The Safest Way To Hell
I’m Dr. Bob and for must a Mentoring Minute, I would like to tell you about the safest way to hell. Listen to what C. S. Lewis wrote. “The safest way to hell is a gradual slide.” These are extremely enlightening words for someone who once surrendered to Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, but has slowly backed away from living a life that demonstrates what he or she originally professed. Hebrews 10:26-27 (NLT) warns us that, “…if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. {27} There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.”
That is an amazingly straight and indisputable warning. In today’s society, we find it too easy to let the world and its ways influence us to slowly slide away from God and redirect our paths straight into hell. We must be aware and full of care not to let our lifestyles slide away from how we felt when we first came to know Jesus. We must treasure and protect the personal changes we made from that point on. I’m Dr. Bob, and that is a word of wisdom that sounds a clear warning. It is entirely worth heeding. You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com/blogs.
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More of Who? Less of Who?
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I would like to ask you whether your attitudes are defined by what I call “more of me, and less of God.” In other words, are you someone who consistently and habitually relies more on the inherent weaknesses of your own instincts, or are you someone whose habit is to rely on the strength God give? (more…)
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Whoops
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to share an expression with you that I have used all too often. Perhaps you have said it, or something like it. The expression is “Whoops!” This spontaneous expression is a sure sign of our humanity. Many of us have all too often realized and reacted to our mistake by saying something like “Whoops.” What reassures me when I make a mistake is that the Holy Spirit never has to say “Whoops.” He is always perfect in all of His ways. Better than that, He is faithfully there to step in and sort things out when I make my mistakes. The Apostle Paul had it right when he wrote, in Romans 8:13-15 (NKJV), “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. {14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. {15} For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”” Whenever you make that inevitable mistake, turn to the Spirit of God. Ask Him to lead you in the ways of righteousness that will bring you safely to something good. That’s my advice for you today. It will help keep the “Whoops” out of your life, and when it comes, it will help you get past it with good success. I’m Dr. Bob and that’s a bit of Holy Ghost wisdom. You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com/blogs.
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He Looks at the Lamb
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to set things straight. If you have given your life to Christ, but have been living with condemnation because of your past, it’s time to change your focus, which will change your thinking. When you gave your life to Jesus, God changed His focus. He no longer looks at your sinful past. He now looks at you as a washed in the blood of the lamb, devil stomping son or daughter of God. He sees you as a winner and a champion. When God considers a believer’s value to Him, He looks to the Lamb, not at the sinner. Your performance is no longer the standard of God’s acceptance. Jesus took care of that. Your acceptance by God is complete because of the grace-filled sacrifice of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only spotless, sinless Person who could ever have met the standard of holiness in heaven. So, just relax. Do your best and let God’s view of the Lamb do the rest. That is the truth. It will set you free, and keep you free, as often as you need to remind yourself of it. I’m Dr. Bob. That’s the truth and you can hear more of my Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com. I know they will bless you.
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Traffic Lights
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to ask if you have ever been frustrated with yourself because you made bad decisions? I certainly have. Sometimes, our decisions take us away from the successes for which we work so hard. At other times, it seems we are all too eager to choose what turns out to be a waste of time and effort, or may even be harmful to us or perhaps to others. I want to suggest a way you can make good decisions while avoiding bad ones. I am sure you have encountered traffic lights as you drove through the city. The way they work gives the key to hearing God’s voice and letting what He says lead you to doing the right thing. When you approach a traffic light, you are given three choices: (1) red light, (2) yellow light or (3) green light. When decision-making time comes, if you listen for the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, He will signal you: red light means stop; yellow light means caution; green light means go. Just like with a traffic light, if you watch for and obey the Holy Spirit’s signals, you will have a safe journey, while making good decisions along the way to your blessings. I’m Dr. Bob. Contact me at www.mentoringministry.com and let’s compare how God has directed our journeys.
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The Name Game
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to expose a nasty game, we all have played, and perhaps still play far too often. It is the devil’s name game. He loves to play it with you. Let me explain. Satan takes perverted pleasure in trying to get you to embrace certain names. He talks you into saying such things as, “My name is, “loser,” or “failure,” or “incompetent,” or “stupid,” or worst of all, “unworthy of God’s love.” We all could contribute other names to this list. Instead of playing this game, I highly recommend you decide today that you will no longer play games with your name. Just confess what God calls you, such as, “son or daughter,” “winner and champion,” a child of God who is more than a conqueror,” or here is a good one, “a precious and highly favored person.” God does not play games with what He calls you, and neither should you. I’m Dr. Bob. Write me at Dr.Bob@mentoringministry.com and tell me what your favorite name is that God calls you. By the way, here is another quick thought. The giants’ names will often change, but God’s names never do. When it comes to knocking down giants, God’s names are always “Faithful, Dependable and True.”
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Don’t Surrender Your Honor
I’m Dr. Bob, and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to caution young people who might be listening. Actually, it’s good for old guys like me too. Proverbs 5:8-9 warns us not to surrender our honor. If you do, three things will happen. First, you will fight a sense of guilt and shame for years to come. Second, you will fight a sense sorrow, and third, you will fight a sense of bitterness, because of what happened through your own bad judgment. It’s not easy to win these fights. If you give your honor away, you will discover how precious it was when you had it, and how sad it is now that you lost it. Here is a teachable truth. There are no refunds for spent honor. There is, however, a way for you to turn from all the bitterness and rebuild your life. It will take an effort for you to journey back to wholeness, but if you are willing, it’s one in which God will order your steps and walk with you. I’m Dr. Bob. Write me at Dr.Bob@mentoringministry.com and tell me about the joy of your new start with our forever-faithful God.
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Candy Wrappers
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to talk to you about candy wrappers… yes, candy wrappers. Candy makers spare no expense to create the most enticing wrappers possible for their candies. They do this so you will so greatly desire what’s hidden inside the package, that you will purchase it before you ever know what it really will taste like. Temptation operates just like that. The devil cleverly wraps sin in the most attractive of temptations to try to make you hunger for what’s hidden in the package. Here is my advice. Check the devil’s tempting wrapper that hides the sin against God’s word. It will be like putting it under a three dimensional, full color X-Ray. You will see through to the truth, and will not be deceived into biting into something that wants to poison your life, your reputation and your future. I’m Dr. Bob. Write me at Dr. Bob@mentoringministry.com and share with me a good story about a particularly deceptive wrapper that was hiding something you refused to bite into.
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Unwrap the Package
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want to ask if you ever received a gift and tried to guess what it was before you unwrapped it, only to find out your guess was way off? I want to encourage you to take the wrappings off the package before you make any judgments. Perhaps you guessed that I am not talking about your next birthday present. I am talking about not judging people by what you first see. Make it your habit to spend enough time to learn what is inside a person. Otherwise, you will misjudge many who you meet. You will certainly miss out on those who might have become your very good friends. Some might even be holding the keys to your success within the character of their hearts, and the opportunities within their sphere of influence. I’m Dr. Bob. Be like the prophet Samuel. First Samuel 16:7 tells us the Lord does not see as we do, but He looks within the heart. Samuel understood this and passed by all the tall, strong, good-looking brothers finally to find David, who appeared to be the least probable, but was actually the best of bunch. Write me at Dr. Bob@mentoringministry.com and let me know what you think.
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Swimming with Sharks
I’m Dr. Bob and for just a mentoring minute, I’d like to ask if you would enjoy swimming with sharks? Sounds like a ridiculous question, doesn’t it? Personally, I don’t want anything to do with sharks. I know that when a shark strikes, it is quick, violent and deadly. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to put themselves in the sights of a hungry shark. So, why do we so easily, and so often swim in an ocean of our own predatory pride? We know pride’s bite, just like a shark’s, is quick, violent and deadly to our friends, family and ultimately, to ourselves. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” I’m Dr. Bob. Don’t let your pride take a nasty bite out of you. The Bible tells us, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (That’s found in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5) Contact me at www.mentoringministry.com and let me know what you think.
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