Nice People Rob God

Copyright © 2013 ALTHEA PATRICK RN, MSN, LNC.

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Cover concept by Stephanie Coleman

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0890-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0889-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013916798

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/26/2013

CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1 I Consider Myself a Nice Person

Chapter 2 Seek First the Kingdom of Heaven and Its Righteousness

Chapter 3 Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz

Chapter 4 Christians Must Learn to Live among Weeds

Chapter 5 Nice People Rob God when They Don’t Transform

Chapter 6 Nice People Rob God when They Don’t Forgive

Chapter 7 Nice People Rob God when They Don’t Become Everything He Purpose Them to Be

Chapter 8 Transforming from Nice People to be a Citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven

Chapter 9 I Am an Effective Christian Because of God

Chapter 10 Activate

Chapter 11 Characteristics of an Effective Christian

Chapter 12 The Benefits of Being an Effective Christian

A Scene From: Nice People Rob God

Bibliography

DEDICATION

T he call that steered me to writing this book comes from Isaiah 61:1: (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Needless to say, I must give God the glory for the journey that led me to his perfect will for my life.

To my parents, retired pastor Howard L Phillips and Reverend Jeannette Phillips of Park Street A. M. E. Zion Church in Peekskill, New York. It is their obedience to God and their anointing by God that fostered my personal relationship with Christ. I thank my parents for all the times I wanted them to say yes to my request and their response was no. My parents believed obeying God would be far better in the long run than just to satisfy my request based on my self-righteousness. To my brothers and sisters, Jerry Patrick, and all my children (Jennifer, Tyrone, Stephanie, Christine, Matthew, Joshua, Caleb, and Althea). To my grandchildren, and Melissa also know to me as (Ruth) my daughter-in-law, and all of those who have loved me unconditionally. To my great nephew, Najee, who inspired and encouraged me with his generous and kind sprit to finish. To my cousin, Dr. Rev. Lenard Ray Felton, songwriter, author, musician, preacher, and a friend of Jesus, just to name a few. With his commitment toward Christ he has bless his family and followers with his music and song Crying Lord Jesus. Ms. Zenobia Abbasi RN, MSN, mentor, and supervisor at my place of work, gave some much of herself in order for me to pursue a higher education in nursing. To my uncle Lorenzo Aponte, a living example to so many people that God can turn nice people around. In addition, have them stop robbing Him and their selves from having an abundant life

To my dearest friend, Carol Ruckert, who has freely shared her love through her unfailing support as a friend, and co-worker. In addition to my family and friends Pastor Dr. Lance D. Watson of St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. Former pastor John A. Cherry Sr. From the Heart Church Ministries in Maryland. To Mark Cooper, my first supervisor, who believed I could fly. To my English professors at Germanna Community College in Virginia, who saw the writer in me at a time when I was most unlearned. To all those who are challenged with learning disabilities, especially those diagnose with dyslexia. To Brenda Campbell-Robinson, and The Unlimited Praise Ministry.

INTRODUCTION

N ice people rob God of the things that God wants them to learn, as they process his ways and his will during their everyday life experiences. When we take the lead and lean to our own understanding we do not look toward God for knowledge as a result we rob him from being our provider. However, if our mind would stay on him we would see things so much differently needless to say, as a result our response to things would be different. Jesus said if you put me first in your life I would make life for you more abundantly. However, we have to be willing to confess that our ways even as nice people are not the optimal choice. We often run away from problems and complications that are challenging as a result we find our self-unaware that the act of robbing God hasn’t even cross our minds. Although robbing God is a negative behavior it is an opportunity for Christ to intervene and turn nice people into effective Christians. This transformation is an opportunity for God to personally connect to you, just like the woman at the well. Jesus waited for the Samaritan woman to let her know that she was a nice person who was trying to survive however; she had a complicated life style that only Jesus could transform. Jesus is concern and loves nice people so much that he is reaching out and waiting to offer nice people water from the living well. Inasmuch, so that robbing God will no longer be a way of survival in order to live, rather an effective Christian living life more abundantly.

CHAPTER 1

I Consider Myself a Nice Person

(Jehovah-Mekoddishkem)

The Lord Who Sanctifies You

I want to start out by saying I am what many people would consider a nice person. However, I have learned I have been robbing God most of my life. People such as my family, neighbors, acquaintances, and especially the patients I have cared for would testify I am a nice person and would never think I could or would rob God. I consider myself to be a Christian. I remember accepting Christ between the ages of seven and nine. I recall my baptism and being submerged underwater at Mt. Lebanon Baptism church in Peekskill, New York.

The New American Webster Dictionary defines nice as pleasing; or pleasant; attractive, kind. However, the dictionary notes that "the Latin word for nice is nescius, which means ignorant it is not until later is was define as pleasant. There is a vast difference between being nice people and being an effective Christian. The difference between the two is that nice people can get in the way of God’s purpose and, as a result, rob him. Effective Christians line up with God’s plan. What good does it do for you or others to say, Jesus is Lord," if your actions do not demonstrate the acknowledgment of his lordship over your life.

Everything God created is good. However, everything outside the will of God is perverted, which is sin dressed up to look nice. Keeping in mind the word nice in Latin nescius, was define as ignorant. Nice people lean toward hearing God’s Word, and look to their own understanding whereas, to be an effective Christian one must lean toward hearing the word of God and becoming doers of God’s Word.

Jesus takes his relationship with his people very seriously. So seriously, he describes his relationship to his people as a marriage. Many nice people do not take their relationship with Christ as seriously as they should. Nice people often do not know the rules of engagement, although they are listed in the Bible. Nice people may not understand the how to engaged them self in a fellowship with Christ among believers. One good guess would be that they found too much comfort at the altar of salvation and are not aware that getting up from the altar to follow Christ is a process after salvation.

There are other nice people who are aware of the rules of engagement but make poor choices. In Acts 5:1–3 (KJV) we learn after Ananias sold a piece of property, Peter asked, Ananias, how is it that the devil has filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have possessed for yourself some of the money you received from selling the land? Because of their poor choices, Ananias and Sapphira his wife fell to their deaths.

When we sin, we cannot determine the consequences of our choices. Choices are forever and always life changing. I believe God has orchestrated this book to be written for those who need someone to explain to the bride of Christ the consequences for not seeking the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness after leaving the altar of salvation. In addition, preparing the church for the wedding feasts when Jesus return. Success in your life can cause you to think so highly of yourself that you forget it was God who brought you success. But when you seek the kingdom and it righteousness first, you develop a thirst for a personal relationship with Christ and no longer seeking things. But things now seek you. It is very interesting that God does not seek time the way we do but it is time that follows after God who created time. So therefore if you seek God he will allow all things to follow after you.

The apple on the cover of this book represents sin and separation before Christ came down as our Savior. When Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they robbed God of the intimate fellowship he once had with them. Jesus’ resurrection represents the new fellowship we have with God due to Jesus sacrifice. Seeking the kingdom of heaven offers us access to the Tree of Life through the righteousness of Jesus. Christ Jesus is the seed that brings an abundant life. He is the seed that allows us to develop into our purposes and callings. Having a mentality based on entitlement robs God from blessing you.

Sometimes life can become challenging, and as a result, you may find yourself disadvantaged or having too much pride to know how much you need God.

As we experience adversities in life, our hearts may harden. Moreover, because of rejection, the pain we often feel as humans can cause us to build a wall of a false sense of pride. To worship God is to live