October 2008 Newsletter

Victorious Christian Living Newsletter

Welcome to the October 2008 Edition

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This issue includes:

3 of My Featured Teaching Articles

Quotes for Inspiration

A Bible Quiz Question

Just for Laughs

Interesting Bible Facts

A Powerful Story

Suggested Bible Readings

Favorite Articles from My Blog

Links to My Other Sites

Video of the Month

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The Terrible Consequences of Anger

Anger is a killing thing: It kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before. It takes something from him.

-Louis L’Amour, famous Western novelist

How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.
-Marcus Aurelius-

The road of anger is a difficult one. It is like walking on a road that is filled with deep ruts, bumps, and very muddy. It is time consuming, costly, exhausting, and very easy to lose your way. In fact, you never make much forward progress when you have chosen this road.

Matthew 7: 13-14 tells us there are two gates a person can choose to go through: a wide one or a narrow one. The wide gate leads down a road to destruction, and the narrow one leads to life.

Different types of personalities treat anger in various ways. The calm, peaceful, laid-back person probably won’t have his blood pressure rise nearly as quickly as the one who is prone to fly-off-the-handle at small things. It is also much easier for that person to “shake it off” than for the person who tends to have a hot temper that flares quickly.

My normal nature is to be a positive person, but over the years I have learned that to stay extremely angry at a person or set of circumstances for even a short length of time changes my personality and outlook on life.

I am also very passionate about things, so if I let myself continue in the anger, my mind starts racing and I end up concentrating way too much on the wrong that was done to me. Then I don’t have the capacity to think correctly. The thing that has made me angry then ends up controlling me. The worst thing about living in this way is that my sin has separated me from God and the everyday guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead me into truth.

The consequences of anger in any life are surely greater than whatever could have caused it in the first place.

Most of us know someone who has let the raging bull of anger take control of their life. Something unjust happened and they have never gotten over it. They don’t mind telling you about it, either, because it consumes their life. I think of this in the same way that a threatened, angry snake spews venom out of its mouth on the person or thing nearest it. An angry person spews their own form of venom on anyone who happens to be close by.

Never let any person or any circumstance come between you and God. Your consequences will be much too terrible.

All anger is not the kind that is easily seen from the outside. Some of us are so kind-hearted and nice that we would never lose our temper or be mean to others in public.

No matter what your personality, you can have deeply embedded anger that can have devastating effects in your life. Sometimes it is so deep that you can go for years and not realize it. Then all of a sudden, the Holy Spirit starts to bring it to mind because He wants you to deal with it, get forgiveness, and let Him restore and heal you.

The Holy Spirit has a huge job to do in the heart of every Christian. It is to guide you in all truth, but the only way He can do that is for you to be obedient to everything He tells you. If it is your desire to know the truth, He will reveal it; you always have a choice as to what you will do.

Most people who are very bitter and angry about everything did not start out that way. They gradually became that way.

The road first starts out as one that is smooth and easy to walk on where you can make a lot of progress. Then one day something happens that makes you angry. You stew in it for awhile, and get over it in a few days.

If you are not careful, the next time you will stay in that anger for a longer period of time.

Each time anger controls you, the ruts and bumps in the road get a little deeper and rougher. At first it’s not so bad and you can negotiate pretty well, but over time it starts to be slow traveling.

Not only do you not make much forward progress, there are many bad consequences to living a life filled with anger. You can lose your health, friends, family, and everything close to you.

John 10:10

The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Satan makes it his mission in life to try to destroy any person he can. The road seems wide and easy at first, and you feel that you have control over things. You don’t see how bumpy it has gotten because you travel on it every day. Most of the time, it has almost become impassable before you see what Satan has stolen from you.

Don’t let that happen! Get rid of anger as soon as possible and let the Holy Spirit work things out in your life to bring you healing of the hurt that has been inflicted upon you.

Ask God to convict you of sin, repent, and get back on the straight and narrow road as soon as possible.

God knows that anger will take much more from you than you ever wanted to give.

He always has your best interest at heart, and He wants you to realize that you truly can trust Him with your life.

Don’t waste even one day letting anger control you!

By Cathy Deaton

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Make your life a splendid torch to be used for future generations!

Life is no brief candle. It is sort of a splendid torch – handing it on to future generations.
-Shaw-

You have been given a special gift from God: One life to be lived in any way you choose until you die.

I think every person, as he comes to the end of his life, wants to be able to feel that he has changed the world for the better in some way. Because you expect to live a long life, it is easy to think you can always start tomorrow to do things that will make a difference for the future.

We all have a daily routine that must be followed, such as going to work, cooking meals, paying bills, doing household things, taking care of children, etc. It is the extra things you choose to do that can set you apart as a vessel to be used by God. He knows you can’t stay in your locked bedroom on your knees in prayer all day, but He wants to use you where you are right now.

It is a fact that others will be affected by your actions, whether good or bad. Those affected most are the ones with whom you live and work. Only a hermit who lives far away from civilization could say that no other person would ever be affected by what he did on a daily basis.

Whatever your job (meaning whatever situation you find yourself in at the moment,) give it your very best; let your torch burn brightly each day, knowing that you are making an impact for the future.

All my life I have heard the expression, “people will make the time to do whatever is important to them.” God wants to be the most important thing in your life, and wants you to put Him first in everything you do.

If you walk with Him, you will be astounded at what He can accomplish through you. There is a reason that “today” is called a “present.” You get to start over each morning and decide how you will spend the next 24 hours. Each day truly is a gift, so take at least one step in the right direction. Some days there will be more progress than others, but you can look back in a year and see how far you have come.

Every day you must make a personal choice to be a torch; otherwise, you will go through another day as a candle and will have taken your gift and brushed it aside to do only ordinary things that won’t matter in the future.

Make your life a torch that shines brightly for God; then others can see and be affected by the way you handle the everyday pressures of life. In this way, you truly can affect future generations of family, co-workers, and friends. If their life is affected by your example, those around them can be affected also; God can start a chain reaction through your life of obedience.

Your actions each day can truly affect those around you for generations to come.

By Cathy Deaton

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3 Ways to Master the Petty Annoyances in Your Life

Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out; it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.

-Robert Service-

As I look back, I can see how I have wasted countless hours fretting over small things that one year later I couldn’t even remember. It has taken me much too long to understand that every hour I waste worrying about something trivial is an hour that I can never get back to use in a constructive manner.

In a 24 hour span there are numerous things that can happen to get you off-track; only a few of those can you have any control over, so why spend time fretting over something you can’t change.

If you were to climb Mount Everest, you would automatically know it would take a huge amount of discipline, planning, and effort to successfully reach the top. It would also require a great deal of sacrifice and total concentration on your part; in fact that is pretty much all you would think about as you approached the date for the climb, and you would consider it as something worthwhile.

Life is much like this, except it is not a physical mountain you climb. Because of this it is easy to lose sight of the ultimate goal. You get into a daily routine of ordinary things and forget there are much better and higher goals to reach.

Pretty soon the trivial things (that you won’t remember a year from now) are where you spend the majority of your time and energy for the day. You spend so many hours trying to figure out the small stuff that you don’t have any energy left to climb the mountain (do something that will really matter in the long run.)

If you have asked Jesus into your heart as your personal Savior, each morning ask the Holy Spirit to take control of your life and direct your thoughts and actions for the day. It is only when you do things for God that you will feel totally fulfilled and have the assurance that you are accomplishing something that really matters.

When some petty thing comes along that tries to sap your energy, think about its importance.

First, think of whether you can actually do something about it.

Second, think of how important it is in the whole scheme of things in your life

Third, decide if it is important enough to lose hours of time on some action or thought that might sap your strength for doing more constructive things

God has great plans for your life, but He won’t be able to bring them to pass as long as you let trivial things control your thoughts and actions.

Think about the long term, and choose wisely how you will spend your time. Don’t let the grain of sand in your shoe keep you so distracted that you don’t even think about climbing the mountain ahead and seeking greater things.

By Cathy Deaton

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Quotes for Inspiration

Little progress can be made by merely attempting to repress what is evil; our great hope lies in developing what is good.

Calvin Coolidge

Circumstances and situations color life, but you have been given the mind to choose what the color shall be.

John Homer Miller

It is never our faith that creates God. Nor is it our doubts that put an end to God’s existence.

Brother Roger of Taize

I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.

Mark Twain

Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.

Corrie Ten Boom

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A Bible Quiz Question

How long did it take to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem under the leadership of Nehemiah?

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 9-2008 newsletter quiz question is Obadiah, with only 1 chapter and 21 verses. It is a prophecy against Edom and may have been written in the 6^th Century before Christ.

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Just for Laughs

Biting Angels

Little Hannah had never spent a night in the country before, and she was nervous about the sounds of the crickets, frogs, and insects outside the door of their vacation cabin. Her little voice whined in the darkness, “Mommy, everything buzzes, and I’m afraid.”

“Don’t be afraid,” said her mother. “Remember the angels are right here watching over you.”

A few minutes later, the air was pierced with an “Aough!”

“What is it now, Hannah?” asked her weary mother.

“I don’t know,” said Hannah, voice trembling. “But I think one of the angels just bit me.”

RATS

A minister once enlisted four children to help him preach his Christmas sermon on “The Star.” He gave each child one of the four letters to hold up so he could make a point on each letter of the word “Star.” When the children stepped forward and turned around, they were in reverse order. The congregation nearly fell out of their pews as they read: “RATS.”

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Interesting Bible Facts

OVEN – The ovens in the East are of two kinds. The stationary ones are found only in towns, where regular bakers are employed (Hosea 7:4). The portable ones consist of a large jar made of clay, three feet high, larger at the bottom, with a hole for removing the ashes. Every house possessed such an article (Exodus 8:3). It was heated with twigs, grass or wood (Matt. 6: 30), sometimes with dung, and the loaves were placed both inside and outside of it.

NEW MOON – Marked the commencement of each month, and was celebrated as a holy day. Offerings were made as ordained by Numbers 18: 11, 15. According to Amos 8: 5, all business was suspended. The Day of the New Moon was recognized as a family festival with religious observances, although not especially ordained. It was proclaimed by the trumpet-sound (Psalms 81: 3.) After the establishment of Christianity the observance was discontinued.

MONTH – The Hebrew months were divided into 29 and 31 days alternately. The period of New Moon marked the first day called New Moon day of New Month. The months were numbered, as first, second; and also named in the calendar. The Hebrew month does not run even with ours, being regulated by the moon, and having about 29 days, while ours has an arbitrary number given it, carrying from 28 to 31 days.

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A Powerful Story

In his book Guiding Your Family in a Misguided World, Dr. Tony Evans tells of two monks walking through the countryside toward another village. As they came to the edge of a river, they saw an old woman sitting there, upset because there was no bridge.

The first monk offered to carry her across, to the woman’s great relief. So the two monks joined hands, lifted her between them and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, they set her down, and she went on her way.

After they had walked another mile or so, the second monk began to complain. “Look at my clothes,” he said. “They are filthy from carrying that woman across the river. And my back still hurts from lifting her. I can feel it getting stiff.” The first monk just smiled and nodded his head.

A few minutes later, the second monk griped again, “My back is hurting me so badly, and it is all because we had to carry that silly woman across the river! I cannot go any farther because of the pain. Why is it you’re not complaining about it, too? Doesn’t your back hurt?”

“Of course not,” the first monk replied. “You are still carrying the woman, but I set her down five miles ago.”

We are often like that second monk who cannot let go of the pain of the past, and we still carry the burdens of things done years ago.

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Suggested Bible Readings

Subject: Service

Proverbs 14: 31

Proverbs 19: 17

Proverbs 20: 13

Proverbs 28: 27

Proverbs 31: 8-9

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My Favorite Blog Posts

Don’t let Criticism by Others Determine Who You Are!

Most of the action movies of today are based around a plot of revenge. One person does something horrible to another, and the rest of the movie is spent plotting how to make them pay for what they have done. We see so much of this in everyday life that most people think revenge is the correct response when they have been wrongly treated.

This thinking is totally opposite of how the Bible tells the Christian to handle a wrongdoing.

Romans 12: 17-21

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

The only way you can follow this teaching is to surrender yourself to God. You must find out about His Character before you can maintain the high ground when you are under fire.

God is concerned about you always having His Very Best in whatever you do. He wants you to let him take care of any revenge that is necessary. He knows that if you take it upon yourself, it will devour you.

I know I have spent hours and even days sometimes fuming over something another person has said about or physically done to me. I got so consumed with it that I could not think of anything else for a time. I have found that the longer you let that attitude go, the harder it is to get back to where God wants you to be. Satan is always happy to feed your mind night and day with a continuous loop of thoughts about how badly you have been treated.

When you continue for weeks and months in this way, you totally lose your peace and joy. Life is no longer good because you start to look at everything in a negative, critical way. When criticism happens in your life, make the choice immediately that you won’t sling mud back at the person who slung it at you.

Give the situation to God, and do not let yourself take it back. Keep your mind, thoughts, and actions pure and holy. If you truly desire with all your heart to do this, you will be amazed at how God will work things out on your part. You cannot change the other person, but you can surely change how you respond to anything that is thrown at you.

This does not always mean that you can never stand up for yourself to the other person. It just means that you refuse to let your flesh take control and bring yourself down to their level.

Sometimes God will open the door for you to respond, and sometimes He won’t. Whichever way He chooses to do things, you know that you have given Him complete control of the situation as far as you are concerned.  Your heart is clean, and now you can go forward with God no matter what happens with the other person.

Make the choice to respond the biblical way. You will live a longer, healthier, and more peaceful life!

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Do you let God be “Innovative” in Your Life

If there is one word that could describe what God wants to accomplish through the Christian’s life, it would be the word “innovation.” I know in my own life, when God has told me He wanted to do a particular thing, He has always brought it about in a way that is refreshing, innovative, and totally blows me away. I have to wait for His Timing, of course.

When I looked back, I could see how He brought several different circumstances and people together to do a certain thing at a certain time. Many of them probably did not even realize that they were a part of His great plan for the answer that I needed.

When I saw this poster, I started to think about how God works vs how Man works. “Change” is and has always been a threat to most people. We hit upon a way to do something, and want to stick with it. When something new and innovative is introduced to us, most of the time our first thought is to disregard it as being beneficial in any way. We surely can’t imagine that it would be a better way than what we know now.

It’s funny how we resist something new for awhile, but then get used to it and treat it like we have always known it would be the best way to do things.

If it is your desire to be obedient to God, the word “innovation” will be a huge part of your vocabulary. God is not big on letting people stay in their “comfort zone” for long at the time. He constantly prunes and shapes your life to ease you in the direction He knows will be best for you.

People usually say the things in the poster above because they cannot see the whole picture. God can see it, and He wants to continually “blow you away” by using you to carry out His Plans.

• Seek Him in prayer and take a step in the direction He shows you
• Ask Him to reveal any sin in your life and be sure that you truly REPENT of it – don’t just be sorry and stop there
• Know that most of the time He probably won’t show you the whole picture – just a step at the time
• Learn about His Character, and then you will know that you can trust Him with your life

Decide today that you will take the ride of your life – you won’t be bored any more if you truly seek to follow God.

To check out my blog go to Who God Is

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Please check out my other sites by clicking on the links below:

Blueprint for Victorious Christian Living

Handbook for Victorious Christian Living

Power of the Living Word

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Video of the Month

Video of Shout to the Lord

This song probably has to be close to my all-time favorite. It doesn’t matter who sings the words, it is always a blessing. I believe it is one of those few songs that God just penned Himself using a person’s hands to write the words.

Sometimes I get discouraged by looking at things that happen around me. I forget that God is always there waiting for me to give him all my burdens. He wants me to learn to praise Him even in the worst of times because He is my Father and has everything under control. He can see the future and He knows exactly how He will work everything out.

Open your heart and mind and let yourself worship God as you watch this video!

Darlene Zschech, Ron Kenoly, Alvin Slaughter are singing this.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzw45z_QK7g]

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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,