I love studying the genealogy of my family as well as the families of others who have asked me to do some research for them. It is so interesting to me to find out the names of my ancestors and the countries from which they came. Likewise, I also enjoy reading the genealogies of the Bible, especially the genealogy of Jesus Christ, which can be found in the books of Matthew and Luke.
      If you have an interest in studying your own family history,  as many of us do, you will begin to see how many people were involved in you being here on the earth. Of course, God created us, and placed us on the earth, but our immediate and extended family members played a role as well. We all have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents,16 great-great grandparents, etc. If one of those relatives did not exist, did not choose the spouse he or she did, or just decided not to have children, you would not be here today.  Through God’s providential love and care, we are here. I believe that God’s providence has been at work many times in my own family tree. 
      When we look at Jesus’ earthly family history, we can see God’s Providence fulfilled for Him to be here on the earth as the true Messiah which the prophets had foretold about in the Old Testament. While Christ’s Birth was a miraculous or “above nature” event that is very open and visible, while not being “behind the scenes,” there are many examples of providence throughout His earthly family tree. 
​      God’s Providence refers to His special operation in the lives of the faithful according to His purpose in which He works “behind the scenes” doing things to the laws of nature to bring about His will.  Providence is not “above nature” and “very visible” like miracles.  The miraculous having given and fulfilled God’s Word has ceased until Judgment Day with the completion of God’s revelation in the Holy Bible in the First Century A. D., for the Holy Scriptures are complete and thoroughly equip us for every good work containing within them all things pertain unto life and godliness (Mark 16:20, Hebrews 2:3-4, I Corinthians 13:8-10, II Peter 1:3, II Timothy 3:16-17).  Romans 8:28 speaks of God’s Providence in the lives of the faithful, “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.”
      Acts 17:24-25 says, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;”.  We owe our everything to God.  If it were not for him, we would not be here.  Thanks to God, He brought each one of our ancestors into existence, and thanks to Him all things have come about for us to have been born into this world. 
      We are all here for a reason today, just as our ancestors were here to serve a purpose as well. All of our genealogies begin with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:20).        God knows the future for all of us, and He only wants to best for us and our descendants. In Jeremiah chapter 29, God is speaking through Jeremiah to the people, telling them about how they will be placed in Babylonian captivity and how that the captivity will last for 70 years. In verse 11, God says: “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.”  Within this verse, we see a principle about God and His Nature toward His children, as God always works things out for our benefit if we are faithful unto Him. Even if some of our relatives were not faithful to God, they still helped us to be here, so that we can serve the Lord, and take as many people with us to Heaven.  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”  Our reason for being here on the earth is to fear God and keep His Commandments.  May we then remember that God is in control of everything in our lives, and if He wants something to happen, it will.
      It is amazing to see how God is involved in our lives every day. Looking at our family histories can make us more mindful of how God’s Will is always done. We should always put our faith and trust in the Lord to take care of us, and to help us on our journey to a home in Heaven!
 

​“Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
         I learn so much from my children. They teach me a lot about patience, forgiveness, and how to have fun. They (for the most part) are willing to wait for things, they forgive one another easily and quickly, and they always try to have a good time, even if one of them is not feeling the best. I learned another lesson from my two-year-old little girl the other night that I would like to share with you.
       One night, when it was already dark outside, my little two-year-old daughter wanted me to get a toy that she had left in our bedroom. Our bedroom is at the end of a long hallway, so she was standing at one end of the hallway, pointing her little finger and asking me to get her toy that was in our bedroom which was completely dark inside. I looked at her and said that she could go and get the toy herself, and I would turn the light on for her. She looked up at me with those big blue eyes, and in her sweet little voice, these words came out, “No, Mommy, I scared.”
         Seeing that she did not want to go alone into what she considered the scary space that was our bedroom, I told my daughter that I would hold her hand, and we would go together into the dark bedroom.  I told her that I would show her that everything would be okay, and she could get her toy. She happily grabbed my hand and was willing to go into the bedroom unafraid. She fully trusted that I would protect her from whatever it was that made her afraid to go into the bedroom to get her toy.
          As I was walking with my two-year-old down the hallway, hand in hand, I suddenly realized that her readiness to trust me to take care of her and her faith that I would do what is best for her during her time of uncertainty and fear is how we, as Christians, should feel about how our Heavenly Father takes care of us. How many of us, when faced with some challenge, look to our Heavenly Father as a child would look to his or her parent, and put our complete trust in Him to take care of us? How many of us have the amount of faith in our Creator to believe that He will always do what is best for us, so long as we are obedient to Him (James 2:20)? Just as my little girl asked me to help her in her time of need, and then fully trusted that I would give her what she needed and take care of her while doing so, we should feel the same way about God!  God loves us and cares for us! (I Peter 5:7). It is through prayer that we can ask God for His Help with whatever we need, and He hears and answers the prayers of His faithful children (I Thessalonians 5:17: James 5:16).
         Just as my little girl had peace after she knew that I was helping her along the way, it is only through complete faith in God and obedience to His Word that we can have total peace. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). I hope the story that I shared will help to be a reminder of how we have to totally trust in the Lord in order to be the faithful children that He wants us to be! If we are faithful unto the end of our lives here on Earth, He will reward us with eternal life in Heaven! “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

​     When King Solomon, who was known for his great wisdom that God had bestowed upon him (I Kings 3:9-13), wrote the book of Proverbs, he wrote it in such a way that anyone can learn valuable life lessons from its teachings. Solomon dedicated much of the book of Proverbs to teaching women how they should act according to God’s Will. He is very specific about the personality traits and actions that can make a woman either foolish or wise. Let’s look at some of the ways that women can be considered either foolish or wise in God’s Eyes!

1. Foolish Women:
   1. According to Proverbs chapter 9:13, a foolish woman is considered “clamorous” which means to be loud, and “knows nothing”  (Proverbs 9:13)
   2. A foolish woman begs for attention, is not humble (Proverbs 9:14)
   3. Can be a seducer of men, as in the example set in Proverbs chapter 9:15-17
   4. Does not use good judgment “without discretion” (Proverbs chapter 11:22)
   5. Foolish wives are “contentious” or have a habit of constant nagging (Proverbs chapter 21:19)
   6. Foolish wives are “quarrelsome” or are argumentative (Proverbs 27:15),
   7. Foolish women are adulterers, or commit fornication (Proverbs chapter 30:20)
   8. Foolish women act in rude ways, and do not practice good manners (Proverbs 30:20)
   9. A foolish woman makes her husband ashamed, and is “rottenness to his bones” (Proverbs 12:4)
2. Virtuous Woman (Proverbs chapter 31 v. 10-31)
   1. Is Priceless
   2. Works with her husband, not against him
   3. Works for the betterment of her family
   4. Provides for her husband and children in ways that only she can
   5. Gets up early and feeds her family
   6. Wants only the best for her family
   7. Her husband is well-respected also
   8. She fears the Lord and deserves much praise
   9. Her husband and her children praise her

   Unfortunately, many women today act like the foolish women do in the book of Proverbs. They seek attention, and behave in ungodly ways. Foolish women are often held up on pedestals in today’s society because they exemplify the world’s so-called “values.” As Christian women, we have much work to be like the virtuous woman that Solomon speaks about in Proverbs 31. It is only by following her example and the example of others like her that we can reach a home in Heaven one day. 

​         The apostle Paul, wrote these words in his letter to the Philippians, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11). Paul was in prison at the time that he wrote these words, for merely preaching the Word of God,  a situation that many would despair over today.
      We, as human beings, have a tendency to look for something “better” or “different” than the circumstances in which we currently find ourselves. Whether we are dissatisfied with our jobs, financial status, relationships, appearances, or whatever it is that we are not pleased with, many of us seek something else to fill the void that we may be feeling due to not being where we want to be in life. This feeling of discontentment can lead us to commit sin, which is something for which we must watch out.
      How can not being content with our current circumstances cause us to sin? There are various ways in which sin can enter our lives due to our discontentment. A person could not be happy with being a certain age, and go out and drink alcohol and do other reckless things like that in order to deal with the fact that he or she is getting older. Another person could not be satisfied with his or her job, and treat his or her boss or co-workers poorly. A more subtle way that discontentment can cause us to sin is that by not being happy with how things are for us now, we can be tempted to worry. The Bible speaks against worry, because worry shows a lack of faith that God will take care of us in our times of need (Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 6:25; I Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:34).
      So, how can we learn to be content with what we have now, rather than focusing on what we feel that we could and should have in our lives? The first step is to look for the positive in any situation in which we find ourselves. We may not like everything about our job, but there are one or two co-workers that we enjoy talking to every day. We might not have as much money that we want, but we have enough to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. Thoughts like this will hopefully help us feel better about ourselves and our lives, so that we can focus more on setting goals and reaching those goals. Sitting around and worrying about everything that we find to be negative about our lives drains our energy, and distracts us from that task that we need to perform in order to make our lives better.
      More importantly, we should always focus on God and His Word every day, and we will be less focused on the temporary things of this life. When we set our eyes on the goal of Heaven, the luxuries and events that occur here on the earth will seem much less important than they once did. “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 6:20-21). Ways you can keep yourself focused toward Heaven is to study your Bible every day, pray many times a day, and attend the worship services of the Lord’s church regularly.
     Also, making a habit of writing down positive things about your day can also help, such as keeping a “Gratitude Journal.” In a Gratitude Journal, you write several things that happened during your day that were good and positive. It can be as simple as waking up in the morning. You can list as many positive things as you choose each day, so long as you write as least one positive thing per day. Looking back on the positive events that you write in your journal can help you keep a happier outlook on life and to also appreciate the people and things in your life more.
       As Christians we should always be grateful for all of the things that God has given us in this life. We do not have to have the ‘best of the best” in order to be happy, we can be happy in any situation we find ourselves in, just as Paul was. Our lives will be much more enjoyable that way.  Count your blessings!          

           “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 states that we are to study the Bible and Psalm 1:2 encourages us to meditate on the Word “day and night.” As long as we read and study some part of the Bible every day, it does not matter how much of the Bible we read in one day.  You might for example use the same amount of time studying a certain section of Scripture as someone who uses the same amount of time to study a larger portion of Scripture.  Something that would be good for everyone to do during some point or points in their lifetimes is to read the entire Bible from cover to cover. This achievement can be accomplished within a year, which would make the act of studying and reading the entire Bible in one year a great New Years’ resolution for the upcoming year of 2020.
      There are various plans available, which include the standard reading of 4 chapters a day beginning with Genesis chapter 1 and ending with Revelation chapter 22. By reading four chapters a day, you can completely read the Bible in around eleven months. This plan works best for some who are not able to read four entire chapters every day, but rather, can only read one or two chapters on some days if you are trying to read the entire Bible in the length of one year.
    There are other plans available online, which you can find by typing “Read Entire Bible in One Year” into Google. Reading plans can include, reading the books of the Bible in chronological order according to when they were written, reading what the Bible says about different topics at different times, reading different parts of the Bible each day, and so on.  A wonderful thing about making reading the Bible in one year a New Year’s resolution is that it can be an accomplishment that you can achieve over and over. You can never read the Bible too much! I know of an elderly man who has read the Bible from cover to cover over 40 times! This goal can help everyone learn more about what God expects of us in order to reach Heaven. Reading the Bible every day will also draw us closer to God!  I hope that everyone has a safe and Happy New Year, and may 2020 find us all working toward that same goal of reaching a home in Heaven one day! 

​           My oldest daughter who is 5 years old, enjoys watching old episodes of Barney and Friends. One day, while she was watching an episode, she looked up at my husband and said “Daddy, the people on this show don’t know about God.”  My husband asked my daughter why she thought that the people on the show did not know God,  and her reply was “because they don’t talk about God. They need to talk about God.” She went on to say that "We know God." My husband responded to her by saying, "Yes, we know God!" 
        My husband and I talk about God and read God’s Word on our own,  to each other, and to our children every day. Do you talk about God every day? Do you read His Word every day?  If not, then how will others know that you know God? How will you be able to teach others about God’s Word if you do not read His Word and talk about Him each day? II Timothy 2:15 tells us to study God’s Word everyday; “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”                      We are to always put our focus on God. We should always have our minds on His Word.  “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua I:8).
        Through the innocent words of a 5 year old little girl, we can learn much about where our heart should be. God should always come first in our lives.  We all spend our time discussing topics that we consider important. If God is where He should be in our lives, which is First and Foremost, then we should show this through our words and actions. “ 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:” (Matthew 6:19-20). 

   
​            Halloween is the time of year where people often like to talk about ghosts, haunted houses, and other topics that they consider “spooky.” Most people have stories about things that have happened to them which cannot be easily explained away. Many people blame these unexplained situations on the existence of ghosts, or spirits of the dead which they believe still interact with the living in various ways. Ghost stories have been around for many years, and according to a very recent survey, 45% of Americans believe in the existence of ghosts. However, do ghosts really exist? Let’s consider what the Bible says on this subject.
         First of all, what happens to us after we die? We are made up of both soul and spirit. Our soul is eternal, and is either rewarded with Paradise or punished with Torment right after death until the Day of Judgment comes, when our souls will be sent to Heaven or Hell. Our spirits, or our “life force,” goes back to God.  The soul and spirit of a person are very similar, but the Word of God separates the two. An example of this can be read in Hebrews 4:12; “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
         In Ecclesiastes 9:5, King Solomon, through the inspiration of God said, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” This verse does not mean that a person who has died has no knowledge of anything, but that they have no knowledge of what is happening here on the Earth. The dead are very aware of their surroundings after death, just as the rich man was in Luke chapter 16. “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom (v.23).  They have recognition as well as a memory of events and people here.  Also, we have the ability to recognize people who we have not met while on the earth in eternity.
          It is also important to note in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was not permitted to cross the “gulf” that was between the realm of torment and the realm of Paradise, nor was he allowed to go back to the earth due to this gulf.  “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Matthew 16:23-26). No one from the dead were permitted to go back to the Earth and warn the rich man’s brothers (verses 27-31). If the rich man was told that no one could pass from Torment to Paradise and vice versa due to a “great gulf,” and that no one from the realm of the dead would be allowed to go to Earth and warn the living, then why would souls of the dead be allowed to cross that gulf and enter back into the realm of the living today?
           The answer is, they simply cannot do this. The Bible is very clear that the dead no longer interact with the living in this life.  If we are able to go to Paradise upon our death, we will see and interact with our faithful loved ones again, who have passed away, as well as those who have gone on before us that we did not know.  Upon the Day of Judgment, those in the graves will be resurrected.   On this day, we will either see these people in a joyous reunion in Heaven on the Day of Judgment or meet in a place of pain and agony in Hell. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29).
           So how can I explain the strange occurrences that many people have witnessed during their lifetimes, or the things that go “bump in the night?” I can only say that there are indeed things that happen in our lives that we cannot explain, and that we are not meant to know in this life. If we were meant to know these things, God, would have told us about them. We do know however, that angels are spirits who are involved in our lives in ways that are not totally known by us, but this is in the providential realm.  They do not appear to people today as the age of the miraculous has ceased, since we have all things that we need to know in this life in order to go to Heaven was completely given in the Holy Scriptures in the First Century (I Corinthians 13:8-10, II Peter 1:3, II Timothy 3:16-17).  Miracles then fulfilled their purpose of giving the Word of God and of confirming it to be from God (Hebrews 2:3-4, Mark 16:20).
           What do angels do when they become involved in the lives of the faithful today? We do not know exactly!  We do know that they have an interest in the lives of Christians today (I Corinthian 11:10, I Timothy 5:21).  We do know that they are involved in our lives in some way from the verses given.  All of what is entailed in the ministering to Christians by the angels is not revealed in Scripture, but is within God’s Providential work.  Unaccountable children also have angels that help them in various unknown ways, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).  This is another verse to meditate upon when thinking of the possible work role of angels. “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”(Hebrews 1:13-14).
           So whenever you hear a chilling ghost story, please remember what the Bible says about how souls of the dead can no longer interact with, nor have any knowledge of what is going on in anything done under the sun. If you, yourself, have had unusual things happen in your life that you might be tempted to blame on the existence of ghosts, please remember what the Bible has said on this subject. We cannot fall into the devil’s trap of believing that we will have another chance on this earth after our death. Some who believe in ghosts think that the souls of the dead remain on the earth to take care of “unfinished business.” This is the same as saying that a person will be given a second chance at doing the right thing before facing God’s Judgment. This, friends, is simply not true.  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27). I hope I have helped you understand how the belief in the souls of the dead roaming the earth as “ghosts” is a false one.
  

      Nighttime is usually a designated time for sleep and the recharging of our bodies and minds after a long day of work and other activities. Many people, however, have issues with sleep, and these issues are sometimes caused by thoughts of fear and worry. We have probably all heard of someone who often wakes up in the middle of the night worrying about something that is troubling him or her, and those who lose valuable sleep over these worries. Likewise, many have had trouble sleeping for fear of someone breaking into their home, or some other negative event taking place during the night. If you or someone you know has issues with fear or worry during   the night, there is a solution to this problem. The solution is prayer!
      I make it a priority to pray at various times during the day, and the time before bed is no exception. After all of the children have gone to sleep, and before I lay my very tired head down, I pray to God for protection for myself and my family as we sleep. No matter what happens during the night, I know that God is always there to help us, and has the best for us in mind. This prayer, like all prayers, gives me comfort and a feeling of peacefulness, which helps me in going to sleep because I know my Heavenly Father is watching over us always. These prayers help me from being afraid, which is like what King Solomon said in Proverbs 3:24-26, “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” Also, in Psalm 4:8, King David wrote, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
      Prayer can also help us during the night when it is a temptation to wake up and worry about various problems that we are facing or are anticipating in our lives. Worry is a symptom of a lack of faith in God’s ability to take care of us, therefore, we should not worry at any time. Instead, we should lift our burdens up to God in prayer, even in the middle of the night. The Psalmist says in Psalm 119:62, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.”  When we lift our prayers to God, and lay our problems at His feet, we can go back to sleep having that sense of peace and relief that only faithful Christians can have, knowing that our God will take care of things in ways that are best for us. “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (Psalm 3:5). “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).  
      So, instead of spending the night covered in worry and fear, take a little time to say a prayer or two to God for help, and He will help you! Of course, you have to do your part and trust in Him to take care of you. Saying a prayer for help, but not trusting that God will help you will not get your prayers answered. God always hears the prayers of obedient Christians, and He always gives an answer in the way He sees best. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (I John 5:14-15).
​      Even if you just have trouble sleeping for other reasons that do not include being fearful or worrying, pray to God for help with that issue, too! We should pray for everything of which we feel that we need help, no matter how little or big the situation is! Our Father always wants to hear from His Children! Sweet dreams to everyone, and may God bless you all richly as you serve Him! Good night!
           
 

                                                                                            The subject of angels is a very popular topic among Christians and non-Christians alike. Images of angels can be seen everywhere, and they usually have the same or at least similar appearance; which is that of a person draped in a white or some other color robe, with large, outstretched wings. The topic of “guardian angels” has been in debate for a long time and this idea had been made even more popular through television shows and movies. Many people wonder if angels have any involvement in our daily lives, such as protecting us from harm and “watching over” us. There are many ideas out there of the origin of angels, how they look, and how and if they interact with us today. Let’s see what information is given in the Scripture about these spiritual beings.
           Where do angels come from?  Angels are created beings because they were not in existence before the world was made.  They are not a part of the Eternal Godhead. They were created by God sometime during the six day of creation. They were possibly created early on during the creation process because the book of Job speak of how they were already in existence when the “foundations of the earth were made” (Job 38:4,7). Angels are a heavenly order of beings, but they are not deity. In order words, they should not be worshipped. Angels worship  God as we do. “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him”(Hebrews 1:6). Angels are above the level of humans, but below the level of God.  “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:” (Hebrews 2:7).
           The purpose of angels can be found in their name. The world “angel” comes from the Greek word meaning “messenger.” The role of angels are to deliver messages and do God’s Work among humans. There are many examples of angels taking on physical forms and delivering messages to people in the Old and New Testaments. Likely the most well-known example of this is when the angel Gabriel delivered the message to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus (Luke 1:26). Although angels have appeared to humans in physical form in Bible times, they do not operate in this way today. The practice of angels appearing in human form was a miracle, and miracles do not happen today because we now have the completion of the revelation of God unto mankind through the Bible (I Corinthians 13:8-10, II Peter 1:3, II Timothy 3:16-17). This does not mean, however, that angels no longer any kind of work that they did in Bible times. Angels still work “behind the scenes” so to speak in the lives of all the faithful today. “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14).
           What do angels do when they become involved in the lives of the faithful today? We do not know exactly!  We do know that they have an interest in the lives of Christians today (I Corinthian 11:10, I Timothy 5:21).  We do know that they are involved in our lives in some way from the verses given.  All of what is entailed in the ministering to Christians by the angels is not revealed in Scripture, but is within God’s Providential work.  Unaccountable children also have angels that help them in various unknown ways, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).  This is another verse to meditate upon when thinking of the possible guardian work role of angels.
           We do know that angels take the faithful who pass away into Paradise as Luke 16:22 teaches.  As we experience death, there are those loving angels to comfort us.  They take us into our Paradise home. 
           Although we are lower than the angels, we have the hope of being more like angels when we reach Heaven! Those who pass away do not become angels, as angels are spiritual beings that are separate from humans. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, not are given in marriage but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). We will be among the angels when we reach a home in Heaven, but we will not be angels. We will, in fact, be transformed upon the Day of Judgment as this mortal body is transformed into a resurrected body that will live eternally with God and His angels! “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).
           Angels are truly wonderful creations of God! Knowing that angels are among us in our lives here on Earth is a comforting thought. The fact that God uses angels to assist and help us in our lives in unknown and wonderful ways shows His great love for us! Faithful Christians and unaccountable children have angels who help them in various ways that we cannot know or understand in this life. We do know, however, that God is using His servants to help us on our journey through this life as we work toward reaching our final destination which is Heaven!


 
            

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       A major goal in being a faithful child of God is to be different from everyone else in the world who are not faithful Christians themselves. This means that we are to abstain from sinful practices that the rest of the world partakes in. “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” (I John 2:16). At the same time, we must live in this world around those who are not conducting themselves according to God’s Word. So, how do we live in this world but remain not “of the world”?
       One way is to love God more than things of this world. This involves such practices as studying your Bible every day instead of allowing worldly things to take time away from reading the Scriptures. II Timothy 2:15 states, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  In order for you to teach others about God, you must know the Scriptures well enough to answer questions that might be asked of you. Another way to strengthen our faith is to pray daily and often! Saying one prayer a day is not enough, because we must pray many times a day! “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).
       Likewise, if you allow any secular activity other than sickness to take the place of attending worship services of your home congregation of the church of Christ, this is also a sin and it makes you more like the world rather than more like Christ. Would Christ work a secular job while a worship service is taking place? No! Would Christ participate in a ballgame or go to a family member’s ballgame instead of attending worship service? No!  Would Christ choose to only attend worship service on Sunday morning rather than at any other time that His home congregation met if He was physically able to do so? No! That is because Christ is not of this world, and we are to follow His example. “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 10:25).
       Another way that we can be in the world but not like the world is to monitor the company that we keep and the activities that we participate in. We should always strive to have other Christians as friends, and we should also strive to convert as many souls as we can for Christ. Those that we come into contact with on a frequent basis can hold a lot of influence over us, so we should work to be around the best influences possible. Likewise, we should be good influences on others, showing that the light of Christ is in us. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We should guard our influence and the influence we give to others by being cautious about the places we go, the activities we participate in, and the sources of entertainment that we choose to use. 
      Activities such as social drinking, public dancing, using foul language, participating in fornication or promiscuity, as well as other sinful acts causes us to sin, and it hurts our influence on others. Likewise, even if we are not actually participating in these sinful acts, if we give the impression that we condone these things, then this hurts our influence. Christ used every opportunity to teach, and so should we.  We should take time to teach those committing public sins how to come out of those sins.  “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Philippians 2:15).
       Lastly, focusing more on attaining luxuries and material possessions in this world than on your spiritual well-being will not get you a home in Heaven! Putting our jobs before God will not get you into Heaven, as well as putting making money over performing our God-given roles in life will not get you into Heaven.  God gave men the role of breadwinner in the family, while He gave women the role of keeping the home and caring for the children (I Timothy 5:8; Titus 2:5). Just as it is required by God for a man to go out and earn money to support his family, it is equally required by God that a woman take care of her children and the home in which the family lives. If a woman neglects her children for money, then she goes against God’s role for her, and is no different than a man who refuses to provide for his family. 
        Someone might ask, “What about women who want to work outside of the home while their children are in school?”  When her children have reached the age to attend school, it is certainly okay for a woman to work a job outside the home, as long as it does not take time away from her children when they are at home. A mother should be there for her children before they go to school in the morning and when they come home. Children need stability in their lives, and having a mother that they can rely on to be there when they wake up and when they come home from school will help them feel secure and better able to succeed in life. We can learn from the example of the virtuous woman in Proverbs Chapter 31, who Solomon described in this way; “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (Proverbs 31:28).
        These are just a few ways in which we, as Christians, can be different than the world and yet still live in the world.  I encourage you to think of other ways as defined in Scripture to be more like Christ than those I have mentioned here, as I have just named a few. The world we live in today is corrupt, and Christians face many temptations and persecutions throughout our lives. We must always strive to do as Paul says in Philippians 3:14 and “. . . press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

               
         The faithfulness of Job, was so strong, that he was able to face many horrible challenges in his life, yet still cleave to God. He faced the loss of his worldly possessions, the death of all ten of his children, as well as various physical ailments, but he still did not sin against God (Job 1:22). His consistent obedience unto God is something to be marveled at, and we should all aspire to be as faithful to God as Job was. “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21).
       Job’s wife, on the other hand, did not share her husband’s spiritual strength. She did not encourage her husband to continue his obedience to God, but rather, she told him to “curse God, and die” (Job 2:9). While her words are very harsh and definitely not what she should have said to her husband, it would be beneficial to look at the possible reasons for Mrs. Job reacting in the way that she did.
           First of all, it is apparent that Mrs. Job lacked the steadfast faith in God that her husband possessed. It is important to remember that she underwent much of the same hardships that Job did. When Job lost all of his worldly possessions, so did she. When Job lost all ten of his children, so did she. We are looking at two people who went through almost the same circumstances at the same time, but each reacted differently.  The difference between Job and Mrs. Job is that Job had taken the time to prepare himself so that he could stay spiritually strong during tough times, while his wife did not.
           How can we prepare ourselves to stay spiritually strong when the storms of life come upon us? First of all, we must become Christians by hearing (Romans 10:17), believing (Mark 16:16), repenting of our sins (Acts 2:38), confessing that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32), being baptized (Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:17-22), and remaining faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10). After becoming a Christian, it is important that we study the Word of God each day, and attend all worship services of our home congregation of the church of Christ. 
         We are to immerse ourselves in the Word of God, and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:2).  Reading the Bible is a great comfort during trying times, and we can train our hearts and minds to stay spiritually strong during trying times in this way. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Also, assembling with the saints each and every time our home congregation meets for worship is so important in cultivation of spiritual strength (Hebrews 10:24-25).  Having the opportunity to devote ourselves to worship unto God and to feel the support and love from fellow Christians can help us during the challenging times in our lives. No one can face hardships and overcome them successfully alone. He or she must have God’s Help, as well as the help of others.  Also, devoting our time to helping others is a great way to keep our minds focused on God during challenging times.
          Mrs. Job had not taken the time to prepare herself for the challenges that she would be facing in her life. When being tested, she did not “make the grade” in that she showed unfaithfulness while bearing the same losses as her husband who kept his devotion to God intact. We all make choices on how a challenging event that takes place in our lives will affect us. As seen in the book of Job, the same event produced two different reactions. We can take this as a lesson in our own lives when challenging times come.  Do we stay steadfast in the Lord as Job did, and was thereby blessed more than in his beginning (Job 42:12), or do exhibit unfaithfulness as did Mrs. Job? The choice that you make can determine whether you have a home in Heaven or a home in Hell one day.  Please choose wisely! 

      Are you happy to be a Christian? This is a question that I am sure all Christians would say “yes” to, however, do the actions of all Christians show that they are happy to perform the responsibilities that come with being a child of God?  As Christians, we are to be happy!  Not only do we possess the ability to have forgiveness of sins, but we also have the hope of a home in heaven.  With all that God has given us, we should be more than happy to do His Will, however, how many Christians find joy in doing what God commands them to do? Do you delight in serving the Lord, or do you go “through the motions?”
     As Christians, we should love serving God! We should wake up each morning thinking of ways to be a better Christian and servant to God and others. We should embody the feelings expressed by King David in Psalm 40:8 when he says, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Serving God should come before any other activity in our lives, and we should perform God’s Work with delight, rather than with a sense of burden.
      How many Christians really participate in the worship services of the church? Just by a casual observation, one might find that some members of the congregation will participate in all of the acts of worship, while others just sit there in silence during the singing of praises, and act as if they are not listening to the sermon. How many Christians do you know try to find any excuse available in order to not attend worship services or to not participate in church works?  Are you like one of these people? Hopefully not! We should not be like those people. Rather, we should be as excited as a little child about attending and participating in the worship services of the church of Christ! We should always be focused on God during the acts of worship, and we should always be willing to participate in church works when we are physically able to do so. When I see how excited my own children are about attending worship services, it is a wonderful reminder of how I am supposed to feel as well. “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
    Attending worship services of the church of Christ and participating in other church works is just part of what we are commanded to do as Christians. We are to pray “without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).  Do you pray during the day?  We often see examples of others praying at bedtime, but a prayer once a day is not enough! We are to pray before every meal and at other times during the day as well. If you woke up one morning with only the things that you  gave thanks to God for on the previous day, what would you have left? Our Heavenly Father always wants to hear from His children, so we should make it a point to pray many times throughout the day, no matter how we are feeling and no matter how our day is going. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).
      Also, are you willing to give of your time and finances to help others and to help the church? We are commanded to give generously to the Lord so that the church can finance good works (2 Corinthians 9:7). If you work a part-time or full-time job, just putting a dollar bill in the plate is not being a cheerful giver. We should be willing to give generously in the collection plate as our local congregation, as well as be generous with our time in helping others.  Attending door knockings, Ladies’ Day events, Gospel Meetings, Vacation Bible Schools, etc. are all great ways  of promoting the spread of the Gospel, which should be our primary focus in life. How many Christians today choose secular activities to participate in instead of helping with a door knocking activity, a Ladies’ Day event, a Vacation Bible School, or some other church work? How many parents are teaching their children to do the same? “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). We should also give of our time and means in order to help others with their physical need for food, clothing and shelter as well. By helping others with their physical needs, we can have the opportunity to teach them about Christ.
       Finally, do you study the Word of God every day? I saw a post on Facebook one time that said something to the effect of if we studied our Bibles as much as we study our phones today, then everyone would be studying as they should. This is true. If you can find time to look at Facebook, Instagram, or other social media, you have time to read and study your Bible. If you have time to watch T.V. or read a secular book, magazine, or newspaper, you have time to read and study your Bible. If you have time to participate in any other secular activity, you have time to read and study your Bible. People are all the same in that they will always make time to do what they want to do in this life. Studying God’s Word should be at the top of the list of things to do each and every day. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
        It is important to remember that Christ was delighted and happy to leave Heaven and come to a world where He would suffer on the cross and die for our sins. We should be just as happy to do His Will and to serve God each and every day of our lives. We should not leave our First Love, which is God, as is described in Revelation 2:4. but rather we should appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus gave for us, and to continue to keep Him as our First Love. If we do this, we have a home in Heaven awaiting us, and that is why we should be the happiest people on the planet!
           
 

​                  In this article, I would like to focus on the following verse; “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2 Corinthians 9:8). What does it mean to “abound in good works?” Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary describes the word “abound” as being “to have or possess in great quantity.” Therefore, Paul, is stating in this verse that it is God’s Will that we perform many good works in order to be pleasing unto God. By many good works, I mean that we should do more than the basics that God requires in order for us to be faithful. In order to “abound in good works,” however, we must first excel at the basic requirements that God commands us to do in order to be a faithful Christian. Only then can we go onto to do extra good works as 2 Corinthians 9:8 says.
          But what are the basics that God requires in order for us to be faithful? Spiritual basics include the things that we must begin to do as “babes in Christ” so that we can continue to grow stronger and stronger spiritually. Before we can handle digesting the “meat of the Word” or the parts of God’s Word that take more than a novice to understand, we must focus on completing the first steps of becoming spiritually obedient unto God. If we do not complete the basics and continue doing them every day, then we cannot go on to performing our full potential in our obedience to God. The following are a list of some of the “basics” that we have to do before being considered faithful and obedient to God.
          1. Become a Christian. This is the very first step to become a faithful and obedient servant of God, and eligible for a home in Heaven one day. In order to become a Christian, one must Hear the Word of God (Romans 10:17), Believe that what you hear is the truth, ( Mark 16:16). Repent of your past sins (Acts 2:38), Confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 10:32), Be Baptized Into Christ (Acts 22:16;I Peter 3:17-22), and Remain Faithful Until Death (Revelations 2:10).
            2. Study your Bible Every Day: It is so important that a Christian be spiritually fed everyday from the Word of God, just as everyone would make sure to be physically fed every day. II Timothy 2:15 states, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” A Christian must study the Word of God in order to know what He expects of everyone in order to be faithful. Just hearing the Bible read, preached, or taught on Sundays and Wednesday nights are not enough. We must show our love of God by wanting to hear His Words to us each and every day. Think of it this way, would we want to hear from our loved ones just one or two days in a week? If not, then it stands to reason that if we are to put God above everyone else, then we should want to hear from Him through the Bible each and every day as well!  “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). We should also read the Bible in order to be able to teach others about God’s Word so that they may become Christians themselves.  “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). When a faithful Christian faces adversity, reading the Bible is such a great comfort, because he or she can be reminded of God’s Love for him or her, and what wonderful things await a faithful Christian at the end of life’s journey!
            3. Attend church services regularly:  There is no excuse that can be given to condone not attending worship services of the church of Christ every first day of the week and every other time a person’s home congregation meets unless one is sick or caring for the sick. This also includes the requirement that those who are Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week (Sunday) in order to be pleasing unto God.  Of course, God in His Mercy will forgive those who miss worship services due to sickness or caring for the sick, but not attending for any other reason causes us to forsake the assembly. We should also not use issues that would not keep us out of our secular job as an excuse to miss worship services. We should always be joyful and excited to attend worship services to sing praises to and worship our Heavenly Father. For me, I always come out of worship service feeling so much better than I did going in!  “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1).  The church is the house of the Lord today (I Timothy 3:15), and let us joyfully enter her assemblies!
            3. Pray Often: Oftentimes, some people only turn to God in prayer during challenging times, however, we should have a prayerful attitude at all times. Prayer unto God will help us in any situation that we find ourselves because God hears and answers the prayers of those who are faithful. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). We should not only pray for ourselves but for others as well. Prayer not only helps to improve our spiritual health, but it also helps boost our moods and it encourages us to have a more positive frame of mind during discouraging times.
            These are a few of the basics that God requires us to do in order to begin our lives as faithful Christian and servants. Besides the act of being baptized, all of the “basics” listed above should be done every day so that we can grow stronger in the Lord through knowledge and obedience. Only then can we go onto to “abound in good works” by doing more good works besides those listed above. Abounding in good works means that we do not stop with just doing the basics to please God, but going “above and beyond” the minimum that is required of us. We should not just stop at doing the list above and no other good works, but we should all look to do as many good works for others and for the Lord as we can put our hands and our talents to do. God gave each and every one of us specific talents that we should use to render obedience to Him so that we can improve our talents and gain new ones.
            Are you going “above and beyond” in your service to God, or are you doing the bare minimum to get by? May we all make a habit of analyzing our own lives on a regular basis and consider how much we are doing for God, so that we will reflect more of Christ than ourselves unto others every day.
 

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      In today’s world, there are many people who believe that one can go to Heaven by just being a “good person.” It is true that there are many people out there who think about God and who want to do good toward others, however, is this enough for God to bless them with a home in Heaven when they die or at the Judgment? This is a subject that I have recently pondered while reading about a very notable person in the Bible named Cornelius.
         In Acts chapter 10, we meet Cornelius who was described as a centurion from a band called the “Italian band.” Cornelius, a Gentile, was what we would consider today to be a “good person.” Acts 10:2 describes him in this way; “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” It is apparent that Cornelius was a very good man, and who was very mindful of God on a daily basis. Cornelius did as much good as he knew how to do, but was this enough?
         No!  God had bigger plans for Cornelius. God visited Cornelius to deliver him a special message. “He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (Acts 10:3-6). After this vision, Cornelius did just as God instructed him to do. He sent some of his servants to seek out Peter who was staying with Simon the tanner.
         At close to the same time, God worked to complete His Plan for Cornelius through Peter,  also. While still in Simon the Tanner’s house, Peter was told by the Holy Spirit that three men from Cornelius’ house was looking for him. Peter was on his host’s roof at the time, and when he received this message, he quickly came down to meet the men. It is important to note that when Cornelius’ men spoke with Peter about their purpose in coming, they spoke very highly of their master, calling him a “just man” and “one that feareth God” and was of “good report” (Acts 10:22). This further shows that Cornelius was indeed a very good man. 
       When Peter met Cornelius, he mentioned that it was an unusual occurrence for a Jew, which Peter was, to be in the same company with Gentiles, which was what Cornelius and his household were. Under the Old Law, the Jews were God’s chosen people.  Many Jews considered the disobedient Gentiles to be “unclean.”   
     After Peter spoke to Cornelius and his family about Jesus’ birth, life and resurrection, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household and they were able to speak in tongues and do other miraculous things. Once Peter sees that a family of Gentiles was given the miraculous ability to speak in foreign languages, he commanded Cornelius’ entire household to be baptized.  Seeing the Gentiles miraculously speak in foreign languages, proved to the Jews that the Gentiles could receive salvation.
       We can learn several lessons from the account of Cornelius. One is that after Christ’s death and resurrection, the Jews were no longer the chosen people of God. As seen in Acts Chapter 10, both Jews and Gentiles who were baptized into Christ were now God’s chosen people. The next lesson is that although Cornelius was a good and God-fearing man, he was not saved until he was baptized into Christ. This goes against the idea that many people today have when they think that if a person is merely a “good person,” who believes in God and who treats others well, then that person will be able to go to Heaven. These people often either are members of a denomination or do not attend worship services of the church of Christ as they ought.  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:”.  Baptism saves.  
          Cornelius’ baptism shows that being good is not the only requirement to go to Heaven, but obedience is also a requirement. Being baptized into Christ and attending the worship services of the church of Christ on a weekly basis are a must, as well as other acts of obedience. A person can learn how to be a moral person from going to denominational churches or from modeling themselves after others who are moral, but unless he or she also conducts his or her life  in obedience to God’s commandments, a person still cannot win a home in Heaven.  Christ only built His church (Matthew 16:18), and He never built any denominations.  Christ never sinned (II Corinthians 5:21).  All other accountable people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and although some people act in more “good” ways than others, none of us earn the right to go to Heaven (Romans 3:10, 23).  We are saved by grace, but in order to partake of that grace, we must have faith and do the works that God commands us to do (Ephesians 2:8, Hebrews 5:9).
          We must set ourselves apart from others through our obedience to God.  We do this by having an obedient faith and thus by doing good works.  We do good works not to earn salvation, but we do them, because God commands them. We are not set apart by believing in God only, because even the devil believes in God, and he is certainly not going to Heaven! “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20).           Merely believing in God is not enough, though it is important. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).  Of course, one can only win a home in Heaven if he or she follows the Plan of Salvation, which is to Hear (Romans 10:17), Believe (Mark 16:16), Repent (Acts 2:38), Confess (Matthew 10:32), Be Baptized (Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:17-22) and Remain Faithful Until Death (Revelations 2:10). May we all work to do God’s Will each and every day, and conduct ourselves in faith and obedience to God Word!
            

​                 It’s that time again! If the Lord wills, the new year will be here before we know it, and I hope that the year 2019 will be a prosperous and wonderful time for everyone!  Making New Years’ resolutions is a tradition that many people make at the beginning of each year, with varying levels of success in keeping those resolutions. Making New Years’ resolutions is a good way to try to improve one’s self and one’s life, but there are a few resolutions that we should all be making and keeping each and every year. All of the resolutions that I am talking about have to do with worshipping God as we need to, and being the faithful Christian that we all need to be! 

1. Study your Bible everyday! II Timothy 2:15 says “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  We are to study our Bibles every day so that we can become spiritually stronger and also teach others about God. Studying our Bibles also helps us physically, mentally, and emotionally. I know that when I read my Bible every day, my day goes so much better, and my outlook is more positive throughout the day!

2. Pray often. I Thessalonians 5:17 states, “Pray without ceasing.”  We should pray throughout the day, many times a day. Having a healthy prayer life helps to keep us spiritually strong, and it helps us bear the challenges in this life much easier. It is my goal to get to the point in my life where I have prayed so much during the course of a single day, that  I lose track of how many prayers I have said in that day! We should pray in both prosperous times and in times of need.  We should always thank God for all of our many blessings, and we all have many, many blessings bestowed unto us by God! 

3. Attend worship services regularly. We are commanded in Hebrews 10:25 to not “forsake the assembling of ourselves together” meaning that we should not forsake the assembling of the church for worship services. We are to assemble together on the first day of the week (Sunday) as Jesus’ disciples did during the early days of the church. Allowing our jobs, school activities, or recreational activities keep us from attending worship services as we are commanded means that we are not putting God first in our lives as we are supposed to do. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

​4. Strive to convert at least one person to Christ. We, as Christians, are required to seek out and help save the lost. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19). We should do all we can to help those who are spiritually lost to learn more about what God expects them to do in order to go to Heaven. We should never take the stance that the spiritual state of others is none of our business. On the contrary, God will hold Christians accountable for the souls that they have failed to try to save (James 4:17). We will not be held accountable concerning whether or not the lost person does decide to become faithful, however, we will have to answer to God for not trying to teach others at all. 

     
​   A healthy prayer life is essential to being a faithful child of God. We are commanded to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17), which means that we must pray numerous times a day, even to the point that we lose track of how many prayers we have said in one day. As Christians, we have been given the privilege of having our Creator listen to and answer our prayers. However, what about those accountable individuals who have not been baptized into Christ or who are Christians but are unfaithful? Does God hear the prayers of those who are not faithful just as he does with faithful Christians? 
            First of all, let’s look at what characteristics make up a faithful Christian. A faithful Christian has followed the Plan of Salvation.  He or she has heard the Word of God (Romans 10:17), believes what the Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 16:16), repented of his or her past sins (Acts 2:38), confessed that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32), and was baptized for the remission of sins and therefore, has become a member of the church of Christ (Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:17-22).  Also, in accordance with this Plan of Salvation, a faithful Christian works to remain faithful throughout his or her life (Revelation 2:10).   No one can become a Christian and a child of God unless he or she follows these steps and is baptized by being totally immersed in water, thus becoming a member of the church of Christ (Acts 2:47, Colossians 2:12). 
            So, once accountable people have become Christians, they have the ability to have their prayers heard and answered by God, so long as they are living faithfully. What does it mean to live a faithful Christian life? It means to study the Bible everyday (II Timothy 2:15), to attend church services every first day of the week unless sick or caring for the sick (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 20:7) along with assembling at other times in which the Elders deem that all are to assemble (Hebrews 13:17), to overflow with good works (II Peter 1:1-11, I Timothy 6:18-19), to pray regularly and frequently (I Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12), and to live in obedience to God’s Word (James 2:17-18).             Also, in order to have our prayers heard, we must pray in a way that is pleasing to God. We must pray with a humble spirit such as the publican did in Luke chapter 18, where he uttered a prayer, not to be seen of men, declaring himself a sinner before God. We should not pray to God in a boastful way as the Pharisee did, in which he praised God for making him better than the publican. We must always go before God in prayer with humility and meekness in our hearts, and we must also be unselfish in our prayers, so as not to ask for things we do not need in hopes of exalting ourselves before others. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3).
            What about those who are either not Christians or are unfaithful Christians? God does not hear the prayers that the unfaithful utter unto Him, neither does he answer the prayers of the unrighteous.  I Peter 3:12 states; “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”  Also, Proverbs 28:9 states; “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” If a person is not a member of the church of Christ, is not attending church services regularly, or is unfaithful in some other way, they do not have the privilege of having their prayers heard by God. In order to be heard by God, a person must either become a Christian, or if the person is an erring Christian, the person must repent of his or her sins (Acts 8:22), confess those sins (I John 1:9) , and through prayer receive forgiveness, and then work on being a faithful Christian throughout his or her life here on earth. 
            Prayer is such an important part of the Christian life, because we need God’s Help in every aspect of our lives. Prayer helps in any situation, and if we put all of our trust in God, there is no challenge in this life that we cannot overcome. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). In order for God to help us, however, we must do our part in being faithful Christians in all aspects of our lives here on the earth. Our lives will be richly blessed for our efforts, and we will have the ultimate reward in Heaven in the end!