April 2012

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GUIDE: Biblical Answers To The Top 20 Questions About Meditating God’s Word

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GUIDE: Biblical Answers To The Top 20 Questions About Meditating God’s Word

Christian Meditation Guide Book Now Available!

Christian Meditation Guide Biblical Answers Book

Growing Prosperity Productions Presents: “CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GUIDE: Biblical Answers To The Top 20 Questions About Meditating God’s Word” by Brenda Marsolek.

This book was published late February 2012 and is now available for purchase as an ebook and print book.

I discovered that there is a lot of confusion, and many questions when it comes to the topic of Christian Meditation. Yet, God makes is very clear in the Bible that –

YES, Christians need to Meditate His Word!

So let’s get started clearing up the confusion. I’m sure you too have had some of the same questions included in this book…and I trust the answers will help open the eyes of your heart, as they did mine, to the mind and life-transforming power of meditating the living Word of God!

I originally addressed and wrote these Christian Meditation questions and answers, in December 2009. I published them online individually as articles and also as an email series.

This Christian Meditation Guide is now expanded and published in book form as a response to the requests to have it compiled in one handy reference.

My prayer and desire is that this resource is a blessing to you, and that you are encouraged and inspired to make Christian Meditation a daily part of your life. I pray that you will be empowered with Gods’ Word and live always in the peace of his presence!

Be Blessed to Be a Blessing! God bless you always!

Love in Christ,
Brenda

Growing Prosperity Productions

Find out more about the book and purchase on Amazon here:

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GUIDE: Biblical Answers To The Top 20 Questions About Meditating God’s Word

p.s. thank you in advance for your purchase, ratings & reviews! 🙂

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Growing Prosperity Now On Facebook

Growing Prosperity Now On Facebook

Facebook Page Started for Growing Prosperity

Growing Prosperity Productions on Facebook

We have finally decided to start a Facebook page for Growing Prosperity.

http://www.facebook.com/GrowingProsperity

With so many people already familiar with Facebook and using it, I thought it might be a great place for those who come across this site to easily interact with each other.

Have a great day & God Bless!

Cheers – Brenda

 

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Carry Me To The Cross by Kutless – Live Christian Music Video

“Carry Me To The Cross” by Kutless – Live Christian Music Video

“Carry Me To The Cross” by Kutless

“Carry Me To The Cross” by Kutless

from the album Believer

Believer album by Kutless

 

Kutless performs “Carry Me To The Cross” LIVE on K-Love from their album, “Believer.”

“Carry Me To The Cross” Song Lyrics:

When the path is daunting
And every step exhausting
I’m not alone, I’m not alone, no, no

I feel You draw me closer
All these burdens on my shoulders
I’m not alone, I’m not alone
You pull me from this place

(Chorus)
Hallelujah!
You carry me every day
You carry me all the way
Hallelujah!
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross

How Your love has moved me
To the foot of all Your glory
I’m not alone, I’m not alone, I’m not alone

Chorus

All of these cities You have built
And every cathedral You have filled
To all of creation You gave life with Your hands
And with those hands You comfort me
You lift me up from my knees
And carry me
You carry me

Chorus

The cross
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross

(end lyrics)

“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.”
— Galatians 1:3-4

Be blessed and encouraged by this beautiful song as you give glory to God!

God bless you,
Brenda

 

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Christian Leadership – 10 Godly Character Traits to Overcome Negative Traits

Christian Leadership – 10 Godly Character Traits to Overcome Negative Traits

Godly Character Traits Empower Christian Leaders

Christian Leadership with Godly CharacterChristian leadership should set

the standard for godly character.

Not only that, Christian leaders

should be actively developing

godly character in the lives of others

within their sphere of influence.

It is no surprise that the world today is challenging, and changing, the spiritual values of young and old people alike. Morals are being shaken, and wickedness is growing more and more perverse. The Bible clearly warns that many negative character traits will increase in the last days.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
— 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The following list of negative character traits gives insight into the spirit of our times, and how that spirit is being expressed in our own behavior, thinking, and lifestyle. It gives us some things to reflect on, like a mirror to judge our own behavior with. The list also includes positive, godly character traits used to overcome the negative.

10 Godly Character Traits Overcome Negative Character Traits:

1. Genuine vs Hypocritical

A hypocritical lifestyle is almost the norm as we see people having a form of godliness and going through the religious motions, yet without a genuinely changed life. Hypocrisy is all around us and lies are being spoken to teach false doctrines.

In these perilous times, we should have a healthy fear of the perverse days we are living, and live as genuine believers with renewed minds; trusting God daily. We are not to be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) A genuine relationship and walk with the Lord is required.

2. Love vs Selfishness

Selfishness and a self-centered, willful pursuit of sin is a common behavior as people become lovers of self. (2 Timothy 3:2) Society has a twisted value system and perspective on life. People have become lovers of pleasure more than of God.

God is love and those who do not love, do not know God. (1 John 4:8) We are to love God and love people.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Luke 10:27 NIV

3.  Honor vs Disrespect

Disrespect and disobedience to parents, and authority, is a regular part of the spirit of today; rebellion and lawlessness.

However, God tells us to obey and honor our parents. And He even promises that it will be well with us if we do. (Ephesians 6:2-3) We are to be submissive to authority and honor all people, and when we do what is right we find favor with God. (1 Peter 2:13-20)

4. Generosity vs Covetous

Covetousness is ruling the hearts of many. They want things that belong to others and they have a wrong value system. They find themselves not only fond of money, but in love with money.

On the contrary, God tells us the generous will prosper and that if we sow generously, we’ll reap generously.

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
— Proverbs 11:25 NIV

5. Humility vs Pride

Proud, haughty people, that think they are above others, are filling society. They have an ungodly pride and boast and brag of themselves. But pride comes before the fall.

When we humble ourselves before the Lord, he lifts us up. (James 4:10) Any boasting we do should be in the Lord. (Psalm 34:2)

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
— James 4:6

6. Purity vs Perversion

Perversions of all kinds are rampant today. Anything that is good and natural is being perverted. People seem to have lost their natural, God-given, healthy affection and replaced it with all that is twisted, unnatural, unholy, immoral and perverse; only to satisfy their own desires.

The Bible says in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” We are also to pursue peace and holiness with everyone, without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

7. Encouragers vs Despisers

Despisers are in full force; belittling and treating shamefully the righteous actions of those who are doing good. They scoff, mock and ridicule them.

Our words and actions should not be discouraging, but encouraging. God teaches us over and over to encourage and strengthen one another. And we are told to do so even more so in these end times. (Hebrews 10:25)

8. Loyalty vs Traitors

Traitors, truce-breakers, and betrayers lack any sense of loyalty to the commitments of friendship. They are untrue to their promises and can’t be trusted to keep their word. They are liars and false accusers.

Loyalty on the other hand is a mark of true friendship. Proverbs 18:24 tells us there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Loyalty, truth, and honesty are godly characters that lead to success. Those who can be trusted with a little can be trusted with much. (Luke 16:10)

9. Gratitude vs Entitlement

An entitlement attitude has taken over and in turn people feel they are owed everything. And on top of that, unthankfulness is sadly ruling the hearts and lives of many. These people ungratefully and unthankfully take advantage of others. And the thing is, this combination of entitlement and unthankfulness is a guaranteed formula for failure.

Gratitude is the attitude of success. It is the grateful and thankful people, that keep their hearts turned toward God, they are the ones who rise to the top. As Christians, we have the ultimate reason to be grateful: for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Therefore we should give God acceptable worship with reverence and awe. (Hebrews 12:28)

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Ephesians 5:20 ESV

10. Faith vs Deceit

Deceived and wondering: Are you one that is giving heed to seducing spirits and being led astray from the truth? Take a strong, reflective look at yourself to make sure you haven’t become headstrong in some areas. Is your mind darkened, your thinking reckless, and possibly your pride blinding you? Is your inner conscience seared – is your inner sense of right and wrong fading? Are you losing your sensitivity to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit through continued sin? Are you backsliding and rejecting God’s plan for your life and experiencing a departure from the faith?

Make basic biblical foundational teachings part of your everyday study and meditation. Renew your mind and grow your faith. Keep your trust in God daily and live by faith!

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
— Hebrews 11:6

“The just shall live by faith.”
— Romans 1:17

No doubt about it: Character development comes from discipline and it takes time and dedication; and it needs to be continually cultivated throughout our lives. We must examine ourselves and refuse to let the these negative character traits into our lives. Christian leaders must allow change from the Lord in every area, so that they can minister to others and be a positive example of Christian leadership.

May you be a Christian Leader that abounds with godly character and growing prosperity!

Soar higher in Him,
Brenda

P.S. This article was inspired after reading notes I took from a leadership meeting about character development. We discussed some negative character traits mentioned in Frank Damazio’s book “The Making of a Leader.” (I have not yet read the book, but it was highly recommended.)

 

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