Sunday, March 25, 2012
Growing Up, Spiritually On Sale for $8.79
I've been encouraging people to read "Growing Up, Spirituall" by Kenneth E Hagin. Now, people are asking me where they can find it. I've located it on Amazon for only $8.79. Here's the direct link:
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Chapter 5 - Walking With Your Father
My Key Notes on Chapter 5 of “Growing Up, Spiritually
Chapter 5 – Walking With Your Father
These are my personal thoughts about what I got out of chapter 5 of “Growing Up, Spiritually”, by Kenneth E. Hagin. This is the first book in a new reading group for the women of my church, “Pillar of Truth Christan Center.” This was an idea sparked by my 1st Lady, Edwina Renee Logan, wife of my spiritual leader, Pastor Ricky Logan. Please feel free to comment or submit questions, only if you've read the book or at least this section.Walking with the Father – pg. 52
“He may be 'God' to sinner, but He's 'Father' to me.” – I am a part of the Family of our Lord, Jesus Christ. God is His Father. God is my Father. We are all family.Getting Acquainted Through the Word
The only way for me to get to know God better is through His Word. God's Word will help to fulfill me. As Jesus says, I cannot live by bread alone. I must consume the Word, which will fill my soul.Page 58
God loves me just like He loves Jesus. He is OUR Father. He will take care of me better than any good father does. I can count on Him, trust Him, look up to Him. He is my Father, who loves all of His children the same.Experiencing Acquaintance
I can do anything through Christ, who strengthens me. With Christ, I have nothing to fear. My belief in Christ is my belief in God. My Father is all powerful and He truly loves me. There is nothing that man can throw at me that I can't get through as long as I have God in Christ. He is my strength.The Lord is my shepherd. Jesus is our good shepherd. They are my leaders. I am merely one of many sheep in God's pasture. As a sheep just follows his shepherd, no questions asked, instinctively, I must do the same. I must not question Him, but follow Him and trust that He will lead me to great things. He will feed me, care for me, keep me clean, protect me. I'm blessed to be able to walk with God.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Part 1: Chapters 1-4
The women of my church, "Pillar of Truth Christan Center" have come together to start our own spiritual book club. This is being done under the spiritual guidance of our 1st Lady, Edwina Renee Logan. The first book that was chosen is "Growing Up, Spiritually" by Kenneth E. Hagin.
This post is not excerpts from the book or my attempt to interpret it. This is not an opinion piece on the book. These are just some notes I took as I read part 1 (chapters 1-4). I am not trying to spark a debate or prove my Christianity. I just want to share my own personal thoughts on some of the things that touched my heart and soul. Feel free to leave spiritual comments, especially if you have read the book, or at least part 1.
Newborn babies are innocent, because they don't have a past. New Christians don't have a past either, as far as God is concerned. They were born the day they chose to accept Jesus as their Savior. They are innocent in God's eyes.
We should never read things that cause us to question our faith in God or Christ. This kinda goes back to Ephesians 4:13. These things separate us from God, therefore dividing Christians.
Now, I'm learning that I've been guilty of “evil speaking – talking about and discussing the faults and failures of people not present.” My 1st Lady, Edwina Renee Logan, always tells us “don't judge me.” Just last Sunday, Pastor Ricky Logan preached a sermon entitled, “Check Yourself.” This sermon was about judging people when we haven't taken a good luck at our own selves. I am learning that I've been guilty of this. As I grow spiritually, I hope to conquer this sin.
Not only did I have enough spiritual since to question myself out loud so that she'd know that I was at least trying to understand. But, her statement bothered me all day. I asked God about it over and over. I wasn't looking for ways to justify what I'd said. I wanted to understand why I thought I had the right to judge “those people in those big houses” the way I had.
I prayed on it, asking for God's forgiveness. Eventually, He helped me to understand that He'd forgiven me as soon as I acknowledged that 1st Lady was right. What I needed to pray for was the guidance to not judge like that in the future.
This is just one example of how I believe I am really starting to mature spiritually. The spiritually immature me would have been embarrassed by 1st Lady's “criticism.” The spiritually maturing and growing up me welcomed the “feedback” and used it as a spiritual learning tool.
This post is not excerpts from the book or my attempt to interpret it. This is not an opinion piece on the book. These are just some notes I took as I read part 1 (chapters 1-4). I am not trying to spark a debate or prove my Christianity. I just want to share my own personal thoughts on some of the things that touched my heart and soul. Feel free to leave spiritual comments, especially if you have read the book, or at least part 1.
My Key Notes About “Growing Up, Spiritually” - Part I
Chapter 1
Ephesians 4:13
Anything that divides Christians is not of God. God is love, and love never divides.
I Peter 2:2
This is not just talking about us craving the Word for spiritual nourishment. It's talking about how mature Christians should nurture new Christians, just as we do newborn babies. Just as newborns can't take care of themselves, new Christians can't either. They need our help to grow in Christ.
Newborn babies are innocent, because they don't have a past. New Christians don't have a past either, as far as God is concerned. They were born the day they chose to accept Jesus as their Savior. They are innocent in God's eyes.
Chapter 2
Ignorance – Page 14
We must be careful of even so-called “spiritual books” that we allow ourselves to read. Even though they quote Bible verses, this can be a ploy just to get us to read them. Just like poisoning a dog. He won't eat the poison alone. You have to mix it in with some food he likes to get him to eat it.
We should never read things that cause us to question our faith in God or Christ. This kinda goes back to Ephesians 4:13. These things separate us from God, therefore dividing Christians.
Irritability
Babies are easily frustrated, distracted and hurt. God wants us to be weaned from having to be “nursed” in the Word. We need to grow spiritually so we won't be frustrated by and distracted from His Word, or easily hurt by those who refuse to continue to “nurse” us in the Word.
Chapter 3
Curiosity
Our pastor's business is not our business. His job is to teach, lead and guide us in the Word of God. That is what he owes us as our spiritual leader.
Page 25
This page gave me the greatest laugh I'd had all day. “Daddy... will it ever be tomorrow?” LMSO!
Page 26
I used to be guilty of “vain speaking” as if I was more important than anything. I spoke of things I'd accomplished as if I'd accomplished on my own, with no help from anyone or God. I grew out of that spiritually, thank God.
Now, I'm learning that I've been guilty of “evil speaking – talking about and discussing the faults and failures of people not present.” My 1st Lady, Edwina Renee Logan, always tells us “don't judge me.” Just last Sunday, Pastor Ricky Logan preached a sermon entitled, “Check Yourself.” This sermon was about judging people when we haven't taken a good luck at our own selves. I am learning that I've been guilty of this. As I grow spiritually, I hope to conquer this sin.
Chapter 4
Hebrews 11:24-26
God is not against us being prosperous in the world. He just doesn't want us to put making money and acquiring “worldly things” before acquiring “spiritual things.” He promises us that is we put Him first, He will give us the worldly things we need to be prosperous.
Page 41
I can't have faith for healing if I feed my body three hot meals a day, and my spirit one cold snack a week – That is such a profound statement. It's my duty as a maturing Christian to feed my spirit as heartily as I feed my body. My spirit also need healthy nourishment for the growth of my soul.
Page 42
The statement about “immature Christians feeling restless, uneasy or self- pity when criticized” hit close to home for me. Two Sundays ago, in Sunday School, I made a comment that I thought was quite intelligent at the time. But, my 1st Lady said, and I quote, “Kiesha, that's not right. That's judging.” I said, “No it isn't.” Follow by, “Is it?”
Not only did I have enough spiritual since to question myself out loud so that she'd know that I was at least trying to understand. But, her statement bothered me all day. I asked God about it over and over. I wasn't looking for ways to justify what I'd said. I wanted to understand why I thought I had the right to judge “those people in those big houses” the way I had.
I prayed on it, asking for God's forgiveness. Eventually, He helped me to understand that He'd forgiven me as soon as I acknowledged that 1st Lady was right. What I needed to pray for was the guidance to not judge like that in the future.
This is just one example of how I believe I am really starting to mature spiritually. The spiritually immature me would have been embarrassed by 1st Lady's “criticism.” The spiritually maturing and growing up me welcomed the “feedback” and used it as a spiritual learning tool.
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