http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/ Gift of a Voice ;) Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:15:09 PDT http://www.blogdrive.com Copyright 2007. http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/155.html Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:51:30 GMT Its been ages since I had an entry... Some updates about myself, I'm currently at NIE doing a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. To put it simply, I'm receiving training at NIE to be a teacher. There are numerous essays, assignments and projects to be done at NIE!!! Think I'm not used to this system of assessment, still very accustomed to the examinations and tests system. Thus I'm struggling with writing an essay, coming up with a DETAILED lesson plan, plus the numerous projects that are piling up and which I'm lagging behind. Enough of my ranting... I really need to draw stength from... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=155 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/154.html Sun, 01 Oct 2006 11:38:46 GMT There are no shortcuts to maturity. The development of Christ-like character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time. Although God could instantly transform us, He has chosen to develop us slowly. Why does it take so long to change and grow up? We are slow learners. We often have to relearn a lesson forty or fifty times to really get it. The problems keep recurring. The history of Israel illustrates how we quickly forget the lessons God teaches us and how soon we revert back to our old patterns of behaviour. We have a lot to unlearn. Since most of... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=154 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/153.html Sat, 30 Sep 2006 10:49:00 GMT “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13” Refocus our attention on something else. We are advised to refocus our attention because resisting a thought doesn’t work. It only intensifies our focus on the wrong thing and strengthens its allure. Temptation begins by capturing our attention. What gets our attention arouses our emotions. Then our emotions activate our behaviour, and... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=153 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/152.html Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:05:47 GMT Ways to overcome temptation: Refuse to be intimidated. Many Christians are frightened and demoralized by tempting thoughts, they feel ashamed just for being tempted. This is a misunderstanding of maturity. We will never outgrow temptation. Temptation is a normal part of being human and living in a fallen world. Don’t be surprised or shocked or discouraged by it. Be realistic about the inevitability of temptation; we will never be able to avoid it completely. It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted, yet he never sinned. Temptation only becomes a sin when we give in to it. ... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=152 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/151.html Thu, 28 Sep 2006 09:33:19 GMT God has a purpose behind every problem. Every problem is a character-building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber. Responding to Problems as Jesus would. Remember that God’s plan is good. God knows what is best for us and has our best interest at heart. It is vital that we stay focused on God’s plan, not our pain or problem. Our focus will determine our feelings. The secret of endurance is to remember that our pain is temporary but our reward will be eternal. Don’t give in to short-term thinking. Stay... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=151 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/150.html Wed, 27 Sep 2006 12:51:50 GMT In day-to-day living, abiding in God's Word includes 3 activities. We must accept it's authority. The Bible must become the authoritative standard for our life: the compass we rely on for direction, the counsel we listen to for making wise decisions, and the benchmark we use for evaluating everything. The Bible must always have the first and last word in our life. We must assimilate it's truth. It is not enough to believe the Bible; we must fill our mind with it so that the Holy Spirit can transform us with the truth. There are 5 ways to do this: Receive God's Word. We listen and... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=150 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/149.html Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:13:04 GMT Our heavenly Father's goal for us is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ. Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. We must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing. Discipleship -- the process of becoming like Christ -- always begins with a decision. God's part and our part. Christlikeness is the result of making Christlike choices and depending on His Spirit to help us fufill those choice. Once we decide to get serious about becoming like Christ, we must begin to act in new ways. We will need to let go... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=149 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/148.html Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:53:52 GMT We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work. Throughout the Bible, we see an important truth illustrated over and over: The Holy Spirit releases His power the moment we take a step of faith. Obedience unlocks God's power. God waits for us to act first. Don't wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in our weakness, doing the right thing in spite of our fears and feelings. This is how we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how our character develops. God uses His Word, people, and circumstances to mould us. All three are indispensable for character development. God's Word... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=148 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/147.html Sun, 24 Sep 2006 11:33:38 GMT Focus on what we have in common, not our differences. As believers, we share one Lord, one body, one purpose, one Father, one Spirit, one hope, one faith, one baptism, and one love. We share the same salvation, the same life, and the same future -- factors far more important than any differences we could enumerate. These are the issues, not our personal differences, that we should concentrate on. We must remember that it was God who chose to give us different personalities, backgrounds, races, and preferences, so we should value and enjoy those differences. God wants unity, not uniformity.... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=147 http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/archive/146.html Sat, 23 Sep 2006 10:58:25 GMT How to restore a relationship? Talk to God before talking to the person. Discuss the problem with God. If we pray about the conflict first instead of gossiping to a friend, we will often discover that either God changes our heart or He changes the other person without our help. All our relationships would go smoother if we would just pray more about them. Most conflict is rooted in unmet needs. Some of these needs can only be met by God. When we expect anyone -- a friend, or family member -- to meet a need that only God can fufill, we are setting ourself up for disappointment and... (more) http://jean-slumber.blogdrive.com/comments?id=146