Posts by thegeneral
Refine // Part 7: Pride – Humility
There are a number of different kinds of pride. For example, you can be proud of your spouse, which is really an expression of delight rather than a sin problem. Delight is others-centered, but sinful pride is self-centered. That evil kind of pride can lead to sin and hinder our walk with Christ. The sinful…
Read MoreRefine // Part 6: Envy – Contentment
The Cause of Envy A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 Envy is one of the “Seven Deadly Sins.” All sin is deadly, but these seven are found at the core of countless other sins. One of the reasons envy is so dangerous and persistent in…
Read MoreRefine // Part 5: Wrath – Delight
What is Wrath? In Matthew 5:22, during the Sermon on The Mount, Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” Wrath is another word for anger– especially uncontrolled anger which boils over into vengeful actions and causes us to sin. Proverbs 14:29…
Read MoreRefine // Part 4: Sloth – Ambition
Where to Find Real Success Which of these is a better quality to have – laziness or ambition? You’re probably thinking, "Well, obviously, ambition is a better quality to have." Sure, we all know the "right" answer to that question, especially given the value that our American culture places on being hard-working, driven, successful, and…
Read MoreRefine // Part 3: Greed – Generosity
Are You Believing a Lie? Have you ever found yourself saying or thinking, "If I only had [fill in the blank], I would be happy"? You’re not alone. In our American culture, we are surrounded by wealth, money, and stuff. It’s extremely common for us to see advertisements everyday (typically, multiple times a day) encouraging…
Read MoreRefine // Part 2: Gluttony – Moderation
Don’t Settle For Where You Are Today Sometimes we can get in the mindset that tells us we are never going to change… that this is simply who we are or what we do. "I’m always going to struggle with ______." "I wish I wasn’t so ______, but oh well." "My life is always going…
Read MoreRefine // Part 1: Lust – Love
Fighting the Seven Deadly Sins How do we refine our lives for the glory of God? We all struggle with sin – some sins more than others. And, what we know is that God hates sin. When we sin, we are not only sinning against others or against ourselves, but we, too, are sinning against…
Read MoreAdvance // Part 5: Mental Health
The Battle for Your Mind There is a battle going on for your mind. You may be thinking, Wow, that sounds pretty intense. Well, that’s because it is. The Enemy is fighting each and every day, endlessly and tirelessly, to take control of our thoughts. He wants to discourage and defeat us, to torture and…
Read MoreAdvance // Part 4: Financial Health
Let’s Talk about our Feelings Would you believe us if we said… 59% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck? 38% of households in America have credit card debt? 33% of the adult population in America saved $0 for their retirement? Now, these statistics are not to scare you – rather, they’re meant to draw your…
Read MoreAdvance // Part 3: Emotional Health
Let’s Talk about our Feelings I feel like ________. Fill in the blank. What are you feeling today? Sad? Frustrated? Overjoyed? Relieved? Tired? Whether you pay attention to them or not, our feelings affect us on a daily (if not hourly!) basis. God created us in His image, and like Himself, He made us to…
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