Gaining the Prize ... 1/27/2013

Sunday School Lesson for 1/27/2013. Unit II. Exalting Christ. Gaining the Prize. Philippians 3:12-16. ............................................................... Philippians 3:12-16 ... Paul, past and present (Warning Digression)................. What motivates us to press toward a goal? .......................................... Philippians 3:12,13,14 ... Man Redeemed; Duties and Graces of The New Life; Perfection, Absolute Perfection Not Found ............................................... verses 12,14 ... rules for running the Christian race .............................. On earth, no believer/Christian will reach spiritual perfection. Paul's example for us/christians is to continue to press for the goal - Heaven. ....................... Like the apostle Paul, we must strive to make peace with our past and move forward. ................................................................................. Paul's prize, as well as believer's prize is imperishable. Our prize is more valuable than runners in a game/contest. ................................................... Philippians 3:15a ... Man Redeemed; Blessedness of the New Life; Growth in Grace ................................................................................... Christians/believers have been made righteous before God; but we still have sinful natures. Believers/christians have no excuse to live as we please - even though we will never reach perfection on earth. When we sin, we should confess/repent to Jesus, whose blood cleanses us and returns us back to our positions of perfection. We will be pressing for spiritual perfection until Jesus presents us faultless before HIS Father in Heaven. ................................................................... Philippians 3:15b-16 .... Man Redeemed; Blessedness of The New Life; Growth in Grace .................................................................................. Christians/believers should have the same mind/attitude; this is what the apostle Paul was telling the Church at Philippi. ......................................... Christians have different levels of spiritual maturity. We should be focused on being more like Christ each day, anticipating His second coming - this is when Christians will become like Christ (Glorification - Romans 8:30). ............................ Believers are not to take credit for their accomplishments, but give God the Glory. (Matthew 5:45) ................................................................................. Matthew 5:45 ... Works of God; God's Providence Among Men; Sends Good & Evil to Good & Bad Alike...... God; Attributes of God As Person; God's Goodness. ......................... This lesson only has four verses but there were many Scriptures within the lesson that I read, studied and wrote notes on. Since it was so lengthy I have not shared it online but would gladly share if requested next week. ............................. Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Bible & Zondervan Bible Commentary

Career Info Tips & Ideas

Family, Career, Job, Scholarship, & Skills ..................................................................................... Skills ... listening, parenting, reading ..................................................................................... At one time I was the bapist, business coach, and insurance host/editor for the 2nd women largest women website in the world. It was quite a journey and I did learn much........................................................................................................................................................................... http://youthlinks.com/career_planning/education.htm .............................................................................................................................................................................. When I share websites/urls I do check them at the time of sharing to insure that the information I share is family-friendly ... but we do know that as time goes on sometimes websites/urls changes hand but as of January 26,2013 this information is what I wanted to share.

WWW/Life Management/Christian Leadership

Invest – Teach – Mentor: via of classes, study groups, or seminars. Need a teacher or mentor contact me.

Watch and Pray

Wolves in Sheep Clothing: Be sober minded/alert

Teach Biblical Truths: II Timothy 2:15; Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32; Revelations 22:18,19

Now I must share that I have never attended Theology/Seminary School; so someone with greater insight may be able to expound further.

Jesus’s Ministry was about meeting the needs of people: healing, teaching, service, & preaching. (I am not a preacher nor evangelist) God’s Plan For The Church – Matthew 16:18; I Corinthians 12:12-26; Colossians 1:15-29; Philippians 2:5 Success – Joshua 1:8

The Upright are Blessed & Prosperous —— Prosperity in Biz & Finance (success means different things to different individuals) Matthew 5:45 – Works of God; God’s Providence Among Men; Sends God & Evil to Good & Bad Alike. God Attributes of God As Person, God’s Goodness

The WWW/Internet provides an avenue that might not be available in your city, state, and or home location for possible network opportunities …. now this is the reason why I went to the Internet in 2000 and have not looked back. The Internet has given birth to a new Entrepreneurial Force on a Global Expansion that has and could be developing into greater ways for ministry as well as starting a home business and the growth of a home biz, possible job creation, and company growth for brick-and-mortar biz. (5/15/2000 Angela Watkins)



There is no excuse for no ministry, organization, biz, or individual not to have a social media presence or own a blog. Blogs and social media at this moment are free.

Use your time wisely on social media and creating/marketing your blogs.

Personally I have had a free website, writing profiles, domains, and blogs ever since I have been online. Don’t think I had lots of money for I did not. I did though use free resources in all my daily activities from my home. (At a later date I will share more on this subject)

Holy Spirit – Comforter, Guide, Help …… Galatians 5:16-17, 18-21, 22-26; Acts 9:17-18; Acts 8:29-38

We are not to boast/belittle but uplift the Church/Kingdom of God – Colossians 3:23

Leadership – Mark 10:42; Romans 12:6,8; I Peter 4:10; Deuteronomy 1:13

Kindness – Luke 10:30-35; Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 12:8; Galatians 5:22 Kindness knows no race, color, social
background, but acts where there is a need. (This might be my gift … I don’t know what my gift is)

If someone does not receive you/me move on ………..


Life Management Skills: Study Groups, Classes, Seminars Ideas:

Domestic Violence/Abuse(mental, verbal, emotional)

Healthy Lifestyles

Caregivers

Women & children welfare & safety

Financial Management/Planning

Loneliness – singles, senior citizens, widows, divorced


Two Books I Reviewed could be great tools for Financial Management Tools:

January 2005 – The Debt Diet … An Easy To Follow Guide To Shed Debt & Spending by Ellie Kay (Ellie Kay is known as America’s Financial Expert) I might revisit this book and do an updated review




November/December 2012 – The Heart of Financial Matters by Eddie Hedges …. Mr. Hedges is a retired banker, CEO, President of 3 banks in Texas. This book shares on Biblical Principles not a get-rich-quick-book.

Gain & Loss .. 1/20/2013

Sunday School Lesson for 1/20/2013. Unit II. Exalting Christ. Gain and Loss. Philippians 3:7-11. ............................................................... Philippians 3:7-11 .... Paul: past and present (Warning Digression) ................ Philippians 3:7 - Man Redeemed; Justification; Faith the Instrumental Cause ......... Have you ever purposely accepted a short-term loss to achieve a long-term gain? Now if you/we/me have, compare those losses and gains with the Christian life. .......... The things that the apostle Paul had counted as a .... gain .... he now counted as a .... loss. ....................................................................... Paul left an amazing record for us; Christ was more valuable than anything he had or would ever "earn" in his self-righteous spiritual life. ............................ Philippians 3:8-9 ... Man Redeemed; Justification; Faith the Instrumental Cause ..... Justification (the past) - Philippians 3:7-9 ........................................ Sanctification (the present) - Philippians 3:10-14 .................................. Glorification (the future) - Philippians 3:15-16 .................................... The Law was not able to save mankind (Galatians 2:21) ............................... The apostle Paul in the past had been a sinner, but was made justified (Romans 4:3) with God (Romans 10:3) by faith (Romans 3:22; 10:8-10) in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9; II Corinthians 5:21) ........................................................... On the Cross at Calvary, God exchanged our sinfulness with Christ's righteousness (II Corinthians 5:21). No one can be saved on someone else's experience of Salvation. This is a personal matter, with continual faith in Christ. .......................... Philippians 3:10-11 ................................................................. Verse 10 - Jesus Christ; The Burial & Resurrection of Christ; Explanation, By New Testament Writers ................................................................... Verse 11 - Eschatology(Last Things); The Resurrection of The Body; The Believer's Longing ............................................................................. The apostle Paul was growing more like Christ through Christ's power (I Corinthians 6:11). .............................................................................. The only way to personally know and experience Christ was through experiential learning .... The apostle Paul wanted the Philippian Church to know that the study of God's Word would give them .... "book" .... knowledge of Christ (John 5:39; II Peter 3:18). ............................................................................... At the second coming of Christ we will experience resurrection/transformation (Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18). ......................................... Self-worth of many people resides in accolades/honors/awards/material possessions they have and or their accomplishments in life...... Think on the true value of your(my) life when we are stripped of our achievements .... The apostle Paul believed that no achievement in the earthly life is worth anything when compared to the value of knowing Christ Jesus .... Value resides in everything, from the .... smallest ... and the ... last, ... this was stressed by Jesus in "The Parable of the Lost Sheep." ............................................................................ The Christian life requires growing in maturity to correctly evaluate the importance of secular and spiritual things. Growing and maturing in Christ requires constant commitment and re-commitment. ....................................................... The Saints of God must have complete trust in Christ. .............................. Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Bible & Zondervan Bible Commentary

Entrepreneurship: Should It Be Promoted In Christian Ministries?

Why or why not should Entrepreneurship be promote in church ministry? .............. The Prophet Jeremiah Purchased Real Estate: Jeremiah 32:7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,25,43,44 ................................................. The Cross/Gospel/Ministry of Jesus Christ should not be compromised. ................ There are lost souls, people in need, children being abused, and people struggling for power and wealth. .............................................................. But, also in this day of economic downturn this subject could be studied and looked at by someone who has a greater insight and have studied extensively or who have Theological Training. ............................................................... I would recommend to allow the Holy Spirit to lead/guide those in the Leadership Role(s) of the Christian Ministry to decide whether or not to promote Entrepreneurship in the Church Ministry. ........................................... We attend Church in unity with the Saints of God to Worship the Lord and Praise the Lord. .............................................................................. Jesus’s Ministry was also meeting the needs of the people. Whether healing, raising the dead, teaching on how to obtain everlasting life. ............................... Everything should be done in order. ................................................. Civil & Social Life; Business Affairs; Inheritance; Birthright: Genesis 48:13,14,17,18,19 ................................................................... Business Habits; Honesty & Diligence: Proverbs 16:8; 22:29 .......................... Benefits of Trade: Genesis 34:20,21,22,23 ......................................... Fraud: Leviticus 19:11; I Thessalonians 4:6,7 ...................................... Man’s Original Employment; Before The Fall: Genesis 2:8,9,15 ....................... Man’s Original Employment After The Fall: Genesis 3:23; 4:2

Why Give Freebies Away? Check Out This Link

Entrepreneur’s Journal: When it makes sense to give your product …............................................................................... Ideas is shared there as well at Blogging Stocks — http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/06/entrepreneurs-journal-when-it-makes-sense-to-give-your-product/ ..................................................................................... The domain/websites listed are no longer mine. I was the original created of the names of the domains, for I name them after me. ................................................................................. I once earlier in the year was invited to share with a small group of ladies and I told them that the Library should be one of their best friends. Why? The library has an array of books on many topics for those who do not have a budget to purchase books. No two people will view things the same way as well as no two businesses. ...................................................................................... Angela’s Writing Profile: http://www.writers.net/writers/21422

Pray for Our Troops

This is not a new article/story. This article/story is over 6 years old. It was shared with me and I asked for permission to publish it some years ago. ..................................................................................... http://www.patrioticwebsitesofamerica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126:the-foster-a-soldier-program&catid=3:blog-patriotic&Itemid=20 ....................................................................................... The domain/website listed is no longer mine. I was the original creater, builder, designer of my domain. I created my domains from my name. I have had as many as 4 domains. ............................................................................................ Angela’s Writing Profile: http://www.writers.net/writers/21422