Pete Miller is co-owner of The Writer's Friend, an editing and pre-publication business for authors, business owners and marketing managers. Prior to opening his business, he spent several years in the editing department of a daily newspaper. Pete grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the sixties and has been an avid student of the Bible since 1971. Pete is currently enrolled in Bible college and resides in Southern Oregon with his wife and two children.
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Abijam, King of Judah
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Abijam continued in the sinful ways of his father, Rehoboam, unfaithful to the Lord in his heart. But because of God's promises to David, God blessed Abijam's reign.
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Abraham, the Friend of God
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The New Testament declares that Abraham was "<i>fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform</i>." Abraham's submission, resolute trust and faith in God continue providing an inspirational example to Christians today.
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Accountability
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Hebrews 4:13 teaches that nothing and no one is unseen by God "<i>but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."</i> Accountability keeps people honest and reminded of their commitments, to God first, and to people.
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Adam and Eve Hide from God
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Human nature has not changed. People do many sinful things, thinking that they are getting away with it, not knowing that the Lord God is everywhere present and sees all.
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Adam and Eve Blame Shift
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Using Adam and Eve as examples, pointing fingers at others may delay consequences for a time, but there are still consequences.
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Adam and Eve Eat the Apple
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God's original will was a perfect paradise. Oh, there was some work to do, primarily taking care of the garden, but life was simple for Adam and Eve. The only condition was that they do not eat the forbidden fruit.
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Adam and Eve Enjoy Relationship with God
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As long as they lived within the established orderliness, Adam and Eve enjoyed stability and tranquility. God must have delighted as His children discovered daily the many wonders of His creation.
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Adam and Eve in Shame
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Their eyes were opened, but the so-called enlightenment that the serpent had promised was sickening. Like every sensational lie of the enemy, it was nothing like what was advertised, and it was not only extremely disappointing, but vile. They felt dirty, violated, and hurried to cover themselves.
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Adam and Eve in the Beginning
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Genesis is the book of beginnings: the beginning of the universe, the beginning of man and woman, the beginning of sin, and the beginning of God's promise and plan of restoration and redemption. Here are some thoughts to help when studying the articles about Adam and Eve.
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Adam and Eve in Unity
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When a husband and wife are in agreement in their walk with God, that makes a three-fold cord. Like a braided rope, it is not quickly broken. When God's truth prevails, there is personal integrity, transparency and open communication. No stress, no secrets, no confusion.
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Adam and Eve Unashamed in the Garden
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Adam and Eve were unlimited, free to learn about all the things in the garden, the animals, the sun, moon and stars, and each other. The world was fresh and uncontaminated and they had an uninterrupted connection with God.
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Adam Compromises for the Sake of Eve
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Adam wasn't lacking intelligence. He was perfect, and pure. He had never sinned before. Something compelled him to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit.
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Adam is Placed in the Garden of Eden
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It must have been a breathtaking wonderland for Adam, to wander through and visually take in the magnificence of the Garden of Even, to smell all the fragrances and taste the sweetness of all of the different fruit, each in their original uncontaminated state.
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Adam Made in Their Image
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In the first chapter of Genesis is the introduction of God's magnum opus, the purpose for all of His effort. He formed man of the dust of the ground, breather into his nostrils and made him a living soul, and created in man His Spirit. This was Adam and Eve'sunion with the heavenly realm.
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Adam Names the Animals
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While one might think this either mythical or an impossibly daunting job, God's Word is truth, and Adam's brain was flawless and fully functional. Whatever Adam called the animals, that was the name that stuck.
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Adam Receives the Blessing of Multiplication
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Adam and Eve were perfect and sinless. God's original design and desire was for His children to reign over all of the creation, to have dominion over all living creatures. He wanted these flawless ones to be fruitful and multiply.
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Adam Takes and Relinquishes Dominion
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God originally gave Adam and Eve dominion. Dominion means to rule over, to be lord over, to dominate, to reign. For an unspecified time, Adam and Eve enjoyed their God-given rulership, and had a taste of what God's people will experience in the future.
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Ahaz, King of Judah
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The Lord brought Judah to its knees because of Ahaz, for he had been continually unfaithful to the Lord and promoted moral decline in Judah. Instead of seeking the Lord in his time of distress, he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which angered God exceedingly.
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Ahaziah, King of Judah
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Jehoram's son, Ahaziah, was 22 years old when he became king, and reigned only one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, Ahab's daughter. As Ahaziah and his mother were the only survivors of the execution of Jehoram's family, Ahaziah looked to his mother and was greatly influenced by her, and followed in the wicked and idolatrous ways of the house of Ahab
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Amaziah, King of Judah
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Amaziah endeavored to do what was right. He assembled a substantial fighting force to protect Judah, and obeyed God's Word spoken by the man of God. But soon he became overconfident, and arrogant, and ultimately, it cost him everything.
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Amon, King of Judah
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Amon was ignorant and untrained, and no construction projects or military contributions mark his reign. The silence in God's Word regarding King Amon's reign is deafening. The only positive thing about his life was his son, Josiah.
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Asa, King of Judah
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Asa was the first king of Judah mentioned that did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Asa began his reign with a zeal to remove idolatrous objects from the land, and ban idol worship. But at the end of his life, Asa fell away from following the Lord.
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Athaliah, Queen and King of Judah
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Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, two of Israel's most evil rulers. With the death of her son, Ahaziah, Athaliah decided to take the throne herself. But God protected the true heir.
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Authority of God and the Power of Christians
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God created the heavens, formed the earth, made it and established it. Therefore, it's understood that God didn't create the world to be a waste or a place of chaos, rather a place of order and purpose. And as the creator, God has the first word and the last. His Word is His will. God means what He says and He says what He means. God also gives and takes away authority on earth.
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Baptism of the Lord -- the Feast
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The Baptism of the Lord is an feast day that memorializes the Holy Spirit descending on Christ in the Jordan River as John the Baptist gave Jesus a full immersion baptism. Some Christians believe that at the time of Jesus’ baptism, God revealed Himself as the Holy Trinity, that is, God the Father spoke from the heavens, the Son of God was baptized, and the Holy Spirit descended in a form like a dove.
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Baptism of the Lord -- the Scriptures
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This occasion memorializes the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. All the gospel writers agree that God spoke to confirm His Son, Jesus the Christ, and this began Jesus’ public ministry.
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Be Diligent -- Trusting God in Hard Times
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God set up the principles of sowing and reaping, and the law of giving and receiving extends to diligence and conscientiousness in one's work. Many Proverbs commend diligence, and bring to light the results of laziness.
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Be Thankful -- Trusting God in Hard Times
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Life is more than food and clothes and houses and cars and stuff. Life is not all about accumulation of things. He who dies with the most money or the most toys, still dies. Life for the Christian is about loving God and loving others, and introducing people to the Lord Jesus Christ. People are to be loved and things are to be used, and never the opposite.
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Beware of Covetousness -- Trusting God in Hard Times
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History is filled with wealthy people whose lives were cursed with ill health, or marital wreckage and family maliciousness. The lives of most lottery winners are utterly ruined by instant wealth. Studies have revealed people recklessly spending it all and ending up in debt, with friends and families embittered, and others becoming drug addicts and even imprisoned. Therefore, it becomes even more important to trust God in hard times, depending on his provision and his guidance.
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Blind Man at Bethesda - Healings of Jesus
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Whenever someone was capable, Jesus demanded their faith. In the case of the blind man from Bethsaida, his restoration was progressive. At first, he could see only images, but not clearly. Some have wrongly thought that Jesus’ healing power was deficient. The burden of faith was on the man, not Jesus. All it took was one more touch from the Master, and his vision was perfectly restored.
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Boy with the Devil - Healing Ministry of Jesus
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The father told Jesus his son had seizures since the boy’s infancy, then said to Jesus, “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus then took the man’s “if” and directed the responsibility for believing squarely on the father’s shoulders. “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
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Calming the Storm - Miracles of Jesus
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In the story of Jesus Calming the Store, Jesus spoke to a raging windstorm, and it immediately stopped. He knew God’s Word and knew what He was destined to do, how He would ultimately die, and that His life and the lives of His men were not in jeopardy that day on the water.
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Cast Your Cares on God -- Trusting God in Hard Times
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The key to trusting God is to spend more time in His Word, and less time reading or listening to the news, or any media. Today's hard times necessitate trusting God. It may be disastrous not to. Whatever happens, refuse to fear. Whatever challenges one faces, the best reaction is positive action, and the best action is to turn to God, to seek His help, to go to the God of wisdom.
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Centered in the Will of God -- Trusting God in Hard Times
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Crisis brings out the best and the worst in humanity. The media has a way of finding the most depraved acts of humanity and turning them into headlines that sow fear in the hearts of people. Trusting God can become habitual. The key is to spend more time in God's Word, and less time reading or listening to the news, or any media.
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Christ-Centered Atmosphere in the Workplace
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Although tasks may be mundane and repetitive at times, the individual that is influenced by God working in and through them radiates a Christ-like essence. Though the workplace may not be Christ-centered, they create their own Christian-inspired environment.
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Christian Men as Providers
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Scripture proves that God is the true provider and that men are to rely on the example of the Heavenly Father when it comes to caring for his family.
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Christian New Year -- Celebrate New Beginnings
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It is by way of the renewed mind that the newness of life is realized. As a believer grows up in Christ, believing and understanding what God has done through Jesus on his behalf, the quality of life gets better and better. It is always God’s will for His children to grow up in Christ.
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Christian New Year -- Historical and Spiritual Aspects
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For political and military reasons, January 1, 153 B.C. became the beginning of the new year. The Roman calendar was widely used throughout western Europe, until revised by Aloysius Lilius, an Italian doctor, astronomer, philosopher and chronologist. Pope Gregory XIII commanded Christians to use this new and improved calendar in 1582, and named it after himself. It is still the most widely used calendar in the world.
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Christian New Years -- Pursue Godly Goals
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Choosing to do the will of God is always a right choice for a Christian New Years resolution. God’s favor and blessings should be incentive enough to pursue Godly goals.
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Christian New Years Resolutions
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Traditionally, many people in the world get inebriated, only to wake up sometime the next day not knowing what they might have said, what happened, or with whom. As a safe and sane alternative to the typical New Year’s bash, Christians can gather together with music, food, games, perhaps an inspirational message, and some powerful prayer. Then go home, go to bed, and enjoy the next day without a smashing headache or an upset stomach.
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Christian New Years SMART Resolutions
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Striving for perfection isn’t the worst thing. But when making New Year's resolutions it is important to understand that it takes time to change habits and lifestyles. Often it takes extra time and effort to reach an important personal goal, but the result is well worth it. Instant success might be an unrealistic expectation, so if there is a temporary setback or postponement, try again.
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Christian Principles of Stewardship
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Stewardship, by Biblical definition, simply refers to the management of household and financial matters. A steward is a manager, one who is faithful, diligent, has impeccable integrity and honesty, and is skillfully competent.
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Christian Sanctification
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Christians today are sanctified by what Jesus accomplished on the cross. They are cleansed from sin, set apart from the world and destined for heaven. These are spiritual rights given to believers by grace.
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Compromise as a Sin
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There is no place for compromise in the Kingdom of God. There is no middle road, and there is no fence to sit on. The gate is narrow and the way can be difficult. Be hot or cold, a friend or an enemy. Love the world or love God. Serve the Lord. Choose life!
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Crippled Woman - Healings of Jesus
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She was bowed over and could not straighten herself to stand upright. She was in spiritual bondage and physically bound as a result. Although her name is not given and there is no other history about her, she went to the one place where one would think she could get help, the synagogue. Likewise, today's churches should be places where hurting people can find help.
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Daughter of the Canaanite Woman - Healing Ministry of Jesus
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She came to Jesus and He ignored her. The disciples were annoyed with her. Finally Jesus said that what He had was not even for her. But she did not give up in her mind. Her love and determination brought total deliverance for her daughter.
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David, the Sweet Psalmist of Israel
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The life of David was an important period in the history of Israel. Following Saul's failure, David took the kingdom to a position of worldwide superiority. He established a capital city for the nation, assembled the most powerful military, and provided the arrangements and organization for the central location of worship to the One True God.
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Defining Christian Duty
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The goal of obedience is to please God, and to enjoy privileges. In like manner, the goal of duty is personal satisfaction and contentment, knowing what is good and right has been done, and that society has been improved.
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Demon Possessed Man in Synagogue - Healings of Jesus
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Modern science and medicine may deny the reality of spiritual influences affecting humans, but the Bible teaches the existence of demons. They also can cause physical problems and diseases, but not all diseases or abnormal behaviors are spiritually caused. Demon spirits were extremely uncomfortable in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Developing and Launching a Christian Businessmen's Breakfast
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A Christian Businessmen's breakfast can be a unique time for men in the church to enjoy fellowship with other working men, and starting the day with God and His truth. It is also an opportunity to invite men outside of the church since the only criteria for attendance is that the men are running a business, starting a business, or aspiring to launch a business.
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