Thursday, May 26, 2016

Who Is Your God?

Hey, Gabriel Guy,
Is there another god in your life besides Jesus Christ? Before you shout a resounding No!, let's stop and take a look.

 False gods come in many forms and weasel their way into our lives in subtle ways. Here are some false gods that may be hiding in your heart without your realizing it:


1--Sports - Do you cheer more for your favorite sports team than you do for Jesus? Do you get more excited about going to a game than you do about going to church? If you play on a team, do you spend more time practicing than you do reading your Bible and praying? If so, your favorite sport is an idol in your life.
 
2--Hobbies - Do you spend more time pursuing your hobbies than you do pursuing Jesus? If so, your hobby is an idol in your life.

3--Food - Do you eat when you are not hungry?  Do you eat for comfort when you are upset or hurting? Do you eat more than your body needs? If so, food is an idol in your life.

4--Money - Is your ultimate goal in life to become wealthy financially? Do you make decisions based on money alone? Is your only reason for considering a certain career the financial return it will provide? If so, money is an idol in your life.

 Idols have a way of creeping into our hearts unawares. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you the idols in your heart. Then repent of them and turn away from them. Make Jesus Christ the only Lord of your life. He alone deserves your whole heart!

Now, it's YOUR TURN: What idols are in your life? Chances are good that others reading this have some of the same idols. So, let's share with your fellow Gabriel Guys and encourage one another to get rid of all idols. You can post your comments in the box below. Thanks! We're eagerly waiting to hear from you. Your opinion matters!

TWEETABLE:
"I am the Lord your God . . . . You must not have any other god but me." - Exodus 20: 2-3 (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:
Amazon Author Central: www.amazon.com/author/maryanndiorio
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drmaryanndiorio/
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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Are You an Evil-Stopper?

Hey, Gabriel Guy,

 Today's post is a two-for-one. That means I'm writing the same post for both the Gabriel Guys blog and the Gabriel Girls blog.  (You didn't know you had a sister group, did you? Well, now you know!)

That said, here is my huge question to you this week: What are you doing to stop evil in the world?

I hope I'm not hearing silence on the other end. :) 

What I am probably hearing is, "What can I do?"

Great question!  Here are some suggestions you can apply to stop evil in the world:

1-Always stand up for what is right. There will be times in your daily life that your friends or teachers or others will state positions that contradict the Word of God. For example, they may say things like this:
  • Homosexuality and transgenderism are okay;
  • Sex before marriage is fine;
  • There is no God;
  • Science is the ultimate arbiter of truth.
  • The aborted baby is not a human.
Such people will use ridicule or bullying to pressure you into coming over to their position. Don't do it! They will accuse you of being intolerant, ignorant, or just plain stupid. Well, they're wrong!  

You will discover that those who call themselves "tolerant" are the most intolerant of all. If you don't agree with them, they will criticize you unkindly, curse you, and, in some instances, even kill you. 

Truly tolerant people will respect your opinion even if they don't agree with you. They will be kind and courteous to you and engage in friendly discussion. Not so, the falsely tolerant.

2-Stay alert for half-truths. The lie usually comes couched in a partial truth. Otherwise, it would be easy to detect a lie. Satan always tempts with half-truths. Here are a few examples:
  • God is good and won't let anyone go to hell.
  • There are many ways to be saved.
  • What's right for you may not be right for me (and vice versa).
3-Set love as your top priority. We are commanded to do this in I Corinthians 14: 14. Love is the greatest power of all. Love will never fail.

Especially love your brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus said this about us: "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13: 35).

In the 1930s, as Hitler was rising to power, Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this: 
"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." 

Another famous man, Albert Einstein, said this: "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." ~ Albert Einstein

Let's not be one who watches others do evil while we ourselves keep our mouths shut. We are Followers of Yeshua the Messiah. We know the Truth, and we have a mandate from our Lord to be a Light in the midst of a world that is growing increasingly dark.

 Remember this: Light will always overcome darkness! Jesus said, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5: 14). Shine your light into your world!

Now, it's YOUR TURN: What are your thoughts about how to stop evil in the world? Please share them with your fellow Gabriel Guys and Gabriel Girls. You can post your comments in the box below. Thanks! We're eagerly waiting to hear from you. Your opinion matters!


______________________________________________________

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

To Become a Gabriel Girl or 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:
Amazon Author Central: www.amazon.com/author/maryanndiorio
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drmaryanndiorio/
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Monday, May 16, 2016

How Much Does Good Character Cost?

Hey, Gabriel Guys! 

Good character. It is so rare today, isn't it? In fact, when electing public officials, we separate their character from their accomplishments.  But is this logical?

Not at all. One's character can no more be separated from what one does than the root of a tree can be separated from its fruit. In other words, if the root of a tree is bad, the fruit of that tree will also be bad. Conversely, if the root of a tree is good, its fruit will also be good.

Character flows out of your root, which is your spirit, just as surely and predictably as fruit flows out of its root.  So, what can you do to make sure your root is good so your fruit will also be good?

Photo Source: Lightstock 62571

Here are a few tips:

1) Make your relationship with Jesus Christ the top priority in your life. Let nothing interfere with it--not your schoolwork, your job, your family, or your friends. Jesus is our example. He put His relationship with the Father above His own family. 

Once, when he was teaching, someone told him that His mother and brothers were standing outside and couldn't get in because of the crowd. Jesus replied, "My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God's word and obey it"(Luke 8: 21).  According to this statement, would you qualify as a member of God's family?

2)  Be faithful and consistent in prayer. As busy as Jesus was, He always made time to pray. Notice I said made time not found time. We always make time for what we really want to do. 

 Prayer is a major tool in helping you stay close to Jesus and a major weapon in fighting off the enemy.  Do not neglect prayer. Start your day with it, end your day with it, and pray throughout the day. Prayer is simply talking to the Father, so keep a running conversation with Him. 

 3) Run from evil. There will be many times in your life when friends, classmates, or, sadly, even family members who do not know Jesus will entice you to do wrong. Resist their enticements firmly yet lovingly. Remember you are a soldier in Christ's Army, and you want to please your Commander-in-Chief above all else.

Remember also that Satan's goal is to keep you from your destiny. He will use every means possible to reach his goal. He will especially use those areas in which you are the most vulnerable. So be on guard! 

Yes, good character costs a lot, but the rewards are so worth it.  When you are tempted not to pay the price--and you will be tempted--remember this: How much did it cost for Jesus to save you?  

When we think of the price He paid so that we could have eternal life, any price we pay for good character is minuscule in comparison.

YOUR TURN: What do you do to develop Godly character? Please share your insights in the comment box below. Thanks!
_______________________________________________________
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:

Website: www.maryanndiorio.com
BookBub.com: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maryann-diorio
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DrMaryAnnDiorio
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drmaryanndiorio

 
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Thursday, May 5, 2016

How to Be a Man of Godly Character

Godly Character. It seems to be in short supply these days, among both guys and gals. Perhaps that is one reason for the problems we see in our culture. Problems like the breakdown of the family, the selfishness, and the lawlessness.

What is character? According to Noah Webster in his famous Dictionary of 1828, character is defined as "distinguished or good qualities; those which are esteemed and respected; and those which are ascribed to a person in common estimation." In other words, good character means having qualities that are "esteemed and respected" and that most people would use to describe you.

What qualities would most people use to describe you? Have you ever thought about that? If not, why not consider that question now? If you were to ask the people in your life to describe the qualities that best describe you, what would they say?

 Better yet, what qualities should describe your life? 

The best point of reference would be our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Does your life display the qualities that Jesus possessed and demonstrated? To answer this question, we must know what qualities describe Jesus. And to find the answer to this question, we must look at the Word of God.

 Why? Because Jesus is the Word of God.  Take note:

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1: 1, 14, Underlining Mine).

 Jesus was God made Man. He came not only to save us but also to show us how to live. Are you living the way Jesus lived?

"Be not deceived: evil companions corrupt good character."
                                   (1 Corinthians 15: 33)

Jesus was a man's Man. As we study the life of Jesus (and, yes, make the life of Jesus a lifelong study and a lifelong way of living), we see that He demonstrated the fruit of the Holy Spirit as described in Galatians 5: 22.. In other words, when people described Jesus, they would say that He possessed the following qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the qualities that comprise a Godly character.

 Do you possess these qualities? 

 Make it your goal to develop and cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. Then you will be a man of Godly character. And then, and only then, will you influence the world for good.

Question: What challenges you the most in becoming a man of Godly character?
Please leave your comment in the box below. We love to hear from you! :)

TWEETABLES:
"Be not deceived: evil companions corrupt good character." ~ I Corinthians 15: 33 (CLICK TO TWEET)

"Jesus was a man's Man." ~ 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:

Website: www.maryanndiorio.com
BookBub.com: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maryann-diorio
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DrMaryAnnDiorio
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drmaryanndiorio


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Monday, May 2, 2016

Is Your Teacher Telling You the Truth?

Hey, Gabriel Guys!

Teachers have a lot of influence over us. I know. I used to be a college professor. :)

And young men--like you--are sometimes intimidated by their professors. As a once-upon-a-time student, I know that, too!


Detail from Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, Sistine Chapel, 1508-1512

But let me tell me you something. Teachers are not God!  Sometimes what they teach is not true, even though they themselves believe it is true.

For example, most high schools and universities today teach that Darwin's theory of evolution is true. But it is not. It has never been proven to be true.

So, how can you tell if what your teacher is teaching you is true? There is an easy way. Check to see if what your teacher is teaching you agrees with what God says in the Holy Scriptures.

Let's use evolution as an example. Your teacher may be teaching you that you came from a monkey. But God says that you were created directly by Him as a human being.  

For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . . . - Psalm 139: 13-14

This doesn't sound at all to me as if you came from a monkey.

So, whom are you going to believe? Your teacher, or God?

Now, if you oppose what your teacher is saying about evolution, your teacher will likely respond that there is no God.  He or she may even give you some high-sounding explanations that may make you feel stupid. Don't take the bait!

As one who has four graduate degrees and who has taught in two of the best universities in the United States, I have been around many professors. Most who teach in universities today are atheists or agnostics.  Remember this: A teacher who says there is no God is a fool (Psalm 14: 1).  Do not listen to him or her. And do not be intimidated by him or her.

There is a Satanic move afoot--and there has been for the last 157 years since Darwin published his Origin of the Species in 1859--to deceive the world (and especially young people) into believing that we are here only by chance. This is a blatant lie that has led to suicide, abortion, euthanasia, the holocaust, and other atrocities that have attempted to blot out the amazing and inherent worth and purpose of every human being. 

 You are made in the image of God. You are on earth for a unique purpose that only you can fulfill. Follow Jesus closely. You will discover your purpose only in Him. 

Now, a question: Have you experienced intimidation because of your stance for Christ? Let's hear from you in the Comment Box below. :)
TWEETABLES:

"You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb...I am...wonderfully made...." -Ps. 139: 13-14  (CLICK TO TWEET)

"A teacher who says there is no God is a fool (See Psalm 14: 1)." - 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:

Website: www.maryanndiorio.com
BookBub.com: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maryann-diorio
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DrMaryAnnDiorio
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drmaryanndiorio





 
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