Category Archives: deny yourself

My selfie (me, not a self-made pic of me) gets me in trouble

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Steve Simms

“Me” is a tiny word that can cause treMEndous problems. An effective way to make yourself unhappy is to go through life continually asking, “Am I happy now? A missionless life is often unhappy. If you really want to pursue … Continue reading →

Posted in a cause beyond yourself, broadcast yourself, crucify yourself, deny yourself, die to self, Examine yourself, finding yourself, love yourself, self, self-assertion, self-destruction, self-destructive behaviors, self-discipline, self-discovery, self-effacement, self-exaltation, self-forgetting, self-forgiveness, self-fulfillment, self-hate, self-image, self-importance, self-indulgence, self-inflicted, self-interest, self-justification, self-mastery, self-medicating, self-promotion, self-regulation, self-respect, self-restraint, self-sacrifice, self-surrender, self-talk, selfishness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Experience Jesus live!

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Steve Simms

If your life keeps going from gags to glitches, perhaps you need God. There’s no time like when you’re aware of Christ’s presence. Experience Jesus live! To bow before God is to rise above self. Pride is an “I” full … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible reading, Bible teaching, deny yourself, pride, self-forgetting, self-justification, self-surrender, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Appomattox Christianity

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Steve Simms

In 1865 General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, leading to the end of the American Civil War. Christianity is about surrendering. Jesus put it this way: “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.” … Continue reading →

Posted in be on God's side, church, cross, deny yourself, God is on our side, greatness, history, Jesus, Quotations, Uncategorized, Virginia, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Express yourself or suppress yourself?

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

Contrary to popular opinion, continual self-expression leads to depression, stress, and duress. For example, contemporary culture has opened the door to almost unlimited self-expression, yet, rather than producing widespread happiness and fulfillment, we have some of the highest depression and … Continue reading →

Posted in accept yourself, broadcast yourself, deny yourself, love yourself, self-denial, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-discovery, self-focus, self-forgiveness, self-fulfillment, self-hate, self-help, self-image, self-importance, self-improvement, self-indulgence, self-interest, self-justification, self-medicating, self-regulation, self-respect, self-restraint, self-righteousness, self-sacrifice, self-surrender, self-talk, self-worth, selfish desires, selfishness, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

America needs “J” for JOY

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Steve Simms

I made a “J” (for “joy”) with my hand in front of a map of America. We have relentlessly pursued happiness — but somehow we have missed out on joy. Happiness depends on happy happenings; but joy flows from deep … Continue reading →

Posted in bear one another's burdens, Crazy Love, deny yourself, forgive us our trespasses, hate, hate speech, joy unspeakable, love, Love one another, love your enemies, love your neighbor as yourself, name calling, negative campaigning, race, racial reconciliation, reconciliation, self-denial, Uncategorized, unity | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

John Doe Ministries (Is that biblical?)

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Steve Simms

Why do some ministers (even some God-anointed preacher’s and teachers) name “ministries” for themselves? That common practice in modern-day independent ministry doesn’t appear to be biblical. I can’t find an “Apostle Paul Ministries” or a “Philip the Evangelist Ministries” or even a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, call to ministry, deny yourself, focus of ministry, fund raising, giving, Jesus' name, Just give me Jesus, ministry, ministry showcase, one man ministry, outreach ministry, Paul, Paul of Tarsus, Peter, preaching, religion, religious TV, seed faith, self-promotion, sowing and reaping, sowing into ministry, state of religion, Uncategorized, work of the ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-fulfillment is a fantasy (a recipe for misery)

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

Self-fulfillment is a fantasy. Our self-desires are never fully fulfilled. Self always seeks something more. Even when self gets what it wants and the “rights” that it demands, it immediately cries out for more. Self is continually discontented and constantly … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, crucify yourself, deny yourself, desires, flesh, flowing in the Spirit, Follow Me, Galatians, Holy Spirit, human rights, I am crucified with Christ, in the Spirit, rights, Salvation Army, self, self-denial, self-destructive behaviors, self-discipline, self-focus, self-importance, self-indulgence, self-mastery, self-regulation, self-restraint, self-sacrifice, self-surrender, self-will, self-worth, selfish desires, selfishness, spiritual formation, spirituality, take up your cross, Train yourself unto godliness., Uncategorized, works of the flesh | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is it wise to expand the “right” to kill?

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Steve Simms

I’m so sad to see some states expanding “the right to kill.” –America continues to legally chop away at the commandment “You shall not kill,” calling prenatal killing “choice” and physician assisted killing “compassion,” thus cheapening the value of human … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-abortion, Bianca Jagger, choice, deny yourself, ethics, intolerance, moral choices, morality, prochoice, prolife, right and wrong, right to choose, right to disagree, right to life, the right to, Thou shall not, tolerance, Uncategorized, value of life | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hearing & doing what the Spirit says . . .

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias (mistranslated as churches in most English language Bibles). –Revelation 2:29. You can move beyond just hearing the Spirit and into actually receiving the Spirit by believing what you heard enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Bible verses, deny yourself, flesh, Galatians 3:5, Galatians 5, prompted by the Spirit, Quench not the Spirit, quenching the Spirit, release of the Spirit, self-denial, sensitivity to the Spirit, sowing and reaping, Spirit directed, Spirit-led, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Defeated Christians are not part of God’s plan

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

Defeated Christians, overcome by the world and caught up in ungodly cravings and complusions, are not part of God’s plan. We can only be defeated when we walk away from God’s will. However, in the 21 Century, many of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christian living, comfort zone, community, Confess you sins, confession, confessional, defeated Christians, deny yourself, depression, freedom in Christ, holiness, overcoming depression, overcoming evil, overcoming obstacles, overcoming setbacks, overcoming temptation, personal testimonies, priesthood of the believer, Quotes, repentance, self-denial, sin, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments