Search Results for: blog what pleases god

Do You Want to Know What God Hates?

Do you want to know what God hates? The bible tells us. Here are some things mentioned. God hates: Unjust scales Proverbs 11: 1, 20:23. God doesn’t want to see people cheated. That’s good for us to remember at tax time and in our dealings with others. I think it also applies not just financially but to cheating others in what we give to a relationship. Boasting and those who do iniquity, lies and deceit, violence and bloodshed, Psalm 5:5-6. Divorce, Malachi 2:16. Notice, God does not say he hates the divorced person but divorce. Life long marriage of one … Continue reading →

What Pleases God

In my last blog I touched on living lives that are pleasing to the Lord. If we want to please the Lord, we first need to figure out and learn those things that are pleasing to Him, Ephesians 5:10. Fortunately God helps us through His Word and He tells us those attitudes and action that please Him. Here is a list of the attitudes and actions that please God. If we believe in Jesus, John 3:16, 18 If we love Jesus, John 16:27 If we keep His commandments, John 14:21, 1 John 2:3-5 If we abide in Him and walk … Continue reading →

Discipling Young Hearts: Virtue

Virtue is defined as moral excellence. From virtue a princess’s character and actions will reflect Christ. It is where all over character traits and right actions hinge. Yet being virtuous is not always the easy choice and will at times take courage to set faith into action. God places virtue as more valuable than wealth. Worldly wealth is temporary and does not please God. A virtuous life is one that pleases the Lord and lives eternally. Virtue is not to be defined by the world but defined by moral excellence rooted in the Word of God. A virtuous heart makes … Continue reading →

Strange Ideas about Christians

People sometime have strange ideas about Christians. Too often the media wants to lump all Christians in the one basket. So do a lot of other people. The reality is Christians are a varied lot. What they do have in common is a saving faith in the work of Christ on the cross. Some Christians will not touch alcohol. They see alcohol as a major problem in society, which it is, and one that often causes other problems making people behave in a way that they would not normally do. So they choose to abstain from alcohol. The problem occurs … Continue reading →

What a Difference it Would Make

Today I’m going to look at more practical advice from Romans 12. If you remember, last week I looked at what it means to be a living sacrifice. I’d like to suggest now that if we are a ‘living sacrifice,’ putting other’s needs and the needs of God’s kingdom above our own, if we are concerned with these things and pleasing God, we are less likely to become conceited and puffed up with our own self importance, Romans 12:3. There is another side to having sound judgment about ourselves. As well as not being conceited, it also means not putting … Continue reading →

Sunday Christians?

In Romans 12 Paul urges believers to be ‘living sacrifices’ verse 1. What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? It means that we will ensure that we make decisions and choices each day that are pleasing to God. That may mean sometimes having to put aside what we want to do to help someone else or to so something for God and for His Kingdom. Like today I had to put aside going shopping do for some summer tops while they are on sale to do what I believed God was calling me to do. It’s no good … Continue reading →

Practical Wisdom

So, you want to be smarter? We saw that the Bible tells us the starting point for achieving wisdom. So if we have taken that first step and know the Lord God, then what comes next? We each have different ideas and expectations about what life should be like. But instead of dwelling on our views of life, we need to have God’s view of life. And God has shown us what His view of life is and what He expects of us. ‘He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you … Continue reading →

Triumph over Evil and Hate

Sometimes you read a book or watch a movie or play that resonates with your Christian life. Last night was like that for me. Last night my husband and I, along with two other couples, went and saw The Women of Lockerbie by Deborah Brevoort. You’ll find more info about it here or in the marriage blog. But one thing that struck me was not just the story but the theme of the play which is the triumph of good over evil, love over hate. And isn’t that what the gospel message is all about? People disobeyed God and their … Continue reading →

Pray First, Then Act

The book of Nehemiah is not long – only 13 chapters, but it contains a great deal that is relevant to Christians today. In a way it is the other side of There’s a Need, So What? In Nehemiah 1 we see how God helps Nehemiah identify a need and then act upon that need. Jerusalem and its walls had been destroyed in the Babylonian invasion. Nehemiah hears from men from Judah about the situation facing the remnant that ‘had escaped and had survived the captivity,’ Nehemiah 1:2. When he heard the sad state of affairs, Nehemiah wept and mourned. … Continue reading →

Learning from Children

How often when you’ve given a gift does the person say,‘You shouldn’t have?’ But have you ever watched children when they receive a gift? They never say that! They don’t worry about whether they deserve the gift. They just can’t wait to rip open the paper and find out what’s inside. I watched my grandchildren doing just this on the weekend. Like children, we need to be willing to receive what God wants to give us. Yesterday we looked at what God wants us to pray for. But we need to be ready to receive God’s gifts when they come. … Continue reading →