Bible Study, How to Guides, Life Issues, Most Recent Post, The Bible

How To Recharge Your Bible Reading Habits: Catalogs and Bible

September 29, 2016 Patti Greene

How To Recharge Your Bible Reading Habits: Catalogs and Bible / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti

Do you read your Bible like you read catalogs?

I’m an expert on catalogs—at least I feel like I am. Catalogs swamp my snail mail. A fleeting look at the front cover and I know immediately whether a catalog ends up in the trash, in my bathroom, or on my coffee table. Many times, particular catalogs deserve my immediate attention!

In my email, I receive so many advertisements that I know whether to delete them, file them, or order from them immediately. I know which ones run out of items quickly, which ones have the best sale section, and which ones are not worth ordering from because their shipping is horrendous.

It has to be a very trendy catalog or an impressive advertisement to warrant my attention nowadays.

Do you read your Bible like you read catalogs?

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Some of the marketing headlines that enticed me with last week’s group of catalogs and advertisements were:

Elegant accents to add to your bathroom!

Wrap Yourself in the Beauty of Authentic Irish Knits!

Look for the Jumbo Almond Butter Crunch Buttery Toffee That’s Twice as Thick, Ten Times as Tasty!

Have a CHUCKLE—Then Try to Keep a Straight Face!

Safari and African home decor will unleash your wild streak!

True Classics that Never Go Out of Style!

September Classy Shopping Spree

Guaranteed Forever!

All these appeal to my sense of want, comfort, and style. If I like the color, the layout, the design, and the uniqueness of special catalogs, I look forward to those special catalogs coming! When I open those kinds of magazines or emails, I anticipate feelings of joy and comfort from perusing the pages, whether I eventually purchase from that catalog or not.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we read the Bible with the same anticipation as our favorite catalog? What if we couldn’t wait to sit down and pore over God’s Word. What if we were anticipating God’s love, comfort, and support? What if we knew we would find the perfect gifts and direction in the Word of God?

The Bible is not a dull book. It is a book filled with God’s love, guidance, and purpose for our life. His Word also lays out how He wants to involve each of us in the lives of others.

How To Recharge Your Bible Reading Habits

Make opening His Word a habit. “But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.” Psalm 88:13
Find a quiet place [away from distractions] to read and meditate upon His Holy Word. “I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:12
Open the Word with anticipation that God has something to tell you today. “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.'” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Look at the subheadings within the various books of the Bible. “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15
Ask Him to enlighten you by the power of the Holy Spirit. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore, I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-15
Ask Him to show you any shortcomings for which you may need help or forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 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
Make a decision to read God’s Word and pray for specific things. “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
Have a journal or notebook to write down what impressions you receive as you delve into the Word. They may be certain verses or prayer requests that come to mind. “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:2-3
Close the Bible with anticipation on how it will affect you today. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

When I receive my Touch of Class catalog, I want to get away by myself, browse the catalog, dog-ear the pages, circle what I need (or like), and/or possibly buy.

My prayer is that we may all open the Bible with even more excitement and awe as we do our favorite catalog. The entire Bible was written for us. I heard someone say that if God gave us the entire Bible, let’s read the entire Bible. There is something we can learn from every word, every sentence, every chapter, and every book of the Bible.

Just as we may browse our favorite catalog looking for those snappy gadgets or voguish apparel, let’s peruse the Holy Bible looking for God’s truth, wisdom, and spirit.

Bible Verses:

See above.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father. My heart’s desire is to read Your Holy Word with all the enthusiasm I can muster. I am busy. I get tired. And, sometimes I just don’t want to pick up my Bible or pray. Lord, I need the desire to spend time with You more than anything else. Please take away all distractions. Communicating with You and listening to You and Your words need to become the major priority of my life. But, I need Your help. Thank you for listening to my honest cry for help. I love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God Bless,

Headlines from Ballard Designs, Current, Grandinroad, Touch of Class, and The Vermont Country Store.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

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My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store. You may order an autographed copy by clicking on SHOP on this site.

devotional prayer journals — Devotional Prayer Journals by Patti Greene

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback)

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback)

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To Order:

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Edited by E. Johnson

Bible Study, Death, Life Issues, People in the Bible

Suicide: 7 Reasons People Committed Suicide in the Bible

September 15, 2016 Patti Greene 2 Comments

Suicide: 7 Reasons People Committed Suicide in the Bible / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti [From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

I once went to the viewing of a young adult who committed suicide. When greeting the parents, I experienced something I will never forget—the big, long hug from a desperate mom—the deep cry of a distraught wife—and the complete agony of a father.

It is the father’s furrowed face I want to keep etched in my mind—for no other reason, but to recall how awful suicide affects those involved. As I looked into the face of the father, his eyes penetrated mine. I’ve never seen such despondency, hopelessness, and despair before in my entire life. Although his eyes were empty, his countenance was reaching out for me to tell him the reason he was sitting in that funeral home pew was a bad dream and that what had just happened really didn’t happen. But, I couldn’t and neither could anyone else.

Suicide affects the family, friends, and acquaintances. It even affects those who have no connection to the suicide through reading about it or hearing about it. It is a tragedy that brings sadness to so many. The “why” question dwells in the minds of all. Thoughts swirl in the mind of those who knew the victim.

“I wish I would have kept in closer contact.”

“What could I have done to prevent this senseless act?”

“Why didn’t I see it coming?”

“Why, why, why?”

In questioning this tragedy, I decided to research suicides in the Bible. I found seven people who committed suicide. This list may not be exhaustive, but it gives a glimpse into the workings of the human mind and maybe, just maybe, it will help others.

7 Reasons People Committed Suicide in the Bible

Regret

Judas Iscariot hanged himself.

Judas was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples. He was the treasurer for the disciples. He was responsible for their funds and distributing them as needed. He betrayed Jesus by leading Jewish officials to him in order to receive 30 silver coins. Once he discovered that the Jews were going to kill Jesus, he brought the money back to the Jewish officials and threw it on the temple floor. Many say Judas’ motivation was greed. No matter what his true motivation was, it was obvious he regretted his action. Not knowing how to handle that regret and remorse resulted in him hanging himself.

And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. Matthew 27:5

Examples of Present Day Regret: Not having enough confidence in oneself; regret in chosen occupation; breakups; loved one passes away.

Humiliation

Abimelech, Son of Gideon ordered his armor-bearer to kill him.

Abimelech ruled Israel for three years. Some say that he should not be counted as a king because he was not anointed by God. During his reign, he destroyed the city of Shechem. After that he attacked the city of Thebez. During that seige, a woman dropped a millstone on his head, wounding him. He was embarrassed that he would be known as being killed by a woman, so he asked his armor-bearer to kill him. And, the armor-bearer did.

Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. Judges 9:54

Examples of Present Day Humiliation: Embarrassed by friends or family members; depression; lack of self-confidence; embarrassed by abuse; bullying; mental illness; feeling of hopelessness; shame.

Bullying

Samson caused a disaster and killed himself along with others.

Samson was a Judge of the tribe of Dan. He was chosen by Jewish leaders before Israel chose to have Kings. Due to being a Nazarite, his life was dedicated to God. He was known for his Herculean strength. He is most famous for his Philistine wife Delilah who continually betrayed and humiliated him. She eventually shaved Samson’s hair off and the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. He was put in prison. He was called out of prison to be made fun of again. He was tied to pillars and he pulled down the entire temple. The temple collapsed destroying both his life and the lives of many others.

And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. Judges 16:30

Examples of Present Day Bullying: Friends making fun of each other; being laughed at; being bullied for one’s weaknesses (appearances, intelligence); being made fun of behind one’s back; being nagged.

Fear

King Saul fell on his own sword.

King Saul was Israel’s first king. He tried to overtake the city of Bethsham. He wanted complete control over the trade routes. But, the armies of the Philistines fought against the men of Saul. They killed Saul’s three sons: Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. Saul was wounded in the battle. He asked his armor-bearer to slay him, but he wouldn’t, so he fell on his sword.

Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore, Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 1 Samuel 31:1-4

Examples of Present Day Fear: Desire to be free of pain; terminal illnesses; fear of being mocked, fear of possible abuse, actual verbal abuse; actual physical abuse; sexual ridicule; mocked for being poor, handicapped, judged; fear of mistreatment.

Witnessing Violence or Death

Saul’s armor-bearer fell on his own sword.

The purpose of an armor bearer in the Bible was to be by their king’s side during dangerous times. Armor bearers were chosen by kings because they were supposed to be known as very brave people. Possibly, Saul’s armor bearer could not deal with the guilt of disobeying King Saul’s command to kill him or maybe he couldn’t accept that he just witnessed the violent death of someone else – King Saul.

And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 1 Samuel 31:5

Examples of Present Day Witnessing Violence or Death: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; witnessing abuse (domestic or otherwise); being traumatized by witnessing natural disasters; being traumatized by witnessing another suicide; guilt they could have made a difference in someone’s decision to take their own life; terrorism.

Powerlessness

Ahithopel planned his suicide, put his house in order, and hanged himself.

Ahithopel was King David’s counselor. But, at one point, he deserted King David and went to serve King David’s son Absolom. Hushai was known to be Absalom’s friend and trusted counselor. Absalom valued Hushai’s counseling skills more than Ahithophel’s skills. That disturbed Ahithophel, so he went home to Giloh, put his house in order, then hanged himself.

When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father. 2 Samuel 17:23

Examples of Present Day Powerlessness: Being insulted; not being viewed as worthy or important; jealous of other people (co-workers, family members, peers); elder abuse; being talked about behind your back; inability to break a drug habit; not being respected.

Distress

Zimri killed himself and others by fire.

Zimri was a chariot commander. He murdered King Elah and all his family in Tirzah. He succeeded King Elah as king, but only for seven days. The army elected Omri as king instead of him. He wanted power and was distressed that the army was going to besiege Tirzah. He was unable to cope regarding the besiege of Tirzah and the loss of position so he set the palace on fire killing himself along with many others.

And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire and died. 1 Kings 16:18

Examples of Present Day Distress: Loss of job; unemployment; grades; death of a family member or someone close; divorce; injury; being abused; being neglected; trouble with the law; alcoholism; not getting into the college of choice; pressure to be someone you aren’t; moral distress; comparing your situation to others.

To all who are reading this article, remember that all problems can be fixed. The only problem that can’t be fixed is suicide.

Every problem we face or that we see others facing can be fixed. The only problem that can’t be fixed is suicide.

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If you recognize any of these examples in your life or in the faces of those you come in contact with, please get help. Don’t wait. It may be too late, and we don’t want that. And, if for some reason, you do encounter a suicide and are having a hard time dealing with it (which happens to a lot of people), please get some counseling. Talk to a friend, spouse, parent, mentor, minister, or professional counselor. Let’s try as much as we can to help others so we don’t have to experience the despondency, hopelessness, and despair in the faces of those left behind.

God Bless,

Bible Verses: Above

Prayer: O LORD, suicide is tough. It’s so final. Lord, help me to always realize that there are always ways out of my problems and impress upon me that your Holy Spirit and love can be my source of hope. Let me never be on the receiving end of a loved one’s suicide, but if I am give me your strength to deal with the situation. I pray for those in the midst of this suffering. I lift their heart and soul to you. Give them your comfort and love as no one or anything can. Keep my soul healthy in you. Let me call out for help when I need it and let me recognize those who need my help before it is too late. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Losch, Richard. All the People in the Bible: An A-Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2008.

Miller, Stephen. Who’s Who & Where’s Where in the Bible. Uhrichsville: Barbour, 2012.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store. You may order an autographed copy by clicking on SHOP on this site.

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback)

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback)

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

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Christian Living, Doctrine, Faith, The Bible

When You Don’t Understand, Faith Matters!

September 1, 2016 Patti Greene 2 Comments

When You Don’t Understand, Faith Matters! / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti [From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

There is so much I don’t understand. Over the past few months, I have been making a list of things I don’t understand. These items just popped into my mind during my daily routine. I would think about them for a few second and then say, “that’s life,” and move on.

I have been languishing over this post. Not that it is complicated, but because what I want to share is so simple that I am afraid I will make it too complicated. Writers feel that way occasionally. The simple message is: When you don’t understand something, faith matters! Having FAITH that God knows what to share with us and what not to share with us is his prerogative. He has the exclusive right to enlighten us or not in both secular and spiritual matters. There will be things we will not understand ever! But, we can inquire of God. He listens to our pleas for understanding and direction. No matter what we do or do not understand, our hope is from him and we should trust in him at all times. He will sustain us. He has provided his Word to sustain us.

The natural man cannot accept the things of the Spirit, but when God’s spirit is within us, we can see and discern the mind of Christ, but there still may be some things we do not know and may never understand. This is where FAITH comes into play.

From a Human Perspective, I Do Not Understand

How new windmills work;

Why someone would want a pet pig;

Why someone would want a gold shirt that costs $250,000.00;

Why Justin Bieber quitting Instagram is news;

Why people use the words ‘over-exaggerated’ or ’embellished’ when they should use the word ‘lied’;

Why someone would want to buy a building that looks like a Longaberger basket;

How someone can make more money not working than working; and

How spell check could change my instant message from, “Get well my choo-choo boy” to “Get well my choice-chop boy.

From a Spiritual Perspective, I Do Not Understand

How bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman; (Ecclesiastes 11:5)

How God’s Holy Spirit can indwell us; (Titus 3:5)

Why Bible prophets hear from God with such accuracy; (Jeremiah 28:9)

How we can speak God’s wisdom; (Psalm 49:3)

How two can become one flesh; (Mark 10:8)

How God could say, “Let there be light, and there was light; (Genesis 1:3)

How Christ rose from the dead; (1 Corinthians 15:4)

It’s easy to overlook things we don’t understand in the secular realm, but it’s not so easy to overlook things we don’t understand in the spiritual realm without FAITH. Many people when evaluating or questioning the mysteries of God tend to feel they need absolute answers before moving on in their spiritual walk—Not so!

The New Testament book of Hebrews is a comprehensive discussion about FAITH.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

Men of FAITH include Abel, Abraham, Moses, the individuals who crossed the Red Sea, Gideon, Barak, Samson, and the prophets. By FAITH, they trusted God and obeyed him.

You may wonder if your child is really saved? You might wonder why his/her death was so sudden? You might wonder why you didn’t get accepted to the college of your choice? You may wonder why your business went bankrupt when you worked so hard. You might wonder how to proceed in your career. Instead of thinking we can’t move on in our Christian FAITH without knowing the answers or absolutes, we should act in FAITH because God always has our best interests in mind.

But how do we get more faith? We should ask God for it and talk to him about our questions and concerns. In addition, we should read and study the Scriptures to learn more about God’s nature and character. It is sad to see someone stifled in their Christian walk because they are hung up on one thing or another, one unanswered prayer, or one questionable doctrine. It is up to us to take the initiative and talk to God about these things and work things out under the umbrella of his love, his protection, and the supernatural leading of the Holy Spirit. Ask him for FAITH. Ask him why. Ask him how. Ask him. Ask him. Ask him.

Ask God for FAITH. As Nike says, “Just Do It.”

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God is the one who reveals his mysteries to us. It is totally up to him to reveal a matter to us. He can open our mind to understand the Scripture. He can (and will) provide wisdom and knowledge to us when we read the Bible. However, there are still things that God conceals—maybe until His timing—maybe until we are ready to absorb the truth—or maybe until we have enough FAITH to accept a matter. We can always call on our heavenly Father and ask him for the answers. That is perfectly acceptable, but it is still up to the Lord to choose if and when He will share his secrets and/or knowledge with us.

We will not understand everything in this life. We will not understand everything in the Bible either, but by prayer, Bible study, and growing closer to Jesus we will most likely find that we do possess more knowledge in the things of God than others. While God does choose to conceal some things to us, He does choose to share some secret things with us. And when that happens, we need to be discerning as to whom and if we share it with. We need FAITH to mature in Christ. God always knows the big picture. Praise God we have a God who cares about everything in our lives.

I hope the point I made at the beginning of this blog has made sense. It’s so simple, I am repeating part of the first paragraph. “When you don’t understand something, faith matters! Having FAITH that God knows what to share with us and what not to share with us is his prerogative. He has the exclusive right to enlighten us or not in both secular and spiritual matters.”

When we add FAITH to our ‘not understanding’, we eliminate confusion and have the opportunity to give full allegiance to the Lord’s will for ourselves.

God Bless,

Bible Verses:

Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

    to whom belong wisdom and might.

 He changes times and seasons;

    he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

    and knowledge to those who have understanding;

he reveals deep and hidden things;

    he knows what is in the darkness,

    and the light dwells with him.

 To you, O God of my fathers,

    I give thanks and praise,

for you have given me wisdom and might,

    and have now made known to me what we asked of you,

    for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” (Daniel 2:17-23)
If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all. (Isaiah 7:9b)
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Prayer:

Dear LORD, help me to understand you more and more every single day. Give me wisdom and understanding so I can fulfill your purposes in my life. Give me faith so I can have confidence in all you choose to reveal to me and those you don’t. My life is in your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store.

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback)

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback)

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

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Christian Living, Death, Life Issues, Testimonies

Coping with Grief and Loss: Minnie’s Story

August 18, 2016 Patti Greene

Coping with Grief and Loss: Minnie’s Testimony/ by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti [From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

Grief and loss usually go hand-in-hand. Minnie recently agreed to an interview about how her grief and loss has made her a better person. Her brother, husband, and two sons died. But, God was her support before, during, and after her losses.

This interview took place on August 2, 2016 on the Carnival Liberty cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. I met Minnie for the first time on the ship. During a breakfast together, I knew her story had to be told.

Life in a Nutshell

Minnie, I really appreciate the opportunity to ask you some very tough and candid questions about your life. In this interview, my goal is to pull out some insights so others may benefit from your life experiences regarding healing, death, grief, sorrow, and the ability to move on. Please tell me a short summary of your life.

I married at a young age in 1962. After having three boys, Jimbo, Kurt, and Paul, I became a single mother through divorce. My first husband and I were unequally yoked in the things of God, so I knew that if I ever remarried, I would only marry a strong believer. I wanted to seek God again, but I didn’t know how to. After some time being a single mom and growing in the Lord, I married my second husband Morgan. We became parents to two lovely daughters: Melody and Robin. My brother died the age of 40 in 1986. My son Kurt passed away at the age of 24 from a tragic motorcycle accident in 1990. My husband Morgan passed away in 2013. My son Jimbo passed away at the age of 51 from alcoholism in 2014. I became a believer at 10-years old and was baptized at Nederland Hillcrest Baptist Church. I have always had a heart for God even though I haven’t always walked close to Him. As a child, I used to put a map on my bed and I prayed for the nations. I am 72-years old now.

Healing and Death

In 1986, you prayed for your brother’s healing. In 1991, you prayed for your husband’s healing. Your brother was not healed, but your husband was healed. Any insights?

In 1986 when my brother was gravely ill, Morgan and I prayed so much for his healing. In the hospital, I was paralyzed with fear. I was so scared and afraid. Now, I know that it was [spiritual] warfare – a fight of faith. God was trying to teach me to walk by faith. I was disappointed because I was learning my new walk with God and I didn’t know why my prayers of faith did not work for my brother. And he died.

Then in 1991, my husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma which is a rare form of cancer directly related to asbestos exposure. Mayo Clinic says, “Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer. Mesothelioma treatments are available, but for many people with mesothelioma, a cure is not possible.” At the time, I knew I served a powerful God and that He could do anything. One day as I laid beside my husband during his illness, I thought I was smothering to death. But, I went into another room and fell to my knees knowing that God wanted to talk to me, I asked, “Are you going to require my husband’s life to do this?” God responded, “No, I am going to make you a woman of faith over this.” This is when my faith journey began. Many people prayed for my husband during this illness. And, Morgan was completely healed. He lived 22 years after his diagnosis. His medical case is documented at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. The doctor said that he only knew of two other survivors of mesothelioma and they were not in the United States.

But, with every loss, I have had, I have become stronger and stronger.

Tell me about the deaths your sons Jimbo and Kurt.

Jimbo passed away from alcoholism in 2014. I took care of him the last year of his life and watched his condition weaken until he passed. In 1990, Kurt died in a motorcycle accident when he was 24-years old. He was also struggling with alcoholism at the time.

When your husband and son Jimbo died, you had time to prepare for their deaths, but when your son Kurt died unexpectedly in the motorcycle accident, was it a different experience?

Very much so. But, I didn’t have any regrets. I had many sweet talks with Kurt before he passed away. He shared an experience he had with God. He said he was in the front yard and a plant had a hot flame flaring up from the gas. God told him, “Kurt, if you don’t change your ways, this is what is waiting for you.” He had another experience seeing the stars, the moon, and the clear skies. The Lord said, “This is what is waiting for you if you come back to me.” Then, one night, Kurt called late at night and he cried and we spent time talking together. So I didn’t have any regrets.

You had mentioned to me that your sons and husband were prepared for life after death. What do you mean?

They all had a personal relationship with Jesus. They knew Him and I know they are in Heaven.

In Jonah 4:6, Jonah mentions, “It is better for me to die than to live.” Did you ever feel that way?

Not like Jonah did. I was not in defeat or despair, because God gave me glimpses of the other side [Heaven]. I realized that it is better to be in the presence of God. I never wanted to die due to my losses.

Grief and Sorrow

Out of all of your life experiences, what was the hardest situation you have ever faced?

It was when Jimbo was 16-years old and Kurt was 14-years old. They both wanted to go and live with their father. It was the first real heartbreak of my life. They were striped from my arms. They both wanted to go where they could drink and have no restrictions. Jimbo was only gone a year because he could not live the Christian life at Daddy’s house. But, Kurt never did come home.

Any other heart-breaking experiences?

What broke my heart more than death was seeing the struggles my sons went through with their alcohol addiction. Jimbo would go off for months at a time and my mind thought the worst. But, I know where they are and God has confirmed that to me.

How has grief and loss affected you?

It has made me a better person. It has helped me to know how real God is. He is true to His word. He has made me stronger. There is nothing He will not sustain me in.

Did you ever ask God, “Why me?”

No. Never.

It appears your sorrows were greatly multiplied more than others. Why do you think that happened to you?

I feel like He’s been preparing and using me to help others during their dark times. I encourage others and help them see that what they are going through is not the end. God does not view death the way we do. He wants us to see death through His eyes. I don’t view death as the end.

Prayer During Tough Times

What was your prayer life like during these times?

After each loss, I experienced grief differently. I gained more insight into prayer and how God works with each loss.

I experienced times of fear when Kurt was in a coma before his passing. I could not pray. Words would not come. I just said the name of “Jesus” over and over.

When I was in the hospital with Kurt in 1990, his nurse whispered in my ear and told me to keep praying. She said, “When you aren’t here with him, I am praying for him.” After Kurt passed away, I could not cry. My mom brought me into the hospital bathroom and said, “It’s okay to cry.” But, I couldn’t.

At the time, I was caring for everyone and I felt God was carrying me in his arms. I found my release after the funeral and I grieved properly.

Moving On

What does the phrase “time is short” mean to you?

It means we are allotted so much time. We must make the most of every day. We should see God’s work in all we do. His handiwork is everywhere. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

In 1991, you were impressed that God wanted you to be a “Woman of Faith.” Can you explain that?

When I pray for people, I feel the power of God. I love to read the gospels and life of Jesus. Jesus says in His word that He has given us power and authority on earth to preach the gospel. I’m not a preacher, but we can teach in our everyday lives. We can see people recover when we lay hands on the sick by the power of Jesus has given us. If a child of God does not know about this power and authority, they may live far beneath what God’s purpose is for them.

As you look forward, do you have any goals?

Yes, I want to go to Africa. I just want to touch as many lives as possible. I want to them to be saved, healed, and delivered.

Advice to Others

If you could share one tidbit of wisdom to young women, what would it be?

I would tell young women to let God be the center of their lives. The cry of my heart is that they must pass His name on to the next generation. The greatest gift for children is to pass on a godly heritage. They must guide their children by example. If passing on God stops with us, we will have a lost generation. Another thing I see is people speaking death over their children by talking negatively about them. We must speak life and good things over our children.

The greatest gift for children is to pass on a godly heritage.

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After all the grief and loss you have been through, do you have a favorite Scripture passage?

Yes, it is Psalm 91. I would encourage those reading this psalm to substitute their own name in this chapter to make it more personal and meaningful to them.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place,
the Most High, who is my refuge,
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Any last thoughts?

I just want people to know Jesus like I know Him. I don’t want people to live for themselves. I want my life to count for Him. I don’t want to waste my life. I see so many people throwing their lives away and living for the NOW. There is so much more and we need to go deeper with God.

Minnie, thank you so much for sharing the love of Jesus with the readers of Greene Pastures. Through teary eyes you shared your heart and soul.

God Bless,

Bible Verses:

May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! (Psalm 29:11)

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. (2 Corinthians 7:11)

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we don’t know why tragedy and loss come upon some and not others. But, we know that when and if it does come upon us that you are there to see us through. You always know the big picture for our lives. As we seek to understand your will and ways, let us never lose heart that your desire for us is always for our best. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

¹ http://mesotheliomaclaimscenter.info/what-is-mesothelioma

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store.

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback)

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback)

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

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Readers: If you have lived through grief and loss, Greene Pastures would love to hear your story in the comment section. Your words may be just what others might need to hear. Scroll down to the Comment Section.

Faith, Life Issues, Salvation, The Bible

Do You Fear Death?

August 4, 2016 Patti Greene 3 Comments

Do You Fear Death? [From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

Why do so many people fear death? If you are one of them, you are not alone. Even the most sincere Bible-believing Christian fears death at some point. We might be fearful about diseases, aging, caretaking concerns, pain, disabilities, our earthly possessions, separation from our loved ones, and more. No matter whom we are, we can are assured of one thing — we will all die. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 states, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.” Do you fear death?

Last week I visited an upscale retirement community seminar with my mother. As I sat there listening to the presentation, the thought that came to my mind was, “How often do we plan for our retirement and our eldercare years, but give little or no thought to our eternity?” On a material note, our concerns include our IRA’s, our taxes, our stocks, and our possessions. We make wills and wonder how can we pass our money and possessions on to our heirs? If we are financially able, we may decide to live in a senior care community. In planning that stage of aging, we might be concerned if the facility has social activities, housekeeping, meals, pools, beauty shops, clubhouses, medical care, security, or step-up care when we might need nursing or full-time care.

In Japan, there is a new trend where people prepare for their death before it actually occurs. They have their funeral portraits made; they decide on a coffin and are fit for their burial outfit. There is even a funeral business fair called SKUKATSU FESTA to help with the entire process before you die.¹

It is important to make earthly decisions. However, planning for our eternal life is equally important. [Actually, it is 100% MORE important!] When we die, we cannot take our money or possessions with us. Things of the world will give us happiness on earth, but they cannot buy our eternal life. The Bible say, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-22. Our spirits will not die. Ecclesiastes 8:8 says, “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death.” Our spirits are forever, so we should show an interest in where our spirits will go after we die. We will go either to heaven or to hell. That is a hard concept to understand. It can only be understood in the light of the word of God – The Bible.

How often do we plan for our retirement and our eldercare years, but give little or no thought to our eternity?

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What Shall I Do To Inherit Eternal Life?

When the fear of the afterlife hits us, let us seize the opportunity to learn what the Bible tells us about death. Jesus wants to help us alleviate those fears. He died on the cross for our sins. We must confess our sins and go to Him in faith. Christ’s answer to the man who came running to him uttering, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” comes in John 6:47 (NKJV) when He says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. When we have confessed our sins and trusted Jesus Christ, assurance of an eternal life in heaven is granted. In addition, the best part of heaven will be the presence of the Lord. We will see him face to face and enjoy all the blessings of heaven.

There is a website that helps people prepare for the afterlife. They help people rent or buy a tomb, schedule mummifications, guide people in a purchase of mummy care. People can purchase statuettes and canopic jars (containers for storing vital organs). This organization will allow you to pick out a basket of food and wine to be placed in your tomb for eternity. They will even hire mourners who will weep and cry as your mummy is brought to the tomb.²

Believe me, that is NOT how to prepare for eternity. We will always be distracted from eternity. That is how Satan wants it. However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and minds can be drawn to our Lord and Savior. Moreover, through confession, faith, and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, our eternity can be secure.

Today, why not make a decision regarding your eternal life? In addition, if you have already made that decision to follow Christ, I challenge you to share this post with someone else – maybe a relative, someone who you have been praying for, or just a random post.

One day, my mother and I were driving in South Houston. There were three vehicles in a row. There was a city truck, a car, and then my car — all in a row all and all in the same lane. Within seconds, the middle car crashed into the city truck which stopped abruptly. Hanging on to the back of the truck was a government employee ready to jump off the truck to pick up tree clippings. Unfortunately, when the truck stopped, the middle vehicle kept going. The city employee’s body flew over a lane and his body ended up face down on a hard cement sidewalk. It was an awful site to witness. I wish I had never seen it. He died instantly.

As I mentioned in the first paragraph, no matter whom we are, we can are assured of one thing — we will all die. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 states, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.”

We never know when our last moment on this earth will be. Decide for Christ now.

God Bless,

Bible Verses:

And being made perfect, he [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. Hebrews 5:9

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

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2

Prayer: O Heavenly Father, with fear and trembling, I come to you. Fearing death is not fun. I admit I am too concerned with things of this world. Grant me the grace to approach eternity knowing that I will meet you in Heaven someday. Give me the courage to accept your free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. I confess my sins and mistakes and I desire you to come to me. Let me hold your hand Jesus as I move forward every day just a little bit closer to you and eternity. Amen.

¹ Moodley, Kiran. Japanese Prepare for the Afterlife by Testing Out Coffins.26 Nov. 2014. Web. 7 July 2016.

² Book Your Afterlife Now. Museum of Science, Boston. Web. 7 July 2016 Eternitytravel.com.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store.

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers.

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide.

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

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Bible Study, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, God's Will, Politics and Current Events, The Bible

Pokemon Go: What No One Else Will Tell You

July 21, 2016 Patti Greene

Pokemon Go: What No One Else Will Tell You [From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

The Pokémon Go phenomenon is everywhere — in the streets, in the malls, and in the news. The following headlines will be outdated by the time this blog posts, but for those unaware of this physically active walking-running game, being aware may be eye opening.

“Cy-Fair fire station dealing with Pokémon Go” Click2Houston

“Florida teens, mistaken for thieves, shot at playing Pokémon Go” BBC News

“Pokémon Go is getting everyone to exercise.” Yahoo News

“Men fall from cliff playing Pokémon Go” CNN

“Pokémon Go crashes and hackers claim responsibility.” money.cnn.com

“Pokémon Go; Sex offender caught playing game with child.” BBC News

“Gump: How one game is bringing everyone together” Montgomery Advertiser

“Man in New Zealand quits his job to play Pokémon Go full-time.” BBC News

“Crazy right-winger believes that Pokémon Go was created by Satan to locate and kill Christians.” Daily KOS

“Drug dealers selling Pokémon ecstasy pills to target youngsters and cash in on computer game craze.” Mirror News-UK

“Pokemon Go T&Cs [Terms and Conditions] trip users of legal rights.” Drudge Report

Janissa Delzo at CNN defines Pokémon Go as, “a free-to-play app that gets users up and moving in the real world to capture fictional ‘pocket monsters’ known as Pokémon. The goal is to capture as many of the more than hundred species of animated Pokémon as we can.” ¹ In terms a little easier to understand, Pokémon Go meshes real life and virtual life together to create a game where Pokémon are captured and used to fight other Pokémon held by other players. Many are calling it fun technology at its best while others believe it is just creating a bunch of people walking all around looking at their phones like zombies.

Since the “fad” has only been around for a few weeks, I am not here to go either way on the spectrum as to its greatness or insignificance. However, informing my readers about how to react to ANYTHING that distracts us from the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit is my goal. Spending too much of our time on anything can become an idol in our life. As we seek God’s will, ask him how we should be spending our time and do not get suckered into a life of chasing things of the world. Set limits and be obedient to God.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Hebrews 3:12

As in other cultural idols or distractions, Nintendo’s Pokémon Go may distract people from what really is important in life – taking care of our families, creating distractions at work, and/or filling our time with hours of meaningless activities.

Satan’s goal is to distract us from walking in the Spirit. It happens every day. We sit down to read our Bible and the phone rings or a bill needs to be paid, taking us away from staying in God’s Word. Satan wants to steal our time. The bottom line is that Satan wants to distract us from trusting in Him, spending time with Him, and having a relationship with him. Those distractions are idols.

King Solomon’s claim to fame in history involves his reputation for possessing Godly wisdom. He honored God and built a magnificent house for the Lord. However, when he became older, he gave into his worldly desires and married women who worshipped idols and he succumbed to the same idol worship. This idol worship distracted him from worshipping the most-high God whom he served so faithfully for God in his younger years.

Anything that distracts us from God can become idol-worship. That includes spending an inordinate amount of time on anything — including Pokémon.

Anything that distracts us from God can become idol-worship – that includes Pokémon.

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What Does the Bible Say About Idol Worship?

Idol worshipers boast about their idols. Psalm 97:7
Idols are the work of human hands. Psalm 135:15-18
God will punish his people for worshiping other Gods. Jeremiah 1:16
Flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14

What Does the Bible say About Satan?

Satan is the deceiver of the whole world. Revelation 12:9
Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:27
Do not lose your soul. Mark 8:36

If we find that Pokémon is distracting us or taking up too much of our time, there are Bible verses to help keep us focused on what is important.

Time for God

Understand that we may fall into temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:12
Think about all you do from God’s point of view, not from a human point of view. Matthew 16:23
Spend time praying. Ephesians 6:18
Submit yourselves to God. James 4:7

Join Greene Pastures:Inspiring Stories about Bible Study and Prayer by subscribing to its blog and newsletter at www.GreenePastures.org

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Distracting us from God’s will is Satan’s job. Just remember that however Satan “steals” our time away from God, he is not going to show up fashioning a pitchfork, wearing a little red outfit, and sporting a “twist and bend craft tie” tail.

Moreover, as of this moment, I do not know what to think about these little Pokémon characters. The phenomenon is too new. The fact that people are exercising and having fun together “outside” is not debatable. However, we must be aware of our safety and the possibility that the game might become a ‘time distraction’ for us.

Whatever we do . . .

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8

After reading this article, do you think you are spending too much time playing Pokémon Go?

All things considered, Pokémon Go Plus will be launched soon, so if you think you might be tempted to spend even MORE time on the upcoming game, start now asking God if its involvement will be a wise use of your time AND YOUR MONEY!!!

God Bless,

Bible Verses: See above.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to make the best use of my time. Give me wisdom. Do not let anything distract me from giving you the time you desire from me. I want to serve You. I do not want to be “addicted” to any idols. Guide me to always acknowledge You in everything I do. As I read your Word, bring your words alive. If I am spending too much time doing anything that draws me away from You, give me the strength and courage to change my ways. I love You LORD. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

¹ Delzo, Janissa. Men fall from cliff playing Pokémon Go. 16 July 2016. Web. 16 July 2016.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail bookstore.

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers.

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide.

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

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Bible Study, Life Issues, Politics and Current Events, The Bible

Qualities of a Bad Leader from Proverbs: Part II

July 7, 2016 Patti Greene

Qualities of a Bad Leader from Proverbs: Part II

[From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

Bad leaders come in many varieties. There are bad military leaders, bad dictators, bad bosses, bad presidents, bad labor leaders, bad church leaders, bad business leaders, bad parents, and more. The Book of Proverbs mentions good (wise) leaders and bad (evil) leaders all throughout the Old and New Testament. If you missed my last blog on the Qualities of a Good Leader from Proverbs, you might want to check out the following blog link.

https://greenepastures.org/2016/06/qualities-good-leader-proverbs.

When my youngest son was in 5^th grade, he joined the YMCA’s basketball class. It was his very first encounter with team basketball. He was a novice while some of the other boys were very experienced in the game. I will never forget one Saturday morning game. The two teams were running up and down the court acting as if they were big shot basketball players playing like their win would get them into the Basketball Hall of Fame. [I might mention that my son was skipping up and down the court.] Actually, it was somewhat cute to me. Long story short is that my son just happened to get his hands on the ball during the last few seconds of the game and he dunked it good! His surprise dunk won the game for his team. He was the hero. He got the applause, the high-fives, and the pats on the back.

Then, the fireworks began. There was a more experienced and aggressive fifth grader on the team whose father felt his son should have made the winning dunk. Out in the lobby of the YMCA, this father could be heard hollering and seen hitting his son for not getting the ball away from my son and making the winning points himself. I will never forget the look on that little boy’s face as he was belittled, hit, and humiliated by his own father. The next thing we saw was his father being pushed in the back of a police car in the YMCA parking lot. Someone must have called and reported him. Now, this is a real-life example of a poor leader. Not only did he belittle and embarrass his son, he exhibited jealousy, violence, and arrogance.

Some commentaries call the Old Testament King Ahab one of the most wicked kings Israel ever had. Even God said that King Ahab did more evil than any other king before him. King Ahab was the king of Israel around 869 to 850 BC. While he was an able warrior, he was completely disloyal to God and embraced his wife Jezebel’s paganism. The LORD gave Ahab a chance to redeem himself through the Prophet Elijah, but he refused. His legacy is intermingled with his wicked wife Jezebel, but even his father King Omri taught him to be wicked and as such he is remembered as an evil and corrupt king. In Richard R. Losch’s book All the People in the Bible, Losch describes Ahab as being “one of [Scriptures] more notorious scoundrels.” ¹

Join the Greene Pastures Community to be sure you don’t miss meaningful posts on issues, such as Life, Bible, Christian Living, Friendship, God’s Will, and More! Go to www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe.

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Some of the traits Success Magazine mentions about a bad leader in 15 Traits of a Terrible Leader are:

Lack of transparency
Dismissing ideas others than your own
Ego
Lack of empathy
Poor communication
Closed-mindedness
Inconsistency, and more. ²

In Biblical history, Herodias, Jehoram of Judah, Abimeleck, Herod, and Judas Iscariot were leaders in the Bible known as bad leaders. In Worst Presidents: Warren Harding (1921-1923) by Jay Tolson, President Warren Harding was mentioned as being one of the worst Presidents of the United States because he was more concerned with his womanizing, poker, golf, and mistress. ³ Even Harding admitted it. He said, “I am not fit for this office and should never have been here.”

I hope the basketball father mentioned at the beginning of this post made a turn-around. Watching ‘bad leadership’ is not a nice scene to witness. Ever!

Do you think leaders should be enriched personally or should they enrich others?

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Qualities of a Bad Leader: Book of Proverbs [Not exhaustive] ⁴

Despises wisdom and instruction; Proverbs 1:7
Hates knowledge; Proverbs 1:22
Can’t sleep unless they have done wrong; Proverbs 4:19
Lacks discipline; Proverbs 5:23
Crooked speech; Proverbs 6:12
Lying lips; utters slander; Proverbs 10:18
Trusts in his riches; Proverbs 11:28
Ensnared by the transgressions of his life; Proverbs 12:13
Utters deceit; Proverbs 12:17
Reckless and careless; Proverbs 14:16
Quick temper; Proverbs 14:17
Pride; Proverbs 16:18
Seeks rebellion; Proverbs 17:11
Accepts bribes; Proverbs 17:23
Takes no pleasure in understanding, but only wants to express his opinion; Proverbs 18:2
Haughty eyes and a proud heart; Proverbs 21:4
Desires evil; Proverbs 21:9
Puts on a bold face; Proverbs 21:29
Does not understand justice; Proverbs 28:5
Cruel oppressor; Proverbs 28:16
Gives full vent to his spirit; Proverbs 29:11
Listens to falsehoods; Proverbs 29:12
Hasty in his words; Proverbs 29:20
Drinks and forgets what has been decreed; Proverbs 31:5a
Perverts the rights of the afflicted; Proverbs 31:5b

When you think of a bad leader, what word or words come to your mind?

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God Bless You.

Bible Verses: See above.

Prayer:

LORD, help me to recognize bad leadership. Let me discern between good and evil. As I evaluate others, let me look for their integrity, character, and their relationship with you. Let me always remember that just because someone is a leader that it does not mean that they are good leaders. O LORD, let me also remember that Scripture commands us to pray for all those in authority over us.

¹ Losch, Richard. All the People in the Bible: An A-Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, And Other Characters in Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.

² “15 Traits of a Terrible Leader.” Success 13 Jan. 2015. Web.

³ Tolson, Jay. “Worst Presidents: Warren Harding (1921-1923). U.S. News and World Reports. 16 Feb. 2007. Web.

⁴ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

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Bible Study, Life Issues, Politics and Current Events, The Bible

Qualities of a Good Leader from Proverbs: Part I

June 23, 2016 Patti Greene 1 Comment

Qualities of a Good Leader from Proverbs: Part 1

Most of us have had “leaders.” They come in the form of parents, employers, church leaders, principals, mayors, and presidential leaders. The Book of Proverbs delves into the qualities of good leaders and bad leaders. The Bible mentions good (wise) leaders and bad (evil) leaders all throughout the Old and New Testament.

Today, in all occupations we find leaders from both extremes and some in-between. Just as in the Bible, there are leaders today who are:

Good leaders who remain good all their lives;
Bad leaders who remain bad all their lives;
Bad leaders who turn into good leaders; and
Good leaders who turn into bad leaders.

There are good leaders, bad leaders, bad leaders who turn good, and good leaders who turn bad.

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As a point of trivia, it is interesting the House of Israel had more bad kings than the House of Judah. Today, let us look only at the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

The Southern Kingdom consisted of two tribes (Judah and Benjamin). The Kingdom extended in the north as far as Bethel, while in the south it ended in the dry area known as the Negev. Its eastern and western boundaries were the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem was its capital and it lasted from about 922-586 B.C. ¹

During this period in history, there were eight kings considered good kings and eleven kings considered bad kings in the Southern Kingdom. Out of the eight good kings, two bounced between the two extremes during their lives. King Asa, King Jehoshaphat, King Uzziah, King Jotham, and King Hezekiah, and King Josiah are noted in most commentaries as “good” kings. King Joash and King Amaziah are recognized as kings who did right in their youth, but evil in their old age.

Let us take King Jehoshaphat as an example of a good king. Jehoshaphat ruled the House of Judah between 873-849 BC. He was 25 years old when he became king. He established peace between the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel. He eliminated Baal worship in Judah. He desired the approval of God when attempting to recover Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians. Jehoshaphat had a very successful military career. He encouraged the worship of God and reformed the justice system. He died when he was 60 years old leaving a Kingdom who loved him. ³

Qualities of a Good Leader: Book of Proverbs ²

Knows wisdom and instruction [discipline]; Proverbs 1:2
Receives instruction in wise dealing in righteousness, justice, and equity; Proverbs 1:3
Gives knowledge and discretion to the youth; Proverbs 1:4
Listens and increases in learning; Proverbs 1:5
Obtains guidance; Proverbs 1:5
Fears the Lord; Proverbs 1:7
Walks in the way of righteousness; Proverbs 8:20
Embraces God’s instructions; Proverbs 8:32-33
Walks with integrity; Proverbs 10:9
Gives thought to his steps; Proverbs 14:15
Acts cautiously and turns away from evil; Proverbs 14:16
Their prayers are acceptable to God; Proverbs 15:8
Speaks with divine wisdom and never judges unfairly; Proverbs 16:10 (NLT)
Commits their work to the LORD; Proverbs 16:13
Life shows in their face; Proverbs 16:15
Acquires and seeks knowledge; Proverbs 18:15
Shifts out the wicked from the good; Proverbs 20:26 AMP
Conducts themselves with purity and unrighteousness; Proverbs 21:8
Possesses strength and their knowledge enhances their might; Proverbs 24:5
Has an abundance of counselors; Proverbs 24.6
Leads their land [their territory] towards stability; Proverbs 28:2
Understands justice; Proverbs 28:5
Builds up their land [their territory/the people]; Proverbs 29:4
Knows the rights of the poor; Proverbs 29:7
Possesses self-control; Does not listen to lies; Proverbs 29:12a
Faithfully judges the poor; Proverbs 29:14
Not hasty in words; Proverbs 29:20
Does not drink excessively [or at all]; Proverbs 31:4b
Judges righteously; defends the rights of the poor and needy; Proverbs 31:9

List is not exhaustive.

Today, as we look at our bosses, our parents, our government leaders, or anyone who has a leadership role over us, look and see how many of the qualities above they possess. While we are all human and not perfect, possessing some of these qualities is a good start to becoming a good leader in whatever field or occupation we find ourselves in today.

Next Week: Qualities of a Bad Leader from Proverbs: Part II

God Bless You.

Bible Verses: See above.

Prayer:

LORD, help me to be a good leader. Allow me to follow good role models in my life, so I can become a person with integrity and good standing with You and others. My heart’s desire is to become more like you in every situation and circumstance I face. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

¹ “The Kings of Judah.” Web. 22 June 2016. <bible-history.com>.

² The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001.

³Losch, Richard R. All the People in the Bible: An A-Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2008.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

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Bible Study, Test Your Knowledge, The Bible

Test Your Knowledge [Men in the Bible]

June 16, 2016 Patti Greene 1 Comment

Test Your Knowledge [Men in the Bible]

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Here I am again – Making up a test for Father’s Day! As I have mentioned before, ever since I was a 2nd-grade teacher, one of my favorite ‘educator activities’ was designing tests, quizzes, and worksheets! Since Father’s Day is around the corner, I wanted to make up a short TRUE and FALSE test about Men in the Bible. Try it just for fun. Not a test taker? That’s okay. Just forward it to a friend who is!

Have a blessed Father’s Day whether it is celebrating your dad, your grandfather, a friend, or just celebrating yourself.

I would love for you to honor a special man in your life by putting a 1 or 2-word description of them in the comment section of this blog, i.e. Dad-Helpful; Grandpa-Loves God; Late Grandfather-So kind; Step-father-Provider.

True or False Trivia Quiz – 5 points / question. TOTAL SCORE: __________%

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Men in the Bible

_____ Solomon was David’s second son by Bathsheba.
_____ Methuselah was the last of the minor prophets and the writer of the last book of the Old Testament.
_____ Joshua accompanied Moses part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the two tablets.
_____ Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob and Leah.
_____ Simeon’s mother was Eunice and his grandmother was Lois.
_____ Barabbas was a robber whom Pilate proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus.
_____ Naaman was cured of blindness when he dipped himself 7 times in the Jordan River.
_____ Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands in prayer when fighting the Amalekites.
_____ Maoch was a wise man and legal expert consulted by King Xerxex.
_____ Josiah became king over Judah when he was 7 years old.
_____ Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
_____ Ben-Hur was the first of a list of twelve district governors appointed by Solomon to oversee his kingdom.
_____ Belshazzar was the new name given to Daniel.
_____ Gauis was one of Jesus’ travelling companions.
_____ King Hezekiah was a godly king.
_____ Jahziel was a synagogue ruler in the area of Lake Galilee and was an example of a man of faith to Mark and Luke.
_____ Jethro was Moses’ father-in-law.
_____ Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were friends who sought to comfort Job when he encountered calamity.
_____ Joseph’s brothers stripped Joseph of the multi-colored tunic his father gave him.
_____ Pudens was one of Joab’s friends.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS

The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. Proverbs 20:29

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Brookwood Community — Glorious Wall at Brookwood Café, Brookshire, Texas

Quick Answers:

True
False
True
True
False
True
False
True
False
False
True
True
False
False
True
False
True
True
True
False

Detailed Answers:

True; However, Solomon was the first son after their legal marriage, but their first child died. 2 Samuel 12:16-25
False; Malachi was the last of the minor prophets and the writer of the last book of the Old Testament.
True; Exodus 32
True; Genesis 29:32
False; Timothy was a young disciple; His mother was Eunice and his grandmother was Lois. 2 Timothy 1:5
True; John 18:40
False; He was cured of leprosy not blindness. His cure is alluded to in Luke 4:27.
True; Exodus 17:10-12
False; Marsena was a wise and legal expert. Esther 1:14. Maoch was the father of Achish. 1 Samuel 27:2
False; Josiah became king over Judah at 8 years old. 2 Kings 22:1
True; Matthew 11:28
True; 1 Kings 4:7-9
False; Belteshazzar, not Belshazzar, was the new name given to Daniel. Daniel 1:7
False; Gaius was one of Paul’s travelling companions. Acts 19:29
True; 2 Kings 18-20
False; Jairus was the ruler presented as an example of faith to Luke and Mark. Mark 5:22-23
True; Exodus 3:1
True; Book of Job
True; Genesis 37:23
False; Pudens was one of Paul’s friends. 2 Timothy 4:21

God Bless.

Bible Verses:

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Proverbs 23:24

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. Jeremiah 17:22

Prayer:

My heavenly Father, Thank you for my father, my grandfathers, and all the men influences I have had in my life. Teach me to respect them and care for them. If there are ways I have hurt them or they have hurt me, give me the courage to repent and/or to forgive them. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

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Church and Ministry, Friendship, How to Guides, Life Issues, Medical

Emotional Stress

June 9, 2016 Patti Greene 7 Comments

Emotional Stress

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Emotional Stress – Let’s face it. Everybody experiences stress from time to time. Life brings both the good and the bad. However, some individuals experience the “ups and downs” that come with living life more than others do. In Recognizing an Emotional Breakdown, author Tara Warta says, “When pressure begins to overwhelm an individual to the point where her [his] professional or personal well-being is compromised, symptoms of a nervous breakdown may become apparent. Such an event can take place for a variety of reasons, and common culprits include a traumatic family event, [an] unreasonable amount of stress in the workplace or a dramatic change in a relationship.” ¹

When we are deeply overwhelmed or troubled, our emotions, our decision-making ability, and our relationships are unable to continue in the normal fashion. Emotional stress usually causes physical symptoms like tremors, heart palpitations, intense headaches, breakouts, physical pain in the chest, and more.

Emotional breakdowns occur when the stress becomes so unbearable that we do not know how to handle it. We have reached our limit. Different individuals experience diverse symptoms. Stressors may cause emotional instability, changes in health, and a disrupted spiritual balance. When we have reached our capacity to function, we may be on the verge of an emotional breakdown.

Stressors may cause emotional instability, changes in health, and a disrupted spiritual balance. Greene Pastures by Patti

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Merriam Webster’s Thesaurus uses the following words to explain how someone who is stressed-out feels.²

Burned-out [Burnt out]; Exhausted; Knackered [British]; Tired; Worn-out; Undone; Unmanned; Unnerved, Unstrung; Troubled; Upset; Edgy; Nervous; Tense; Uneasy; Agitated; Disturbed; Perturbed, Aggravated; Angry; Annoyed; Exasperated; Irritated; and Shell-shocked.

I performed an Internet search to find out what types of situations lead people to emotional stress. Listed below are some catalysts one might find leading to extreme stress or possibly a complete nervous breakdown.

You are pregnant and you don’t want to be;
You fear you might have dementia;
You are extremely troubled by your family’s choices;
You hate your job or you cannot find a job;
You are deeply depressed over your boyfriend or girlfriend breaking up with you;
You are extremely concerned about your church;
You fear you might not go to heaven;
You are stressed beyond measure being a caregiver;
You made a huge mistake at work;
You are fearful of being sued, fired, or foreclosed on;
You are experiencing a messy divorce;
You can’t handle or care for your children;
Moreover, the list goes on.

Thankfully, removing a few stressors allow some individuals to rebound from the emotional stress they are dealing with. Unfortunately, others may not be able to snap back even when their load lightens. In the case of a sinking state-of-mind, medical intervention is often necessary. Timely medical help may even necessitate an urgent visit to the doctor or emergency room. Never ignore your emotional well-being. It could be the difference between life and death.

Being a believer does not shield us from all the rises and falls we encounter in life. Life happens. Our source is always God, our Father. He provides His Word, His people, and his Holy Spirit to help us. When times are hard or troubles engulf us, allow Him to be our guide. We may have trouble praying ourselves in these emotional times, but God always provides. Many times, He works through other people or professionals. If you need to talk or receive counseling, choose someone you trust, and share your difficulties with him or her.

When Jesus came face to face with the most difficult time of His life, He wanted His friends nearby. Even Jesus did not try to face his most difficult moment alone and neither should we.

In Matthew 26:36-39,

Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

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HOW TO HELP SOMEONE EXPERIENCING AN “EMOTIONALLY STRESSFUL” SITUATION

Listen

Listening does not mean giving them advice. The advice might stress them more and lead them deeper into more turmoil.
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” James 1:19 ESV

Reduce the load and stressors if possible

Find people who are willing and able to take the load and pressure off them.
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 ESV

Give reassurance that God cares

Be an encourager and let them know they are not alone in their present situation.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

Give confidence that feeling better is within reach

Provide hope there are better days ahead.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares theLord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Intervene, if needed, with family, medical, and/or spiritual help

Use discernment when deciding whom can best help in the situation. In addition, be prepared to act when an emergency arises.
“Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed.” Psalm 106:30 ESV

Be a confidant

Do not gossip about his/her condition or situation with others unless the person has given you permission. Even then, be discerning.
“A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” Proverbs 16:28 ESV

Bible Verses:

See above.

Prayer:

Oh LORD, as I reach for You, untangle my nerves and give me hope. Make things better. I am distraught; the pressures are too much. My lists grow longer every day. I cannot meet deadlines. I am about to break. Please help me Lord Jesus. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

¹ http://www.lifescript.com/well-being/articles/r/recognizing_an_emotional_breakdown.aspx?p=1

² http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stressed

Web Page: www.PattiGreene.com

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment in this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Do you read your Bible like you read catalogs?

How To Recharge Your Bible Reading Habits

Bible Verses:

Prayer:

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7 Reasons People Committed Suicide in the Bible

Regret

Humiliation

Bullying

Fear

Witnessing Violence or Death

Powerlessness

Distress

Bible Verses: Above

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From a Human Perspective, I Do Not Understand

From a Spiritual Perspective, I Do Not Understand

Bible Verses:

Prayer:

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Life in a Nutshell

Healing and Death

Grief and Sorrow

Prayer During Tough Times

Moving On

Advice to Others

Bible Verses:

Prayer:

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What Shall I Do To Inherit Eternal Life?

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What Does the Bible Say About Idol Worship?

What Does the Bible say About Satan?­­

Time for God

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Qualities of a Bad Leader from Proverbs: Part II

Qualities of a Bad Leader: Book of Proverbs [Not exhaustive] ⁴

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Qualities of a Good Leader from Proverbs: Part 1

Qualities of a Good Leader: Book of Proverbs ²

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Test Your Knowledge [Men in the Bible]

Men in the Bible

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Emotional Stress

HOW TO HELP SOMEONE EXPERIENCING AN “EMOTIONALLY STRESSFUL” SITUATION

Listen

Reduce the load and stressors if possible

Give reassurance that God cares

Give confidence that feeling better is within reach

Intervene, if needed, with family, medical, and/or spiritual help

Be a confidant

Bible Verses:

Prayer:

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What Does the Bible say About Satan?