Click here to listen to the podcast.

This is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources with this weeks edition of Words for the Week, Christian Podcast where we bring you hope and encourgement brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Today I bring you a devotion posted over at the What If ... ? Women blog titled "Preciousness of Silence" (by the Missionaries of Charity Prayer Book). A very thought provoking devotion. Enjoy!

Until next week, this is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources, and Words for the Week, Christian Podcast Sponsored by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

This is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources with this weeks edition of Words for the Week, Christian Podcast where we bring you hope and encourgement brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Today I bring you an article written by Shalene Kearney that was posted at our Hope for the Family blog where she shares about how easy it is to take our freedoms for granted. Very timely message especially with the Fourth of July coming up.

She shares from the scripture in Galations 5:13-15.

Come on over and join us in our discussions at our Hope for the Family blog. We'd love to hear from you.

Also, feel free to join Friday morning's Virtuous Women's Gatherings in Penny Haynes audio conference room. at 9:00 CST / 10:00 EST

Until next week, this is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources, and Words for the Week, Christian Podcast Sponsored by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

This is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources with this weeks edition of Words for the Week, Christian Podcast where we bring you hope and encourgement brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Today I bring you a devotion by Claudia Pate that was posted at our Hope for the Family blog where she shares with us three principles to help us in the seasons of our life.


1. Our seasons of life are appointed by God.

2. God will supply your needs for every season of life.

3. Find joy in the Lord.

Come on over and join in the discussions at The What If Women Blog, we'd love to have you ponder the possibilities with us.

Also, feel free to join Friday morning's Virtuous Women's Gatherings in Penny Haynes audio conference room. at 9:00 CST / 10:00 EST

Until next week, this is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources, and Words for the Week, Christian Podcast Sponsored by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

This is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources with this weeks edition of Words for the Week, Christian Podcast where we bring you hope and encourgement brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Today I bring you a devotion I wrote for this months theme at Christian Women's Resources on Keeping in Step with the Spirit. Enjoy!

Are You Keeping in Step with the Spirit?

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with it's passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. - Gal. 5:22-25

I have always loved this scripture because it specifically tells me what sort of fruit I can expect to see in my own life as well as other people's live if we are keeping in step with the spirit. But what does it take for us to keep in step with the spirit so we do bear this fruit? That is what each of us need to consider since we all must find the individual footsteps we are called to walk in order to keep in step with the Spirit. There are a few basic things I need to remind myself of in order to be sure I am keeping in step with the Spirit for my life.

We must first develop an ear to hear the Spirit's guidance. Many times after we become a Christian we expect to be able to hear His voice right away but being a Christian doesn't mean we automatically hear it loud and clear. Yes, some things may be loud and clear but many times the Spirit speaks very softly and we must develop an ear to hear it with all the other noise clamoring around us trying to get our attention. We must examine often who we are allowing to direct our footsteps. With so many voices telling us to do this and do that, at times it can get downright confusing, especially when these voices come from well intentioned sources who we trust or look up to.

Next we then must be willing to allow the spirit to direct our footsteps according to His Word as it says in Psalms 119:133 so we can begin to develop this ear to hear. Just as we get better the more we practice any skill or talent, the more we dig into the Word of God, the better we become at hearing His voice in our lives, even in the midst of all the clamoring noise around us. We must now examine whether we truly are willing to allow the spirit to direct our footsteps. Sometimes we may just be following the easy path or what we think is best but that is not always the path the Spirit is trying to guide us on.

If you have ever watched a parade, notice how all the participants are in in step with the drummer. There is commitment, willingness, respect and unity among them when they follow the authority of the drummer. If not, it shows in their walk because they are all marching to their own beat. Same goes for Christians. We can be sure we are keeping in step with the Spirit if what we are doing is in alignment with the Word of God and we produce the fruit of the Spirit. If not, we may be marching to our own beat where we are out of step with the Spirit causing us to struggle in bearing it's fruit. Therefore, let us be sure to align our steps according to His Word and walk forward in faith because our path may not always be easy or what we believe to be best.

Come on over and join in the discussions at The What If Women Blog, we'd love to have you ponder the possibilities with us.

Also, feel free to join Friday morning's Virtuous Women's Gatherings in Penny Haynes audio conference room. at 9:00 CST / 10:00 EST

Until next week, this is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources, and Words for the Week, Christian Podcast Sponsored by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

This is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women’s Resources with this week’s edition of Words for the Week brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

With yesterday being Thanksgiving and people being much more aware of what they have to be thankful for, I wanted to share with you a devotional I wrote titled Attitude or Gratitude? With the scripture focus being Let us be thankful and so worship God in Heb. 12:28 not only in the month of November but the whole year.

Attitude or Gratitude?

“Let us be thankful and so worship God ” (Heb 12:28 NIV)

What is your life characterized by – an Attitude or gratitude? If you think about it, it is impossible to truly worship God when we have an attitude. Too often we can find ourselves complaining when things go wrong or don’t turn out as we wanted or expected things to. We all have a tendency to complain from time to time and when we do we definitely are not able to worship God because only when our life is filled with gratitude can we truly be thankful and so worship God as it says in Heb. 12:28. I don’t know about you but I want to be characterized as a person who lives a life of worship and is filled with gratitude in my heart rather then that of an attitude.

In order to live a life of worship we must begin by transforming our attitudes to that of gratitude. We do this by putting our focus on God where it belongs instead of ourselves or our problems where the enemy does his best to keep our focus. As we read and meditate on the Word of God we begin to focus on God and see the Word at work and give thanks to the Lord for all He has done and will do in our lives. Once we know and have tasted His goodness, we even find ourselves giving thanks and praise to him in midst of our difficulties.

When our focus is where it should be, we are able to truly Worship God and say:

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ as it says in 1 Cor. 15:57 Yes, we can have victory over our sinful nature, people and things that are not pleasing to God because it is His power through the Word of God at work in our lives.

We are also truly able to say:

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him as it says in 2 Cor. 2:14. Yes, we can be an effective witness regardless of our past or weaknesses because we see how He uses those very things to reveal the glory of God in our lives to others.

And last but not least we truly can say:

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! As it says in 2 Cor. 9:15. He not only gives us the gift of salvation but also the wonderful gift of His grace. When you change your focus to God instead of your circumstances, you begin to see His grace that He so lavishly gives us on a daily basis giving us much to be grateful for.

Therefore, let us be thankful and have a heart filled with gratitude so we may truly worship God!

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your indescribable gift of salvation and grace that you so lavishly give us on a daily basis. And in the midst of our difficulties, help us to always say, But thanks be to God! Who gives us the victory and leads us in triumphal procession in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

And in closing, I’d like you to ponder whether your life is characterized by an attitude or gratitude? If it is characterized more by an attitude begin today to transform your attitude to a heart of gratitude instead by putting your focus on God and choosing to say: But thanks be to God while in the midst of your difficulties.

Until Next week, this is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women’s Resources with this week’s edition of Words for the Week brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Hi. This is Lori Arriaga with this weeks edition of Words for the Week a Christian Podcast brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

With Christian Women’s Resources first online virtuous women’s retreat coming up next week I thought I’d share with you a devotional I did titled a Virtuous Woman.

A Virtuous Woman

”She is clothed with strength and dignity” (Proverbs 31:25a NIV)

A woman clothed with strength and dignity is one who fears the Lord. She allows Him to arm her with the strength she needs to fulfill the call on her life. She sets about her daily tasks with the Lord’s guidance. Her works make a difference in the lives around her, bringing her praise in the city and causing her husband and children to rise and call her blessed. The Proverbs 31 woman is often looked at as too idyllic and unachievable. Rightly so in our own strength which is why we must rely on God’s strength only and have a purposeful intent if we are to become a virtuous woman.

A woman of strength and dignity first has a purposeful intent to develop a strong relationship with her Lord. She knows only by His strength can she be the woman God calls her to be in every area of her life. This strength comes as she purposefully meditates on the living Word of God. The more she meditates on the Word and sees it at work in her life she begins to speak forth the Word in faith. As she speaks forth the Word in faith, she becomes the woman God calls her to be, a living epistle or message that gives hope and encouragement to others through her life testimony.

A woman of strength and dignity has a purposeful intent in her marriage to be the suitable helper God calls her to be. She views it as an honor and is devoted to and respects her husband. She purposefully prays the Word of God over him and works at keeping strong communication between them. She puts her husband before her children and ministry and makes it a point to understand and fulfill her husband’s physical needs. She knows this is only done through God as she puts her relationship with Him first enabling her to be the wife God calls her to be.

A woman of strength and dignity has a purposeful intent to train her children up in the Lord. She purposefully speaks forth the Word of God and His goodness all the days of their lives. She trains them through discipline before foolish behavior becomes a habit and instills in them respect for authority knowing it will help them be successful in life. She molds their spirits with love, not anger, setting an example to follow and showing humility when she fails. She knows this is only done through the strength she receives in her relationship with God.

Heavenly Father, I praise you and thank you for giving us the strength we need to accomplish the tasks you set before us as women, wives and mothers. Strengthen us according to your Word so it is the Lord who is my strength and my song in all I do. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Take away question to ponder – Are you intimidated by the Proverbs 31 woman of the bible? If so, I challenge you to clothe yourself with God’s strength and dignity instead to become the woman God has called you to be.

Be sure to stop by our website at www.christianwomensresources.com to learn more about our online Virtuous Womens Retreat that is free for anyone to attend that has an internet connection and speakers to listen to the wonderful lineup of 18 Inspirational speakers.

This is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women’s resources. I pray you become a woman of strength and dignity in the Lord and that your life is filled with God’s wonderful blessings. Signing off now with this weeks Words for the Week brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Hi. This is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources with this weeks edition of Words for the Week brought to you by the Virtuous Women’s Retreat and Encouraging Audiobooks.

Today I want to share with you a little something I had wrote about “Transforming your Doubts to Professions of Faith.” I believe it ties in real well with our discussions on confidence and the book I have been reading by Joyce Meyer called “The Confident Woman”.

Do you find yourself doubting a lot or doubting your faith? I'm not talking about doubting that you are a child of God or for your salvation, but what I am talking about is: doubting the promises of God truly being for you to claim as your own. Whatever it is that begins our doubting whether it be some weakness or failure of ours as a wife, mother, homemaker, friend or business woman, the enemy loves to get us to focus on our failures and weaknesses so he can hinder our communion with God and ultimately our usefulness to the Kingdom.

When we doubt we are unstable and considered double-minded and cannot please God because it is our faith that pleases him not our fears. Anything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23) When we believe the lies the enemy whispers in our ears, it’s like fighting against the promises of God instead of fighting the good fight of faith. We then dishonor God’s character.

Too often we require we see God working in our lives before we believe in His promises and claim them as our own but “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It’s not easy giving up our doubts though because they are a comfort to us whether we realize it or not. Our doubts always sympathize with our situation and so we begin to listen to them, join in with them and even indulge in them at times. I myself have indulged in awful thoughts in the past toward others that had done me wrong. I would dwell over how unkind they were to me and entertain all sorts of thoughts of how I could get back at them. Even though my indulgent thinking didn't make me happy, I found it very hard to stop those thoughts.

This is exactly what we tend to do with our doubts even though they make us unhappy. We listen to them, entertain them and indulge in them, and ultimately doubt God's care for us. We know he is a loving God and we believe His Word to be truth, but we somehow believe the enemies lies that we are too difficult a case for God to change us or that He chooses not to because he is probably fed up with us as much as we have messed up in our life time. We feel ashamed and unworthy especially when we have to ask for His forgiveness for the same thing over and over again.

I sure have felt that way about myself and of others before in the past even though God says “all things are possible with Him”. Our doubts are like a bad habit that is one of the hardest things to deny ourselves of especially if we’re not being transformed by the Word of God in our thoughts.

So what do we do in order to stop these doubts?

First, we must persist in turning from them, refusing to listen to them for even a moment.

We think we only are doubting ourselves because of our failures and feel if God chose to reject us, it would be fully deserved, but we are really doubting the Lord’s character - His faithfulness and willingness to love us unconditionally. We must continually remind ourselves that Jesus came to save, not the righteous, but sinners. Our sin, failures and unworthiness is the very reason why we CAN claim his love and care for us and believe in the promises of God for ourselves.

Second, realize we don’t have to feel confident to be confident and fully surrendering our doubts to Jesus just as any other sin or temptation. We can be confident because we are able to put our confidence in His Word instead of ourselves for our deliverance. Trusting the Lord to renew a steadfast spirit within us because God always take possession of a fully surrendered heart.

Third, we must choose whom we will serve (Josh 24:15) and profess our faith in the Word of God the moment doubts come knocking at our door. Making it a disciplined habit to take up the "sword of the spirit" and "shield of faith" so we are no longer live according to our feelings of fear and doubt. We can never completely hinder those feelings from coming but we can refuse to embrace them by professing our faith in Him, claiming the promises of God to be true instead. By holding fast to the professions of our faith without wavering we will cultivate a regular habit of believing his Word over our feelings and be able to enjoy the confident life God has for each one of us because he who has promised is faithful"

Heavenly Father, thank you for your unconditional love and care for us and sending Jesus on our behalf for the forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for your Word that is so full of wonderful promises for us to claim as our own and to put our confidence in. Renew a steadfast spirit within me with full confidence in you and help me to make it a habit to profess my faith through the Word of God the moment any doubts arise so I can enjoy the confident life you have purposed for me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

If you have allowed doubts to creep in that keep you from truly claiming the promises of God as your own and living a confident life, I pray you will stand them up against the Word of God today and start believing and claiming the Word over your feelings.

This is Lori Arriaga signing off now with this weeks Words for the Week. Sponsored by the Virtuous Women’s Retreat and Encouraging Audio Books.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

This is Lori Arriaga with this weeks edition of Words for the Week Christian Podcast brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

I publicly want to thank Penny for being so very patient and gracious with me while teaching me how to get things done and putting up with my rather disappointing “hiccup” last week.

While we are still meeting on Fridays for the Christian Women’s Gathering and everyone is still welcome to join us in the audio conference room, we won’t be recording them to post up on Words for the Week any more. I will instead be sharing with you short devotional thoughts God has put on my heart each week.

This weeks message is on confidence. I believe it is a timely message I myself need to address because of how my lack of confidence has surfaced lately.

This past week God sent encouragement to me on the very subject first from my sister who sent me a book by Joyce Meyer called “The Confident Woman” and then the very next day I received a CD from singer and songwriter with a song titled “I’m walking in God’s total confidence”

It has been something I struggle with, not so much in my spiritual walk with the Lord or encouraging others spiritually but more so when it comes to the business aspect of my website ministry. I tend to get intimidated easily by those who are known as experts in their field and those who seem to have it all together. I put very high expectation on myself and find it hard to see myself as knowing much because I know just how much more I still need to learn or how much I need to improve.

I believe we all struggle with not having confidence in one area or another making this a message we all can relate to. This past week I started reading The Confident Woman by Joyce Meyer and will share a few things that really helped me in regards to my lack of confidence.

First, I realized my lack of confidence was due to concentrating too much on my weaknesses lately rather then my strengths. Confident people concentrate on their strengths while delegating those things that are their weaknesses.

Next, I learned that even while I feel like I’m in over my head sometimes while trying new things or taking a risk I can still feel confident because I am secure in who God made me.

Last, I realized that when I am not confident in who I am, I am actually rejecting myself and how God has made me. I’ve always thought I accepted myself and who God has made me but I realize now I don’t when I start comparing myself or being envious of others wishing I had the gifts and talents they have.

Our confidence in who God has made us to be is what gives us permission to be different and unique and to keep getting up and moving forward even after we fail.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. - Jeremiah 17:7

Before we end with a song I invite you to attend our upcoming online Virtuous Women’s Retreat October 24^th-25th where you will receive lots of inspiration, fellowship and fun. Visit the website at: www.christianwomensresources.com for more information. Have a wonderful week full of God’s blessings.

Listen to “I’m walking in God’s total confidence” by Jacquelene Dyles Peters.

This is Lori Arriaga signing off now of this edition of Words for the Week, sponsored by Encouraging Audio Books.

A Greater Love, from Inspirations, by Angela Gillaspie

"Inspirations" contains sixteen stories of faith, triumph, inspiration, and love, and describes how neighbors became heroes in the aftermath of a deadly tornado, reminds you of how fleeting and precious time is, and inspires you with touching tales of parenthood.
Read More ... Listen to an excerpt.

TENDERNESS. Part 2.

From the song of Moses we learn still more of God's tender care. "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him." This metaphor beautifully expresses the care and the tenderness of God toward his children. The eagle is noted for her great attachment to her young. Her care is extraordinary. When the little eaglets have attained age and strength to leave the nest and learn to fly, the mother bird bears them up, when weary, on the top of her wing.

These all express to our hearts the wonderful tenderness of God to his children. But there is nothing in the material world that forms a full and perfect analogy for the things in the spiritual world. These are too high.

If we do not have the tenderness of God in our hearts, our life comes short of being a full and true life. The Bible tells us to "be kind one to another, tender-hearted." There is no true holiness of life without tenderness. As we get deeper into God, we become more tender of heart.

There are some things that will prevent this tender-heartedness. Just a little feeling of resentment, a little desire for retaliation, or a secret wish for something to befall those who have done us an injury will callous the heart and harden the affections. When we have been slighted by some one or misjudged, oh, how Satan strives to get us to thinking much about this, and to work a "hurt" feeling into our heart. Even to think about the meanness of others will bring a harshness and coldness into the inner life. That which we condemn in others will, if we think and talk much about it, creep into our own hearts.

Encouraging Audiobooks offers more devotions, the King James Bible in downloadable format, and Christian humor audio books. Help yourself to them.

TENDERNESS. Part 1.

In order for life to be what it should, it must flow from a heart full of tenderness. This is that quality of soul which enables us to give kind attention to others, to be willing and eager to do good, to exercise great carefulness to give no offense, and to be soft and gentle in every expression. Like all other good qualities, this is found in perfection in the character of God. "The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." Because of his pity he never lays upon his trusting child a greater burden than he can bear, and in his tender mercy he always gives to each trial a happy ending.

It will be helpful to study for a few minutes the principle of tenderness as an attribute in the nature of God. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." It is the father who sees his little child in deep pain that knows what pity is. It is that feeling which makes the father desirous of bearing all the pain. It was the pity or compassion of God for the lost in sin that caused him to give his only Son to suffer and die for them. When God saw the wretchedness of men, he had such a feeling in his heart that he could find relief in no way but in providing the only means of their rescue. Oh, think of this! The child of God never has a pain or a sorrow but that God has a feeling of pity. The knowledge that some one has pity for us and fellowships our suffering goes far toward alleviating our pains. Recently while I was in deep soul-suffering, I received a letter containing these words, "We suffer in spirit with you." This was a great relief. If in a time of trial we could know how God was suffering with us, it would be a great consolation.

Again, we read, "As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." Who is it that knows not the comfort of a mother? When we hear of a young man's meeting with a sad accident away from home, we have great pity; but when we learn of his mother's having gone to him, we feel better. Ah, the comfort of a mother is surpassed only by the comfort of Jesus. "If Mother were only here!" says the troubled daughter. Nothing else so fittingly represents the nature of the comfort that God gives as the comfort of a mother. O child of God, you will never have a sorrow nor a pain but that the tenderness of God will cause him to come and comfort you. Let us lift up our hearts and praise him for his mercy and comforting love. A mother may forget to comfort her child, but God will never forget.

The tenderness of God is revealed in these touching words, "How often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings." The imagery is homely, but oh! so impressively sublime. I can not do better than to use here the words of another. "Was ever imagery so homely invested with such grace and such sublimity as this at our Lord's touch? And yet how exquisite the figure itself of protection, rest, warmth, and all manner of conscious well-being in those poor, defenseless, dependent, little creatures, as they creep under and feel themselves overshadowed by the capacious and kindly wing of the mother bird. If wandering beyond hearing of her peculiar call, they are overtaken by a storm or attacked by an enemy, what can they do but in the one case droop and die, and in the other submit to be torn to pieces? But if they can reach in time their place of safety under the mother's wing, in vain will any enemy try to drag them thence. For rising into strength, kindling into fury, and forgetting herself entirely in her young, she will let the last drop of her blood be shed out and perish in defense of her precious charge, rather than yield them to an enemy's talons. How significant all this of what Jesus is and does for his helpless child!" Under his great wing he tenderly, lovingly gathers his little ones and there they are secure. He is a safe retreat.

GENTLENESS. Part 2.

Brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks, your source for family friendly audio.

The apostle Paul by way of testimony said to the Thessalonian saints, "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children." First Thessalonians 2, 7 Such was his manner. As a kind mother is to a delicate child, so was he to those whom he loved. Vastly different was he then from what he was when he was persecuting and wasting the church of God. He had been changed by grace. He exhorts servants of the Lord to "be gentle unto all men" , Second Timothy 2, 24, and to be "gentle, showing all meekness unto all men" , Titus 3, 2, . David, in his sublime tribute of praise to God in Second Samuel 22, 36 says, "Thy gentleness hath made me great."

Would you, my reader, like to be more gentle in your manner? Are you too harsh and rough? Are you, if a parent, as gentle to your children as you should be, at all times? Husband, are you as kind and gentle toward your wife as you should be? Do you believe you fill the Bible measure in this particular? Are you as gentle to your domestic animals as you should be? or do you have impatient feelings and act in a hasty, abrupt manner towards them? If you meet with something quite provoking from your wife or the children or the animals, do you keep as mild and sweet as you know you should? Now, I hope you will examine closely. I do not mean to condemn you; I want to help you. There are many professing saints today who are not nearly so gentle as they should be. Why not be in earnest, and seek God for help, and make improvement? Why go along with crossness, and coldness and snappishness in your life? Be gentle toward all.

Gentleness is a beauteous grace. Her excellence is great. By culture this grace is capable of much improvement. Too few saints experience it to the extent they should. I beseech you by the gentleness of Jesus to be in earnest and improve upon your gentleness. Never allow a frown or a scowl to settle for a moment upon your brow. It will leave its mark if you do so. Learn to be gentle in your home. Sometimes when far away from home, you picture to yourself how gentle and kind and loving you should be at home. By God's grace you can be just as gentle as you see in the picture you should.

GENTLENESS. Part 1.


Fruit-bearing trees are used in the Scriptures to represent the race of mankind. The Savior likens the wicked to "corrupt trees," which bear evil fruit and the righteous to "good trees" which bear good fruit , Matthew 7, 15, 20, . He also teaches very emphatically the impossibility of one's being a good tree and yet bearing evil fruit, or of being a corrupt tree and bearing good fruit. Since the nature of the fruit we bear determines what manner of tree we are, it is very advisable that we as professing Christians should frequently examine the fruit we are bearing. To be Christ's, or to be a Christian, we must have the Spirit of Christ; for the Scriptures say that "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" , Romans 8, 9.

As certainly as cause produces effect, those who have the Spirit of Christ bear the fruit of the Spirit. Not to bear the fruit of the Spirit is full proof that you have not the Spirit. Then a close examination of the fruit you are bearing will reveal to you whether or not you have the Spirit of Christ, whether or not you are his, whether or not you are a Christian. You can make a superficial examination, and allow yourself to be deceived. You can make excuses for yourself because of your weaknesses, and thus deceive yourself. But a close, thorough, profound examination will disclose to each one the manner of spirit he is of.

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"BE DOERS OF THE WORD."


I want to remind you again that the mission of this little volume is to teach you how to live. The life beyond depends on the life here. Let me emphasize what I have repeatedly said before, to live as we should, we must live by every word of God. To live by every word of God is not only to hear it but also to do it. We have learned that, in order to enter the city of God and eat of the tree of life, we must do his commandments, and also that it is not "every one that sayeth, Lord, Lord, that shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Now I will read you a text from the Epistle of James, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." We are living in a careless age. The Word of God is being treated with neglect. Many are hearing it, [Read More!]

KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS. Part 2.


Will not heaven be well worth a life of obedience to the Word of God, though obedience calls us through storms of persecutions, furnaces of trials, oceans of tribulations, and years of toil and suffering? To Moses the reproaches of Christ were greater treasures than the riches of Egypt, "for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Sit quiet for a
moment and by a strong eye of faith look away into heaven and see that bright mansion prepared for you. See those jasper walls, those pearly gates, and those golden walks. See the crown of life, the harp of God, and the light of the Lamb. Shall we not bear the trials of life a little longer in patience? Shall we not be watchful to walk in God's ways and obey him, that this rich inheritance may be ours forever? Methinks I can hear a reply coming from the depths of many a sincere, trusting heart, "Yes, I will live in humble obedience to God on earth, that I may be with him forever in that celestial city of light." God bless you!

Beyond the shores of time and the kingdoms of this world is a kingdom called the kingdom of heaven. It is the place where God has his great white throne,

[Read More!]