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Written from a heavy heart as my mom faces yet another medical crisis... Only God Remains The Same No matter how we do our part To carefully prepare There will always be those things That catch us unaware Hold on loosely to this world And everything that's in it Unexpected circumstances change life in a minute Trials we can't control will come And leave us hurt and frail Friends will sometimes let us down For sinful humans fail Jesus Christ will be our Rock Amidst life's shifting sands So when we trust in Him alone We're in the best of hands Yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same In our storms He's our strong tower We run into His Name Only God remains the same With every changing tide How we need to have Him near And in His love abide! "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10

Turtletwo asked me to post some of my poetry. I also have written some spiritual thoughts and devotionals, so thought I would post some of those, too. I have more of those than of poems. All Things to God, by Debp I cannot be all things to people, I must be all things to God... And God all things to me. Only then can I be What God would have me to be... To others and myself.

We dont feed them. We want them to eat the bugs around my potted plants. But my husband waters the plants and talks to the lizard while he waters the plants. We have hummingbirds that hang around too. We do not feed them either. But they have hovered a foot or so away from our faces frequently. There are wild grackles (great tailed grackles) that we feed at places outside our home. At 2 of those places, when the birds see our car, they line up and wait for us to toss them bread bits or crackers or whatever we have. It is quite amusing watching them line up, staring at us, waiting for food. Then when the car window rolls down, they run towards us. As my husband says "they know". Ok I just realized how nuts all that sounds lol. I used to play with bobcats when I was in my 20s too. Guess I relate to animals a bit more than most.

We have wild lizards on our patio. One of them will come out when he (not sure if it is a he or she) hears our voices. When I got home from the hospital sunday, I called out to him. He popped up when he heard my voice. A few years ago, another lizard of the same species (western fence lizard) would come running along a low wall towards me when he heard my voice. The wild geckos are not so friendly. We have 2 species of them, the native banded gecko and the non native but all too common mediterranean gecko.

Rain drops hitting your face isn't so bad. The middle of the night sudden downpour is worse, although not as bad as waking up to a rat walking across your chest. What bothered me the most about the rat was it was not the least concerned when I woke up. It just continued on its way like I wasn't there.

Keep on writing these beautiful poems, turtletwo. Here's that "E" again - encouragement. Thank you.

Hi all Turtletwo, I used to sing that song "I will call upon the Lord" when I was in YWAM! We also know the other one. Praise God He gave us songs with which to lift Him up in praise.☺️

I love this!

Me too. He is so easy to love. "We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 “The cross is the lightning rod of grace that short-circuits God’s wrath to Christ so that only the light of His love remains for believers.” ~ A. W. Tozer

Shalom, George. Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. It seems to me that the answer to the "deadly D's" is to switch one's focus from oneself to God Himself. Look for the OPPOSITES in God that counter these "deadly D's!" Instead of "Discouragement," realize God's ENCOURAGEMENT! Instead of "Discomfort," experience God's COMFORT! Instead of "Dissatisfaction," anticipate God's SATISFACTION soon to become our REALITY! Instead of "Distraction," experience God's FOCUS! Instead of "Disappointment," realize God's PRIDE in you, His DEAR CHILD, whom He LOVES VERY MUCH! Instead of "Disgruntledness," experience God's PATIENCE and ANTICIPATE His GLORIOUS FUTURE He has PLANNED for YOU! Instead of "Disruption," find God's WONDERFUL PEACE! Instead of "Disillusionment," discover God's CONCRETE REALITY and your part in His INTRICATE PLAN! Instead of "Disqualification," know that God makes NO MISTAKES and you are INFINITELY QUALIFIED for whatever He has planned for YOU to perform! Instead of "Dispossession," know that God has made you ACCEPTED in His Beloved and you are CO-HEIRS with His Son, the Messiah Yeshua`! Instead of "Disturbance," relax in God's LOVE and JOY! Instead of "Distortion," see with God's CLARITY! Instead of "Disunity," know that God is ONE and that... John 14:20 ..."ye shall know that I (Yeshua`) am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." Instead of "Destruction," know that God gives us ETERNAL, ABUNDANT LIFE! Instead of "Deception," know that God is TRUE and that Yeshua` said "I am the ... TRUTH! Instead of "Doubt," TRUST the God who knows and controls every subatomic particle in the entire universe that expands into countless galaxies each consisting of countless stars and somewhere in between, probably closer to the subatomic particles than the stars, He cares for US! And, as per turtletwo, instead of "Despair," TAKE HEART and have CONFIDENCE in our WONDERFUL, AWESOME GOD!

Just wondering if anyone has pet birds or other unusual pets? Please tell us about them. A couple of my neighbors have lizards in terrariums. I was watching some Cockatoo videos and was amazed that parrots can live for over 80 years! They are social and need human company.

I am on the Lord's side because of God's love and Grace. Praise God!

Except no prophets were killed in New York City! Neither will there be the new Jewish temple in New York City. And for sure, the Beast and False Prophet will not be deceiving the entire world from New York City!

I agree, there will be evidence in the believer concerning mortification of the sinful nature ("flesh," not the body but the nature of the soul), which is performed by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:13; Col 3:5). Many are unaware that the Romans 8:13 passage you mentioned can only refer to the unbeliever concerning the phrase "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." Believers cannot live after the flesh (old man, sinful nature) because we "are not in the flesh" (Rom 8:9), but are "in the Spirit." Not only is it impossible to live after the flesh and after the Spirit (not saying you said this), but living after the flesh results in eternal death, which is not the finality of a believer. Of course the confusion with the these spiritual growth truths primarily derives from not understanding the permanency of regeneration, in which all Bible growth truths are based.

Sometimes words that are being translated into English don't come out as clearly as would be optimal. This can cause confusion. Perhaps that is part of the issue here. I have heard several Bible teachers say what comes out as being 'perfect' in our language actually means (in the original) mature or complete. For example, in Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” The word we have as perfect comes from the Greek word "Teleios" The Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines it as “signifies having reached its end (telos), finished, complete, perfect.” The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon (Strong's) Definitions include: brought to its end, finished wanting nothing necessary to completeness full grown, adult, of full age, mature In Summary: Perfect does not always translate as 'sinless'

With respect I see the Pre trib as a good luck charm built upon the ideals of men. If we read in Daniel. 7:25 it says: And he (The antichrist) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High and think to change times and laws. and the shall be given into his hand until a time , times, and a half times. That being 3 1/2 years. How does this figure with pre trib saints and tribulation saints. when there is no mention of any kind in scripture that there are two classes of saints. Those who suffer for Christ and plus Gods wrath and those who don't. neither is there is mentioned two different raptures. Go figure.

I quit my last bar band, EVER, only a year ago. I saw it as a great ministry to the band members and some of the patrons and it did have it's moments. but I decided my time could be better spent in other ways. In my last gig with them, during the break I was marveling at the dirt racing cars on one of the TV's in the place and the band leader said to me. "I don't get you, man. How can you be talking about race cars when there are all these "t*ts" everywhere? I explained it to him. One time he even set me up and had some "hot chick" come over and plop down in my lap. I immediately jumped up and she was VERY apologetic. I do think those kinds of experiences get filed away in those folks brains for later recall that could bring them to Christ at their personal "harvsting" moment. I saw myself as strictly a seed planter. I never tried to distort God's word, though.

Greetings to all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Mr. mad, you are basing your deductions upon a fallacious eschatological model instead of upon the certain foundation of the inspired Word of God. It is given that all who are in Christ will be raptured (delivered, saved, escape) before God's wrath is poured out upon the unbelieving world (1Thes 5:9). However, the passage in question was written to believers, so, if it is certain that the believer will escape God's wrath on the day of the Lord, to what then does the warning pertain. It pertains to being caught by surprise. Those who are distracted, asleep, and fearful will be surprised, just like the lost world, by the events that are associated with the day of Christ (all these things). The unprecedented persecution of the great tribulation, which comes prior to Christ gathering His elect to Himself, will be upon them (those believers who are distracted, asleep, fearful, and not praying always) before they know what hit them. The beginning of the week does not start after the sixth seal, it starts roughly 3.5 years before the unprecedented persecution of the saints, that John witnesses the result of when the 4th and 5th seals are opened. The rapture happens when Christ cuts short the great tribulation (Matt 24:22) in the second half of the week. Glory to Jesus Christ.

Greetings to all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, OC, you are railing against straw men? That's what many of your arguments are. The fact that Christ cuts short the great tribulation (Matt 24:22) by the rescue of those saints who remain alive keeps any of us from knowing the day or hour of Christ's return. After the great tribulation begins in the middle of the week and the falling away (apostasia, "Christians" being offended Matt 24:10, a departure from the faith 2Thes 2:3) takes place we will know that Christ's return could happen any day. When we see the cosmic sign that Joel spoke of we will know that Christ's return could happen at any moment. When we, who are alive and remain, along with the rest of the world see Him and the angels in the clouds of heaven we will know that we will at any moment be changed and caught up with the resurrected saints by the angels to be with Jesus. There isn't a single portion of Scripture that supports the pre-trib model of the catching up of the saints. In fact, pre-tribbers have erected a false god, one who pours out his wrath upon the dear great tribulation saints who lay down their lives for Jesus as martyrs. That isn't my God. That isn't the one true LORD God. That is a god made in the minds of misguided escapists who hold to their recent tradition more than the preserved Word. Repent, and put your faith in the God who loves His own and has promised that all who believe will be saved from His wrath. Don't you see how that you have taken that precious promise (not appointed unto wrath) and have made it apply to only a select group of the redeemed? You have cut off from the Body of Christ those dearest of saints who will face the most severe form of persecution for the name of Christ (Matt 24:9, 21). Pre-trib teaching snatches away the promise (not appointed unto wrath) from those to whom it will provide the most comfort, the saints of the great tribulation. In fact, contextually, it is to those saints, the saints alive when the day of the Lord begins, more than any other, that it was written. 1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, The fact that God will bring justice to those who persecute us has left the saints throughout the ages encouraged and filled with hope. Paul says this very thing to the persecuted Thessalonians. Paul praises them for their patience in the midst of persecution 2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: They are suffering for the kingdom of God 2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: The saints will rest from being persecuted and God will tribulate those who persecuted them when Christ is revealed from heaven with the mighty angels 2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, It is at this time that Christ avenges the violent mistreatment and murder that was suffered by His saints 2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Great tribulation is the intensification, to an unprecedented level, of the present tribulation suffered by the church and Israel. This intensification is the result of the Devil being cast to the earth (Rev 12:12). On the other hand, God's wrath, on the day of the Lord, is His fierce indignation and vengeance upon those Christ-rejecting Beast worshippers who had violently persecuted those who are Christ's. None are so blind as they who will not see Let the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world be praised

Except your version does not align with the given chronology. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. Revelation 1:19 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. Revelation 4:1 The opening of the seals must take place after the seven letters. I can't buy into your "time-travel" version. If God wanted the sequence of events to be as you say, He would have laid it out that way. He didn't. Focus in on the phrase "what must take place after these things" paying particular attention to the preposition "after." The things that take place as the seals are opened occur after the seven letters to the seven churches. Nothing indicates that an exception is made for the first seal. Your chronology is baseless.

Maybe not so bad- except being homeless tends to also mean having no money, no medical care, no dental care and no friend save perhaps a partner suffering the same plight. Then comes the pregnancy, with lack of any prenatal care. All of it becomes expensive to a community as well as to the wellbeing of the individual that is homeless. Mercy and real help with the plight of the homeless is self serving in that it helps the whole community, and to me is a testimony that is good, I think it brings glory to God. It is hard for sure! But it is needed, it is right and needs far greater attention and by more than a city council once a month discussing the problem of having homeless in the community. Very few of the homeless among us are a David Thoreau. And even he took a holiday and would get into town for provisions if necessary. Haven't read many , nor any really, great books nor poems on being homeless in a rich society. Added- Well wait a second that is not correct, wow some of the great literature is about what I now think of as current history or current "social" problems, forgetting tales that spoke of conditions from eras past. Why of course many characters of great tales, classics, have been homeless, I just tend to think of those tales as adventures I guess, and not the down and dirty so to speak of being homeless in modern society. And even there a few newer books have indeed been written.

I'm a big animal lover, too. If I had a yard I'd have a bird bath and hummingbird feeder. How did you happen to get around Bobcats?

The RCC is a better fit for the description of the whore.

Isn't that interesting about the wild lizards becoming more like pets? Do you ever feed them or give them water? When I was a child we weren't allowed to have pets where we lived. One of my uncle's took me to Woolworth's....we saw the Chameleons and he bought me one. Actually not the best pet for a girl but .... It died and I don't know why but I got another one. The new one was quite frisky. When I was cleaning it's plastic terrarium in the bathroom, it jumped up and bit my finger, holding on to it. I was yelling, then it fell into the bathtub! My mom came running and gave me a wash cloth to put over it, to catch it. Also, I hated having to buy the mealy worms to feed it...they looked so gross. Like I mentioned, not the best pet for a girl! ?

Greetings to all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, OC, Sojo, and MM, I want you to show you some important facts that you are not seeing. The Beast's persecution of the saints is not the wrath of God, it is the wrath of the Devil. Only once in the three accounts of the Olivet Discourse is the word wrath used. Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. The context of the first part of Luke's account is Christ's answer to when the destruction of the Temple will be. The wrath Jesus refers to there is that suffered by the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the siege of the city and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. It has nothing to do with the wrath of God at the end of the age. The wrath that Jesus describes as great tribulation is the unprecedented violent persecution of the saints that are living when the Devil is cast out of heaven in the middle of the last seven years of this age. It is then, in the middle of the week, that Satan focuses his wrath upon Israel and the followers of Jesus Christ. That is exactly what John describes in Revelation 12. Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The persecution that Jesus refers to as coming upon us for His "name's sake" is not the wrath of God it is the wrath of the Devil through the Beast, the False Prophet, and their followers. Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Christ's use of "then" and "therefore" in Matthew 24 makes it clear that verses 9 thru 29 refer to the period of unprecedented persecution of Israel and the church (believers in Christ). Please pay close attention! The wrath that we are promised that we are not appointed unto is the wrath of God on the day of the Lord. 1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, The context of that wrath is found in verses 2 and 3. 1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Joel tells us that there will be a notable cosmic sign before the day of the Lord can come. Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. John describes that very sign, that comes prior to the day of the Lord, as being seen after the sixth seal is opened. Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. The wrath of God on the day of the Lord does not take place until after the sixth seal. If you cannot see that, maybe you have been blinded due to your unbelief. None are so blind as they who will not see. All praise, honour, and glory be unto the Lord Jesus Christ

Can Danny talk? Do you have a photo? Funny wasp!

A heart after Christ is such a precious thing. It show in your poems. Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Much love in Christ, Not me

Shalom everyone, In this life, we're facing an enemy on a daily basis, and when we forget that we are in the midst of a war, then you'll soon find yourself facing -- the deadly D's. So what are the deadly D's you may ask? Discouragement, Discomfort, Dissatisfaction, Distraction, Disappointment, Disgruntledness, Disruption, Disillusionment, Disqualification, Dispossession, Disturbance, Distortion, Disunity, Destruction, Deception, and finally Doubt. While I'm sure there are many other Deadly D's that I haven't mentioned (feel free to add this list), we have to remind ourselves that we're fighting a war and it's not some distant war -- but rather in our day to day lives! When Paul said, Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. The word that Paul used for the word Wrestle was a word used to describe hand to hand wrestling! In ancient Greek culture, two wrestlers had no rules in the ring -- and fought until the end -- in most times ended with one side dying. If you decided to leave the ring -- the loser had his eyes gashed out! So it often ended with death! We are in a hand to hand battle -- with an enemy that fights with no rules -- trying all he can do to destroy you. But there's something we MUST always remind ourselves of -- We have the victory continually! 1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives (present tense of the greek word) us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So this could be translated -- But thanks be to God who continually gives us the victory through our Messiah! Are you continually walking in victory? If not, perhaps you need to recognize you're in the midst of a battle -- in hand to hand combat! Learn the tactics of the enemy -- what he's trying to do -- then fight -- in hand to hand combat and continually CLAIM YOUR VICTORY CONTINUALLY! Don't let the enemies tactics of the Deadly D's to influence you -- be an influencer of change! Your brother in the Lord with much agape love, George

Draw Away, by Debp Draw Away unto a quiet place to pray. Battered by the noise of life, seek God as your refuge. He will restore your soul, and make you whole again.

My dear brother in Christ, thank you for your PM, I really feel for you in this predicament. My thoughts are that I'm concerned that your dear wife is in fact, not a christian. Unless in saying what she says is aimed at hurting you, in order for you to "give up" on her. She's just not seeming to be displaying any "christian" conviction in her demeanour toward you, hence our concern.I apologise if I didn't explain myself adequately in my last post regarding the male "leadership." Of course we need to take the lead as the "Priest" over the family, but we (men) need to exercise sensitivity toward our wives, and not just say, "I'm the boss, I'll make the decisions." I understand that reference she made earlier regarding "all this christian stuff is BS," could well have been said in anger and frustration, but it could be helpful, in a "quieter" moment, to ask her about what does she really believe regarding her christianity? At this point in time, there really seems to be a "mismatch" between you both! In the meantime, we are all continuing to pray God's Highest for you as a family, and given to Him, that The Lord will bring about the best outcome, give it to Him, let Him carry it, onedirection, just TRUST Him to do it, you've got to stop "driving" it, you can't make it work, leave it to The Holy Spirit to convict, and turn it around, okay! As always, I hope this is helpful, God bless.

What should you do? First you must forgive them. Forgiveness will soften your heart towards them and help prevent bitterness. Then pray to the Lord to see what He would have you to do in the way of ministry. Ministry can be as simple as looking for an elderly or disabled person to help with little things like shopping. Or perhaps look for someone with no family and spend a little time with them, have a cup of tea and talk for awhile. Of course, these times will lead to you having conversations about the Lord. But the very act of helping and caring for others in need will be of great blessing to you. p.s. Check my topic Spiritual Thoughts in General Discussion...you might find a couple of posts there that will help you.

Abby-Joy, thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us. It could happen to any of us. Glad you now have a pleasant place to stay and I pray your son will be ok.

Thank you everyone for your insightful and thoughtful answers. I want to apologise for taking so long to reply and show my appreciation! We have been very busy! I have decided I will ask him in advance what he would like me to do when he is upset, such as giving him space and taking out the kids. I will also not take things too seriously and try to have more fun and playful moments together, as his love language is quality time. I am also praying that we can find a more suitable day job for him with regular hours and I am doing job-searching on his behalf. Thank you very much again and God bless you all.

God is still ruling and reigning in the third heaven (heaven) though, is He not sister....In the book of Job, Satan and other angels appeared/assembled to present themselves to the Lord, and the devil needed God's permission before He could test Job. I'm not understanding what throne is vacant in the Third Heaven, if Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father.

This is to me nothing short of preaching "the social gospel" and unless these dear deluded brethren see the error of their ways, seek forgiveness, repent, and be brought back into the "fold of God." I don't dare think what their outcome will be. (praying).

Our state has ministers swearing and being vulgar to attract the unbelievers as well. People aren't dumb. They laugh at them for their decadence. It is part of the so called emergent church movement. This is another name for the apostasy, since most don't believe the Bible is God's inspired word, or that Paul's writings are scripture, and they pick and choose what others should believe. They don't seem to believe in the God of the Bible but one of their own imagination.

Another Deadly D is Depression

Despair. Thanks for this encouraging message.

My personal thoughts are... Whomever they are, their fates were sealed at their last heartbeat, and are in the hands of the Lord for their eternal fate. To me, visiting a grave site of a loved one is about bringing back memories, a reflection of our lives, how much we mourn and miss them. Personally once again, I can't help but to question myself and wonder if they accepted the gift of Jesus Christ dying on the cross. It makes me reflect on myself; the missed opportunities to talk about the Lord when I had a chance to, the permanence of death for the lost and their punishment. As a Christian; my failures, disobedience and silence sharing my faith and giving my testimony of what the Lord Jesus has done for me. It's a harsh and everlasting heartbreaking reminder of the lost opportunities and chances I had that no longer exist, to have shared the love of God. The grave site is one of a number of things now that motivates me not to be a "closet Christian" anymore. To my everlasting shame and remorse. Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to the Bema Seat of Christ, and having to give an account for my actions and inaction's. I'm not going to hear, "well done my true and faithful servant". It's not easy to fess up on my failures and air dirty laundry. But truth is truth, and one day it will be revealed openly for all to see. This is but a sneak preview of what will be openly revealed.

I'm glad all of you enjoyed the poem! Will add more things slowly. Looking Unto Jesus, by Debp No matter what happens in life...keep trusting and looking to Jesus. He will get us through the trials. If we get our eyes on the trials, then those will be the only type of things we see in life, and our lives can then become quite sad or only negative. The trials will pass...keep looking to Jesus.

Hi, sis. So happy you took my suggestion and posted one of your poems! I love it. It deals with an important truth in a direct and wonderful manner. It comes from the heart. I can see that this is something God revealed to you. It is a truth we all must see (as well as practice) at some point in our Christian walk. Sooner is better. Thanks for sharing it! I look forward to others. Also, the spiritual thoughts and devotionals!

There is a very real and important truth here that once learned by experience is life changing. The “all” of God and the “nothing” of us. A quite real poem. Thanks for sharing it! Much love in Christ, Not me

Heb 1:14 ESV Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Angels serve and obey God. He sends them out on behalf of those who are being saved. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness and judgement. He brings us to repentance and reliance on Jesus Christ for salvation.

It is not my business to make you believe. If you want to troll me I am game, but I really do not care if you are convinced.

I would really have a problem with NYC being the Whore..... when did NYC kill followers of Jesus, and which two rivers does it lay between. While NYC does carry some of the financial control of the globe, Washington DC actually has the power.... I'm sure that most people are aware that the Vatican is a City State not part of the Country of Rome...… do you all also know that the center square mile of London is a City State all unto itself and is not part of Britton. And the Banking System that is located there controls all banking across the entire world thanks to the Rothschild Family..... also it is interesting that the Ten Square miles of Washington DC is was also broken away from the rest of the US back in the late 1800's and is actually a City State all unto itself with separate laws and constitution. It lives under the old Roman Lex Fori legal system.... It rules over the US and with it's military control pretty much physically controls much of the world. Some of us who have looked into believe that the three red stars at the top of the flag of Washington DC stands for these three cities...… it is a trinity that has physical, economic and religious powers that has a lot of control over the world

Hello, Angel4u. That is a very good point. I just meant that we cannot predict an exact day. We only know of the events surrounding it, by the mercy of Jesus Christ. I was being defensive. I can take their harassment, this is productive for me. I just get peckish after a while. I am working on that. Thanks for your kindhearted words.

The yes/no/later response strikes me as one-dimensional. It's like the only element involved in prayer is putting in an impersonal request form and God pulling out one of 3 stampers to put a response on our request form. The issue of unanswered prayers is one that has vexed Christians for millennia to some extent. There is sometimes an element of us thinking we know best in what we ask for. We can pray to win the lottery; but perhaps what we should be praying for wisdom and guidance for how to support ourselves. There is also sometimes an element that we really don't trust God and think He is holding out on us for some reason if we don't get the response we expect when we expect it. I think our view of unanswered prayers ultimately comes down to how we think of God's heart toward us. Does He have our best interest at heart as a loving Father? Or is He just waiting for us to fall short so He can smite us or play games with us? Do we trust Him to do what's best in that we don't see the big picture? or do we assume that He should do things the way we expect? There is also the issue that prayer is much more than just asking things of God; it is meant to be communion with God as well. It is a time to reflect, meditate, and rest in His presence, and not just rattle off a list of prayer requests. As a bigger part of our spiritual life, prayer is a time of getting away from the world and just being with God. When prayer becomes primarily about asking for things, I think we are missing the biggest part of it.

A guy in Colon, Michigan, has started an Uber with a horse and buggy. All you have to do is flag him down...no cell phone required! His horse is a Morgan, a people person horse, and will give you some kisses, too! I think I would enjoy that service....sounds very relaxing. Much better than me taking a taxi since I'm not driving now.

Love this post. I think many of us have issues with living the Victory with all the pressures/trials of life. As time grows short, things get worse every day. Thank you for reminding us that this is only temporal; Christ has already won the Victory for the love of us.

The Lord placed me in a ministry where I'm dependent on His leading. I help train teams in evangelism that is dependent on the Holy Spirit. When we leave, alot of times God will give clear direction where to go, words about people, personal direction in steps to take, confirmation, and so much more. I can give hundreds of examples of God speaking to us and moving us. One day my wife and I were at the mall and as soon as I got there, I saw a picture in my mind of a guy with shoulder length brown hair, a black beanie, a black sweater and a long board, and I heard shoulder and toe. Chelsea recorded me saying that. That day we saw many people touched by the love of God and come to know Jesus. I didn't see that guy though. As soon as we were leaving, I saw the guy sitting on a bench with some other friends, we walked up asking if we could bless them. I was surprised because one of the guys had a pentagram on his beanie and he was like, ya that would be cool. The guy i was looking for was exactly what I saw. I asked him if he had pain in his shoulder and his toes. He said he had pain from his shoulders to his toes. We prayed for healing and then I got a word about how he climbs high things, and turns out he was a rock climber. Chelsea played him the description and he gave his life to Jesus. I was hanging out with my friend Dem Saturday and there was two new agers hanging around, who are deep in the energy and meditation type stuff. He asked if he could pray for them and they started debating about some force, Dem said he knew that force, it's Jesus. They kind of disagreed then Dem challenged them, he said, "Well, let me pray and ask Jesus something only He would know about you." One guy said no, but the other guy kind of pushed him into seeing what happens. So Dem prayed, and then said some accurate things about his character and asked if his parents got a divorce. He started really stressing and said, "You all are going to mess me up" The divorce was the reason why he lost faith in God, so Dem, listening for Gods voice was able to call it out. The guy freaked out and said he had to get out of there. Another example, one day I was walking through walmart and I saw a girl and heard "Suicide" in my heart. I asked her if I could talk with her and turns out she was struggling with suicide over a relationship issue. My wife and I were able to minister to her and reveal God's heart for her in that situation. Another example, a girl came to a meeting wanting a deeper walk with the Lord. My friend Michael starts telling her about how much God loves her and wants to be a Father to her, and then started saying things that she used to pray for when she was little. She broke down crying and her walk with the Lord has been strengthened ever since. One time my wife and I took a leap of faith on what we believed God was telling us to do. That leap put us in a spot where we had to move and had no money. I prayed and kept hearing the Lord say "Trust Him" A lady randomly knocks on the door and handed us three thousand dollars saying the Lord told her to give it to us. We had the money to move. I believe we can hear God's voice. We actually have more clear examples of people hearing the Holy Spirit talk to them in the book of acts, than the scriptures speaking to them. I also think it's ludicrus to think that God no longer speaks to us personally, considering the fact he did in the OT and NT, and now He lives in us through the Holy Spirit. We're uinder a much better covenant. When Holy Spirit prompts us, moves us, changes our direction, He will never take away from scripture, but make scripture personal. Lets say that God is calling me to be a missionary in Africa, I cannot find a single scripture in the bible where it says, "Josh is called to be a missionary in Africa" I can go to scripture and find concepts, missionary work, and and understand the commission but no where in scripture do I find, Josh go to Africa. God is still spreading His Kingdom and He is still giving us direction. He didn't write a book and lose His voice.