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If it were not for grace we would have no hope. How many times have I ask for your forgiveness, and how many times have you not forgiven. None Lord No not one. Compassion and forgiveness are the Lords greatest gifts. if not for these our Lord suffered for nothing.

Our God is an amazing God.He doesn’t go with weather forecast feelings.His love of unconditional love last for each one of us out of season and in season and any season.If you feel you are alone in your season right now ,and no one understands you,fret not He is with you and He understands .He will bring you out of the desert to a land of milk and honey.Be patient.And if you wonder if this is for you,yes it is.Dont doubt.Have faith.He has not let go of your hand and never will.Amen?

Praise God. He is our unchanging and immovable Rock!

What a beautiful tribute to your father, turtletwo. You are honoring him not only with this poem, but also with your life as you walk in close step with the Saviour you both share. What a day it will be when we are all gathered there in unity forever!

Thanks VOG! So true, when our life just like the weather becomes unsteady or unpredictable we can always count on God to remain the same. He is faithful, He is love and truth. He can be counted to on to see us through the hard and difficult times. Knowing He was with me has helped strengthened me so many many times.

Amen. It's sad when some Christians refuse to forgive...or perhaps they are Christians in name only. Some people, even unbelievers, forgive great wrongs done to them. Others hold on to some perceived, small wrong done to them and refuse to let it go. If we are Christians, we should forgive as Jesus taught us.

Lord, I would have perished from within the heart of me if not for your eternal love and forgiving grace.

@marvelloustime You're welcome. I just thought I would mention to you and anyone interested...This group has some excellent stuff on youtube. Old hymns as well as original songs. They even offer free downloads though their website. https://www.soundslikereign.com/

@Jubilea to that! Do you remember from Sunday School days singing about "The wise man built his house upon the Rock? (Matt 7: 24-27) Jesus is steadfast and dependable. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the]saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Ephes 2:19-22)

For the body of the church I have the opinion that God's word is relevant today, will be tomorrow, and has always been. As to accusations; Matthew 18 gives instruction and declares principles that are to be obeyed. The fact that much of the the liberal and unsaved world is forever finding new ways to be embracing that which is not Biblical should be no surprise to any of those that are Christian and read the word of God.

Observations I receive several phone calls each year from people — some of them ministers — asking me if I think we are in the Tribulation yet. I always respond by telling them that when the Tribulation begins, the people who are on earth will not have to call anyone to find out for sure whether or not it has begun. The Tribulation will be a living hell with a degree of violence that is unparalleled in all of history. The Bible gives us a lot of information about this horrible period of seven years that is fast approaching. The entire book of Zephaniah is devoted to it. In addition to many other Old Testament passages, like Isaiah 24, fourteen chapters in the book of Revelation focus on it (Revelation 6-19). But despite all this information, there are many myths concerning the Great Tribulation that circulate among Christians. For example, many argue that the first half of this time period will be peaceful and that only the second half will be characterized by intense warfare. Other misconceptions relate to the Antichrist and the Church. The Biblical Basis Before we consider some of these myths and misconceptions, let’s familiarize ourselves with the concept of the Tribulation. Where does the idea come from, and what does it mean? The Concept The first mention of the Tribulation in the Bible is found in Deuteronomy 4:27-30. Before the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses warned them that if they were unfaithful to God, they would be scattered among the nations. He then prophesied that “in the latter days” they would come under “distress,” and the result would be their “return to the Lord.” Centuries later, Jeremiah used the same terminology when he referred to the Tribulation. He called it “the time of Jacob’s distress” (Jeremiah 30:7). In like manner, Daniel called it “the time of distress,” and he prophesied it would be the worst period of trouble in the history of the Jewish people (Daniel 12:1). Malachi stated it would be a time of refining for the Jews, as when silver is purified by fire (Malachi 3:1-4). And Zechariah used the same imagery when he prophesied that two-thirds of the Jewish people will perish during this time. Of the remnant remaining, he wrote, “I [the Lord] will bring the third part through the fire [and] refine them as silver is refined…” (Zechariah 13:8-9). The Scope The Jews will not be the only ones to suffer during this period of unparalleled trouble. The Bible makes it clear that all the nations of the world will experience catastrophic calamities. Isaiah says it will be “a day of reckoning” for all the nations of the world (Isaiah 2:10-17). Zephaniah says that “all the earth will be devoured in the fire of God’s jealousy” (Zephaniah 1:18). Here’s how the psalmist Asaph put it: “A cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams… surely, all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs” (Psalm 75:8). The Length The prophet Daniel defined the length of the Tribulation. He said God would accomplish all His purposes for the Jewish people during a period of 70 weeks of years (490 years). Sixty-nine of those weeks of years (483 years) would lead up to the death of the Messiah. The final week of years would occur at the end of the age, right before the return of the Messiah (Daniel 9:24-27). This concluding week of years (7 years) corresponds to the Tribulation for, as Daniel put it, it will mark the time when “the prince who is to come” will “make desolate” — a reference to the Antichrist. The timing established by Daniel is confirmed in the book of Revelation where the Tribulation is divided into two periods of 3 1/2 years each (Revelation 11:3,7 and 13:5). The dividing point between the two halves of the Tribulation will occur when the Antichrist reveals himself by entering the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, stopping the sacrifices, and declaring himself to be god (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; and Revelation 13:5-6). The Starting Point When will this terrible period begin? The Bible says in general terms that it will start after the Jews have been regathered and have been re-established in their homeland and in their sacred city of Jerusalem. Specifically, the Bible says it will begin at a time when all the world comes together against Israel over the issue of who will control the city of Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-3). In short, we are on the very threshold of the Tribulation today as we witness the United Nations, the European Union, the Vatican, and the Arab nations demanding that the Jews surrender their sovereignty over Jerusalem. The specific event that will mark the seven year count down of the Tribulation will be the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and her Arab enemies — a treaty that will allow the Jews to rebuild their Temple (Daniel 9:27). The Nature The unparalleled horror of the Tribulation is spelled out in detail in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Isaiah wrote that it will be a day of “terror of the Lord” when “the pride of men will be abased” (Isaiah 2:10,17,19). Zephaniah proclaimed that it will be a “day of wrath,” “a day of trouble and distress,” and “a day of destruction and desolation” (Zephaniah 1:15). Men will stumble around like they are blind and “their blood will be poured out like dust”(Zephaniah 1:17). This dreary picture is echoed in the New Testament. Jesus said it will be a time of tribulation “such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall” (Matthew 24:21). In fact, Jesus said it will be so terrible that if it were not stopped at the end of seven years, it would result in the destruction of all life (Matthew 24:22). The Apostle John states that the chaos will be so great that the leaders of the world will crawl into caves and cry out for the rocks of the mountains to fall upon them (Revelation 6:15-16). Misconceptions With this biblical background, let’s turn our attention now to some of the misconceptions that exist regarding the Tribulation. Five of the major ones that I would identify are listed below: The Antichrist will rise to world power through cunning, flatter, and deception. The whole world will flock to the Antichrist in awe and adoration. The Jews will accept the Antichrist as their Messiah. There will be 3 1/2 years of peace followed by 3 1/2 years of war. The Antichrist will be the most brilliant and effective leader in world history. The Antichrist’s Rise to Power The idea that the Antichrist will rise to world power through shrewdness and skilled diplomacy is based on Daniel 8:23-25a. These verses say a king will arise who is “skilled in intrigue” and who “will succeed through the practice of deceit.” But the same passage also says that he “will destroy to an extraordinary degree.” He will destroy both “mighty men and the people of the saints.” Many of these he will destroy “while they are at peace” (Daniel 8:24-25a). These verses make it very clear that the Antichrist is going to use bothdiplomacy and military power to gain control of the world. The likeliest scenario is that he will initially rise to power in Europe through the use of shrewd diplomacy. But he will extend his power from his European base through war. The World’s “Acceptance” of the Antichrist I believe his conquering of the world through the use of military power is what is pictured in Revelation 6:1-8. This passage pictures the Antichrist going forth at the beginning of the Tribulation with a bow “to conquer.” A red horse representing war “takes peace from the earth.” The result is widespread suffering and the death of one-fourth of humanity by the sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. It is a misconception to believe the non-European world will flock to the Antichrist in awe and adoration. The world outside of Europe is not going to submit willingly to the control of the Antichrist, no matter how charismatic and dynamic he may be. Keep in mind that the nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America have fought for the past 200 years to rid themselves of European colonial rule. They are not going to passively submit themselves to a renewal of that rule. They will fight, and the result, as Revelation 6 so clearly indicates, will be a horrible world war of unprecedented magnitude. Acceptance of the Antichrist by the Jews The idea that the Jews will accept the Antichrist as their Messiah during the Tribulation is based upon a statement by Jesus that is recorded in John 5:43. Jesus said, “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him.” But the relevant end time passages in Daniel and Revelation seem to make it clear that the acceptance of the Antichrist by the Jews will be as a political redeemer who miraculously works out a peace settlement what will guarantee their safety and will enable them to rebuild their Temple. There is no indication that they ever accept the Antichrist as a spiritual redeemer — as their Messiah. In fact, when the Antichrist enters the Temple in the middle of the Tribulation and declares himself to be God, the Jews revolt against him (Revelation 12:13-17). When the revolt occurs, the Antichrist becomes obsessed with annihilating the Jewish people. That is when the “great tribulation” spoken of my Jesus in Matthew 24 will begin. The Tribulation Holocaust that will occur during the last 3 1/2 years of that terrible period will be far worse than the Nazi Holocaust. Two-thirds of the Jews will be killed (Zechariah 13:8-9). The Antichrist will be possessed by Satan (Daniel 8:24), and Satan is determined to annihilate the Jews. Satan’s obsession with the Jews stems from the fact that he hates them with a passion. He hates them because they gave the world the Bible. He hates them because the Messiah came through them. He hates them because God loves them, and because God chose them to be a witness of what it means to have a relationship with Him. And Satan hates the Jews because God has promised over and over in His Word that at the end of the Tribulation, He is going to bring a great remnant to salvation through faith in their Messiah, Yeshua (Romans 9-11). The First Half of the Tribulation Another misconception relates to the nature of the first half of the Tribulation. Many believe that this period of 3 1/2 years is going to be a time of peace that will be followed by 3 1/2 years of war. Some feel so strongly about this that they use the word, Tribulation, to apply only to the second half of the seven year period. This view is based primarily on a statement Jesus made that is recorded in Matthew 24. According to this passage, Jesus referred to the last half of Daniel’s 70th week of years as “the great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21). But it must be kept in mind that these words of Jesus were directed specifically to the Jewish people. The second half of the Tribulation will truly be the “time of great tribulation”for the Jews. That’s because they will live in peace during the first half of the Tribulation under a covenant guaranteed by the Antichrist. During that time, the Antichrist will be focused on conquering the world. Once he has accomplished that goal — as he will (Revelation 13:7-8) — he will go to Jerusalem, enter the Temple, stop the sacrifices, and desecrate the Temple by erecting a statue of himself (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The Jewish people will be outraged and will respond in a revolt. When they do this, the Antichrist will become obsessed with destroying them. That will be his primary goal during the second half of the Tribulation. So, to summarize, the Jews will live in peace during the first half of the Tribulation, but not the Gentile nations of the world. The wars of the Antichrist will devastate the world. One-fourth of humanity will die in the initial war (Revelation 6:8). That’s 1.5 billion people in today’s terms. According to Revelation 8 and 9, when the war resumes, one-third of those left alive will die (another 1.5 billion). The first half of the Tribulation is going to be anything but a time of peace. It will, instead, be a time of unimaginable carnage, for one-half of humanity will die in the first 3 1/2 years! The Quality of the Antichrist’s Leadership The erroneous concept that the Antichrist will be the world’s most brilliant and glorious leader is based on Revelation 13:7 where it says he will gain authority over “every tribe, people, tongue and nation” on planet earth — something no other person has ever done. But the evidence of prophecy points to the fact that his reign will be anything but brilliant and glorious. For example, his conquest of the world will devastate the earth. It will be like Napoleon’s “victory” in Russia — he will win the battle and lose the war. The Antichrist will end up with a world that is devastated and polluted beyond imagination. Furthermore, the world’s subservience to him and worship of him will be based to a large degree on force, deception, and terror — not just genuine admiration. Also, his obsession with the Jews will undermine his kingdom and ultimately lead to its destruction. Daniel 11:40-45 indicates that when his attention is diverted to the destruction of the Jews, a worldwide revolt will break out against his kingdom. Nations will send armies against him from the North, East and South. The Antichrist may prove to be a successful military conqueror, but he will be a miserable leader whose world wide empire will last only 3 1/2 years — and during that time, it will be constantly ravaged by internal revolt. A Misconception Concerning the Church Another popular misconception about the Tribulation is that the Church will go through it and suffer mightily at the hands of the Antichrist. This concept is based upon verses like Revelation 13:7 which says that the Antichrist will “make war with the saints.” But I believe the saints referred to here are those who are saved during the Tribulation. There is going to be a great harvest of souls during the Tribulation. Some will be saved in response to the Rapture. Others will respond to the preaching of the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem (Revelation 11). The response of others will be stimulated by the Tribulation judgments which will motivate many to repent. Still others will respond to the special angel who will be sent by God near the end of the Tribulation to proclaim the Gospel to every living creature (Revelation 14:6-7). Many will be saved, but most of these will be martyred for their faith (Revelation 7:9-17). There is no purpose for the Church during the Tribulation. This will be a time of God’s judgment upon the unbelieving Gentiles and Jews who have rejected God’s grace, love and mercy expressed in Jesus. Some argue that the Church must go through the Tribulation to be purged or cleansed. But the true Church has already been purified by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 1:7; and Romans 8:1). The Tribulation is not a Protestant purgatory. The symbolic imagery of the New Testament focuses on the Church as being the Bride of Christ. Is the Bridegroom going to beat up His Bride for seven years before He comes for her? I think not. The Bible says that Jesus is coming to deliver His Bride from the wrath that is to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Also, Revelation 19:8 and 14 pictures Jesus returning with His Church at the end of the Tribulation, indicating the Redeemed will be taken out of this world before the Tribulation begins. Revelation focuses on the Church in its first three chapters. Beginning with chapter 4, there is no more mention of the Church during the entire period of the Tribulation. The Church is not referred to again until Revelation 22:16. The Purpose What’s it all about? Why is there going to be such carnage? How could a God of grace, mercy and love allow such an outbreak of unbridled terror and bloodshed? One reason is to satisfy the justice of God. Yes, God is characterized by grace, mercy and love, but He is also a God of perfect justice, righteousness, and holiness. There fore, He must deal with sin. His justice demands it. Even His love compels it. How could a God of true love simply overlook the actions of a murderer or a pedophile? The prophet Nahum understood the true nature of God. He wrote that “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him” (Nahum 1:7). That is the love and mercy of God. But the same prophet wrote (Nahum 1:2-3): “A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; The Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.” Truly, the Lord is “slow to anger.” He allows the iniquities of Mankind to accumulate over long periods of time because He doesn’t wish that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). His desire, instead, is that all should come to repentance. But there is always a day of reckoning, just as there was in the days of Noah, and such a day has been set for this age. Paul referred to it in his sermon in Athens when he said, “He [God] has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). A second reason for the Tribulation is to bring people to salvation. Amazingly, even when God pours out His wrath, His fundamental purpose is not to destroy but to save. Isaiah 26:9 explains it this way: “When the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” The brutal fact is that God often has to hit us over the head with a two-by-four in order to get our attention and motivate us to repentance. The equally brutal fact is that most people respond to such discipline by either cursing God or continuing to ignore Him (Revelation 9:20-21). But some people always respond in humility and are saved. As Billy Graham has put it: “The same sun that melts the butter, hardens the clay.” When God’s wrath is poured out during the Tribulation, some hearts will be melted, but most will be hardened, illustrating once again that nothing is as “deceitful” and “desperately sick” as the heart of Man (Jeremiah 17:9). Man is frivolous about sin. God is serious. The Tribulation will be a graphic expression of how serious God is about Mankind’s rebellion against Him. The signs of the times are shouting that we are standing on the threshold of the Tribulation. The message of the Holy Spirit is “Come out of Babylon”(Revelation 18:4). That message means for us to separate ourselves from the love of this world and prepare ourselves for eternity. For believers, it means a commitment to holiness. For unbelievers it means a commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior before He returns as God’s avenger. The time remaining is short. The time for action is now.https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-great-tribulation/

It’s such a long and complicated story I wrote in my previous post a little about it... shes 12 years old and she stopped talking to me. She decided to live with her dad. I can’t blame her because she got tired of seeing me and my husband fight. I didn’t stop her from that decision. I wanted to make her happy but I wasn’t preparing that she would stop talking to me completely. I’ve continuously reached out to her texting and calling she finally agreed to speak to me on the phone and it seemed like a promising conversation which ended with her asking me to come see her and talk more in person. I thought we were on our way to a resolution. I listened to her. I apologized for the things she felt a strongly about. We talked about rebuilding our relationship. She told me she loved me and missed me too. Then again, she stopped talking to me and only one time texted with me telling me that she’s not ready yet. I told her that I understand but I would like to keep in touch. I text her loving things, apologetic things, pictures, etc. shes ice cold to me im so hurt because I can’t describe what this feels like when your daughter doesn’t talk to you i tried so hard when our relationship was strained and we were still seeing each other... I pleaded with her dad to help and my Own parents whom she adores. she holds her dad in high regard and my parents too there is so much history behind this that’s difficult to explain but I’m so hurt by them all (not my daughter- she’s just a child) I supported every Family relationship in my daughters life- her dads, grandparents on both sides selflessly and I never let my own feelings get in the way of anything. now I feel like it came at a cost to my relationship with me... she adores her dad and my parents because I did nothing but encourage closeness there. my mom was hurting so bad because she missed out on her first grandchild due to a fall out with her and her daughter in law. I made sure to foster my daughters relationship with her. she repays me by essentially stealing my daughter away from me. As much as pleased with her to help me with my own daughter, she did nothing but worse than nothing. Because she didn’t get along with my husband, my parents talked trash about him/us. It’s a lot in there too... im so saddened that my daughter forgot About me and all the love I poured into her. i sit and I remember her as a baby and I weep. It hurts so bad She feels like a stranger to me now. I don’t know anything about her... im struggling so much trying to fix my marriage and also get her back

WHERE HE LEADS I'LL FOLLOW We live in a sad age when increasingly more and more members of our society, including believers, are becoming followers of all sorts of folks and philosophies. The internet in particular has allowed people through blogs and social media to regularly follow politicians, entertainment stars, athletes, religious speakers and all sorts of organizations. And, in so many cases, people just accept what they read without even questioning it. We need discernment like never before. There is only one person who has the truth. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life." And the Apostle Peter states that Christ has left us an example, "that you should follow in His steps" (I Peter 2:21). There is no need to be in the dark if we will accompany the One who declared, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). Nineteen times the Gospel writers record the words of the Lord Jesus, "Follow Me" (for example Matthew 4:19). And that is the theme of this hymn that should remind each believer of the need to follow Christ daily in all that we do. William A. Ogden (1841-1897) is said to have been a musical prodigy. He began studying music at the age of eight and could read church music by ten. He could write a melody by hearing it sung or played and when he was 18 he became a choir director in his church. Through his adult life he enjoyed working with children and teaching them music. With the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the 30th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. During the war years he organized a male choir which became known throughout the Army of the Cumberland. After the war he resumed his study of music under some of the most prominent musicians of the day. In 1870, Mr. Ogden published his first song book, called Silver Songs. The book became very popular, and sold five hundred thousand copies in England alone. Over the years, William Ogden taught music, not only in the United States, but in Canada as well, and he wrote and published many gospel songs. I don't know what led him to write this hymn, but he penned the words and added the tune in 1885. The hymn reminds us of why we should follow Christ. Stanza one says that we should because of His message which is sweet, kind, dear and pure - the great example and pattern for us. Stanza two says we should follow Him because of His love. In stanza three we are reminded that we should follow Him because of the rest that He gives. "Weary, heavy-laden, there is sweet rest for thee." "Lean upon the Savior and thy soul is secure." The chorus reminds us of the need to follow Jesus everywhere and at every time. "Where He leads I'll follow, Follow all the way; Where He leads I'll follow, Follow Jesus every day." Jesus not only died for our sins and rose again to declare His divine Sonship, but He lived a perfect life as an example of how God wants His children to live. Therefore, it should be our determination, throughout our entire life on earth that, "Where He Leads, I'll Follow." Is that your desire and prayer? 1 Sweet are the promises, Kind is the word, Dearer far than any message man ever heard; Pure was the mind of Christ, Sinless I see; He the great example is, and pattern for me. Where He leads I'll follow, Follow all the way. Where He leads I'll follow, Follow Jesus ev'ry day. 2 Sweet is the tender love Jesus hath shown, Sweeter far than any love that mortals have known; Kind to the erring one, Faithful is He; He the great example is, and pattern for me. Where He leads I'll follow, Follow all the way. Where He leads I'll follow, Follow Jesus ev'ry day. 3 List' to His loving words, "Come unto Me;" Weary, heavy-laden, there is sweet rest for thee; Trust in His promises, Faithful and sure; Lean upon the Savior, and thy soul is secure. Where He leads I'll follow, Follow all the way. Where He leads I'll follow, Follow Jesus ev'ry day. Click on the link above to hear this lovely hymn.

Great points @GreyJay! Awesome comments. I think that Yahweh is at such a level of magnificence that there is nothing of the Tabernacle that has one meaning only. I believe there are many reasons for the specific designs and each interpretation will work in harmony. The repeating pattern of lighting, connecting 1 to 7 and 7 to 1, is just like the days of the week and the notes in a musical scale which again repeat in sevens - connecting 1 to 7 and 7 to 1. It's interesting that the first 3 Feasts relate to Messiah, the last 3 relates to the Father, and the centre Feast relates to the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). And all the candlesticks are of one piece, they cannot be seen as separate but one Menorah. Maybe the centre candle lighting the others is to indicate the Spirit's power throughout these past and future events? I suppose that ties into your last comment. The seven fold nature of the Holy Spirit, and seven horned, seven eyed Lamb is still a great mystery to our small 4 dimensional minds, but perhaps we will understand these things and the Menorah a lot more when we are before the Throne. Still, it's fun to wonder! Love & Shalom

@Tzephanyahu Thanks man, I hadn't thought of the feasts connection to the menorah. You're right about its appearance, I've seen some of the more ancient depictions. I think generally people see the leavened bread on Shavuot to signify the grafting in of gentiles, which is fulfilled by the events at Pentacost. I'm not sure why it would be the center lamp, though, except maybe for the image of the tongues of flame that separate and alight on the believers. I think -- and I could be wrong -- the center lamp is generally thought of as the last lamp, making the menorah look like: 123 7 456 - the center being sukkot. If that's the way we look at it, it's a pretty cool connection to the center lamp being understood as Sabbath, but also the sukkot "7-day rest" (rest on all the days) fulfilled in Rev 21:2-3, but also, maybe, a connection to Messiah as the lamp (i.e., v23). Maybe it's also interesting that the "last lamp" is lit first. I.e., it's both 123 7 456 and 234 1 567: "I am the first and the last," both the Passover lamb and the final, eternal dwelling of God among people.

I was taught that Matthew 24:2 was a prophesy about the Jewish temple being destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Roman Army (on a side note- your profile picture looks beautiful)

In America in this day and age; I don't know what occupations you may be referring to with harsher conditions, lower pay and longer hours than men? Please expound. But anyway: America so far is a capitalistic society, quickly drifting toward a socialistic society. Entrepreneur's risk their own capitol and well being to create companies for profit. In doing so they provide the needed jobs for people to support their own families. How many poor people provide jobs and job opportunities? This generates growth, income, opportunities they didn't have; contributes to the economy, society and tax base. That company or industry wasn't created out of love for humanity or the purpose of providing a living for someone. It was created because of a need for something and that need is provided with the intent of making a profit. If a certain percentage of profit is not realized, the company folds and goes bankrupt. Whom is the government or anyone else; to tell me whom I should hire, how much I should pay them, and what benefits I should provide? I didn't risk everything I own to pacify your wants and demands. You know the work, hours, pay and benefits; take it or leave it and go elsewhere if you don't like it. You came to me, I didn't come to you, life is not fair. Will my business survive worrying about your personal problems and situation you found yourself in? Will your life be any better tripling your pay at McDonald's flipping burgers for $15.00 per hour, when the Big Mac is $9.50 to cover the cost of unskilled labor increases? In secular world business, your worth is determined by your skill, potential production, education, what you bring to the table to better the business and profits; not you owes me a living. Why should they have to struggle harder than a man? Because they're not a man...

We love you even if you are insensitive Cross contamination can come from as little as cooking gf food in a fryer that has previously been used to cook non gf food and buffet type meals are notorious for naughtiness with people picking up food and putting it back down and not normally where it should be put I enjoy laughing with people but believe me it is no joke when you are in pain or even dehydrated as you literally cant keep anything down for days after an accidental contamination It may not be as dramatic as anaphylactic shock but the pain and the danger is as great < not guaranteed to be gluten free frying pan ( look at some of the food labels that will tell you that some foods are made in a factory that handles gluten/wheat/nuts etc to see how serious it actually is )

Hi, So much for greeting a gluten intolerant saint with a holy kiss eh? What with cross contamination and all, why not even hearty handshake. Cross contamination, ??? Just how far away from the gluten foods must the non gluten ones be placed at the church dinners? Sure hope I did it right all those years of setting up the food serving tables for the deaconesses. How far does the gluten hop on a table from plate to plate? I don't remember any of that being part of the County health department food handling training courses at all. The only thing that truly bothered me at Lord's Supper came about when I noticed that the deaconesses were pouring the unused grape juice from the unserved cups back into the open bottle of Welsh's and putting it in the fridge to use next time. That and the unserved broken wafers into plastic grocery bags and placing them in the freezer for next time. We had a go round on that one, finally resolved by some deaconesses taking county health department restaurant food preparing courses in sanitation. For awhile, until they changed how they tried to save money, I just started throwing out all open containers. More than anything I had fear of meet and greet hugs and handshakes and hellos at the opening of worship. I called it spread a germ of fellowship time. Never heard of anyone so gluten intolerant that they would suffer harm from even being near food that is not gluten free. Learn something new all the time. Do the non gluten foods get cross contaminated at the grocers by having to travel down the checkout coneyor belt? For that matter are the gluten foods contaminated by being near the non-gluten stuff? I kinda need my gluten, I think. Will hate to suffer from lack of it because some of it hopped onto a non gluten plate and was lost to me. Maybe separate places of worship are needed for ... well no, probably not. So glad I am insensitive.

Both women's and men's rights groups are the worlds idea to equality. The world has not followed "Love your neighbor as yourself". If they did, there would be no need for either group.

After reading through some posts i kind of wonder if the whole subject isn't really a manifestation of the sins, envy and of covetousness. Why should I care what another has or makes, or is even entitled to, whether they are male or female or just don't know what they are? If I am doing all that I do to the glory of God, do I then need equal pay as another for what I do? In all my life I never ever thought of income or resources in terms of hourly wage especially not as compared to another's income or resources. My bankers never ever asked me; What do you earn per hour? Did you get an increase over last year? All they ever wanted to know is how will I have money come Friday to pay them their payment due on Friday. To worry that another may have more than me or to gloat that I may have more than another- wow seems a bad trail to walk, one that will only bring sadness and dissatisfaction because life just isn't fair. And thank God for that! I have received unmerited reward and eternal security, all unfair, whoopie! God is so good.

The reason for the signs is normally two fold one gf foods are about 3 times the price of " normal " food and second if you handle the "normal " food then pick up the gf food ou can cause cross contamination and even a tiny amount can cause severe problems for people with coeliac disease ...mind you it can also be because we don't want you knowing how bad our taste buds are after years of eating it

Hi, Is there any reason you cannot bring your own elements for Lord's supper/communion? Same for morning tea. Same for any gathering, bring some non-gluten items for yourself and for others in general. One thing that is a bit of a turn off for me is to see those signs at a gathering that states "Gluten free, do not take any unless Gluten intolerant". Reads to me like we don't share with you, but you still need share with us that grand tasting salad and roast beef. Gets rather strange almost cultic instead of medical, but hey most of that gluten free stuff tastes like cardboard and sawdust so maybe the little signs on the tables are good warning after all. Anyway, why not bring your own elements?

The Gospel in a Tent. It is all there for us to understand. The Mercy Seat (throne) the Heavenly Throne Guardians, the Bread etc. Symbols that (believe it or not) show us that Yahweh Knew What He was doing all along. He is beyond understanding and is Our Great High Priest and Commander. God and man at table did sit down...

What might the Bible give as some guidance/command regarding martial relations, and overall behavior? 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 English Standard Version (ESV) Principles for Marriage Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

Shalom @GreyJay I'm not sure of any explicit NT references to the Lord Yahushua being the centre of the Menorah, but there are arguable allusions I suppose. The Menorah is a fascinating piece of Tabernacle furniture as it has no equal with anything else in this world. It's a truly unique and deliberate design which may be modelled on the Tree of Life. But it's seven linked (all one piece) branches may be revealing a truth about the seven-fold nature of the Holy Spirit as well. Another interesting parallel can be made with the Feasts of Yahweh... There are seven Feasts of Yahweh and they have a unique arrangement. Rather than being evenly spread across the year, there are three close together in the first month and three close together in the seventh month. In between both of these Festival seasons, there is one Feast remaining, which we call "Pentecost", associated with the birth of the church. Pentecost is the only Feast which allows leavened bread to be eaten - perhaps a reference to sinners/gentiles being welcomed into the family of Yahweh. Anyway you effectively have this arrangement throughout the year. 1. Passover 2. Unleavened Bread 3. First Fruits 4. "Pentecost" 5. Trumpets 6. Atonement 7. Tabernacles Hopefully you can see the Menorah's pattern there- 123 4 567. Prophetically, the first 4 Feasts have been fulfilled on the day they are observed, with the the death and resurrection of the Messiah and the birth of the church. The final 3 Feasts are still to be fulfilled - A great sounding of trumpets, Judgement Day and Yahweh dwelling with us. Therefore, I have no issue seeing the Menorah as a symbol of the great Feasts of Yahweh, and the full plan of salvation and restitution. Perhaps someone else can help with another interpretation as well. Love & Shalom

Thank you for sharing!

Praise the Lord!

Exactly so. Before Ediacaran fauna were known, it was thought that the Cambrian marked the appearance of complex living things. Now we know that complex animals, including some that appear to be primitive sponges, arthropods, and so on, existed long before their assumed appearance in the Cambrian.

It is HARVEST TIME: God is going to "harvest" all He can.

You can doubt this event if you wish - and be left behind. The CHURCH is going to be caught up before wrath. Think about it: if you are left behind, you WILL BE in His wrath. It is not His plan that anyone is left behind. His plan is you believe in His coming.

what about men's right movement? I was totally unaware we had a movement going. Where do I sign up? (just kidding!) Let me read through the thread and come up with something to post on the OP.

Paul also said husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her. I fail to see how a husband forcing himself on his wife fits that.

No, this is where Jesus sets down at His second coming.

Thanks! Sure, I can expound on it. It's quite a bit to put on a forum but we can try. The gist of it is that the Kingdom of God, the hope of the Christian, is based in the promises that God made to Abraham. In Genesis God made a four fold promise to Abraham. He promised, 1. That He would make him the father of a great nation. 2. The father of many nations 3. That all nations would be blessed through him 4. That He would give him all the land he could see. We see all through the Scriptures mentions of the inheritance. The inheritance is the land that was promised to Abraham. That is the hope of the Christian. God made that promise to Abraham and his seed. He reiterated it to Isaac and Jacob. The Jews believed that they were heirs of the promise because they are the seed of Abraham. However, the apostle Paul points out that when God made the promise to Abraham and his seed, He meant seed in the singular, not seed as a collective group. He tells us in Galatians three that the Seed is Christ. Christ is the Seed to which the promise was made and Christians obtain that promise by being joined to Christ. Paul said to the Galatian, if you are in Christ you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. He also wrote in Romans 8, 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. (Rom. 8:16-17 KJV) Again, the inheritance is the land that was promised to Abraham. However, the inheritance was expanded to include the world. 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Rom. 4:13 KJV) So, the hope of the Christian is not to spend eternity in Heaven. It is to live in the Kingdom of God on earth. That's a quick summary of the paper.

I think we need to separate the two things you mention - feminism is one thing, the "me too" movement is another. I've always been a bit dumbfounded about feminists and why there is this desire to prove that woman can do everything men can do (we already know we can lol kidding) - I'm all for equal pay/rights, but as a female, I'd rather not do some of the more stereotypical "man tasks" or jobs. I think when feminism first began, it may have been a good thing but sadly, as society usually does, we've ruined any positive work coming from it. Instead, to me, it's as simple as the normal corruption of this world. We've taken God's design and tried to twist it without realizing/accepting His design was best. He made man and woman to compliment one another - so that we could work in harmony together, recognizing that each on their own was lacking something. As far as my thoughts on the "me too" movement - there probably are some false reports made but we also do live in a very broken world that likes to silence/shame the many who have suffered sexual attacks/violence. If it's done nothing else, at least it's brought the subject to light and those who unfortunately do suffer/have suffered feel they have a voice. I don't think we should set aside proper investigation/procedure by any means, but we need to let the victims them know it's okay to come forward/speak up.

Thursday 10-17-19 Tishri 18, 5780 Seventh Month 18th. day, this day is the fourth day of Tabernacles out of seven days unto the Lord. Leviticus 23:33-39 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus does not come for selfish reasons. He comes to give, not to get. He comes that people may have life in Him that is meaningful, purposeful, joyful, and eternal. We receive this abundant life the moment we accept Him as our Savior. Having Life More Abundantly: John 10:10 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ◄ John Ten ► New King James Version Par ▾ Jesus the True Shepherd 1“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Jesus the Good Shepherd 7Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who ever came [a]before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” 19Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20And many of them said, “He has a demon and is [c]mad. Why do you listen to Him?” 21Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” The Shepherd Knows His Sheep 22Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in [d]doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, [e]as I said to you. 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30I and My Father are one.” Renewed Efforts to Stone Jesus 31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” 33The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” 34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? 35If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and [f]believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” 39Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. The Believers Beyond Jordan 40And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 41Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” 42And many believed in Him there. Love always, Walter and Debbie

@lftc “my thinks” Was directed at what my thoughts are, as to what I wrote concerning the two trees or the two laws. And yes I agree, waiting before God is assuredly the best place to wait. I am, but not as much as tomorrow. For each and every day, if I can know and get closer to this Christ who died for me, a little more than yesterday, it was a blessed day. In Christ, Not me

@Debp my apologies, it seems that the topic has gone off into Law again. I thought I was just affirming what had been said, but I guess my mention of the Law of Liberty did not communicate the Liberty part. when you quoted those verses, it lifted my spirit. Especially this one: 12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:12-14

DO THE GOOD YOU CAN Pr 3:27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Likewise James writes, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins." Jas 4:17 Sins of omission are easier to overlook than sins of commission. Thus one needs to be all the more prudent in evaluating whether there are things they are not doing which they should be. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Gal 6:10 The Proverb Series

A lovely song. Thank you for posting it @turtletwo

Since the context is a pretrib rapture the answer is no. There is no such event.

Hallelujah, i needed this message, i believe it is for me, amen.

jesusispeace, I truly am so sorry for your whole situation and especially with your daughter. I have one daughter who is 13 years old and as I read your post I'm picturing myself in your situation and I would be so heartbroken. However, no matter the circumstances that caused the distance between you, know that all daughters want their mothers. Grandma and everyone else even dad cannot replace you in her life. She is also at the age when her emotions are fluctuating depending on her hormones. Currently, she is under the influence of dad and other family members but she still loves and needs you in her life. Continue reaching out to her in love and let her know you are there. She will come around. I absolutely don't doubt it. Keep your trust and faith in the Lord through prayer. He can heal all relationships.

It is heart breaking but all you can do is pray for your daughter. For the time being she has make a choice to stay out of your life. I would not push her. You need to give God control of this situation you are going through right now with your daughter and your marriage.

I'm so sorry this has occurred. It's pretty common at times for mothers and daughters to be odds with one another. Bonds with fathers are not usual and do happen. At this age, her time of beginning young womanhood has already been several years in the progress, and rebellion from the rigors of living a Christian life seem to be less appealing to being worldly like her friends probably are. Give her the time she needs to be wild if she's determined, and continue interceding for her. After a few years, perhaps she'll begin to be concerned about her eternity, and will then need your counsel. Remain steadfast for yourself and her. God bless you.

Hi Michael, That is great to hear of your group meeting and encouraging each other. And meeting with other groups at times and not letting your group get beyond too many. It is really special to meet with each other that way and then go out and help others. To me that is more accountable & relational than in big groups. I see you also are able to meet specific needs and not leave it to an organisation to do it. Some needs are just everyday people helping each other and that speaks volumes to neighbours and friends. all the best, Marilyn.

Thanks for your input, Marilyn. Confirming what you have said, the Spirit led us to 1Thess 2:7 which reads: (7) But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children: so we looked at the whole chapter for context and after much exhortation and edification we affirmed our desire to nourish as required those the Lord brings us in contact with. Also, a 78 year old brother-in-Christ had a revelation and gave a testimony to illustrate the need for all to guard their hearts, with an emphasis on young people who may not be aware of the importance and practice of guarding or keeping their heart. Christian Standard Bible (Prov 4:23) Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. World English Bible (Prov 4:23) Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

Shalom @Open7 Isaiah, a 66 chapter book, is principally divided into two parts. Chapters 1-39 and 40-66, with the latter half focusing mainly on the Messiah (even though there are prophecies are in the former section). But, in this way, it can be seen as the Bible in miniature, as the Bible has 66 books. Book 40 (Matthew) begins the New Testament with John the Baptist and chapter 40 of Isaiah begins with prophesying about a “voice crying in the wilderness…” Historical Context: Israel is soon to be exiled by the Assyrians, at the beginning of Isaiah's ministry. After they were exiled, the crosshairs turn to Judah in the latter half of Isaiah's ministry, as they remain unrepentant. Assyria threatens them but they ultimately fail (spoiler) as the Babylonians begin to rise in background - slowly becoming the powerful nation that would one day take Judah into captivity. (Amazingly, Isaiah prophecies about Babylon and their fall before they even rise!) Now, I can understand why you are confused about the order of the book, so let me try and help you with the former section of the book and how it should be parsed, as it is essentially a collection of scrolls formed into one. This is no official division below, but it may help you.... --------------------------- Chapters 1-5 Isaiah comes out swinging! The message is hard hitting and sorrowful - Israel are about to be exiled and Judah still remain stubborn to Yahweh, the God of the Bible. It’s poetic and written as a lawsuit (as Isaiah was a lawyer). Take your time to understand the analogies he uses. Prophecies follow thereafter, which include a mixture of warnings AND promises, including some great insights on the Messiah (referred to as the Branch of the Lord). Chapter 6 - Isaiah’s commission. This is the vision of how Isaiah met with Yahweh and how he was given his mission. This probably comes first, chronologically speaking. This is one of the rare places where Yahweh is described. A special chapter indeed. Chapter 7 - 8 - The story of Immanuel Most Christians know of the prophecy of Immanuel from the Gospel, but some don’t know the original fulfilment of the prophecy. As the promised child, Immanuel, was born for Judah in Isaiah’s day (Isaiah’s child) and served as a sign to Judah of Yahweh’s timing. But this prophecy had a second fulfilling in the Messiah’s birth. To understand this more, see the helpful guides at the end of this post! Chapters 9 - 12 A fantastic prophecy of the Messiah coming to Galilee, written approximately 700 years before the event a long with visions of the second coming Chapters 13 - 14 Judgement is pronounced against Babylon and the king of Babylon but there is a double meanings throughout. Whilst the judgement is again the Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, the prophecy rips through the physical into the spiritual and speaks to satan as well. One of the biggest insights into satan, along with Ezekiel Chapter 28, which works in the same fashion. Chapters 15 – 23 Various judgements are pronounced on the surrounding nations and of those who took advantage of Israel and Judah’s downfall. It might seem heavy, but fascinating information is interspersed in these chapters so you shouldn’t skip this by any means. Chapters 24 - 27 - "Little Apocalypse" This section is called by some “The Little Apocalypse”. These chapters read like another revelation, spelling out future events and promises. In 26:20, there is thought to be a description of the rapture. That’s only a possibility though (before anyone gets mad). Chapters 28 A fascinating chapter. It intrigues me for many reasons. Not only does it apply to the leaders of Israel in those days, but the Jews today and maybe even some Christians today, if you are able to receive that. I’m still meditating on this section as it’s very deep. For more on Biblical Meditation, see here. Chapters 29 – 35 A section of judgements and warnings for Jerusalem to not rely on the Egypt for strength but Yahweh. There are allusions to the Messiah and His Kingdom intermingled with these warnings. Chapters 36 - 39 - Sennacherib's Invasion This last section of the first part of Isaiah (chapters 1-39) is an event that happened in King Hezekiah’s day, who was the king in Judah. The Assyrian empire surround Jerusalem and she looked set for destruction. It’s a fascinating drama that unfolds and I love Yahweh’s response in this. Now, whilst this is a recorded event in history (even from third party sources) there are lessons in this story for us today. See what you can learn about Yahweh in this story rather than just reading it as history. Chapters 40 – 66 Rather than break this section down (as I have probably bored you to death already), understand this second part of Isaiah to be pertaining to the Messiah, His ministry and our future. This section is majestic. Just keep this in mind… is Isaiah always writing in first person? Or is he writing what he hears the Messiah say? – The truth is a mixture of the both but keep an open mind and read this part with no preconceived ideas. You learn about the Messiah before He came, when He came and what happens when He comes back. Very exciting and awe-inspiring. -------------------------- HELPFUL GUIDE Now, when you are reading through the prophets, don’t get bored by misunderstanding them thinking “it’s all for Israel and in the past! I’m just interested in the prophecies of Messiah”. You would be shooting yourself in the foot. Bible prophecy works in a miraculous way in that it has multiple fulfilments. Some of the prophecies you read in Isaiah will come to pass again. To understand how this works and how to perceive this, check out this helpful guide here. ------------------------ I hope this helps. Love & Shalom

I was one who just followed the program and sang the hymn's, never bothered to look at the top of the hymnal to see whom wrote it or put it to music. A few years ago [November 2016 to be exact] when I sincerely repented and my Lord drew me back to His flock, drastic changes occurred in me. A number of hymn's pierced my emotional soul and touched me deeply to the point of uncontrollable appreciation and love. I wanted to know more about who wrote the hymn(s) and the back story, so I wrote the names of the writers / composers down on our church bulletin and researched it. Many of our hymns have back stories and testimonies that are so inspiring, encouraged me and put me in awe and the peace that comes from a wonderful and loving personal Lord and Savior. I believe such hymns are inspired from the heart of our Lord God and are a vital part of our worship to Him. I now have a deeper appreciation and better understanding of the songs and music recorded in our Bibles. Previously I would normally speed read through those parts that dealt with music and singing to the Lord; oh what an unfortunate thing to do and the blessings missed.