kitty

When we are willing to die, during persecution; there is a peace. We know that if we are to die, we will go up to heavon. A much better place. When we aren't willing to die, there is fear when persecution comes. At all times there should be no worldly fear to pick up the cross. It should be an honor. When we pick up our cross, we are following Jesus' example. We are obeying His commandment. To pick up our cross and follow Him daily.

If there is a reason, why we aren't persecuted. There must be some things going on. One we work in a totally christian setting and there are no non-christians around. Two, we work with non-christians and there is no need for the persecution on the christians. Which means there is some sin with the christian. Persecution should make us happy, when we give God the glory. When we know that Jesus is right beside us while we are going thru persecution. We should have joy inside us.

The perspective that there is my experience has shown me that there is a reason why I may go thru a certain kind of persecution. There is a test that I need to pass. A lesson I need to learn. Where my job location, I am learning that even though there is some persecution.

To avoid persecution and suffering means that Christians won't pass the test and grow up. Our faith won't strengthen. We will stop serving Jesus. I can't remember when I was distracted totally. I do know that sometimes I will temporary forget who I am and be lost in the persecution. But Jesus always reminds me that He is right next to me when I am in a trial that is real deep. There are a few christians that I have observed that I thought they wouldn't make it. But I pray for them and God takes care of them.

To me, when people promote themselves; they are giving attention to themselves, maybe they have pride or want to boast about the work they did. This may show the what kind of person they are. It shows that they have some maturity. God has given me spiritual gifts, He has given me to speak in different kinds of tongues, and the gift of prophecy. Both of these, God is teaching me how to operate in these gifts, in a deeper way.

I believe that non-christians like to live as they please. They don't believe in being accountable in a Christly sense of way. Christians think that it is hard to have accountibility. That when they are accountable, they will have to work hard to be accountable. To be accountable means that there are people (co-workers, friends, family, church members) who will help us to stay on the road that God has laid before us. As a result, we will be able to live for God, not having to worry about temptations that come our way. We also will have people who won't be afraid to keep us accountable and help us step by step.

Non-Christians try to get me to sin, when it happens, they may think that they succeeded in trying to make me sin. We are tempted to sin so we can cave in and think it is nothing to do a little sin. But in God's eyes a little sin is just as bad as a big sin. To resist the temptation, we need to have the mind of Christ. We need to resist the temptation at all cost.

The attitude that I am to have as the same as Jesus, makes me think twice about wanting to sin. I need to act the same way as Jesus acted when He was on earth.

I have pledge to follow Jesus Christ and be His disciple. I was baptized as a child. I grew up in a difficult home, and realized when I was a young adult that I needed to be baptized. I felt a conviction. So following the prompt of the Holy Spirit, I was baptized again. I felt that I was already a disciple. But I felt that I needed to get right with God in a deepter way. Then when I recently got married, I felt that the fellowship that my husband and I was apart of that as a couple we needed to be baptized in the river. I felt that this was to start our ministry together. I know that until God speaks to me I won't be baptized again. I don't think it matters how many time we are baptized. When God tells us we need to do something, we need to obey Him.

I find it fasinating. That God would want me in his family. A sinner. Not only a sinner coming into the family of God, but that He wants to raise me up. To minister to others. God loves me so much that He sent His one son. It fasinates me that we have a God, a daddy who would sacrifice His son just for me. Not only sacrifice His son, but He turned His back on His son. Then God wants me to grow up, to sit by His side and learn right next to Him. To meditate on His word, and to minister to others.

It can be difficult to witness under persecution, because those who persecute us don't want to listen to what the christian has to say. The persecutor's heart is closed to what the christian has to say. It is easy to make a wrong decision, because we don't want to say the right thing to bring on the persecution. All four can help me in my situations. Each advise is useful, and a reminder. As to how I'm suppose to deal with the situation.

The qualities that Peter mentions that are in my church are: sympathetic, we love each other as brothers, and there is compassionate. What is most needed is to be humble. What can my friends and I do to change the relational climate is to pray, and teach. My husband and I go to church in the inner city. We see God is working, and not tiring out the Pastor and her husband.

When the husband or wife mistreats their spouse, and they act one way in church and another way at home, this is being a hypocrite. God will not listen to any prayers that is offered to him. Until the husband or wife repents for the sin they have committed.

Peter was telling the christian husbands, they need to look after the wife's needs as well as their own. The wife is under the husband. Husband's needed to grow up and be smart with their wife. When the husband demonstrates that he is looking after his wife's needs, then this leads to a demonstration of love. He shows affection to his wife. Without the wife having to leave any clues. When the husband looks after his wife and sees what needs the wife may have, not only is this demonstration of love, but it tells the wife that her husband is still interested in her and someone else. Men may feel that when they dominate their wife, that they are in control. I'm not knocking anybody down. Wifes also feel they have to be the dominate one. This can't be. No one should be the dominate one. Only God should be the dominate one. Any one else is looking for trouble. The harm this causes, is the undominate one feels they are being riduculed, abused, and in an un-safe environment. It cause the undominate one too feel self-secure. Like they can't do anything correctly. God wants everyone to be free. If there is domination happening, there is no freedom in the marriage.

To cultivate inner beauty, one must yield regulary. Let the Holy Spirit reign in my life on a daily basis. Character is the same way. By letting the Holy Spirit clean my old and dirty nature. He replemises my nature with the characterists of Jesus. Love, joy, peace, patience...the gifts of the Spirit. When I have true character it show the Father, that we want to be in his presense. That we aren't fooling around. We are serious about our intimate relationship. By the Godly characterists, the ungodly mate will see that the Godly mate is not of the world but is apart of God's family. The Godly mate doesn't have worldly emotions. The Godly mate has the inner beauty that comes only from God.