Victorious Christian Living Newsletter
Welcome to the July 2008 Edition
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This issue includes:
3 of My Featured Teaching Articles
Quotes for Inspiration
A Bible Quiz Question
Christian Humor (because we don’t laugh nearly enough)
Interesting Bible Facts
A True Story
Suggested Bible Readings
Favorite Articles from My Blog
Links to My Other Sites
Video of the Month
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Do Not Be Afraid to Leave the Shore
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.
~Andre Gide
This quote goes along perfectly with the Bible definition of faith.
God can see the whole picture, so He knows exactly what needs to be done to bring forth His plans for your life. Because of this, He usually goes about doing things in a totally different way than any earthly person would think to do them.
He might tell you to do things in a certain way that may not make sense to you at the time, because He already has everything worked out and only needs you to be obedient. He wants you to get to the place that you can trust him totally to have your best interest at heart.
Just like the quote above, His plans may mean that you have to give up your comfort zone, or the way you have always done things. Even if you as a Christian do things the wrong way consistently, there is still some comfort in the fact that you know the way things will turn out even though they might be bad.
When you follow God completely, you give Him control of your ship to steer in the direction He chooses. That means that some of the time you will not know your ultimate destination, at least for awhile; but you do have total assurance that in the end you will be steered to the finest ports.
You have to make the decision that you will blindly trust God to have your best interest at heart just for the simple reason that you KNOW He is always working on your best behalf.
An example of this in the Bible would be in Acts 9: 10-19. Ananias was a man who loved God and wanted to be obedient to Him. All of a sudden God spoke to him and told him to go to Straight Street where Paul was staying, lay hands on him, and his sight would be restored.
Now Ananias knew the history of Paul and all the terrible things he had done to the Christians. He had persecuted them mercilessly and tried to annihilate them.
He did not know that a bright light had struck Paul blind and because of this he had made a change of heart. Paul now believed in and would follow God, but Ananias had no way of knowing everything that had happened.
Of course, he reminded God who Paul was and asked Him if he remembered all the horrible things Paul was doing to any Christian who crossed his path.
God told him he already knew, and gave Ananias instructions to obey. He had to make the choice if he would get out of his comfort zone and follow God, or continue to be afraid of Paul.
God had already seen the whole picture and knew all the facts. Ananias just had to come to the place that he could trust God completely with his life. Of course when he followed the instructions of God, he was able to be a part of something great and his name be a part of Bible history.
God takes you away from the shore because He wants to show you a whole new side of Him that you have never seen before. It is a very exciting life to choose to follow where He leads.
You will find yourself capable of doing things that you never thought possible, or desiring to learn things that you never had an interest in before. God wants to mold you and make you into the person that can truly do great and mighty things for Him.
Do not let fear keep you attached to the shore.
By Cathy Deaton
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Spend or Invest – Which One Describes You?
Spend: to pay out, disburse, or expend; dispose of, use up, consume, or exhaust; to spend money, energy, time, etc.
Invest: to use money, as in accumulating something; to use, give, or devote time, talent, etc., as for a purpose or to achieve something.
These are two common words, but I wanted to give you the dictionary meanings for the sake of clarity.
We all spend money every day. We pay bills, buy food and necessities for living, buy clothes, buy things for pleasure, etc. The way we live in this world is to spend our money in exchange for something we want or need.
The problem with spending money is that sometimes the amount you paid was more than the worth of the item. Many times we spend money without a thought as to whether we will really receive any benefit from it in the future; it just gives us satisfaction for the moment.
However, spending does not apply to just money. The dictionary also says dispose of, use up, consume, or exhaust. When we spend our time and talents on the wrong things, we end up exhausted and used up.
It is like having a nice savings account at the bank, but you withdraw small amounts over time without replacing the money you have taken out. After awhile, all your money is gone and you do not even remember most of the things you used it for.
When you invest money, time, talents, etc., you do it for a specific purpose, or to achieve something. The word invest brings to mind something totally different than the word spend.
An investment is done in the present, but looks toward the future. It is your desire to do something that will last and be worthwhile to stand the test of time.
An example would be that you might buy real estate intending to hold on to it until sometime in the future. Then when you decide to retire or need the money, the property is yours to sell. You bought it with just this in mind because you knew that it would appreciate and be worth more than what you paid for it.
Since I am a Christian, I want to write this article from a perspective other than just secular. When you spend all your time doing things to keep busy, or just because they are good, you deplete everything in your savings account and eventually wear yourself out from frustration. You feel that you are just spinning your wheels and not accomplishing much.
The Holy Spirit is in the life of every Christian to give wisdom and guidance. He is waiting for you to ask Him to show you the truth. When you follow his direction, you will always be able to invest your life in doing things that will have meaning for others and yourself, and each one will have a lasting effect for good.
Another example would be to raise your children to follow God. This could pass down for several generations because you chose to act in the present.
God is in the investment business. He wants your life to count for something eternal. You might be tired when you go to sleep at night but you will feel fulfilled, and not frustrated or bitter.
He wants to do great and mighty things in your life and is very relevant for today, but you have to give Him the freedom to work. He wants to use a vessel that is clean and pure, and will meet you exactly where you are at this very moment. Every area that you surrender to Him will be one where He can make a great investment for good.
There is no greater feeling than to know that your life is available to God to be used as he desires. It is the most exciting life that you could ever have.
By Cathy Deaton
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Respond or React – What Is The Difference?
According to the dictionary:
React – 1. To act in response to or under the influence of a stimulus or prompting 2. To act reciprocally or in return
Respond – 1. To make a reply; answer 2. To act in return or in answer 3. To react positively or favorably
To react means you give back the same thing that was given to you in much the same manner. To respond acts in return, but in a positive way.
These words are very powerful for every person, but especially for the Christian. You may not have control over many of the things that happen to you, but you can ALWAYS have control over how you respond to them. It is important for the Christian to walk with God on a daily basis. When you do that, your mind is set in a spiritual mode, and not in a fleshly one. You have already decided that you want your actions to please God.
I know from my own experience that when I make up my mind about something, I set it firmly and am not easily persuaded to act differently. I believe I know the truth and am acting totally and completely upon what I believe. When you fully believe in something, your actions will naturally follow with passion and determination.
Then if Satan throws you a curve in some way, you are much more likely to have the correct response. Even though you have no idea what might happen in the future, you are in a sense prepared for almost anything. You have already decided that you will think before you speak or act. Living your life this way can save you much heartache and regret.
When you just react to whatever comes your way without thinking first, your flesh takes control and does whatever it feels at the moment. That is when you do things that might hurt your testimony as a Christian.
Unsaved people are always watching to see if a Christian acts any differently when they go through bad times, because they have told the world that they have a powerful God who can meet all their needs. When you let the flesh take control, sometimes you never get a chance to undo the damage you have done to your Christian testimony as far as that one person or incident is concerned.
The Christian will never have to live with regret if he will learn to hear the Holy Spirit when He speaks. He is waiting patiently to give guidance and direction to walk in the truth. All you have to do is ask Him to take control of your speech, hearing, thinking, etc. You will find that you are more aware of things going on around you, and will have much more discernment than you ever had before.
Also, make the choice to study your Bible on a daily basis and spend time in prayer seeking direction. Put God first in your everyday life. All you need to do is make the first step, and He will meet you wherever you are.
The leadership of the Holy Spirit is the only way that you can respond instead of react to any given situation that happens in an instant. Now more than ever, we as Christians need to be a light to a world that is looking for something real, but trying to find it everywhere except in God.
The next time something unexpected happens, make sure that you respond in a way that will be pleasing to God.
By Cathy Deaton
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Quotes for Inspiration
A God you understood would be less than yourself.
Flannery O’Connor
The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else; whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.
Oswald Chambers
The greatest undeveloped resource of our country is faith; the greatest unused power is prayer.
Roger W. Babson
Someone else’s opinion of you doesn’t have to become your reality.
Les Brown
The essential thing to know about God is that God is Good. All the rest is secondary.
Simone Weil
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A Bible Quiz Question
Which miracle story is recorded in all 4 gospels?
The answer will be given in the newsletter next month. Hopefully you will be encouraged to do some digging into the Bible if you don’t already know the answer.
The answer to the 6-2008 newsletter quiz question is Hezekiah, King of Judah, found in 2 Kings 20: 1-7.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Christian Humor
(Because we do not laugh nearly enough!)
Just doesn’t know how to communicate!
A woman went to her pastor for marital counseling, and after a few preliminaries, the pastor said he had a few questions that would help identify the problems if she would just answer his questions as openly as possible.
When the lady agreed, he began by saying, “Do you have any grounds?” To which the lady responded, “Why, yes we do, we have about ten acres just north of town.”
“No ma’am, that’s not what I mean. What I mean is do you have … well, do you have a grudge?”
“Oh no, but we do have a nice little carport.”
“No, ma’am”, said the pastor, “that’s not what I mean. One more question: Does your husband ever beat you up?”
“Beat me up? Oh, no. I get up before he does just about every morning.”
In complete exasperation the pastor said, “Lady, you’re not listening to me. Why are you having trouble with your husband?”
“Well,” replied the lady, “the man just doesn’t know how to communicate.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Interesting Bible Facts
SEAL – This took the place of a signature. It belonged to a particular person and was engraved on a ring or small cylinder; then it was stamped on papyrus with ink or parchment with clay. This made it a part of the document itself. Many of these have been found in archaeological digs.
Doors of tombs, houses, or treasuries that wanted to be safe from intrusion were closed, and a piece of clay was stuck over the fastening. This was then impressed with the seal of the owner, so that the least meddling with the clay would break it.
BANQUET – Entertainment furnished at the expense of one man; usually towards the close of the day, between 5 and 6, and called supper.
On grand occasions the invitations were given out several days before, and when the day came a servant was sent to announce that the time had arrived; then the guest was expected to come.
After accepting the invitation, it was a great insult to the master of the house if one did not come.
When all who had been invited had arrived, the master shut the door. The first act of welcome was washing the feet and anointing the hair with perfumed oil; among the wealthy, on great days, a handsome cloak was furnished to each guest to be worn during the festivity.
BARN – Ten different Hebrew and Greek words are translated barn. In the East, they were rooms or pits (granaries) that were often made underground or cut into the solid rock.
It was their custom to keep animals, produce, grain, and all kinds of goods in the lower story of the dwelling. Poor people often slept in the same room with their cattle.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A True Story
Revive Us Again
One day years ago, a teenager left home to attend college. His mother, worried about him, gave him a Bible and printed a verse of Scripture on the flyleaf. The young man soon discovered college life to be an endless series of parties, in which he spent all the money he could acquire on fleeting pleasures.
On one occasion, he needed money for whiskey, and he pawned his Bible for it. Nevertheless, he eventually made it through college and became a doctor in a large hospital.
One day, Dr. Mackay treated a patient who knew that he was dying and asked for his “book.” After the man passed away, Dr. Mackay noticed the man’s “book” among his effects. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was the very Bible his mother had given to him years before, with his name and the verse of Scripture still on the flyleaf.
He retreated to his office and began poring over the book. Several hours later he knelt and asked Jesus Christ to be his Savior and Lord. Dr. W. P. Mackay later became a minister and the writer of the old Gospel hymn “Revive Us Again.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Suggested Bible Readings
Subject: Live in the Light
Psalm 27: 1
Psalm 119: 105
Matthew 5: 16
John 8: 12
I Peter 2: 9
I John 1: 5, 7
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My Favorite Blog Posts
The Glue That Holds Us Together
(This is from an email I received, and thought it was just too fantastic not to pass on.)
A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio…and I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned….but I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway.
He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is…how He spoke the universe into being…how He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire…etc. etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) …and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God’s handiwork. I remember so many times thinking…’How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???’
Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart…how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.
And then I lost my breath.
And it wasn’t because I was running on my treadmill, either.
It was because he started talking about laminin.
I knew about laminin. Here is how wikipedia describes them :’Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.’ You see….laminins are what hold us together …LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn’t know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE.
But now I do.
And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already)….
Here is what the structure of laminin looks like…AND THIS IS NOT a ‘Christian portrayal’ of it….if you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see…
Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!!
Amazing! The glue that holds us together….ALL of us…
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things HOLD TOGETHER.’ Colossians 1:15-17
Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool.
Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together …one cell to another….by the cross.
You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin ‘glue’ would look like long before Adam even breathed his first breath.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How Do You React to Closed Doors?
When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
Alexander Graham Bell
We as Christians have the Living God inside us in the form of the Holy Spirit. His job is to give direction and show us the truth about decisions we must make every day.
Many times we set long-term goals that are based on our own fleshly desires. God can see into the future and knows the outcome of the decisions we have made. Since we are His Child, He desires the best for us just as we desire that for our own children. If we can see that the path they are taking is a bad one, we want to do everything we can to keep them from doing something that might destroy them. From prior experience we know that certain roads lead to heartache and destruction, where a child does not have that capability.
The same is true with you and God. He can see where you will be down-the-road, and because He loves you He wants to do whatever it takes to keep you from being destroyed if you have chosen the wrong path.
God sometimes has to close a door that might look great to you at the moment. When this happens, don’t stand there longing for it to reopen. Do not look at the closed door as the end – rather think that God must have something much better for you in the long run.
Get on your knees, seek the truth, and ask Him what you need to do next. If He tells you to go in a different direction, do not let fear hold you back. Ask God to give you the faith to take whatever steps are needed. When the new door opens, do not hesitate to go through it. You will never be sorry that you chose to walk in obedience to God’s Word for your life. Never let fear keep you from getting His Best.
To check out my blog go to Who God Is Blog
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Please check out my other sites by clicking on the links below:
Blueprint for Victorious Christian Living
Handbook for Victorious Christian Living
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Video of the Month
This is the video of Louie Giglio talking about Laminin. It is awesome.
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That’s it for this newsletter. I hope that you have been truly inspired and blessed. I have prayed about each word written that it would minister in whatever way God desires.
It is also my prayer that God will bless you and your family and start to truly show you Who He Is. He is far greater than anything you could ever imagine.
In Christ,
Cathy Deaton
