Welcome to How to Change and Grow

Welcome to How to Change and Grow. The answers to life is found in seeking the Creater of life. We serve a good God. He wants to help us. God's Word guides and directs our steps while the Holy Sprit empowers us to transform, mature, prosper and more. The fullness of God's love brings us to beyond striving, to satisfying all our needs and anything we could ever hope or wish for. God's way IS a better way! God bless you as you learn HIS WAYS to change and grow.

March 27, 2012

What is Truth?

Truth is theological: One of the most profound and eternally significant questions in the Bible was posed by an unbeliever: Pilate. Handing Jesus over to be crucified, Pilate turned to Jesus and asked, “What is truth?” It was a rhetorical question, a cynical response to what Jesus had just revealed: “I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.” Two thousand years later, the whole world breathes Pilate’s cynicism. To some, truth is subjective, the individual world of preference and opinion. Others believe truth is a collective judgment, the product of cultural consensus, and still others flatly deny the concept of truth altogether. So, what is truth? Here’s what the Bible teaches: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological.

Truth is ontological: Truth is also the way things really are. Reality is what it is because God declared it so and made it so. Therefore God is the author, source, determiner, governor, arbiter, ultimate standard, and final judge of all truth. The Old Testament refers to the Almighty as the “God of truth” (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 65:16). When Jesus said of Himself, “I am…the truth” (John 14:6, emphasis added), He was thereby making a profound claim about His own deity. He was also making it clear that all truth must ultimately be defined in terms of God and His eternal glory. After all, Jesus is “the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3). He is truth incarnate—the perfect expression of God and therefore the absolute embodiment of all that is true.

The Word is truth: The Bible does not merely contain nuggets of truth; it is pure, unchangeable, and inviolable truth that “cannot be broken” (John 10:35). The Word of God is eternal truth “which lives and abides forever” (1Peter 1:23). Scripture is called “the word of Christ” (Colossians 3:16). It is His message, His self-expression. In other words, the truth of Christ and the truth of the Bible are of the very same character. They are in perfect agreement in every respect and equally true. God has revealed Himself to humanity through Scripture and through His Son. Both perfectly embody the essence of what truth is. Scripture also says God reveals basic truth about Himself in nature. The heavens declare His glory (Psalm 19:1). Knowledge of Him is inborn in the human heart (Romans 1:19), and a sense of the moral character and loftiness of His law is implicit in every human conscience (Romans 2:15). The only infallible interpreter of what we see in nature or know innately in our own consciences is the explicit revelation of Scripture and by which all other truth must finally be measured.

Truth means nothing apart from God: Truth cannot be adequately explained, recognized, understood, or defined without God as the source. Since He alone is eternal and self-existent and He alone is the Creator of all else, He is the fountain of all truth. Truth is not subjective, it is not a consensual cultural construct, and it is not an invalid, outdated, irrelevant concept. Truth is the self-expression of God. Truth is the reality God has created and defined, and over which He rules. Truth is therefore a moral issue for every human being. How each person responds to the truth God has revealed is an issue of eternal significance.

March 21, 2012

Understanding Truth through Revelation

The most basic way to understand truth is that truth is reality. Truth is what is. What does not exist cannot be true. An important aspect of truth is revelation. Revelation means unveiling. General Revelation refers to the general truths that can be known about God through creation. Special Revelation refers to the more specific truths that can be known about God through the spirit and the supernatural.

General Revelation: The Bible says “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). God’s existence and power can be clearly seen through observing the universe. The order, intricacy, and wonder of creation speak to the existence of a powerful and glorious Creator. Paul also spoke of general revelation in Romans: “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). The revelation of God to all people, at all times, and in all places that proves that God exists, He is intelligent, powerful, and transcendent.

Special Revelation: Special Revelation is how God has chosen to reveal Himself through miraculous ways including physical appearances of God, dreams and visions, the written Word of God, and most importantly—Jesus Christ. The Bible records God appearing in physical form many times (Genesis 3:8; 18:1; Exodus 3:1-4; 34:5-7), and the Bible records God speaking to people through dreams (Genesis 28:12; 37:5; 1 Kings 3:5; Daniel 2) and visions (Genesis 15:1; Ezekiel 8:3-4; Daniel 7, 2 Corinthians 12:1-7). The revealing of God is the Word, the Bible, is a primary form of special revelation. God miraculously guided the authors of Scripture to correctly record His message to mankind, while still using their own styles and personalities. The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is inspired, profitable, and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God decided to reveal everything in the Bible that humanity needs to know about Him, what He has done for us, and what He expects.

The ultimate form of special revelation is Jesus Christ: God became a human being (John 1:1; 14). Hebrews 1:1-3 summarizes it best, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son … The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being.” God became a human being, in the Person of Jesus Christ, to identify with us, to set an example for us, to teach us, to reveal Himself to us, and, most importantly, to provide salvation for us by humbling Himself in death on the cross (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus Christ is the ultimate “special revelation” from God.

March 20, 2012

Regenerate for Spiritual Perfection

Sometimes we fall into the habit of doing the same things, expecting different results. To get what you never had, you must do what you have never done. Regenerate is saying yes to health and life through a process of change and growth. Through Regenerate, you can go on a journey of self inventory, practicing spiritual disciplines, resulting in a dynamic spiritual transformation: “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes” (Hosea 10:12). God wants us to get better, restores us back to health, and to grow us up to be more like Jesus. Put into action what God would have you do to Give up, Start up, Step up - becoming more like Him reflecting His character resulting in a transformation of body, soul, and spirit, becoming the best you can be.

By Design: God is the creator and designer. He has set up systems, rules, patterns, and principles of how things work. This is apparent in numbers. Numbers have meaning and we can learn a lot about God and the Bible when we look closely at the patterns of numbers. The number Three and Seven are whole numbers. They represent what is whole, complete, perfect, and divine.

Number Three: Thoughts, words, and deeds, complete the sum of human capability. The thing we must do to get what we never had begins with what we think, say, and do: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). As we pursue God, we are changing how we think: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4: 8). The goal is to become whole and complete person in Christ. We are changed through His love, righteousness, and holiness.

Number Seven: The number Seven has significant meaning in the Bible, mentioned 735 times. Seven represents spiritual perfection and completion in connection with that which it is used. God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. It was full and complete, good and perfect. There were Seven sayings on the cross – the Seventh is “It is finished.” Sin is falling short of God’s standard. In Proverbs, Solomon writes: “Though a righteous man falls Seven times, he rises again” (Proverbs 24:16). God uses numbers to tell a message that we will be perfected because of who and what Jesus did. It is grace and the goodness of God that gives you strength and success.

Love is multiplied: God’s grace will be multiplied in your life: “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2Peter 1:2). Whatever challenges, or lack in any area of your life, the love of God protects, prospers, brings restoration, and transforms you complete, whole, and perfect. What are you believing and trusting God to change and grow in your life through Regenerate?

March 16, 2012

The Power of Love

When it comes to sin, it is easier to get religious instead of spiritual. We often think if we know it is wrong then we should just stop doing it. But religion and rules does nothing to help us to overcome sin. Instead rules show us how we fail and further provoke sin. The Bible calls us to true spirituality in our fight against sin. The Bible teaches us that becoming more spiritual means becoming more loving. Therefore to overcome sin, we must become more loving. Becoming spiritual is all about love. There is no greater message. There is no greater power: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14).

The Two Greatest Commandments: Growing up in the Lord is to fully realize the two great commandments of loving God and loving others. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Mathew 22:37-40). The Law and the Prophets rest on the ultimate power of love.

Love for God: We love God because He first loved us. “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1John 5:3-5). To love God means that we begin to obey Him as well as do things His way. That goes a long way towards solving the problem of sin. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us” (1John 4:11-12).

Loving others: This commandment goes a long way to resolve of how we treat other people. What we don’t often think about is that loving others is part of the cure of sin to self. The sins of laziness and gluttony are neglecting your health. Not getting healthy would not only be a sin of self, but also a sin that could also damage the quality of life of your children and their children. Neglecting a healthy lifestyle could result in a premature life span. For those left behind, fears of abandonment carry forward from generation to generation. No matter what someone is struggling with, often someone else is being hurt by the sin. Addictions hurt the family. Irresponsibility hurts everyone. There are no victimless crimes, and in helping people with sin, the Bible firmly declares a strong message: think of how your behavior is affecting other people. Understanding how your sin affects others will motivate you to stop sinning when religion won’t.

Love motivates us to do the things we want to, not because we ought to. Remember, we are powerless over sin, and poor in spirit. Give no excuse for your sin. Sin is not just external, but internal. The formula for dealing with sin of self is confession, forgiveness, and repentance. Very similar, the sin done to us by others requires confession, forgiveness, healing the wounds, and reconciliation. Both kinds of sin require receiving and granting grace, facing the truth, and reconciling as much as possible. Do you see the seriousness of your sin and its destructiveness?

March 14, 2012

The Significance of Three

Regenerate is Give up, Start up, and Step up!

Regenerate is saying yes to change, health, and life. Regenerate is a process of renewal, restoration, and growth. Regenerate is a journey of self inventory, practicing spiritual disciplines, resulting in a dynamic spiritual transformation.

The significance of the number Three: The number Three is a significant number with Regenerate. The number three points us to what is entire, real, essential, whole, complete, perfect, and divine. A look at the number Three helps us to understand the Trinity and who God is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us these Three remain: Hope, Faith, and Love. Salvation and eternal life is available to all who believe because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are Three great divisions completing time in past, present, and future. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in body, soul, and spirit. The Three elements of growth are grace, truth, and time. The journey of Regenerate is about giving something up, starting something up, and stepping up in areas of your life. God wants to heal you, grow you up, and give your life purpose. Give up, Start up, and Step up today in your journey to be more like Christ: whole, complete, and perfect. The following are Three areas to Regenerate for healing, change, and growth, helping you on your path towards total, spiritual, transformation:

Spiritual Poverty helps us to Regenerate: Spiritual poverty develops a hunger for God. Those who know they are truly needy are more motivated to look beyond themselves to the Lord. As we grow with a hunger for God and connecting with others, spiritual poverty provokes us to move beyond spiritual immaturity into a deeper walk of faith. Spiritual poverty helps us grow deeper into truth. Spiritual poverty drives us to find solutions for our neediness and ultimately, to develop a total dependence on God.

Discipline helps us to Regenerate: Discipline is one of the necessary ingredients of spiritual growth. Discipline in the broadest sense is our training to learn self-control in some area of life because we are not always in control of ourselves. We become disciplined by God and others. We go through external correction and consequences so that we will make discipline a part of our internal life and experience. The word disciple refers to one who is in the learning process. For discipline to be learned, requires effort. It is a process we receive but we cannot be passive. It takes initiative and to be active.

Obedience helps us to Regenerate: We cannot change and grow spiritually without obedience. Obedience has to do with submitting our purpose, values, and choices to God. Obedience integrates all of life, encompassing all of us, both the internal (character) and the external (behavior).

Believe it, Think it, and Say it: I declare I am a new creation in Christ. I can do everything through Jesus who gives me strength. He is my Peace, my Joy, and my Light. I believe God will make me whole, complete, and perfect, in His image. Today, I chose to Regenerate as I pursue Him in all areas of my life and being. I believe and trust in God that He will fulfill His promise to finish the work He began in me.

March 13, 2012

Regenerate for 40 Days

Regenerate for 40 Days: The number forty is significant with Regenerate. The number forty in the Bible is associated with probation, testing, and trial. It is the product of 5 (grace) and 8 (beginning of a new era or order) leading to and ending in revival and renewal. Regenerate is looking at self and putting into action what God would have you do to Give up, Start up, Step up - becoming more like Him reflecting His character resulting in a transformation of body, soul, and spirit.

Regeneration is the process of renewal, restoration, and growth. We are whole and healthy people when we work continually on all aspects of ourselves. Physically we can give up a bad habit like poor eating and replace it with eating better foods. Step it up physically and join Zumba, group hikes, or some other type of exercise. Give up, Start up, and Step up in developing your relationships with other safe people, and spiritually with God by prayer, fasting, worship, tithing and Bible study. The goals of Regenerate are to get closer to God, improve relationships with others, and to be the best you can be. Love motivates to do the right thing for ourselves so we can be the best for those we love.

Areas of Reflection of Life Elements for Everyday Living
• Spiritual – Bible reading, prayer, fasting, forgive others, be more responsible
• Relational / Family – Quality time with someone special, improve communication
• Physical / Health – Eat healthier, exercise, stretch, hike, walk, ride a bike
• Home – Organize your schedule, calendar, desk, home, office, garage, car
• Community – Serve others, attend school events, vote
• Educational – Go to school, learn a trade, develop a skill, read a book
• Financial – Tithe, save money, start a business, use coupons
• Entertainment – Plan a vacation, give a party for a friend or family member
• Environment – Pick up trash, recycle
• Social – Go dancing, hold doors open for people, drive safely

Ideas of what to Regenerate for 40 days

• Give up – Sugar, soda, chocolates, deserts, alcohol, fast food, TV, worry, negativity
• Start up – Eat healthier, exercise, home improvements, pray, call a friend
• Step up – Commit to serving, join a 20/20 Bible Study group, forgive someone, take the kids to the park, volunteer at a senior center, encourage others!


Starts 40 days leading to Easter

March 6, 2012

We Grow When We Know What Sin Is

The Bible describes sin as the breaking, or transgression, of God's law (1 John 3:4). It is also defined as disobedience or rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7), as well as independence from God. The original translation means "to miss the mark" of God's holy standard of righteousness. Sin came into the world when Satan tempted Adam and Eve and they disobeyed God (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). The root of sin is idolatry: the attempt to put something or someone in the place of the Creator. Most often, that someone is one's own self. While God allows sin, He is not the author of sin. All sins are an offense to God and they separate us from Him (Isaiah 59:2).

Sin creates problems. Sin interferes with the quality of relationship with God and others (Galatians 5:19-21). We try to design life on our own terms taking on His role, becoming our own god. By trying to control things we can’t control, we lose self-control. We judge and move away from being real and experiencing life and others, and move towards judging self and others. We can’t deal with sin and temptation without confession and repentance (James 5:16).

How can we know if something is sin? Basically, sin is to live independent of God. It is moving away from dependence on God as the source of life, and trying to get your needs met other than from God and His people. The Ten Commandments give us a clear picture of God's laws. They are basic rules of behavior for spiritual and moral living. Many other verses in the Bible present direct examples of sin: (Proverbs 6:16-19; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Sins of omission and commission: These sins refer to personal sins. A sin of commission is something we do (commit) by the act of our will against the command of God. A sin of omission is when we fail to do something commanded by God (omit) through a knowing act of our will.

Are all sins equal to God? The Bible seems to indicate that there are degrees to sin, that some are more detestable to God than others (Deuteronomy 25:16; Proverbs 6:16-19). However, when it comes to the eternal consequences of sin, they are all the same. Every sin, every act of rebellion, leads to condemnation and eternal death (Romans 6:23). Sin is a serious problem. The following verses leave no doubt: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

What attitude do you have toward sin? Sin is not just the behavior, it is also internal. The truth is, we all sin: (Romans 3:23 and 1 John 1:10). The Bible says that God hates sin and encourages us as Christians to stop sinning: "Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them" (1 John 3:9). Further complicating the matter are Bible passages that seem to suggest that some sins are debatable and that sin is not always "black and white." What is sin for one Christian, for example, may not be sin for another Christian.

What areas of your life are you still living independently from God?