Spiritual Corner

 Excerpt from, “Daily Devotional The Word For You Today”
New Life Community Church
Pastor Kendal Granger

“The Integrity of the upright will guide them.” –Proverbs 11:3 NKJV

Integrity(2)

We all suffer from something psychologists call “fundamental attribution error.” It works like this: if something good happens in my life I tend to explain it by taking credit for it. But if I fail, I explain it by blaming my circumstances. If I do well on a test I think it’s because I’m smart; if I do poorly, it’s because I was distracted. If people like my sermon it’s because I’m a good preacher; if they don’t, it’s because they’re too shallow. What makes the fundamental attribution error worse is the way we explain the bad behavior of other people, while explaining our own bad behavior in terms of mitigating circumstances. We say other people’s bad behavior is because that would exhaust the patience of Job. If you yell at your child, it’s obvious that you need to see an anger management counselor. If I get a speeding ticket, it’s because the police needed to fill their quota so they set up a trap when they should have been out catching criminals. If you get a speeding ticket, it show that you’re not qualified to be behind the wheel.

What’s the solution to the fundamental attribution error? The way of grace and repentance. We need God’s help to see the truth about ourselves. And He gives it to us in three ways: a. Through prayer. B. Through reading and applying His Word. C. Through people who love and know us well; people who don’t tell us what we want to hear but what we need to hear.

 

 

 

Excerpt from, “Daily Devotional The Word For You Today”
New Life Community Church
Pastor Kendal Granger

“The Integrity of the upright will guide them.” –Proverbs 11:3 NKJV

Integrity

 

Psychologists speak of an integrity blind spot in each of us which is called “the self-serving bias.” Here are some examples of it: 800,000 high school students were asked whether they were above or below average. Now if they were accurate they’d be split 50-50. Guess what percentage rated themselves below average? Zero! 20% rated themselves in the top 1%! This self-serving bias extends to every area. The majority of people in the hospital suffering from crashes that they caused themselves as above average drivers. You may think that education would make us more honest and self aware, but no. 88% of college professors rated themselves above average; 25% rated themselves truly exceptional. Another survey of 200 sociologists found that half of them believed they would become one of the top ten sociologists in the world. No wonder there are such conflicts around tenure and promotion. And the church is not exempt. George Barna did a survey of pastors- people who are paid to teach on texts such as : “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3NIV). “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1Peter 5:6NIV). Guess what? 90% of all the pastors in the survey considered themselves “above average” preachers. Perhaps most ironic of all: when people have the concept of self-serving bias carefully explained to them, the majority rate themselves as “well above average” in their ability to handle self-serving bias. Wow! Our Problem is not just our lack of integrity, but that we can’t see how badly we lack it.

 

ARE YOU FULL TIME OR PART TIME? by OhSoSavvy

Spirit works on a full-time basis.

Life requires that we spend parts of our time doing certain things. We work sometimes, we go to school at times; we are children or parents or friends part-time. The one area of life that cannot be addressed on a part-time basis is the spiritual life. To be a part-time Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or anything else results in “a house divided against itself”, which cannot stand. The spiritual house is the mind and it requires constant care. Spiritual conviction is the manner in which the house is run. When you have a spiritual conviction, it will serve you in all situations, all day, every day, in every way. The same spirit that guides your family life must also run your social life. If you turn to spirit for financial guidance, you must also ask for professional guidance. If you let spirit pick your friends, you must trust it to pick your mate. Part-time spirituality creates inner turmoil, indecision, confusion, and stagnation. Once we let spirit take over full time, we will find life is more enjoyable and peaceful than we ever thought possible.

I let go and let spirit guide me every day in every way.

~OhSoSavvy~

JUMPING FOR JOY by OhSoSavvy

Occasionally, I will include excerpts from a fabulous book called “Acts of Faith” by Ivanla Vanzant. These readings are powerful and speak to me continuously. This one is dedicated to JOY…something many of us don’t have in our lives. How deep is your joy?

“That my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” — John 15:11

Waiting for a particular turn of events is a good way to lead yourself into disappointment. Depending on anyone to make you happy, make you feel good, or lift your spirit is a sure way to place yourself in isolation. When your joy is dependent on people and conditions, it is restricted. Joy must spring forth from you before it can surround you. Joy must be the way you walk and the way you speak to those who come into your realm. Joy is knowing you are doing what you can, the best you can, and you are feeling food about it. Joy is knowing time is on your side and wherever you are, you are the joy.  Joy is taking a moment to say thank you, a day to do for self, and an energy of sharing what you have. Joy is not what happens to you; it is what comes through you when you are conscious of the blessing you are.

I am the source of my joy.

~OhSoSavvy~

 

 MAN vs GOD by SimplyPut

“Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” -Hebrews 11:1

So Sunday @ church the Minister preached about Faith! A lot of people can’t put the essence or meaning of Faith into words, and that is exactly why I love this verse! It defines Faith.

What I got out of the service was that we as people put more Faith in man than we do in GOD! What makes it worst is that most times we don’t even think anything of it; however it takes so much for us to trust in GOD!

Ever walk into a building and feel safe? You do because you have Faith that the man made building will not collapse, that is Faith in man!

Ever get into a car and feel like it’s safe to drive? You do because you have Faith that the man made car will safely get you from point A to point B, that is Faith in man!

Often times when we are going through tough times it is hard for us to even believe that we’ll make it out. Believing that GOD will see us through what ever, is Faith in God!

Who do you have more Faith in…man or GOD??????

~SimplyPut

 

STUCK IN A RUT? by SimplyPut

Last Sunday my pastor preached about: “How to Break Out of a Rut!”

Mark 10: 46-52(Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight)
46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
________________________________________

Seven things you need to do when you find yourself stuck in a rut:

1.  You must assume responsibility for your actions.
2. You must believe that you can change.
3. You must clarify: Speak what you really need to get out of your rut.
4. You must stop worrying about what other people think or say.
   • Fear and disappointment of others keeps us in our ruts!
5. You must stop waiting for ideal situations to get out of your rut.
   • There won’t be one!
6. You must put it all out there for everyone to see .
   • Take a public stance!
   • Do something bold!
7. You must do Something NOW!
   • Do not wait any longer!

When the Lord brings you out of your rut Follow him!!!!!

I’m not sure what your particular rut is but I do believe that in our own way everyone finds themselves in a rut every now and then. It is time out for ruts of poor choices and bad decisions. You have to believe that you can get out and you have to be willing to take the necessary steps to change! This really hit home for me. Let me know what you think.

~SimplyPut

Here are the Lyrics to one of my favorite praise and worship songs right now:

I Live To Worship You Lyrics

by

Lamar Cambell & Spirit of Praise

 

I live to worship you
I worship you to live(x2)

You are the king of glory
You are the great I am
Your souvergin lord eternaly
Because of who you are i am
I live to worship you

I live to bless your name
I bless your name to live(x2)

You are the king of glory
You are the great I am
Your souvergin lord eternaly
Because of who you are i am
I live to worship you

I live to honor you
I honor you to live(x2)

You are the king of glory
You are the great I am
Your souvergin lord eternaly
Because of who you are i am
I live to worship you

Im not forgotten
You know the plans you have for me
To give me hope
Plans for my future
You know my destiny(x3)

I live to worship you

Im not forgotten
You know the plans you have for me
To give me hope
Plans for my future
You know my destiny(x3)

I live to worship you(x2)

 

 ~SimplyPut