Faith and Soul Care | Grow Closer to God | How To Find Joy In Life Again | Spiritual Growth | Biblical Counseling | Christian Mindfulness

Living Intentionally and Finding Your Purpose in God | Greek word peripateo | Hebrew word simchah

Today, we are diving into the topic of living with intention—living with intention to find joy in life and to enjoy life day by day. This is a biblical perspective.

| Ephesians 5:15-17 | Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 Exegesis

Have you ever found yourself just going through the motions? Maybe days or even weeks just blur together—just routines and obligations—a rut but no sense of purpose or joy in your days. Today, we're going to explore what Scripture says about living intentionally. And I'm not talking about just being productive or just setting goals, but intentionally seeking and finding the joy in life that God wants for us.

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What Is the Soul? What Is the Greek Word for Soul? How Do We Care For Our Soul Biblically?

This episodes answers these questions: What Is the Soul? What Is the Greek Word for Soul? How Do We Care For Our Soul Biblically? There are three main ways the Bible instructs us to care for our souls. 

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What Is the Greek Word Logos in John 1? | The Word | New Testament

In Greek philosophy in the time of Jesus and his disciples, logos when used in this context with origins (like it is being used here – arche (origins) and logos –it was referring to a principle - whatever it was - that was the organizing principle of the universe. Think of it as the force and reasoning behind creation—that holds everything together. Logos was used in this manner going back at least to Heraclitus, 500 years BC, who used it to refer to the order and sustaining of the cosmos. Logos continued to be used in this way across the centuries and it was present in writings Philo – a Jewish philosopher – who lived at the same time of Jesus and his disciples. One of the definitions of logos in a more general sense meant the “expression of thought,” and it conveys purposeful, active, organizational thinking and reasoning, and planning.

What Is the Greek Word for Holy? Can We Actually Be Holy?

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The word Holy seems to be used everywhere in reference to people, places, or things related to the religion and faith. The Greek word for holy is hagios. Hagios means holy. But what does holy mean? I know when I first think of something being holy, I envision a picture or vision of something glowing and radiating out golden rays of light, pure and undefiled and sinless, or if in reference to a human,someone who you would be “shocked” to find out they had committed a major sin. You know – the holy people among us! But what does it mean when, in the New Testament, in 1st Peter 1, for example – where I was reading this week. When we are taught that we, as believers and as followers of Christ – that we are to be holy? And not just that one day we are going to be perfected and holy and pure in God’s kingdom, but that we are to be holy now? And not just when times are good, but when times are really bad. The letter from Peter was written to Christians who had been scattered and exiled and were under intense persecution. Can you imagine being beaten or imprisoned or suffering at the hands of Rome and Peter – of all the disciples – the very impulsive Peter - sends you a letter saying “Remember, Be Holy!”

What is the Faith that Jesus Requires? Greek Word for Faith In the Bible - Pistis, Pisteuo

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Faith is critical to understanding God, following Jesus, and living the Christian life. Furthermore, faith – we are told in the Bible – is what gives us assurance of salvation. So what is faith? Moreover, what is biblical faith; what is New Testament faith? Or what did Jesus mean… or specifically, what did the disciples and Paul mean when they wrote the pistis…the Greek word that is usually translated faith?

Have we actually been taught or do we truly know what biblical faith is? And do you know what – the word pistis, or the word usually translated faith in the New Testament – is in the New Testament over 240 times. And guess what – the word pistis in all its forms is translated three different ways. Sometimes it is translated as “faith,” sometimes it is translated as “belief,” and sometimes it is translated as “trust.” In actuality, biblical faith – pistis – is both belief with trust. See, most translations of the Bible are a word for word or thought for thought translation. This means that it is the goal of the translators to choose one word in English to best represent the underlying Greek word, or in thought to thought translation – to choose to translate the underlying Greek word with the corresponding English thought, using as short a phrase as needed. What this means is that when we read our English New Testaments, in some cases, we lose some of the richness and some of the preciseness of the original language, and in other cases – we cannot be sure whether the word was intended to be translated one way or another. At that point, translation scholars, look at the overall context and the tenses and forms of the words to determine what is most likely the most appropriate translation. It is clear though – that in the New Testament, the word pistis is best translationed “belief with trust.” I will show you some examples here in the Greek grammar books. Belief with trust, Belief assuming trust.

God Gives Wisdom or Insight Every Time You Ask! Greek Words for Wisdom and Ask

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Have you ever noticed that when you ask God for insight, or for wisdom about a situation, that he often gives it to you fairly quickly? What are some problems or situations that you could use some of God’s insight to help resolve or manage?

In numerous situations,  I’ve found that insight or an answer from God has been given pretty quickly after asking Him for it – not always – but most of the time.  I learned something this week about the underlying Greek in a verse in James 1, which caused me to have some, “Yeah, that’s true!”  moments.

In James 1:5, it says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Then the next part sounds difficult. It says, in James 1:6, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

What is the Greek Word for Prayer? What Does the Word Prayer Mean to You?

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Strategies to Give Your Anxiety to God and Overcome Stress

Today, I'm going to share three strategies that anyone can use to help control and regulate their anxiety from day to day. This is part of the "Emotions Series" on this blog, blogcast, and on the Gospel Life Learning YouTube channel. 

We all know that Philippians 4 says,  "Don't worry about anything...Pray about everything." And scripture also tells us to cast all our anxieties, cast all our fears to the Lord - because he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7). For many people, those are two of our favorite verses. It is so comforting to know that is what God wants for us,  and that is one way the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ wants to help us. 

But is anyone else wondering, "How? How do I do that?"  I'm going to give you three strategies, and two of the strategies you can do quickly almost anywhere. The third strategy -  you could probably also do almost anywhere but it takes a little bit more structure.