5 Keys to Spiritual Maturity
Jan 19, 2010 Faith
Spiritual maturity, or spiritual formation, is God’s call to every believer (Ephesians 4:11-16). We are “no longer to be children,” but are to “grow up in all aspects into him who is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:14-15).
Five key areas are essential to the development of spiritual maturity:
First, biblical knowledge. No verse better sums up the reason we need to know Scripture than II Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Based upon that verse, we find our charge as Christians in II Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”
Second, godly character. In chapters such as Matthew 5-7, I Corinthians 13, and Romans 12, we find entire dissertations on the nature of a godly life. Yet Galatians 5:22-23 captures the whole: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Third, sanctified mind. As we work out our salvation, it touches all parts of us, and the mind is key. Colossians 3:2 states simply, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” And Romans 12:2 exhorts us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Fourth, spiritual discernment. In I Thessalonians 5:21-22, we find these closing words: “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” And again in Hebrews 5:14, we find spiritual maturity linked to discernment: “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”
Fifth, willing obedience. Jesus stated simply in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
These points can be summed up further: spiritual maturity is living a life characterized by right teaching and right living. The truth of the Bible should be demonstrated in every area of our lives: in our thoughts, our speech, our hearts, and our actions. When we do so, we will truly achieve “the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Note: All Scripture references are from the NAS translation.
© Paula Marolewski
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Mahonnathuda Promo
Jan 17, 2010 Christian Video Songs
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkUWhgoyRGA]
Tags: christian songs, Freedom through christ, hema john, indian christian music, Joy to the World, kripal mohan, mahonnathuda, telugu christian devotional songs, The True Story of Santa Claus
Nee Vakyame Promo
Jan 17, 2010 Christian Video Songs
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mXkym8Mwro]
Tags: ashirwad luke, Christmas is Coming, Freedom through christ, indian christian music, kripal mohan, kripalmohan, telugu songs, The True Story of Santa Claus
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Dec 16, 2009 Christmas Carols
The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Tags: christian baby names, christian songs, Christmas Carols, Christmas is Coming, christmas truth, Freedom, indian christian music, silent night, telugu jesus songs, The Christmas Song, The True Story of Santa Claus, The Twelve Days of Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Dec 16, 2009 Christmas Carols
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer: Refrain
We won’t go until we get some;
We won’t go until we get some;
We won’t go until we get some, so bring some out here: Refrain
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Tags: christian songs, Christmas is Coming, christmas truth, Freedom through christ, indian christian music, praise and worship, telugu christian devotional songs, telugu christian music, telugu songs, The Christmas Song, The True Story of Santa Claus, We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Jingle Bells
Dec 16, 2009 Christmas Carols
Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go, laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.
Chorus
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
A day or two ago, I thought I’d take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright, was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank, misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank and we got upsot
(Chorus)
A day or two ago, the story I must tell
I went out on the snow, and on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by, in a one-horse open sleigh
He laughed as there I sprawling lie but quickly drove away
(Chorus)
Now the ground is white, go it while you’re young
Take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay, two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! you’ll take the lead
(Chorus)
Tags: Christmas Carols, Freedom through christ, jesus music, jingle b ells, Kids Christian Songs, praise & worship, santa, telugu christian music, telugu christian video songs, The True Story of Santa Claus
The Story of the Christmas tree
Dec 15, 2009 Christian Lietrature
People often wonder where the custom of having a tree in the home during Christmas time comes from. We will probably never know for sure. But there are several historical clues that point out where this custom came from. The Modern Tree: So when did the Christmas tree go indoors?
Legend has it that the tradition was begun by Martin Luther in Germany. He was a monk and church reformer who lived from 1483 to 1546. According to the legend, Luther was returning home one wintry night when he saw the stars twinkling in the sky through the tree branches. Luther was amazed by the sight, and when he arrived home, he was eager to tell his family about it.
To help them understand, he went to the woods and cut down a small fir tree. Luther brought it indoors and decorated it with candles, which represented the stars he had seen. The custom spread in Germany, and from there all over the world. In England, the Christmas tree first appeared when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, who was German. In 1841, Albert set up aChristmas tree at Windsor Castle near London to remind him of his homeland. The Christmas tree custom was brought to the United States by people from England as well as by many German immigrants who came in the 1800′s.
Whatever its origin, the Christmas tree is a beautiful symbol for everyone who celebrates Christmas. The Legend of the FirstChristmas Tree: The night of the Savior’s birth, all the living creatures, both flora and fauna, came to Bethlehem with gifts. The olive tree brought its fruit and the palm its dates. But the little fir tree had no gift and was so tired it couldn’t resist when the big trees pushed it into the background and hid it from view. But then a nearby angel took pity and commanded a cluster of stars to come and rest on its delicate boughs.
When the Baby Jesus beheld this lovely lighted tree, He smiled and blessed it, declaring henceforth that fir trees should always be filled with lights at Christmastime to please little children.
Tags: christian facts, christmas truth, The True Story of Santa Claus
The True Story of Santa Claus
Dec 15, 2009 Christian Lietrature
Once upon a time a man called Nicholas lived in Patara, a town in the East; It is now in the country of turkey. Because he was very fond of children and was kind and generous to them, they came to think of him as their dear friend and their beloved saint. So it was that after a time the wonderful things he did were woven into a beautiful legend. You know that Santa means Saint and Claus stands for Nicholas, and that is how he came to be known as Santa Claus. In Santa Claus’s own town, Patara, lived a great lord who had three daughters.
He was very poor, so poor that one day he was on the point of sending his daughters out to beg for food from his neighbors. But it happened that Saint Nicholas not long before had come into a fortune, and as he loved giving to those in need, he no sooner heard of the trouble the poor lord was in than he made up his mind to help him secretly. So he went to the nobleman’s house at night, and as the moon shone out from behind a cloud, he saw an open window into which he threw a bag of gold, and with this timely gift the father was able to provide for his eldest daughter so that she could be married.
On another night Santa Claus set off with another bag of gold, and threw it in at the window, so the second daughter was provided for. But by this time, the father had grown eager to discover who the mysterious visitor could be, and next night he kept on the lookout. Then for the third time Santa Claus came with a bag of gold upon his back and itched it in at the window. The old lord at once recognized his fellow townsman, and falling on his knees, cried out “Oh! Nicholas, servant of God, why seek to hide yourself?” Is it not wonderful to think that this was so long ago, sixteen hundred years, yet we still look for the secret coming of Santa Claus with his Christmas gifts? At first he was said to come on his own birthday, which is early in December, but after awhile, as was very natural with Christmas so near, the night of his coming was moved on in the calendar, and now we hang up our stockings to receive his gifts on Christmas Eve.
In some countries children still put their shoes by the fireside on his birthday. In others they say it is the Christ-Kindle in or Christ Child who brings the gifts at Christmastime. But it is always a surprise visit, and though it has happened so many hundreds of years, the hanging up of the Christmas stocking is still as great a delight as ever. But one thing we can learn from this true story and we can implement in this coming Christmas, offer help to anyone who needs it..
Tags: indian christian music, mahonnathuda, santa, The True Story of Santa Claus
My Heart
Mar 3, 2009 Christian Audio Songs
Deep in My Heart
I thank our Triune Almighty Heavenly God the Father “YAHWEH”, God the Son “Jesus Christ” and God the Holy Spirit for His miraculous, marvelous and wondrous works in my life.
After knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting Him as my personal Saviour I started loving God more and more. And I felt like knowing Him much better than before.
I was in my Biblical seminary in 2002 AD to pursue Bachelors in Theology, there I started understanding the depth of.
Only His love for me has brought to this stage of Worshiping Him with a new song in my heart. That’s how God has been working in my life to see the fulfillment of the desire .
Few songs are really a great blessing for me. I believe you will also be blessed by hearing and singing them. Pray for the upcoming albums.
–Enos
Tags: ashirwad luke, ashirwadluke, Christmas Carols, christmas truth, enos, jesus music, Kids Christian Songs, kripal mohan, my heart, myheart, telugu christian devotional songs, telugu christian music, telugu christian songs, The True Story of Santa Claus
