jamesfields

Navigating through the Bible Books–Old Testament

Scriptures, Uncategorized /

Holy BibleThe 39 books of the Hebrew Bible contain prophecies of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection. Jesus is the focal point of both the Old and New Testaments. Actually, the idea of an Old and New Testament is a human invention that blurs the fact that the Bible is one, not two separate entities. The Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible fit together perfectly. The Old Testament books serve as the foundation of the New Testament books. The New Testament explains the Old Testament. …

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Navigating through the Bible Books–New Testatment

1 Comment / Scriptures, Uncategorized /

The Bible’s a pretty big book that the translators divided into small books, verses and chapters.  Here’s an idea on how to make it easier to find the books of the New Testament.

The Twenty-Seven New Testament Books by Category

Remembering the order of the letters written by the apostles is rather difficult.  Here’s a word association idea I use when trying to recall the placement of Paul’s letters to the churches:

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Navigating through the Bible Books–New Testatment Read More »

Praising Others

2 Comments / Relationship /

In this blog I’m sharing some musings about marriage.  Even though many of you who read this are not married please apply its truth to all human relationships.  Praising Your Spouse applies to praising your boss, your parents, your neighbors, your children or fellow church members.  May we all become skillful at using praise to inspire others to live and do good.

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Preparing Yourself For Success

Success, Uncategorized /

In the mid 1970’s Delores and I began consistently reading the Bible book entitled Proverbs.  This book is made up of 31 chapters.  Therefore, we read one chapter a day according to the calendar date: on the 1st of the month, Chapter One; On the 15th, Chapter 15; etc.  In this way we’ve read Proverbs through many, many times.  But, why bother to read and reread such a short book?  Because Proverbs prepares us for success!

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Thriving During Seasons of Barrenness

5 Comments / Hardships, Spirit Filled Believers /

Every human wants to live a fruitful life.  We all desire to do something worthwhile, something that blesses people.  We need to feel significant.

But life on earth occasionally brings seasons of barrenness.  Those times of fruitlessness confuse us, hurt us, and test us.  Nevertheless, you cannot escape all seasons of barrenness.

Accept barren seasons as normal cycles of life.  God designed humans to be fruitful in season.  Fruitful seasons bring joy, but cannot last forever.

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Assets, not Liabilities

1 Comment / Hardships, Healing, Prayer, The Victorious Mind /

     After becoming legally blind and losing my driver’s license at age 29 I made lots of changes in my lifestyle.  Obviously, I could no longer drive so my wonderful wife plus friends at the church became my chauffeurs.  Nobody complained, no one criticized my inability.  In fact, after I gave up my driver’s license I imagined the Board asking me to resign because, after all, who needs a pastor who can’t drive a car.  Well, at the first board meeting after the Department of Public Safety refused to renew my license, the Board told me not to worry about it because they would help me with transportation.

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The Day God Rescued Me

2 Comments / Prayer, Spirit Filled Believers /
Dear Friends,
 
     Here’s an excerpt from another book I am in the process of completing.  This short story of a real life event shows God’s mercy to James Fields.  I was doing lots of Christian work as a young pastor, but I was not fulfilling God’s purpose for my life.  Busyness does not equate to God’s pleasure.  God’s pleasure is being with us as we minister to him in praise, worship and thanksgiving.  I trust this brief account of God interrupting my day inspires you to make appointments with him.
 
     Be greatly encouraged,
 
    Pastor James Fields 
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Final Three Steps to Keeping the First and Greatest Commandment

Spirit Filled Believers /

4.    Make appointments with Jesus.  

We make appointments for everything in life: paying bills, attending children’s sports, going to work, school or church, mealtimes and vacations.

Regrettably, when I was a very young pastor I let busyness in doing good things for people squeeze private time with Jesus out of my schedule.  Fortunately, the Lord reprimanded me and set me on a new path of life.

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Six Steps to Keeping the First and Greatest Commandment

Spirit Filled Believers /

Here are the first three of six steps to keeping the first and greatest commandment.  On December 13th we will share the final three steps.

1.    Know the first and greatest commandment.  BIble

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:36-38)

Memorizing the first and greatest commandment keeps us focused on loving Jesus supremely.  Obeying him becomes absolute fun and seeking him becomes our top priority.  As a result, we experience the abundantly rich life he planned for us.

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Thoughts During Prayer

1 Comment / Prayer, Spirit Filled Believers /

In about 1974 or 75 the Lord helped me schedule private time with him into my very busy days.  I disciplined myself to place private time with him as top priority in my daily calendar.

After a few years of this regimented fellowship with the Lord I recognized that lots of up building and encouraging thoughts came to mind.  Regrettably, these thoughts disappeared after a few seconds or a few minutes.  So in August 1980 I began writing these Thoughts During Prayer in a notebook.  I’m so glad I did because since then the Lord has shared so very, very many insights into his person, his ways, and his purposes.

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