The Easiest Way to Overcome VanityWritten by Eric Engel
Vanity- it’s easy to mask, easy to forget, and easy to justify. We hide it behind dignity and poise. The sins connected to this weakness aren't quite as severe as those associated with pride, gluttony, and lust. But it can eventually lead up to some serious problems. And it can keep us from becoming an instrument of Christ. The solution (humility) might be one of most difficult virtues to master, but John Baptist seems to have had a pretty good handle on it. Here’s guy who baptized Christ, and later sends his own followers away because he knows his time is over. So what was his secret? How do we stop worrying about our own worldly décor, and start journey to becoming Christ's hand maid? The answer is self-love. It might not sound like part of our Christian philosophy, but with proper back drop, you can maintain selflessness and self-love in a co-existing format. How? By knowing our own self-worth, where our value comes from, and how to improve it. So what are we worth? Let’s start with simple fact that we’re creations of God. And since God doesn’t make trash, that says pretty much for us. Now look at fact that Christ Himself became man, suffered, and dies for us. Wow! That raises value pot even more. We’re actually worth life of God.
| | Attention Pastors Wives!Written by Kathy Pedeaux
A T T E N T I O N P A S T O R S W I V E S!"No More Bags" by Kathy Pedeaux Wouldn't you agree that life is too short to live with bags over our heads? Pastor's wives and women in full-time ministry have for too long been deceived into thinking that they must perform roles that have been dictated by church politics, and stereotyping of functions of Pastor's wife. This is when we feel like putting a bag over our heads, pretend to be someone else or just to hide from people and responsibilities that were never meant to be ours. It is destructive for church as well as precious women that fall into this trap. It is destructive for church because it directly affects pastor through unhappiness, fear, and frustration of wife. Secondly it is destructive to wife because it promotes fear, insecurtiy, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions. One of saddest and most damaging things in Kingdom of God is an unhappy Pastors wife. Read next months article to find out more about "Freedom from Anxiety in Ministry." Anyway, I have great news for you ladies! John 8:36 says, "So if Son has set you free, you will be free indeed." God has created all of us in so many unique ways. How boring it would be if all Pastor's and their wives looked alike, acted alike, and did everthing alike? Let me tell you a little story. In beginning of my husband and I's journey into full-time ministry, we were invited to a regional meeting of officers of a certain denomination. It was a dinner engagement with a small agenda. All wives were invited to attend. I was so excited because I was going to be able to meet other pastors wives and glean from their experience and have opportunity to rub elbows with some higher-ups in organization. I sat down so proud next to my husband and thought, "Let party begin." I began to realize just after a short time that these women around banquet table were miserable, did not want to be there, and had no interest in talking to me at all. Their faces seemed to tell a horrible story of years of being something that they were not. Since I wasn't a member of their church, they had nothing to loose by not being affectionate, loving, outgoing, articulate, confident, women they were suppose to be. My heart began to become grieved for them and I began to pray and ask God to help me never to come to that place. I talked about this with my husband and I made a decision that night to always try to be myself. I didn't want to be in ministry if it was like that. There were so many other things that I could do to glorify God in workplace, and in ministry. Today my life's goal is helping people realize their dreams in Him, and especially Pastors and their wives. I have never had so much fun, been so fulfilled and been so in love with my husband! You can have your cake and eat it too! Jesus has come to give us life and give it more abundantly! God has called each of us to be what He has called us to be, not what others expect. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in Holy Ghost! Let's live in that!
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