Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Articles from Paula Marolewski | Selfgrowth.com
- Negative Memories: How Do We Move Forward? - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2009 from Paula Marolewski“God didn’t give us a delete button to erase the memory of our past. So God must want us to remember our past, but move forward. How do I do that?” The question from my friend was excellent – and poignant. We have all suffered terrible times in our lives. Sometimes we want to forget them as if ...
Views: 1189(1 vote) - Answers vs. Wisdom - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiI often find myself praying, "Lord, tell me what to do!" or "Is this course of action that I'm considering right or wrong? Just tell me!" But I have finally realized that this is not the best kind of prayer, and, in many instances, is not even an appropriate kind of prayer. You see, when I am ...
Views: 1180(1 vote) - 5 Keys To Spiritual Maturity - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiSpiritual maturity, or spiritual formation, is God's call to every believer (Ephesians 4:11-16). We are "no longer to be children," but are to "grow up in all aspects into him who is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15). Five key areas are essential to the development of spiritual ...
Views: 1242 - A Creed For Daily Life - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiI believe that God is my Father and I am His child. I believe that I have right standing with God because of what Jesus has done, not because of anything I do. I believe that Christ is with me, whether or not I "feel" Him. I believe that my worth is intrinsic because I am ...
Views: 1120 - A Light Unto My Path - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Paula Marolewski"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son . . ." You can hear the words in your mind. The voices of little children chanting John 3:16. Maybe it was in Sunday School; maybe in Vacation Bible School. Maybe you have reflected with a bit of wistfulness, "I remember when I ...
Views: 1735 - A New View Of Patience - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiPatience. A virtue much sought, a commodity to be utterly desired. Stillness of soul in the midst of turmoil, perseverance in the face of trials, undisturbed faith under the onslaught of evil. Maybe. Maybe not. Mulling over the word, I found a brief flash of clarity: a redefining of my ...
Views: 881 - All I Can Do is Pray - by Submitted on May 07, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiI've heard it a thousand times. I've probably said it a thousand times myself. Someone bares their soul to me, and the situation is terrible, painful, difficult ... far beyond the reach of anything I can do – or anyone can do – to help. And then those six words slip from my lips: "All I can do ...
Views: 1831 - Be Still aAd Know That I Am God - by Submitted on Sep 26, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiBe - Come with who you are, as you are. Come knowing that your personality and individuality are safe. Don't try to empty yourself of your selfhood: rather, acknowledge that selfhood and understand that it is treasured in heaven's eyes. Still - Having come as yourself, quiet yourself. Not ...
Views: 898 - Bible Study Basics: The Importance of Discussion - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiWhy include discussion in a Bible study, small group, or Sunday School class? Why not just lecture, or watch a great preacher or teacher on DVD, then call it quits for the day? Discussion is an essential part of every Bible study or teaching time for six important reasons: 1. Discussion keeps ...
Views: 1006 - Bible Study Basics: The Pitfalls of Discussion - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiDiscussion is vital to Bible studies, small groups, and Sunday school classes. It keeps people attentive and involved, adds insights and wisdom, and helps people turn head knowledge into heart knowledge. So why does discussion sometimes falter or fail? Why does it sometimes result in more ...
Views: 1068 - Bible Study Basics: Write Out Your Lesson - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiWhen I taught a class on how to lead Bible studies and teach in a group, the biggest push-back I received was when I promoted writing out - in full - your lesson for the week. People objected that writing out a lesson would squelch the Spirit of God and would make the lesson mechanical. After ...
Views: 1007 - Christian Discernment: A Practical Definition - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiWhat is really involved in Christian discernment? Is it something mystical? An inner sense? Or is it more practical than that? Hebrews 5:14 notes that discernment is the ability to recognize good and evil: "Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to ...
Views: 2265 - Christian Education and the Struggle with Biblical Illiteracy - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiI doubt that anyone will disagree with me when I state that our society today in America is biblically illiterate. Specifically, I would define "biblically illiterate" as the following: * Unfamiliar with the structure of the Bible. Most people could not explain why the Bible is split between ...
Views: 1169 - Christian Education: 12 Keys Of Effective Teaching - by Submitted on Nov 13, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiWhile there are many forms of teaching in the Christian education arena, there are a few basic tenets that are applicable across the board. We will focus on these tenets as they apply to "formal" teaching (classroom, discussion, lecture, discipling relationships), but they are just as important ...
Views: 1249 - Christian Education: 7 Essentials For An Effective Teaching Ministry - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiAll too often, planning for Christian Education involves desperately flipping through the church directory and asking, "Who might be willing to take a class?" Is it any wonder, then, that classes fall flat, attendance is poor, and results are non-existent? Instead, we need to approach ...
Views: 919 - Christian Education: What is the Gift of Teaching? - by Submitted on Jan 07, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiWe could talk about the gift of teaching in terms of skill sets, personality types, and rhetorical styles - but we won't. Not here. Instead, using a slightly different approach, let's discuss the gift of teaching in terms of what it is meant to accomplish in the Body of Christ. Ephesians ...
Views: 824 - Christian Education: Why Are We So Biblically Illiterate? - by Submitted on Jan 07, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiWhy, in a culture where nearly everyone can read, has access to a Bible, and has a church on every corner, is there such biblical illiteracy? I believe the answer to this question is to be found springing from the society we are a part of: First, there is a diminished stress on education. We ...
Views: 1084 - Covenant Communication - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiCareless or caustic words can cause more damage in a marriage than anything else. Take the time to covenant together about how you will communicate - it will enrich your relationship every day: We covenant together never to raise our voices in anger. Even when we are angry, or hurt, or wronged. ...
Views: 867 - Exploring The Deeps - by Submitted on Sep 26, 2008 from Paula Marolewski"Do you read the Bible?" "Of course I do!" "Then, what did you learn today?" The first question is easy. The second leaves us stumped. We could give answers like, "Well, I learned that David killed Goliath," or, "I read that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead." But we have the feeling that ...
Views: 894 - Get Out of Your Comfort Zone - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiIt's so easy to remain where we are comfortable. Our rounds of church, work, friends, and family are reassuring, pleasant, and peaceful. But Paul urges us in Romans 12:16 to get out of the comfort zone where we talk and interact with people "just like us" day after day. He urges us to ...
Views: 1031 - God Is Not Afraid Of Process - by Submitted on Sep 26, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiSanctification. A long word for a long process. Once, a friend I was discipling asked me, "What does it mean to be sanctified?" I took a deep breath, and said, "Well . . . !" You can talk about positional sanctification, that the moment you accept Christ as your Savior, you are sanctified: ...
Views: 1048 - How Does Deception Begin? - by Submitted on Mar 25, 2009 from Paula Marolewski"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Indeed, has God said, "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden"?'" - Genesis 3:1 Deception entered the world early ... in the very paradise of the Garden. As the precursor to ...
Views: 1077 - How to Destroy Your Church: Do Not Touch - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiOne surefire way to destroy your church is to hang a placard around the neck of each person in leadership that says “Do Not Touch!” When you do so, the person becomes exempt from the tap of reproof, relieved from the hand of correction, unaccountable to any accountability. Congregations ...
Views: 885 - How to Destroy Your Church: Don’t Look in the Mirror - by Submitted on Apr 02, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiMirrors are useful things. They show us when we need to comb our hair, reveal the ketchup stain just out of sight on our shirt, and help us to get the specks out of our eyes. And because of that last item, if you want to destroy your church, you should never – figuratively speaking – “look in ...
Views: 1216 - How to Destroy Your Church: My Way or the Highway - by Submitted on Apr 02, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiDestroying a church is easy, particularly if you are in a position of leadership. Simply insist on “my way or the highway.” It’s a very equestrian position: dig in your heels like a mule, and get on your high-horse at the slightest provocation. If you want to take this position, remember these ...
Views: 1009 - How to Destroy Your Church: No Pruning Allowed - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiOne of the simplest ways to destroy a church is to put up a sign that says, “No Pruning Allowed!” When you see slight deviations from the Word of God, little sins here and there – just let them alone. After all, they’re small. No big deal. Nothing to get up in arms about. Ignore the words of ...
Views: 1045 - How to Destroy Your Church: Zip Your Lips - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2009 from Paula Marolewski"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." – Edmund Burke If you really want to destroy your church quickly, here is the number one rule: zip your lips when you see something wrong. Got that? Don’t say anything. Don’t speak up. Don’t voice your concerns. ...
Views: 984 - How to Pray for the Complete Person - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiAs children, we prayed, “God bless Mom and God bless Dad. God bless Aunt Susie. God bless my friend Elizabeth …” But as adults, we need to go farther than that. A lot farther. But sometimes, we just don’t know what to pray. A large part of our confusion about what to pray for stems from the ...
Views: 1086 - Keys To Christian Discipleship: Give Fishing Lessons - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiAn old proverb runs, "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." That is one of the goals of Christian discipleship: to teach the other person to fish. Put otherwise, your goal is to help the person you are discipling to mature. To make decisions. ...
Views: 2184 - Keys to Christian Discipleship: Learn to Listen - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiIn order to be effective at Christian discipleship, you have to listen. Remember that listening is an active verb ... a very active verb, and it takes both effort and practice. You need to listen both to your partner (the person you are discipling), and to God. Listen to what is said. This ...
Views: 1061 - Knowing The Will Of God: Does God Really Have a Roadmap for Your Life? - by Submitted on Sep 26, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiHow to know God's will is probably one of the most-studied topics for Christians of all ages. It takes the form of the question: "How do I know God's will?" Whether we're talking about the broad scope of "God's will for my life," or the smaller scale of "God's will for me in this situation," the ...
Views: 1114 - Praying The Scriptures - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiYou read the Bible. You study its passages. But you want more. You crave for it to become in your life the "living Word." A Word alive, a song on your lips, the voice in your heart. For the Word to live in you, you must make it a part of your life - more than simply a part of your routine or a ...
Views: 3631 - Roll Away The Stone - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiSisyphus does not usually tread the dusty streets of Jerusalem. He has never appeared in a Paschal reading, nor was he ever mentioned in an Easter sermon. But this Easter, I thought of him. That ancient man of Grecian myth, forever doomed to roll the stone of his judgment up the hill, forever ...
Views: 1134 - Sentence Prayers - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiLord, I pray not for an emotional high, but for steadfastness of soul. I pray not for happiness, but for joy. I pray not for forgetfulness, but for the ability to forgive. I pray not for the end of trials, but for grace in them. I pray not for pleasure, but for purpose. I pray not for ...
Views: 1543 - Severe Anxiety: How Do You Help Someone Slow Down? - by Submitted on Jul 31, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiIf you have a friend or family member who suffers from severe anxiety, you know that at times their thoughts seem to race out of control. Here are several points to be aware of as you reach out in love to help them slow down and regain a clear focus: Be ready to listen. The sufferer needs to ...
Views: 1540 - Severe Anxiety: Slowing Down Racing Thoughts - by Submitted on Jul 31, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiPart of the terror of anxiety is the force and power of the racing thoughts that accompany it. Adrenaline reaches a fever pitch, sending the body into pure fight or flight mode. Two things are essential at this point: to slow down, and to focus on something outside of yourself. To slow down, ...
Views: 1340 - Spiritual Maturity: Learning is an Active Verb - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiIn order to reach our goal of spiritual maturity, we must take the task of learning about God and studying the Bible seriously. Learning is not passive. We cannot be handed biblical knowledge and godly character on a silver platter. We have to work at it and strive for it. Every individual ...
Views: 804 - The Heart of the Gospel - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiMany Christians freeze up when they hear the word "evangelism." They say things like, "I can't share my faith!" "I don't know what to say!" "Where do you begin?" "It's so complicated!" But in fact, it's not complicated at all. It begins and ends with a Person ... the Person who is at the ...
Views: 892 - Top 10 Confession Killers - by Submitted on May 07, 2009 from Paula MarolewskiWhat inhibits us from the effective practice of confession, either privately or corporately? Here are the top 10 confession killers: 1. Shame. Often, it seems as if everyone else has their act together ... surely they don't have any problems or struggles with sin! This (very fallacious!) view ...
Views: 932 - Why Talk About Sin? - by Submitted on Sep 26, 2008 from Paula MarolewskiTalking about hell is passe. Fire and brimstone sermons are considered out of fashion. The goal is to find the lost, comfort the broken-hearted, and rescue the perishing. Therefore, God is the faithful Hound of heaven, the gentle Shepherd, and the Lover of our souls. Sin? Well, yes. But please ...
Views: 1003