Thursday, December 8, 2016

Hey, Gabriel Guys,

After prayer and seeking God, I have decided to suspend the Gabriel Guys blog for the time being.  I have not received feeedback from you, my readers, which indicates that interest in this blog is low.

Should the Lord direct me to resume this blog in the future, you will receive a notice if you remain subscribed.

Thank you for reading the Gabriel Guys Blog during the last several months. I pray God's blessings on you.

Remember: Always stay close to Jesus!



Love and Blessings,

Dr. MaryAnn

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Dear Gabriel Guys,

As the new year approaches, I have been praying for God's direction regarding this blog. After several months, it seems as though there is little interest in the Gabriel Girls blog. Comments have been rare to non-existent.

Scripture says that in the multitude of counselors, there is safety (Proverbs 15: 22). So, I am coming to you, my readers, to ask fory our input. Is this blog important to you? Has it made a difference in your life?

Writing effective blog posts takes a good deal of time. Since time is a gift from the Lord, I want to be a good steward of it.

I look forward to your comments.  Meanwhile, I send you warm greetings for a holy and happy Christmas season!


Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Friday, October 28, 2016

Are You Afraid of the Future? by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio


Hey, Gabriel Guys!

Are you afraid of the future? If so, you are not alone.



Our world is teetering on the edge of destruction. Events are unfolding exactly as the Bible prophesied they would. Every where we turn, we see violence, death, and destruction.

The result is fear. It’s all around us. It penetrates and saturates our culture as water does a sponge. We read it in the headlines every morning. We hear it on the news every night.
We feel it in our bones, in our muscles, and in our hearts.

Yes. In our hearts.

But, it doesn’t have to be this way.  Throughout the Scriptures, God continually commands us not to fear.  Interesting, isn’t it, that He gives us a command?  A command from God implies that we are able to obey it.

So, why are we afraid? I would propose that we are afraid because we do not know God.

You see, God is Love, and in Him there is never anything to fear.  Scripture tells us that “perfect love drives out fear” (I John 4:18).  God, Who is Perfect Love, will drive out fear every time.  But here is the clincher:  We must trust Him and believe Him when He says that there is nothing to fear for those of us who know Him.

Bottom line, we get rid of fear by getting to know God intimately.  Here is His promise to us found in Isaiah 26:3: ” You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”  This is the antidote to fear: Keeping our minds fixed on God.  And why do we keep our minds fixed on God? Because we trust in Him. And why do we trust Him? Because He is God and perfectly trustworthy!

Are you struggling with fear today? Then turn your eyes toward Jesus and keep looking into His beautiful face. Keep your thoughts fixed on Him. As you do, His peace will drive out every fear.


Now, it's your turn: Do you struggle with fear? What has helped you overcome fear?
Please share your comments in the box below. The words "No Comments" simply mean that no one has yet posted a comment. So, be the first one! :)


TWEETABLE: Are You Afraid of the Future? by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

 ______________________________________________________

Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Guy, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:


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Monday, September 26, 2016

Have You Answered Life's Most Important Question?

Hey, Gabriel Guys!

Life is full of questions. But there's one that is the most important question of all. Can you guess what it is?


Matthew 16: 13-16 gives us a clue. Let's take a look:

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'”

Jesus has never stopped asking this question of every person who has ever lived. And He is asking you this same question today: 

"Who do you say that I am?"  

Who do you say that Jesus is? This is the most important question you will ever answer in your life. 

Why? Because your answer to this question will determine not only the rest of your life, but, more importantly, your answer will determine your eternal destiny.

If you, like some of the people of Christ's time, reply that Jesus is just a prophet (as many reply today), then you will spend eternity separated from Him.

But if you reply that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, you will recognize your utter need of Him to save you from your sin.

So, I ask you now: Who do you say that Jesus is? If you are not sure, begin reading the four Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--found in the New Testament. They reveal who Jesus is.

As you read the Gospels, watch Jesus in motion. Listen to what He says. Watch how He treats people. Pay attention to the amazing miracles He performs and the compassion that prompts them. Notice how He comes back from the dead. And while you're reading, keep in mind that you are not reading fiction. You are reading documented history that really happened.

If you are sincerely looking for the truth, you will discover that Jesus is truly who He says He is: the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

Now, it's your turn: Who do you say Jesus is? How did you reach your conclusion? Please share your comments in the box below. The words "No Comments" simply mean that no one has yet posted a comment. So, be the first one! :)


TWEETABLE: "Have You Answered Life's Most Important Question?" by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

 ______________________________________________________

Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Guy, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:


Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

How to Make Wise Decisions by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Hey, Gabriel Guys,

The teen years are full of decisions. Big ones, like should I go to college? If so, where? What should I study? If I don't go to college, what job should I take? What classes should I take in high school? Should I date this girl? Should I go to this party? And on and on and on.



One of the greatest blessings of following Jesus is that we have Holy Spirit to guide us in every decision we make. He knows the plans the Father has for our future, and Holy Spirit will lead us in the direction of those plans if we allow Him to do so.

After following the Lord for almost 46 years, I've learned this: There are really only two things we need to do to make wise choices:

1) Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit;

2) Obey the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Listen and Obey. If we do these two things, we will never make a wrong decision in our life.

How do you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit? First of all, you have to get to know His voice.  How did you get to know your mother's voice or your best friend's voice? By spending time with them.  We get to know a person by spending time with that person.

The same is true of Holy Spirit. We get to know His voice by spending time with Him.

Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is the one we tend to forget about because
we sometimes forget He is a Person. We may think of Him as a floating cloud or a breath of air or a dove or a tongue of fire. The truth is Holy Spirit is a Person, and a powerful one at that!

Get to know Holy Spirit! Get to know Him well. He is your friend, your counselor, your helper, your advocate, and your guide on the road of life. As you follow Him closely, you will make wise choices that will lead you into the great destiny for which God created you.

Now, it's your turn: Can you name a time when listening and obeying Holy Spirit's voice kept you from making a wrong decision? Please share your experience with our fellow Gabriel Girls. You can post your comment in the box below. Thanks! :)

TWEETABLE: "How to Make Wise Decisions" by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

 ______________________________________________________


Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Guy, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:


Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Does Your Life Matter? by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Hey, Gabriel Guys,

Here in the United States, there have been a lot of sayings going around regarding the value of one's life, sayings like "Black lives matter," and "Blue lives matter" (referring to police officers who usually dress in blue uniforms).  The missing word in these sayings is the word too or also.  What these sayings imply is that black lives matter also and blue lives matter also.

The truth is that EVERY LIFE MATTERS, including YOURS!



Unfortunately, the value of life has been diminished by Darwin's theory of evoluton, which, by the way, is only a theory.  In fact, the more and more we learn about science, the less and less does the theory of evolution hold water. The reason is that it is simply not true.

The truth is that you were created by God Who loves you and Who created you for a speciic purpose. The fact that God created you gives you value, and the fact that God created you with a specific purpose gives meaning to your life.

But how can you know what your purpose is? There is only one way: by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Why? Because your purpose is all wrapped up in Jesus. Until you discover Jesus, you will never discover your purpose.

So, when you wonder if your life matters, be assured that it does. And it matters greatly! God has placed you on this earth at this particular time in history because your purpose is directly related to His plan for this particular time in history.

Ask God to show you His purpose for your life. He will.  As you fulfill your purpose, you will experience great joy and you will benefit humanity at the same time.

NOTE: For a great book on discovering your life purpose, read THE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE by Robert McGee.  This book is available through my Amazon Affiliate Link.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: Have you discovered your life purpose? Why do you think it is important to discover your life purpose? 
Does Your Life Matter? by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

 ______________________________________________________
Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Guy, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:


Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies.

Monday, August 8, 2016

How to Keep Your Cool When Someone Offends You

Jesus said that offense would come (Luke 17: 1). So how do we handle them when they do come?

First of all, let's define what we mean by an offense. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an offense is "the state of being insulted or morally outraged." Another online dictionary defines offense as "annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles."

Offense occurs, therefore, when someone says or does something that insults us or outrages us. When we are offended, our natural reaction is to strike back, to seek revenge, to punish the offender.

But God's way of dealing with offense is the exact opposite. He commands us to respond to offense with love.

Offense is a tool of Satan to get us off track in our walk with Christ. How you respond to offense is extremely important. Here are some ways to make sure that you do not fall into the trap of offense:

1- Give every offense to God. This includes giving him the hurt that the offense caused in your soul. 

2-Do not seek revenge for the offense. God says this in Romans 12: 19: "Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back,' says the LORD.

3-Forgive the person who offended you (Matthew 6: 14). Since God forgave us, we must forgive others. If we do not forgive those who offend us, God will not forgive us of our sins. This is a very sobering truth.

4-Pray for the person who offended you (Romans 12: 14). By doing so, you will be returning good for evil. 

The next time someone offends you, apply the four principles listed above. As you do, you will be freed from the hurt that the offense caused you. Instead, you will be filled with the joy and peace of Jesus Christ.

And there is nothing better than that! :)

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: What do you do when someone offends you? Please leave a comment in the box below.

TWEETABLE:
"How to Keep Your Cool When Someone Offends You" by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)
Join us for some great discussion on the Gabriel Guys Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1078246588862662/.
 ______________________________________________________
Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Guy, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Survey for Gabriel Guys

Dear Gabriel Guys,

According to the statistics, we are now in over 15 countries of the world. But I am concerned. I have not been receiving comments from our readers. So I am wondering if you find this blog helpful.  Please let me know.

If you regularly read the Gabriel Girls blog, please post a comment in the box below. Ignore the words "No Comments."  They simply mean that no one has posted a comment yet.

Also, please let me know if there are any topics which you wish to discuss.

I do hope to hear from you. Because there has been virtually no feedback, I have been wondering if I should continue writing this blog.

I look forward to your input.


Thanks and Blessings!

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Monday, July 18, 2016

How to Handle a Bully

Hey, Gabriel Guys!

Bullying is a major problem among teens today. Did you know that the Bible has a lot to say about bullying and about how to handle bullies?

Let's take a look:

1-Be wise in choosing your friends.  The Bible says says about choosing friends: "The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." (Proverbs 12: 26).  How do you choose your friends? Do you choose them based on popularity, looks, smarts? 

The right way to choose friends is to choose them based on their character. Consider your friends. Do they love Jesus and obey God? Or are they rebellious and want to do whatever they feel like doing?



2-Return good for evil. When someone tries to bully you via a hurtful comment on Facebook, or an insult at school, or an act of rejection, do something to bless that person. Say something kind. Tell that person you are praying for him. Help him in some way.

Jesus said this: I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:39-40)

3-Stand up to the bully. There will be times when you will need to stand up to the bully. You will need to establish your boundaries and not allow the bully beyond them.  

Remember your authority in Christ and use it against the enemy. In reality, you are not fighting the bully; you are fighting Satan and his demons (Ephesians 6:12). "And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you" ( Deuteronomy 28: 10). 

4-Forgive the bully. Behind the mask a bully wears is a frightened person who does not feel he is worth much. So he uses bullying to make himself feel important.  As you forgive the bully and pray for him, God will begin to change her life.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: Have you ever been bullied? How did you handle the bully? Did you handle him God's way or your way?

TWEETABLE:
"How to Handle a Bully" by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)


______________________________________________________
Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Guy, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

What Is the Meaning of Life?

Hey, Gabriel Guys!

One of the greatest questions you will ever ask yourself is What is the meaning of my life? How you answer this question will determine whether or not you fulfill your destiny.

Let's start with the basics:

1-Your life has meaning. To believe otherwise is to believe a lie. Unfortunately, our modern educational system teaches evolution, and evolution teaches that you came from an amoeba or a monkey and that you are here by chance.

This is one of the greatest lies ever perpetrated on the human race. The truth is that you were directly created by God for a specific and wonderful purpose (Read Psalm 139). This gives you great value and worth. It also gives great meaning to your life.

2-God has a special plan for your life. As you discover and fulfill that plan, you will experience great joy and fulfillment. You will also benefit the people in your circle of influence.

God created you with specific talents and gifts. This gifts are not only for your enjoyment, but, more importantly, they are to be shared with others for their benefit.

3-The only way you will discover the true meaning of your life is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.  No other way will work.  Why? Because the meaning of your life has its roots in Christ and can only fully blossom in Christ.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, I urge you to do so now. Here is a prayer you can pray:

Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am. I believe that You are the Son of God, that You died for my sins, and that You rose again from the dead. I ask You to forgive me of all my sins. I accept You now as my Savior and my Lord. Make of me all that You created me to be. Show me the meaning of my life so that my life may bring You great glory! In Your Name I pray. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, you are now a child of God. Please write to me to let me know. I will send you, free of charge, a little booklet on how to grow in Christ.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: Do you know the meaning of your life? If so, how did you discover it? What part did Christ play in your discovery?

TWEETABLE:
The only way you will discover the true meaning of your life is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. (CLICK TO TWEET)

______________________________________________________
Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Guy, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:

Saturday, July 9, 2016

So, You Want to Commit Suicide?

If you’re a Christ-follower reading this, you’re probably wondering if I’ve lost my mind. Why would a follower of Jesus Christ want to kill himself?

The truth is that suicide is increasing among teenagers in general and among Christian teens in particular. So, it’s time to take action against suicide and look at it for what it really is: Satan’s attempt to rob you of your God-given destiny.

Why is suicide increasing among teens?
Because teens see the world as becoming more and more hopeless. They may also be experiencing personal problems that seem hopeless--like strife in the home, parental divorce, overwhelming temptations, identity crises, concern about their futures, and a host of other things that drag them down into depression.

Suicide is always the result of believing a lie--or more than one. Let’s take a look at some of the lies that lead to teen suicide and the truth that will set you free:

---LIE:  Your pain will never go away.

---TRUTH: No pain on this earth lasts forever. The only things that will last forever are God and His Word, your spirit and soul, and the virtues of faith, hope, and love. 

Scripture says this: For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.(2 Corinthians 4: 17-18)

---LIE: Your life is your own. You can do whatever you want with it.

---TRUTH:  Your life is not your own. It was bought and paid for by Jesus Christ with His Blood. Therefore, you have no right to take your own life. 

Scripture says this: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

---LIE: My family and friends will be better off without me.

---TRUTH: For every suicide, there will be 13-15 people who are directly affected and whose lives will never be the same. To kill oneself is an extreme act of selfishness in that the person committing suicide is thinking only of himself.


Scripture says this: "Do nothing from selfishness . . . .” (Philippians 2: 3)

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens. Most suicide victims were deeply depressed before killing themselves. Depressed people thing wrong thoughts that contradict God’s Word. Thinking wrong thoughts leads to chemical changes in the body that cause illness.

“Suicide is always the result of believing a lie--or more than one.” ~ Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

If you are struggling with the temptation to kill yourself, consider this:

1-Jesus loves you and has a great plan for your life. Satan hates you and wants to thwart God’s great plan for you.

2-You can overcome depression by reading and obeying God’s Word. When you are tempted to be depressed, begin praising God. Satan hates praise directed toward God, so when you praise God, Satan will flee.


In our next post, I will discuss depression and how to get rid of it.

Now, it’s YOUR TURN: Have you struggled with thoughts of suicide? Do you have a friend who struggles with such thoughts? Do you know of someone who has committed suicide? How did that person’s suicide affect you? Please post your comment in the box below. Thanks! :)

TWEETABLE:
“Suicide is always the result of believing a lie--or more than one.” ~ Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)


______________________________________________________
Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Guy, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues: