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The problem I have with this line of thinking ... is the fact that you are differentiating and still creating a wall of separation between Jew and Gentile when in fact God is doing the opposite. Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility Eph 2:15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, Eph 2:16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

If someone is born 'Jewish' do they somehow lose their Jewish identity if they believe in the Jewish Messiah? The reason the term 'Messianic Jew' is used -- it's to differentiate the fact that they are Jews culturally and yet believe in the Jewish Messiah.

'And Joseph fell upon his father's face, .. and wept upon him, .... and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants .. the physicians to embalm his father: .... and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; .. for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: .... the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. And when the days of his mourning were past, .. Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, .... "If now I have found grace in your eyes, ...... speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ........ My father made me swear, saying, .. Lo, I die:in my grave which I have digged for me .... in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. ...... Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, ........ and bury my father, and I will come again." And Pharaoh said," Go up, and bury thy father, .. according as he made thee swear".' (Genesis 50:1-6) Praise God!

I approved this ... but I gotta say ... I didn't want to laugh .. but it was sure funny!

Thanks for those links, it seems the word can be used in a verity of ways. But I believe the bottom line is "presents". I once read it used for a king entering a country, and meeting its subjects to walk with him into the land. I think this basically is where the concept of the Rapture comes in, accept they meet Him in the air. How the first century Christian understood the Rapture coming, I wasn't there. But you raised a good point, I will have to further look into it. I did an Englishmen's search and found the word is uses 22 times in the New Testament. Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend) παρουσία parousía, par-oo-see'-ah; from the present participle of G3918; a being near, i.e. advent (often, return; specially, of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect:—coming, presence.

Why is going to protective services "a gamble"? Because you want to mend the relationship or want to give the relationship a pass and keep the home? Do you want to sell the home and split the proceeds? Write down what outcomes you want from this financially and relationally, and pray.

14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. 15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. (Genesis 40: 14-21)

7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. 10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan. 12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: 13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.

Larry, I'm not sure but is it possible that the word "parousia" is being confused with the word "paraclete" (helper/comforter/advocate)? Just in case here is a link to definition of the parousia.......it's useful to check the various biblical usages of the word at the bottom of the page: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3952&t=KJV And this is a link to the word "paraklete" and again we can see the biblical useages of that word at the bottom of the page: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3875&t=KJV It's also useful to keep in mind that Jesus is often speaking prophetically, in spirit....speaking on more than one level at once, as it were, so we need to likewise apprehend it by the Spirit....we need the Holy Spirit to help us rightly divide what is being said. Yes, Jesus has already come by His Spirit....but the epistles were written after the Holy Spirit had already been given as recorded in the book of Acts. Jesus is also coming again in like manner as the disciples saw Him go up. Anyway, I will leave it here, and hope you find the links to be of use.

Because lifes not fair. And from no fault of God-were the ones who rebelled against God. No matter how hard one works, there is always going to be someone better off then you be it financially, materially, better looking (by the worlds standards) and even more popular. Which is why were told to appreciate what we have and where were at, to not center our happiness on things of this world. Nothing wrong with setting goals and improving our lives, but if were not content with where we are now, then we will never be content no matter what we do, or do not accomplish.

The system we are born into , this earth, has been manipulated by satan so that everything of influence is 180 degrees out of kilter... it is death pretending to be life! When one has come to the end of all that is here and knows there is no life in this place their hearts begin to search in their own heart of death for what can serve them! In all this they only find death serving death and by turning to self that is dead is a hopeless search... all who have cried out to Jesus have come this way. The point in all of this is life cannot be found in the world we have began in nor within ourselves that we were born with... When one can truly say I believe this and begin to learn of Jesus the light dawns upon the heart and through the intake of His Word faith is born into belief and we are made able to leave all that we are and the world that has been everything to us and cry out to Him to come into our hearts and give His Life as our own... When this truly happens we become as His Word says 2 Cor 5:17-6:1 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. KJV Believe it or not this all things become new is literally all things become rightfully aligned with The Life of God in Christ Jesus... and note what is said about this new life Mark 10:44-45 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. KJV When His Person moves into us by The Power of The Holy Spirit we have this heart and we understand the blessedness of serving and putting others before ourselves - as His Own heart was so now we possess His Heart even in our own by new birth in Him.... this is how we know that He 'IS' within us by the very presence of this reality within Rom 8:14-17 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. KJV We have a new value system and hope not of this world nor to the things of this world …. and those who have not but this world they will hate us and persecute us but no matter for we know and have life while they are still of the death that we have been delivered from

God looks for servants' hearts, like Jesus came as a servant and washed the disciples' feet because it needed to be done. If you are willing to be used where needed He may eventually move you if your heart is not rebelling and you have a good attitude, doing it as unto the Lord. So throw yourself into serving and sing, praising and worshipping God with all your heart as an inspiring example to the congregation.

They were all freely elected to represent their constituents. It would appear that the people of all beliefs mostly want Christians to represent them.

You did a great job in this post!

Damascus or Syria? Israel my well have destroyed Damascus when this war starts, because it will be destroyed. Gog is the angel over the territories of Magog...why do you refer to Gog not Magog?

Christians don't hope to escape,we stand . I mean dang,scripture even shows you how. Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Does that verse say fly away?Not!!! Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh ad blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." This battle we are going to fight against is not "flesh and blood", it is not people you see and hear, but it is against hidden and deceitful spiritual powers. Satan is the prince of darkness, and spiritually he controls the minds and actions of not only rulers of this earth, but all evil spirits in the heavenlies. These are the angelic beings in a fallen state. Are you prepared mentally to do battle with Them? This battle is not with guns and swords, but with words and doctrines; with concepts and ideas, and these are the "fiery darts" that Satan will conduct his warfare against you with. Daniel 8:23 will give us a view of what this ruler of darkness is like. "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." This king in the "latter time" is Satan, the Antichrist; he is the "king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences". In the Hebrew text it means that Satan is "skilled in dissimulation" of the truth of God's word. Satan knows all of God's word, and as such, he is the father of lies and deception. He will twist and turn the truth a little here and a little there, to make it an outright lie. Satan is the Antichrist on earth, and we must never forget it. Daniel 8:24 "And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy People." Ephesians 6:13 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to with stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." What day? The day that satan comes to earth.Now,why would you need the whole armour of God if you not gonna be here? Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" Your "girt" is your belt. That is what holds up your pants, and our spiritual "belt" is the truth of God's word; all of it. Like the belt, it also holds you together, and keeps you from going flying off in all directions. If you know what to expect you will not stray off into Satan's camp in ignorance. Our "breastplate of righteousness" is our justification, or authority for everything we say or do. That is the Word of God. It will protect you, but only if you are able to think for yourself, and the wisdom to direct our thinking can only come from God. Without that truth in your mind, you are spiritually naked, and defenseless against any spiritual battle. The world today is Biblically illiterate. Ephesians 6:15 "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" This is the kind of shoes that we all must have on. There is only one true peace, and that comes from Jesus Christ. The "gospel of peace" is the "good news of God's full plan". Your feet are used to walk with and get you around, while the shoes are for the protection of your feet. So we had better have the "gospel armor" on so when we move in these final days, we know exactly where to walk, and what to expect. There are no secrets for these days, as to how Satan's forces will move; for it is all written in God's Word [our Bible]. When we see the signs of the end times that are upon us, we had better understand what Satan will do; and then know what we had better do about it. Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 13 all tell us in detail what we are to do in that day. These are all part of our spiritual shoes, that will guide our feet to where they ought to take us. Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Paul is telling us that this is the most important armor; "above all". When we put on our "shield of faith" we can quench [or snuff out] all of Satan's fiery darts. There is absolutely nothing Satan can send against you mentally, if you are filled with the seal of the living God. God even went far beyond that when He gave to Satan the keys of authority for his tribulation rule. God said in Revelation 9:4 "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thin, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." That seal of God is the Scriptures; all of it, and it had better be stored in your mind [that's your "forehead"]. The "shield" is our faith, or the certain knowledge that we know that when Satan comes against us, we will automatically be given the moves we are to take to shield ourselves form him. Whatever comes our way will be snuffed out today, tomorrow, and right into Christ's Millennium age. Your faith is not only your belief, but your acting on that belief; which is sustained by your confidence that God will perform that what He said He will do. All things will come to pass exactly as He said it would in His Word. Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" The "sword of the spirit" is the "Word of God". Revelation 1:16 tells us that the sword is a two edged sword that destroys all of Satan's lies and deceptions. It is the Word of God, from the mouth of God, and written for us in the Bible. Our head is the most vulnerable part of our body; Therefore our salvation had better be secure and sure in our mind. Our "salvation" is the most sure thing we can have, for it is Christ that does the saving, and it comes through our belief in Jesus Christ, and His work on the cross: His death and resurrection. All this was done by Him to pay the price for each and every sin that we have done. However, those sins are only forgiven by Him through our repentance to God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You run,I'll take that stand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed. The resurrection of the Living, and the resurrection of the Dead, and only those two.

Yes, I believe we are worshipping God when we fellowship as members of the body of Christ in ways that glorify God. I like your list, Marilyn.

I'm sorry, I guess I didn't make myself clear, Yes I have three Passports, American, French and the Kingdom of Heaven, the only one that really counts in my life is the Kingdom to Heaven Passport, ...the other two are just a convenience for me to travel this planet and will soon be useless. Pay taxes, of course, we are to be examples to this dying word, Jesus and Peter paid taxes, but Jesus was certainly more a citizen of Heaven than this earth, Paul told us to obey the governments of the country we live in, ...Paul used his Roman citizenship to protect others, in Philippi Paul didn't expose his Roman Citizenship before they beat him, no, many were saved through his work in the prison, so he used it to protect the brothers there after he left. Acts 16:40 Born again Jews are just like you and me, new creations in Christ, ...they are just as much the Bride of Christ as the Gentiles. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28 Lord bless

Hi Michael, What a great subject - to worship the Lord. And this can be done anywhere, anytime. Music can be a part but of itself it is not worship. Rather it is our heart attitude and voiced honour of our great saviour and Lord - who He is, His character, His great purposes, & what He has accomplished. I think of Adoration, Exaltation, Celebration and Declaration as aspects of our worship. Marilyn.

Shalom, iamlamad. Not if the Messiah isn't going back to the New Jerusalem, having other concerns on His mind! In the first place, many of those who believe in the pretrib rapture would disagree with you that it's "God's escape plan." That mentality has been labeled as "escapism" and is rejected by pretribbers. God does not remove people out of the way before He "lowers the boom." Generally speaking, He protects people THROUGH the wrath! He didn't take Noach and his family off the earth to bring on the Flood; He gave them instructions on building an ark (a box) so they and the air-breathing animals could live THROUGH the Flood! God didn't remove the friends of Daniel from the furnace of fire; He stayed there with them THROUGH the fire! God didn't remove Joseph from the dungeon when he was falsely accused; He stayed with Joseph THROUGH the dungeon years until he was most needed at Pharaoh's side! God didn't remove the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, nor did He prevent the Destroyer from passing through the land of Goshen within Egypt! He devised the plan of putting the lamb's blood upon the door posts and on the lintel to protect them THROUGH the Passover! God didn't air-lift the children of Israel over the Red Sea and away from Pharaoh's army! He made a way of escape THROUGH the Red Sea! However, more importantly WE DON'T NEED an "escape plan!" We won't be on the receiving end of God's wrath; we'll be with the Messiah on the GIVING end of God's wrath! Look, I have no doubt there will be a "rapture" but its purpose is NOT so that "many of the church will be snatched up and escorted to heaven!" It really shouldn't come as a shock, but the Scriptures are NOT all about us who call ourselves "Christians!" After bawling out the Torah-teachers ("scribes") and Separatists ("Pharisees") for their abominations that led up to Yeshua`s public declaration against them, Yeshua` said, Matthew 23:37-39 (KJV) 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Yeshua` left them "desolate" as promised in Daniel 9:27. These atrocities they committed were the abominations that led to their desolation. And, as I've said before in other locations, this last phrase comes from Psalm 118:26. Here it is in context: Psalm 118:22-26 (KJV) 22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I beseech thee (Hebrew: y'howshiyah na', transliterated into Greek as "hosanna" = "Rescue-us now"), O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. And, the phrase in Hebrew in verse 26 is ... "Baruwkh haba' b-shem YHWH." = "Happy the-comer in-name of-YHWH." Now, to pluralize a masculine noun (and adjective) in Hebrew, one adds the "-iym" suffix, spelled "-chireq-yod-mem." What's interesting is that this phrase is seen at all the seaports and airports in Israel: The "-yod-mem" suffix (no vowel pointing) is seen in both words (on the left end), "Baruwkh haba'" becomes... "Baruwkhiym haba'iym." It means, "Welcome, comers." It's their WELCOME sign! Furthermore, the portion "in-[the]-name-of" means "on-the-authority-of." So, this same phrase, Baruwkh haba' b-shem YHWH, translates to "Welcome, Comer on the authority of YHWH." Yeshua` promised that He would not return until the JEWS OF JERUSALEM welcome Him, the Messiah Yeshua` (the "Christ Jesus"), with the words, "Welcome, Comer on the authority of YHWH." The first half of Daniel's 70th Seven ("Week") was the "public ministry" (or rather, the offer of the Kingdom to Israel) which occurred during the final 3.5 years at the end of Yeshua`s First Advent. It was HE who divided the 70 Sevens, and He didn't divide them at the end of the 69th Seven and before the 70th Seven. He split the 70th Seven in half and split it at the "midpoint." Thus, the first half of the 70th Seven is ALREADY OVER! The Second half won't commence until Yeshua` returns and offers the Kingdom to Israel once again! This time, they will bow to Him as Mashiyach HaBen-Daviyd, "Messiah The Son of David" - the VICTORIOUS AND CONQUERING MESSIAH! So, once again, it is IMPOSSIBLE for there to be a pretribulational rapture, if one counts the Seventieth Seven as the "Tribulation Period," since it's already half over! The prophecy made to Daniel in Daniel 9 reads like this: Daniel 9:24-27 (KJV) 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people (the children of Israel, particularly, the children of Yhudah or Judah, the "Jews") and upon thy holy city (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (7 Sevens), and (+) threescore and two weeks (62 Sevens): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come (Titus) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (the Romans); and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he (the Messiah from verse 26) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (the Davidic Covenant, 2 Samuel 7:12-16) and in the midst of the week he (the Messiah) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (Heb. 10:10-14), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate (Matt. 23:38), even until the consummation (the end), and that determined (as their sentence) shall be poured upon the desolate (the Jews of Jerusalem). So, it's not about "Christians"; it's about the Jews of Jerusalem accepting Him and welcoming Him as God's Anointed One, God's MESSIAH! When they can do that willingly, THEN He shall return! I wrote a poem/song some time ago that goes like this: Seven hundred years before His timely birth, A prophet of great boldness came to tell the men of earth That there would come a powerful man anointed to be King; Of His surprising miracles the populace would sing: Of healing pow’r to make blind see and deaf to hear His voice, Of pow’r to even raise the dead and cause men to rejoice! Of all these things and so much more the children would sing songs, But …only children welcomed Him to remedy their wrongs. A song was written years before Isaiah was a child, Predicting that Christ won’t fit into systems then gone wild: “The builders of the pyr’mid said, ‘The stone does not fit in!’ When they were done, it capped the work and much to their chagrin!” The Messiah was rejected, ridiculed, and slain …; But to the shock of all involved, He came to life again! But, He did not then cap the work of which the song declared. Instead, He left the earth until He hears the message dared: “We care not whether you were He of whom the Christians claim; We only know we need you now, or we will die in shame! We’ve heard of you, Messiah fair, and of your pow’r we read; Please come and rescue us, dear Sire, in this our time of need! “If you won’t save us now, there will be no one left to save. The nation Isra’el is doomed, and we can see our grave.” And in the nation Isra’el’s gloomiest, darkest hour, Will come the Prince (not yet the King) in majesty and pow’r! And when they see Messiah diving down with kingly steed, And all the thousands following to aid the ones in need, Then shouts of victory will echo all across the land With sighs of relief and gasps of awe as He saves with mighty hand! And then will He be made a King, accepted now at last! And then a King o’er many kings as one by one they ask! Ah, but for now He is the Christ——anointed to be King, And although He is not King now, he will be in the “Spring ….” For now, the “Winter” slowly drags with vernal guarantees, And time goes on at God’s own pace with thoughtfulness and ease. He fills each age with purpose and a reason for each pause: To get the most from every age and weed out all the flaws. So boast not, Christian Gentile, for you are grafted in To share Messiah’s bounty prematurely! Do not sin! If God spared not the people whom He worked with many years, What will He do if you should speak against them without tears? The Scriptures say so little ’bout this time in which we live, Could it be that we’ve read into it much more than He did give? Why must we feel that we’re the ones for whom the sun must shine? Why do we think we’re all who’ll be at the marriage feast to dine? Get rid of that old foolish pride! We’re grafted in, I say! This high-and-mighty attitude will come to humbler day! It should be crushing blow to think that Christ’s return will be When Isra’el cries, “If you will come, we’ll surely kneel to Thee.”

Ah dear sister, Now let me tell you about my experience leading Worship, ...hopefully it will encourage you! My wife and I started attending a new (to us) church, there were some in the church that already knew us from a different church, (it's a small island) we had been there only three weeks when the pastor asked us to lead worship, (when I asked my pastor back in the States, how do we know a ministry in the Church is the will of God for us, he said, someone will ask you and you will have a peace about it), at that time I had been playing the piano for 60 years and I never liked recitals or playing in front of an audience, it always made me nervous, ...I like playing the piano for my own pleasure, well, ...I had a peace about it so I agreed. Come Sunday I was ready, ...because I had been playing the early Praise music for over 30 years I picked out some simple chorus', printed the words and compiled a small song book, like I said, I was ready, the songs I had chosen I could play with my eyes closed in the dark..., then came Sunday, we set up, I played some background music as the people arrived to set the mood, the pastor called the Church to order, nodded to me to begin..., and my mind went blank, I couldn't remember one single note, ...how embarrassing, I don't know how we made it through that Sunday, I think my wife sang a cappella, ...OK, I learned my lesson for the next Sunday, I copied the music and I practiced playing with my eyes open, I was ready, ...woke up Sunday morning and my right hand was paralyzed, it's OK, you can laugh, as stubborn as I am we went anyway, I played chords with my left hand and the root note with one finger in my right, (I'm like that sheep that the Shepard has to break it's legs and carry it on His shoulders so that it won't run off), ...I came home that Sunday totally discouraged, told Father I quit, I had made a big mistake, ...His reply to me is what I have written in my previous post, the lesson I needed to learned was to stop trying to do Ministry in my own strength, my head knowledge needed to descend and become heart knowledge and just let the Holy Spirit flow through me, ...He's the One that makes it work. Not by might, nor by power, by by My spirit says the Lord of Hosts! There ya go sis, ...if/since you were worshiping Father you led those that had prepared their hearts to Worship, ...that's why it so very important that YOU prepare the hearts of the congregation FOR Worship, ...think about it, they come in with their heads filled, their hearts occupied with the things of the world, ...gossip, problems, fighting with spouses, struggles, persecutions, abuses, sins, transgressions, some might even be considering suicide, ...your're ready, ...your're pumped up, eager with anticipation, ...Spirit filled, ...you're just one small step away from entering into THE Throne Room of Grace, ........and the majority of the congregation are still outside in the gutter, ...so to speak! Dear one, may I humbly suggest that you not limit God, you have a dream, ..and you have a ministry given to you by the pastor, the fact that the time limit set by the church was over ruled leads me to believe this is what Father has for you today, there are no coincidences in God's Church, ...and who knows, this might well be preparation for the next ministry He has for you. You know, ...when the majority of the Church is Worshiping, ...when Father keeps His promise to come and inhabit the praises of His people, ...when His Presence is so thick that it could be cut with a knife, ...when TRUE Worship has reached it's summit, ...when hands involuntarily raise, ..when the Church becomes silent before THE Thrice Holy God..., ...the unbelievers present will know there is a God and they are in His Presence, ...there are many ways Father uses to preach the Gospel, ...and you precious one, ...will be so blessed, ...because you were used by God, ...the Holy Spirit passed through you, ...you became a spring of living water that overflowed and gushed forth... Lord bless

Dear SisterCess, This sort of thing happens a lot. Institutional structures are typically "task driven" rather than "person considerate". This means the "task" is elevated above the "person", and thus often the drive to see that the task is performed overrides consideration for the person persuaded or burdened to do it. This adversely affects the body of Christ as it tends to quench the Holy Spirit and the attrition rate of once willing volunteers who become disgruntled with the system speaks to the problem. Php 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. Poor old Epaphroditus nearly worked himself to death doing too much instead of insisting the load be fairly spread. Php 2:25-30 (25) Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. (26) For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that you had heard that he had been sick. (27) For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (28) I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. (29) Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: (30) Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Sister In HIM , wherever you are , YOU LOVED TOO SISTER . Put those hands up everyone and lets rejoice in and praise the LORD .

Joseph was the loved son of ISRAEL himself . AND it is evident JESUS came according to the flesh after the line of the jews . OH YES the STONE arised from the jews FOR JESUS according to the flesh came of that group . And his brethren did hate him . Just as the over zealous jews hated HIM . OH you can tie these two together . joseph and Judah and it points RIGHT TO what CHRIST would come and do and WILL ALSO DO on HIS DAY . Man I gotta say it yet again . For its never too early TO PRAISE THE LORD . OH , I say their is no such thing as overpraising the LORD . SO hands up , heads tilted back , and let all JUST SOUND out praises to the LORD , the APOSTEL , the GREAT SHEPARD of the SHEEP , the anchor of our soul, the savoir of al who come to HIM . The great intercessor who is able to succor us through any trial or temptation. HE has a name , AND IT IS CHRIST JESUS THE KING of kings And LORD of lords and let all that has breath praise HIm and shun romes all inclusive lie . JUST PRAISE and FOLLOW THE LAMB . OH put those hands up and praise the LORD >

Oh , how I have longed for this nugget . JESUS CAME forth of the tribe of Judah. AND THIS is pointing to HIM . OH YES , OH YES IT IS . The sceptre shall not depart FROM JUDAH , nor a lawgiver , AND under the new conventant the LAW is now on our hearts . UNTO HIM , JESUS, shall the gathering of the people be . Who rode the colt of an ass INTO JERSUALEM > JESUS DID . WHO will tread the winepress of GOD . JESUS DOES . his garments dipped in blood , as the blood of grapes , the winepress gets TROD DOWN BY JESUS . His eyes shall be as warth unto those who rejected Him YET his teeth , his words , WHITER , PURER than milk , whiter than any fullers soap can make white . OH YES this points TO JESUS . AND HOW I have longed to sing this song . OH let every man , woman and child , just raise up HOLY HANDS TO OUR LORD . FOR it is evident OUR LORD sprang from the TRIBE OF JUDAH. OH YES , this is yet another wonderous nugget for it points to JESUS . OH let us praise the LORD . I say LET US PRAISE THE LORD .

It is now January 1st. 2019!! * May God's perfect will be done during this coming year, both in the world around us, and in and through, each one of us, that His Name be glorified. In Christ Jesus Amen.

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: .. and this is it that their father spake unto them, .... and blessed them; ...... every one according to his blessing he blessed them. And he charged them, and said unto them, .. I am to be gathered unto my people: .... bury me with my fathers ...... in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, ........ In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, .......... which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, ............ which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite .............. for a possession of a burying-place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; .. there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; .... and there I buried Leah. ..... The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein ...... was from the children of Heth. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, .. he gathered up his feet into the bed, .... and yielded up the ghost, ...... and was gathered unto his people.' (Genesis 49:28-33) Praise God!

'Joseph is a fruitful bough, .. even a fruitful bough by a well; .... whose branches run over the wall: ...... The archers have sorely grieved him, ........ and shot at him, .......... and hated him: ............ But his bow abode in strength, .............. and the arms of his hands were made strong ................ by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) .. Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; .... and by the Almighty, ...... who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, ........ blessings of the deep that lieth under, .......... blessings of the breasts, ............ and of the womb: The blessings of thy father .. have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors .... unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: ...... they shall be on the head of Joseph, ........ and on the crown of the head of him .......... that was separate from his brethren. Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: .. in the morning he shall devour the prey, .... and at night he shall divide the spoil.' (Genesis 49:22-27) Praise God!

'Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; .. and he shall be for an haven of ships; .... and his border shall be unto Zidon. Issachar is a strong ass .. couching down between two burdens: .... And he saw that rest was good, ...... and the land that it was pleasant; ........ and bowed his shoulder to bear, .......... and became a servant unto tribute. Dan shall judge his people, .. as one of the tribes of Israel. .... Dan shall be a serpent by the way, ...... an adder in the path, ........ that biteth the horse heels, .......... so that his rider shall fall backward. ............. I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. Gad, a troop shall overcome him: .. but he shall overcome at the last. ....'Out of' (ie., he shall press upon their heals) Asher his bread shall be fat, .. and he shall yield royal dainties. Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.' (Genesis 49:13-21) Praise God!

May I point out that the talent you have to sing came from God, it has now been proven that singing is in our DNA, ...but the Bible already told us that, ...the singers in David's temple were all of the same family. May I humbly ask, was the congregation blessed with the presence of God when you sang Worship? May I also say, ...have you considered that the doubt your are having is from the enemy? When I was back in the states our Church sponsored a Worship Leaders Conference/Retreat and the teachers were well know in the Christian Praise Music Community, one of them is currently leading Worship in churches all over the world and the other has been called to be one of our Lord's pastors. Briefly I will try to explain what they taught: 1. Father God inhabits the praises of His people Ps 22:3 Since Father is Holy His Worship must be Holy and as Jesus said it must be in spirit and Truth. 2. Jesus is the actual/true Worship leader. Ps 22:22 Worship is in spirit, that means the Holy Spirit is singing through you, He is using your voice, the one giving to you when Jesus lovingly and tenderly knit you together in the womb of your mother. You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. 139:13 And since Jesus is the One leading Worship, He only uses songs He wrote, ...this is hard for some to believe, but that is His meaning of must Worship (in) Truth. Jn 4:23, 24 It's really that simple, Worship is Jesus and the Holy Spirit working through you, all you provide is the voice. Now, to be used by Him we need to go before Him and ask Him to search our hearts and confess 1 Jn 1:9 any and all sin He might show us, remember we need to be a Holy vessel. Also, we need to Worship Father, that means we are not just up front singing in front of the congregation with our pretty voice, ...we are actually worshiping God, true Worship in Spirit and Truth, ...what happens then is Father comes to inhabit our worship and His presence fills the building, ...a true Worship Leader leads the congregation into the presence of God through their worship of Him. You need to practice this home alone, why, because, the first time it happens it will blow you away, ...and you don't want that to happen when your are in front of the congregation! Since you are the Worship Leader, you need to chose the songs, you do this by asking the Holy Spirit what songs He is going to sing during Worship (use whatever hymnal or song book you have), ...you don't want to sing a couple of songs He has chosen and then add in one that comes from the world, ...the silence will be so loud you will be able to cut it with a knife. Another thing very important is who is/are accompanying you with instruments, ...the fewer the better, guitar, piano, violin, the fewer the better, ...after you have experienced the presence of Father in you private Worship time then introduce it to whoever is accompanying you, ...again, you don't want them to be blown away either when He comes! Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." So ask Him to work through you, ...David, King David, God's chosen King to bring forth the Messiah through his family, what did he yearn for the most, how did he sign off? ...He wanted to be a priest and sing to the Lord! Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, 2 Sam 23:1 So many of the truly great and wonderful songs for the Church today come from the Psalms of David, ...be encouraged dear sister, if the Lord has chosen you then don't run, let Him have His way, ...it will be the most fulfilling part of you walk with Him. Lord bless

'Judah, .. thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: .... thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; ...... thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: .. from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: .... he stooped down, ...... he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; ........ who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, .. nor a lawgiver from between his feet,until Shiloh come; .... and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. ...... Binding his foal unto the vine, ........ and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; .......... he washed his garments in wine, ............ and his clothes in the blood of grapes: .............. His eyes shall be red with wine, ................ and his teeth white with milk.' (Genesis 49:8-12) Praise God !(Numbers 24:17)

'Simeon and Levi are brethren; .. instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. .... O my soul, come not thou into their secret; ......unto their assembly, ........ mine honour, be not thou united: .......... for in their anger they slew a man, ............ and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; .. and their wrath, for it was cruel: .... I will divide them in Jacob, ...... and scatter them in Israel.' (Genesis 49:5-7) Praise God!

'Reuben, .. thou art my firstborn, .... my might, ...... and the beginning of my strength, ........ the excellency of dignity, .......... and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, .. thou shalt not excel; .... because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; ...... then defiledst thou it: ........ he went up to my couch.' (Genesis 49:3-4) Praise God! (Gen.35:22)

Matt 22:15-22 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. ESV

Genesis 49: 1-2, "And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father." In peace

And Israel said unto Joseph, .. "Behold, I die: .... but God shall be with you, ...... and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. ........ Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, .......... which I took out of the hand of the Amorite ............ with my sword and with my bow." (Genesis 48:21-22) Praise God!

'And when Joseph saw .. that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, .... it displeased him: ...... and he held up his father's hand, ........ to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, .. "Not so, my father: .... for this is the firstborn; ...... put thy right hand upon his head." And his father refused, and said, .. "I know it, my son, I know it: .... he also shall become a people, ...... and he also shall be great: ........ but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, .......... and his seed shall become a multitude of nations." And he blessed them that day, saying, .. "In thee shall Israel bless, saying, .... God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh" and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.' (Genesis 48:17-20) Praise God!

'And he (Jacob) blessed Joseph, and said, .. "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, .... the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, ...... The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; ........ and let my name be named on them, .......... and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; ............ and let them grow into a multitude .............. in the midst of the earth.' (Genesis 48:15-16) Praise God!

'And Israel stretched out his right hand, .. and laid it upon Ephraim's head, .... who was the younger, ...... and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, ........ guiding his hands wittingly; .......... for Manasseh was the firstborn. (Gen 48:14) Praise God! For His will was done.

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh …7Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem). 8When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”9Joseph said to his father, “They are the sons God has given me in this place.” So Jacob said, “Please bring them to me, that I may bless them.”…Gen 48:7-9

Talk about a foreshadow . Joseph was an example of a savoir of Israel . And his children were born to a gentile woman , grafted into the fold to be the seen the same as even the first born of Israel were . And many years later the ONE TRUE SAVOIR CHRIST JESUS WOULD come and gather those of the jews that were his sheep and those of the gentiles who were His sheep and the two would become one fold . I gotta say , ITS TIME TO PRAISE THE LORD YET AGAIN . OH LET the praises of THANKSGIVING be sang to the LORD OUR SAVOIR . THE ONLY and do I say ONLY NAME wherby one is saved . For allah , budda and all others are false and as winds of utter vanity . BUT JESUS ALONE IS SAVOIR , repent and believe , Confess HIM and forsake all evil ways and learn of HIM . For a nasty all inclusive stone of diverse paths and ways has rome lodged under a tower built with untempered and untried morter . And though they add many stones and though it reach very high , NEVER will it be reconized as salvation unto GOD , and the very STONE they rejected as the ONLY WAY , will smash it flat on HIS DAY.

Rachel weeping for her children because they are no more . And we notice Rachel was buried in what would be named as bethelehem . And we notice its where the children two and under were slaughtered . OH but IT is also WHERE OUR LORD WAS BORN , many , many nights ago . Let all lift those hands and with thankful hearts , sing a song of praise to the LORD .

He will work it out.....

'And as for me, .. when I came from Padan, .... Rachel died by me ...... in the land of Canaan ........ in the way, when yet there was but a little way .. to come unto Ephrath: .... and I buried her there ...... in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.' (Gen 48:7) Praise God! 'And thou Bethlehem, .. in the land of Juda, .... art not the least among the princes of Juda: ...... for out of thee shall come a Governor, ........ that shall rule My People Israel.' (Matthew 2:6) Praise His Holy Name!

'And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, .. which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt .... before I came unto thee into Egypt, ...... are mine; ........ as Reuben and Simeon, .......... they shall be mine. And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, .. shall be thine, .... and shall be called after the name of their brethren ...... in their inheritance.' (Genesis 48:5-6) Praise God!

Today's word is not Hebrew or Greek, it's Eskimo! The word is issumagijoujunnainermik. When missionaries first shared the gospel with the Eskimos, they couldn't find any word in the Eskimo language for forgiveness. So, they took a number of Eskimo words and joined them to form a new word -- Issu-magi-jou-jun-nai-ner-mik -- and it became the Eskimo word for forgiveness. The individual words are "Not-being-able-to-think-about-it-anymore." The post Issumagijoujunnainermik! appeared first on Worthy Christian Devotional - Daily Devotions. Read the entire devotional.

'And Jacob said unto Joseph, .. God Almighty appeared unto me .... at Luz in the land of Canaan, ...... and blessed me, And said unto me, .. Behold, I will make thee fruitful, .... and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; .. and will give this land to thy seed after thee .... for an everlasting possession. ...' (Genesis 48:3) Praise God!

When I was 17 I went to a Christian rock concert and in the middle they stopped and asked who wanted to be saved. I walked down the aisle and accepted Jesus and I don't remember much except for the man saying that once I did that Jesus would NEVER leave me. The Footprints poem comes to mind. Fastforward about 4 decades and following a divorce my life was completely gone. I had abandoned God at that point and, well lets just say that it was a dangerous moment for me. Through the course of a week there were things going on that I can only attribute to God. He stopped certain bad things and literally pulled me out. I looked over it and there is no other explanation for what happened to me other than God. Even coincidences don't cover it because there were so many. I literally should not be here now except He wasn't ready for me yet. After that week I remember what that pastor so long ago said, "he will never leave you", and He didn't when I needed Him the most. It is at that point that I became a true believer. I can't prove it but I saw His works with my own eyes and I know 100% that He is there.

When you want to start a thread pertaining to news you feel is important to our walk with Christ, keep in mind the age of the readers. We have kids here reading posts. This site is a "family friendly" site and we will be removing threads that contain graphic descriptions that do paint ungodly pictures in the minds of the very young, causing fear in the hearts and minds of the young. Their parents are the ones who need to bring this to their attention, if they feel it is proper, not this site. This has been discussed deeply by those in ministry and is not just one persons belief.