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  • Go On A Life Search

    Posted on April 28th, 2012 jadijohnson No comments

    … otherwise known as GOALS.  Do you want to be more focused?  Do you want to achieve more?  People with written goals do.  Then why do less than 1 in 100 people write down their goals?

    I have goals for my life, but they aren’t written down … until now.  I’m posting them so you’ll be encouraged to write down your own.  Here they are:

    HEALTH

    1. I will eat balanced meals.

    2. I will exercise regularly.

    3. I will get enough sleep.

    RELATIONSHIPS

    1. I will spend more time with my kids. (I’m a single mom, so this one is very important.)

    2. I will spend more time with my parents.

    3. I will call my grandma more often.

    FINANCES

    1. I will start to make more money.

    2. I will save more than I spend.

    3. I will scrutinize every potential purchase.

    BUSINESS

    1. I will learn from successful people.

    2. I will grow in wisdom.

    3. I will look for opportunities and seize them.

    PERSONAL

    1. I will read my Bible every day.

    2. I will write every day.

    3. I will rest my body so I can train my mind to be open to God’s voice.

  • Wait … Did I Just Think That??

    Posted on April 24th, 2012 jadijohnson No comments

    Thousands of thoughts pass through our minds every day.  What we fail to think about are our thoughts themselves and their effect on our day.  If your thoughts are prevalently negative, that is the kind of world you are living in.  Your thoughts can taint your entire outlook. 

    We can control our thoughts!  How?  Actually, it’s fairly easy.  If you want to improve your day, you first have to improve your thoughts.  Block the negative thoughts that are pounding you like a hammer.  You have the authority to admit only the thoughts you desire into your precious mind.

    The first step is to become aware of your thoughts.  Make it a new habit to examine the thoughts you are allowing in.  How do they make you feel?  Would you classify them as positive or negative?  If a thought is positive, let it stay.  If it is negative, toss it out.

    Here is a little secret about negative thoughts:  They breed!  One negative thought gives birth to another, and another, and another, until you feel discouraged or overwhelmed.  Can you guess who planted that original thought in your head?  You guessed it!  Satan did.  He loves when we’re feeling defeated.  We’re so much easier to lead astray than when we’re keeping our minds and our hearts on God.

    Remember Matthew 22:37?  We’re to love the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind.  If we’re busy focusing on God, we won’t fall prey to Satan’s schemes.

    The next time you realize that you’re feeling down, ask yourself what you have been thinking about today.  Have you been fretting over money, your job, or your relationships?  When we worry, we’re giving negative thoughts a free pass into our minds.  Throw up your hand and say, “Stop!  You can’t come in.”  Take control!  After all, it’s your mind we’re talking about here.

    I can’t end this post without prompting you to read Philippians 4:8.  You’ll be glad you did!

  • Warning: This Is Tough To Read!

    Posted on April 19th, 2012 jadijohnson No comments

    … but it is very important!!

    This morning, I was reading It’s Not About Me by Max Lucado.  I came to a part that took my breath away.  I felt led to share it with you all.  Here it is:

    God’s Great Love

    “Want to see the size of my love?” God invites.  “Ascend the winding path outside of Jerusalem.  Follow the dots of blood until you crest the hill.  Before looking up, pause and hear me whisper, “This is how much I love you.”

    Whip-ripped muscles drape his back.  Blood rivulets over his face.  His eyes and lips are swollen shut.  Pain rages at wildfire intensity.  As he sinks to relieve the agony of his legs, his airway closes.  At the edge of suffocation, he shoves pierced muscles against the spike and inches up the cross.  He does this for hours.  Painfully up and down until his strength is gone.

    Does God love you?  Behold the cross, and behold your answer.

    It brought tears to my eyes having to type that.  I hope it hits home for you as hard as it did for me.

    Brothers and sisters, WE ARE LOVED!

  • A Story of Sacrifice

    Posted on April 18th, 2012 jadijohnson No comments

    FEARLESS – The Story of Adam Brown

    by Eric Blehm, published by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

    On March 17, 2010, Navy SEAL Adam Brown died in Afghanistan.

    He was a man of faith.

    He didn’t know he was going to die that night, but he was ready…

    Click on the link below to see the Book Trailer for FEARLESS.

  • got fear?

    Posted on April 15th, 2012 jadijohnson No comments

    I hate being alone at night … and Satan knows it.  As soon as I let a little apprehension slip in, he pounces, feeding my imagination with images from crime shows I’ve watched.  Maybe you suffer with other fears.  Well, I searched the Bible for verses to soothe my anxiety-filled mind.  Here are a few.  (After you read them, I’ll tell you what I realized!)

    I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

    I will fear no evil, for you are with me; (Psalm 23:4)

    I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

    If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the Lord, who is my refuge — then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. (Psalm 91:9,10)

    O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. (Psalm 12: 7)

    You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7)

    When I am afraid, I will trust in you. (Psalm 56:3)

    The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)

    God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear … (Psalm 46: 1,2)

    You will not fear the terror of night … (Psalm 91:5)

    Here is what I realized:  David knew what he was talking about!  He knew from whence his help would come! (Psalm 121:2)

    I knew that I had to face this fear head-on.  I didn’t have to live like this any longer.  What I lacked was faith.  I needed to trust in God in ALL things, including fear. 

    In “Traveling Light” by Max Lucado, he tells us to read Luke 22: 39-44 (Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane).  We turn to it when we look the same.  We read it when we feel the same.  We read it when we feel afraid.  For isn’t it likely that fear is one of the emotions Jesus felt?

    And what did Jesus do?  He prayed.  The first one to hear his fear was his Father. 

    Like Jesus, David turned to God as well.

    Fix your eyes on God when you’re afraid.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  He of all people understands your fear.

  • Use Your Gift For God

    Posted on April 9th, 2012 jadijohnson No comments

    I really like books that encourage us to use our gifts for God.  Here are some of the best:

    “The Pound for Pound Principle” by Mike Kai

    “Knit Together” by Debbie Macomber

    “Become a Better You” by Joel Osteen

    “Extraordinary” by Jack Bevere

    “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren

    “A Life God Rewards” by Bruce Wilkinson

    “It’s Not About Me” by Max Lucado

    And the best one of all:  The Bible!

    Here are some of my favorite Bible verses about living for God:

    To this end I work hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. (Colossians 1:29)

    We are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)

    “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” — Jesus  (John 17:4)

    “… I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts” — the Lord  (Exodus 31:3)

    We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  (Romans 12:6)

    I wish that all men were as I am.  But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.  (1 Corinthians 7:7)

    Do not neglect your gift … (1 Timothy 4:14)

    Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  (James 1:17)

    Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:15)

    Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  (1 Peter 4:10)

    Question of the Day:  Can you reach the lost by sitting on your talent??

  • How To Pray

    Posted on April 7th, 2012 jadijohnson No comments

    Unfortunately, many Christians have not learned how to pray.

    Prayer is simply speaking to God.

    Let’s look at the five steps of prayer:

    1. Praise

    I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:4

    Praise is recognizing God for all that He is. We declare His virtues and accomplishments.  We share with God those qualities about Him that we both recognize and appreciate.

    Praise is to verbalize our adoration of God.

    2. Confession

    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

    Confession means a willingness to declare our guilt.  When we confess our sins, we are verbalizing our spiritual shortcomings.  Confession is not for God’s benefit, but for ours.  He wants us to be cleansed from that sin, and also to become aware of what we have been cleansed of so that we might avoid those sins in the future.

    3. Intercession

    I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. 1 Timothy 2:1

    Intercession is the act of mediation.  It is to stand between a lost soul and Almighty God, praying that this person will be delivered from the snare of Satan.

    4. Petition

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

    Petition is to verbalize our personal needs to the Lord.  It is to express our helplessness in some specific matter.  Our petitions give God access to our needs.

    5. Thanksgiving

    Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

    Thanksgiving begins with a conscious awareness and acknowledgement of the blessings God has given us.  It is the act of expressing gratitude to God for what He has done for us.

    A few suggestions for Prayer:
    First, find the best time for prayer.
    Second, fight all interruptions.
    Third, recognize the importance of your daily communing with God.
    Let today be the start of a new adventure into the presence of God.

    This lesson was prepared using The Practical Prayer Life by Dick Eastman.

  • Welcome!

    Posted on April 4th, 2012 jadijohnson No comments

    I’m delighted you came!  Not only am I a

    writer, I’m also an avid reader.  On my blog, I

    would like to review both fiction and nonfiction

    books.  I’m almost finished with my current

    novel, and I will post my review as soon as I am

    done.  In the meantime, here are some of my

    favorite Christian authors:

    Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

    Linda Chaikin

    Francine Rivers

    Dee Henderson

    Ted Dekker

    Frank Peretti

    Judith Pella

    Karen Kingsbury

    Serita Jakes

    Brandilyn Collins

    Grace Johnson

    Linda Windsor

    Brenda Wilbee

    I hope you found some favorites in this list, and

    also some names you don’t recognize.  Check them

    out!  You won’t be disappointed.

    In parting…

    To this end I work hard, depending on Christ’s

    mighty power that works within me.

    Colossians 1:29

     

  • Welcome to Beginning of Wisdom!

    Posted on April 3rd, 2012 BoW Admin No comments

    Welcome to your Christian blog!

    This is what your blog will look like to the outside world, as well as where you interact with your blog’s visitors. You can update the look of your blog, but we’ll teach you that in a bit.

    The Dashboard is where you’ll create posts (and so much more). Watch the following quick videos to learn about the Dashboard, how to create your first post, and how to change your password.

    [wpmudev-video video=”dashboard”]

    [wpmudev-video video=”add-new-post”]

    [wpmudev-video video=”the-toolbar”]

    Now that you know what to expect, go ahead and click the Login link on the top of the right sidebar and you will be taken to your blog’s Dashboard.  There, you’ll find additional video tutorials that will help you make the most of your new Christian blog!

    Remember, you may request support at any time by emailing support@beginningofwisdom.net

    Enjoy!

    Here are some sample post ideas:

    – Prayers
    – Prayer requests
    – Bible study notes
    – Small group notes
    – Teachings
    – Sermon and seminar notes
    – Ministry journaling
    – General journaling

    Remember to invite others to share in this experience with you and engage with you through your journal! Privacy can be set for your entire journal, as well as for individual posts – you’re in control of who sees what!