The Principle of The Path by Andy Stanley

WARNING-If you do not want to be challenged to re-evaluate the choices you have made and are making DO NOT READ this book. If you do read you will no longer be able to blame anyone but yourself for the consequences of you actions. You will make choices with your eyes wide open. I have made choices that I regretted and wondered, "How did I deceive myself into believing that these were good choices?" Now I know.
Andy Stanley does a masterful job of teaching individuals how to use their heads instead of being led by the deceitfulness of their hearts. He uses humor and storytelling to lead the reader to a clear understanding of the inescapable principles at work behind every decision. He includes a study guide to further enhance the readers grasp of the principles and to help apply the principles to life.

Encouraging Words from the Bible for these Troubling Economic Times

Isaiah 46 tells about the demise of the Babylonian gods, Bel and Nebo. In America our false gods are our 401k's, our jobs and careers and our stuff. In today's economy many have seen the demise of the gods they have given their lives to serve.

Both the owners and the gods are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people
and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together. v 2 (NLT)

Many are wringing their hands in desperation, imprisoned by hopelessness and fear. Some have even taken their own life to escape from a future without the financial stability they had relied on for their security.


Even the children of the One True God have served these gods in varying degrees. I spent six years in the Financial Services Industry encouraging people to "protect their future" with investments and insurance. While these instruments can be useful it is imperative that they do not become the source of our security. We have been caught up in the culture and have been led astray from our dependence on our True Source.

Listen to me descendants of Jacob, all of you who remain in Israel. I have cared
for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be
your God throughout your lifetime -- until your hair is white with age. I made
you and I will care for you. v 4 (NLT)

Believers in Jesus Christ have been grafted into the one true vine. We can receive the inheritance promised to the descendants of Jacob.


We will have hardships and trials, but we can depend on our God to carry us through, until the day He calls us home. We have a great hope and nothing to fear.

What does it mean to be subject to a king?

Having grown up in America and governed by a democracy, the idea of being ruled by a king is a foreign concept. Americans are very focused on our rights, which are protected by our constitution and law. Life in a kingdom is very different. The subjects of a king have no rights. The king is the authority and what he says is the law.




Kings are often ruthless, greedy and violent. Taking what the wanted with little regard for the needs and wishes of their subjects. This was the context of the nation of Israel when Jesus came into the world. The Jewish people longed for a king from God who would rule with justice and righteousness. The expected that this king would come with power and might and take his people by violent force from the oppressive rule of the Roman Kingdom and restore the God-centered nation they were called out to be.

But, Jesus came with love and humility and created a kingdom that is not of this world. Without military might or violence He has overcome His enemies and brought the benefits of His kingdom to those who submit to His authority. In the Bible we are introduced to a King who is present, at work, calling His people to Himself and who promises never to leave or forsake His loyal subjects.

His enemies are not sinful people or sinful nations. The enemies of our King are spiritual forces that ally with our human nature and cause us to live contrary to God's will.

hatred
division
greed
prejudice
lust

These enemies have been overcome, but Satan continues to try to build strongholds. Our king has give us POWER AND PERMISSION to remove these from our life. It is up to us to use that POWER. The King has spoken and His Word is law.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph 6:12

The victory is claimed when we submit to His authority and remove those spiritual forces of evil from our lives. We are blessed to have a King who loves us unconditionally and who always has our best interest at heart. Choosing to please Him is always the best choice, but is contrary to our human nature. It is our duty as subjects of the King to know Him and obey Him.

This message is taken from a sermon Wesley Bolden preached at First Christian Church in Milledgeville, Ga

His Will or Mine?

Yesterday was one of those days that changes everything.

For three and a half years I have put my heart, soul, strength and mind into trying to make The Savior's Touch Christian Bookstore a successful business. Suddenly, it is over. I am relieved of my duties and suddenly have nothing but time on my hands. Now what?

I feel betrayed, angry, sad and relieved, hopeful and expectant all at the same time. I recognize that the store has taken time and energy that should belong to my husband and my children. I have managed to overlook that small detail for some time. But the truth remains. I now realize that once again I have been guilty of choosing my will over God's. I have been settling for good instead of holding out for best.




This is not the first time I have been down this detour. My six year stint in a MLM was the same story. I convinced myself that it was God's provision even though it took time and energy that should belong to my husband and children. I believed I was helping people and that I would eventually become wealthy.

My goal at the store was not so much wealth as it was significance. I believed that I was impacting people's lives by listening and sharing. I never expected to make much money so I didn't recognize the fact that I was on the wrong path again.

Today I am grieving the loss of another dream and am praying that the Holy Spirit will enable me to recognize the next detour and avoid it.

Jehovah-Jireh

Is God actively and intimately involved in the lives of humans?

• I say, YES! 

• More importantly The Bible says, YES!

      And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:28 New Living Translation

Yesterday I was privileged to witness His amazing provision; 

God acting in His role as

JEHOVAH-JIREH:   “The Lord will Provide.” Gen. 22:14. From “jireh” (“to see” or “to provide,” or to “foresee” as a prophet.) God always provides.

I had agreed to meet Rick Cox in Athens, GA to exchange vehicles with him.  His church had loaned us their van when ours had broken down while on a youth trip in his “neighborhood
”.  He had an errand to run in Athens, and meeting him there would save me two hours driving time.  Our meeting had been rescheduled three times before we were able to decide on something that worked for both of us.

As I was leaving the house my daughter called with a desperate need! She was returning home from a visit with her sister and realized that she had no cash and not enough gas to get home!

Was it a coincidence that our routes met within five minutes of her reaching the bottom of her gas tank without either of us having to go out of our way?!!

I don’t think so.  My mom used to say, “God looks out for fools and little children.”  Since I often make foolish mistakes, it is comforting to know that my loving heavenly Father is looking out for me.

Some may say this was just a coincidence or luck, but I know that it was all just to perfect to have just happened the way it did.  I see a Divine Hand working all things together for good because my daughter and I both love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Choosing Joy

Life happens all around us and we really have very little control. However, we can control what we think about it and our choices make all the difference in the world.

I have learned at the ripe old age of 54 that -The way I see things is not necessarily the way they are!! My perspective is skewed by my experiences and mind set. The person standing next to me sees and hears the same set of images and sounds yet gets a completely different view of what is going on.

Last month, I had to make a choice about how I was going to view and respond to loosing my job.

I decided to act like I believe that "God works all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose." Ro 8:28 And that God "has a plan to give me a hope and a future, to prosper me and not to harm me." Jeremiah 29:11

Trusting Him made all the difference in the world as I looked for and found reasons to be thankful.

When my daughter asked this question in silence and solitude, the Lord brought to mind the words to the song "Beloved" by Tenth Avenue North.

If you have been wondering the same thing, I hope these lyrics help!!

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
Give me your life
Lust and the lies
The past you're afraid I might see
You've been running away from me

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
It binds you to me
It's a mystery

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
I'm the giver of life
I'll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh come running home to me yeah *now*

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
and Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
 and it binds you to me yea now now

Well you've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers it won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips
And**taste new life

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
it binds you to me

You're my beloved
Forever we'll be
Our love it unites us
And it binds you to me
It's a mystery






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