Live Righteously

I need God’s guidance for my life. I have made so many problems in my life worse by simply thinking that I could fix them on my own. If I act without God’s guidance, whatever I do is certain to fail. I have learned that from real and practical experience.

God is perfect and He has a perfect will and plan for my life. I just need to know what that plan is. But, how can a person know the mind of God? To know the mind of God, a man or woman must speak to God and then allow God to reply. A conversation is of no use to either party if only 1 person is allowed to talk. So how do we learn to let God reply to our prayers and petitions?

I just finished reading a book called “God Guides” by Mary Geegh. It is such a quick read, at only 60 pages, that I started and finished it in the same night. The gist of it is how Mary, who was a missionary in India, continuously asked the Lord for guidance and she listened for the answer. The method that she used can almost fill a whole page of the book. So after she gives us the “how to” she then gives many pages of inspiring real-life stories about how she was instructed by God and what happened when she did what she was told. A major theme of the book is simply Listen and Obey.

I have decided to follow Mary’s example and seek God’s guidance in my life. I want to add people to the fold of God as she was in her book. The way that God used her, and the people she ministered to, to enlarge his kingdom is beautiful. It was not a preachy way but a practical way of winning converts through changed lives and common sense.

You can purchase the book from Mary’s family for $3.50 at God Guides.

God Bless you,
Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: Books, Life-Changing, Power of Prayer

I once heard a pastor ask the question “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” I thought it was an extremely odd question but when you think about it, it really makes a lot of sense. Do the people in your sphere of influence know by your words or deeds that you believe in Christ? If they do know, do they think you might be a poseur? Lets take this a step further… Are you a cultural Christian or a true Born-Again Christian?

People judge others not by their hearts (which are unseen) but by their actions (which are seen). Do you love other people? Do you defend those who are defenseless? Do you proclaim the Gospel? Do you live out what you preach?

Today I was sitting in a client’s office that I had no idea was a fellow Christian. I saw a Bible verse hand-written on his computer monitor and I have to at least consider the possibility that this man loves Jesus. But does he know that I love Jesus? I’m really not sure. I never preach to him. I never pray a blessing over him. I know that one of his most trusted employees is a fellow Christian and she knows that I am but I don’t think her boss does. Thinking about this makes me a bit sad. How strong is my witness if my regular clients don’t even know about my faith.

I need to make a serious change. I need the Lord to make a serious change in me and the way I live my life. I want to be seen as a follower of Jesus Christ in every manner of my life and if I’m not, then I have to consider how to change that.

So now the question becomes: How do I project Christ? How do I change the way I live to better represent Him? These are questions that I will be pondering and praying about.

Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: How to Live, Life-Changing

Stepping Stones For Women, or SSFW for short, is a 2 year program that houses, feeds, and educates homeless mothers and their children.

Their mission statement is simple. “Stepping Stones for Women is a residential and supportive services program for single mothers and their children so that they can become physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually healthy . . . one step at a time!”

They have 2 homes,each with 3 bedrooms. In each home, there are 2 mothers with their children and a house mother who is on staff to guide, support and love these women and children.

I personally know most of the women who run this program and they strive every day to live lives worthy of the calling of Jesus Christ. They also strive to impart their faith to the women whom they help through the SSFW program. They believe that in order to live a victorious christian life, you cannot do it alone. This means they support each other and pray often.

And their prayers have been answered in the form of a large donation which is being used to encourage more donation. Thanks to the generosity of a faithful friend of SSFW, every dollar until the end of the year specifically marked “year end gift” will be matched with an additional dollar - up to $4,500. Our goal is to raise $4,500 by the end of December which will become a total of $9,000. To make your gift go farther this year, we invite you to consider a gift now. Together we can help make a lasting difference for more homeless and at-risk women and children in our communities. Click here if you would consider donating.

Thank you and may the Lord bless you richly!

Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: Charities, Life-Changing

I just finished reading a great book, The Shack, for the second time and I have to say that it was better the second time around than the first. This book truly allows us to see how beautiful and complete God’s love for us is. I have never been an avid reader of fiction but this story is truly exceptional. The theme, the pain, the love, the redemption, the way it was written, they are all what make it so great.

I am sad to think that the events in this book never truly happened but the way that it was presented is so convincing and real that, in my heart, I have decided to make it real. I have decided to attempt to live with the realizations that I received from this book. I have decided to love the way The Shack showed me how. I have decided that I need to share this book because it is that great.

The Shack is a story about a man’s pain over the death of his young daughter and how spending a weekend in the wilderness with God changed his life. The majority of the story is spent in or around “the shack”. Mack, the main character, meets God the father, Jesus the son, and the holy spirit in the shack where his daughter was murdered. Through his time with each and all of them, Mack sees how they interact and how they love each other as well as him, how we are supposed to love God and what forgiveness means. If you love Jesus and don’t benefit from reading this book, my heart goes out to you.

The author, William Paul Young, must have a divinely inspired grasp of theology and how to put it into words because he was able to explain love, the trinity, pain and so many issues of the Christian faith so well that I have far fewer questions after reading it. I no longer question how the trinity works, how God can be three separate people, yet completely united. I no longer question God’s love for us. I love this book!

Paul, thank you for writing such a life-changing book. Please write another one, I already want to read it.

Tim Biden

written by Tim \\ tags: Books, Fiction, Life-Changing