Thursday, December 30, 2010

More Witnessing Helps

Since my post on witnessing to unsaved family had so many reads, I thought I'd share some more information about one of my favorites, Living Waters.  The evangelism methods taught here stress the importance of using the Ten Commandments to build conviction of sin, thus showing the sinner the practicality of Hell and his need of a Savior.

Ray Comfort wrote the book "Hell's Best Kept Secret" which expounds on this principle and why it is almost unheard of in personal evangelism today.  Hell's Best Kept Secret is sold on Amazon for anywhere from $7 to $10 including shipping, and eBay  from $5 to $7, including shipping.  I highly recommend this book to ANY believer with a burden for the lost; I promise it is a worthy investment.

For all the penny pinchers out there who stubbornly refuse to buy one, as a penny pincher myself, I completely understand.  You can listen to the audio for free on the Living Waters home page.  It's not the complete book, but it's a general overview.  Just go to the home page and on the right side you'll see a tab titled "Foundational Messages" with "Listen Now!" right below it.  Hell's Best Kept Secret is the first message listed.

Using the Law to build conviction is very effective.  I use this method every time I witness, simply because it gives positive results every time.  It even works on believers!  Consider the following scenario:

Bob:  So, Fred, do you consider yourself to be a "good" person?
Fred: Good?  Yeah, I'm a pretty good person!
Bob:  Well, have you ever told a lie?
Fred:  Uh... sure, haven't we all?
Bob:  Sure!  But what does that make you?
Fred:  A liar.
Bob:  Have you ever stolen anything?  Even if it's really small?
Fred:  Maybe once, when I was a kid.  A pack of gum or something.  You know... no big deal.
Bob:  So what does that make you?
Fred:  Um... a thief?
Bob:  Exactly.  Have you ever taken God's name in vain?
Fred:  Well, yeah!
Bob:  Have you ever lusted?  Jesus said that lust is adultery of the heart.
Fred:  I've done that.
Bob:  Buddy, I've got bad news for you.  By your own admission , you're a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart."

Feel guilty yet?  Whether you're saved or lost, the Law of God has a huge impact on your conscience.  In this imaginary situation, Bob used only four of the Ten Commandments on Fred; just think of how using all ten could effect your lost friends and family!  The point is to lead them to the realization of their sinfulness, which will in turn explain why they deserve to go to Hell and the reason they need a Savior.

If you're frustrated with running into a brick wall every time you witness to family or just curious about a new way to present the Old Story, give this book a try.  It's short and sweet, but full of enlightening truth that you will be glad you found.  I use this method every time I witness, and I see the Holy Spirit work time and time again.  Even Jesus used the Ten Commandments to witness!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Why We Celebrate Christmas

"It's About the Cross"


It's not just about the manger
Where the baby lay
It's not all about the angels
Who sang for him that day

It's not just about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It's not all about the wisemen
Who travelled from afar

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday

It's about the cross.

It's not just about the presents
Underneath the tree
It's not all about the feeling
That the season brings to me

It's not just about coming home
To be with those you love
It's not all about the beauty
In the snow I'm dreaming of

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me

It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday

It's about the cross.




****(To read more about what Jesus did for you, click here.)****

Monday, December 20, 2010

Witnessing to Unsaved Family Members

The holidays are a perfect time to bring up salvation to extended family.  Loved ones are near, conversation is generally encouraged, they can't hang up on you, and everyone is in a relatively good mood.  The problem is... how are you supposed to bring it up this time?  Perhaps this is the first time some of us will attempt to reach out to lost family members, but most of us do this every year and need all the creative ideas we can get!

Here are links to some of my favorite personal evangelism methods:

Living Waters
Summary: This method stresses the sinner's responsibility for their actions by using the Ten Commandments to show how they have personally fallen short of the glory of God.  Using this method not only reveals what makes us sinners, but explains the practicality of Hell.  Only after the sinner comes to grips with his total hopelessness will he see his need of a Savior.
Most Effective On: Anyone; this method transcends all religious and cultural backgrounds simply because you will be quickening their God-given conscience -- something everyone has.
Get Equipped Now: Click on the link above.  On the right side of the page, about halfway down (you will have to scroll down), you will see two audio buttons labeled "Hell's Best Kept Secret" and "True and False Conversion."  Both of these free audios have great tips on how to deal with the unsaved.

Answers in Genesis
Summary: This site is bursting at the seams with help for anyone interested in defending the Creation account and the first eleven chapters of Genesis.  Evolutionists everywhere are giving their lives to disprove the first few chapters of the Bible, but the answers to their challenging questions are just a click away.
Most Effective On: Humanists, evolutionists, atheists, agnostics, and family members who are just plain confused.
Get Equipped Now: Click here to receive a free digital copy of the Answers magazine.  Also, you can find numerous articles, access to the free e-newsletter, devotions, and lists of scientists who believed in Creation by placing your cursor over "Get Answers" (found near the top of the page, between the buttons "Home" and "Store").

4Witness
Summary: This site is entirely dedicated to equipping Christians with a burden for Latter-Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses.  The team is made up of ex-Mormons and ex-Jehovah's Witnesses who seek to share the truth in love with those involved in these religious circles.
Most Effective On: Latter-Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Get Equipped Now: 4Witness features articles such as "How to Witness Effectively to Mormons", "Is Water Baptism Essential for Salvation?" and "Why Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are Not Christians."  You will find this site to be an endless supply of free witnessing information.

Jack Chick's Information on Islam
Summary: Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world; no doubt your family has been affected by it, as well.  Although it is hard to find tips on how to witness to Muslims, this site has several helpful hints.
Most Effective On: Those involved in Islam or anyone showing an interest in Islam.  Click here to read an article explaining how Jesus' own claim to be the Son of God can impact Muslims.
Get Equipped Now: The links provided give ample help on witnessing to those affected by Islam.  For an entertaining way to learn more about "just the right thing to say" to Muslims, read the Chick Tracts Allah Had No Son, Is Allah Like You? and Men of Peace.

These are just a few of the religions that you may be confronting this weekend.  Don't forget to pray for wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you share the truth with your family.  If you're blessed to be among those in like faith this Christmas, pray for those who will have the opportunity to plant a seed of truth in a family member's heart in the next few days.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Babel Fish

What could be better than knowing your blog is readily available to anyone who speaks your language?  Perhaps, knowing your blog is readily available in any language!  The problem is, I can't write in German, French, Greek, or Portuguese.  Luckily, Yahoo! made Babel Fish to help out bloggers like me.  It is located directly to the right hand side of this post and translates any of my pages into the language of your choice.

I would like to share my life lessons on this blog with as many young ladies as possible, and Babel Fish looked like a helpful tool.  If you know anyone "across the language barrier" who would benefit from this site, I would be most encouraged if this blog aided in being a spiritual help to them.  If my dear readers around the world would like to see a language Babel Fish does not list, please tell me and I will do my best to find another widget that translates into the needed language.

Some Thoughts on the Value of Friends

The most important things in life are not things!

Most of you have probably already seen something kind of like this, but it never hurts to be reminded! =)

Grammy Blick's Bible Reading: A Small Quiz

Friday, December 10, 2010

Some Thoughts About Dating and Relationships

I found this post on the blog "Micki Harjo Memoirs" and thought it was excellent advice for ladies considering a relationship or marriage.  A lot of thoughts run through a girl's mind when she meets a prospect; unfortunately, these questions almost never do.  This is because we don't think objectively when we're head-over-heels in love.  If you have a "special someone" in mind, read Advice to Young Women.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Nails in the Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.  His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.  The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next  few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered 20 daily  gradually dwindled down.

 He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.  Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.  He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. 
 
  
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.  The fence will never be the same.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  But It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.  A verbal wound is just as bad as, and often worse than, a physical one."



Author Unknown 

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Real Pearls

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. 

"Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"
 

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.
 

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
 

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
 

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a 
bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. 

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny , "Do you love me?"
 

"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you."
 


"Then give me your pearls."
 

"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection , the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite."
 

"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
 

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny 's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"
 

"Daddy, you know I love you."
 

"Then give me your pearls."
 

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll.. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." 

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you."
 

And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
 

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style.
 

As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
 
"What is it, Jenny ? What's the matter?"
 

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little 
pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy; this is for you." 

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny ...
 

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.
 


God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.
 

Friday, December 3, 2010

Changed Into His Image

Do you have bad habits that keep tripping you up spiritually?  Is your "besetting sin," whether it be a bad attitude, suffering prayer life or sharp tongue, mercilessly beating you down?  All of us have areas that can be improved on, and I can't think of a better book to help guide you along than Changed Into His Image.

This book is full of examples, illustrations, and step-by-step principles to overcome spiritual stagnancy.  Because there is always room for improvement, I recommend this book to any believer.  We should always be looking for ways to become more Christlike, and Jim Berg clearly shows us how we can, no matter what our "weak spot" may be.

For more information on this and other devotional books by the same author, click here.  You may also find it in my aStore (under the tab "May I Recommend" at the top of the page, directly below the header).  Find spiritual victory as you become more and more Changed Into His Image!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Keep Your Fork

I know most of us have already heard this story, but I like it so much I thought I'd share it.  The Harjo family are the ones to give credit to for posting it on their blog, so I just put the link to their site at the end of this post.  Keep the Harjo family in your prayers as they are missionaries to the Native American Indians.  Now, without any further ado, "Keep your fork!"

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Don't Lock Yourself Back Up

Gal 4:8  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?


Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

Remember playing cops and robbers?  I always liked being the bad guy -- maybe I'm just weird, but I thought they always had it made.  You got to run and hide, escape traps, and finally let the cops get you... on purpose, of course.  There was something exhilarating about letting someone tie your hands behind your back.    

It is one thing to play around with handcuffs, but putting yourself back under the bondage of sin is an entirely different matter.  It is so easy to fall into a besetting sin, enjoy it for a moment, regret it, and get back out again, only to slip right back into it.  So the cycle goes... you know (fill in the blank) is just as wicked as can be, yet you find yourself entangled in it time and time again.

In verse 8 Paul explains that a lost person can be expected to act in a sinful manner because they are still a slave to sin.  However, verse 9 goes on to say that it is absolutely ludicrous for a child of God to put themselves under sin's bondage.

Remember how miserable it was to be Satan's servant?  He made sin look so good, but it brought you more heartache, guilt, and pain than you ever bargained for.  Not only did you sin, but you had no choice.  Each transgression was a chain, weighing heavier and heavier as Satan piled them upon you.  But then you got saved.  Your burden was lifted and no longer did Satan have control of you.  You live and breathe in freedom, without a single obligation to your former master.  After a while, sin started looking good again.  Sure, you are saved, but that gives you a license to do whatever you want, right?  Before long, you find yourself falling into the same old stuff over and over.  You might be saved, but sin has once again locked you into its grip.

"How turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" (verse 9)  It seems ridiculous, but it's exactly what we do!  Why would we ever desire the chains that once held us fast?   How could we look at sin and think, "I want that instead of freedom!  It looks so much better than being free!"  Why?!?! 

Through Christ you are able to have victory.  Don't lock yourself back up into the mess from which you were delivered.  You don't have to be tangled up in bondage anymore!  Accepting spiritual defeat as a way of life is just as silly as grabbing the chains in the picture above and wrapping them around you.  Instead, decide that whatever your personal vice is, you will let the Lord change your heart and help you overcome it.

Another great thing about your freedom in Christ is you don't have to lift a finger for it.  "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (verse 1).  He's already gained the victory; all you have to do is ask Him for it.  In fact, trying to fight your own sinfulness in your own strength will end in utter failure.  The Lord is your strength and your shield -- live in the liberty you already have in Him!

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