Category: Mentoring Matters

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“If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus.” Ephesians 4:21

How we live is determined by what we believe. If Truth is in Jesus, then why do
we have such corruption in our lives? Why do the daily struggles far out way the
confident victories that are said to be ours?”
There is a saying, “There must be a cross before there can be a crown.” The cross
we need to embrace includes giving up our plans for the greater plans of the
Savior, bringing our opinions, priorities and thoughts into alignment with the
bigger picture and knowing what that picture is.
The Bible has not left us overwhelm as to how this is to be accomplished. There
are really no excuses for believing a lie as truth when Jesus is our Truth. Study
with us today as we see the provisions we have in exchanging the old for the new.

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“Believe In your heart that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Beliefs are vital to a person in establishing who they are and this passage is
dealing with the belief of WHO God is. We have blended our beliefs with the
cultural and secular world mixing percepts and concepts that will never work
together. It is like oil and water. Oil is lighter and floats to the top. Likewise, we
enjoy the light and easy ways of blended thinking, rather than searching out what
is really necessary for godly living
Today we examine how to aright what is wrong in our thinking so in everything
we do we may be pleasing in God’s sight. For the person still searching find the
foundation that offers a solid and fixed way of understanding.

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“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them
out.” Proverbs 20:5

We know out of the heart proceed all the issues of life, but how does that relate to a heart purpose? Does the heart plan on good or evil? What influences the heart in revealing what is the priority on which the heart thinks? In the physical world a heart not working right brings trouble to all the body and a heart out of balance will also trouble our mind, will, and emotions. Take time out today to consider matters of the heart.

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“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.” Proverbs 16:2

We think we have our lives under control from our perspective and need no other
help. A few bumps here and there, coping but never soaring, and often wanting to
hibernate to escape living with everyday life.
Whether it is relationships of being ignored, hassled, or living with the results of
our own poor choices, we find a way to survive. We keep everything on the
surface but never dig down to the root of the problem.
Today we acquaint ourselves with some less obvious defenses while hoping to
find a place to land that brings peace. There is a solution!

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“We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us, we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 11 Corinthians 5:20

When you meet someone there is usually an introduction of your name and then
something about what you do. It takes a name to make what you do important.
Telling someone what you do without a name is incomplete to our identity.
Likewise, part of our identity as members of God’s family is our being an
ambassador to showing people what the family of God should look like in today’s
world.
Many times, we are displaying bad “identity” because we are attempting to make
self look good rather than reflecting our identity of being IN CHRIST. Who we are
reflects what we do. How important is this in our understanding about living?

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“The spirit of a man will be his support and sustain him when he is
ill, but a broken and crushed spirit, who can bear.” Proverbs 18:14

How do you handle and react to frustration and troubling conflicts? Some explode,
some turn their backs and ignore the hurt and pain, others carry it inside and have
unusual Defense Mechanisms that are hard to recognize.
When we want to be strong in spirit we must be pure in heart. Learning to observe
what sounds good maybe a cover for a heart that is coping and not really caring.
Don’t get trapped in Defense Mechanisms that substitute reality in relationships.
We have been given The Great Escape. Use it!!

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“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with the endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

The importance laid out here is that we need to see how those who have gone before lived and overcame the snares of self. If we go against the patterns of freedom provided by our Savior we can hold onto strongholds, repress reality, but eventually will explode, making a mess for ourselves and those around us. Clean-up of these defenses is messy. Are you building steam for an explosion?

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“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be healthy to
your flesh, and strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8

Denial and Rationalization are two defenses we run to when we believe our own wisdom is the best choice for making decisions. This may not be a deliberate but a place to run to in need to survive and not wanting to work through the difficult disciplines required for change. When scripture is lacking in our life, one of the natural fallbacks is into a pattern of denial and rationalization.
You may be rather surprised as you listen to the comfort zone of unbelief!

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“The wisdom of the prudent (sensible) is to understand his way but the folly (foolishness) of fools is deceit.” Proverbs 14:8

Christianity has cracked the door open to ways of the world becoming acceptable in the life of the Church, and we don’t even recognize the tangle web that has been woven into our thinking.

Rather than accepting the fact that we are called to lay down our lives for others in service and caring from a heart of sacrificial love, we protect ourselves from having to bear one another’s pain. We don’t know how to help others  carry the load that plague the soul and spirit. We are great on helping in the physical needs and we are thankful for that blessing. However, we are body, soul, and spirit. All three parts need to be growing and healthy.

Heavenly wisdom give us understanding in tearing down our walls of defense, as we allow the Spirit to make  the heart  of Christ real in our lives.

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 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

Dwelling on the Scripture as our priority will help protect our hearts from false thinking of Psychology. Our soul/spirits will be renewed and refreshed as we sing spiritual songs to one another through worship in music which supports our foundation from Theology. 

 Man cannot fix man no matter how many behavior patterns are applied with different techniques. It is vital that we understand the real reason for failure in finding contentment through man’s agenda.  We are designed by our Creator to know Truth, live Truth, with a joyous heart making melody from within. 

Be still for a few moments as we investigate Truth that transforms.

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“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Modern psychology is the perfect substitute for god playing in our lives with our own intellect and reasoning. There are many different facets that mar our thinking and some are so “reasonable” the modern-day church accepts and even endorses them.

The church family – The Body of Christ is the only source of light in the darkness of human reasoning and logic.

One positive note is that even with self-consciousness within weak or carnal Christians there are “pockets” of believers that are standing strong, growing, and ministering to others who are in need. For others;

Some are just too busy to  get involved with helping someone with their entrapment of worldly values

Some are too ignorant of God’s word and unable to assist in helping to set free people in bondage

Some want to help but don’t know-how and fear keeps them silent

Some are being a witness to the Life of Christ within us – Where are you in this line-up?

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

What is a simple definition of secular Psychology? A study of the natural, our natures, how they function, and how to fix what is wrong.  Sounds like a good idea except they want to solve all our problems with man’s solutions. The thought of seeking the God of Creation according to them is not rational or reasonable. Why, because we are smarter and have done away with those superstitions and myths about God. We are our own god and can make those decisions for ourselves, man can fix man. (no he can’t)

Grab pencil and paper to jot down a few ideas that are keeping us in turmoil and trauma in how modern psychology has crept into our church lives.  Know the facts as history describes and then see the pattern that leads us down the path of failure.  Do Christians have another option and can we mix secular psychology with a Biblical worldview? The answers may surprise you.

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“Don’t let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men’s thought and ideas, instead of on what Christ has said. For in Christ there is all of God in a human body; so you have everything when you know Christ and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power.” Colossians 2: 8-9

So what is the purpose of a Christian in these hard times? We talk about changing our troubled culture, but most do not have any idea  – how to and what to change.

As Christians, we are to know and understand the blindness and how we got these cultural views. We are to understand and explain to blinded hearts and minds how our lives are making choices that dethrone God Almighty. We cannot allow our faith and joy to bring us down into negativity, depression, and us questioning; How Then Should We Live.”

As we reflect on man’s attempt to bring about a social society that resolves all man’s problems, let’s search for the real answers that are found in God alone.

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 “Do not lie one to another since you have put off the old man with his deeds.” Colossians 3:9

How many of us have experience:

The Blame Game, “its your fault”, “You made me so mad”

”You hurt my feelings or you don’t meet my needs”

Have these thoughts ever cross your mind and you used the silent treatment to make someone feel guilty?” How about lashing out in a verbal frenzy assuring the other person they are wrong.  Sounds crazy but many do this?

As we accuse one another do those same pitiful arguments go back to our God for His “mistreatment” of us? Living lies is the surest way to the door of misery, anger, anxiety and blinding us to the Truth.

Is it a lie that we must earn God’s love? Is it ok to get impatient with God’s timing on how He is working in other lives?”

Come investigate how we accept lies to avoid pain and suffering. Learn how we are bombarded daily with lies to keep us under the control of the enemy. Don’t let lies believed as truth affect you as if they were true, even though they are LIES.”

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“Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before.” Colossians 3:9

Biblical meaning of a lie: To practice deceit, falsehood, and treachery either by word or action. It is the exact opposite of truth. The sanctity of truth is fundamental in biblical teaching since it is based on the nature and character of God. Therefore, to despise truth is to despise God, and the Scriptures treat this topic with profound seriousness.

“A LIE BELIEVED AS TRUTH WILL AFFECT YOUR LIFE AS TRUTH EVEN THOUGH IT IS A LIE.”

Some in Secular Society will give you a half truth – misguided facts – still a lie

Some in relationships will color the “facts” so not to anger or offend – still lies

Some will pass on “information” that is not checked out and pass it on as truth – still a lie

Some cannot stand the light of Truth – so will speak from a heart of darkness – filled with lies.

The Bible says Satan is the Father of Lies. There are many avenues where a person can tell “lies” and believe no harm will happen. Look deep into your heart today as we discuss the “lies of the world” that are not limited to those outside of Christianity but find our old sinful lifestyle still “living a lie.”

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Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

What comprises vain philosophy and empty deceit? At the entry level is Humanism – traditions having  basic concepts that make man a law unto himself.  He can solve all problems and there is no need of God.

We are not sure just how this is working. Tune in and help evaluate the goals for “good” through Humanism.

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Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Our world in general has lost or denied the fear of the Lord. Without that wisdom, we are opened to man’s wisdom and the most common definition is “Humanism: faith in man, in science, in education.” Man will use reason, not divine revelation, as the guide for moral action and education; resulting in deception…

Trusting in man is seen in many practical examples. Many Christians buy into humanistic thinking and have weakened their moral fiber, allowing a double standard within the Body of Christ, the true church.

We are digging into how this has crept into believer’s lives. Many sincere Christians are not wanting to follow after strange doctrine or are in known rebellion in their walk with the Lord. Nevertheless, denial of Truth is running at an all-time high.

Today, we attempt to expose lies believed as truth, thinking we are growing in grace, when actually not fearing the Lord is grieving the Spirit and our guidance is hindered. There is a shock value as we discover the results of leaving our first Love; so open your ears to hear what WISDOM from God declares.

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Hebrews 4:12: “ For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The definition of “sufficiency” is adequate to do the purpose intended or to meet a need. 2 Peter defines this as “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
The scripture is the best book for offering guaranteed promises filled with hope, but they also instruct us with rules of accountability. In world culture we find resistant to authority that demands any control where we want our “freedoms.” Many look at the scripture as being deficient or inadequate. Therefore, they ignore the Bible as being a guide they want to trust.
Let’s do a “fact check” in affirming the Bible is not just an extra accessory to aid our model of living with philosophy and methodology; it is the REAL DEAL

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JOHN 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may KNOW You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

To know everlasting Truth you need to know who and what is Truth, according to the author of Truth. Many today know about the God of Truth without having a personal and intimate relationship with Him. Facts are great but they will never hold up in difficult days without having the life of Truth in our hearts and minds.
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Without the Word as our constant companion, we will remain in infanthood for growth.
Be a part of our discussion today regarding the divine desire that has been given to all of us to hide His Word in our hearts, that we might not live a sinful life.

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This week on Sharin’ Hearts Mentoring Matters, Janie and Sharon discuss the decline of the Church.

The culture that we live in contributes to shaping our worldview, which is why the Bible tells us to be separate from this world. But, the results of a recent Gallup Poll showed that 76% of Christians do not believe the Bible is the foundational absolute truth.

Psalm 19 tells us what the Scriptures will do to help us establish a Biblical worldview and find those places in our hearts where we have been blind.

So, listen with a willing heart as we look at the subtle ways we have replaced God’s Word in our lives.

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“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

WORDS MATTER as they reveal what is in our hearts. As we establish a Biblical Worldview there are principles we use to decide what builds us up and what can tear us down in knowing the mind of God. Many folks are greatly influence by what others think and so we gather our information from unreliable sources. Scripture may not be our final authority. Whose words do we trust?

Proverbs 18:4 “A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.” They bring healing but  many fail to build a biblical worldview because they are unskilled in the word of God.

Allowing the mind to trust in its own understanding opens the door of deception which can lead in paths the Lord Jesus never said to walk.

Come hungry hearts, as God’s word is full of living power and is a guaranteed guide in building a biblical worldview.

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Colossians 2:8 “Beware, lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

To have a foundation that will stand on solid rock and not be sifted like wind-blown sands, we need to see areas of where compromised thinking can get us into some real trouble. Whether it is rational applications as your final authority, logic according to changing facts, media madness consuming a large part of our days, and some nights, we find our minds will be in a state of overload with options that profit nothing in securing a solid foundation. We will always be on a search for satisfaction to shore up confused conclusions on “How Then Do We Live.”

Today, we are shinning some light on choices that prevent us from building a solid Biblical worldview.

Take note as we unravel the trail of worthless trivia.

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“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” Galatians 5:1

The word entangled intrigues me as it means to become twisted together or caught up in a trap, a snare, jumble, muddled.  In our world, this may include anything from a spider web, fishing nets, traffic jams, or even relationships involving different worldviews. We have been given by Jesus Christ liberty and freedom to stand fast in how we live, but we find ourselves entrapped is missing this freedom and failing to show what others need to see.

Our world has enticed us to accept their values and in doing so we have walked into the trap of entanglement and not being aware that we are trying to live in two different worlds. We struggle to understand ourselves in this dilemma and wonder why there is confusion and looking for escape methods.

Let’s check out a simple definition of a worldview and then unravel the entangle blending that sets us up for contentions, struggles, failing to give our children a solid foundation, and living in this maze of compromise, not aware of our choices.  Cultural priorities, education, acceptance of differences in life focus, and why that bothers us so much will be highlights for today.

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This week on Sharin’ Hearts Mentoring Matters, Janie and Sharon discuss how the world’s culture has invaded the church.

In Mark 16:15, Jesus says, “Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”