Appendix 2U; ShinE !
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Your reputation is your personality in public. Your character is your personality when you are alone. The more alike these two descriptions are of you, the greater your character integrity (measured by acting out your value-based decisions in private and public). Character integrity is normally accompanied by a confident and secure self-image. In Christians, this is derived from a decision to take on a Christ identity (one that is not established by your achievements, people-pleasing skills or your ability to manipulate). Christians walk at ease - with confidence and show it consistently by their openness and flexibility.
Christian character integrity is a response to the awareness of the love of God, not a response to your desire for self-efficacy or popularity. Christian hope is your faith in action. It is an intentional choice to remember God and show Him gratitude and respect. Instead of pride blurring your judgement, you’ll humbly follow the truth, you’ll do what you say you’ll do, and you’ll do the right thing even when no one is looking. The apostle Paul is a clear example of voluntarily changing your ABC’s and following a new sidewalk - God's sidewalk, through life. Saul's changed lifestyle (transforming into the Apostle Paul) spoke louder than the advice he gives in 1 Corinthians 11:1-3;
And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Saul’s humility brought awareness of the true nature of God and his understanding sparked a grateful attitude. Faith in and knowledge of the Triune God inspires you to be and do His Holy love. Your daily decision to allow the perfect love of God to fill your heart and mind, stifles your false pride and worldly fears so you can express loving actions, D (A, B, C) = E . This is your Christian faith working through love (Galatians 5:6, 2:20, 5:16, 5:22-23, Ephesians 2:10): trusting God, following Christ's example and choosing to discipline your humanity to show Christian Character Integrity (Romans 13:8-10, Ephesians 5:1-2, 17-21, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Philippians 4:13, Matthew 5:16). Christians who model God’s love find the psycho-social balance; personal fulfillment while proving God’s love to an unbelieving world (Psalm 94:19, Romans 13:8-10, 12:1-3, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Ephesians 5:1, 2 Peter 1:2-4).
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1 John 4:7-12
God’s love is both personal and electric; it's compelling and contagious (2 Corinthians 5:14-16, Philippians 3:20-21, James 2:14-26). You can choose to let God's Holy Love shinE through you by deciding to let what is true in your spirit also be true in your body and soul (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 5:23, Proverbs 3:3-5). A pure heart of love desires to do the work of becoming a Cognitively Consistent Christian. It's this desire that pulls you to a new level of behavior. You willingly adjust your humanity to live out your new identity as a Child of God. It's this free-will decision that invites God to reside in your heart which triggers the Holy Spirit to lead you through the change
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cycle so you can live life to the fullest (John 10:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 1:3-5, Romans 8:14, John:9-11). This decision, made willingly, sparks a positive desire to do the work it takes to change your actions to match your beliefs. Christian hope is faith in action because hope and faith work together internally to pull you out of your old comfort zone and lead you to want to learn new behavioral habits that allows God's Holy Love to shinE through you.
God will direct you to walk on a straight path that leads to your new normal; Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, … zealous for good works".
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God can and will fill the longings in your heart. Let the positive energy generated by the Prescence of a Holy God inspire you to serve Him enthusiastically by helping other people. Place your focus on what you can do to make life better for someone else and let God take care of you! Trusting in the grace of God (Christ in you) is the foundation on which you build a healthy psycho-social balance, revealing your faith displayed unashamedly and passionately simply because of your desire to please Him. When you accept and receive God’s love for you, it is your heart that inspires you to use your faith to win the spiritual battle over fear and uncertainty (1 Peter 5:7, 1 John 4:8, 4:16, 2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 24:14, Romans 5:5, John 13:34-35, Philippians 4:4-8).
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D
Attitude (A) and Behavior (B) that is Divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit (D) and expressed through you is eternal life on earth and is how God shinE s His love-inspired power through you today and forever, C = E (Song of Solomon 2:4, Isaiah 60:1,15, Matthew 5:1-16, 19:26, Luke 1:37, Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 5:13-17, Philippians 4:13, Hebrews 11:1, 11:6). Your willingly trade of selfish fleshy habits for Godly righteous ones is what activates the power of Holy Spirit in you to work out your physical transformation (your sanctification), making the achievement of God's promises possible in your life (John 10:10, Hebrews 10:23, Philippians 2:12-15, 2 Peter 1:3-11).
Choose to balance the psychological and social make up of your Christian character so you can live the life Christ died to give you; walking in love, proactively, optimistically, calmly yet confidently, and boldly yet meekly so that other people will see God in you and want to turn to Him too (Isaiah 26:3, 1 Peter 2:12, 3:16)!
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