Tag Archives: prayer

Jul12

WWJD? At work?

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WWJD? At work?

In His Steps by Charles M. SheldonIn His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon
In the original book that started the WWJD? movement back in 1897 (too bad it didn’t stick), In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon, several business people who are members of the fictional First Christian Church of Raymond, Kanas, take the pledge to ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?” before making any decisions or reacting. The results are incredible from a man who reports his superiors after discovering they were defrauding the government and subsequently losing his job, to the  newspaper editor who stopped accepting ads for tobacco and liquor, to the business owner who started treating his employees and customers with the Grace of God.

But, In His Steps is a work of fiction. It was a compilation of a 12-week sermon series that Rev. Sheldon preached to his congregation in 1896.

How different would the world be if Christians everywhere would really live a WWJD? life – especially in business?

James Cash Penney c. 1902

James Cash Penney c. 1902

We have a modern-day example of a Christian businessperson who lived a WWJD? life – James Cash Penney, better know and J. C. Penney, the man who started the chain store from a store called, “The Golden Rule” in Kemmerer, Wyoming. J. C. Penney has stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico along with a catalog business nationwide.

I have found silence to be a powerful element in prayer. To learn to be alone with God even in the presence of others is something we Christians should try to do. There are innumerable times during the day when we can turn our thoughts, even for a moment, from business affairs and center them on God’s goodness, Christ’s love, our fellow man’s needs.
~ J. C. Penney*

His philosophy was to treat customers as he would want to be treated.

How are you doing? Are you treating your customers, clients, co-workers and employees as you would want to be treated? Do you stop and pray and thank God several times a day? You should.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

*J. C. Penney quoted from 365 Daily Answers to What Would Jesus Do?

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Twitter: @wwjdrevival

Check out these other great blogs:

Deo Volente! (God Willing): Love in the First Century by Giselle AguiarIf you enjoyed this, you’ll love Giselle’s award-winning Christian novel: Deo Volente! (God Willing): Love in the First Century a historical novel about the early church check it out! $1 from the sale of each book – no matter what format, benefits StreetLight USA to help eradicate child sex slavery. www.giselleaguiar.com/novel1

Great Blessings!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Giselle Aguiar
Christian, Award-Winning Author
Follow Giselle on Twitter
https://twitter.com/giselleaguiar

Jan26

Wisdom is a gift from God

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Wisdom is a gift from God
This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Wisdom-A Gift from God

I’ve made my share of unwise decisions and I know many people including close family members who have made them also. All of these mistakes are opportunities to learn, but the key is to ask God for wisdom BEFORE you make the decision to HELP you make the right decision.

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. ~Proverbs 3:13-14

Joyce Meyer writes in her book “Hearing from God each Morning”

Wisdom discerns truth in a situation, while common sense provides good judgement regarding what to do with the truth. I consider wisdom supernatural because it isn’t taught by men; it is a gift from God.

King Solomon is known for his wisdom. Why? Because he asked for it. God told Solomon:

Ask for whatever you want me to give you. ~1 Kings 3:5

Wow! That’s like finding the magic lamp with the genie inside! What would you have asked for?

Solomon could have asked for wealth or for long life, but no. He asked for wisdom – to be able to discern, that is, tell right from wrong. (1 Kings 3:6-14)

Because of that, God gave him the riches and long life anyway.

Folks going through recovery from addiction memorize the Serenity Prayer and are told to recite it often. But that prayer is not just for addicts. It’s for everyone:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Each morning we should ask God to provide wisdom (notice it’s not one of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23) for each and every decision we need to make that day.

We must stop and ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do in this situation?”

Be wise and we will live long and prosper.

Read the book of Proverbs – it’s what God wants us to do and how He wants us to live.

Follow WWJD on Twitter

Check out these other great blogs:
Enlightenment, Encouragement & Enrichment by Giselle Aguiar, Award-Winning Christian Author

Deo Volente (God Willing) – covering writing, Christian church history and Christianity

If you enjoyed this, you’ll love Giselle’s award-winning Christian novel: Deo Volente! (God Willing): Love in the First Century a historical novel about the early church check it out! $1 from the sale of each book – no matter what format, benefits StreetLight Phoenix to help eradicate child sex slavery. www.giselleaguiar.com/novel1

Great Blessings!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Giselle Aguiar
Award-Winning Christian Author
Follow Giselle on Twitter
https://twitter.com/giselleaguiar

Dec15

10 Ways to Pray for People in Authority

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10 Ways to Pray for People in Authority
This entry is part 19 of 22 in the series Striving to be Christlike
Washington DC

Washington DC (Photo credit: eGuide Travel)

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.~1 Timothy 2:1-2

No matter which political party you favor, if you voted for the current president, senators, congresspeople, representatives, federal, state or local, you can still pray for them. God calls us to.

  1. That they be God Fearing and recognize that they are accountable to Him for each decision and act. (Proverbs 9:10)
  2. That they be granted wisdom, knowledge and understanding. (James 1:5)
  3. That, if unsaved, they be drawn to a saving encounter with Christ; if born again, they be strengthened and encouraged in their faith. (1 Timothy 2:4, Ephesians 1: 17-23)
  4. That they recognize their own inadequacy and pray and seek the will of God. (Proverbs 3:5-8, Luke 11: 9-13)
  5. That they read the Bible and attend prayer meetings and Bible studies. (Psalm 11: 1-7, Colossians 3:2)
  6. That they be given godly counsel and God-fearing advisors. (Proverbs 24:6)
  7. That they be honest in financial, tax and ethical matters. (1 Corinthians 6:10, 1 Timothy 6:6-10)
  8. That they desire honesty, integrity and loyalty. (Psalm 26: 1-12, Proverbs 11:3)
  9. That they have courage to resist manipulation, pressure and the fear of man. (Proverbs 29:25, 2 Timothy 1:7)
  10. That they endeavor to restore the sanctity of life, families, divine order and morality in our nation. (Ephesians 5:22-6:4)

Note: I can’t take credit for writing this or the research putting scriptures for each number. This came from a handout with no copyright or author that I found in my church’s prayer room called “Prayers for Our Country and Our Leaders.”

Related reading: Wanting God’s Best for Our Land

Great Blessings!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Giselle Aguiar
Award-Winning Christian Author

Check out Giselle’s award-winning Christian novel: Deo Volente! (God Willing): Love in the First Century a historical novel about the early church check it out! $1 from the sale of each book – no matter what format, benefits StreetLight Phoenix to help eradicate child sex slavery. www.giselleaguiar.com/novel1

Follow Giselle on Twitter
https://twitter.com/giselleaguiar
http://twitter.com/wwjdrevival

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Nov30

Grieving the loss of a job

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Grieving the loss of a job
This entry is part 8 of 10 in the series Don't Worry

Losing one’s job is sometimes like losing one’s identity. When you’re gainfully employed, you introduce yourself as your job title. When that’s gone, what do you have? Nothing?

No, you still have you.

But you’re angry, bitter, resentful, vengeful. You are lost. You feel like a failure.

If you hold on to all those bad emotions, you’ll just bury yourself in a deep depression finding it difficult to move on.

Your anger translates into aggression when interviewing for a job. That’s not good.

You need to release that anger – but not onto your friends and family! Yell at God. It’s ok. He’s heard it all before. He knows what you’re going through. Go ahead and ask, “Why me, Lord? Why now?”

Let go and let God. God is in Control. Trust God, it works!

You will not be able to move forward if you keep looking behind you. The past is past – let it go and face the future with confidence. Read: Fear vs. Faith

Here are some bible passage that will help you through the tough times.

Psalm 40
Matthew 6:25-27
1 Peter 1:6-7
1
Peter 5:6
Jeremiah 29:11
John 16:33
James 1:2-4
Philippians 4:13-14
Philippians 4:4-7
James 5:11
Psalm 121:1-2

Like what you read? Then you’ll love my award-winning Christian novel: Deo Volente! (God Willing): Love in the First Century a historical novel about the early church check it out! $1 from the sale of each book – not matter what format benefits StreetLight Phoenix to help eradicate child sex slavery. www.giselleaguiar.com/novel1

Great Blessings!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Giselle Aguiar
Award-Winning Christian Author
Follow Giselle on Twitter
https://twitter.com/giselleaguiar or http://twitter.com/wwjdrevival

 

 

 

Sep19

Why go to church?

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Why go to church?
This entry is part 16 of 21 in the series Christianity

Why if I already believe in Jesus, do I have to go to church?

There are many reasons but the most important are:

Praise and Worship -

I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells…My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord. ~Psalm 26:6-8, 12

Psalm 27:1-14
Psalm 108:1-6

Fellowship/Friendship – Fellowship is gathering in a social setting and not discussing church business. Joining a church gives you an automatic church family. Read Benefits of a Church Family.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.~1 John 1:7

2 Corinthians 6:13-15

Comfort and Support - Church is like the locker room before the game. It’s the pep talk that lifts you up before you go out into the world to face another week. Your church family is also there to support you in your time of trial and need. They are they to pray for you.

Service – God calls us to help the less fortunate.

Matthew 25:31-46

Learning – Sure you can read your Bible at home, but do you really understand it? Attending church, small group Bible studies or seminars help clarify some foggy areas, teach you how to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. ~ Psalm 25:4-5

Prayer-

Scripture says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” ~2 Chronicles 7:14

HEAL THEIR LAND – Boy, can our land use healing!

I’ve often referred to the Church of America as a sleeping giant. It’s time for the Church to arise! Isaiah 60:1-2 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” ~Rod Parsley – Breakthrough www.rodparsley.com

WWJD?

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ~Ephesians 4:11-16

Directions from God. We are supposed to obey Him.
To become part of the chosen, click here for direction
Go to church and be blessed!
Solid Deo Gloria!
Giselle Aguiar
Award Winning Christian Author
If you want to see how going to church in the first century was like, read my novel: Deo Volente! (God Willing): Love in the First Century
Follow Giselle on Twitter
May5

How to pray

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How to pray
This entry is part 10 of 22 in the series Striving to be Christlike

When was the last time you had a conversation with God?

Was it when you were a kid, kneeling beside your bed at night saying, “Now I lay me down to sleep…?”

Or maybe mindlessly rattling off 10 Hail Marys and 5 Our Fathers as your penance after confession?

Maybe it was the last time something went wrong and you yelled up to sky, “Why me, Lord, why me!”

Actually, it’s very easy. There’s no set formula, just some guidelines. But you need to know that God is a loving God and you are His child. You can speak to Him like if you’re speaking to a loving parent that cares for you and does not want to see you suffer.

Just talk to God no matter where you are. He doesn’t care what the words are, just that they are sincere – from the heart.

Here are some guidelines based on the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:6-14 when Jesus’ followers asked him, “Teach us how to pray.”

Jesus replied, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (Praising God)
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Acknowledging that God is in control and it’s His will not yours.)
     
“Give us today our daily bread. (He is the ultimate provider, but you still have to ask.)
Forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors (those who have sinned against us).

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (“The evil one” is Satan, the Devil, whatever you want to call him. Satan and his demons are all around us – tempting us. Evil is the absence of God just as darkness is the absence of light.)

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

You need to thank God for what you have – food, a roof over your head, a job if you have one, etc., because everything you have came from God. You may think you worked for it, but God created everything and he allowed us to work for what we’ve got. Everything belongs to Him and we are just the caretakers while we are on earth.

Then you can ask Him for things, help, whatever is heavy on your heart for yourself or a family member or friend in need. The more open you are with God, the better.

But if He supposed to know everything, why do we need to ask? Yes, he knows you and what’s in your heart, but He wants us to recognize His power (“For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever…”) and to lay your needs at His feet. When you do that, He takes them off your shoulders and you’ll feel the weight lifted. That is what trusting God is all about.

Read this post: Up the Down Escalator – When-Tough-Times-Get-You-Down

Remember, praying is just talking to God, your Father – “Daddy”. He loves you unconditionally. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done – God loves you.

May5

Do we have to be reminded to pray?

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Do we have to be reminded to pray?
This entry is part 9 of 22 in the series Striving to be Christlike

Are we so distracted by daily goings on that we can’t find the time to stop and talk to God?

Yes.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:4-7

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. ~Psalm 121:1-2

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”~ Matthew 7:7-8

Why just one day?

We should pray every day. More than once a day.

Thank God for a new day and ask Him to guide you through it.

Thank God for your food. He allowed you to have it.

Thank God for the small things like running water and a roof over your head – the things we take for granted.

Pray for our leaders.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.~ 1 Timothy 2:1

Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.~ 1 Peter 2:17

Love your neighbor as yourself. You don’t need to like everyone, but you must respect them as human beings. You may not like your government leaders, but you must respect them. We’re stuck with them till the next election.

Even if you haven’t talked to God in a while, NOW is a good time to start.

America Needs Your Prayers
God Bless,
Giselle Aguiar
www.giselleaguiar.com
Soli Deo Gloria!

Jan5

Shut up and listen!

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Shut up and listen!
This entry is part 5 of 21 in the series Christianity
Be still, and know that I am God…~Psalm 46:10

Jesus often left His disciples and the crowds to be in solitude, in prayer with The Father. Often we pray and we do all the talking. We need to shut up and listen for God’s message to us.

In Jesus’ day, it was easy to get away and be quiet. In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with distractions – cell phones, TV, radio, traffic, kids, our inner to do lists, stress. Even when we try be silent and focus on God, our minds wander – did I shut off the coffee maker? I have to call my_____ (you fill in the blank); I forgot to do________…. the distractions inside and outside of our bodies are constant and we can’t hit the snooze button and shut them off.

How do we know what God’s will is for us? We need to be quiet and listen.

I enjoy hiking. It allows me to get away from the world and get closer to God in nature.

You have to find your own quiet time in a quiet place and be still and listen for God to speak to you.

God Bless,
Giselle Aguiar
Soli Deo Gloria
www.giselleaguiar.com/wwjd
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