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I cannot think of the last time my wife and I went to friends with just two couples. Used to get with several friends and play cards or dominoes, then came the new life situation games the ladies liked. Most times, when we visit or have friends to our house, barbecue is a given, there's several family's represented, and there's always somebody to talk to, and a lot of noise. And a flock of kids underfoot or being chased out of my shop. Whether one or many guests, food and drinks are available, with a pot of coffee. And plenty chip dip jalapeno stuffed pepper poppers, home made pico.. Something. Sitting out doors at picnic table or porch creates a relaxed atmosphere. Usually the ladies get together at the dining table and talk babies,kids, grand kids or where to find more unneeded stuff at a bargain. Us guys hang out side, usually in the shop, discussing tools, tractors, then our jobs/businesses. Always informal. It took us a while to finally build our house, the kids already left. We feel the Lord blessed us mightily, with a neat home, and we enjoy having guests. We try to be hospitable. I think were too lay back to create any awkward moments. Our kids decide to have birthday parties for their children at our house often, inviting all their friends, and I find strange little babies taking a nap in my bed. The kids room hundred toys are usually spread around the house, and sometimes on top. I wouldn't want it any different. I think being enthusiastic at someones coming to our house sets the mood. And letting them know how they blessed us to come.

I have found that love ... genuine love makes paths to comfortability. In very little time people warm to me cause I love people and they sense it....

Receiving me with sincerity seems to be good enough. By sincerity I mean that if you cannot receive me, do not lie or invent excuses; it is heart breaking when I discover people lied just to avoid me. Another thing I appreciate is to respect and value my decisions, like: When you offer me something and I say: "I do not want it, thanks!" or "I do not like it, thanks!" and people insist and say: "It is obviously you want it... Don't be shy and take it." or "Are you sure you do not want it? (more than 2 times)". Then I would feel welcome whenever I was in your house. God bless you!

Growing up in a pastor's home, we would have people come by unannounced throughout the day. Whenever guests would arrive, we would always boil the kettle and make tea or coffee for them. There was no set tea time. I was wondering what makes you feel welcome when you go to someone's house or what you do to make people feel welcome?

Really great and loving answers from all of you. What might I add. Not much. Just be aware that the Adversary will often not give up without a fight. GUILT is a main tactic. It is far different to CONVICTION from the Lord, because HE always gives us a clear reason and a direct path to forgiveness and reconciliation. So if it is just a general feeling of baseless guilt that confuses you - its origin is probably evil. CONDEMNATION = SATAN CONVICTION = GOD.

I normally dont push this kind of thing, but I feel bad for the kid. Anyone want to send him a card? He is hoping for cards from all 50 states. (Perhaps some from outside the us would make his day too?) The family of a young boy in Paris, Tennessee was born with severe birth injuries and diagnosed with various conditions is asking for birthday cards for his fifth birthday on October 30th. Doctors say that Kaiden has between 5-10 years to live, and is unable to talk, walk, sit or crawl. His family placed him in hospice last November. In July ,his heart was normal sized, and his family said they don't know what caused or cured his condition or if it will come back. http://www.abc15.com/news/national/family-of-tennessee-boy-with-heart-failure-wants-cards-from-all-50-states-for-his-birthday https://www.facebook.com/ProjectHopeForKaiden/posts/1553949631317959

Well first there is the Infinity Zero Gravity Inversion Massage Chair.... It pretty much says WELCOME if you dare go for it. Once one does, all others visiting seem to follow in turn filling in waiting time with stories of life, busy schedules, and of aches that they hope the chair will relieve. Repeat guests just kick off their shoes, plunk on down, hit the massage program they want, and then grunt a lot as the chair does it's thing knocking the aches out and relaxing the body. After that they don't care whose house they are visiting, they're fine, and just want to try another massage program on the selector. Though my house used to be headquarters for family get togethers, having been a widower for six years I had encouraged it to change to the next generation's homes, so that they can build their own sense of tradition for get togethers. When family plus a couple of their friends do gather here,the place can allow for assembly of about 24 to 30 of us for dinner and spread out afterward at this old now oversize home; or even better now the family have come to enjoy going to a great local buffet at the beachfront restaurant and just feasting there, so no one has to clean up afterward! We eat, talk, run through the never ending buffet, walk the beach hang out on the pier walk and chat at the large table we take for 20 to 24 of us. Truth is I miss the old gatherings, but also appreciate the need for the process of it having moved on. Plus, that I am now the old geezer of the family, honored and good for saying grace at the tables of the next generation's food feasts. If life here continues for me I suppose next step is that I become the one that needs assistance getting to the food table at gatherings- ha! Hope not, but hey life its what it is eh? Sometimes I think, well is it time for the assisted living facility package, those live here till you rot, but happily, facilities and be offered rice pudding or red Jello for dessert each day. Then I rethink, ah nope, God has blessed greatly to date, so no. If fact let's go find a summer place where it is cool, a retreat, and we will travel some and become "the visitors", might even just become one of those short notice drop ins. Got lunch or is it late enough go go do early bird dinner somewhere before it gets too dark to drive? Ha life it is grand - when it isn't hurting too much. Even then, well it is wondrous what God has provided each day sufficient for my further sanctification and always just right, whether I see it at the time or not, just right, like that last shrimp taken from the buffet table feast on Thanks Giving day.

Hello Francisca. If your depression is not clinical, i.e., due to some chemical imbalance, such as a drop in serotonin levels. If your depression has been consistent for last few months, I would definitely see my doctor about it. If the depression comes and goes then it is more likely to be the way one thinks. For example, if I start thinking about the things that have not going my way I will get depressed. Some things that have not gone my way include, broken relationships, unhappy in my job, stress, loneliness, etc. The main problem here is not accepting the fact that not all things have to go our way. Because this have not gone our way does not mean that something must be wrong with us on a personal level, What has gone wrong is that we have relied too heavily on things going our way for us to feel okay. As soon as they don't go our way (in the present) we get upset. If it seems it might not go our way (in the future), we get anxious. And if we think about the things that did not go our way (in the past) we get depressed. In this regard, we need to realize that as a Christian it really is okay if things don't go our way. Read Philippians 4:11-13. Here are some bible verses about depression

I would not want to feed my brain on such things. It is just not healthy and not edifying for the Christian life.

While I commend the first half of your post. New Christians, children and those whose faith are weak are vulnerable, and for this reason it isn't a good idea to suggest such reading material. It could cause them to stumble. The bible, already has given us plenty of reasoning as to why such activities are to be avoided. Not only that, but the holy spirit also tells us to avoid such activity.

Hello ayin jade. this post had no responses last I check so I came by to let you know I love you and be encouraged. Praise the Lord .

Welcome ... I moved this from the Welcome Forum as it was going far beyond saying Hi.

Yes, I agree. A person who is genuine and down to earth I am comfortable with. Just being who they really are.

I'm an odd duck - I rarely actually feel comfortable at other peoples homes (introverted extrovert here lol). But when I venture out to someone's home I would feel most comfortable if they don't make a fuss. Let's just sit around and talk, offer me some water if you want, go on with your normal activities. Now when people come to my home, I usually put on coffee or offer them a soft drink (I keep a few around for guests). Try my best to focus on them and just make them comfortable. I don't mind having people over in my home ever, I actually enjoy it. If we're watching a movie or TV, I'll offer them popcorn and a blanket, tell them to kick off their shoes and be at home.

just do not ignore my presence there and keep running off and back . It is better to say come back later or i am in the middle of something right now. I dislike when you go to meet someone and they one the phone half the time and although they may entertain you with their condiments ect, if the focus is not on our meeting, then i loose interest. Show the person that you are paying attention to their person and you appreciate their presence.

It would be all about the attitude. I can feel if I am welcome. It would be a nice gesture to offer them coffee, tea....etc and if you had anything to go with those beverages. Just sit and talk to them and make them feel comfortable.

First of all, tell her that all of us are sinners, just like her and everyone else, and she won't find any ridicule. We're not better than she is, and we're fully aware of that. All she'll find is a group of people who had someone else reach a hand out to them and help them discover the truth in the past, who are now looking to reach a hand out to someone else in return. She is welcome here!

Thank you for getting that straighten out for us. Giggling appy gave some very sound advice and we should all heed them. Some bible verses should stick to our memory like gorilla glue and this is one of them. Ephesians 5 King James Version (KJV) 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. I would add not to have any thoughts of those things and as the saying goes, "you cross that bridge when you comes to it". The devil would want you to go back to your former ways and serve him, but you have a new master now and my advice to you is this. Get your bible and go to Ephesians 6, read the entire chapter about ten times and each time a bit slower than the first. Let it sink in what tools you have available to you as a christian to use for shield and protection. And for Helloween participants, the above may apply also as the time is close when wickedness comes to put on a false sense of fun time.

I have always considered myself a Calvanistic Armenian. Both sides a generally correct in what they assert, but both sides are generally in error on what they deny. And both sides take positions to the extreme, more than even their founders intended.

I see Tulip as a summary of the synode of dort. I dont have any difficulty with it. The many ways calvanism's tulip is expressed and arrticulated swings all over the place depending on the congergation, elders and man on a pulpit, teaching the class or writing the book. Im not for or against it. It is a theology, one of many in a time of great deception. It's Belief's about God, Sin, Salvation,The Lord and believers. They proclaim the name of Christ and encourage people to believe in Christ and call on Him. He saves! what is actually true and what the Lord did is doing and will do, will not change even though mens beliefs do. What can we do about what people think and say? My biggest sceptism with the ideas is they conflict with John 17 and contradict other things Jesus said. Jesus would have to tell me to listen to other people and believe the synode of dort instead of trusting Him to teach me and save me and believing his disciples. Since I have his word's, his disciples words and Christ in me, why do i need the summary of the synode of dort telling me what I have to believe? I don't have to completely agree with people to believe Christ can save them. He's showed me a lot of stuff in scripture it doesn't matter if no one else sees it. He showed me to correct me. Non of mans system's can contain the knowledge of God. Earth can't even contain the books if all Jesus did was written down.

Index and summaries of all articles is here: https://www.worthychristianforums.com/blogs/entry/1403-index-and-summaries-of-articles/ Careers in the Kingdom God doesn't change, but mankind's circumstances do. Therefore, God has made different covenants with the peoples of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the Church. Each covenant was tailored to fit the needs and abilities of the people in their own time, their own Age. Each covenant had unique elements, yet all of God's covenants provide similar roles for men to fill, both among the priesthood and laity. The Bible and Jesus teach that there will come "the end of the [present Church] age," to be followed by a 1000-year Kingdom Age on Earth. The Kingdom Age will be governed under its own covenant, which will provide its own roles (jobs). Here is a summary of these, showing how the priesthood and laity jobs in the coming age compare to past such roles in both the Mosaic ('Jewish') Age and the Church Age. Ecclesiastical Careers High Priest Under the Mosaic Covenant, which was tailored to suit the needs of carnal men, a carnal/physical priesthood was established: Aaron, the first high priest, and thereafter the lineage of his firstborn sons. (Aaron was a firstborn himself.) The High Priest of the Church Covenant, a covenant tailored for spiritual men, is Jesus Christ, the spiritual Firstborn of God. He continues in this position throughout the Kingdom Age. Priesthood All of Aaron's unblemished male descendants of age became priests. They were the only ones authorized to offer the sacraments of the Mosaic Covenant. In the Church, this role was established in Christ's Apostles, his spiritual offspring; and in their unblemished spiritual descendants. In the Kingdom, the priesthood office is allotted to the Manchild of Revelation 12. Aaron's descendants had authority over all Israelites; the apostolic office has authority over all the Church, both Jew and Gentile; the Manchild is to “shepherd all nations.” Rev. 12:5; 2:26-27 Servants of the Priesthood God gave “the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons...to do the service...in the Tabernacle...” Num. 8:15-19 Before entering this work, they “washed their clothes; then [high priest] Aaron presented them like a wave offering before the LORD.” Num. 8:21 The Levites were accepted by God as Israel's “firstborn.” Num. 8:16, 18 The job of the Levites was to serve in God's Tabernacle, but not to administer the sacraments or approach the holy things. Num. 18:2-3 In the Church Age, the corresponding role fell to the office of the deacon. Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:8-13 This office was established to serve the Apostles, by relieving them of many details of the Church's material affairs: the same service of the Levites for their priests. (Unlike the Levites, deacons can progress to a priesthood role.) In the Kingdom Age, the Rapture brings the “Church of the Firstborn” to “the heavenly Jerusalem,” “to Jesus the Mediator [and High Priest] of the New Covenant;” there he “will shepherd them.” Heb. 12:22-24; 8:1-2; Rev. 7:17 These firstborn “come out of the Great Tribulation and wash their robes,” then “[wave] palm branches” before God. Rev. 7:14, 9 Their job/role is thenceforth to “serve [God and the Lamb] day and night in his temple.” Rev. 7:15 In sum, these people are to be the servants of the High Priest of the heavenly tabernacle. Their work is to be “before the throne” (Rev. 7:9, 15), not on or from it: they will not have the rulership authority that Christ and the Manchild have. Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 12:5 Governmental Careers Leaders of Israel When the LORD descended upon Mount Sinai, he called “up...seventy of the leaders of Israel” (along with Moses, and Aaron and his sons) into his Presence. Ex. 24:1, 9 These Seventy were later more fully anointed with authority, receiving part of the Holy Spirit that God had given Moses. Num. 11:16-30 The Seventy were anointed tribal elders, but were not priests. When the Holy Spirit descended into the “upper room” where 120 elect Israelite disciples of Christ were gathered, they came into God's Presence, and were anointed with his Spirit. Acts 1:15; 2:1f. The upper room was their 'mountain.' These later received a second anointing of the Spirit, which empowered them “to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31 Nevertheless, most of them were never accounted to have apostolic authority: they remained as ruling elders over the Israelite Church. Following the opening of the 6th Seal of Revelation 6 and the descent of Christ, the 144,000 Israelites are to be “sealed in their foreheads,” i.e., their 'upper rooms.' Rev. 7:3-8 “Whether in the body or out of the body, God knows” (2 Cor. 12:2-4), they will be “caught up” into the Presence for a space, then return below to lead their people. (See End Times Crib Sheet: The Rapture.) At a later date, they will receive a greater empowerment, coming to stand with the Lamb before God's throne. Rev. 14:1-5 Leaders of the Various Tribes Under Old Testament law, the firstborn sons of men were to be set apart to God, and receive special privileges and authority in their clans and tribes. If faithful and competent, they became tribal elders of various ranks. Ex. 13:2; Deut. 21:15-17; Gen. 25:29f.; 27; etc. In the Church Age, the firstfruits of the Apostles' ministry often became elders/presbyters of the churches, being recognized in various levels of rulership authority. 1 Cor. 16:15 In the Kingdom Age, those who have “part in the first resurrection...shall reign with him [Christ] a thousand years.” Rev. 20:6 This “first resurrection” refers to the righteous dead who are resurrected at the 6th Seal; to the killed and quickly resurrected Two Witnesses; and to those killed/“beheaded” by the Beast, and resurrected after his defeat. All of these, along with the 144,000, are called “firstborn” and “firstfruits.” Heb. 12:23; Rev. 11:7-12; 14:4; 19:20 – 20:6 Like at the Exodus, however, there is a before and after distinction at work. The Levites were taken in place of the firstborn of Israel who were born before the Tabernacle was established (Num. 3:40f.; 1:1; Ex. 40:17): they worked in the religious sphere. The firstborn afterward became tribal elders: that is, secular governmental officials. The heavenly Tabernacle workers of Rev. 7 will be resurrected and/or raptured before men are first called to serve in that Tabernacle. The Rev. 20:4 saints will be resurrected afterward, and become Kingdom governmental officials. (The Israelite Apostles and disciples were called before the Church was established; the Gentile elders after.) Roles of the Common People The Ecclesia/Church in the Wilderness The great bulk of both the Israelite and the Kingdom covenanters were/will be common members of the body, without official rank. At the time of the “great cry...of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again,” Israel fled into the wilderness. Ex. 11:6; 12:31-34 Most of these people were mentally unprepared, and suffered because of it; yet God provided manna and water to sustain them. Even so, when forewarned by God: “Behold, I come...be ready,” most were not ready, and cowered away from his Presence when he appeared. Ex. 19:9, 11; 20:18-21 At the time of the “Great Tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world...nor shall ever be [again],” “the Woman [God's people] will flee into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there...” Matt. 24:21, 16f.; Rev. 12:6 Again, most of these people will be mentally unprepared to leave the comforts of civilization. When later forewarned by God, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,” only some of them—“those who are ready”—will be able to abide and enter into his Presence. Matt. 25:6-10 Most will not be ready, and will cower away from his Face. Rev. 6:15-17; cf. 1 Chr. 21:20 P.S. Less than two months passed between the day Israel left Egypt and the day of God's descent. I believe that the corresponding Great Tribulation period will be even shorter (yet more fearsome), because Jesus said “those days will be cut short.” Matt. 24:22 The Martyrs When the Israelites were in the wilderness, “Amalek...smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary.” Deut. 25:17-18; Ex. 17:8f. During the Tribulation, many of God's people who are weak in the flesh and/or who are stragglers, but who remain spiritually faithful, will be martyred. Through their martyrdom, they will become sanctified, being “given white robes,” which represent their righteous act of faithfulness unto death. Rev. 6:9-11; cf. 19:8 [The raptured Virgin Church of Rev. 7 must “wash their robes”—divest themselves of their spiritual uncleanness—before coming into the Presence of God. Rev. 7:14 This was allegorically portrayed by the purifications undergone by Esther and the other virgins, prior to their coming before the king. Esth. 2]

Little reminder to cast your burden on the Lord ~So often we try to fix things yourself and when we are on the end of our rope we call on Jesus, it really should be the other way around, to cast our burden on the Lord first and then ask the Lord,what can I do about it? He will let us know in one way or another to either rest in Him and wait or He will give us other directions.. Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.Matthew 10:29 Said the robin to the sparrow, “I should really like to know, Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so.” Said the sparrow to the robin, “Friend I think that it must be, That they have no Heavenly Father, Such as cares for you and me.” ― Elizabeth Cheney

http://www.abc15.com/news/national/google-drones-will-drop-burritos-into-people-s-yards-in-australia

Loved you reply Gary. Reminds me vividly of my younger days. Imagine my father had eight siblings and the cousins enormous amt. In those days, the pack was usually big, not the two like today. But very nice description.

I sure admire your work here ... I think it the same draw as God's Word has on humanity >that will invest themselves into it's content<! Real Love 'IS' ATTRACTIVE To the born again we have The Spirit in these matters and when we are not receiving such from those around us we still have the resource to expel the resource from within... True freedom is to not be controlled by those around us but to be controlled from within. Love ya sis, focus and nearness my hope for the busy mother!

Hi 4L, Thanks for taking the time to share. It is something we all have to work on, and that being what we say and how we feel is one and the same. My husband was just saying something along those lines the other day, about how he can take just about anything a person has to say, provided they are willing to say it to him, and not talk about it afterward or behind his back. I hadn't given thought to how a person feels when I ask a question a couple times just to make sure that they are alright. I am probably guilty of that myself. I find myself asking people a couple times trying to make sure that they are all okay. Hope you have a great day. Blessings

I will have a look at the links you provided Ayin Jade. I am more than happy to send a letter or card. Blessings:)

You seem to be seeking to see if certain activities would be approved of. No matter how you word your questions or ask about which activity when it comes to occultic stuff and such; The answer is always going to be a resounding NO. All occultic practices, astrology, witchcraft, black arts, fortune telling, ouija boards, tarot cards, palm readers, spiritualism, parapsychology, satanism, psychic phenomena lead people away from fellowship with God. All these things are controlled by satan and his demon's. And are designed to lead people away from God. There is NOT one ounce of good in any of it. NONE. God's word is the authority on this and his word condemns all such practices and activities. Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He was a murder from the beginning. Christians should NOT even be curious about any of it, nor should they think any of it is harmless. To think any of it is harmless, is an outright lie.

Epraphras is not a name you hear much of. He was a member of the church in Colosse, and obviously a dear saint in the Lord. We know that he suffered imprisonment with Paul at one time. But the thing that really impresses me about this saint is what Paul wrote about him– he always wrestled in prayer! The post Silent, yet powerful! appeared first on Worthy Christian Devotional - Daily Devotions. Read the entire devotional.

Alright, just checking if the church suits your personality. About your fears or anxiety, thinking you might have done something wrong....Please take 1 John 1:9 to your heart. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Everytime you feel badly that you might have failed the Lord, please remember and meditate on that verse. Then remember you are cleansed by the Lord. You might also look up some other verses on fear.....not verses that make you feel condemned but verses that talk about God helping you with your fears, etc. Hope these suggestions might help you. God bless!

Near death experiences have to be compared to Scripture. The Bible is silent on NDE. There are some serious concerns. Satan is always there ready to deceive. He can disguise himself as an angel of light. Therefore I am a skeptic.

Some people don't realize that dabbling in Eastern religions in the forms of Tae kwon do, meditation, yoga etc, when the philosophy is taught with it, is spiritual adultery in God's eyes. We are not allowed to mix religions. That is what has happened in many countries that have kept parts of their native religions and added Christianity to them. Doing this and creating one's own concept of God as a mixture of ideas opens some people up to demonic activity. It denies the God of the Bible. This is especially true if they also speak to the familiar spirits of their ancestors as they do in Mexico and as some people also do here. These spirits imitate their dead relatives and open the door for demons to torment them. Whether they had in fact surrendered to God as their Lord over their lives is questionable. Most of these people cannot confess Jesus as Lord.

They hated God so much they accused Him of being evil even though they knew He is good and that Jesus was doing good by God's power and authority.

If you're saved you can't be possessed, you can be oppressed though and often watching some of these horror movies out there today will mess up your mind a bit - whether you're saved or not. I used to be a huge horror movie fan, even after salvation, but as I've gotten older I can't stand to watch many of them anymore. If you're not saved, I wouldn't necessarily think that watching a movie could cause possession but it could open up doors to demonic activity.

Hi Francisca, Can I ask if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Knowing that would sort of help us to provide you with advice. I have suffered from depression for years, various seasons of it, and can say that the only thing that's pulled me through is my faith in Jesus and what He's done for me. I truly credit Him with my healing and deliverance from severe depression a few years ago. If you are saved, I would encourage you to dwell on His promises to you, spend time talking to Him, and don't be afraid to be very real with the Lord (He can take it). He alone is the solution and He can return joy back to your heart.

Elijah (The 'Lead' Witness) will give accurate information about what is going to happen in the years leading up to Jesus return and similar to how Daniel knew when Jesus' first coming would be, Elijah will know when Jesus' second coming will happen too. Even though most Christians will reject all this information, when the seven year tribulation begins exactly how and when Elijah predicts, then Christians will begin to take notice and in the last 1260 days of their witness, just before Christs return, they'll begin to perform all the miraculous signs as spoken of in Revelation which will become the focus of the Worlds attention.

I don't hold to replacement theology. It's nothing new and it's wrong.

My dogs would get to them before I would!

Well, you are not going to, so don't worry about it. Let your "friends" have their fantasies, leave them far behind you, and go find new friends. For these are not friends anyway. Friends do not try to intimidate you into thinking they have a power over you. That is the mark of a bully! These are bullies, one's that are playing on your unfounded fears.

Here's the problem .. You're assuming that Israel HAD to fulfil those 6 requirements within those 70 weeks for the 70 weeks to come to a close, other words, your position is actually saying this : the 70 weeks can only come to a close WHEN Israel fulfils the 6 requirements regardless of how many weeks pass in real time, be it 70 weeks, 100 weeks, 150 weeks, or, 200 weeks etc etc because there is a gap inserted into the prophecy that will come into play some day (??) in the future WHEN Israel will accept Christ as their Messiah, and that event would signify the 70th week being fulfilled regardless if 300 weeks of real time takes place or not .. but this undermines the whole point of setting the 70 weeks deadline in the first place !! And God didn't give a deadline for nothing. You see, it would be a contradiction on God's behalf for declaring the 70 weeks in the first place if in fact it takes 100 or 200 or 300 + weeks to fulfil in real time !! as though God didn't realise that Israel would reject Messiah and fail the deadline. But He did know that Israel would fail, and Israel DID fail the 70 weeks deadline which is WHY their city and their sanctuary was destroyed and they were ended as a nation for over 2000 years. And since God already knew that Israel would fail, He took it upon Himself to fulfil those requirements HIMSELF, as a WITNESS against Israel's failure, and He did .. and since He fulfilled them, then they (the 70 weeks) are FULFILLED, meaning that there is now no way left for Israel to fulfil what God instead had to fulfil Himself .. see? And if the 70 weeks are not yet over, then NONE OF US could know of Christ UNTIL those 70 weeks are completed BY Israel .. because Christ would not be anointed UNTIL Israel (as a nation) anointed Him as per the 6th requirement .. see? So then it becomes this, WHY did God fulfil this when ISRAEL were meant to? And since God fulfilled this, doesn't it mean that Israel FAILED to fulfil this? And the answer is YES, of course Israel FAILED to fulfil this, otherwise God would not have had to anoint Messiah HIMSELF. The whole reason WE the believing Gentiles are a priesthood, a peculiar nation, is precisely because of Israel's failure to fulfil the 70 weeks, which is WHAT Christ meant by this : Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Seeing that the kingdom of God is taken from Israel, and God Himself arranged for those requirements to be fulfilled, and did fulfil them, then these have become obsolete : your people and your holy city to finish[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy ..they become obsolete because God was forced to fulfil them Himself because of Israel's failure, which He did, and as a consequence the priesthood was given to ANOTHER NATION because God had to fulfil it in Israel's place .. had Israel NOT failed to fulfil the 70 weeks, then ISRAEL herself would have been that NATION of priests instead, but they failed the 70th week deadline hence the Gentiles taking their place as His priests. You can NOT give the priesthood to another nation if the 70 weeks were still running, but only if the 70 weeks are COMPLETE can you then give the priesthood to another. You see? Saying that the 70th week is unfulfilled causes more contradictions, and not just prophetic ones, but basic doctrinal ones too !! But these contradictions don't exist for those who say that the 70 weeks are COMPLETE .. and they need no special explaining or reshuffling/reinterpreting of the prophecies/doctrines to make way for them either. And this : The millennium. Otherwise, what is the point of even having the millennium in the first place, God could just wrap it all up at the 2nd coming and that would be that, but He doesn't, so the millennium serves a purpose, and that purpose deals with Israel learning of their Messiah's doctrine and KEEPING it, it is where ALL OF ISRAEL become saved, during the millennium WHEN they accept Him as their Messiah NATIONALLY. Thanks Diaste.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in Heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:14-19 Thank God that the Holy Spirit dwells within us with the fullness of His love so that we are not left with our limitations. As we think on God's love, forgiveness, compassion, and grace we know that there is no way to measure or contain His capacity in these things. Every attribute that God has is eternal and cannot be contained or measured. UNLIKE HUMAN LOVE His love has no beginning and no end; it is eternal in every way. His love was upon us before we were formed and will extend to us throughout eternity. Human love most often depends upon the actions of another, but God's love has no dependency or expectation upon another. He is not capable of withholding love or wavering in His love toward us. Even in the midst of our sin and constant "wavering" affections, His love is immeasurable and unmovable. The same is true with every attribute of God. His forgiveness is eternal in every sense of the word. His grace, mercy, wisdom, power, righteousness, justice and goodness are absolutely measureless and cannot be contained within time or space. Often we misunderstand God's ways with us as being measurable by believing that He is withholding from us (healing, provision, blessings, etc.). Our understanding is limited to our experience or our ability to imagine God's ways, but still everything we know or imagine is contained within the limits of our humanity. We are not able to comprehend that which is not comprehensible. As humans, we live within the boundaries of time and space; God is the only immeasurable thing we know. So how do we do what Ephesians 3:14-19 says? How do we grasp how long, wide, high, or deep is the love of God if it is immeasurable and uncontainable? We can only grasp it by understanding verse 19: "to know this love that surpasses knowledge..." We must grasp the truth that HIS LOVE for us will always SURPASS our knowledge and our limited understanding. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

Man as a whole has never fully understood the word love as God defines it in His commandments and one can confirm that by simply looking at the condition of the world. People relate love to emotions and they base it on terms of feeling. The problem with this is when feeling change so does one's love. The love that God requires of man is one of will. And this love is a deliberate attitude whereas circumstances and changes in situations do not impact one's actions. The religious leaders were constantly questioning Jesus in order to test Him and on this occasion a lawyer asked Jesus what is the great commandment? Matthew (22:35) Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, (36) Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus reply was the 1st great commandment was to love God and the 2nd was to love ones neighbor. These were given as a commandment for man to love. Matthew (22:37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. One should note that by following the 1st and 2nd great commandment they will be adhering to the 10 commandments issued by Moses. If they love the Lord they won’t have any other Gods before him, or make any graven images or take his name in vain, they will remember his Sabbath day to keep it Holy and if they love their neighbor they will honor their Father and Mother and they won’t kill or commit adultery or steal or bear false witness nor will they covet. This is why Jesus goes on to state that on these two commandments hang the law and the prophets. Because by fulfilling these two commandments one fulfills the law. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Jesus stated that these 2 commandments where the 2 great commandments however the following verses will show that these commandments were not new and that the Jews and Jesus was speaking to were aware of them. These were the same ones issued to Israel by Moses. Deuteronomy (6:5) And thy shall love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Leviticus (19:18) Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Now that it has been established that man was commanded to love one needs to examine the scriptures to get an understanding of the love required in these great commandments. In the following verses Moses is telling the Israelites that God chose them strictly out of His love for them. Deuteronomy (7:7) The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: (8) But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (9) Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Note in verse (9) Moses states a condition that God requires in order for Him to keep covenant and have mercy. And that is an individual must love God and keep His commandments. The scriptures will show that there is only one way to love God and that is by keeping His commandments. Note that Jesus states in the following verse that in order to love Him one has to keep His commandments. John (14:15) If ye love me, keep my commandments. Keep in mind Jesus said "For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, Ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 20).

If God wanted you to marry be assured in time He will lead you to the right person

One of the paradoxes of our walk is that God’s gifts often require work on our part. After He delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians, the Lord led them to the Promised land and told them He was going to "give" it to them. It wasn't long before they realized, however, that they were going to have to fight battles and overcome fortified cities in order to inhabit the land. God did promise that they would not have to fight the battles on their own, but even with this divine advantage the Israelites themselves would be required to destroy their enemies – they would still need to fight. The post Work it out! appeared first on Worthy Christian Devotional - Daily Devotions. Read the entire devotional.

Hi Diaste, Concerning this : 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. The reason I can not accept that this is speaking of the "beast" is a simple one .. and that is that the Temple to be built, will, on completion and even before completion, will ALREADY be desolate .. it will be desolate simply because Jesus is the ONLY way to God and the coming Temple and it's services symbolise Israel's ongoing REJECTION of Messiah .. and ANY teaching (Judaism as it is today) that rejects Messiah IS already desolate (can not lead to LIFE) .. therefore it is impossible for the beast to make that which is already desolate (what the Temple REPRESENTS) .. desolate .. (seeing that the Temple is the embodiment of Judaisms misplaced aspirations and ongoing rejection of Messiah). And as for this : "and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate" .. the abominations mentioned are the abominations that the Israelite's constantly committed against God's covenant, like these for examples : Jeremiah 7:30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it. Ezekiel 5:11 Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. And : "he shall make it desolate" concerns (his) Christ's New Covenant "replacing" the Old Covenant, that is, the Old Covenant can not save us, and if it can not save us, it is then become desolate, only the New Covenant gives LIFE now, to reject the New Covenant to follow the Old Covenant does NOT lead to life because it means rejecting Messiah, and if one follows something that rejects LIFE (Messiah) then one follows something desolate (bereft of life). So HIS coming with His New Covenant made the Old one DESOLATE, simple as that. I also reject the 70 weeks gap theory very strongly and do not for one minute accept that there is a future "week" yet to be fulfilled .. to me, the 70 weeks is long finished/fulfilled. Question : IF the 70th week was left for a future date to be fulfilled, then WHY was Israel punished? Because the so called future week would in reality be an EXTENSION, like on a repayment, and when one is given an extension, one is NOT punished/defaulted unless the EXTENSION date is likewise broken .. again, WHY then was Israel severely punished in 70ad ( which, btw, was perfectly in line with the failure to fulfil the 6 requirements to be fulfilled WITHIN the set 70 weeks) seeing that this "future week extension" could in no way breached until some time deep into their future?? That would be unrighteous of God IF the 70th week was indeed some future week to be fulfilled and yet they were punished for something they had not yet failed !! .. it just doesn't add up when the right questions are asked of it. Thanks Diaste.

I don't have Muslim neighbors but I used to work with a Muslim man from Egypt. He was a good guy. I knew him about 10 yrs and towards the end of my time on that job we started discussing our faiths. I was surprised to hear him say he believed in the virgin birth but he denied that Jesus is the only begotten son of God. He told me The God, as they say it, breathed on Mary and she became pregnant with Jesus. So, I said, why don't you believe Jesus is the son of God? His answer: Because God doesn't have sons or daughters, nor does He have a wife or brothers or sisters. I really didn't know how what to say next. We were Taxi drivers and then he was sent on a call. We never got to talk again that night and then hurricane Sandy hit us and I was out for 3 months. I never got to speak with that man again. Btw, when the Muslim Brotherhood took over in Egypt he was very upset. He hated them. There's all kinds of Muslims and before you mention Christianity to them find out what kind they are. Your question was how to reach out to them. In my opinion by demonstrating what a Christian is. At some point they will notice you're different. If they ask you then mention Christianity and Jesus. Sadly, most Christians behave worse than atheists. You can't do that and then preach Jesus.

Im pretty sure church is a Biblical concept, not a greek one. The Biblical church, was far different then the church today, but that doesnt change the fact that it is a Biblical concept. As for scripture to back my view? I Cite the entire book of Acts.

I think you may have meant grubbing not grumbling. In either case it seems a so what issue for me. I am perfectly happy, a cheerful giver in fact to a church, a local body of Christ Jesus, where I have been led by the Holy Spirit to my ever so gratefully uplifted body, spirit, and soul's benefit. I am so happy to have the privilege of helping sustain the ministry and the employees whether they be full time of part time whether they be elders or staff support personnel, I marvel at the kindness God has extended to me by providing such a grand local body for my benefit!