Note: Just wanted to let you all know that it's been hard getting on her lately with the children, as baby boy is cutting teeth and is very cranky. :( So he takes up a lot of my time, plus, we kept the girls and celebrated A's birthday, as she turned 5 Fri. So when I miss days visiting, and/or posting, it's because I just don't get a chance.
Charity; Hospitality; Brotherly Love; Poverty; Self Denial; Humility; Work; Help in Troubles; Righteousness; and Repentance. From the NKJV
Charity: Luke 14:13-14: "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
God loves a giver. We can never out-give Him. When we give in Jesus' name and not doing it to glorify ourselves, we are rewarded.
Hospitality: Mark 9:41: "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
Being hospitable to one another is something that we should all partake in. For not one of us is better than the other. Christ never once turned His nose up to one single person.
Brotherly Love: 1 Thessalonians 4:9: "But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another."
This is plain and simple, which goes along with hospitality. We are all related, as we are all God's children. We should all show love and respect to one another. Just as, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Would you prefer others to snub you as you do them? Or would you rather be shown love as you show love to others?
Poverty: Psalm 69:33: "For the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners."
God will care for those that are poor. He takes care of all His children. We must remember that he uses hard times as a lesson, and to draw us nearer. Sometimes we are in those situations because we walked our own walk.
Self Denial: Galatians: 5:24: "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires."
I've been hearing this lately, and according to Life Principles Bible by Charles Stanley on this very verse: "Everyone who is Christ's died with the Savior on the cross. But believers must also crucify the fleshly desires connected with their as yet un-glorified bodies." Ahh yes. This is where we must deny ourselves of the worldly and fleshly ways. Not an easy task? No of course not, but neither was God's and Jesus' task. I know I want to be a Romans 12 Christian. I've got a lot of work to do yet. But it is possible.
Humility: Matthew 23:12: "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Hallelujah! Would anyone be willing to tell how they would describe this verse?
Work: 2 Chronicles 15:7: "Therefore he said to Judah, 'Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.' So they built and prospered."
Being a hard worker brings prosperity. Being a slacker/sluggard gets you nowhere but grief. Which one would you chose to be?
Help in Troubles: Nahum 1:7: "The Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."
When we run into troubled times, lean in closer, call upon Him. He will not forsake us. He knows our needs, He will provide. Be patient and wait upon the Lord. "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord." Love that song. I hum that one often. I think He puts it in my heart often to remind me. ;) Ahhh, yes, God is good!!!
Righteousness: Proverbs 10:24: "The fear of the wicked will come upon him. And the desire of the righteous will be granted."
Sway from the wicked. If you hang around them long enough, it is easy for it to rub off on you. You slowly start to feed into the wickedness. Be wary of those who are consumed by evil. Instead, pray for them. Stay on the righteous path with a humbled soul.
Repentance: Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."
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