Walking With Christ: Esther From Germany Shares A Few Thoughts

We draw closer to God through the reading of his word for ourselves and in having faith in him alone.

Growing spiritually requires dying to our flesh daily. It isn't easy but our willingness to please God gives room for the Grace of God to help us grow spiritually and to overcome our weaknesses.

Regarding age difference and marriage, the Lord knows our needs. His will concerning this area in our lives, regarding a Christian partner, will be done.

 

As Christians, we are supposed to be dating with a purpose. Sadly in today's society, not a lot of Christians see it that way. They have fully embraced the way of the world when it comes to dating.

There are many new, born again Christians out there but unfortunately many are being continuously fed milk instead of hard meat. They totally depend on the pastor, not reading the Bible for themselves.

 

Many of these new Believers still believe that fornication is okay in the eyes of God. 

One of the problems with new generation Christianity is that they are not rooted in God's Word. They are sensitive and easily offended at the same time. They think it's okay to keep having a little bit of the world and a little bit of Jesus.

 

They think the Grace of God is there to continue to endure willful sin. When someone tries to show them light in those areas, they scream don't judge me.

 

See Esther's mini-bio below.

 

 

 

Esther is 43, single/never married and she has no children. She lives in Fürth, Bayern (Bavaria) Germany and is a Christian who fervently loves the Lord. She works with elderly nursing home residents who are living in their final stages of earthly life and are in need of full support and assistance, including palliative care, on a daily basis. Esther shares about her personal life and relationship with God:

 

My last romantic relationship was 7 years ago and I was unequally-yoked. I remember while taking a shower that I told God I was going to totally commit my life to Him. I vowed that the next relationship I became involved in was going to be courting to get married. I promised my Heavenly Father that I was going to honor His word and not defile myself again with sexual sin, which the Bible calls fornication. By God's grace, I will not have an intimate relationship again until after I am married. 

 

I came to a point in my life where I decided that if I am going to fully dedicate my life to Christ, I would have to let go of one very obvious sin. I was a slave to the sin of fornication. That turning point was 7 years ago and I have never looked back. My relationship with Jesus has grown ever since, through His grace.

 

My relationship with Christ is my top priority and means everything to me. The more I see how the devil has perverted marriage in our world today, the more I am becoming focused on living for Christ. The shocking part is that I have actually met single men who professed to be Christians but confessed that they can't wait for marriage in order to have sex. They have accused me of being too "religious and extreme" because I have quoted scriptures which clearly state that fornication is a sin. Because of this, they deserted me.

 

I am very active in my local Church but since I started working full-time and studying, I have become less active. That has not, however, negatively impacted my relationship with Jesus.

What Are Your Favorite Bible Translations?

 

From What Bible Translation Do You Like To Study?

What Translation Best Helps You To Memorize Scripture?

Naturally as a researcher and writer, I like using various Bible translations. Some Christians feel that certain translations are not reliable. They mainly base their opinion on the origin of the translation. Others focus on promoting only the KJV (King James Version) of the Bible. They are pretty aggressive in insisting and demanding that this is the only Bible version that any Christian should read. 

By the way, you probably don't know that the King James Version of the Holy Bible belongs to the Crown of England or the Church of England. It is owned by the British Royal Family. I discovered this through my research on what types of permissions I would need to use Bible scriptures in my digital and printable products for sale.

The operative words here, that we have never really thought about, are King James Version = King James of England. He was instrumental in bringing about the existence of our KJV Bible, which originated through ancient scrolls and documents.

I was disappointed to learn that all versions of the Bible belong to the publishing companies that publish them. Permission to use those scripture versions has to be obtained from these companies. The guidelines and restrictions can often be complicated and frustrated.

The King James Version, however, being owned by the Royal Family, can be used freely, without permission, by anyone outside of Great Britain. Anyone residing with GB has to obtain permission from the Royal Family administration.

I wondered why I should have to get permission to use the words of God in any way. Afterall, the Bible belongs to God and as a Christian, I felt that the Bible belongs to me. The practical truth is that without the efforts and expense of many people who discovered, restored, preserved and translated the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient documents, we would not have the Bible today.

According to the laws of our societies, those persons/companies are entitled to the rights of the properties that they created. In other words, they created another version of an original property. They had to get permission through whatever document they started with to create their version. These procedures are often lengthy and expensive.

For my Christian products, I simply use the KJV version. It's easier and faster in that I don't have to ask anyone for permission. I also paraphrase scriptures, which is breaking down the meanings to more simple language that anyone can understand. 

For daily reading and memorizing scriptures, I prefer the King James Version because it is what I was raised on. It uses difficult language that frustrates the average Christian but I am familiar with it. I feel that my scriptures have more power when I memorize them in KJV. Again, that is only because I am so familiar with it from childhood and, somehow, my spirit embraced the language.

I also use many Bible versions, and other books, in my research, including the NKJV (New King James Version), NIV (New International Version), the RSV (Revised Standard Version) and the GNB (Good News Bible). I like the very simple, contemporary language of the GNB and the line drawings.

I've heard several Christians renounce the NIV, stating that it is inaccurate in some ways. I still refer to it for illumination alongside my KJV. For me, the bottom line it that I can learn from anything, because I have God's Spirit within, who leads and guides me to all truth.

I use everything I can to grow in Christ, knowing that God is the final authority. I don't have to agree with everything but I can learn from them. Everything belongs to God and can be used by him. I don't ever want to reject any source of knowledge.

 

How Can I Smile When I'm Not Happy?

Our knowledge of God has the potential to help us to smile in the most distressing of circumstances. Why? There is nothing that can separate us from God's love. He has given us that major promise and he will fulfill it, for he cannot lie. I am able to smile often when I am distressed, sorrowful, depressed or discouraged. If not smile, I can at least feel hopeful, which is a type of joy.

I say "Thank you Lord for joy unspeakable and the peace that surpasses all understanding. I know that the joy of the Lord is my strength and you will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon you." I feel better immediately. What about the times when I don't feel like quoting those truths? That's another story but one that is also filled with success. Nothing is too hard for God, no matter what it feels like or looks like.

On the physiological side, which God also owns, he has built into our systems the ability to feel better when we smile. It is good to try smiling when we don't feel like it. I didn't believe it and it really annoyed me when I heard people say this or read it. One day, I decided to try it and I did feel a lift in my spirits begin to happen soon after I tried it.

I think how much of a lift we feel will depend on at what depressed level we're starting. If we've just endured a great tragedy, it would be very difficult to want to try to smile but we can always try. I try to remember that I can do all things through Christ, nothing is too hard for God and when I'm weakest is when God is strongest in me.

Neurologists have proven that smiling can trick your brain into happiness — and boost your health. A smile spurs a powerful chemical reaction in the brain that can make you feel happier. Science has shown that the mere act of smiling can lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune system and possibly even prolong your life. 

So just try it and tell God what's going on. Tell him several times, if you have to, what it is that is making it so difficult to impossible for you to smile. Just remember to ask once for help, healing, blessings, etc., whatever it is that you need. After that, thank him for it until a change occurs. You can have confidence that he heard you the first time if you asked according to his will.

If you believe that he heard you then you know you have what you've asked, one way or another (1 John 5:14-15). You don't have to ask anymore or beg and plead. Since you know you already have it just thank him until his answer manifests. So remember, try to SMILE and always tell God.

Mornings With God

Begin each morning with prayer and triumph throughout the day.

I feel wonderful when I start my day with God! Before I talk with anyone, before I answer emails, before I open my door to anyone, before I engage with the world through sight, speech or reading, I engage with my Heavenly Father. First thing!

I probably have written about this before but I am actually afraid to start my day without talking to God first. It's dangerous. It's the same as going into a serious war without weapons.

It's suicide. It's murder, self-murder to go into any battle without having the center area of our bodies protected with our breastplates, without having our feet armor on, without hefting up our shields, without putting on our helmets and without our all-important swords. (Ephesians 6:14-17) These weapons of warfare don't come automatically. They don't put themselves on us. We have to put them on, to dress out, to suit up at the beginning of every day.

Cares of the world take over when we don't start out with God.

We cannot handle the issues of our private lives and our relationships with the world without God. When we don't set our day with him first, we find very little time to do it later. The cares of the world quickly take over as the day advances and serious thoughts about God are often crowded out.

We have to be aware of God to feel that he's helping us and to recognize his help when he sends it. Since he often sends help in unusual ways, we have to be close to God to not only recognize that help but to accept it.

Feel close to God all day when you meet him first thing.

When I meet God before I start my day, I feel close to him all day and into the night. It leads me to think about him often throughout the day. I am reminded to talk to him and pray little prayers at various points during my day. These are all very important for us to live an ever-increasing, strengthened Christian life. 

Whatever time you begin your day start it with God!

Now your day may begin at a different time every 24 hrs. You may have some temporary changes in your schedule where sometimes you stay up all night or late into the night, and arise in the afternoon or evening. It doesn't matter with regards to meeting God in the morning. Your morning is whenever you get up from an extended period of sleeping. The beginning of your day is whenever you start it.

Satan never rests. His demons never rest. Evil influence never rests. Wicked plans never cease. We can't rest either when it comes to seeking God's face, drawing nigh to him and putting on his whole armor at the beginning of every, single day! 

God In The Morning

I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

 

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.

 

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the Presence left behind.

 

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day!

~ Ralph Spaulding Cushman ~

 

Helping The Poor With Clean Water

Charity: Water A Good Way To Help Others

I know that our drinking water is not perfect and probably has pollutants in it despite municipal filtering. The purity of even bottled water has been called into question. Though the water that we have may still be contaminated in some ways, I can't imagine drinking cloudy water every day in desperation. I can't imagine scooping water out of dirty creeks and streams and from polluted waterways because of burning thirst. 

Clean Water Is The Right Of Every Human

I started my week by giving to Charity:Water, who provides clean, safe drinking water in 29 countries. They don't just send bottled water, they implement long-range projects for good health. 

They partner with experienced local organizations who build sustainable, community-owned water projects around the world. Their local partners select water point locations based on a variety of factors like:

• geography,
• assessment of need,
• community participation,
• and long-term sustainability.

Give To Charity:Water For The Good  Health Of Others

In addition to the construction process, local partners spend months establishing community buy-in, promoting safe hygiene practices and building water committee capacity to manage projects.

To ensure that water continues to flow for years to come, the local partners empower local leaders, use strong operations and maintenance structures, collect data on specific WASH indicators, and implement innovative sensor technology.

Help Others To Have Clean Water Through Charity:Water

Existing water sources, terrain, and population are taken into account when choosing a water solution. From household BioSand filters to piped systems that stretch for miles, Charity:Water and their local partners and leaders work to make sure they’re funding the most appropriate solution for each community.

A person can survive only about 3 days without water. It's wonderful to be a part of bringing safe drinking water to others. The Lord wants us to reach out and help those who are poor and less fortunate than we are. There are many ways to give but for some reason the need for clean water in many places seems to pull at my heart.

I give regularly by selecting an amount when I purchase through Paypal and by making my Amazon purchases through Amazon's Smile program, which costs me nothing extra. I'm thankful to be a part of providing clean drinking water to those who are dying of thirst.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. Proverbs 28:27

 

Problems With Forgiveness?

Keep trying forgiveness until you succeed in speaking it.

Forgiveness is a choice, just like happiness, love, faith, etc. No matter how we feel, if we confess to God that we forgive someone(s), God will do the rest.

God focuses on our hearts, not our feelings. He knows why we feel the way that we do, why it is hard to forgive that person or those people. Never give up on trying to utter words of forgiveness. Say what little bit you can to God about forgiving someone. Keep trying forgiveness until you succeed in speaking it.


Keep launching your kite of forgiveness until it catches the wind and flies high!

Obedience is to say to ourselves and to God "I forgive _________," even when we may feel that we shouldn't have to, that it's unfair, that it hurts too much, that God doesn't care. It is the honest effort that God honors. He will help you as you try.

Keep trying to launch your kite of forgiveness. It may take several tries. Your kite may take a nose dive several times and may even crash to the ground a couple of times. Pick it back up and launch it again.

Keep launching it until it catches and flies high into the sky with success. In a similar way, you will become adept at forgiving, with sincerity.

God honors us greatly when we obey in the name of righteousness! Over time, we will see great changes in ourselves and our lives when we choose to just obey and forgive.