A new Bible lesson on "Angels" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen, or you can click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page to listen to this podcast!!
 Prayer is essential in the life of every Christian. The apostle Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). I cannot think of how many times a simple prayer has helped me in my times of need. Not only has prayer helped me with what most would consider “big” situations, praying to God has also helped me with small matters as well.
For example, one winter we had a bit of a mouse issue in our house. We had set several traps in the house and had caught at least 6 mice overnight, which is highly unusual at our home. In times past, we would set out a mouse trap and only catch one mouse and then our mouse problem would be gone. However, this time was different. I was becoming concerned about the fact that we were catching so many mice in our house in such a short amount of time, namely because I know how quickly mice reproduce, and that this could become a major issue in the long run. I prayed unto God to help us get rid of these mice before more came and possibly caused an infestation in our home. After that prayer, we went on a vacation for about a week, and I had my mother check the traps periodically while we were gone. When we returned from our trip, not one mouse had been caught, and we never saw another mouse that year. Since that time, we have rarely seen a mouse in the house. It appeared that God heard my prayer and fixed the mouse problem for us before things got out of hand! Of course, this is just a small matter to deal with, but it is a reminder that we should pray to God for everything, no matter how big or small of a matter it may seem to us. We, as Christians should have a very prayerful attitude at all times, and make time to pray to God many times in a day. With that said, does God hear all of our prayers, and if so, why do some prayers seem to go unanswered? 1. Before we pray, we have to have faith in God that He will give us what we are praying for. A lack of faith in God when we pray, may keep God from answering our prayers. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”(James 1:6). 2. We must be faithful to God before He will answer our prayers. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (I Peter 3:12). God hears everything, including everyone’s prayers. To say that God does not hear everyone’s prayers would mean that the person giving the unheard prayer knows something that God does not know, and that is impossible. What this verse means, however, is that God only hears the prayers of those who are righteous with the intent to answer those prayers! He does not have the intention to answer the prayers of those who are unfaithful and unrighteous. Being able to have your prayers heard by God, and for God to answer those prayers is one of the many perks of being a faithful child of God! 3. We must monitor what we are praying for. God’s thoughts are much greater than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). If we are praying for something superficial (such as a brand new cherry red sports car), God may not answer this request in the way we expect. We must not ask for anything that would be wrong to obtain, such as winning the 1 million dollar lottery! “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (I John 5:14). Our prayers often go in the direction that our thoughts are in, so we must make sure that our thoughts are on spiritual things rather than worldly things. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2). 4. Sometimes the answer is “No.” Whenever we feel like God is not giving us what we have asked Him for in a prayer, it may be the case that He has answered our prayer with a “No.” God knows everything about us, and He knows all of our past, present, and future. He knows when we will die, how we will die, and what the rest of our life will be like. Based on that information, God will only give us what He knows is best for us, despite how much we want it or think that we need the thing for which we are praying for. Just because we have certain plans for ourselves and for others, this does not mean that God has the same plans. If we suspect that God has answered “No” to a request we have made to Him in prayer, we must always remember that He knows what is best for us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). Please take all of the things mentioned in this article in consideration before asking God for something in prayer. Of course, it is always important to take time to pray and just thank God for all of your blessings. Also, remember to be patient. Not every prayer has to have a request in it. God loves to hear from His children at all times, and like our physical parents, He loves to hear how thankful and appreciative His children are for all that He has done for us. We can be at peace knowing that our Heavenly Father will take care of us no matter what situations this temporal world places us in! A new episode called "Love" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen, or you can click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page to listen to this podcast!!  There is much talk in the world today about living a life of “privilege” here in the United States of America. It is true, that those of us who have grown up in the U. S. live a life of position and privilege compared to the rest of the world. This sense of “privilege” can also carry over into our spiritual lives. How many of us were born and have grown up attending the services of the the church of Christ? How many of us were raised in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) to attend worship services of the church of Christ and to become Christians when we reached the age of accountability? How many of us are blessed to have grown up and live in what is commonly referred to as the “Bible belt” of the U. S.? All of these factors give Christians a privileged status compared to the rest of the world, however, Christians should not fall into the trap of feeling entitled, especially when it comes to salvation. These feelings may cause some Christians to become apathetic and lazy in living the Christian life.
Just because you are a Christian and a member of the church of Christ, this does not mean that you are going to heaven. Sometimes there is an attitude among members of the church that all Christians are going to heaven. We may have heard many sermons against the denominational belief of “once saved, always saved,” but how many Christians believe the false doctrine of “once baptized always saved?” Those Christians who believe this have a sense of privilege and entitlement that will lead them to eternal punishment if they are not cautious. Now, let me be clear. Baptism is essential to salvation. I Peter 3:21 says, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:". A person must hear the Word of God (Romans 10:17), believe the Gospel that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32), and then be baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Upon baptism, a person is a Christian, a member of the church of Christ, and a person must remain faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10). When a child of God stumbles into sin, he or she must repent and confess sins, and through prayer have forgiveness (Acts 8:22, I John 1:9). Having said this, let me focus with you on the being faithful part of God's Plan to save. John the Baptist, an inspired man of God, spoke against this attitude of entitlement among the Jews, who were at the time considered the children of God. In Luke 3:7-8, he says, “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” In these verses, John the Baptist is warning the Jewish sects known as the Sadducees who were false teachers, and also the Pharisees who bound traditions of men upon people, false claiming that these traditions were equal to God's Word that their connection to Abraham alone did not mean they were going to heaven. He goes onto tell them that they needed to repent of their sins and bring forth the fruits of repentance. Those Christians who believe the false doctrine of “once baptized always saved” will conduct themselves in such a way that they become complacent, or lazy in their Christian living. They are not zealous in living the Christina life. If you cannot see it at other times, this attitude of stagnation and laziness among Christians can most easily be seen when a congregation of the Lord’s church has an extra assembly, such as a Gospel meeting, lectureship, or Vacation Bible School that the Elders have deemed that the members attend. How many Christians will only attend one of these events being hosted by their home congregation on Sunday morning, but choose to just sit at home or do some other secular activity the rest of the week? These types of Christians are showing themselves to have an apathetic attitude towards worshipping the Lord which is not congruent with the life of a faithful Christian. We should have the attitude that King David had in Psalm 122:1,“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Friends, it is important to put God First (Matthew 6:33), and support your home congregation and proclamation of the Gospel (Titus 2:14). It is even worthwhile to accept those personal invitations given to attend a Gospel meeting, lectureship, or Vacation Bible School at a nearby congregation. Christians who follow the false doctrine of “once baptized, always saved” may not study the Bible every day as II Timothy 2:15 commands. They may not attend the assembling of the church of Christ regularly as Hebrews 10:25 tells us to do. They may not be willing to participate in the various works of the church. Also, they may do others things that harm their influence, such as dress immodestly, participate in social drinking, be reluctant to help others as well as behave un-Christ-like in other aspects of their lives, all the while believing that their name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life because they were baptized in the past (I Timothy 2:9-10, I Peter 4:3-5, Matthew 5:41). Those who live their lives in this way must repent just as John the Baptist told the Jewish false teachers to do. In the past, whenever I would look at the obituaries in the newspaper, I was always glad to read when a deceased person was listed as a member of the church of Christ. Like so many, whenever I saw those words printed in the obituary, I felt a wave of relief, thinking that the deceased person who was listed as a member of the church of Christ in their obituary was already in Paradise. I am still glad to read that a person who has passed away was a member of the Lord’s church, however, the more I study God’s Word, the more I see the importance of being a faithful Christian unto death (Revelation 2:10). In order to go to Heaven, we are to be Christians who are fruitful and abound in good works (II Corinthians 9:8). We are to present ourselves as a light unto the world, and others should see more of Christ in us than they see ourselves. If we just “blend” in with the rest of the world in our choice of attire or our actions, then we not living the fruitful life of a Christian and we have bought into the false doctrine of “once baptized always saved.” I hope that we Christians will always have an attitude of gratefulness and appreciation toward God for all that He has done for us, and that we show this gratitude in our words and in our actions. Only then can we be the best Christians that we can be, and have the hope of reaching a home in Heaven one day! A new episode on "Modesty" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen to the podcast, or hit the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page (just above the "How to Be Saved" section). You can also listen to a 5 minute episode about how to purchase my books on the above link!   ^ Photo courtesy the JoJo Siwa Facebook page ^
The apostle John definitely spoke the Truth when he said that “the whole world lieth in wickedness” (I John 5:19). The world has always been wicked, and this wickedness is only growing more and more prevalent as time goes by. The saddest part about this is that this wickedness is not aimed at just adults anymore, but is being exposed to young children via the media. Our society, which once protected young children from sin, is now attempting to “brainwash” our children in believing that certain sinful behavior is “normal” and “acceptable.” This makes our jobs as parents even more important in that we must make sure our children grow up knowing what is normal and what is in actuality, sin. Most of my little girls love JoJo Siwa. My oldest daughter even classifies JoJo as her favorite singer, and she has even written letters to JoJo in her “diary” that are really sweet. My daughter watches JoJo on television, and loved wearing JoJo hair bows, tennis shoes, and her JoJo backpack to school. It breaks my heart to have to make my little daughter stop wearing her JoJo bows and backpack due to the wrong decisions of someone who she looks up to so much. Over the weekend, speculations have come out regarding as to whether or not JoJo Siwa was making the choice to become a homosexual due to some posts she made on Instagram. In one post, she is seen wearing a T-shirt with the words “Best Gay Cousin Ever” which she claims was given to her by her cousin. In another post, she is seen in a video lip synching to the song “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga which has a line in it which mentions people who call themselves a part of the “LGBTQ” movement. When I heard about these posts, I had already thought in my mind that this is her way of “coming out” as a homosexual. I was already upset by the thought that JoJo would choose this lifestyle, but hoped that it was not true. Sadly, she confirmed these rumors on Instagram Live, in which she gushes about how “happy” she is now that she has made her decision to be “gay” public. Here is some of what she said in this video; “I wanted to come on here and just talk to y'all for a second and say thank you,… For the last 48 hours...72 hours, I have gotten the most endless amount of love and support. I am really, really, I'm really happy. Now that the world gets to see this side of my life... it makes me really, really, really happy” (Source: NBC Today) Homosexuality is a sin. Moses said in Leviticus 18:22,” Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Also, in Leviticus 20:13, we see that, under the Old Law, homosexuals were punished by death. Homosexuality was also condemned in the New Testament; “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:26-32). Seeing how serious of a sin that homosexuality is, how can JoJo profess to be so “happy” about her choice to partake in this sin? By the way, contrary to the Lady Gaga song “Born This Way,” no one is born being homosexual! It is a choice-and a bad one at that! I believe that JoJo is so “happy” to be “coming out” as a homosexual for two reasons. One reason is that she has been taught to put herself first above God, and to partake in whatever makes her “happy”-even if it is wrong! In the Instagram Live video that she participated in, JoJo talked about her parents’ reaction to her telling them she was homosexual; “My parents have known," she responded. "My mom said she's known for the last two years. She's like, 'I just know with you!' She's like around two years ago, she was like, 'I don't think you only like boys, that's totally OK.'” (Source: NBC Today) This quote should make it clear to all parents that we have to teach our kids about God’s Word and make sure that they learn to follow it rather than those who have fallen for the devil’s trickery. Satan has tricked JoJo Siwa into thinking that she is happier being a homosexual. The second reason that JoJo is so "happy" be be living the sinful life of a homosexual is that the thought of committing sin is making JoJo feel “happy” because sin is pleasurable for a while, but after that is punishment for all eternity. (Hebrews 11:25). Of course, Satan is never satisfied with just having JoJo Siwa in his grasp, he wants to use her to influence others to commit this same sin and fall into the devil’s trap, also! In her Instagram Live video, JoJo goes on to encourage her young fans to do as she has done, and fall into the trap of Satan by choosing homosexuality; "But right now what matters is that you guys know that no matter who you love, that it's OK and that it's awesome and the world is there for you," she said. "There are so many people that are there for you. I know that everyone's situation is different and it might be harder for some people and it might be easier for some people to come out or to be themselves but I think coming out has this stigma around it — that it's a really, really scary thing, but it's not anymore." JoJo was correct when she said that “the world would be there for you” if a person decides to follow her example and become a homosexual, because the world lies in wickedness of the devil, and the devil wants us to follow him rather than God. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (II Corinthians 4:4). That is why we must make sure that we are following God rather than the world, because we cannot enter into Heaven by following Satan. Homosexuality is a choice. I Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” We see from these verses that it is possible for people to leave homosexuality for homosexuality is completely against nature, and must be left by those who are of that persuasion. There is a difference between love and lust, and God is Love, and He has defined love for us. Those who are homosexuals are urged out of love to give up this sin. It is possible to change as some at Corinth had done in the First Century. Parents, I encourage you to not support JoJo Siwa. This means that I encourage you to do what I am doing with my own children in that I will no longer purchase her products for them, or allow them to attend her concerts, or allow them to watch her videos and shows. I know this can be a challenge because many young girls are like my little girls, and look to JoJo Siwa as a role model. Parents, we cannot allow JoJo Siwa to remain a role model for our little ones because she is not a good role model for children. She is only concerned about gaining fame and attention for herself, and she does not care about how her sinful actions affect her young fans. We must also teach our children the importance of following God rather than other people, no matter how much they like that person or how famous that person is. We, as parents, are the biggest role models our children will have, and we have to show them how to deal with sin in the world. If we teach them that supporting people like JoJo Siwa is OK while they are young, they will grow up to think that certain sinful behaviors are acceptable. May we work every day to teach our children the right path to Heaven, and a simple step in doing this is to say “No-No” to JoJo Siwa! A new episode called "The Lord Will Find A Way" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen, or you can click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page to listen to this podcast!!   “ But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,” (Matthew 23:5).
This verse is a description given by Jesus to His disciples regarding the Jewish sect known as the Pharisees. This verse is a good example of how the Pharisees were very concerned about the praise of men rather than of God, and wanted to show off how religious they thought they were. How many Christians can relate to the description that Christ is giving the Pharisees in this verse? Are some Christians prone to bragging about their service to God? When Jesus spoke these words, the Old Law was still in effect, however, the Pharisees were wrong in their beliefs because they placed rules that they expected the Jews to follow that were too strict, and that did not go along with Moses’ teachings. Jesus is pointing out in this verse, how that the Pharisees craved the attention and approval of men so much that they would “show off” how that they were worshipping God through their appearance and the things that they did. For instance, the portion of the verse which says “they make broad their phylacteries” refers to the practice that the Jews would have in which they would carry portions of the Old Testament written on pieces of paper in two small boxes on their clothing. The Pharisees would take this a step further, however, and make these boxes extra large so that others would see how religiously minded they were. Was there any need for others to see that the Pharisees were studying the Scripture? Absolutely not! It is good to encourage others to study God’s Word, but we must be careful about how we approach it. Instead of showing off how much we study, we can talk to others about how much God has helped us and how studying the Bible is so important. We can give verses like II Timothy 2:15 to prove this fact. A similar situation can be seen in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee was boastful of how much he did for the Lord, and he considered himself better than others, including the publican. He prayed to God bragging about how much he fasted in a week, and how much he gave of his money. The publican, however, went to God with a humble heart and prayed for forgiveness of his own sins. Jesus ended this parable by saying that the publican was more righteous than the Pharisee because “every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” We hear little kids sing the song “I Don’t Wanna Be A Pharisee,” and this is a motto that we, as Christians, must remember to practice everyday in our lives here on Earth. I’m afraid that platforms like social media have made it easier for some Christians to behave somewhat like Pharisees. Christians behave like Pharisees when they boast of doing good works for others, and boast of how much they are studying their Bibles, worshipping, or giving to the Lord. All of these things need to be done in secret and without broadcasting it on social media. If we feel the need to have to tell others about the good works we are doing, then we already have our reward here on Earth, rather than having a reward from God. Others do not have to know, nor need to know when we are performing a good work for others, or when we pray. worship, or study God’s Word. That should be known only to us, and to God. Of course, when we do good works for others, then more than God and ourselves know about the act, but let us be sure that we do not speak of the good work ourselves. Let others speak of our good works rather than ourselves! (Proverbs 27:2). We must not let our pride sabotage our goal of entering into Heaven one day! “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6:1-6).  A new episode called "New Years Resolutions" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Fridays podcast! You can either go here https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen, or hit the "Play" button on the upper right hand corner of this page, just above the "How to Be Saved" section. I hope you enjoy this podcast!
 A new episode on "Prayer" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday podcast!! Click on https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to reach the podcast page, You can also click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page, just above the section on "How to Be Saved" and listen to the episode on "Prayer" here! Hope you enjoy "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17)  At times, I cannot help but notice how some people in the world today are growing colder and less friendly to their fellow man than in years gone by. Living in the South, it is a common occurrence to see strangers say “Hello” to one another on the street, but I have noticed that the small gestures of kindness that used to be so prevalent in our society 50 years ago are slowly fading away. So, I have decided to focus this article on a list that I have put together of things that it doesn’t hurt anyone to do: 1. It doesn’t hurt anyone to say “Hello” in response to someone else’s greeting, or, dare I say it, be the first to say “Hello!” Verbalizing a greeting to one another should be one of the easiest things to do. You don’t have to be an extrovert to just say “Hello” to someone. You also do not have to wait for the other person to say “Hello” to you first. All you have to do is have enough love in your heart for others to want to show your love and friendliness towards them. Whether we see someone in town, or we have guests over at our home, we should ALWAYS greet them, even if they do not initiate the greeting themselves. “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”(I Peter 5:14). 2. It doesn’t hurt anyone to be encouraging to others: We should always try to say and do things to make others feel good. We never know what another person is facing in his or her life, even if that person seems to be happy and to “have it all.” We should always try to find ways to lift the spirits of others, which will in turn, lift our spirits up as well! We do not have to wait until people are upset or facing challenges in order to be encouraging to them. We can encourage others during their good times and challenging times! “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24). 3. It doesn’t hurt anyone to go out of their way to help others. This is something that is on the decline, even in the church. It used to be the case that people would go out of their way to help someone in need, whether it be to help them fix something, give them money or food, or even give them a way to attend church services. Today, there are some people out there, even Christians, who are only willing to help others when it is convenient for them (i.e. they get something in return, or it doesn’t require too much effort on their part). Jesus tells us to do MORE than what is asked of us for those in need. “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”(Matthew 5:41). 4. It doesn’t hurt anyone to say, “I’m Sorry.” This is a big issue for some people who do not want to apologize for anything. When we have made a mistake or have done something wrong, we must be willing to apologize to anyone involved. I have seen it be the case in recent years that more people are less willing to show humility and apologize. We are to be humble servants of God rather than live with pride in our hearts. Those who are unwilling to apologize for their mistakes are doing so out of pride. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”. (James 4:6). In order for us to be faithful Christians, we must resist the urge to be prideful, but rather, embrace a meek and humble spirit. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10). These are just a few examples of ways that I think some people in our world today can improve on the way they think, feel, and act. Our lives are temporary and “like a vapor” (James 4:14). Therefore, we should do all we can to help others and to serve God faithfully while we are still here on the earth. No matter what we have to give up or how much energy we have to use in order to serve God and help others, we will know that all of our efforts were worth it when we reach our home in Heaven! “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:12-14).  IT'S HERE!! You can now listen to the first episode of the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen!! This episode discusses the topic of Faith! The episode on "Faith" can be listened to by clicking the "Play" button on upper right hand side of this page, above the section entitled "How to Be Saved." "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)  NEW PODCAST ANNOUNCEMENT!!! On January 1, 2021, I will launch my new podcast called "5 Minutes of Faith on Friday!" As the title implies, this podcast will feature episodes that will only be around 5 minutes in length and will air every Friday! In this podcast, for Ladies, I will be teaching short lessons from the Bible on various topics that I hope will be relatable to the lives of all women! On January 1, 2021, go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to hear the first episode which will be posted at 6 o'clock that morning! As I said before, all episodes are around 5 minutes, so, Ladies, please take that brief amount of time out of your busy day to spend with me studying the Bible!
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)  With Christmas fast approaching, I have often seen the phrase “Jesus is the reason for the season” at various times in reference to this holiday. Christmas is seen by many as Christ’s birthday, and many celebrate this holiday as such. The truth is, however, we do not know the actual time and date of Christ’s birth, and there is no reference in the Bible that tells us to celebrate this event at Christmas. What the Bible does tell us is to honor Jesus and celebrate everything He has done for us ALL the time and during EVERY season!
Jesus created us and created all of the universe, and we owe everything that we are and everything that we have to Him. Not only did He create us, but he died a cruel death on the cross so we could have forgiveness of sins and the opportunity for Everlasting Life! “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7). “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). With that being said, it is vitally important that we worship and honor Jesus during all seasons of the year, and not just during Christmas. We should honor and praise God every single day of our lives, and many times during the day. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31). Something that is often seen close to Christmas is higher rates of worship service attendance. It is sometimes the case where people who do not attend worship services any other time of the year will show up around Christmas time. It is good that these people attend worship service at this time, but it is more important that they are in regular attendance all year round. By regular attendance, I mean that a person should attend every worship service on the first day of the week and at any other time that the leaders of their home congregation set aside for assembling (Acts 20:7, Hebrews 13:17). “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25). It is certainly not wrong to glorify Christ and be to mindful of all the things He has done for us during Christmas, but we should make it a point to always have our minds on God and to work each and every day to be faithful servants of Him. The Holy Scriptures do not authorize us to celebrate December 25 as the date of the birth of Christ, but we should honor Christ every day and be thankful for His birth every day (Colossians 3:17, II Peter 3:18). I hope that this article helps to show the importance of remembering that Jesus is “the Reason for every season,” not just the Christmas season! My family and I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!  In the aftermath of the 2020 Presidential Election, many people from all political parties and sentiments seem still confused about who would be the next Commander in Chief of the United States. No matter which party you align yourself with, or which candidate you voted for, the person who becomes President of the United States every four years is given that distinguished title because God is allowing him to have it!
No matter who is leading our country, we are to subject ourselves to their authority, because that person who is in a position of power, has been given authority by God. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” (Romans 13:1-2). We are to subject ourselves to the rule of the President, so long as he is not telling us to do wrongfully. If a leader is telling us to do wrong, then we are not required to do these things. Even the apostles of Jesus went against their rulers who commanded them not to preach the Gospel, and even threatened them to not speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus (Acts 4:18-20). We should work to change laws that promote sin. This applies to anyone in authority, whether it is a President, king, emperor, etc. God is the ultimate authority of everyone, including those who derive their authority from Him. “For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations” (Psalm 22:28). Those who are set as rulers over a country are “ministers” or “servants’ of God (Romans 13:4). Those who rule all nations are placed there by God for a specific purpose, to either help the people being ruled over, to punish them, or to bring about a specific result. Presidents, kings, and other rulers throughout the years who have been corrupt and evildoers were still placed in their positions by God to punish the people for the wrongdoing they have done. For example, King Nebuchadrezzar was a wicked man who was placed in his position as king of Babylon to punish the people of Judah for their own sins against God (Jeremiah 25:8-9). Although King Nebuchadrezzar carried out God’s Will, he was still punished himself for his wickedness (Daniel 4:1-34). God still picks certain people to be in positions of authority through His Divine Providence to either reward or punish the people. God does this to maintain order in a world that is prone to rebellion against Him. After the recent Presidential election, it is important to remember, that no matter who is inaugurated as the new President of the United States, God is ALWAYS in control! That person is President because God gave him that authority, and he is there for a reason. God tells us in Daniel 4:17, “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” We, as Christians, do not need to worry when a person who supports sin comes into office, because God will work all things together for good to those who love the Lord and to those who are the called according to His Purpose (Romans 8:28). God is still in control. He sets up those who come to power. We do not always understand in the moment why one is in power, rather than another. It may be that we will come to an understanding of this later in life or it may be that farther along in eternity we will understand why, but in all cases, God is still in control. What takes place in this life is only temporary, and evil rulers will be punished with the rest of the wicked world. God always has our best interest in mind, and He will take care of us, even through trials and tribulations! We just have to be sure that we are being faithful to Him and following His Word, even when a President or some other ruler tells us not to do so (I Peter 2:13-16). Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” It is only through living the faithful Christian life that we can have the “peace that passeth all understanding."  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27). Death is a subject about which very few people enjoy thinking or talking. Everyone will die a physical death unless the Day of Judgment comes beforehand. Death is something that all of us will face, although the majority of the population express a fear of it. Even in Bible times, some people feared death. Bildad, the friend of Job, described death as the “king of terrors” (Job 18:14). Death is viewed as an unknown by many today, but it does not have to be an unknown. The Bible describes in great detail about what death will be like for both the faithful and unfaithful in Christ. For those who are faithful, death is a wonderful event; a passage to a place of rest from pain and suffering. For the unfaithful, however, the outcome is devastating. Here is what the Bible tells us about what death will be like for all of us.
The world sees death as something unknown and scary, but to Christians, death is a wonderful time of reuniting with loved ones, and being in the presence of God Almighty. Those who are in the world and those who do not follow God will find death to be indeed a scary place. The Bible makes it very clear as to what happens to both the faithful and unfaithful after death, and no one can make it to Heaven by accident. “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Hebrews 4:1). It takes a conscious effort to do God’s Will throughout one’s life to be rewarded with Heaven. May we all work to reach our Heavenly home each and every day, and may we work to bring as many souls as we can to Heaven with us! “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15).  The topic that I am about to cover in this article is one that I do not hear spoken about very often, and that is the subject of Christians exhorting one another. In Hebrews 3:13, we are told, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” This verse means that Christians are to encourage other Christians to talk about spiritual things among themselves as well as to speak of spiritual things to non-Christians. It is so often the case that Christians will be around one another and talk about everything under the sun except anything to do with spiritual matters. What does Hebrews 3:13 say about this?
First off, the writer of Hebrews says that we are to “exhort one another daily, while it is called To day.” What does this mean? This means that Christians are to encourage one another by talking about spiritual things (i.e. God, Jesus, the Bible, the church, saving the lost, etc.) EVERY DAY! By every day, this means that we should have spiritual matters on our minds so much that we have to talk about them every day to not only other Christians, but to non-Christians as well. We should feel compelled to teach others how to be saved through the teachings of the Bible, because the Bible is God’s Word, and the final authority! “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (II Timothy 3:16). Why should we talk of spiritual things EVERY DAY to both Christians and non-Christians? One reason is that, if Christians are encouraged to keep their minds on God, they may be tempted to focus too much on the temporary things of this world, and as a result, become spiritually weak. Those who have become spiritually weak have had their hearts hardened by the “deceitfulness of sin” as Hebrews 3:13 later says. Those Christians who have had their hearts hardened against sin must be rebuked in a loving way so that they can get their priorities back on track. As Christians, we can always benefit greatly from the positive influence of other faithful Christians by talking about the various aspects of the Christian life. Another reason why we should discuss spiritual matters every day is to help non-Christians learn how to be faithful Christians. It is not just the preacher’s job to teach and preach God’s Word, to both Christians and non-Christians, it is every Christian’s job to do so! “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). Christians need to be around other Christians and need to talk about spiritual things every day. These talks can take place anywhere; at work, at school, at home, while shopping, on social media, on blogs/websites, by letter, by phone, etc. We should always take the opportunity to talk about God’s Word whenever possible! It is amazing to see how some Christians who are not used to talking about spiritual matters on a daily basis will sometimes act less spiritually minded than non-Christians! An example of this took place the other day when I was talking to a long-time Christian and member of the church of Christ about two non-Christians who were said to have been working all day and night at their secular jobs and building things. I had told the Christian that the non-Christians should put their focus on being converted to Christ rather than on the temporary things of this world and that she would be a great source of encouragement to them to do so. This Christian lady was surprised that I had even brought up the fact that these two non-Christians needed to be converted. It appeared that, although this lady attends worship services of the church of Christ regularly, she was not used to thinking about their lost spiritual state, but rather was focused on the worldly things that they were doing. This is a common occurrence among Christians, and that is why the penman of Hebrews speaks against it. Many Christians place more focus on the temporary things of this world such as obtaining material possessions, having secular careers, being “people pleasers”, and so on. They place less emphasis on worldly matters and less emphasis on talking to others about God and the life of a Christian. Christians should care enough about their own spiritual state and the spiritual state of others that they feel compelled to teach and speak about the Word of God daily to at least one person. By doing this, their hearts will be firmly planted in the Lord! “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Of course, Hebrews 3:13 does not mean that we cannot focus on the things of this world that are good, but we should try to make it a point to talk about God, Jesus, the Bible, and other spiritual matters every day. That way, we can keep our priorities straight, as well as be an encouragement to others! “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24). We must focus on spiritual matters first, and make that our priority. If God and spiritual matters are our main focus in life, this will be reflected in our actions and in our speech. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2). Our job as Christians is to help one another in our journey through life so that we may be with each other for eternity in Heaven. We also want to take as many souls with us to Heaven as well, so let us all make it a point to talk about spiritual subjects to at least one person every day! If we do this, that will help us get into the habit of keeping our hearts and minds on the Eternal God rather than this wicked world that will soon pass away!  When we think about ourselves, we tend to see ourselves in a certain light. For example, we may see ourselves as attractive, smart, witty, loving, caring, the list goes on. We also tend to view ourselves in a certain way as compared to others. We may see ourselves as better or worse than someone else, as well as having or lacking certain skills that others either do or do not have. All of these things make up our self-image that determines our self-worth. Our self-worth will determine how we feel about ourselves and the world around us. Our self-image will also help determine what kind of life we will live. Our self-image is often subjective, however, because we look at ourselves and others through our own lenses that are often skewed by our thoughts and experiences that we have in life. If we view ourselves in a more negative light, then we may be more inclined to become withdrawn, depressed, and have an overall negative view of the world. Conversely, if we have a more positive view of self, then we are more likely to have a positive view of the world and interact with others more positively A problem that can arise from our own self-image is when we view ourselves in an overly positive or negative way. This happens when we either discount, or ignore, our true worthiness and God-given abilities, or we esteem ourselves and our abilities too highly, without giving God the proper credit. It is often the case that most people have a skewed view of themselves, whether it be too negative or too positive. The apostle Paul, himself, cautions us not to think too highly of ourselves. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3). What about how others view us? Can we get a more accurate view of ourselves from others? We should always strive to set forth good examples before others. “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,” (Titus 2:7). If we are obedient to God’s Word, and following in His Footsteps, then what others think of us does not matter. It is often the case that those who are the most faithful will get the most criticism from others who are not faithful to God. Jesus Christ, who was the only sinless Person who will ever walk the Earth, was accused falsely by His enemies (John 8:41, 48; Matt 12:24). Likewise, a person who works to make others think she is faithful to God when she really is not is a hypocrite. There are some people, especially celebrities, who are elevated far beyond what they should be by society. Sometimes, even certain members of the church are elevated by other members due to their pious and faithful appearance, when in actuality, they hide a multitude of sins. For example, there were a group of Jews in the New Testament known as the Pharisees. The Pharisees not only considered themselves as holier than those about them, but others also viewed them in the same way. The Pharisees would make their acts of worship public so that they would be noticed and viewed favorably by others. They would stand in the streets when they prayed, and make their faces disfigured when they fasted (Matthew 6:1-18). Since how we see ourselves and how we are seen in the eyes of others can be deceiving, we should put our focus on how we are viewed in God’s Eyes. God sees us as we truly are, because He made us. We cannot hide our true selves from Him, no matter how much money we have, what possessions we have, how we are dressed, or how faithful we pretend to be. If we are not “the real deal” in our spiritual lives, God knows it! We can be pleasing in God’s Eyes by studying our Bibles every day, and doing all that God wants us to do. If we are pretentious in any way, God sees this, and it is an abomination to Him. “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15). God saw through people like King Saul, who was admired by many, but inwardly he was not as he should have been. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7). If we compare ourselves with how God sees us, then we will have a truly honest view of who we are, and who we should strive to be. The world sees us by what is on the outside and values that the most. God sees us from what is on the inside and values that the most. We should return the favor and value what God values the most, also! “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.” (II Corinthians 10:7).  We women wear many hats in life. From Christian wife, to mother, to daughter, to employer/employee, to sister, aunt, grandmother, friend, the list goes on. As soon as our feet hit the floor in the morning, we are bustling about the day, trying to check the various jobs we have to do on our never-ending “to do” list. As most of us are busy, when should we take time out for God? Does God understand when we get so focused on the duties we have to perform in this life that we “forget” or choose not to take time for Him?
Luke chapter 10 gives a great illustration of where our priorities should be in regards to God and the various cares of this life. At this time, Jesus and His disciples had been traveling from place to place, teaching multitudes and healing the sick. They came into the village that Martha and her sister Mary lived in, and Martha invited Jesus and His disciples into her home to rest (verse 38). While her guests are resting and waiting for a meal, Martha is very busy with the duties of a hostess. No doubt those of us who have had guests come over for dinner at our houses know about all the work that a gracious hostess must do to make her guest feel comfortable and well-fed! As Martha was working, her sister, Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet, and listening to Him teach God’s Word. This would have been an amazing time for Mary because she was able to hear the greatest Teacher that every lived in that moment! Seeing that Mary had chosen to listen to Jesus rather than help her with the many duties of serving their guests, Martha became upset and voiced her concerns to Jesus. “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” It is clear from her words that Martha did not understand why she was having to do all of the work herself while her sister sat and, in her mind, did nothing. Jesus, as always, gave the best answer to Martha’s plea for help. “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (v. 41-42). The New King James version of the Bible uses the word “worried” in place of the word “careful,” which hints at the idea that perhaps Jesus was referring to other times where Martha was worried about things in the past, along with her worry about serving her guests in that moment. Whatever the case, Jesus showed Martha that Mary had her priorities in order by putting her focus on eternity rather than on the temporary duties of this life. So, are you a Martha or a Mary? Do you take time out of your day to study God's Word and focus on spiritual things, as Mary did? Or, like Martha, do you bustle about your day, and stay so busy that you fail to focus on what is most important? We can learn so much from this story. What Jesus told Martha about putting Him First over the menial tasks she had to perform applies to us today. No matter what we have going on during the day, we should always put God First! How can we do this? One way is by making sure that we put studying our Bible everyday a priority, just as we would make cleaning house or grocery shopping a priority. We should also make attending worship services of a congregation of the church of Christ a priority just as we would make attending our jobs a priority. Everyone does exactly what they want to do every day of which they are able to do, and we, as Christians should want to take time out for God each and every day of our lives! Completing the daily tasks that we are given to do is important, but serving God is more important! If we do this, everything in our lives will fall neatly into place! “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:33-34)  You hear your alarm clock buzzing loudly as you open your sleepy eyes and slowly realize that it is Monday morning. Monday morning usually finds many of us getting up early and preparing to go to work, or helping our spouses and children get ready for work and school. Some people dread having do these things every weekday, especially on Mondays, but we should remember that every day that we are given is a gift from God. "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).
David, made many mistakes in his life, but he was a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22). He not only was open to repentance when he realized that he had committed sin, but he was ever-praising to God in both good times and bad. David wrote Psalm Chapter 3 as a morning song of thanksgiving unto God at a time when he was facing many trials and challenges in his life. At the time that Psalm Chapter 3 was written, David’s son, Absolom, was trying to usurp the throne away from his father, and had caused David to flee from Jerusalem in hiding. Not only was David hurt by the possibility of his kingship being stolen from him, but he had to deal with the fact that his own flesh and blood was treating him so terribly. When faced with problems such as this, it would be expected by many for David to become depressed and have a negative attitude. On the contrary, he penned Psalm Chapter 3, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the midst of his hiding from his son, and it is a song about how good God is, rather than David complaining about his current situation. David does acknowledge his plight in the first two verses of Psalm 3; “ LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.” But rather than continue with talking about his problems, he goes onto praise God for all of the help He has given David during these trying times. “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” (Psalm 3:3-4). How many of us wake up in the morning praising and thanking God for allowing us to have the blessing of another day, just as David did? Something that we should all do is pray every day to God, thanking Him for all that He does for us. We should pray many times a day, especially before meals, when we go to bed, and when we wake up. We should pray so many times in a day, we cannot keep up with the number of prayers we have uttered in a day. “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). David also shows his unwavering faith in God during challenging times. In Psalm 3, he goes onto to talk about how he has no trouble sleeping because he has complete faith in God to take care of him and to destroy his enemies who surround him. “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.” (Psalm 3:5-8). How many of us have the faith David had in times of trouble? We must believe that God will take care of us always, just as a small child has faith in his or her parents to provide their needs. When you wake up in the morning, make it a point to pray to God and thank Him for all of the blessings He has given you in this life. No matter how challenging your life may be, remember that God is always with you, and He will always work everything out for your good, as long as you are faithful to Him! “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).  Being a mother is one of the most important roles a woman can ever have in this life, besides that of Christian and wife. Mothers have such a profound influence on their children, which will shape who they will be as adults. That is why it is important that children be raised by both parents in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Two faithful Christian parents who are in a loving marriage with one another have an increased likelihood of raising children who will grow up to be faithful Christian adults in my experience. Unfortunately, in this world that only focuses on the material and temporal aspects of this life, there is much shaming that occurs towards women who choose to be stay-at-home mothers. Women who stay at home with their children are seen by the world’s view as unmotivated, without ambition, and even lazy. This cannot be farther from the truth. That being said, what does God expect a mother with young children to do about making it in a time when the cost of living is higher than it used to be, and many families are in two-income households?
A great example of the woman that God wants mothers to be can be seen in the woman that is mentioned in the book of II Kings that is from the small village in Israel called Shunem whom the prophet Elisha regularly visited. We are not told the name of the woman of Shunem, but she is described as a “great woman” in II Kings 4:8. She was greatly loved by the prophet due to her hospitality toward him and her love of family. She was so hospitable, that she spoke to her husband about making a special room for Elisha when he came to visit her. Her husband agreed, and Elisha had his very own room in her house (II Kings 4:9-11). The woman of Shunem is also considered a great example in God’s Eyes because she made a home for herself and her family. The father is the head of the house (Ephesians 5:23), but the mother is the keeper of the home. “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:3-5). Another reason that the woman of Shunem is considered a great example for mothers is that she honored her work and position in life. She put taking care of her home and family before seeking out a career outside of the home. So many mothers today have little children that they throw off on babysitters so that they can pursue a job outside of the home. The role of the father is to provide for the financial and physical needs of the family, and it is the role of the mother to take care of the children and the home. Of course, both are to provide the spiritual needs of the family. The mother cannot do her job without the father doing his part, and vice versa. The woman at Shunem was there for her children in a way that only a stay at home mother can be there for her small children. A mother who works outside of the home is not there physically and emotionally for her children for 8 or 9 hours a day, for at least 5 days a week typically. This makes it a challenge for a mother to give the attention and care that children really need in the early years of their development. The world today needs more women who honor the works of wife and mother, which are the roles that God has assigned to them. Of course, this applies to mothers who have husbands to provide for them and their families. Single mothers have to be both mother and father to their children, so work outside the home is essential for survival. This situation, however, is not ideal, so if a woman who is a mother has a husband that can provide for her and her children, then she needs to be at home with her little ones! Yet another way that the woman of Shunem is a great example of how mothers should be is her faith in God in times of crisis. Being a mother who puts her God-given role of wife and mother over her desire to seek a career outside of the home is essential. It is also essential for both men and women alike to work to remain faithful, even during challenging times. No doubt, the woman of Shunem was ecstatic when Elisha told her she would have a son! I am sure that she loved that child very much and did many wonderful things for him. On the day he passed away, the woman of Shunem did not become angry towards God, nor did she sin in any other way. Instead, she sought out her friend, Elisha, for help. Her faith in God came through in this moment, because she knew that God would help her through Elisha. God did allow Elisha to raise the boy from the dead, just as the woman of Shunem knew he would. This great woman of God also showed her faith when she was forced out of her house due to famine and returned to finding that all of her worldly goods were gone. Did she blame God for this, or become angry about the situation in which she had been placed? No! She remained faithful throughout all of the trials that she faced, which is how we all must do as well. Due to her faith in God, all of her worldly possessions were restored to her. (II Kings 8:1-6). The roles of wife and mother are so important that women should feel honored to assume these positions in life. Not all women become wives and mothers, and these women can serve the Lord faithfully in their own capacities. The positions of wife and mother, however, carry responsibilities that women should feel blessed and honored to assume, rather than to cast them off for the sake of maintaining independence and a career outside of the home. I believe it is also the husbands’ duty to allow and encourage their wives to stay at home with their young children, at least until all of the children begin attending school. A husband who makes his wife work outside of the home in order to obtain and maintain material luxuries is not behaving in a godly manner towards his wife. Fathers are given the responsibility to raise up children to be faithful Christian adults, and they can only do this if both parents stick to their God-given roles in life. It is time for women to take pride in their works as wife and mother, because those who fill these roles are in the careers God has chosen for them. Women who want to be truly faithful to the Lord should focus on becoming a successful woman in His Eyes, rather than what the world’s view of success is. Ladies, let’s work to be successful in the Eyes of the One whose thoughts matter the most--God!  This is the last article in the series of articles on the Beatitudes. Facing persecution is part of being a faithful Christian. After all, the only perfect Person is the who ever walked the Earth faced persecution from His enemies. Jesus had to deal with enemies trying to trouble Him and stop Him from teaching and preaching the Word. It is no wonder that those who live their lives as faithful children of Christ also face persecution at some point in their lives. Being persecuted by the world can be a very sad and painful experience, but the good news is, a Christian who overcomes persecution without sin will be rewarded.
In Matthew 5:10, Jesus gives the last beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount; “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This verse means that those who are treated wrongly due to making strong stands against sinful behavior will be able to go to Heaven if they persevere. The apostle Paul warns us that we will face persecution if we are faithful to God. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12). Persecution can come from both Christians and non-Christians. If we are living a faithful Christian life, there are those who will not agree with us or like us just because we are living a faithful Christian life. The sad part is, we will have people who consider themselves Christians, who will not like us just because we do not agree with whatever “pet” sin they do not want to give up. We should not be surprised when this happens. “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (I John 3:13). When we are persecuted for doing what God wants us to do, we should respond with gladness, because we are living our lives like God wants us to do. We should also rejoice in our suffering because much suffering helps us to become more patient in this life. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5). Not only does persecution give us patience which helps us in this life, but we are reminded of how short and temporary this life really is, and that we have a better home awaiting us in Heaven. “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:13). When suffering persecution, it is important to remember to pray earnestly for God to give you comfort and the strength needed to get through the trials being faced. It is also important to remember that being persecuted for Christ’s Sake is different than being mistreated for something wrong that you have done. If you are facing ill treatment for living a sinful life, then you will not be blessed as you go through it. You will only be blessed if you overcome persecution that you face for being a faithful Christian. I Peter 4:14-16 goes on to say, “ If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” Let us be thankful that we can suffer for the Cause of Christ for in doing so, we know that the spirit of glory and of God rests upon us and that through persecution, growth and patience results. We all must work every day to be faithful followers of God, and work to overcome any persecution we may face. All of the problems that we face in this life will be counted as insignificant when we reach our Eternal Home in Heaven! “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4: 17-18). It’s summertime, and that means Vacation Bible Schools are in full swing! Attending Vacation Bible School is a wonderful way to learn about God’s Word in addition to attending Sunday worship services and Wednesday night bible studies. Children are the main focus at Vacation Bible Schools, and all children who attend VBS classes report that they had fun and learned many things about the Bible that they will remember for years to come! Children of all ages enjoy Vacation Bible School, and bringing your children to these events only strengthens their love for the Lord, which will help them grow up to be faithful Christians in adulthood. “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”(Ephesians 6:4). Vacation Bible School is also beneficial for adults, who can learn more about the Bible through the adult bible classes given there. Please make plans for you and your family to attend Vacation Bible School with us at the Campaign church of Christ in Campaign, Tennessee! There will be classes for all ages! Please see the flyer below for more information regarding VBS times and location! “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalms 122:1)   In today’s world where so many people are willing to voice their opinions through use of physical force and violence, it is important for us to remember what Jesus says in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Peace is something that is needed so much in the world today.
What does it mean to be a peacemaker? The word “peacemaker” comes from the Greek word, εἰρηνοποιός, which means “loving, peace, pacific.” The dictionary defines “peacemaker” as “a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace, especially by reconciling parties who disagree, quarrel, or fight.” Those who are peacemakers are those who want to avoid a conflict rather than go around looking for a fight. The Bible speaks about the importance of being a peaceful person Romans 12:18 says “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Those who use protesting as a way to inflict violence upon others are definitely not living peaceably with all men and are abusing the right to peacefully protest. We should try to get along with everyone, and make attempts to be friendly with others. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24). We are to treat others like we want to be treated, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12). If we are peaceful with men, we are being like God. “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” (Hebrews 13:20). We are to be like Christ, who is the Prince of Peace! “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Being peacemakers does not only apply to our relationship with others, but it applies to our relationship with God, also! The most peaceful life that can be enjoyed here on Earth is the life of a faithful Christian! Of course, that does not mean that the life of a faithful Christian has no challenges to overcome. Faithful Christians can face many challenges in life, and they can be faced with many temptations to commit sin, just like everyone else. The advantage that true Christians have over others in the world is that we know that this world is not our home, and that our sole purpose in this life is to fear God and keep His Commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Christians who have their focus on God rather than the world do not worry about the chaos that is going on around them. They do not focus only on the negative things that are going on in the world, bur rather focus on staying on the strait and narrow path that will lead them to Heaven! “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). It is only through the faithful Christian life that we can find the peace that passes all understanding. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).  Since the Prom is coming up soon, I thought I would dedicate this article to what the Bible says about such events as this and other social dances. I know that the Prom is a very popular event to attend for high school seniors, however, a Christian teen and any other young Christian must first think about what is most important to God, rather than what is important to the world.
I am glad to say that I did not attend the Prom or any other social dance growing up, even though I had opportunity to do so. I was asked twice by a young man who was also a senior in high school,to attend the Prom with him, but I declined the invitation both times. I did not want to hurt my influence in front of others by causing them to think that I danced at an event such as this. I am also glad that my husband did not attend the Prom as well. We can teach our children from our example about not attending the Prom, and we do not intend on allowing our children to attend these events. The main issue with the Prom and other social dances is just that, dancing. Dancing in and of itself is not wrong, as long as it is done in the privacy of your own home between those who are married. The issue of dancing in public, especially dancing between members of the opposite sex, however, is that activities such as this may tempt a person to lust. Dancing usually involves either making sensuous movements or touching of some sort between males and females, and these actions could cause lustful thoughts. I John 2:16 speaks against lust by saying: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Even dancing on your own in front of others can cause others to have lustful thoughts toward you. Even though we cannot control what others do or think, we, as Christians, should never be a stumbling block to others, and we must show ourselves to be in the world but not of the world in front of others. This is shown in Galatians 5:16-21; "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." "Lasciviousness" involves indecent physical movements and unchaste handling of males and females. Clearly, the prom fits under the definition of the word lasciviousness. Knowing the meaning of lasciviousness and knowing for a fact that such occurs at the prom, I am very thankful that there are congregations and families that determine to have prom-alternative trips. We should never participate in activities that can cause ourselves or others to sin. I know that there are many at the prom who dance without the intent of inciting lust in themselves or others, but there is always a risk that this may happen. Another issue with the Prom and other social dances is immodesty. Usually on the night of the Prom, I see many pictures on Facebook of teens in their prom attire. Many of the dresses that the ladies wear are either too low or too short. What is modest is exemplified by how God clothed Adam and Eve after they realized they were naked. Genesis 3:21 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” He clothed them in coats of skins that covered them from their shoulders to their knees, according to the Hebrew word for “coat” as used here, which means “tunic.” A tunic in the Bible was a garment that reached from the shoulders to at least the knees. Since this is the ONLY example given in the Bible of how God wants us to dress, then wearing anything less today would be immodest. The Bible speaks against exposing our chest, loins, and thighs, and showing any of these body parts is considered “naked” in the Bible. We would be considered naked if we exposed any of these parts while either standing or sitting. Since the Prom promotes lustful actions such as dancing, it is no wonder that there is such a prevalence of young ladies who are also dressing in a lustful manner. It all seems to tie together. What about younger Christians who are too young for the Prom? Should they be able to attend school formals, and dances in middle school and high school? Would these events teach them that it is acceptable to dance in public and dress immodestly? Do these events teach young Christians that it is acceptable to attend the Prom? A dance in middle school or high school is the same as a Prom. Anywhere that dancing is taking place can cause a Christian young person to place a stumbling block before themselves or before others. Therefore it is best that parents teach their children that being a good influence to others is more important than following the crowd. I John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” What if a Christian attends a social dance but doesn’t dress immodestly or dance? It is good that a Christian young person chooses to dress modestly and chooses not to dance at such an event. However, attending an event that involves dancing can harm a Christian’s influence in front of others. We must always guard our influence in front of others, because it is our job as Christians to lead others to Christ. I Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” How can we lead others to Christ if we do not show ourselves to be Christ-like? Would Jesus go to the Prom or any other social dance? If He did, He would speak against the activities taking place. It would be acceptable if a Christian youth went to the Prom or any other social dance to teach against these activities, but how many young Christians do this? Our goal should be achieving the gift of Heaven, and not being pleasing to men. Matthew 5:13 says, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” |
