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| Beware Of "Christian Friends" |
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“I believe it will be found in the day of great account, that there have been more blessed enterprises squashed, more leadings of the Holy Ghost disobeyed, more urgings of the Spirit quenched, through the influence of what are called Christian friends than all other influences put together.” –Catherine Booth
Motivational Ideas: Nice, well-intentioned people can hold you back through their fears, insecurities, and desire to influence you.
Have you ever noticed that people frequently act like a bucket of crabs? As one of us tries to climb out of the bucket, one of our friends or associates pulls us right back in.
We often think of the peer pressure to engage in wrongful behaviors, but we seem to forget altogether the peer pressure to avoid doing good, wholesome things. But it is there: Don’t get outside the box. Don’t think outside the bun. Don’t get ahead of the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of your friends.
Catherine Booth points out that the losses we humans have suffered through the influence of our friends and associates are incalculable — positive enterprises squashed before they can begin, leadings and urgings of the Spirit stomped out. So how is this a hope quote?
Most of us have been quietly squeezed into society’s mold, swept along by the influence of our friends without even knowing it. Every day our need for the approval of others is robbing us of hundreds of opportunities for a better life. But if we don’t know that we are in a need-for-approval-trap, how will we ever get out?
Here is the hope that Catherine Booth reminds us of. There is an inner voice seeking to lead us into a much better life through promptings, urgings, and warnings. If we will begin to courageously obey that inner voice rather than the voice of our friends, we will begin to experience entirely new levels of hope, encouragement, and personal victory!
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| To add a comment to "Beware Of "Christian Friends"" |
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| March 06, 2009 |
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Hey Brother Steve...Ms. Booth is saying some things here....
Don’t get outside the box. Don’t think outside the bun. Don’t get ahead of the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of your friends
LOL...I guess this is my problem (smile)...I can't stay in the box....and I refuse to think inside the bun...I serve a GREAT BIG GOD Who is contained in every page of this awesome book...THE BIBLE...From Genesis to Revelation.....So I keep my eyes on THE WORDS of JESUS....In the Old Testament and the New, And He is the greatest friend I know...and He *always* causes me to triumph in Him......There I go jumping out that box again....LOL...LOL...Pray for me hear (smile) ;o) |
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| March 06, 2009 |
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Serve only one -Jesus - help man, love mankind but trust Jesus.
Under the right circumstances anyone is capable of betrayal.
Why ,Judas Iscariot was healing the sick with the other eleven when Jesus sent them out and later he is the one who leads them to The Lord - ever wonder why he doesn't keep the money and goes off to kill himself ? Because he didnt know they would crucify Christ. Trumped up charges.Jesus wasn't guilty of anything illegal. The point is betrayal comes and goes but only one is true .
Shakespeare said "To thine ownself be true" --Ridiculous- you can't trust your self.
Why you will betray yourself in a heart beat ,literally,.."The heart is deceitfully wicked and who can know it".
As a professional comic I worked clubs the circuit and made good money, then I returned to The Lord and thought ,"Oh the churches will love me ".. that was 25 years ago- still waiting.
Now I am not anti- Christian just saying , youre right ,..some Christian "Friends" and Bretheren will turn on you faster than you can say jabber whocky...but the real twist is,.. If your truly trusting in Jesus you will wipe the dust of your feet, FORGIVE and move on...because if you trust Him Completely then it was part of the plan - that makes no sense and yet it means everything to me today.
Today I was betrayed and I am coping with that . |
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| | More Posts from 2 m Steve Simms |
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| March 06, 2009 |
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| Thanx Steve always good reading! I was confronted by someone who betrayed me & beat me, horribly. He had to take quite a few looks cuz he couldn't believe I was the same person he'd left on that tavern bath-room floor about 12 yrs. ago.Anyway, I'm glad to say I'm forgiving him the way God forgave me. I couldn't have done that a few yrs. ago...But by the Grace of God I can today !!! :) Truly trusting in JESUS,wiping the dust off my feet,Forgiving & Movin on!!!!! Love,Tammy |
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| March 06, 2009 |
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Your postings are prophetic support at this time. Again I am going to borrow with acknowledgement.
Alex Pollock |
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| March 06, 2009 |
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"Most of us have been quietly squeezed into society’s mold, swept along by the influence of our friends without even knowing it. Every day our need for the approval of others is robbing us of hundreds of opportunities for a better life. But if we don’t know that we are in a need-for-approval-trap, how will we ever get out?" I was never one who suffered from peer-pressure. But after reading this, I am learning that the need for approval is peer pressure within itself. |
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| March 06, 2009 |
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| Some very good comments. I think our society has brain washed us to follow other people's opinions rather than our own and rather than the Holy Spirit. |
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| March 06, 2009 |
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I agree Steve. I think that at this point that not all things go. So concerned with understanding, Soloman prayed for Wisdom more than any thing else, Paul would say pray hat this mind be in you that also was in Christ Jesus.Thr founder of Methodism urged that there many things that inform our faith: Tradition, Experience, Reason, but the final was what Scripture taught. Rememer one the axioms in the 80's was your ok and I am ok. We know better. God's word is the final authority not people's opinions. I agree with for many are driven by every wind of doctine and not all such winds or of God/
Pastor Chuck |
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| March 07, 2009 |
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| LOL unfortunatly sheep have teeth, and don't always act like their shephard. |
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| March 07, 2009 |
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| Maybe those are wolves in sheep's clothing. |
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| March 08, 2009 |
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| i still cant believe Christians are democrats or could even vote for the evil obama. Seriously and this issue wasnt christian friends but rather a lying agenda driven media |
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| March 08, 2009 |
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| "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Obama is no more evil than the rest of us. |
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