Doses of Faith

           We strive to make sensible and wise decisions.   In Titus chapters one and two, the writer instructs the elders, older men, older women, younger women, and younger men to be sensible.   To be sensible is among the many examples of character listed for the Christian walk.   Anyone can strive to have the character traits named in Titus, but to be truly sensible and wise comes from God.            In Exodus 28:3 God says to Moses, “You shall speak to all the skilled persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom.” (NAS)   God gives the ‘spirit of wisdom.’   We are reminded again in James 1:5 and 6 that “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.   But he must ask in faith without doubting.”   So, if we want to make sensible and wise decisions, we go to God and faithfully trust him to give us the...

     We all are tempted with our addictions and weaknesses.    In the moment we take our eyes off Jesus, Satan is there to blindside us with our weaknesses and to take away all self-control.    I know.   He has placed a thorn in my flesh that has taken time away from me.   Time I could have been studying, reading the Bible, and praying.   This weakness took away time I could have been doing something more constructive.    I gave in to a weakness that was not a part of me over five years ago, because television did not appeal to me.      By now, you may be saying, “Come on! Television!   What is wrong with television?”      It took me away from Jesus’ plan for me.   Instead of focusing on what I knew I should be doing with my time, I sat there watching television for two years gaining 20 lbs.   There was no self-control.   Each day, I told myself, not tomorrow...

     This week on one of my morning walks, my thoughts wondered to what is self-control.   As I thought about it, I determined that it is a state of mind.   Then, what affects our state of mind?   What causes us to do what we do?   Why?   I determined self-control does not come easy, because we are controlled by our state of mind.     An example is the current state of the media and the actions of many liberals.   They are driven by hate of our current president.   Believe me, the man has done a lot to give many reason not to respect him and dislike him because of the ugly things he has said about many people.   He is arrogant and self-absorbed.     He needs some self-control over his mouth and actions.   Now, back to the state of mind of the media and many liberals, they despise and hate our president.   I’ve never seen so much hate in people with their tweets and statements on social media.   ...