Romans. It’s a book in the Bible.  Contained within its pages is complete information about the patient, along with a diagnosis and recommended treatment.  It’s a very important file.  This is some of the information contained within it:

The Physician’s Diagnosis:

There is a condition known as sin.  It is defined as not measuring up to God’s standard of perfection in our thoughts, words, or deeds.  Sin entered the world because of one person’s behavior (Rom.5:12 NIV).  That was Adam.  Since then, all people have sinned (Rom.3:23 NIV).  Sin separates each person from a relationship with God, results in physical and spiritual death, and condemns each one to a place of eternal torment called Hell (Rom.6:23 NIV).  This is a world-wide epidemic, and is the most serious and deadly problem known to humankind today.

Treatment and Cure:

The treatment and cure for this problem is available from only one source—Jesus Christ, the Great Physician.  Although Jesus never sinned, He showed His great love for us by taking the punishment for our sins—a cruel and painful death.  It is the punishment we deserve (Rom.5:8, 17-18 NIV).  After three days, God raised Jesus from the dead. Verbally confessing Jesus is Lord, and believing in ones heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is the treatment for a sinful heart condition (Rom.10:9-10 NIV). Anyone who asks for the treatment will receive it (Rom.10:13 NIV). Then, no longer sick in your sins, you will be able to give yourself “whole heartedly” to God (Rom.6:16-18 NIV).  Nothing will ever be able to separate you from God’s love for you (Rom. 8:35-39 NIV).  This is truly good news!

With this treatment the patient will soon realize his heart has been cured.  By daily “feeding” on God’s Word, the Bible, and “exercising” one’s prayer life, a good check up with the Physician is guaranteed.  This treatment will also result in a less stressful life because cares can be given to God, and it will cause one’s heart to beat in time with His.

A bright future is promised the patient who makes these changes.  When that person dies, a home in Heaven, with God forever, is guaranteed (Rom.3:23 NIV).  After Jesus arose from the dead, He went to heaven to prepare that home.  In fact He’s working on it right now.

Imagine being able to live with the Physician forever in a place prepared especially for you.  With Him, there will be no more tears, no more aches and pains, no more sin-sick hearts.

The Physician has never had a malpractice suit filed against Him, nor even a complaint from any of His patients.  He has a great bedside manor, and even makes house calls. With His “health plan,” there’s no waiting to see the Physician, no paper work to fill out, and no co-payments.  Best of all, anyone can afford it—because it’s free for the asking.

Miley Cyrus has been a superstar, and a great influence on perhaps millions of girls through her hit show, “Hannah Montana.” It was recently announced that her show will end production, allowing her to go on to other things.

So, what should she do, and what will she do? That is the question a lot of girls – and their parents – will ask themselves. Perhaps Ms. Cyrus, too, is asking herself this. It’s my prayer

First, while the performer is not the character, that line is blended to a certain extent even in normal situations. Even an actor who is very well known for two roles – Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor and Ben Matlock, for instance – finds most fans associating him with one or the other most of the time.

That line is blurred to a much greater extent with Miley Cyrus, because Hannah Montana was produced to be very similar to her career. Not only that, but viewers’ ages means they will connect Miley to Hannah a lot more.

So, what should Miley Cyrus do? What will she do? Let’s look at a few things with regard to entertainment in today’s culture. Because, she has a choice to make, and should consider that she may be here for such a time as this.

What time is it? It is a time when many connect adult entertainment with vulgarity. There is little good, wholesome entertainment.

Viewers of TV and film, and readers of books, are drawn by conflict, of course. That’s not always a bad thing. The four main types – Man versus man, man versus nature, man versus himself, and man versus God – can be done in a very wholesome way. Consider the story of the Prodigal Son, for instance. The “man versus man” part is found in the actions and words of several people. “Man versus nature” is when the Prodigal struggles trying to live and eat with the pigs. (One could also include the struggle with sin nature.) “Man versus himself” is his inner struggle and decision to finally return to his father. His open rebellion, of course, is just like us, with our sin nature, rebelling against God.

I’ve never seen Hannah Montana, but I would guess that, unlike most entertainment, it is probably much closer to the model shown in Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” This is a good list to consider when focusing on anything, of course.

So, the general answer is that Miley Cyrus should focus on things in the above verse. There are certainly plenty of good parts in movies, TV series, and what have you that focus on these things. Obviously, not all characters in every story will have excellent morals. However, the key is that entertainment should focus on the fact there is an absolute right and wrong that has existed since the foundation of the world. (Whatever things are true.) There doesn’t have to be a big moral lesson hanging over every episode or every movie. Some things are just fun, or silly, or meant to project simple things. But, ideas such as people being more important than things, compassion and kindness being important, and so on should be apparent.

Take love, for instance. This is something that will likely be a big part of some of Miley Cyrus’ roles.

True love is unconditional. It is very deep. People who are truly in love give of themselves for the one they love. They accept that it means sacrifice. They give the other person input in decisions. Obviously, in parent-child situations, the relationship is different. But, the parent still considers the child’s best interests with things, not the parents’. In the same way, those who love each other are always thinking of the one they love. True love is forever. True love is God’s love.

The world’s system, however, is different. The world’s system is full of vulgar things, and the lusts of the flesh. The world’s system says to love selfishly, so that you are only trying to please your flesh. The world’s system is all about getting whatever you can take, and not caring about the other person. The world’s system is about tearing others down, not building others up like God’s system. The world’s system says love is fleeting, that it can’t last forever. But, true love is forever.

There are many things one can do, many parts one can play, while keeping true to this ideal. Story arcs can find people growing from a physical, selfish love into a wonderful, dynamic love where the couple cares for each other and always puts the other first. Individual stories can show a young couple that feels true love, but one or both are tempted to be selfish. In the end, they accept that they were wrong and recommit to each other and to that ideal of unconditional love. Those in a relationship where they are selfish toward each other can find justice prevailing, as they lose because of their selfishness. (Whatsoever things are just.) Or, the couple that feels true love can just be in a situation that doesn’t threaten that love, but instead finds them together as they experience some life event. They could be mourning a loss, celebrating something, or just something silly like getting lost on a trip. I could name quite a few other plots, where this couple is either a major or minor part of them.

Love is only one example of the things Miley Cyrus will face in her future roles. She will face many choices. She should make the decision now to commit to Philippians 4:8 as a means of testing what should be done. This means no vulgarity, true love, building others up, and many other good thigns that she can be part of in her future rules.

So, what will Miley do? A good way to judge any life choice is the “Four C’s”: 1. Consider the choice; 2. Compare it to God’s Word; 3. Commit to following Godly principles; 4. Count on God’s protection and provision.

Whether she follows this pattern is up to her. She has professed Christ as her Savior. What having Christ as Savior means is, you accept that you’re a sinner,a nd fall short of God’s perfect glory. You can’t save yourself and thus can’t get to that perfect heaven, where there is no suffering, no sorrow, no pain, because of that sin. But, Jesus Christ, God in flesh, took the punishment for your sins, just as He did for all of us, when He died on the cross, the just for the unjust. Then, He rose bodily from the dead. The only way to heaven is to receive what Christ did on the cross as having taken all the punishment for your sins.

From what I’ve heard, her testimony seems genuine. But, like everyone, she will face temptation. She will face temptation to follow the world’s system in the roles that she chooses. She will face temptation to choose lots of money over roles that may pay less, but which will keep her reputation intact.

Because she is human, therefore, her fans should focus on the One who was perfect, Jesus Christ. He was the sinless substitute for our sins. His perfect life is one we should all pattern ourselves after.

However, we should also pray for Miley Cyrus. Prayer does work wonders. The temptations she faces will be huge, and she will need the Holy Spirit inside her to guide her toward things that fit that Philippians 4:8 profile. She will need prayer to have her eyes constantly opened to the fact that she can play adult roles while still holding fast to the absolute right and wrong which she professes. She can be a great adult performer with no swearing, violence, really sensual scenes, etc.. She can have great success this way.

She will be sorely tempted, because the devil would like nothing more than to steal her reputation and tarnish her image. That could lead a lot of fans to follow after things of the ungodly world’s system, instead of after things of God.

However, hopefully, Miley Cyrus will continue to be a great example of Jesus Christ for others. As Paul Harvey used to say, “If that’s not the way to bet, that’s the way to pray.” Pray that she be encouraged to follow the Lord with everything, and not be tempted by what the world says “adult” means when it comes to entertainment. Who knows – maybe she’ll even find this blog somehow, and be encouraged. If God wills it, he can do it.

However, while Miley Cyrus is very popular, the one to truly pattern yourself after is Jesus Christ. He can help us through anything. There is no temptation which He can’t overcome, if you have his Holy Spirit in you, and He will provide a way out each time, so we don’t have to fall for sin.

This, as above, is something everyone can count on who receives Jesus and lets Him make them new creatures on the inside. And yet, when we mess up, thankfully he is just and faithful to forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

How to succeed in tough economic times – the right kind of treasure

Are we in a recession? A depression? Have you or someone you know faced hard times? You can still succeed, no matter what the economy does.

Let’s look at your worldview.  How do you see the world? I’m not talking about being a Pollyanna, ignoring every possible problem. But, I am talking about figuring out what things are important.

See, we live in a society where there is so much advertising, we tend to look at it and say, “Oh, if I have this latest gadget I’ll feel better.” Or, we think that, “I need a bigger home, bigger car, bigger everything.”  In other words, our worldview is partly shaped by that desire for the newest and best of everything.

But, who told you that newest was best?  Who told you that biggest was best?  Chances are, it was probably a combination of advertising and your friends, many of whom have a lot of that stuff. Or, had it, till the recession, depression, or whatever this is.

The way to succeed in these times is to change worldviews.

It’s really a sweet decision.  All those advertisers have been telling you that you have to have the latest gadget, and that only the newest things are the best, and so on.  You can tell them to forget about their things, which don’t last, which can be broken, lost, or stolen,and which grow old.  And, you can gain rewards that will never grow old, never wear out, never get stolen, and never lose value.

I’m not talking about gold, silver, or anything else here on earth, either.  I’m talking about building Heavenly rewards.  Because, only there can we really have satisfaction.

How do we get these rewards that are free from crashes, free from aging and inflation?  You might have even heard Matthew 6:20, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” But, you wonder how to do that.  Here are several basic principles, to help you build those treasures.

1. Have a home up in Heaven.

Think about it.  If you wanted to invest in the stock market, what would you do?  Pick out the right stocks?  Plan your investment strategy?  No, of course not.  You’d open an account.

In the same way, you need to open an account in heaven.  To do that, you need to receive His forgiveness for our sins.

Think of Heaven as a delicious human food, and sins as dog food.  Most people would never eat dog food if they had a choice, especially if it was between that and a delicious meal of whatever your favorite food is.  You’ve got that food all ready to be served, but there’s a problem.  Someone threw dog food into it.  You couldn’t touch that yucky stuff, right?  You’d throw it out in a hurry.

In the same way, anything we bring to the table in Heaven needs to be cleansed.  We need our lives cleansed from sin.  The only way to do that is to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.  You need to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:30) It was “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)  So, you can’t do anything to get those sins cleansed yourself. You need to let Jesus do it for you.  And, you can’t add anything to it, because Jesus Christ saved you by dying on the cross, and rising from the dead, before you ever knew Him.  He had you on His mind when He went to the cross.

So, you need to receive what He did, by simple faith, as taking the whole punishment for your sins.  He shed His blood once, for all; the just for the unjust.  That’s how you have your sins cleansed. Once you’ve received Him as your Savior, you can start earning those rewards in heaven.  Because, you have an account up there.

And, that account can never be taken away.  You are sealed unto the day of redemption, with the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:30, 1:14).  That seal can’t be broken.  Nothing can separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)

2. Put Jesus Christ first in your life, and serve Him.

Remember that dog food example, where we compared sin to it?  Your account is secure in Heaven.  That means you can build treasures there, like a chef makes a great meal.  However, sometimes, the “great meal” you build in Heaven have a little “dog food” in it yet.  Obviously, it’s no good then.  How does this happen? It happens when we don’t build in the right way; when we put something else ahead of Jesus.

The things we build here on earth won’t matter in Heaven.  There’s a famous joke that a very rich man, who had trusted Christ as his Savior, asked to bring something with him when he got to heaven.  He was told he could bring one bag, and so when he died, he had that bag stuffed, ready to take it with him.  When he got to the Pearly Gates, St. Peter checked the records, and said, “Okay, I see you were allowed to bring one bag, but I have to check inside.” He opened it, and said, in a shocked voice, “Of all the things you could bring, why would you bring pavement?!” the rich man had brought gold, but gold is useless as pavement up there; it’s what they pave the streets with in heaven!

First Corinthians 3:11-15 tells us the things we do will be tested, to see if they were really for Jesus, or for ourselves.  If you want to gain rewards that will last forever, your goal in life must be to be Christlike, and to glorify God in all you do.  That doesn’t mean that you totally ignore wealth.  If God has gifted you with the ability to make money as a good, honest businessman, you should.  But, what it means is that you use whatever wealth, talent, or time you have to help others, instead of always trying to please yourself.  And, that in helping others, your eye should not be on making yourself look good by doing so.  It should be on showing the love of Christ in helping others.

The beautiful thing is, these are treasures we can earn at any time.  Some people do better with little than they would with a lot.  You are where you are in life, because God has placed you there, or God has allowed you to be there through your choices, so that you can show Godly love, goodness, and so on to others.

These are things we can do no matter what the economy does.  The poorest person on earth could have untold riches in Heaven; but, so could a very rich person. The key is simple. Build your treasures in Heaven. This requires you to put them on the foundation of Jesus Christ, first of all, and to seek, in your heart, to glorify Him by showing others Who He is. Because, we are not here to save the world, though we should try to make the world better where we can.  We are here to save sinners from a lost and dying world.  This world of things will one day vanish. But, the rewards we build in Heaven will last forever.

We explore how a personal budget plan makes setting financial goals obtainable.  First, write down a paragraph or list of where you would like to see yourself five, ten, fifteen, or even twenty years from now.   Make this list financial, spiritual, career wise, etc.  Pour your heart out and write your true desires and passions.

Next, clearly see where are you are right now; time for some honest introspection.  Do your finances support your goals?  Look at what your earnings are in comparison to your spending.  Similar to starting a business, you need to consider all of the variables.

These variables include things such as what you spend the most money on, what expenses you can easily cut back, and what expenses are unavoidable.  Take a look at your checkbook.  There you will be able to see what you have spent your money on over the last several months.  Go back as far as a year if you can.  Some of the things you are writing checks for might surprise you.  How many of them were actual necessities, and how many could you have easily done without?  Without realizing it, you have now begun making a budget.

A key to success is in the Proverbs 21:5 admonition that, The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Next, think over your cash expenditures.  We usually spend a lot of cash on the “little” things.  Write down the items you can clearly recall spending cash on recently.  Are these repetitive items?  Do you purchase them every day?  Every week?  Add them together over the course of a month.  How much of this money could you save, or use to pay down credit card debt, or apply against the principal of your mortgage?  Can you now start to see your personal budget plan coming together?

Saving money alone does not equal happiness.  How does a life free of worry about paying bills and making ends meet sound?  Peace of mind is priceless.  What about being able to be financially free to go where God has given you passion for?  If you are encumbered by debt, you will not be free to serve at full capacity.

Your personal budget plan will help you to spend less than you earn, creating positive cash flow for you to save and to apply to meeting financial obligations such as paying off a car or house faster than you thought possible.

The best part is that it will not take long.  As soon as you begin the initial phase of your personal budget plan, you will be spending less, saving more, and setting financial goals almost immediately.  The achievement process takes time, but you will experience it step by step.  You will have a clear idea as to how you are getting ahead, even before you fully reach your goals.

Get started creating a personal budget now as you are setting financial goals that will lead surely to advantage.

What do you think?  Leave me a reply.

Proverbs 4:5-9 ……. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.”

Proverbs 8:10-11, 17, 23-35 ……. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 8:23-35 …….  I (Wisdom) was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I (Wisdom) was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above  and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his (God’s) side.  I (Wisdom) was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. “Now then, my sons, listen to me;  blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me (Wisdom) finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 9:10 ……. “The fear of the LORD (reverence for God) is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

James 1:5 ……. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 ……. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Matthew 7:7-8 ……. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ……. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 145:17-19 ……. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  (you respond to Him according to the revealed truth in the Bible)  He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (from the penalty of sin – eternal separation from God — Hell)

John 5:24 ……. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him (God) who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 ……. (Paul writes) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Romans 10:8-10 ……. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”  that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved

1 John 4:14-16 ……. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

2 Corinthians 4:13-15 ……. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead (God) will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.  AMEN!!!

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