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The Bossy Church Lady's Newsletter For New Christians
"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels." Revelation 3:5 (NIV)
Warm Fuzzies
Thank you to all of my subscribers, without you, the new Christian, this newsletter wouldn't exist. I would love to hear from you, but please do not hit reply to contact me because I won't receive your response. If you need to contact me you can email me at sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net (without the spaces in the address).
I'd love to hear what you think! And, if you want to share something with the other readers in a future issue of this newsletter--such as a testimonial, or a poem, devotional, a story that God has inspired you to write, or even if you want to advertise your own site-- you can send it to me at sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net (without the spaces in the address).
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In This Issue
><> A strange thing happening with my Internet Service Provider (ISP)...
><> Link to chapter 3 Pre-Release Copy of The Bossy Church Lady’s Official Guide For New Christians—for subscribers only. (Link is removed from back issues.)
><> Holding Fast to the Lord by Michael Bradley
><> Resources
Something Weird Is Going On
At Comcast...
For those of you who regularly read my newsletters, you know that I post every issue of this newsletter on my website at: http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/backissues.html. Well, for some strange reason, my ISP, which is Comcast, is blocking me from accessing my web hosting provider's site so I can maintain my website and do things such as add new pages--or even put up the latest issue of this newsletter. On top of that, I've been prevented from uploading anything to my website via FTP.
Funny thing too, I'm not the only one that Comcast is doing this to. No doubt, you're asking... "Well, how do you know that Comcast is doing this?" Because I ran a tracert, which traces the route that my computer takes to get to my web hosting provider's site. For some unknown reason, Comcast blocked me each time. And, I checked to see if my web hosting site is blacklisted by Comcast, and guess what? They're not.
When I called Comcast last week about the issue--along with several other Comcast customers who are also being blocked from accessing the same web hosting company--the customer service rep told me--and the others who called them--that they wouldn't do such a thing. But the proof is undeniable, I say.
Now for the time being... because I dearly love Comcast (They really are an awesome ISP, aside from this issue!) and I love my web hosting provider (They simply are the very best I've seen for the amazing price of... f.r.e.e. They're even better than most paid plans!) and, since I have no intention of changing either, until this issue is resolved between the two, my newsletters and whatever else I write will be posted on my blog at: http://thebossychurchlady.blogspot.com/.
Of course, the link for the chapters of The Bossy Church Lady's Official Guide For New Christians won't be posted on the newsletter that will be posted there, as the book is being released to subscribers only. Which, brings me around to another issue: If you happen to be reading this newsletter and wish to subscribe, you still can do that (as far as I know) on my website. If that doesn't work, email me at sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net (without the spaces in the address) and I'll add you to the subscriber list as I can't figure out for the life of me how to get to the subscribe page at my mailing list provider, which is http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com .
One other thing before I move on: I would love to thank http://www.snapdrive.net , who is graciously hosting the chapters from my book for free for the time being.
Check It Out!
Chapter 3 Pre-Release Copy of The Bossy Church Lady’s Official Guide For New Christians: 6 Days To Knowing All About God.
As Promised, the link to chapter 2 Pre-Release Copy of The Bossy Church Lady’s Official Guide For New Christians: 6 Days To Knowing All About God—for subscribers only is here (Sorry, it's only for subscribers).
This link (which has been removed from the back issues) will expire on Wednesday, September, 3 2008. As a courtesy, please do not distribute this in any manner as it’s a pre-release copy for subscribers of The Bossy Church Lady’s Newsletter For New Christians only.
You will need Adobe PDF Reader to view the file.
If you're feeling up to it, I would love it if you dropped me a line at: sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net (without the spaces in the address) to tell me what you think about it. Believe it or not, brutal honesty would be appreciated too.
Guest Article
Holding Fast to the Lord
The Scripture verses I will list in this article will be giving us another major basic fundamental principle that we all have to get worked into our mindset and walk with the Lord. As you will see in how the Lord has worded all of these verses, this is another all-or-nothing proclamation and principle being given to us by our Lord.
Bottom line - once you have entered into a true full surrender with the Lord where He will now be the One to guide you into His perfect plan for your life - you can never, ever turn back, bail out, quit or throw in the towel on Him. Wrestle with God all you want, throw as many temper tantrums as you want, but do not ever get to the point with God where you are going to tell Him that you are going to bail out on Him and walk off of His playing field.
All of the power verses I will list in this article are telling us to do the following:
· Hold fast to the Lord
· Hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering
· Hold fast our confidence in the Lord
· Hold fast to the Word of Life
· Do not cast away your confidence in the Lord
· Do not depart from following Him
· Keep your heart steadfast
· Be faithful until death
· Stand fast in the faith
· Continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast
· Fight the good fight of faith
· Run the race with endurance
· Do not become sluggish
· Be an overcomer
· Finish the race
The very first verse I will list below will give us perfect revelation from the Lord on this issue. This one verse is so powerful from the Lord, that I have decided to name the title of this article just after this one verse.
All of the above key phrases are a real mouthful! When you read each one of them, one right after the other, the message is coming through loud and clear from our Lord. Once we have entered into a full surrender with the Lord where He will now be the One to guide and direct our lives in the direction that He will want it to go in, we can never, ever change course or bail out on Him.
God is now the Captain of our ship. God is now the Shepherd of our souls. God will now be leading us every step of the way in our walk and journey with Him. We now belong to God, work for God and live for God - literally to the day we die and depart from this life.
As we all know, this life can be rough, and no one gets by in this life without having to face a certain amount of trouble, adversity and conflict. We all have to go through various storm clouds from time to time - no exceptions!
It's very easy to have high levels of faith in God when everything is going good and great and you do not have a care or trouble in the world. But let that first heavy storm cloud come knocking on your door, and many Christians start to get weak at the knees, start to panic, and then start to question God and His wisdom. All of a sudden their high levels of faith in the Lord start to waver and they start doubting that God can handle the adversity that has now hit them.
As Christians, we have to realize that there is always going to be a certain amount of trouble, tribulation and persecution in this world - and this type of trouble will be hitting believers as well as nonbelievers. No one gets out of this life without having to face a certain amount of trouble and adversity, and for some, this adversity will end up being extreme and traumatic. Our local daily news shows us everyday what some people are being forced to take and endure.
As a result of the fallen and cursed world we have all been born into as a result of what happened in the story of Adam and Eve, not only are we all stuck with having to do battle with demonic spirits and bad and evil people from time to time, but we are also stuck with having to face all of the different types of natural accidents and catastrophes that can occur at a moment's notice.
Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, auto accidents, natural mishaps and accidents around the home and workplace, and different types of illnesses and diseases can hit anyone of us at anytime. All of these different types of natural accidents, disasters and illnesses are the byproduct of this fallen and cursed world.
This now leaves all Christians with one of two choices when they personally get hit by one of these types of storm clouds. You can either get mad at God, lose your faith in Him and how He is handling your life, and throw in the towel and quit on Him - or you can hold your ground and tell God that you are not going to bail out on Him no matter what life, hell or the devil tries to throw your way.
When you read the verses I will list below, especially some of the key phrases in these verses as I have highlighted in the above bullet points, there is no question what God the Father is wanting all of us to do. He is wanting all of us to stay true, loyal and faithful to Him to our last dying breath. He is wanting all of us to hold fast to Him without doubting and without wavering.
All of these verses are telling us that this life is going to be rough. As a result, we have to run the race that God has now set out before us with the intentions on trying to win it and trying to finish it. We have to run this race with endurance, certainty and purpose. We have to run this race to do the best and be the best we can be at whatever God is calling us to do for Him in this life.
This means that when we get knocked to the ground with any type of vicious torpedo shot, we have to pick ourselves back up, wipe off the dust and blood on our pants, tell God that we are not going to bail out on Him, that we will stay the course with Him - and then get back into the game of life and keep on the road that God has set up for us to follow in Him. God has already told us in His Word that if we faint in the day of any type of adversity, that our strength will be considered to be small in His eyes.
God is wanting all of us to learn how to become good soldiers of Jesus Christ. God is wanting all of us to learn how to become victors and overcomers in this life - and the only way that you can learn how to become a true victor and overcomer in this life is by being willing to take on any type of storm cloud that may come your way.
You can't become an overcomer or victor in this life unless you have already overcome some type of trial or tribulation. As a result, some of the trials and tribulations that may come your way in this life are actually being allowed by the Lord to occur for your own benefit, training and sanctification.
I will once again break these verses down under 4 separate captions. Study these verses very carefully, and make sure that you get this mental principle worked into your mindset and how you look and view things in this life.
As part of your sanctification process in the Lord, this mental principle on learning how to hold fast to the Lord should be at the top of your list. This is one major fundamental principle that you will want to get worked, ingrained and instilled into your mindset and how you think about things.
Get it settled once and for all that you will stay fully committed to the Lord for the rest of your earthly life and that you will never, ever bail out on Him.
Get it settled once and for all that you will stay the course with the Lord - no matter what life, hell or the devil tries to throw your way - and that you will have full faith, belief and trust in God to help get you through any type of storm cloud that may come your way - no matter how dark, vicious or hopeless that storm cloud may look to you in the natural.
1. Holding Fast to the Lord
These first seven verses will all be using the specific words of holding fast to the Lord, holding fast to our initial confession to Him, holding fast to our confidence in Him and holding fast to His Word of life.
In other words, hold fast to the Lord, and never, ever let Him go - no matter how bad things may get from time to time, and no matter how severe the storm cloud may be that is attempting to come against you.
1. "He trusted in the Lord God of Israel ... For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments ... The Lord was with Him; he prospered wherever he went." (2 Kings 18:5-7)
2. "A good man .... will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies." (Psalm 112:5-8)
3. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)
4. "... but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope to the end." (Hebrews 3:6)
5. "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." (Hebrews 3:12-14)
6. "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise." (Hebrews 10:35-36)
7. "... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His own good pleasure. Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain." (Philippians 2:12-16)
The first verse perfectly lays it out for all of us. It is talking about King Hezekiah. It says that he held fast to the Lord and that he did not depart from following Him. As a result, this verse then goes on to tell us that "the Lord was with him" and that "he prospered wherever he went."
The sixth verse from Hebrews 10:35 tells us that if we do not cast our confidence away from the Lord and hold out to the end with endurance in doing God's will for our lives, that we will "receive the promise."
Also note in the fifth verse from Hebrews 3:12 that it says that it is an evil thing to have any kind of a heart of unbelief in the Lord. Any kind of unbelief in the Lord and wanting to depart from Him is considered to be an evil heart by the Lord.
These are very strong words being given to us by our Lord. God has made all of us for Himself and He will not be denied. This revelation being given to us by God is showing all of us that we have to learn how to fully trust Him, fully follow Him, and be willing to hold fast to Him without any type of wavering or doubting on our end.
2. Be Faithful Until Death
These next 5 verses will now take it one step further. Not only are we to hold fast to the Lord, but we are to hold fast to Him until the day we die. The first verse I will list below states that we are to "be faithful until death."
The rest of the verses then go on with some very strong phrases being used in them in that we are to "stand fast in the faith," that we are to "continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast," and that we are to "fight the good fight of faith."
Put all of these verses together with the ones listed in the first caption, and God is telling all of us, loud and clear, that He does not anyone of us, for whatever reason, to ever consider departing or bailing out from Him in this life. We are to stay true, loyal and faithful to Him to our last dying breath.
1. "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer ... Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
2. "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)
3. "... if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard ..." (Colossians 1:23)
4. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12)
5. "For the Lord preserves the faithful ..." (Psalm 31:23)
Notice the last verse is telling us that the Lord will be preserving those who will remain faithful to Him in this life.
Not only will He obviously be preserving you for the next life to come, which will be heaven, but He will also help keep you properly preserved in this life with all of the different types of adversities that could possibly come your way. In other words, God can help keep you physically, mentally and spiritually in one piece as you journey through this earthly life.
3. Be An Overcomer in the Lord
These next six verses will add very nicely to the ones listed above about being faithful to the Lord until your last dying breath. These next set of verses are telling us that we have to learn how to be an overcomer in this life, and that if we do, then some incredible rewards will be given to us once we enter into heaven.
The first verse will perfectly lay it out for us in that not only must we become a good overcomer in this life, but we must also keep God's works until the very end. In other words, we have to complete whatever works God is calling us to do for Him in this life. And if we do, then Jesus will be giving us some type of power over the nations in the coming Millennium Kingdom and then eventually in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Jesus also tells us that if we learn how to become a good overcomer in this life, that our names will not be blotted out from His Book of Life and that He will confess our names before His Father and His angels in heaven.
1. "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations." (Revelation 2:26)
2. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Revelation 3:21)
3. "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." (Revelation 3:5)
4. "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)
5. "I have fought the good fight of faith, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7)
6. "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Hebrews 6:10-12)
Notice in the fourth and fifth verses that the apostle Paul is telling us that not only must we fight the good fight of faith, but we must also continue to press on so that we can finish the race that God has set out before us. In other words, not only must we hold fast to the Lord, but we must hold fast to the Lord with the intention on wanting to completely fulfill the works that He is calling us to do for Him in this life.
The last verse then puts the icing on the entire cake when it says that God Himself will not be forgetting whatever works we are willing to do for Him in this life. He tells us that if we are willing hold fast to Him to the very end, and do not become sluggish in the works that we will do for Him, that we will be receiving some very special rewards once we enter into heaven.
4. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of Our Faith
As a final note, these last three verses will help explain something to you so that you do not let frustration and discouragement get the better of you when you hit some downswings in your walk with the Lord.
As we all know, this life can be a roller caster ride. You will have good days and you will have bad days. You will have seasons that will be good and fruitful, and you will have seasons that will be dry and lean.
When you enter into seasons that will get a bit dry and lean, do not get discouraged or disappointed. As long as you know you are in God's perfect will for your life, nothing else will matter.
The first verse I will list below will tell us that Jesus is the "author and finisher of our faith." The last two verses will tell us that when Jesus has begun this good work in us - that He will make sure that it gets properly "completed," and that He will also make sure to properly keep it until the end. So not only do we get Jesus letting us know exactly what it is we should be doing for Him in this life, but He will also be making sure that we fully accomplish and fully complete everything that He is calling us to do for Him in this life.
What these verses are telling us is that since Jesus will now be the One to lead us into His Father's perfect plan for our lives, this now makes Jesus the official author of our faith. In other words, Jesus will now be the One to write the story of our life and the direction our life will now be taking in Him. It is Jesus' job to write the story and script of our life. This right does not belong to us or to anyone else in our life.
For those of you who may be frustrated and disappointed with how your life in the Lord has been going at this time, really chew on the revelation that is in these last three verses.
No matter where you are at right now in your walk with the Lord, realize that God will fully complete everything that He has in store for you in this life. God, as the author and finisher of your faith, has started the story of your life, and He will make sure that He gets everything properly completed with you before it is your time to depart from this life.
Not only will God personally keep you and the works that you will do for Him in this life, but He will also make sure that you get everything done that needs to get done before your day in the sun is finally over. Since God is perfect, this means He will perfectly start and perfectly finish the story of your life in Him down here on this earth.
1. "... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." (Hebrews 12:1)
2. "... He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)
3. "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (2 Timothy 1:12)
Also notice in the first verse God is telling us that He is laying out a "race" before us. This race is our call in Him. This race is the path, the road and the direction that we will be taking in Him once we fully surrender our lives over to Him for His direction and handling.
Once you enter into this full surrender with the Lord, Jesus will now become the author and finisher of your faith and of your own personal story in God. As the author and finisher of your faith, God knows exactly where He wants to take you to and exactly how to get you there. All you have to be willing to do is follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis, and God will personally make sure that you fully accomplish everything that He would like for you to get done for Him in this life.
Conclusion
Even though all of the above Scripture verses are telling us that we should never, ever consider bailing out on our Lord, realize that God still highly respects your free will and He will never force you to follow Him or force you to stay loyal and faithful to Him. You will always be free to leave Him, forsake Him or bail out on Him anytime you want. There are no chains around your neck. You are free to go anytime you want.
However, when you really study all of the specific wording in these verses, you can tell by the strong wording being used, and the tone and intensity of these verses, that we should never, ever tempt our fate or our hand with the Lord by being willing to depart from Him.
Once you have become saved and born again and have made Jesus both the Lord and Savior of your life - realize that you are no longer your own, much less belong to anyone else in this life. Jesus has now bought you back with the blood that He has personally shed for you on the cross. Your life now belongs to Him, and Him alone.
Once you have made Jesus the real Lord over your life, you really have to come to grips with this revelation that we are to hold fast to Him until the day we depart from this life. Once you have entered into this full surrender with the Lord, you have now officially crossed over into a real point of no return.
We all know how rough and tough this life can get. But no matter what life or the devil may try and throw your way, remember what kind of all-powerful God we are serving and following. We are serving and following an all-perfect, all-powerful God where absolutely nothing is too impossible for Him to handle - which will include any type of storm cloud that may come your way.
If and when any type of serious storm cloud ever comes your way - remember - you will have one of two choices. You can either panic, get mad at God for allowing it to come your way and walk out on Him - or you can hold fast to your faith and trust in Him, and have full faith and belief that He will help you handle and get through the storm cloud.
All of the above verses from our Bible are as clear and as plain as day. There is nothing more that the Lord can tell you with the revelation that He has in all of the these verses.
Make the decision that you will stay true, loyal and faithful to the Lord until your last dying breath and that absolutely nothing will ever cause you to turn, sway or change your course in Him. Hold fast to the Lord, and He will hold fast to you - no matter what kind of tornado may come knocking at your door!
Bible Trivia
Give your noodle a workout with a new Bible trivia question every day: Free Daily Bible Trivia
Resources
I'm always delighted to present each new resource that I find because it's my hope that every one that I include in my newsletters will help you grow in Christ. If you know of any resources that you would like to share with the other readers, feel free to write to me and let me know about it so I can include it in the newsletters.
><> Don’t forget to download Chapter 3 of The Bossy Church Lady’s Official Guide For New Christians: 6 Days To Knowing All About God--link has been removed from back issues.
><> Women in the Bible - Resource for Christian women to find books, Bibles, and more for their personal, professional and ministry use. WomenInBible.com is that place - for easy-to-find resources that plug the gap when you need it most.
><> Listen to the Old Testament and the New Testament Bible online at: http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/free_online_Bible.html
><> G.I.R.L. Club: Guiding & Inspiring Righteous - G.I.R.L. is a Christian website, youth group, & club for teen girls. Great tips on daily devotions & Bible reading. Beaver Falls, Pa.
><> The Man Who Loved Woman by Dorothy Valcarcel is a unique collection of stories about eighteen women and their friendship with Jesus - the one Man who loved them unconditionally. http://www.themanwholovedwomen.com/
Quick Answers To Your Burning Questions About God
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><> Babe in Christ? Seeking answers about God? The Bossy Church Lady's website is packed with inspirational articles, tools, resources and scriptures that will answer your questions about Jesus. http://www.thebossychurchlady.net
><> Get a f.r.e.e e-book that will take you by the hand and explain everything you need to know about the end times! If you're a webmaster, snag the book and give it away to your visitors! The Bossy Church Lady's Take On The End Times
Until next time...
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