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In less than a week, it has become painfully clear to many of us how our world system is far more like a house of cards than an unshakeable fortress. Coronavirus is a terrible thing, and both my wife and I are prime opportunities for the virus to affect, especially since Terry has gone through intense chemo to save her from cancer. But rhe truth is, this is not the black plague. Nor is it Ebola. Yet here I find myself hunting for a store that has toilet paper! LOL. Up til just two weeks ago, our world looked so stable. Rock solid. Unshakeable. And yet here we are, two weeks later, and things are coming to a grinding halt. When March Madness is cancelled, you know we are in uncharted territory! I do not know how long it will be before things return to "normal". But I do know this much. Our new "normal" will not be the same as our old one. Once the world system shakes under our feet, reassurances that all is well ring a lot more hollow, don't they? If nothing else, I believe something good will come our of this. Christians who have assumed all will always be the same, figuring the world system cannot ever truly be shaken will perhaps take another look at things, and readjust accordingly. I believe this is the first significant 'birth pang' and will not be the last. More upheaval is headed our way. How easy it it is to cruise, even in our spiritual lives, when things look as they always have, unshakeable. We can get complacent, going through the motions. But we have been told that before He returns, everything that can be shaken, will be. This can fill us with fear, or it can cause us to draw nearer to the unshakeable one. I pray that for you, for me, for all the saints of God, that it does the latter. blessings, Gideon

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Consider this: All throughout recorded history, all these events have occurred at one time or another. Never has the globe witnessed a "convergence" of it all, in frequency and intensity.

Monday 3-16-20, Adar 20, 5780 2nd. day of the weekly cycle, 87th. Winter day The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. Psalm Twenty Nine:4 Psalm Twenty Nine:1-11 KJV The Powerful Voice Of God: 1 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 10 The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. 11 The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Love always, Walter and Debbie

And another breath of fresh air. Thanks other one..... My wife and I went to Walmart Sunday as church services were suspended for a while. This was the first trip for 'extra grub' since all this stuff started. Shelves were mostly full except rice and beans and canned food. Some *#*^)#(* cleaned out my favorite refried beans, but still got my six dozen tortillas. An elderly lady and myself posed fighting for a selfie over the last boxes of toilet paper. Everybody had a laugh. No panic, just a nice Sunday morning walking the isles.

while ultimately that is true, we don't want everyone to get it all at once for that will grossly overload our medical system which will result in people dying that really do not need to. And we should have a vaccine for those that will take it in a year or so and people are working on actual medication to stop the virus after you catch it.... I've read several places where people are testing different drugs.... so it really is good to slow things down for a couple of weeks if we can.. Especially if it turns out to be seasonal which will give us most of the summer to work on things... and if it's not seasonal we might keep the number of active cases manageable and people won't die due to the lack of care.

An interesting note: the grocery store where I do most of my shopping got a shipment of toilet paper in this morning while I was there.... I've kept an extra package or two for decades so I didn't need any.... so I thought I would watch to see what was going to happen. No fighting or huge excitement... and even though there is no limit no one got more than one package...... made me very proud of my fellow citizens.

In the book of Acts, Christianity started with 120 souls set on fire. And in less than a generation, the grass roots fire called "the way" turned the entire known world on its ear. Men loved not their lives unto death. They walked abiding in Christ and praise God, did not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. The highway of holiness was not looked upon as legalism, or as an impossibility, but as quite normal, and available to any who longed for God to indwell them. They believed that their old nature actually died and thus walked as new creatures, overcomers, victorious over the world, the flesh, and the devil. Men would either fear them, or be drawn to their love and devotion to God, and their visible love one to another. They were lights to a world walking in darkness, and those in the world who loved the light.... well, they came to it. Multitudes drawn to Jesus simply by the examples the followers of Jesus lived out before their eyes. In Ezekiel 36, God declares what will be the way those who are lost would know He is THE God. And what was that? "And the heathen will know that I am the Lord, when I shall be sanctified IN YOU before their very eyes." When Jesus walked the earth, He stated the same thing. This is how He said it. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, by the love you have one for another." The church was not hidden, but was a light set on a hill, beaming the light and love of Christ to a world that desperately needed Jesus by His own children BEING light themselves. Grace did what grace was promised to do, teach them how to walk holy, pleasing, sold out to God. Believers walked not as citizens of this world, but as they truly were, sojourners, passers through. But this amazing time did not last. The early rain that established the church in the world dried up. A long, hot, dry summer ensued, and it has lasted 1900 years. And in that time, instead of the lives Christians beaming light to any who sought it, we instead turned church into "bushel basket" Christianity. What exactly is bushel basket Christianity? Clusters of God's children, mixed well with tares, declaring that their understanding of doctrine was THE correct one, hidden under rheir individual bushel baskets. . The joy of the Lord no longer caused saints to go out, beaming with joy and love to those desperately needed it. Instead, we closed quarters, hunkering down, letting the pastors and missionaries go out, saying "Come over to our bushel basket!" Thank God, the last of the long hot summer is now coming to a close. The clouds on the horizon are filled with rain straight out of Heaven. The latter rain is about to begin. The wheat and the tares have so grown together, you cannot discern one from the other. But soon, and for some even now, Christians will be awakened with a hunger to actually abide in Christ, to actually be able to say no to the devil when temptations come. They will long to please Him and as sin finally becomes exceedingly sinful to them. They will hate their old nature they have always assumed they are, and finally believe...and receive... new natures that God promises that He will cause them to obey Him, and fruits of the Spirit will abound. We are about to be amazed. Bushel basket Christianity is about to be replaced by saints again set on a hill that cannot be hid, BEING light. No one will have to say "Know ye the the Lord", for all will know me, from the least to the greatest....and in that order. ? Ministers who have fed themselves while their sheep are starving in the pastures they have provided will be shamed. Our religious pride that has made us boast that because of grace, we have need of nothing, will be brought to nought. We will, as God foretold in Ezekiel 36, be ashamed for the religious pride that has made us content without godly natures and without true spiritual fruits. We have up till now not walked as children of light, but simply as children with less darkness than the lost around us. How much does our God love us? Despite our contentedness with bushel basket Christianity, despite our lack of fruit, despite our using grace as an excuse for continuing in sin, God STILL will draw us back to Him and love us as He loved the prodigal son. But we must finally "come to ourselves" as the prodigal did, and return back to the Father in brokenness, willing to just be servants. And when we return, confessing our contentment with forgiveness yet with no desire at all to lose our lives so that He can reign in us instead, God will not leave us humiliated servants, no way! Just like the prodigal, He will rejoice, declaring that His son, His daughter has returned and give us the keys to the kingdom of which we are a part.. The valley of decision is now coming into view. Here we decide, will we remain content with forgiveness but with no real desire to walk as Holy children, hunkering deeper under our bushel baskets thinking that our church affiliation will save us.... OR..... willcwe yield ourselves to God, lock, stock and barrel, totally surrendered, trusting that He can AND WILL cause us to walk as children of light as we finally come into agreement with God that we ARE light in the Lord. Up til now, God has winked at our sin because of our ignorance and error coming from our pulpits. But we must be warned. That day is fast passing. We will each be asked to choose..... who will reign over us... us or Him? In Luke 17, we see the truth of the importance of this decision. Here, in the parable of the talents. after the one came back with no increase, the master uttered these words, words that should terrify many in our present state. "Then take ALL THOSE who would not have Me to reign over them. and slay them before me." Those words came from the mouth of Jesus. God is even now awakening us to the truth. Yielding fully to Him is expected. This fills us with fear, but thwt is simply satan's big lie. What God is offering us is joy unspeakable, what the Bible calls "the glorious liberty of the children of God". It awaits you, if you want it, badly enough to lay your life on rhe potter's wheel, trusting the master potter to make your life into something glorious. Are you ready to BE light, to be able to abide in Jesus all day, every day? Tell Him, He is listening. You will not be sorry, for amazement awaits. blessings to all, Gideon

How far do you suppose it will go, and when it's all said and done; will it revert back to the way it was previously? There has been a number of times where our U.S. Constitution has all but been suspended since our national founding; during times of political dishevel, dissension and declared national emergencies. I won't list them from John Adams to present, but a brief mention of one of the latest, the "Patriot Act", and what we lost. Freedom to assemble has been strictly curtailed. Now it appears mandatory drive by's for coronavirus is being established, much like stopping vehicles randomly for sobriety testing [your papers please]. During a declared state of emergency, our government has the authority and power "now" to take everything over from railroads to utilities, and everything in between. Due to unnoticed legislation that was passed during the previous couple of administrations. Never waste a good crisis: In the scheme of global government we see shaping up at an accelerated rate in these end-times; do you suppose, we will not permanently forfeit any of our rights and freedoms if and when this current crisis ends? Communist nations and the New World Order crowd have something in common, they're in the business of strict people and population control. Will or do people give up rights for safety and security?

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom, and as always spoken with grace and kindness. You are quite correct and forgive me if my words came across in a way they were not intended. I have said many times in the past, if someone is walking in all the light they have, and despite their best efforts, still find themselves bound by sins they may hate, wanting to love the Lord with ALL their hearts but knowing they come up short, to them I offer nothing but encouragement. The Lord sees their heart and will give them the desire of their heart. I believe their awakening will be a gentle one, as their God rewards them for their faithfulness as they are walking in all they have been shown and pressing for more. Yes, there are others who most definitely are His, but who have allowed sin and self to gain the upper hand, with no desire for full victory where they walk pleasing to God in all they say and do. God's love for them is just as great, but the steps needed for a real awakening may be more likened to a recruit on his first morning of boot camp, LOL. Again, to any I might have discouraged or offended, my aim is simply that we all walk in the fullness God has for us. Again, please forgive me. Gideon

"Give me control of a nation's money and I care not who makes it's laws" ~ Mayer Rothschild Man, I could write a book on this subject going back to Alexander Hamilton. Even father back to kings shaving the edges off precious metal coins and debasing the precious metal content. Or before that, the creation and need for a convenient division of labor and store of wealth, to trade chickens for corn as an example. How banks got started, loaning other peoples money out to make a living and not work. In our case; the Federal Reserve is not federal; and it has no reserves. It's a conglomerate of private banks out to bilk everyone and take control. Congress abdicated their Constitutional authority to print, coin and control money and the economy to the greedy influential bankers. Fractional reserve banking and regulated inflation backed by nothing, today not even a promise to pay shortly followed. A dishonest system of weights, measures and greed. A house of cards built on a dishonest system and greed can not stand. The next cashless global monetary system I believe, will be upon us in the very near future. A global economic crash is in progress as I speak.

In the sea of mindless posts I've seen on social media, I came across one that made a lot of sense. Basically, grocery stores that are closing earlier than usual to stock, clean, and sanitize should reserve the first hour of the day for senior citizens to shop while the store was in it's best state of cleanliness for the day. Ideally seniors would have someone help them with shopping but that is not always the reality.

I just saw on the news that the stores are being restocked. We will have food. And toilet paper too. So stay calm people.

Well, one will not die over not having toilet paper.... spent many a summer day on my grandparents farm without even a bathroom..... I would share my food with you, but I'm keepin my toilet paper and I don't feel bad about it for I've had the extra few rolls for a couple of decades...

Might depend on Grandma...

Hello my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, I thought I write about the flip side of a topic, and how to recognize the attempts of the enemy to destroy lives and how you can walk in His victory! For the Apostle Paul taught us not to be ignorant of enemy's tactics and strategies. 2 Corinthians 2:112 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. So often, we can learn lessons by learning and playing "devil's" advocate. When we read this passage, Mar 3:26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. Mar 3:27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strongman; and then he will spoil his house. Here we learn a lesson that in order to plunder one's house you must first BIND up the strongman. While we realize in this particular passage this is referring to God binding up the strongman (Satan) and this is how Satan's house is plundered. But if you carefully analyze the enemy -- you realize that he uses the same tactics on us! Your house cannot be plundered -- unless you are first bound. And then Satan can plunder your house! Let's take a marriage situation. A husband and wife are newly married and they are just getting by. The wife hasn't had a new dress in some time, and while she's out and about -- she stumbles across a dress that is 75% off and a steal! She's in need of some new clothing and thinks to herself -- I should get this while it's soo cheap! Meanwhile, her husband is looking over a mountain of bills and thinking to himself, the only way to get out of this mess is to work "overtime" and starts to figure out how much he needs to work to cover all their bills. When the wife comes home, she's looking fine in her dress and the first thought of her husband -- planted by the enemy -- can you believe that your wife spent money on a dress? Of course, this feeds into his mind and reacts to the thought -- and gets angry at his wife and demands that she take the dress back. So he's ignoring the fact how good she looks in the dress, and ignores how cheap it was -- and allows a foothold to be set! The wife can't believe it -- and let's the emotion burn in her while biting her tongue. A few weeks goes by, and the husband is out and about and sees a fishing rod on sale -- and buys it! The wife sees the new fishing rod -- the enemy then brings back that emotion of what happened a few weeks prior about the dress -- and suddenly she explodes! And now you have the beginnings of how the enemy has taken footholds and then created strongholds -- and for the ultimate purpose of dividing a marriage! Now let's look at Luke and see what lessons we can learn from it. Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. Luk 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: Luk 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. Luk 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. If you notice this, the strong man who's armed -- ready for battle -- ready to face whatever comes his way -- he's living in PEACE! If we recognize the first steps of the enemy's work in our lives -- knowing he's trying to create footholds -- you'll begin to understand why? He can't rob, kill and destroy you -- unless you are FIRST bound up! So we need to be armed with the Word, armed with the knowledge of the enemy's tactics, and be ready to defend what is rightfully ours! We need to take authority over the powers of darkness because that authority was given to us at the cross! Luk 10:18 And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Luk 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Luk 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." So we fight the good fight of faith, standing in His victory and be ready to pounce on every thought that is not of God -- that is being used to BIND US up! Be prepared to battle today -- put on the full armor of God -- and be ready to pounce on every thought that would seek to create a foothold in your life! When you do this, truly you will become a strong man who's possessions are at perfect peace! Your brother in the Lord with much agape love, George

VULTURES AND A CORPSE Gospel in the end times....Nelson Walters In the middle of the Olivet Discourse is a strange illustration about vultures and a corpse that the church does not fully understand. Matthew 24:28 (NASB) says, “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” It’s my opinion that whenever we don’t comprehend a passage it is likely that a mistaken theology is blocking our understanding. That is the case with this verse. The Church does not grasp this illustration because it refers to the resurrection that will occur after the great tribulation. Their view that the resurrection and rapture occur prior to the tribulation prevents them from seeing what this verse truly means. The Context In order to properly understand what Jesus was teaching by means of this short illustration or parable, we need to place the verse in context. It occurs in two different contexts within scripture. The first context is within the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. The second context is found in Luke 17 immediately after healing the ten lepers while he and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Like many of Jesus’ teachings, he may have taught this short illustration many times. One thing is certain however. In both instances it occurs at the very end of that portion of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus obviously viewed it as important. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus places this illustration at the conclusion of his teaching about the Great Tribulation (verses 9 thru 28 of Matthew 24.) In the preceding verses Jesus had just warned the disciples about the False Messiah and False Prophet that would try to deceive the world with false wonders. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. (Matt. 24: 23 -26 NASB) Immediately after this, Jesus gives the one true sign of his return, his coming on the clouds in great glory. Jesus tells us that his Shekinah glory will shine like lightening from the east to the west. This is one sign Satan’s false messiah and prophet will not be able to duplicate. In the very next verse, Jesus us tells us the Illustration of the vultures and a corpse. The context obviously indicates the illustration has something to do with the return of Christ. Luke’s account of this illustration places it in almost the exact same context. In Luke’s telling Jesus begins with the same warning about the false messiah and false prophet. He then gives the same sign of his actual return, his coming on the clouds in his Shekinah glory. Prior to giving the illustration of the vultures and a corpse in Luke, Jesus first gives several other teachings which are all related to his return. The first two teachings show that Jesus’ return will be like the Days of Noah and the Days of Lot. In the first example Noah is taken to safety in the ark while the unrighteous perish in the flood. In the second example, Lot and his family are taken to safety by angels to a mountain while the unrighteous are burned with fire and brimstone. Jesus then warns the disciples that on that day (the day of Jesus’ return when his followers are taken to safety) they are not to return for their possessions or look back on what they had. Jesus then gives the warning, “Remember Lot’s wife” who looked back on Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. Jesus then further instructs us that there will be a division; some will be taken and some will be left. Jesus gives two examples: people in a bed or in a field. Jesus is obviously implying that those who are taken will be taken to safety just as Noah and Lot were taken to safety prior to the judgments of those days! This common sense interpretation flies in the face of those who believe that those taken are the wicked taken away to judgment and those who remain are the righteous. Obviously the linkage to the stories of Noah and Lot implies the righteous are raptured to safety. The disciples were confused as well as we are today and asked Jesus, “Where Lord?” By this they meant, where are the righteous taken? As a capstone to this entire passage Jesus then gave us the illustration of the vultures and a corpse in order to make his meaning completely clear. The Meaning The problem is the meaning is not clear to most today. What do vultures and a corpse have to do with Jesus’ return? The illustration is actually easy to understand but faulty theology will block the clear and simple meaning. Some believe this illustration is just an idiom like “where there’s smoke there’s fire.” These teachers interpret it as a phrase that means “what I’m telling you should be as obvious as the nose on your face.” The fact that no such idiom is known from that time period does not deter these teachers. Others, like Dr. Thomas Ice, believe it is a judgment reference to Rev. 19: 17-21 where after the battle of Armageddon, an angel summons the birds of the air to feast on the armies of the Beast. The fact that the word translated “vultures” in Matthew and “birds” in Revelation are not the same does not deter these teachers. Interestingly it is the word translated vultures that is one of the keys to understanding the true meaning of the illustration. The Greek word used means “eagles.” In Revelation this same word is used to symbolize angels in Revelation 4:7, 8:13 and 12:14. Why is it mistranslated “vultures?” if its clear meaning is “eagles?” This translator error is another example of the translator allowing his preconceived theology to color Jesus’ clear meaning. He was speaking of angels. To further reinforce this meaning, the word translated “gather” is the Greek word that means “gather together.” I am sure you recognize this word! Just a few verses later in Jesus’ vision of the rapture in Matthew 24: 31, the angels “gather together” the elect from the four winds. In 2 Thess. 2: 1 Paul uses this same word to describe the rapture, ” with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.” This short illustration in Matthew 24:28 pictures the same event, angels gathering the living and the dead in Christ and catching them up into the air to meet our Lord. It is critically important to note in Matthew the angels are gathering the dead who died knowing Christ (the corpse), which is the resurrection. This occurs before the rapture of the living (1 Thess. 4:16). In Luke the word for body means a living body, in Matthew it means a dead body. Looking at both versions of this illustration in combination gives the meaning that angels will gather together the Christians who are alive and those who died knowing Christ. This is the rapture and resurrection! The context of this short illustration occurring after the Great Tribulation is further overwhelming proof that the rapture and the resurrection occur after the great tribulation at the sixth seal of Revelation. It disproves a Pre-tribulation rapture in one short, one verse illustration!

Yes, we are and yet still one very important issue remains. For those who are concerned about their immortal souls and come to the gospel in salvation believing, what will happen to these 'Corona Converts' once the virus is either quelled or cured? Including this, are they willing to hang with the program or eventually become what has been termed as, "The Great Falling Away"???

The only "serious" questions i have is that you don't seriously believe anyone will read all that do you?

Blessings Peeps "MM" I don't really think so but I most certainly see an AGENDA -where,who & how,I don't know & I don't think it is as important as the "why"..... As you said yourself earlier,God Has Allowed this,I agree-He is not the One to blame for making people sick or dying but He Does Allow these things for a Reason.I firmly Believe that Almighty Sovereign God is Merciful,Patient & in His Loving Kindness He is Actually holding this back (& many other sicknesses & diseases) from wiping out mankind from the face of this earth-Why?,so that many,some or even a few will humble themselves,seek His Face,repent & pray This is the God we serve ,whether "we" Believers live or die we are Covered by the Precious Blood of the Perfect Lamb Jesus,either Way we have "Passover" as we do not taste the second death -BUT,I do think we are here as a beacon to light the Way for those yet in darkness.The spirit of fear grips the world because they don't know Jesus So who & how is unimportant,we are watching as the birth pangs begin-much worse yet to come and this is but an opportunity for many....especially America who is supposed to be the Christian Nation,founded on Gods Word The terrorist is satan,the enemy is hard at work to convince the world she is in need of a savior(not Savior) Anyway,just my 2 cents ,no need to preach to the choir,lol Shine your light Peeps With love-in Christ<Kwik

I don't know about you, but I can't even find hand sanitizer in stock on the internet. Those I found that had it, naturally the price and / or shipping was crazy. So, I made my own with the ingredients Walmart had readily in stock this morning. Disclaimer: This isn't a recommendation, this is a tip of what I did. We all know alcohol is extremely flammable working with and using, so don't be near an ignition source. It's simple to make: The main ingredient that kills germs, bacteria and virus externally is alcohol. The ingredients I used are, 91% Isopropyl alcohol [rubbing alcohol], Aloe, and essential oil [Optional for a nice smell, I used lavender], and those little empty Equate 2 ounce plastic bottles to fill. Proportions and mixture: 60% rubbing alcohol 40% Aloe 10-15 drops of essential oil [scent your choice] per cup of the above. Mix well and use a funnel to fill your little transportable plastic bottles. Evidently others are catching on as these items we getting very low at Walmart.

Wearing gloves is probably a better all around protection or addition too. I have a box of surgical gloves I occasionally use when handling harsh chemicals. I've seen a few people inside of stores wearing masks and regular gloves, but not surgical gloves as of yet. If or when I hear of reported cases near my geographical area; if I absolutely have to go out in public, might not be a bad idea to wear a pair.

Died to the Law Gal 2:19,20 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Likewise Paul writes of the Christian life, "now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter." Rom 7:6 The oldness of the letter is the bondage to the keeping of the customs and particular regulations one derives from the Law of Moses. "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant— not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2Cor 3:6 Jesus' ministry likewise revealed the deadness of bondage to the regulations which the Jews derived from the Law. Like he was often rebuked for healing people on the Sabbath. For as the Law commanded rest on the Sabbath, by way of regulation the Jews derived the idea that it was in violation of the Sabbath to heal. And yet healing was actually consistent with the Spirit of the Sabbath - giving rest and relief to the suffering. So also to allegedly keep themselves pure, the Jews derived a regulation which prevented them from eating with Gentiles, though the Law had no such regulation. But in doing so they violated the Spirit of the Law - to love your neighbor as yourself. And this was especially an issue with Christians - as it broke Christian fellowship over an illegitimate issue. You can't really live to God until you die to the legalism. Furthermore, what is relevant about the Christian life is not the Christian, but Christ who dwells in the Christian. "To (the saints) God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col 1:27 So also Jesus said, "I came not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me." John 6:38 This is contrast to Peter's fear of man. People who are afraid of what others will think of them are too concerned for themselves. The Christian lives for Christ, not for themselves. "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2Cor 5:15 The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

“For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation.” Psalms 100:5 “God never calls us to do anything without faithfully keeping His word and enabling us to do it.” Unknown

Ok kwickphilly, to further explain, seen this seven minute short video clip on the summary of George orwel 1984 book. Type this in the youtube search box george orwell 1984 choose the video "video sparknotes: Orwell 1984 summary"

I love this psalm. The voice of the Lord is powerful . The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. And the voice of the bride is like the roar of many waters , like a mighty thundering ( revelation 19: 6). The voice of the bride has become like the voice of the Son of God.

When we are 'raptured' we shall be "like the angels". And since scripture is always consistent....I believe we also see the rapture/resurrection in this verse: Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (as well as that it is a promise for our walk on earth)

In the time of crisis and shortage, people's God is their own belly.

From the CDC: "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory illness that affected many people worldwide in 2003. It was caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. The illness spread to 29 countries, where 8,096 people got SARS and 774 of them died. The SARS global outbreak was contained in July 2003. Since 2004, there have not been any known cases of SARS reported anywhere in the world."

Well. There was also a virus that hit in 1918. The Spanish flu infected 500 million people. Seems like whenever we get hit with something it is seen as a "sign". I don't worry too much about it. I know I am forgiven and ready. When the time comes it comes. No one really knows when that will be.

Thank you for your comments, George. We are to put on the full armor of God indeed. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12, KJV). I think of the illustration of Paul in his own life with his battle between the flesh and the spirit. (Galatians 5:17). Since we struggle with the flesh and the spirit at every waking moment, we ask ourselves: Which one is going to win out? The easy answer: The one we feed the most, of course. (Courtesy of Dr. Tim LaHaye). The enemy knows how get at our hot buttons and target our weaknesses. He knows our battleground and that battleground is the world, the flesh and the devil. (Galatians 5:16-17; Ephesians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 10:5). Furthermore, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, as subsets of our source of struggles, further complicates our day to day affairs. (1 John 2:15-17). So, yes, our battle is not ours and ours alone to fight. The phrase, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer," comes to mind as it relates to the passage of Matthew 10:16: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Of course, this is accomplished by faithfully studying the Word of God. 2 Timothy 2:15 immediately comes to mind along with Acts 17:11 and 1 John 4 as other brief passages of mind. The enemy does not play fair and is not a respecter of persons. He will hope to divide and conquer at any opportunity in a moment's notice. (1 Peter 5:8). "The Strategy of Satan" by Warren W. Wiersbe puts everything in its proper perspective in how the adversary targets our weak spots (i.e., chinks in our armor) in whatever means he can to bring us down. Be it the mind, the body, the will, the heart and conscience. Through any compromised areas or strongholds to exploit, that is. So, don't give him a beachhead, right? Don't give the enemy a reason or an excuse. We need to put on the full armor of God and pounce on every thought at every turning moment indeed. Unfortunately, this has become a constant for believers these days! Thank you again, George. I appreciate the encouraging thoughts. God bless.

Is the world shutting down? No, not mine anyway. Stuff is open here. Grocery is closing at 9 PM though, they need the extra time, I think, to stock and to sanitize even more than usual. Fresh foods aplenty and lots of seafood, no TP but it is coming, the demand exceeds manufacturer's capacity to make it by 30% is all. Trucks are rolling bringing in the goods. That's here on the suncoast of Florida. My family members worked all day at their respective company's offices.

Yes, it is true we still have fleshly bodies, and the lusts of the body are there to still tempt us to sin. And prior to our salvation, we had fleshly natures living hand in hand with our fleshly bodies and that, as we know produces some BAD fruit. But we are clearly told that something changed when we were saved. Our old natures were done away with... DEAD. We rose up with Jesus as new creatures, housed temporarily in fleshly bodies. But Paul makes it clear in Romans 8 that if Christ is in us. we are no longer in rhe flesh, but in the Spirit, and that..... are we listening.... we owe the flesh NOTHING. We have been taught that, try as we might, we can never cease from sin. But that is not what God has said. Listen: ..."for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 Wow! What an idea! The entire basis of the old testament was built on the principle of obedience. Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. But all that changed in the new testament. Or did it? Was obedience done away with under the new covenant? Or, was it not given as a command, but as a promise? Have we been promised that our God will actually cause us to obey Him? Indeed we have. There are two places in the Old Testament where the coming New Covenant is promised and where its benefits are listed. One is found in Jeremiah 31, the other in Ezekiel 36. The two are extremely similar, with one notable and very overlooked difference. It is found in Ezekiel 36. Here is what God says in verse 26. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." So far, very similar to Jeremiah. Then, we read THIS verse. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." Ezekiel 36:26-27 We have been operating under half a gospel for 1900 years. Is it any wonder we often declare 'peace, peace', when inside, we have no peace? All that is about to change. God is even now opening our eyes to what we have missed, believing that God actually can AND WILL cause us to walk in true full obedience. Not by turning us into robots. but by no longer dwelling WITH but actually living IN us. Glory! If it is impossible to be brought to the point that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, then abiding in Him is an impossibility as well, for the two go hand in hand. The question is.... HOW? Rhe answer is to reckon ourselves.... the old us.... as already having died. That is not who we are, it is who we WERE. So who are we? New creatures. But there is a problem. We have not believed it.... yet. In these last days, as the shakings intensify, we who are His will be brought to realize we simply do not have the strength or resolve to say no to temptations. If we cannot say no to temptations now , what happens when the mark of the beast arrives? What will cause us to remain faithful, obedient, no matter the cost? Rhe answer is not a what, but a WHO! Has God birthed the church in joy, victory and power, only to see it limp into glory hanging on by its fingernails? No way. The book of Acts was the early rain, followed by 1900 years of long dry summer, where the basic tenants of Christian doctrine were preserved but as far as light, life and victory were concerned, with but few notable exceptions, Christianity limped towards the finished line. But praise God, we are even now entering the period called the latter rain, where it is promised we as His people will again be brought fully alive, walking as overcomers in victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. And finally, the heathen WILL know we serve the true God for they shall see Him sanctified IN US before their very eyes. That is our soon-to-be future. Our birthright. Our heritage..... the God who actually indwells us to such a point that as Paul declared, it is no more us that live, but Christ who now lives in us. THAT is abiding in Christ, and that is where we discover, to our great amazement, He actually does cause us to obey Him. Glory! blessings, Gideon

Hi, Actually the hydrogen peroxide is the sanitizer. There need be no alcohol at all. It is used only as a drying agent in the formulas that I mentioned. Hydrogen peroxide is what the health department looked for and accepted, not alcohol. Alcohol evaporates too fast to sanitize was their reasoning. They insisted that surfaces must remain wet for five minutes minimum in order to be effective as a sanitizer. Anyway, I have always thought the "You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die" saying was from the Bible. So having dirty hands was okay. Maybe it was just a way to placate the young carrot picking stoop laborers on the carrot farms. I picked many a bushel of them at 35 cents a bushel. Bugs Bunny brand. Didn't know I was a day laborer. I just hoppod onto the tail gate of a ford station wagon that would pull up and was driven out to the farms past Lexington, MA. along with other kids that also hopped on. They paid us kids all on Saturday afternoon in cash. Then they drove us in the stationwagon to the Dairy Queen they owned, and let us eat to our hearts content and pay them back our wages for the food. So really we worked six days for a hamburger, fries, and a shake; plus a five dollar bill I would be sure to keep and not eat away at the Dairy Queen I would sometimes just eat a couple of fresh picked by me dirty carrots instead.That five dollar bill I would take to the savings and loan get a recor d of the deposit inmy little savingsand loan deposit book with the signature of th eS&l teller each time. I'd get 5% interest on it per year. I was gaining on being independent. I saved and saved up for a car to be purchased if I lived long enough to become 16. I had a full $500 saved when my family moved to the west coast right under the signs that said Disneyland and the Wonderbowl 40 Lanes. They needed my $500 for housing mortgage closing costs. I had no car but hey we all had a nice roof over our head; one of them little pink houses with a little pool too that were cranked out for you and me. I knew how to hitch hike to get were I needed to go. I did get to a making some money managed to finance a $1,200 used Plymouth Sports Fury for $63.90 a month. And I was on my way to having a credit rating, wowee I was a real American! Life is fun stuff, God is good, so good. Praise God for the adventure. Now all I have to concern myself about is have I eaten my peck of dirt yet or not. Other people get to worry a lot about hand sanitizer. Imagine that, sanitary hands. Who'da thunk? We were good with a wipe over our blue jeans and wash in cold water once or twice a day.

The world system is a grand illusion of perfected pretentiousness. The world offers you one thing. "Lust". It offers you the chance to never be satisfied and to lose what you have chasing what isn't worth having. God is Love, and the devil is Lust. God is Truth and Life, and the devil is confusion and death. The only way to be rescued from the power of the world's lust, which is the devil's spirituality..... = is for God to translate you (born again) into His Kingdom of Light. "Know Christ, know Hope.........No Christ, No Hope". The "world" is one big eye candy that can not deliver any hope or real love and is in fact is built on lies. It can't offer peace, and it has no truth to offer. The world's idea of "love" is fornication. God tells us that the world (world system) is built on shifting sand, it has no foundation at all, much less a firm one. God tells us that if we love the world (system), then His Love is not in us. God is Love............... The world is lust.

This is so fundamental. That means this Truth needs to be a metric by which we judge the many 'teachings' that come our way. Some of which sound very reasonable. This being 'Truth'--what follows can inform us regarding a great many things. Let him who hears, hear.

God said it, I believe it, that settles it. Some say only those sins that were not intentional are forgiven as well. But that was the old testament pattern. Hebrews tells us that we have a better covenant, a better high priest and a better sacrifice, all of which can forgive all our sins and give us a clean conscience. Heb 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10:11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. Heb 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, Heb 10:13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. Heb 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Heb 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, Heb 10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," Heb 10:17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

Compare mortality rates compared to the flu. No one panics during flu season.

I wonder who is really behind all of this panic? Is it political? Are they going to close down the grocery stores so people will starve? Are they going to close down the pharmacies so people can not get their medication? They are acting this like some kind of very serious disaster like a serious solar flare or EMP. It isn't.

It’s an emergency that needs to be taken seriously, but it’s a solvable emergency. I guess raising kids in the era of mass shootings, which there seems to be no solution, has made me not panic over things that can be solved. In any case, I hope everyone does the right thing to protect themselves and others, and uses this time to bond with family and neighbors. In a strange way I think we needed this. Not the deaths but a reminder that we need God and one another.

It’s not over and we need to follow the advice of our government, but it’s a problem that has a solution. I thought panic occurred when there was no solution. We seem to be causing additional problems by the way we are reacting to this virus. That is what’s scary to me.

Scary.

I think grocery stores are staying open. Also, can you order from Amazon and use delivery services at restaurants?

The world has indeed gone mad.

The world has gone insane. Our government have said they plan to imprison over 70 year olds in their own home for 4 months BUT are letting prisoners ...criminals free to avoid contamination spreading and to free up the prisons for the elderly and possibly sick that will be imprisoned for being free ???????? My next door neighbour is 73 and as fit as a fiddle … he walks an average of 10 miles a day , loves to go out for meals ( and can afford to do so ) and hates to be stuck indoors. He doesn't have and doesn't understand computers so couldn't use one to order food on lie for delivery and lives alone with no close relatives ( his nearest relative is a cousin he hasn't seen in over 20 years ) and all his friends would be in the same position of being over 70 so how is he meant to feed himself ? Maybe it could be seen as a good thing as all our house of lords would be confined to their homes along with a good number of the house of commons BUT since they didn't follow the rules of self isolating when one of their own was diagnosed as positive to the virus after attending a mass rally ( political naturally ) what gives them the right to demand it of citizens who haven't even shown any sign of being ill nor been in contact with others who have ???? End times ?????? It certainly feels that way

Agree in principle but this just isn't one of those occasions...Paul gave completely other reasons for the propriety of headcovering, and he simply wouldn't have lied.

If that were the reason why didn't Paul just say so? He didn't mention anything about that belief, but gave other reasons........which agree with lots of other scriptures, so it passes the test. "Because of the angels"...is simply because angels can fall...and they are very closely involved with things like prayer and prophesying. I think headcovering is a reminder for them..."a sign on her head".....a bit like a do not trespass sign.

Hi wikey321. I am sympathetic to you in as far as you are finding it difficult to believe in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and the only one through whom salvation may be obtained, and I can empathise with you as far as the feelings that confrontational Christians arouse in you. However, if having been told the truth concerning Jesus Christ you refuse to forsake all others and follow Him only, then you can expect to be chastised and disciplined by God in order to correct you and train you in seeking a personal relationship with Christ rather than settling for the bogus, counterfeit, false teachings of vain philosophy and dead religions. Mar 4:14-20 (14) The sower sows the word. (15) And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. (16) These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; (17) and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. (18) Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, (19) and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (20) But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

I never say I believe in Satan. I say that believe that he is. Isa 14 and Eze 28 give short biographies of Satan. They emphasize that he was given extraordinary gifts by God, became prideful to the point of leaving God, and faces certain destruction here are some observations: Satan is intelligent and crafty, yet he is the biggest fool of eternity. As a covering cherubim, he gazed on the beauty of God constantly, and yet chose to leave. He is guaranteed certain death in the lake of fire. He is a dead man walking who fights a war he is sure to lose. Satan was given power by God as an angel of the Lord and has been allowed to retain power to test/tempt mankind. The primary power he has is temptation which is the same thing that caused his fall, and which he used on Adam and Eve to cause their fall, and all of mankind within them. But God gave us his power to resist temptation. James 4:7 says to submit yourselves to God..resist Satan, and he will flee from you. By simply calling on the power of Jesus, we defeat Satan. The name of Jesus alone is power. Satan can only possess what is given to him. He cannot take anything. If a person opens himself up to Satan, he will reap what he sows. But anyone who loves Jesus is sealed. The Spirit of God is in him, and the Spirit will not share that space with anything impure. Satan can tempt from outside, but cannot invade this space. Jesus knows his own, and protects them. In Luke 22:31, Jesus tells Peter that Satan has desired to sift him like wheat. Jesus and our heavenly father will not allow it. 1 Cor 10:13 says that Jesus will never allow you to be tempted beyond what is bearable. Jas 1:15 says temptation leads to sin, which leads to death. But if we utilize the power of Jesus in us, we disarm Satan from the outset. He is powerless against us. Everyone chooses their course in life. Even those who choose not to choose have chosen. Ultimately, you are either with Jesus or against him. Satan made the wrong choice. He is a dead man walking. We have made the right choice. We will live forever with God. We are the wise ones for attending to the wisdom of God. We are the powerful ones, because the power of God is given to us, and lives in us. The Lord is our Shepherd, who shall we fear? There is no reason to fear any man, or demon, or ringleader of demons. We have already won, because Jesus won. Secure you own house by building it on the firm rock that is Jesus. Then you can help others off the shifting sand of worldliness and out of the firey destruction it will lead to. Here is a simple prayer if you are ever oppressed (not possessed) by demons: Help me Jesus. Repeat as necessary. He will fight for you. He will win your battle for you. We have already won.

Let's look at an interesting passage in Matthew to see just HOW IMPORTANT forgiveness truly is: Notice that Jesus was telling Peter how often he was to forgive! He was telling this to a believer in Messiah. This message was not addressed to unbelievers -- but to believers! Notice closely that we are just like this servant -- OUR SINS which are so GREAT -- we could never repay, but we come to the Lord in repentance in true worship -- the Lord LOOSES us and forgives us the debt that we owe. What happens when choose not to forgive? Watch this closely! Unforgiveness = being delivered to the TORMENTORS! It's the greek word -- basanistes and it's only used once in the entire NT. It literally means -- one who elicits the truth by the use of the rack; an inquisitor, torturer also used of a jailer doubtless because the business of torturing was also assigned to him. Because of unforgiveness you could easily be delivered to the tormentors -- the tormentors of bitterness, resentment, hostility and anger! These torment your soul because in your heart of hearts, you want to be in tune with the Lord -- in His perfect agape love -- in His perfect shalom (life, fullness, and peace). Learn to easily forgive your neighbor then you will find yourself FREE -- and in His freedom, you can enjoy the fulness of the fruit of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith and self-control! Learn the enemies tactics -- recognize the world around you -- recognize the enemy wants to bind you up so he can steal from you! NOW THAT YOU RECOGNIZE the tactics of the enemy -- do something about it -- learn to easily forgive, if it means you need to fight through the feelings of anger, then fight through it and forgive! It becomes easier and easier to forgive once you have opened your understanding that through forgiveness -- the joy of the Lord replaces the pain of the sins that you didn't want to forgive in the first place. Your brother in Messiah with much agape love, George