R2R2. CONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1 - Spiritual Advice Getting our priorities straight Chapter 2 – Relationship Advice Learning to get along Chapter

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Spiritual Advice

Getting our priorities straight

Chapter 2 – Relationship Advice

Learning to get along

Chapter 3 – Life Advice

Circumstances we all face

Conclusion 2

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Some share by passage, some

shared by principle, all of them where helpful. A special thanks to all the

people who shared stories and advice

from their own lives.

INTRODUCTION

Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There is likely another Christian who has faced the same difficulty & has overcome!

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Notes & Quotes

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CHAPTER 1Spiritual Advice

2 Corinthians 12:8, 9

Concerning this (thorn in the flesh) thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

•We are not in control. God's grace is sufficient enough to get us through. •God shows his

strength, power and glory through my own weaknesses... When there is no humanly possible way I could do or fix some situation all by my feeble human self, He handles it for me and/or turns it into something beautiful. When I am weak, He alone is my strength.

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Part 1 – About Faith

Notes & Quotes


1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

•From experience, God will not put on you more than you can bear. Something in my life that was very tough in the beginning has turned into an awesome thing.

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Notes & Quotes

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Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

1 Peter 5:6, 7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

•Casting your worries to the Lord is like throwing them off a mountain. You completely let go of your worry and don't pull it back up with a rope. If you truly cast your worries then you have to let go of it and let God take care of it.

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Notes & Quotes

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Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be okay.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

•Seek God first. •Be always ready

to tell others about Him, His Son, and His Word.

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Part 2 – About Obedience

Notes & Quotes

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Proverbs 23:7 for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

•Reputation is what people think of you, character is what you truly are. You must guard your heart and mind to have Godly character.

•Serving God is possible!

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Part 2 – About Obedience

Notes & Quotes

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1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

•My favorite advice was when I was told that God allows "do-overs". No matter how bad I mess things up (and I can mess up royally), God forgives and lets me start again.

•Strive to live in the light!

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Notes & QuotesCHAPTER 1Spiritual AdvicePart 2 – About

Obedience

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CHAPTER 2Relationship Advice

Philippians 2:3, 4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Zachariah 8:16, 17 These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.”

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Part 1 – in general

Notes & Quotes

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Matt 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

•Be considerate•Be kind•Be honest•Be forgiving•There is so much

advice but one verse that is used a lot is Matt 7:12 (and Luke 6:31) that we end up calling "The Golden Rule!“

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Notes & Quotes

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Matt 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Luke 6:31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

•Whenever I would retaliate against someone (usually my younger brother) my dad would sarcastically quote "do unto others just like they did to you except a little bit worse". He would ask me how would the world be if everyone followed that. Matthew 7:12 seems to be applicable in so many of life's situations. Even if a small portion of our society conforms to the golden rule if makes a big impact on others around us. 12



Deuteronomy 6:6-9 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

•Don't ever say, "my kids won't do that" or "if my kids did that, I'd...“•Deut 6:2-9

especially the part about teaching your children (not relying on others to teach them)

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Part 2 – family & parenting

Notes & Quotes

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Colossians 3:18-21 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

•God designed the family to love, respect, and support each other.•I will try my best to

never give my daughter until the count of 3 to do anything. God demands obedience when he asks, not after He counts to 3.

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Part 2 – family & parenting

Notes & Quotes

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CHAPTER 3Life Advice

Acts 20:34-35 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

•Acts 20:34, 35 is Financial advice that also serves as marital, parental, and general life advice. Work hard and give your best effort that you may be able to help others.

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Part 1 – Work & Prosperity

Notes & Quotes

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Proverbs 30:7-9. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

•It's advice on seeking honest work that is honorable to God and beneficial to yourself.

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Notes & Quotes

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Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning plant your seeds. In the evening keep your hands busy. You don’t know what will succeed. It may be one or the other. Or both might do equally well.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;

•My great grandmother used to say “don't put off tomorrow what you can do today. You may not be here tomorrow to actually get it done.”

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Notes & Quotes

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Ecclesiastes 3 There is a time for everything

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

•Philippians 4:13 has always been an encouragement to me when situations in life are hard and overwhelming. It's just a nice reminder! •One day at a time is

what I held on to through some trying times but I want to add now: live each day to the fullest, which will help prepare the way for tomorrows. But don't worry ahead of them. There's enough to deal with today. 18

Part 2 – Trials and Adversity

Notes & Quotes


Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.

James 1:26 – bridle one’s tongue

•Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut! It can reduce a lot of drama and arguments. •I think people are

too quick to comment on things they don’t know about. It reminds me of a song that includes the lyric “I’m like most people, I enjoy talking about things I don’t know about”. 19

Part 3 – Character & Integrity

Notes & Quotes

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2 Timothy 4:1-5 (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

•Always remember to stand for truth even when unpopular. •The best advice I've

ever gotten is that everything in life is FOR you. Nothing happens TO you. Everything that does happen in life is just another opportunity to grow stronger, smarter, and closer to God. The things that happen are simply lessons and are to be learned from some way or another.

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Part 3 – Character & Integrity

Notes & Quotes


Proverbs 14:15:The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

•In Proverbs there are many verses about the "path" one takes. "The path of the wicked, that of the just, walking in the way of evil, feet that are swift to run to evil, keep your foot from their path, paths of the justice, paths of uprightness, walk in the ways of darkness, walk in the way of goodness, walk safely in your way, your foot will not stumble." 21

Part 4 – Words of Wisdom

Notes & Quotes

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CONCLUSION

1 Thessalonians 5:21: Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

•Test all things against God’s Word to find the truth.

•God has always wanted peace and hope for His children. How will we respond?

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Notes & Quotes

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The best, most true advice I ever got came from my dad. I would ask why someone wasn't at church and someone else was when they both worked until the same time. Or, two people would have the same setback in life and one would drop out of church while the other would remain faithful. I would ask what he thought made the difference in how they responded.

He would just say, "People do what they want to do. If they wanted to remain faithful, they would have remained faithful no matter what it took. It's really just Joshua 24:15. "CHOOSE" you this day whom you will serve. It's a choice. It's not always easy to do the right thing, BUT IT IS ALWAYS A CHOICE.” 23

Choose Whom You Will Serve

Puzzle Answer

Joshua 24:15

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Documents

R2R2. CONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1 - Spiritual Advice Getting our priorities straight Chapter 2 – Relationship Advice Learning to get along Chapter