By Any Means

Romans 11:14-15
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them, for if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

If by any means – whatever it takes

Provoke - provide the needed stimulus for (http://wordreference.com/definition/provoke)

Emulation - effort to equal or surpass another; to imitate (http://www.allwords.com/query.php?SearchType=3&Keyword=Emulation&goquery=Find+it!&Language=ENG)

Whatever it takes for me to provide the needed stimulus for my family members to put forth an effort towards salvation, it might save some of them. If I cast them away to reconcile the world to Jesus Christ, receiving them into the family of God will be welcoming them from death to life.

By any means must be done within reason. I could not hold a gun to their head and tell them “Now, accept Jesus Christ or I will kill you.” God does not want someone to come to Him in that manner. He doesn’t want anyone to accept Him by force. He could force us all to accept Him and then run around as if we are little robots.

God wants your love and acceptance because you choose to give them to Him. Freedom of choice. That is what God has given us. He did that by any means….He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take on all our sins and pay the ultimate price – His life. However, when God received His Son back up into glory, He received Jesus alive from the dead!

Without the death, there is no salvation. Without the resurrection there is no salvation. Without God receiving us through the payment by His Son Jesus Christ, there is no salvation.

God provoked us – He provided the needed stimulus – Jesus Christ. He did that so that we might emulate – put forth an effort to equal (or accept) the Lord Jesus Christ.

By an means, I want my family saved. I can only hope that I can provide the provocation (can provoke them) into at least thinking about what Jesus Christ did for them. I hope they will accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior before it is too late for them.

I pray the same for you. I pray that you will accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. What would it take for you to accept?

Until next time,
Linda Sedrick Pearson

Pulling Them Out of the Fire

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Sometimes it takes fear to cause a person to turn to God and ask Jesus Christ into his heart. The Bible says it is better to scare them into salvation ("And others save with fear"), than it is for them to end up in the fire ("pulling them out of the fire").

I have at least two close members in my family that it doesn't seem to matter what you say to them about God, they don't want to hear it. They want to go their own way and do their own thing.

One of the above mentioned, whenever I mention God or say how that would not have worked out if God hadn't had His hand on it, he refuses to admit that is the truth about the situation. He grunts and scratches his head, and refuses to look me in the eye. I have been praying for this individual to accept the Lord for several years. Yet, he refuses. He had to have open heart surgery and bypass a couple of years ago. Do you think this guy gave God the glory for him coming through this surgery able to work? NO!

I am not giving up on these two people in my family. I refuse to give up until they (or I) have drawn the last breath. I will do what I can to convince them and pray that God will not give up on them either. I will do whatever I can to "pull them out of the fire."

Until next time

Linda Sedrick Pearson

I Got Started Writing...

I had forgotten that several months ago there had been a request for me to post some tips about how I got started writing. So, my Christmas gift to you is to tell you how I got started.

As a child I always had a very expressive imagination. When I would pretend as a child, I actually made myself believe the pretend was real. I would scare myself a lot because my imagination was so vivid in my mind. It was real to me.

I think I was about eight whenever I started writing little stories. It was a desire I had that I could not lay aside. I would write about anything. Sometimes it would be stories I made up. Sometimes it was a diary. I regret to say that I do not have those today. I wish I did. I would love to see what I wrote as a child. Those writings are gone.

I was saved when I was about 16. At that time, no one ever told me that it was okay for me to write notes during the sermon about the message. I didn't know that I was "allowed" to do that. I think it was about the late 1980s or early '90s that I went to a church that gave Discipleship Training. The group would meet once a week for 12 weeks to complete the training. The leader of the group gave us notebooks, study books, and scripture cards. The purpose of the training was to teach each of us how to witness to others. It was during this training that I learned that it was okay to take notes during Sunday School lessons and the sermons.

After that, I could not stop myself. Whenever I read my Bible, I have a notebook beside me. I take notes during my private studies, whenever I have Bible study with others, during church sermons. I even take notes when watching sermons on TV and listening on the radio.

A few years ago, I started learning how to create web sites. As I started going back through my stacks of notebooks (I have a couple of suitcases full now), I realized that there were some important messages there that should be shared with others. I just didn't know how. Then, I realized that I could start a web site and post my Bible studies and notes on the Internet for others to read.

That is how LordsHelpers.com was born. When I started out, I asked my oldest daughter to help me. She was excited at first, but eventually she was tied up with husband, children, and work. That is okay because it is important that she raise her children and be there for her husband. The web site just was not her calling. I mentioned that to say that now I am doing this by myself.

God has laid it on my heart to keep this web site going as long as I can. I found blogger.com a couple of years ago and knew it was the perfect thing to add to this web site. It allows me to quickly post my thoughts and messages to you, dear readers.

As far as writing, I can't stop. There have been times when I haven't had the time like I want. For instance, I work a full-time job and right now am working on my Bachelor degree (full-time). Besides that, my husband is developing Altzheimer's and needs more of my attention. Because of those things, I can't post here or write new Bible studies like I want. However, I do still write every opportunity I get. I can't stop myself.

How do you know if you are writer, or meant to be one? You have to write. No matter what, you have to write. You may use ink and paper, a word processor, a computer, a pda, or even a cell phone (text messaging). No matter where you go you have a notebook and pen. I don't know how many times I have written on napkins while waiting for my meal to be served at a restaurant. I try to carry a notebook, but when I forget to take one in with me, a paper napkin works. It is harder to write on these, but it works.

I hope this helps someone out there that is wondering how you get started writing. If you want to post on the Internet and don't want to start your own web site, try Blogger.com. They offer a free place for you to develop your writing. Be sure to save copies of your ramblings. You never know. They may one day turn into a book.

Until next time, happy writing.
Linda Sedrick Pearson

All articles on this web site and in this blog are © by Linda Sedrick Pearson. You may not use any content on this blog or this site without the written permission of Linda Sedrick Pearson. If you wish to use any of the articles, bible studies, or blog posts, please contact me at: lpearson@lordshelpers.com.

Merry Christmas

It is that time again. Although we should celebrate Jesus Christ, His birth, death and resurrection every day of the year, this is the season we set aside to really concentrate on these things. I have a few suggestions for you this year.

1) Don't get so involved in buying presents that you forget to spend time with each other and relish the relationships that you have with one another. Family members are important. They should be remembered for who they are and not what present you must purchase for them.

2) Try getting the family together and make gifts for each other. If you have photos that were taken of family members throughout the year, create little scrapbooks for the people you care about. You don't even have to buy a scrapbook. You can make your own. Just get a packet or two of scrapbook paper that has different colors, print out some 4x6 photos, punch holes in one side of the book and use yarn to tie it together. Decorate however you want. The kids love doing these projects around my house.

3) Get everyone together for a cookie and candy making day. Everyone pool your baking goods and create enough for each to take back to their homes. Don't forget to photograph the event and make sure every one gets a photo to go with their goodies. These make great gifts for others too.

4) Someone in your life like hot chocolate, coffee, or hot tea? You can usually purchase a mug pretty cheap. Some of the plain ones are less that $2.00. Grab some instant cocoa, coffee, or favorite teas and wrap these up. Don't forget a spoon. A bag of plastic spoons is pretty cheap. If you want to add more zip to the gift, print out a photo you have taken sometime during the year of you and the person the gift is intended for. It is what gives that personal touch.

I hope I have given you some things to think about this season to relieve the stress of the gift-giving situation. Make it easy on yourself and your family. The important thing is to spend time with each other remembering the special times you had together throughout the year.

Don't forget to pray for those who are lost. If someone in your life has not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, give them one of your special gifts. You can even include a few scriptures to give this person encouragement and let them know they are loved not only by you, but by God.

May God bless you and strengthen you when you are weak. May He provide for all your needs and lead your steps throughout this next year.

Sincerely,
Linda Pearson

All articles on this web site and in this blog are © by Linda Sedrick Pearson. You may not use any content on this blog or this site without the written permission of Linda Sedrick Pearson. If you wish to use any of the articles, bible studies, or blog posts, please contact me at: lpearson@lordshelpers.com.