Meditating on Kindness

Meditate on Kindness

KINDNESS

Meditating on the kindness God has shown us brings forth a response of thankfulness and praise, increasing our spiritual desire for a deeper relationship with Him. As God has drawn us to Him with His loving kindness, so He desires to use you and me to draw others to Him as well. Therefore, be as Christ, who reached out in love to those considered the least in His society, becoming one with them. He willingly accepted rejection and bore the shame of the cross. Take up your cross and follow Him. Reach out to the least in your life. As Christ intercedes for us, continue to intercede for those who need Him. Live godly lives, avoiding godless chatter, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Wait in expectation for God to work in your life and in the lives of others. Persevere! Kindness is a powerful weapon which dispels the darkness of the enemy.

SCRIPTURES

PSALM 145:17PROVERBS 12:2514:2131;19:17ISAIAH 54:8;          JEREMIAH 9:23-24DANIEL 4:27HOSEA 11:4LUKE 6:35ROMANS 2:41 CORINTHIANS 13:4GALATIANS 5:22EPHESIANS 2:6-7, 4:32COLOSSIANS 3:12;     1THESSALONIANS 5:152TIMOTHY 2:24TITUS 2:3-53:4-7

STUDY

Who is to show Kindness to all?

 What has God done to show His Kindness to you?

Where do you get the Kindness that you need to show to others?

Why do you need to show Kindness even to those who persecute you?

When should you show Kindness to others?

How does Kindness toward others affect you?

How does this apply to your life?

 What is your prayer?

What is your memory verse?

Avoid Godless Chatter

Avoid Godless Chatter

AVOID GODLESS CHATTER

A course joke, a slanted comment, or simply talking about the weather and sports as your daily diet for conversation can lead you away from God. The enemy earnestly desires to get your mind off of God, in order to render you unfruitful and to keep you from maturing in Christ. Check all thoughts and conversations, bringing them to Christ for His approval. For just as Godless chatter can lead you away from Him, Godly conversation will draw you and others closer to Him.

Be transformed by renewing your mind through reading, memorizing, and meditating on God’s Word. Build up one another; encourage! Praise and worship together, drawing each other closer to God.

CROSS REFERENCE

CARTWHEEL

SCRIPTURE

1TIMOTHY 6:20; 2TIMOTHY 2:15-16

STUDY

Who should Avoid Godless Chatter?

What is Godless Chatter?

Where is your biggest battle fought against Godless Chatter?

Why Avoid Godless Chatter?

When should you Avoid Godless Chatter?

How can you Avoid Godless Chatter?

How does this apply to your life?

What is your prayer?

What is your memory verse?

THE CROSS

Has someone you know or a complete stranger done something to help or, bless you? At the time, these individuals stand out in our minds. But little by little, as time goes by, we tend to forget how important this act of kindness was to us. Take time every morning and throughout your day to remember all that occurred before, during, and after our Lord’s death on the cross. For you will be drawn closer to Him, living in an attitude of gratitude leading to worship and praise, living in the Spirit all through your day. The enemy won’t have a chance to diminish in your memory this gracious and loving sacrifice because you will be worshipping in the presence of your King, ever mindful of this great gift.

The Cross

Remember our Lord’s death on the cross living in an attitude of gratitude

CROSS REFERENCE

X BLOCK I CROSS WRISTS BLOCK I EOTCGEOREO-MARKI IJUJI

SCRIPTURE

MATTHEW 10:37-3916:2427:32,39-42MARK 8:3415:32LUKE 9:2314:27;JOHN 19:17-251CORINTHIANS 1:17-18GALATIANS 6:14EPHESIANS 2:15-16;PHILIPPIANS 2:8COLOSSIANS 2:13-15HEBREWS 12:2

STUDY

Who should have been on the Cross instead of Jesus?;

What does it mean to take up your Cross daily?

Where would you be now if Jesus had decided to come down from the Cross?

Why did Jesus need to stay on the Cross for you?

When did Jesus reconcile all things to Himself?

How can you take up your Cross daily?

How does this apply to your life?

What is your prayer?

What is your memory verse?

Spiritual Desire

spiritual desire

  I believe that our spiritual desire to know God better is one of His greatest joys. How He desires to make Himself known to us! The Lord has revealed Himself in His Word and made His Word available to us. Jesus has sealed us as His own, placing in us the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.

All creation proclaims His glory. The enemy diligently works to diminish your desire to know God. Through accusations and lies he tries to convince you that God does not desire a relationship with you, that you are not worthy. Let the goodness and love of your Savior continue to draw you to a deeper love relationship with your heavenly Father. Guard this relationship carefully, nourish it, and let it grow!

CROSS REFERENCE

HOOKING PUNCH / HOOK

SCRIPTURE

PSALMS 17:1,22:26,24:6,25:527:833:2034:1037:4,7,9,3439:12,40:1,8;42:1-1051:1-17,62:1,63:1,868:28,69:3,3270:4,84:286:11-12,16105:4,119:2,10,20,40,77,88,116,117,122,133,149,156; 123:1-2130:5-6143:5-6;PROVERBS 2:1-5,8:17,34; ISAIAH 8:1726:8-9,40:31,55:1-2,6JEREMIAH 29:13;LAMENTATIONS 3:25-26,41MATTHEW 5:6LUKE 6:21,10:42JOHN 12:20-21;PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14HEBREWS 11:6

STUDY

Who has given you your Spiritual Desire?

For what should you have a Spiritual Desire?

Where does your Spiritual Desire take you?

Why is your Spiritual Desire dangerous to the enemy?

When should you have a Spiritual Desire?

How can your Spiritual Desire grow?

How does this apply to your life?

What is your prayer?

What is your memory verse?

Do not let rejection effect you

       Do not let rejection effect you as you press on to live a life worthy of the calling God has given you. Those who live in darkness cannot stand the Light. As they hated Jesus, so they will also hate you. Stand firm! Continue on the path God has called you to, despite rejection. In love, use the Scripture you have learned when sharing your faith with others and let the Holy Spirit minister to their hearts. No matter how despised and rejected you are by the world, remember that you are precious in God’s sight. The battle is God’s; let Him handle the world’s rejection and hatred. Do not let rejection effect you.

REJECTED STONE

CROSS REFERENCE

BACK FIST STRIKE / URAKEN UGH I / BIANQUAN / BARTIGAL

SCRIPTURE

DEUTERONOMY 32:151SAMUEL 8:7,10:19PSALM 118:22-23PROVERBS 1:24-25ISAIAH 53:3JEREMIAH 15:6; HOSEA 8:3MATTHEW 10:22,21:42;         MARK 8:31,13:13LUKE 6:22, 9:22,17:25,21:17JOHN 7:7;ACTS 4:11,7:1-60

Do not let rejection effect you

STUDY

Who is the Rejected Stone?

What should you do when the message of the Gospel is Rejected?

Where in Scripture is Jesus Rejected?

Why do people Reject Jesus?

When have you been Rejected because of Jesus?

How should you respond when you are Rejected for your faith?

How does this apply to your life?

What is your prayer?

What is your memory verse?

The Lie of Coveting

[Gal 5:1 NIV] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
[Pro 4:14 NIV] Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
[Pro 4:15 NIV] Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
[1Th 5:16 NIV] Rejoice always,
[1Th 5:17 NIV] pray continually,
[1Th 5:18 NIV] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
NIV] Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
[Eph 2:20 NIV] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
[2Co 10:5 NIV] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

The bondage of coveting is subtle and powerful. It accuses our Father in Heaven, instills in me a feeling of lack in my life and separates me from others. Life seems boring and dull with the false hope that fulfillment is right in front of me if I only had what that other person has. It is a lie from the beginning that needs to be exposed and dealt with.

 I find the lie within my mind and take it captive. I don’t let it go into my heart. Then I replace the thought with the truth of the Freedom that Christ has set me free. I begin to pray and rejoice giving thanks walking in God’s will for me in Christ Jesus. I surround myself with the other citizens of heaven yielding to the Chief Cornerstone, Christ Jesus my love. Then I  persevere in my love for Him who has saved me until the lie is obedient to the truth.          The Lie of Coveting

Strong Foundation Strong Defense

The Lie That No One Cares

The temptation to believe that no one cares will come someday so, stand firm in your faith knowing that the Lord is with you and on your side.

You are much more valuable to Him than the birds and grass that He so wonderfully takes care of. Remember all that you have read and studied in the Word of Truth that clearly expresses God’s promises of care for you both for now and into eternity.  With a sincere heart draw near to God with confidence knowing that in Christ you are free from any guilt. Listen for words of exhortation from the Lord as you pray in the Spirit. Stand on the truth that as far as the east is from the west the Lord has removed the guilt of our past rebellion against the Lord and loves you so much that He placed them on His Son. Watch out for the lie that no one cares.

Physical and Scriptural Self -Defense

Attack – Cross Grab – The Lie =  “No One Cares”
Techniques Used – Stand Firm Foundation, Word of Truth, Draw Near to God, Exhortation East-West Sweep

Scriptural Weapons –

     [2Co 1:24 NIV] Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
[2Ti 2:15 NIV] Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
[Heb 10:22 NIV] let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
[Act 13:15 NIV] After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
[Psa 103:12 NIV] as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Don’t listen to the lie that no one cares!

The Lie of Gluttony

What does the Word of God say about Glut·tony

 noun \ˈglət-nē, ˈglə-tə-nē\: the act or habit of eating or drinking too much.

plural glut·ton·ies Full Definition of GLUTTONY

1:  excess in eating or drinking
2:  greedy or excessive indulgence

[Pro 23:1 NIV] When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you,
[Pro 23:2 NIV] and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.

[Deu 21:20 KJV] And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son [is] stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; [he is] a glutton, and a drunkard.
[Pro 23:21 KJV] For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags.

So what

that I am a few pounds or maybe even more than a few pounds overweight? What does that have to do with my love and devotion to God? Who really cares anyway? These are some of the rebellious defense thoughts that my flesh spews when confronted with the lie of Gluttony.

I know, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. But is it really about the physical health of my physical body? If it were, those who have medical illnesses would be in peril of accusation of the enemy of not loving the Lord. So maybe it’s not about the outside flesh but a matter of light and darkness that dwells within this body of flesh in my heart and will. The Temple is a place where the Lord dwells and we meet with Him. So the question is, “Has my temple been defiled by a lie of the enemy?” What is the thought that allows me to continue to over eat?

My thoughts that lead to gluttony are justified by the whispers of my enemy. It can be justified selfishness, pride and rebellion of wanting what I want when I want it. Deceived into not really caring about how the Lord feels about it. I forget about the starving and dying. The neighbors not far away that go hungry each night.

It has been written that physical longevity of life is gained in the gym and weight loss is gained in the kitchen. Does God really care if I am “FAT”. Probably not, but He sure cares about my reckless behavior of self pleasure.

Here is a physical and scriptural self-defense technique to remind me of the truth that Jesus is there and loves us.

                                               Totally Christian Karate the Lie of Gluttony

Start with Avoiding

  In Totally Christian Karate there are no kicking or punching techniques in the first two levels. We start with avoiding because the art assumes that we are:

1. Old

2.Out of Shape

3. Injured

4. Slow

Avoiding
Avoiding

5. Weak

6. Outnumbered

7. Caught off guard

Ideally none of these is the case. However as a Self-Defense art we must assume they are and train to be effective anyway. Start with avoiding.

An art that cannot be effective under all these conditions might be an effective military combat method or a winning sport method or even an effective brawling method but they are not a Self-Defense Method!

So in Totally Christian Karate we do not go head to head  or exchange with the attackers. We make sure everything bad happens to the other guy. Our desire is not the destruction of the attacker but our self preservation or the preservation of someone else because that person is created in the image of God and He loves them.

Scripturally, I never try to pay back wrong for wrong or exchange word for word with others. I think of others more than myself. Remembering all of the times in my life that I may have attacked someone else with my words. I avoid the offense, turn the other cheek and look for the opportunity to share truth with love. This takes practice.