RStane

Perhaps the two words that describe a manipulating person in the Bible are "cunning" and "crafty." Cunning means sly and with skill. And crafty means underhanded and deceitful. The Lord says, "He frustrates the devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot carry out their plans. He catches the wise in their own craftiness." Job 5:12-13.

But lust is an evil type of passion. It is desiring to satisfy the carnal nature with a compelling, cunning and luring manner. Look at Potipher's wife. "Joseph was handsome in form and appearance...his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph and she said, 'lie with me,' but he refused...so it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day" Genesis 39:6-10. Joseph did the right thing, he "fled and ran outside" Genesis 39:12. That is the Lord's instruction to us as well. The Lord says to "flee also youthful lusts" 2 Timothy 2:22. We need to keep away from those who would tempt us like at the bar scene where it is so easy to fall into temptation. "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" James 1:14.

When we want to know what true love is, we have to look to God. "But God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. And Jesus said, "greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life" John 15:13. So, true love is a sacrificial giving type of love. It loves beyond one's faults. It sees potential in another and loves them in spite of their sinful nature. Jesus added a new deeper depth to love. He said, "if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them...but love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return" Luke 6:32-35.

Did you mention that you were single and dating not very much? Are you feeling lonely? The strange thing about loneliness is that one can feel that way even in a crowd of other people. I have felt that way when at a party where I really didn't know anyone. I just sort of stood there by myself while others mingled in small circles. Would you consider yourself shy at times? Let me be honest with you, there are things I like about shy people. I like the humility for one. Instead of always wanting to be the center of attention, a shy person says, "no, you go ahead and sing the song" or "you can say the prayer." I admire that quality very much. It might be a good exercise to build your confidence around others, by taking steps to be a bit more outgoing, as well. Gently smile at others with a friendly acceptance. Use the other person's name. Listen to what the other person's interests are and compliment someone when you see a quality or virtue. The Lord said, "be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" Romans 12:10.

Intriguing subject...You've probably heard it said, "who knows if there is life after death, no one has ever come back to tell about it!" But the Bible says that Jesus did! John 20. And a young girl that Jesus prayed for also came back from the dead, Luke 8:53-54. And of course, Lazarus was raised from the dead, John 11:43-44. And Tabitha came back from the dead when Peter prayed for her, Acts 9:40.

Has anyone ever judged you falsely? If you have been belittled, or have had your character and honor doubted, it really hurts. And how easy it is for us to see what appears to be faults in others and repeat our observations to others without realizing how damaging these words can be. Only God is a perfect judge. For only God knows what is in the hearts of men. The Lord says, "for the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7.

Before Jesus, God was known mainly for His power, as an abstract image, of a Being too great to even be named. No man had seen Him and only the patriarchs, prophets and holy kings communicated very much with Him. But Jesus came to make God known to man. Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" John 14:9. It may be hard to understand, but the Word of God talks about there being only one God and yet, He is three distinctive persons all at the same time. Jesus has all the attributes of God:

You may be wondering what the exact meaning of intercession is. It is a type of prayer where one petitions God on behalf of another; person, group or nation. Intercession is a ministry, a calling to mediate between God and man. An intercessor seeks to pray in agreement with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And intercession involves taking on the burden spiritually and fighting a battle with the forces of darkness.

Have you had trouble sleeping lately? Perhaps there are some things that have been weighing on your heart. Does it have anything to do with important decisions you are facing? Family? House? Career? or Ministry? Do you have any physical ailments like back problems that may be keeping you up? Are you taking an Rx that is affecting you? You might want to see your M.D. about these possibilities. Do you drink coffee in the evening? If I drink coffee later than 7 PM I find myself buzzing with my eyes wide open as I lie there for hours trying to sleep!

I'd like you to relax right now and still your heart and mind. How were your relationships to your mother, father or sisters or brothers? Do you recall any incidents that were difficult or painful?...Were you grossly mistreated?...Is it vivid?...Can you see the details of the incident?...Did you react poorly?...Do you have a deep sense of guilt about your reaction?...Is the memory emotionally confusing...and did it make you want to run and hide from it?

It seems like a joke today to talk about being moral. Hollywood movie productions and television have portrayed love as being predominantly sexual without marriage. Burlesque underwear is a billion-dollar industry and pornography is the largest business on the Internet. Today, affairs are more common than ever and divorces are numbered in the millions. Even the most wholesome movies have sexually explicit material and I am exhausted trying to censor movies for my children.

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and sincerely asked "who am I?" I have. In fact, I sat on the floor with several candles burning and while in prayer, I looked into a large mirror close in front of me and asked that question "who am I?" And the Lord gave me the most beautiful revelation - my identity was much more to God than my looks, intelligence, possessions, social status or race, even though these were definitely part of my self. But far more important than all of this was who I am in Christ.

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" James 4:10. The Lord wants us to make the effort, to choose to be loving and caring and not proud...and then He wants to reward us. "For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" Luke 14:11. God is going to make the humble look good. As for the arrogant - "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" Proverbs 16:18.

It's very hard knowing what you want and only hoping that you'll one day have it. That's how it is with the Lord. "Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption" Ephesians 1:13-14. So we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, but for now we can only wait with hope. We can not see the Lord, or touch Him. We have never seen heaven, but we are trusting that God's Word is true.

Right before Jesus ascended into heaven, He said, "you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now...but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses to Me...to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8. Notice the word "baptized." As water baptism is going all the way under the water, so Spirit baptism is going under the anointing of God. The Holy Spirit wants to give "power" which means divine ability with holy boldness. And notice "witnesses." This is the purpose of the Holy Spirit baptism. Not to make more holy or more honorable but to win people to follow Jesus.

Even as Christians, all our hopes and aspirations seem to be for our life here on earth. But the Lord says, "what is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" James 4:14. "And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it" Ecclesiastes 12:7 NIV. Heaven is an essential belief of our Christian faith. The basic Gospel, good news, is that God, the Father, sent His son Jesus, to die on a cross for our sins. And that by faith, we might receive eternal life, meaning, we will be like Him and live with Him in a physical place called heaven.

We are the children of our Almighty Heavenly Father, who works mightily through us to do His will on earth. Saving the lost from their fallen nature and fallen world is God's priority. And one way that God witnesses to the world is by healing miracles. We seek God for the "gifts of healing" 1 Corinthians 12:9, because the Lord said to "earnestly desire the best gifts" 1 Corinthians 12:31. And Jesus says, "these signs will follow those who believe...they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" Mark 16:17-18.

Are you faced with a decision right now? Are you seeking God and searching for His leading? Perhaps it’s in one of the major areas of your hopes and aspirations, like your family, house, career or ministry? The Lord tells us what His will is in essence. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8. This is essential to being led by God.

I believe the Lord would speak tenderly to you right now. "Come, and sit on my lap...and rest your head on my shoulders...let me hold you in the Spirit, I know exactly how you feel, my child...let me comfort you. I live in both worlds, both here and in heaven. I created you with my breath upon the dust. You are here in this world only a little while and then I draw my breath back...your body returns to dust from which it came and your spirit returns to me from which it came. Do not worry about your loved one. For I, your Father, am a merciful judge and heaven is a place too beautiful for you to even understand right now. There is no fear of dying there, neither is there any sorrow.

There is a life that is called by God that is full of unending adventure and inspiration. After Jesus had rose from the dead, the last thing He said before ascending into heaven was, "go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you" Matthew 28:19-20. "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses to Me...to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8.

The greatest problem with sharing private information with those who are not part of the problem or solution is, that we are destroying someone else’s reputation. Have you ever been the victim of vicious rumors? It really hurts when you find out how poorly people think of you and that others may be mocking you behind your back. This is so easy to fall into, especially if someone has greatly offended you and you need another to talk to so that you can vent your feelings. But doing evil for evil is wrong. The Lord says, "do not be overcome by evil, overcome evil with good" Romans 12:21.

God has spoke in amazing ways in the past. God spoke to Moses with what appeared to be "thunder" on Mt. Sinai, Exodus 19:16, and also to Jesus when He predicted His own death, John 12:29. God spoke through an "angel" to Mary announcing that she would be the mother of Jesus, Luke 1:28-37. God spoke to Joseph in a "dream" to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety, Matthew 1:13. God spoke to Ananias in a "vision" to go and pray for Paul to receive his sight again, Acts 9:10-16. God still speaks to believers today in these very powerful ways. But the Lord generally speaks to us by: our conscience, His Word, prayer and ministers.

Have you ever helped out someone in need? There is a great feeling of joy that you actually were responsible for coming to someone's rescue and you did something very right in God's eyes! Wasn't there? Surely, giving is a measure of love. I will never forget the kindness that others had when they helped me when I was in need.

The "fruit" of God's Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23, demonstrates virtues and qualities of God now dwelling in the heart of a believer. But the "gifts" of the Spirit come after a believer is baptized or fully submerged into the power of God. Jesus said, "you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be witnesses" Acts 1:5-8.