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Hi mat007 Whenever anxiety tries to attack me, I try to say "I am refusing to accept these thoughts" and try to train my mind to think about Jesus instead. It takes a lot of effort, but practicing this helps. Also keep praising Jesus as much as you can. Give Him the glory every time you can. Try to train your mind to think about Jesus. Learn scripture, meditate on it. The Lord will help you. Ask the Lord to help you to trust Him completely. The more you actively immerse yourself in His Word, and pray to Him, the closer you will be to overcoming this problem.

Hi Daniel 11:36 So can you provide a scripture....any scripture........ that shows a 7 year gap between the Resurrection and the Rapture? Seems like you have the Rapture happening FIRST, then 7 years later, the Resurrection. Yet Jesus taught that the ...."dead in Christ will rise FIRST, then we which are alive and remain will be caught up TOGETHER with them in the air......" Scripture teaches that the Resurrection - Rapture happen at the same time.

Hi SisterActs2, Yes, so true. I never really appreciated `Titus` till I looked into doing this study and researching more. I have learnt heaps as I`ve gone along. I so appreciate you, mabel and a few others doing the journey together. It has made me realise how God has unfolded His revelation of His Son to us, and through people in their everyday lives. If we can`t see God at work there, where can we. Marilyn.

Yes, a similar situation to that which we see of Paul and Timothy. And how wonderful that Paul said to Titus "Let no one despise you.". Sometimes older Christians may be tempted to look down on younger ones who show signs of becoming very good leaders and teachers and overlook them. There is no doubt that Paul had a wonderful understanding on how to direct people to serve the Lord rightly.

I love my sisters in the Lord. God bless you both.

Hi Mabel Yes, Paul was "discipling" Timothy; helping him to grow into a man of God, as God would have required him to go on and fight the good fight after Paul had gone. He recognised that Timothy was someone he could trust with Godly wisdom; that Timothy would be a man God would use for great things - planting and leading churches with true doctrine, so invested his knowledge and wisdom into him. I agree - they did have a very close bond. How wonderful, as well, that way back when David and Jonathan were together they had such a wonderful friendship. Jonathan helped David to flee because he could see that his father had an irrational hatred and jealousy toward David. The Bible doesn't tell us what happened to a lot of people because some of it was written while they were still alive - but there are documents that were written that do record what happened to a lot of people. I think you are right about understanding straight away when the Lord convicts us that we get a check in our spirit - because we walk closely with Him and hear his admonishment to us, and apply that conviction in order to avoid going down the wrong path. We listen to the Spirit of God when He speaks to us and don't allow the brain to rationalise things away like the world does. You are right. Marilyn, what do you think sis?

And on that note may all walk by the power of His indwelling grace . The grace that has appeared and brings salvation . Teaching us to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts and to be walking soberly , righteously , and godly in this present world as we await with hope the coming of Our Lord . Sister , you loved and throw those hands up , UP and praise the GOD the Father of our LORD and savoir Christ . Yes, that we walk worthy of HE who has called us . Paul says that in several letters . Sister when I read that which you wrote it was encouraging . You throw those hands up and Sing to the LORD.

So I have a stepdaughter who is 29 years old. Over the past 10 years or so she gets mad over well,no one really knows. Then she stops speaking to me and my husband for months. The one time she stop speaking to us for three years! Everything will be going fine with us then out of no where she will send a text message(always a text message) yelling at us and telling us she is cutting us out of her life again! When we ask her what it is she is mad about she won't give an answer and just leaves it with "well you know what I am mad about!" And really we do not. It has gotten to the point where if she is getting along with us and talking to us, it is only a matter of time before she gets mad about who knows what and stops speaking to us out of the blue. It use to upset me. But I am now at the point where I feel like I don't have time for this stuff. If she wants to be mad well I guess that is something that is going to be on her. I have other issues in my life to deal with and I just don't have time to sit and wonder what it is she is mad about. So anyway. No I am not mad at her. I don't think I have ever been mad at her. But I am at the point of being like "well whatever." I am tired of being a part of her life only to be cut out of it by her for some unknown reason. Well that's my story. Thanks for listing.

Brother, you are not the Antichrist. You do not fit the Biblical description of him. Besides, the Antichrist won't be worried about offending God. He will be very proud of it and flaunt it. The mere fact that you stressed over it all summer proves that you are not him. Satan was pleased that he got you to worrying about it. That was his plan. That's his plan with all of us. He gets us distracted with things that are either not real, not true, won't come to pass, out of our control, or not of God and he pushes and pushes and pushes until we either believe it or the struggle won't leave our minds and leaves us in torment. He plays hardball. You are not the Antichrist. Satan has not given you powers. Only the Holy Spirit can empower. Demonic forces can work through the lost, but that is not the same as giving people power to do satanic things. Scrupulosity is bad. I've known others with it. You have my prayers.

hello Marilyn By jingo yeah that’s it exactly and not only that but men have run with this and use it to marginalise women both in the west and most especially in the east. (different religion but simialar outcome) This brings me to women in the church I am really confused are they supposed to be bishops etc? is it scriptural? Or has women’s rights gotten skew wif. and why are women lumped together with gay folk? Well I do know that sodomy is not scriptural in regards to the church/body of Christ (and this troubles me greatly and puts me off church as the leading voice these days as it has lost its way.) along with the new age stuff that is mixed in amongst it Ah yeah give them an inch ....size matters lol

Verse List: Baptisms in the Bible It is a common mistake to think that water baptism is the only baptism in the Bible. Every time the word “baptism” is mentioned people wrongly assume water. The Bible mentions many baptisms, and many of them are dry including the one and only baptism required for being a member of the body of Christ. “…One Lord, one faith, one baptism,…” – Eph 4:5 This one baptism is our baptism into Christ by the Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). This is the one baptism taught by the apostle Paul, and the only one that accompanies salvation in this dispensation (1 Cor 12:13; Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12) Here is the list of distinct baptisms in the Bible. Only the ones in blue are wet. Can you find the common thread among the baptisms that include water? DOWNLOAD THIS VERSE LIST: PDF Noah’s type baptism Peter mentions that eight people were saved by water in an ark as a type of a future baptism. Water is present, but the people are dry.(Gen 6:13; 1 Peter 3:20-21) Baptism unto Moses Paul presents Israel’s baptism unto Moses “in the cloud and in the sea”. Water is present, but the people are dry. (1 Cor 10:1-2; Exo 14:29) Israel’s ceremonial cleansings These cleansing rituals were required under the Mosaic Law for the cleansing of the people. (Num 19:13; Lev 11:25; Exo 19:14; Exo 30:17-21; Heb 9:10) Levitical priesthood baptisms These washings were required in order to become a priest under the Law of Moses. (Exo 29:4; Lev 8:6; Num 8:7) Traditional Jewish baptisms These baptisms were not mandated under the Law but were part of Jewish tradition. (Mt 15:1-2; Mk 7:1-9; Lk 11:38) John’s baptism John came to Israel baptizing with water for the remission of sins so that they could enter the promised kingdom to Israel and identify their Messiah. (Mt 3:5-6; Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3; Jn 1:31; Lk 7:29; Acts 10:37) Jesus’ baptism by John Jesus, who knew no sin, was baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness under the law. (Mat 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-10) Baptism with fire Jesus would baptize the nation with fire as they went through the tribulation. This trial baptism would damn the unfaithful to hell. (Isa 4:4; Mal 3:2-3; Mt 3:11; Lk 3:16) Jesus’ baptism unto death Jesus’ second baptism which he accomplished at the cross where he was identified with the sins of Israel and the world. (Mt 20:22-23; Mk 10:38-39; Luke 12:50) Pentecostal water baptism Peter’s presentation of water baptism for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus. This was John’s baptism plus the name of Jesus.(Acts 2:38; Mk 16:16; Mt 28:19; Acts 22:16; Eze 36:25) Pentecostal Spirit baptism This is the baptism with the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ from heaven poured out upon the believing remnant of Israel with signs and powers following. (Isa 44:3; Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 24:49; Acts 2:17-18, 38; Acts 8:15-17; Acts 11:16) Gentile baptism of Cornelius Cornelius was baptized with the Holy Spirit as a sign to Peter. Peter subsequently baptizes Cornelius and the other Spirit-filled Gentiles with water in a different order but for the same reason as Pentecost. (Acts 10:45-48) Baptism for the dead This baptism is debated heavily and is most likely synonymous with one of the other baptisms. If this is true, “for the dead” would signify the circumstance under which those believers were baptized. (1 Cor 15:29) Baptism into Christ The only baptism taught by Paul which identifies the believer

Immigrate to Russia ?

Hello jestersnow I know you love your cats - I am a cat lover too. You have been through very hard times but the harsh reality is that people must come before animals. You are very, very important to the Lord. I am praying for you for God's answer to your situation - and you must ask Him too. Cry out to Him and ask Him to show you the way. A lot of people in the last few years have been forced by their circumstances to surrender their animals to a local shelter - and you don't know for sure they will be put to sleep. There are a lot of people like myself who would rather adopt a pet from somewhere like that than go and buy one. In fact, it's becoming the norm. Begin to praise the Lord for the answer before you receive it. That is faith. Pray by saying: I come to You in faith, dear Lord, and ask for your help. Please show me the way. I thank You and praise You right now for the answer and thank You that other people are supporting me in prayer. In Jesus' name, amen. Our hearts go out to you, sister.

Hi jestersnow, You are certainly having a very, very difficult time. I can see one answer - the shelter, and be thankful that you have a place to go. The animals will be looked after. You need to get yourself looked after first before anything else. praying, Marilyn.

You raise an excellent set of questions. When Jesus said that he came to bring division or to divide, he is talking to his disciples that he is about to send out. He tells them about the persecution that they will face. [verses 16-18] That they will be given what to say when they are arrested. [verses 19-20] That this hatred and persecution will come even from family members! [verses 21-23] That they must expect all of this because they, as disciples are not above their master. [verses 24-25] That they cannot be afraid, but to be bold. God is only one to fear. And he takes care of all the little things and will take care of them. [verses 26-31] And finally if that ARE afraid and deny Christ that he will deny those that do this. [verses 32-33] Your question is about his next statement - the division. Jesus is telling them that these division are going to occur - some will accept Christ, some will reject Christ - and that this will be hard and even divide family members apart. And he explains in explicit terms that our following him may cause these divisions. For example, my own cousin-in-law was cut off from her family when she gave her life to Christ and married a Christian man. They spat on her and ran her from their lives. If my cousin has allowed her love of her family to make her say, "OK, I won't become a Christian because my family will hate me.", then she would have never been saved. Our love for Christ must come before anything and anyone - even the people we love the most.

Hi mabel, Now I remember you saying you had difficulty with Paul. I think these scriptures in 1 Timothy 2, have caused the trouble. `...Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.` (1 Tim. 2: 11 & 12) On the face of that it looks horrendous. Paul looks like a real put down of woman. However.....if we look a bit closer at the real meaning of the Greek words we get a totally different picture. Silence - from Gk. words, `hesuchia, hesuchios, & hesuchazo,` with the meanings of refraining from meddlesomeness or speech, keeping one`s seat, quietness. Usurp authority - Gk. word ` authenteo,` to dominate, usurp authority over. So we can see that there were woman who were meddlesome and trying to dominate others. Thus Paul addresses that wrong behaviour. Our English words in translation do not give that meaning and thus has been used for men to dominate woman, (lol). Ridiculous. If we look at other things Paul says we see that he does not put down woman but sees them as equal to the men. `...you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.` (1 Cor. 14: 31) `Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing in grace to the Lord.` (Col. 3: 16) Marilyn.

Hi SisterActs2, Yes I so love the picture of Paul mentoring Timothy as a son. It would have been so special for both of them. And it seems to me that this aspect of being a mature believer can get lost in all the `meetings` of man`s religious organisations. I realised many years ago that with my limited strength, then `Where was I going to spend it?` I was busy with the music group and ladies group, but eventually I laid that all aside and have been so blessed to mentor some ladies, one on one, and see them do the same. I know people can do that as well as going to a meeting, but I had to choose. Marilyn. Just noticed you posted before me. That was very good sharing with mabel. I so love that we can talk here about God`s word and not have nay sayers.

Don't waste your time..

So in a sense then Paul was passing the battan onto Timothy which btw what ever did happen to Timothy? Paul and Timothy remind me a little of David and Johnathan and that close bond. Timothy must have been very advanced in his spirtiaul landscape then for Paul to instruct him in this way. Then as now folk like to mix stuff up having a good conscience means I think, having a relationship with the Lord an immediancy of, " gee this is wrong.". And rationalisation isn’t allowed to grow tap roots=clarity and certainty

Hi Marilyn How wonderful for Paul to have had someone like Timothy on board! What a support he proved to be. No wonder Paul calls him "my true son in the faith". The advice Paul gave Timothy as a young man would have been wonderful, as a father lovingly instructs his son in wisdom.

Friend, when you start to get these types of thoughts, I would start to pray to the Lord for help immediately. Your mind can't think on two things at one time, and also the Lord will help you and give you peace. Learn to pray often when these thoughts come...I believe the Lord will heal you of this. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

I am glad brother. I am praying for you.

Dispensationalism, is merely a means to an end. That end is the knowledge of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord. To know God's will and purpose, and what He requires of us in this present administration. That we may walk and worship in a manner that is pleasing to Him, and bring glory to His Name. May His Name be glorified! In Christ Jesus Chris

When I say liars that includes people who say they will lend you an item, perhaps a tool, and never do. It also includes a local pharmacist (his store is literally across the street) who tells me he will have an item the next day but often doesn't. If he hadn't lied I'd go to another drug store, and the guy with the tool, if he didn't lie I'd start trying to buy it myself. I don't own a car so these simple things require long journeys using mass transit. I'd just rather always know the truth so then I can plan what to do. This is what makes me crazy, people who just won't tell the truth. I honestly think even if a gun was put to their head they'd still lie. They would assume, "he won't shoot me" so they'd lie anyway and if it wasn't a sin and a crime these people would have been dead long ago. [makes me understand why God killed the ancient Jews who kept worshiping other gods. I guess God had to prove He doesn't lie. When He told them they would surely die for burning incense to another god He had to prove it. Today's liars help me understand this] I just really wish I didn't need anything from anyone, but God didn't create our world that way. Then we have people who talk behind our backs and given time, make us have a bad reputation. I wonder if they realize that's breaking one of the 10 Commandments? Every time a person does that it's bearing false witness against your neighbor. The man I'm thinking of is thinks he's a pious Jew. He knows he's a big sinner but he thinks his only real sins are sexual ones. I know he talks behind others backs because he's told me many things of others he probably isn't sure of. I don't live in a little mid-western town but I live is a small isolated community of a mid sized suburban town. I thought it would be nice here, 15 yrs ago when I came here. I think I have to move and I also think God may be telling me to move. I'm not sure yet. But I don't know where to or how. Again, without a car I don't know how to go looking for another place, and if I find one I don't have money to pay movers. I surely need a lot of help from God. Even so, certain people could make it less hard if they just told the truth. I feel like a freak of nature because I almost never lie. I was always like this. I understand many people lie for many reasons and they often think they are being kind. I can see telling a person they look good when they ask. But if you know you're not dressed nicely why ask, I think that's foolish. So rather than lie I usually tell a person don't ask me, or I just smile. But all these phonies make me crazy. Of course, I'm not talking of people who are supposed to be saved. But I often wonder if even the supposedly saved people believe the Bible when it says liars won't get eternal life. That's heavy. Even unsaved people often think they're going to heaven, it could be their incessant lying will keep them out more than anything else. But that's a topic for another thread. Sorry for ranting, I have no where else to do it.

I actually care about these people and I know they may pay a much higher price for their words than they imagine. So I try to warn them which only makes them lie about more. This has been going on for yrs and I'm afraid the time has come that I have to leave this area. I just don't know how I'm going to accomplish it. I'm just hoping if this is God's will then He will show me how to do it. Because with no car and needing a walker to go more than 100 ft, I feel like I need help. But at this point all these liars have sullied my reputation to the point where I doubt anyone is going to help me. My life wasn't always like this. In fact I was known as a helper. I used to help many people. Others chided me for doing it but I knew it was right. I hate to think the chiders were right.

Learning a new skill can help on the road to a new career. Check out Udemy.com its a low cost education site with course on many subjects. Trick with that site is wait for their "sales" when the prices come down to $10-12 for many courses. Completion certificates can help you on a resume, even if the course does not give college credit. Examples include things like courses on how to use Word, Excel, and other software used in business and industry. Skills can get you hired where a degree won't. I was stuck in a dead end job, buried in student loan debt, and was really starting to hate life in general. Then my ankle decided to basically come apart internally to the point it took 5 hours of surgery to fix it. (Don't ever ask, "Okay, what's gunna go wrong next?" You will not like the answer.) No more spending 12+ hours on my feet after that - Doc said I needed a new career that included a desk job and a gym membership. The Lord provided one, but the first step was a temp agency for a temp to hire position. I'm now a full time employee of the company I worked for as a contractor. I also do not currently have a 4 year college degree either. The Lord can make a way when we can't.

you can quibble all you want, and you even have some valid points, at the time everyone did not have equal opportunity, and the founding fathers knew this-however there was only so much they could do, so they setup a system that would allow change to allow such equal chance. Their intent was so that everyone would have equal opportunity, however realistically, they knew it, there is no such thing as a "perfect" system. However, over the centuries, the system has worked-slavery was ended, men, women and people of all races are allowed to vote, and given equal access to medicine and education, and jobs. Its taken time, and is not "perfect" by any stretch, and now is starting to swing the other direction, but the original intent was to give everyone equal opportunity.

I worked very hard for a long time and had a farm eventually. Obamacare forced early retirement due to 3x normal medical insurance rates. Slowly it all went down the tubes - lost farm (CH7); family disowned me - I moved countries and have a portion of my retirement to live on is all. I now have a roof and food enough. I am far better than a friend's lawyer and family who were all murdered in Africa over christmas. I am still alive after a long and dangerous life. I am NOT complaining. It is what it is! So be happy with what you have and make the very best of it you can. Do not blame others for your own shortcomings and do not covet other people's wealth and situations. Unless you walk a year in their moccasins you have no right to pass any kind of judgement on them anyway. (Indian Proverb)

Sorry for the late reply. I ended up busy after the OP. Thanks for all your input. I wanted a family of my own and to be able to provide for them and it gets me down sometimes. A good 90% of the time I'm very content with the blessings I have, but sometimes it gets to me.

Personally, I'm blessed and thankful for everything the Lord has given me, He's always met my needs. I don't want to be rich or wealthy, to be tempted of my fleshly desires for the finer things in this life. I'm trying to store up my wealth where moth, thief and rust can't touch it. On a secular note: In a capitalist society, we're free to be entrepreneurs and risk our own money to start a business. It's not poor people who create jobs and employment. In the secular world it's education, job training, motivation and results that advances in the food chain.

Hi, May God bless you in your study. May it aso be that you will find deep fulfilment in it and opportunity to give thanks to God in it's use.

What most people dont understand though, is the current "American dream" is not what the founding fathers had in mind. The dream was never "everyone will be rich" or even "financially stable middle class citizens living in a house with a white picket fence and 2 cars" No, all the founding fathers intended was that everyone had the same opportunity to achieve that if they worked hard enough. Thats it. The opportunity, not the garentee. They wanted freedom, which is how capitalism works. And its not totally gone today...college wont deny you just because you come from a poor family or the color of your skin. No, if you can give them the money they want, and show that your smart enough and can work hard enough to not waste their time, tbey will accept you. Your opportunities are not limited by the government, but rather by life itself-your current situation, home life, finances, and how much drive you have.