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The Power of the Mind

The Power of the Mind

I think we are all pretty much aware of the importance of good mental health and the power of positive thinking.  However, the importance of our thoughts also has a profound effect on our spiritual health.    This point is made clear in Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”  God is clearly encouraging us to focus our thoughts on things that are good and decent.  This is important because the mind is a battlefield of positive and negative thoughts.  God is introducing positive thoughts and the enemy is sneaking in lies and negative thoughts.  Both God and satan know the power of our thoughts and hence the battle for control.  Also, both know the Holy Scriptures, although satan will misinterpret and misapply scripture as he did to Jesus after He fasted for forty days in the desert. 

 

The importance of our thoughts is evident in Luke 6:45.  “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”  This point is further amplified in Proverbs 18:21.  “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  In summary, what goes into the brain is what comes out of the mouth.  Have you ever noticed that over time you begin to take on the accent and other mannerisms of your close friends?  For example, if you visit Boston for an extended period you will likely return with a different accent, particularly if you are actively engaged with the local population.  Feed yourself “spiritual milk” and walk with confidence as the children of God.  Speak words of life to all that you meet, especially those that belong to the body of Christ. 

 

Action step:  Take each thought captive and examine its origin.  Godly thoughts will inspire, encourage, and strengthen you.  Godly thoughts will give you confidence and an inner peace that transcends all understanding.  Thoughts from the enemy will cause discouragement, self-doubt, resentment, worry, and embarrassment over past decisions.  These thoughts are meant to divide and destroy.

 

Next steps:  Who do you surround yourself with?  What do you read, watch on television and the internet, and listen to on the radio?  What books, newspapers, and magazines are you reading?

 

Give praise for Godly thoughts and rebuke in the name of Jesus those from the enemy.  Be in the Word and the Word will be in you and you will have the only offensive weapon in the armor of God.  Be actively involved in authentic, confidential, Christian small groups.  Pray for God’s protection of your heart, mind, and soul from the enemy.  Moreover, do the same for those you love and those that seek to harm you. 

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Here’s How Todd Shupe Took Tom Petty’s Lesson On ‘Waiting’ To Heart

todd shupeI loved the rock singer Tom Petty. One of my favorite songs by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers was called “The Waiting.” The chorus is:

“The waiting is the hardest part.
Every day you see one more card.
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart.
The waiting is the hardest part”

“I totally agree that waiting is the hardest part,” says Todd Shupe. “We spend much of lives waiting. We all wait in line at the grocery store, doctor’s office, and on the phone for customer service.”

 

These are annoying but we all do it. It is much more difficult when we wait for God to move in our lives. God is faithful and He most certainly loves us but He also moves at His own pace. I think part of the waiting and slow pace is deliberate, but not out of spite – but rather love. He desires for us to trust and love Him completely – in good times and bad. He wants us to turn over all aspects of our lives, public and private, to Him. He wants your obedience even when you don’t understand. In Genesis 22 God clearly tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. As Tom Petty said, “you take it on faith.” In all seriousness, I doubt if I would have the courage or faith that Abraham displayed. Would you?

 

When we wait, we suffer, says Todd Shupe. We endure mental pain which is just as significant as physical pain. A body cannot be healthy unless it is in good condition physically, mentally, and spiritually. I have often wondered about 1 Peter 5:10: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” This is a beautiful promise from God that he will eventually rescue us from our suffering. However, the troubling part is “a little while.” I would prefer that to be better quantified. Does this mean weeks, months or years? This issue of time is addressed in 2 Peter 3:8: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” At first glance, this appears to be a riddle. But with deeper thinking we can see that God is telling us that the concept of human time is irrelevant to Him. The bottom line is your suffering and waiting will last until He decides it is time for it to end. Your job during the interim is to remain in Him and he will remain in you. He will wait with you and comfort you. If the waiting does not end today, it is certainly not because He does not love you but because today is not the right day – but be assured that the right day is coming, Todd Shupe says.

 

I take comfort in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” During periods of waiting we are tempted. We are tempted by the enemy to turn from God and put our faith in ourselves. The enemy is a liar and must always be rebuked in the name of Jesus.
I love the beautiful scripture of Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Forbearance includes the concept of patience during periods of long-suffering. We cannot develop forbearance alone. We must remain in Him and Him in us. Alone we can accomplish nothing of significance. So, I encourage you, and myself, to stop waiting for God. Instead I ask you to join me to understand and live out Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.” Be still. Be patient. Be blessed.

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Todd Shupe Talks ‘The Battle Within Yourself’

todd shupe

Perhaps there is no part of the human body that is more necessary to life – but as poorly understood – as the human brain. My son has autism and as a child had several CT scans of his brain that all appeared “normal.” However, there is clearly something unique that is occurring in his brain that serves to limit his speech and overall development. “Both of my children are blessings from God and I treasure them,” Todd Shupe said recently. “His diagnosis of autism some 10 years ago has set me on a path of intense interest in the human brain.” As part of my studies, I have learned that the brain is not only a key component of our mental and physical health but, from a biological perspective, is critically responsible for our spiritual health along with our heart.

“I am a proud member of organizations that serve to equip men to become better Christian leaders at home, work and church. Equipping is essential because without the right equipment, you can’t do the job. You can’t drive a nail without a hammer and you can’t catch a fish without a pole. I am intentionally leaving out catfish noodling! There is no bigger battle that we face than the battle in our mind – and it is a daily fight. According to Rev. Rick Warren, “the reason why most people are ineffective in life is that they’ve never learned how to fight the battle of the mind.”

In order to fight the battle in your mind, former LSU professor Todd Shupe feels that you need to recognize your enemy and remove it from your mind. This is much easier said than done. But we know that “all things are possible with God” (Matthew 19:26). The job of satan is to prevent you from doing the good works that God has prepared you to do. Your job is to call upon The Spirit to help you to fulfill your ministry (yes, YOU are a minister and a member of the Priesthood of all believers) and be a blessing to others and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Below are five steps to equip you in your fight:

1. The first enemy is your flesh.
Paul says in Romans 7:23, “There is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (NLT). Paul is referring to his own flesh “mind.” God speaks through Paul in Galatians 2:20 to elaborate this point: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Paul wrote in the book of Romans that he would find himself doing things that he really did not want to do. THIS is the battle of the mind, Todd Shupe states.

2. The second enemy is satan.
“First, you will notice that I never capitalize his name because I refuse to show him any respect,” says Todd Shupe, a former LSU professor. He is often referred to as the enemy and should be treated as such. We as Christians have only one enemy and his name is satan. Paul makes this point much more clearly than myself in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Satan is the tempter. He tempted Adam and Eve and continues to this day. He is constantly planting negative thoughts in your mind of self-doubt, anxiety and fear. He will use other people to help plant these seeds of doubt. Therefore, when others speak to us we must discern if this is Godly advice: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1John 4:1.)

3. The third enemy is the fallen world.
Most advertising campaigns are not appealing to our Christian nature but rather appeal to the flesh, says Todd Shupe. This is done through sexual suggestive imagery, overindulgence and a desire to feed ourselves and not others. The Bible says in 1 John 2:16: “For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world.”

It is obvious we cannot fight this alone. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says: “Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Each thought that enters your mind should be examined to determine its source – from God or the enemy, said Todd Shupe, LSU’s former wood sciences professor and a Christian ministries volunteer. If from the enemy, rebuke it in the name of Jesus. Jesus knew that the enemy was speaking through Peter in Matthew 16:23 when He said, “get behind me satan!”

We have freedom in the laws of God and we have freewill for joyful obedience or not. The Psalmist writes in Psalms 119:112 “I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.” The victory awaits you. We have victory in Jesus. Be blessed.

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‘Revival Starts With Your Heart,’ Says Former LSU Prof Todd Shupe

todd shupe lsu

I once heard a pastor on the radio say that a great Christian revival will begin when everyone that attends church follows God’s word and tithes 10 percent to their church. I thought to myself, “Yes that would be a tremendous thing and the church universal could do great things with that money.” I imagined the missions to foreign countries, feeding the homeless, programs aimed at youth, men, women, young couples, and elderly.

“But then I thought, ‘a tithe should only be given out of love not obligation,’” Todd Shupe said recently. The simple fact is that God does not need your money and His will shall be done regardless of your tithe. “Your tithe is symbolic of the spiritual condition of your heart, which concerns God much more than your tithe, bank account, and material possessions,” Todd Shupe, LSU‘s former wood sciences professor, added.

 

The Word of God in Malachi 3:10 reads, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be enough to store it.” So, by denying our tithe to God we are denying nothing to Him. However, we are denying ourselves a blessing. St. Paul sums this up beautifully in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We are told in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

I believe that revival starts when all people turn their focus on God rather than on themselves, according to Todd Shupe. Sin is the inevitable result of our natural tendency to focus on ourselves, our desires, our flesh and our will. True revival will come, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). According to former LSU professor Todd Shupe, a key component of revival is for each husband in each house to submit to God and lead the way for his family to a Christ-centered life. In summary, consider the Word of God in Joshua 24:15: “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Serve the Lord by giving Him your heart – your whole heart – and then YOU will may be the spark that starts the fire of revival. “Revival won’t come due to giving back to God what already belongs to God (i.e., money), but it will come by giving him our heart – our whole heart,” says Todd Shupe.

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Todd Shupe Explores the Growing Popularity of Bio-Based Spray Foam Insulation

todd shupe

The agricultural and forest industries both produce residues or waste streams that have little or no economic value. The challenge that remains for agricultural and forestry residues is how to best utilize this material for maximum efficiency and economic profit. While at LSU, Dr. Todd Shupe received $250,000 from the USDA to examine the suitability of a rapidly-developing new technology known as continuous microwave-assisted liquefaction to convert this under-utilized material to bio-polyols for the production of spray-foam insulation. Liquefaction is a process that can be used to dissolve biomass in an organic solvent (also called a reagent solvent) at moderate temperatures (120 to 250 ºC) with or without acid catalysts (Hse et al. 2011; Pan 2007; Pan et al. 2012). Liquefied biomass can be concentrated and used as a raw material for other value-added products such as polyurethane foam, epoxy resin or phenolic resin depending on the reagent solvent used in the liquefaction (Pan 2007). “Our application of microwave technology to the liquefaction process has received a U.S. patent (#8,043,399) and has been shown to dramatically improve the liquefaction rate, shorten the reaction time, lower operational temperature, and use less chemical input as compared to traditional liquefaction reactions,” Todd Shupe says, (Hse et al. 2011).

 

Spray-foam insulation is growing in popularity as a type of insulation for residential and commercial housing. Spray-foam is a substitute for traditional fiberglass insulation. The chemical agent is stored in canisters and sprayed with a special application device; it then expands and dries, forming a barrier. The advantage of foam insulation is that it expands and leaves no gaps as is the case with typical fiberglass insulation. Therefore, there are no pathways for air to escape – thus an efficient vapor barrier is established. The foam also prevents the buildup of moisture, lowering the incidence of mildew and mold problems, and makes it more difficult for insects and other pests to burrow into a building. Says Todd Shupe, “Spray-foam insulation is recognized as an important part of the wall component in ‘green’ buildings, and also is one of the fastest growing areas in building products.” These advantages and the “green” aspect of foam insulation can be rolled into one with the development of spray-foam insulation from liquefied biomass to attain a new renewable and sustainable product.

 

The higher cost of spray-foam insulation has slowed its advancement in the residential housing market. The low cost of the feedstock and the proposed experimental parameters for this study should help this product gain market share. The development of “green” spray-foam insulation from liquefied biomass will promote economic development and diversification. In addition to substantial energy cost savings, biomass-based spray-foam has much better biodegradability compared to petro-based foam insulation, which will benefit the environment if this material is landfilled. Dow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and design-build firm, Paramount Metal Systems, have converted a 50-year-old building at ORNL into a state-of-the art, energy-efficient research facility. Initial test results show a 75 percent reduction in heat flow, resulting in a projected 75-80 percent monthly savings in energy costs (Spray Foam 2013).

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Baton Rouge’s Todd Shupe on Pornography: ‘A Perversion of a Gift from God’

todd shupe baton rouge

I recently heard an interview with Rev. Levi Lusco. He was discussing his new book “Swipe Right.” The dating app Tinder provides pictures and basic information that people “looking to date” have uploaded of themselves. If the user swipes to the left of a particular image, then that means he or she is not interested. However, if you swipe to the right, that means you are interested and if the other person does the same thing to your picture, you are very likely going to have sex with them very soon.

 

“You may ask what does that have to do with pornography?  They both are feeding a desire for sex in an immoral manner,” Todd Shupe, of Baton Rouge, said recently. “Sex is a gift from God and its value decreases when it is approached with such a nonchalant attitude,” the Christian ministries volunteer and former LSU wood sciences professor continued.

 

Pornography can be as addicting as any drug. Studies have shown that it releases endorphins in the brain which make it “feel good” when in fact it is actually harmful to the body and soul. In reality, it is the fruit of the enemy. Every relationship comes with a moral commitment; this commitment is absent in the relationships of the flesh.

 

Mark 7:15 tell us: “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” If you “feed” yourself with immorality, then what do you expect to come out of you? Christians are certainly not immune to pornography addition.  The same can be said for clergy. “Many of the millennial generation are products of divorced parents,” LSU’s Todd Shupe said. “They see no benefits of marriage and feed their desires through illicit relationships and pornography.” Rev. Lusco stated that 1 out of 3 boys who are 13 years of age have a pornography problem.
As men of the church, Todd Shupe believes that we must be the defenders of these young boys. We must explain to them why this behavior is harmful. The pleasure that they are feeling is not Godly and if they do get married later in life, they often report a less satisfied sex life, according to Rev. Lesko.

Do you recall the story in Genesis of Jacob and Esau? These were twin sons of Issac. Esau was the oldest by seconds and by right he held the higher position in the family. One day Esau returned to his brother, Jacob, and was famished from working in the fields. He begged his twin brother to give him some “red pottage” (stew). Jacob offered to give Esau a bowl of stew in exchange for his birthright (the right to be recognized as firstborn) and Esau agreed.

 

This is huge because the birthright has to do with inheritance of both goods and position. Esau acted impulsively, as he did not value his birthright over a bowl of lentil stew.  The lesson here is that your standards are low when your stomach is empty.  Esau gave into the desires of the flesh without thinking of the consequences.

 

Rev. Lusco advises that we do not overreact if we find our son or daughter looking at pornography. “Do not shame them. Instead, calmly explain to them why this is wrong and why it is important to live in the Spirit rather than living in the flesh,” says LSU’s Todd Shupe. “My advice:  Keep your stomach full with Godly things and you will not have an appetite for impure things.” Also, Baton Rouge’s Todd Shupe suggests that we develop an accountability group of friends that form a barrier around you to keep the enemy out.

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LSU’s Todd Shupe Talks Controlling Mold In Wake Of Flooding Event

todd shupe baton rouge

A flood is a terrible event for any homeowner. A home is typically our most expensive asset and even a few inches of flood water will have a devastating effect on your house. Todd Shupe of Baton Rouge remembers his experience well and wants to recount it so others may learn.

“My house was flooded in 2016 with 14 inches of water. Time is not on your side after a flood event. It is imperative that all wet material be removed from the house as soon as possible. This includes sheet rock, insulation, carpet and drapes. I had to remove all personal items from the house prior to the ‘gutting’ of the house. This is the process by which the sheet rock is cut and removed 4 feet from the floor and the old insulation is removed,” says LSU’s Todd Shupe, whose career in wood sciences has lent him a great deal of construction knowledge. “My house did not lose electricity and no water got into the electrical outlets so I was able to run ceiling fans and bring in large de-humidification units to dry out the house. Everything is removed so that the studs in the walls can dry out. However, all bathroom counters, showers, bath tubs, kitchen cabinets, counter tops, the oven and so much more had to go All that was left was the toilets!”

The studs need to dry so they will not be attractive to fungi and wood-destroying insects. However, as they are drying they can easily be attacked by mold fungi. These fungi will not degrade the strength of the wood but will discolor the surface and in certain cases can causes respiratory problems. For my house, I used Bora-Care with Mold-Care. “This is a safe and economical product that anyone can apply with a typical garden sprayer,” says Todd Shupe, of Baton Rouge. “It needs to be mixed 1:1 with water before application. I sprayed from the sill plate upwards of four feet. I waited a few hours for it to dry and did a second application. I never saw any presence of mold, fungi, or insects in the frame of my house after the flood.”

Some of the personal items grew mold immediately and most had to be discarded. Two days passed before we could return to the house and then another few days before the house could be gutted. This was a trying time for LSU’s Todd Shupe, but the knowledge he’d acquired in the field came in handy here. BoraCare is also an excellent product for new construction or during remodeling or additions of existing houses. It is available on Amazon or directly from the manufacturer, Nisus, at www.nisuscorp.com.

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How Baton Rouge’s Todd Shupe Learned How To Turn Bad into Good

todd shupe baton rouge

I think we all have been the recipient of bad behavior by others. Perhaps your spouse cheated on you or a dear friend was unable to keep a secret. “My heart breaks for those that have been incarcerated for decades for a crime and then are finally released when DNA evidence, which was not available at the time of the trial, proves they are innocent,” says Todd Shupe of Baton Rouge.

The Biblical story of Joseph is a powerful example of God turning bad into good. As you may recall, Joseph was the youngest of Jacob’s children. The oldest son typically was held in highest regard but Jacob favored Joseph and gave him “a coat of many colors.” Joseph told his brothers of his dreams and in one dream they were all bowing down to him. The brothers began to hate Joseph and one day threw him into a pit to die. “However, they realized that they could receive a small amount of money for selling him and when a trader passed, they sold their brother into slavery.  This is not just bad — it is evil!” exclaimed former LSU professor Todd Shupe, who is also a dedicated Christian ministry volunteer.

Joseph spent many years in prison, but maintained his faith in God. His ability to interpret dreams (a gift from God) eventually allowed him to interpret Pharoh’s dreams and manage the surplus of grain for the seven years of plenty to be ready for the following seven years of nothing. The boy ascended from a death pit to second in command of Egypt! When his brothers come to Egypt for grain, I am struck by Joseph’s response to them: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  (Genesis 50:20). Joseph knew that God would use the bad that had been done to him and eventually turn it into good. Isn’t that the message of Romans 8:28?  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

We all will suffer an injustice in this lifetime, Baton Rouge resident Todd Shupe recently commented. The key is to keep your eyes on Jesus and trust that He will use it for good. It probably won’t be on our timing, but in His timing. Recall the words of the Lord’s Prayer – “your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven,” (Matthew 6:10).  I encourage you to recite out loud the entire Lord’s prayer each day and meditate on the phrase “your will be done.”  Then take comfort that His will is for your happiness.

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Work With Promise Keepers Is One Way Todd Shupe Has Shown Commitment To Bettering Lives

todd shupe lsu

In a world where regular church attendance seems to have taken a back seat to simply not being inconvenienced, it’s important to recognize all of the good that the faithful do. That’s because some of those who go above and beyond are volunteering with organizations designed to improve lives. Among those institutions is the Promise Keepers and one of the members at the forefront of those operations is former LSU professor Todd Shupe. This Christ-center organization has affected millions of lives for the better and it’s why Shupe is so proud to be a part of those efforts.

Overall, Promise Keepers has been lending a helping hand to men all over since 1990. Under the vision of “Equipping the local church through the Word of God to empower their men to transform the world,” this organization has undoubtedly encouraged many to turn to the word of God in trying times. That means young adults and grown men alike have learned what it means to lead a pure life while supporting the mission of their local pastors. Under a mission of seven promises, those who join this effort are expected to help brothers in need, practice moral purity, build strong marriages, support their local church, honor Jesus Christ and so much more. Given the popularity of national conventions that Promise Keepers holds, the success of this institution as a force of good in the world has been proven. At its most recent 2017 gathering in Jacksonville, Florida, speakers such as NFL nose tackle Roy Miller, comedian Brad Stein and pastor Miles McPherson were among those addressing the attendees. “I have been blessed over the years to see many men dedicate or rededicate their lives to Christ at Promise Keepers and Iron Sharpens Iron conferences,” says Shupe.

The messages that Promise Keepers spreads far and wide is one that resonates with LSU’s former professor Todd Shupe. That’s because he has done a fair amount of Christian ministry work and chose to work with Promise Keepers as a way to further the cause. Among other faith-based organizations that Shupe has worked with are Grace Camp, Open Air Ministries, United Methodist Men, Walk to Emmaus, Gulf South Men, Iron Sharpens Iron and more. With these groups, former LSU lab director Todd Shupe has taught children of incarcerated parents how to fish, minister to the homeless and helped with fundraising efforts. The quality of Shupe’s character is only reinforced by the professional work he did while with LSU, which included direction of a testing lab that was widely used by the wood products industry to obtain approval of wood-based products, fasteners, insulation, and other building codes from the American Wood Protection Association or The International Code Council. For his work there, Todd Shupe was lauded by a former consultant for his “industrial sense of urgency” when it came to running the facility. Shupe was recently elected as a Fellow to the prestigious International Academy of Wood Science and President of the Society of Wood Science and Technology. Shupe enjoys his leadership role in building green houses for tomorrow but especially enjoys his servant role in building God’s kingdom for today.

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‘Living Your Faith’ With These 5 Tips From Todd Shupe

todd shupe lsuI think I can speak for most of us when I say that we typically have an easy time “living our faith” on Sunday mornings. As the week goes on however, it’s clear that we tend to look less and less like Jesus. So, how can we live our faith? How can we seek His face and His will each day of the week? Todd Shupe, a former LSU wood sciences professor and lab director with untold man-hours of volunteer work with Christian ministries, is here to offer some suggestions for the faithful.
“Below are five tips that are useful in my life and I pray that you find them useful also,” says former LSU professor Todd Shupe.
1. Be Caring:
Caring is all about being physically present to a brother or sister in Christ who needs help. We acknowledge that we are not someone who takes the pain away, but rather someone who is willing to share it.

Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 

2. Be Confident:
Confidence is not arrogance, but rather it is a confidence that the best is yet to come. It is the realization that I am a child of God and I have a covenant relationship with Him. He will work good out of all situations

Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

 

3. Be Courageous:
Courage is the ability to fight giants with the knowledge that you are wearing the armor of God. “Your giant may be drugs or alcohol or depression. Regardless if God is with you, who can be against you?” asks Todd Shupe, who worked for LSU and volunteered with Christian ministries that boast national membership. “Read Joshua 1 for a good lesson on courage.”

Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

 

4. Be of Action:
There is an old song called “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love.” Your love for others will speak volumes. A natural manifestation of this love is to be of service to others. Jesus wants us to feed his sheep and this takes action.

James 2:17: In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 

5. Be Blessed:
God loves to bless those who are obedient and faithful. We see a perfect example of this in Luke 8. Jesus is in a crowd that nearly crushed him. A woman who has been bleeding for 12 years touches his cloak and is immediately healed. The woman believed in Jesus Christ by faith, and He rewarded her for it. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)