Setting Goals (Part 4)

This post will suggest some social goals that you may want to consider adopting for yourself.

Before reflecting on social goals you may want to review the three preview posts related to setting goals: Setting Your Personal Goals for 2015, Without Goals You Have Nothing to Shoot For, and Getting Started writing Your Goals.

In the last post we looked at goals that will help you grow in your relationship with God.  This post will focus on goals that will help you grow in your relationships with others.

As in previous posts, we will use Scripture as the resource for suggested goals. There are many references in Scripture that we could use.  I selected ten scripture passages for your consideration.

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 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12 ESV)

•  Treat others the way you want to be treated. (The Golden Rule)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 ESV)

•  Help others get through tough times.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10 ESV)

• Do good for others in need.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

• Be kind, compassionate, thoughtful, reasonable, gentle, and forgiving in your relationships with others.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)

• Don’t act selfishly. Be concerned for the interests of others.

 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (1 Peter 2:1 ESV)

• Recognize and understand the destructive nature of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander and avoid using any form of these behaviors when relating to others.

 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9 ESV)

• Do not retaliate when people insult or offend you; rather respond in a way that will diffuse any anger or hostility that may exist.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)

• Respond thoughtfully, practicing self-control, with a soft answer when dealing with people who are angry, upset, hurt, or frightened.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, …. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)

• Say or do things that will encourage and build others up.

…  aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, (1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV)

• Mind your own business.

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 Suggested social goals for 2015:

• I will try to practice The Golden Rule.

• I will look for opportunities to help others get through tough times.

• I will look for opportunities to do good for others in need.

• My desire is to be kind, compassionate, thoughtful, reasonable, gentle, and forgiving in my relationships with others.

• I will try not to act selfishly, but rather to be concerned for the interests of others.

• I will try to recognize and understand the destructive nature of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander and avoid using any form of these behaviors when relating to others.

• I will try not retaliate when people insult or offend me; rather I will attempt to respond in a way that will diffuse any anger or hostility that may exist.

• I will attempt to respond thoughtfully, practicing self-control, with a soft answer when dealing with people who are angry, upset, hurt, or frightened.

• I will say or do things to encourage and build others up.

• I will mind my own business.

Without goals you have nothing to shoot for.

 Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional posts.

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Setting Goals (Part 3)

In my last two posts, Setting Your Personal Goals for 2015 and Without Goals You Have Nothing to Shoot For, I have been encouraging you to think about establishing personal goals for yourself.

The first category of goals I presented for your consideration was “goals that will help you grow in your relationship with God.”

James chapter 4 verses 7-10 gives us ideas for some very practical goals for this category.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. … (James 4:8)

• Desire to grow closer to God.

 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; (Isaiah 55:6 ESV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness… (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! (Psalm 105:4 ESV)

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7 ESV)

… seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29 ESV)

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… Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

• Recognize and detest the works of Satan

… Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (Romans 12:9 ESV)

… but test everything; hold fast what is good.   Abstain from every form of evil.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 ESV)

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… Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. (James 4:8-9)

• Be quick to repent of sin

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! (Psalm 51:2 ESV)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17 ESV)

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Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:10)

• Gain a better understanding of what it means to walk in humility.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility … (Ephesians 4:1-2 ESV)

Suggested goals for 2015:

• In 2015 I desire to grow closer to God.
• In 2015 I want to be able to recognize and detest the works of Satan.
• In 2015 I want to be quick to repent of my sins.
• In 2015 I would like to gain a better understanding of what it means to walk in humility.

Without goals you have nothing to shoot for.

 Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional posts.

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Setting Goals (Part 2)

If you have not read the post Setting Your Personal Goals for 2015, I recommend that you read it now. (Click on the hyperlink)

Setting life goals for yourself is important.  Don’t be quick to discard goals that appear to be difficult to achieve.  Know that some of our life goals will never be completely accomplished here on this earth.  Failing to perfectly complete a goal does not negate its value.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV)

Loving God with every fiber of our being is a great life goal.  This is a goal that cannot be completed here on this earth.  It’s still a great goal and one we should strive to achieve.

Loving our neighbors as ourselves is another that we will never perfect here on earth.  It’s still a good goal and scripture tells us to pursue this goal.

Goals that are consistent with Biblical principles are extremely important for spiritual growth.  If you have not already set goals for yourself, commit to establish personal goals in the near future.  Pray and ask God to reveal to you the goals that He wants you to pursue.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14 ESV)

If you mess up while pursing your goals, ask God to forgive you and get back in the race.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Don’t give up on your goals!

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ] So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 ESV)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

 Without goals, you have nothing to shoot for.

 Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional posts.

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I believe that it is important for all of us to set goals for ourselves.  Without goals, we have nothing to shoot for.

Scripture gives us some good starting points for setting personal goals.  In scripture we read, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Scripture tells us that Jesus grew intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.

•  I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of our age, to continue to grow intellectually and to increase in wisdom.

 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5 ESV)

•  I believe that it is important for all of us, to the best of our ability, to work at keeping our bodies healthy.

 …do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?   (1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV)

•  I believe that the number one priority for all of us should be continued growth in our relationship with God.

 Scripture tells us to “… love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, …” (Luke 10:27 ESV)

•  I believe that it is extremely important for all of us to love “our neighbors”.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

 We should all have the desire to increase in wisdom
and in stature
and in favor with God
and man.

 As we think about goals for 2015 we need to:

• Set goals that will help us grow in our relationship with God.
• Set goals that will help us grow in our relationships with others.
• Set goals that will help us grow intellectually.
• Set goals that will help us stay healthy physically (as much as possible).

 Without goals, you have nothing to shoot for.

 Happy New Year’s Day

 Best wishes as you reflect on your personal goals for the New Year.

Check out “Whoever Believes….”

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How would you share Christ with someone who has little or no exposure to Biblical teaching?

Lessons from the book of Acts (#7)

We can get some good “pointers” from Peter who effectively shared the good news of Jesus Christ with a group of Gentiles.  This story is found in Acts, chapter 10 verses 34-43.

Peter begins by telling this group of Gentiles “that God shows no partiality.”  The Gospel message is for anyone, from any nation, who fears God and is open to hearing the good news.

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34-35 ESV)

• The first point that Peter made is that God is not partial to a particular group of people from a particular nation.

 For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:11 ESV)

 … for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith…. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29 ESV)

 The Lord is … not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

 Peter goes on to describe Jesus Christ as “Lord of all”. Peter tells the people that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.”

•  Peter’s second point: Jesus is the anointed one. God sent Jesus to earth to be the Savior of the world.

  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 4:14 ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)

 Peter continues:  39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. (Acts 10:39-41 ESV)

• Peter’s point is that there is historical evidence of the life, works, death, and resurrection of Christ. Eye witnesses saw Christ being crucified and saw Him after he was resurrected from the dead.

 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:5-6 ESV)

•  Peter’s fourth point is that there will be a day of judgment and Jesus Christ will be the one who judges all people.

 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42 ESV)

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,      (Hebrews 9:27 ESV)

 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22 ESV)

•  Peter’s final point in this passage: Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10: 43 ESV)

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12 ESV)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 ESV)

Try using these five points, used effectively by Peter, the next time you want to share the Gospel with another person or with a group of people.

 You may also want to check out “Whoever Believes….”

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This is a story that illustrates how the obedience of two men was used by God to change the lives of many other people.

Lessons from the book of Acts (#6)

There is an amazing story in Acts, chapter 10, that demonstrates how God orchestrates events in the lives of people.  This is a story of two men.  One of the men is a Roman centurion (a Gentile) and the other man is an Apostle (a Jew). When this story begins, these two men are 33 miles apart and neither man knows the other man.

The first man’s name is Cornelius.  He was “a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. (Acts 10:2-5 ESV)

Cornelius obeyed and sent two of his servants to get the second man (who you now know is Peter.)

As the servants of Cornelius were traveling to Joppa, a city approximately 33 miles away, Peter “went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he … fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” … Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, … stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:9-20 ESV)

Peter obeyed.

The next day Peter went to Caesarea, with the servants of Cornelius, to meet with Cornelius.

Cornelius had gathered a group of his friends to hear the message that God had given to Peter to share with this group.

Peter was given the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with Cornelius and many other Gentiles. Many of these people believed what they heard and made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and were saved.

Read Acts chapter 10 in its entirety to get all the details of this story.

A brief summary of this story:

• There were two men in the story. Their lifestyles were very different. One was a Gentile the other was a Jew.  One was a Roman soldier, the other was an Apostle.
• Both men were men of prayer.
• God had a plan and a purpose for both men.
• God approached both men separately, one with an angel and one with a vision.
• God asked both men to do something.
• Both men were receptive to the message from God.
• Both men responded in a positive manner (Cornelius more readily than Peter).
• God used both men in a way that resulted in the salvation of many other people.

Questions for reflection.

• Does your nationality, occupation, age, education, etc. keep God from being able to use you?
• Do you spend time with God in prayer?
• Do you believe that God has a plan and a purpose for your life? (Ephesians 2:10)
• Are you receptive to God’s leading in your life?
• If you knew God was asking you to do something, would you do it?
• Are you expecting God to use you in significant ways?
• Do you believe God can use you to impact the lives of others?

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I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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What causes fights and quarrels?

Lessons from the book of James (#12)

Whenever we are involved in a quarrel or fight, most of us are quick to blame someone else for causing the fight or quarrel.  In our minds, it is always the other person’s fault.  We often believe that we are right and the other person is wrong.  We fight to protect our “rights”.

In the end, fights and quarrels seldom resolve differences or disagreements, and frequently they put a real strain on relationships.

Fights and quarrels are clearly inappropriate behaviors for believers.  Discord is not God’s will for our lives.

James gives us some profound insights relating to fights and quarrels.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?  (James 4:1 ESV)

Fights and quarrels come from desires that battle within us.  James is telling us that the root of the problem is in us, not the other person.

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 ESV)

You desire and do not have, so you murder. ( James 4:2 ESV)

We want to get our own way or we want things that we don’t have so we get upset and choose to hurt others to get what we want.  Most of us wouldn’t actually kill another person, but we allow hate, anger, and bitterness build up inside of us.

You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. ( James 4:2 ESV)

We covet, we want something that belongs to someone else, and we can’t get what we want, so we fight and quarrel.

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:2 -3 ESV)

Instead of fighting or quarreling over things that we want, we should ask God for these things.

“Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  Matthew 7:7

If it is God’s will for us to have these things, He will give them to us.  If it is not His will for us to have what we are asking for, we are better off without them.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.  (1 John 5:14-15 ESV)

The next time you “feel a quarrel coming on” examine your own heart and motives rather than focusing on the faults of the other person.  You will be amazed what God will reveal to you.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 ESV)

 Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.                                                                                                             (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)

Approximately 2700 years ago the prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of Jesus.

 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)

About 700 years later this prophesy took place

She (Mary) will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:21-23 ESV)

Before the world was created, God knew that we all needed a Savior. God used Isaiah, and other prophets,  to foretell the coming of Jesus.  A little more than 2000 years ago this prophecy was fulfilled.

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)

This is something to really be thankful for.  Thanksgiving (giving thanks) should never end for anyone who is a Christian.   Christians have something to be thankful for every day of the year.

… give thanks in all circumstances…

Be sure you have read  “Whoever Believes….”

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Happy Thanksgiving

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

(Psalm 118:1 ESV)

Visit the Seeking His Kingdom website at www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com

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Thanksgiving                               November 27, 2014

Let us worship and bow down.

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:1-7 ESV)

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.

 Check out “Whoever Believes….”

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