Leaderboard

A few years ago as part of the journaling I sometimes do, I narrowed some historical and recent causes of trouble down to these three things: 1. Unrealistic expectations. 2. Unreasonable demands. 3. Unbearable burdens. The solutions to these are found in the Bible, particularly in the Psalms, the Beatitudes, and Paul's Epistles. There is a temptation to blame others for causing trouble and sorrow etc., but pondering my past and praying for guidance, I have realised that actually I have caused all three of those things in the list to occur at times. The Lord has called me to minister spiritual life and growth through various means, and for many years I have led and participated in groups and teams to that end, as well as ministering to employees with that in mind, and I now understand how unrealistic some of my expectations have been. So you do a lot of training, study a lot of courses, gain a fair bit of experience, and then make the mistake of thinking that doing the work of ministry should be plain sailing because you have such a passion for it and have an expectation that because the Lord has called you to it everything will go smoothly. When it doesn't the disappointment can stay with you for years, and the memory of difficult demands, and heavy burdens can lead to thoughts of "Where did I go wrong?" I've been greatly encouraged of late in the knowledge that rather than plain sailing and smooth running leading to spiritual growth, it is the disasters, disappointments, and difficulties that do. What's your story?

I had the last one. In my 30`s (`80`s) I was teaching, playing music and teaching Sunday School at the meeting, playing sport, flying small aircraft, skiiing, etc. Then I contracted a debilitating sickness, I couldn`t move much. So for a few years I was mainly bed bound. Then over time I have gradually gained some strength but only 4 hours in the morning and 4 in the later afternoon. Other sickness on top of that, but through it all I would not change a thing for I have learnt that the Lord is very close and taught me so much. Hospital visits are my popular times for I get to talk to doctors and nurses about the Lord. I have had so many opportunities and I delight in having meals prepared and people come and help you. Life surely is exciting with the Lord.

Love you bro! I can only say that, of course, because of His love for me and in me! (and I was homeless and drugged-out too, many years ago, but by His graceful supply . . .) And besides, I have rough edges as well, as we all do, but just in other areas . . . Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Wasn't there one on a Mount somewhere?

I read a little book* this morning that really simplified my thinking. It said that there are really only two religions in the world - the religion that says we must do something to please God; and the one that says it has already been done in Christ! Put another way, one is a religion and the other is actually a relationship. Therefore our role is simply to believe (in Christ & His wonderful & complete atonement work) and let (Him operate in and through us)! What great blessings He has bestowed on us . . . this is truth and The Truth is making us free! * "done." by Cary Schmidt

@Michael37 You end your post asking "What's your story?" so allow me to share a 4th topic that changed my perspective in all areas of my life: Sense of entitlement. More than a decade ago, a few things were not going well for me and I didn't know why, until I came across one of those silly lists that people share, with a title like "5 things that are preventing you from being happy". I have some prejudices against this kind of stuff, but the last topic was "Sense of entitlement" and my scornful smile was immediately humbled. Most of my issues had roots on that "sense of entitlement". And then I remembered Joseph, Daniel, Jesus(!!), the prophets, the disciples, the persecuted... and thought "Who am i?! who am i to think that i am owed even the air that I breath? Some people are in jail for being Christians, for doing what is right. Who am I, with this plate of cookies in front of me?" We know what sailors say: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

The Lord does not approve of complacency on our part. There is something worth writing about, things I do not share otherwise. Have I endured hardship? Indeed. Hardship was my life in this world until everything except for the life in this body was taken away. This can happen to some in combat zones: the zone changes them so that they can never go home again. There was a soldier during the Gulf War who said this to his section chief: "I can never go home." He never did. Something similar happened to me in this life. After the Lord raised me up to be a man again, He promised that nothing would be the same. I didn't understand His words until they started unfolding before my eyes. Whereas in the past I lived life waiting for the hammer to fall --- it always did, sometimes sooner than later --- the opposite was happening. I would wait for the hammer to fall and instead of disaster, blessings would fall like rain all around me. My adopted mother defeated cancer and the damage to her liver was miraculously "rolled back" so that she wasn't in danger any longer. Her heart softened toward the Lord. No one and nothing disturbed the peace on her land again, and this was the promise the Lord made after He poured His Spirit upon me. She would live the rest of her days in peace knowing that she was loved. Not long before sudden illness took her, the Lord sent a dream wherein He displayed that my time on her land was coming to an end, and that He would take her. When I woke from that dream, He told me not to despair. Nothing on this earth endures forever, said the Lord. I would not remain on her ranch. That's how nothing was the same again. I was no longer ignorant of His will and instead of calamity, the Lord encourages me to stand and walk confident not in myself, but confident in Him. When I said, "Lord, I can be a terrible man." He assured me that I would not lack for a teacher in Him. I continue to overcome the war zone I lived and breathed in for so long, and I learned the wise alternative to expecting the worst: Accepting that whatever befalls me is according to His will and purpose.

Having been raised in the RC church, then becoming born again when believing the Gospel, I am rather prejudiced against the system that held me in bondage and pretended to provide salvation through penance and good works. I cannot see anyone's heart and would never condemn nor affirm someone's status before God. Was he saved? I don't know either, but I do know that his status as a monsignor nor his good works could play any part in salvation. The RCC does not teach salvation by grace through faith alone in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus. They teach another gospel as Galatians 1 warns us about. Individuals within that system can be saved but not because they have followed RCC doctrine. I refrained from naming the denominations that teach false gospels lest I be misunderstood by individuals in them and lessen my witness to them of the true Gospel at a future date, but yes you are correct about the movie and I saw it as propaganda for them while telling the true account of this man. Being the Pope, Billy Graham, or Mohammed with a million good works won't save you. God judges man's heart as to whether he has believed the Gospel. Faith releases God's power to save. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16

Figure of eighty = blue Jayne = red "I've been baptized twice. I feel I don't have a true love for God like other people. Instead I'm very angry and hateful towards God( in my heart)" Baptism doesn't save you. We know you are angry and hateful towards God. You keep telling us this over and over. When you repeat something long enough, ad nauseum, it becomes a truth to you. The DEVIL is the father of lies and he has made you believe the biggest lie of all - that you hate God and God cannot and will not help you. "I can't change. " Nope, you can't. None of us can. Only God can change us. "I feel like avoiding any ignoring God so I won't rack up more sins for myself. " "Racking up sins"?!? All it takes is one. That why everyone on the planet is a sinner. "I still remember the dream I had. I don't think church is a place for me anymore ... so now I'm going to willfully self isolate " I had a dream once that my almost perfect and loving father wanted to kill me. He turned into a monster. Another time that a dinosaur was chasing me. This "dream" of leaving other Christians behind and DANGEROUSLY "self-isolating" is NOT from God. God did not send you that dream. "I think once I finish my nursing school and things are less of a struggle with my kids and work ect then maybe I'll go back to God." What makes you think you are guaranteed anything beyond today? None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So you are throwing God in the trash can until YOU "feel" like talking to him? It doesn't work like that. "I can't with my hateful heart right now. " Then STOP convincing yourself that you hate God. You don't! You are alone, afraid, unable to tend to the children, and mentally ill. At least that's what you keep telling us. "So this is my solution. I don't want to be toxic. So I'm just gonna take alot of time to myself and be alone." YOUR solution? I know that this is bringing you a false, FALSE sense of relief. I've been there. I, MYSELF, have "self-isolated", "took a lot of time to be alone", and even self-medicated. I thought i was doing what was best for me, because it made me feel "safe" in that cocoon of "aloneness". I am STILL paying a price for all of that SELF, SELF, SELF to this day. Only God brought me out of it. "I think I'll spend time with God when I'm less hateful." Then you will NEVER come to God. The hate you harbor - that the devil keeps POUNDING and POUNDING like rusty and hellish nail in your heart - cannot be overcome with SELF or when "things" get better. Without God, things will never "get better". I've told you in private before that you are on my personal prayer list. I am NOT going to take you off.

Different circumstances (I never had kids) and issues but otherwise, identical to what I went through a long time ago. I was in the same place as you are, my friend: My family and relatives hated me; my mother wished that I had never been born. They taunted me. Religion made me perfectly ill. I had never grown up with anything remotely like it so when I encountered it in others, I wanted nothing to do with it. It was phony and tiresome. I believed that God hated me. Everything I did --- or tried to do --- was a disaster. I watched it fall apart before my eyes and there was nothing I could do to stop it from happening. Trying again only resulted in the same thing happening... over and over. It's the fiery trial, and don't think for a moment you're going through it because of sin or because the Lord despises you (I believed the latter). The fiery trial can last for a very long time... mine lasted a little over 20 years. I'll tell you what it means. It means that you are blessed beyond measure. Ah, but the blessing won't come until the fiery trial comes to an end. There is indeed another side of this that you will emerge into. Something to remember in the days to come: Losing religion is a wonderful thing. The Lord is not religious at all, but we certainly can be. Remember that.

This is not "truth". When the Arab extremists responded to the declaration of statehood with terrorism, all peaceful Arabs were invited by the Jewish government to stay where they were. There was no such thing as a "Palestinian" at the time. The "Palestinian" label was later adopted by the Arabs for purely political purposes - i.e. to give the false impression of indigeneity. In reality, the overwhelming majority of Arabs in Israel at the time migrated from the bankrupted Ottoman Empire in the late 1800s, or from Egypt in the 1920s. In the early 1800s, the land (called Palestine by the Romans) was mostly uninhabited. This is a lie. Jews purchased abandoned land from the diminishing Ottoman Empire and cultivated it. Arabs then moved from the north to where there were opportunities. With a few exceptions, Jews and Arabs largely coexisted peacefully in the land for the following few decades. The "colonial" narrative is antisemitic gaslighting. Only those unfamiliar with the facts would fall for such deception. Jews accepted the two-state solution offered by the United Nations in 1947 (General Assembly Resolution 181). Arabs rejected this plan in favor of terrorism. Prior to this, Arabs unanimously rejected the Peel Commision partition of the land between Arabs and Jews (1937). In 1993, the Arabs rejected the offering of a separate Arab state in the Oslo Accords. In 1998, the Arabs again rejected an attempt to reestablish the Oslo principles at Wye River. In 2000, Arabs rejected an offer (by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barack) to control 10% more land than was currently under Arab authority. In 2008, Ehud Olmert offered the Palestinian Authority near-total withdrawal from the West Bank, as well as the Old City part of Jerusalem. In all these instances, the Arabs rejected "a two state nation" in favor of intifada, or Jihad, or some other form of Holy war from this supposed "religion of peace". It is completely disingenuous (a.k.a. a demonstrable lie) to suggest that Israel have been the ones standing in the way of a "two state" solution. In 2005, Israel forcefully removed its own people from Gaza in order to give the Arabs a mini state under their own authority. Instead of using the opportunity and billions in Aid to establish a thriving state, they used the incoming wealth to turn Gaza into a terror state against Israel. Finally - something true. Yes - it is completely "justifiable". Sadly lacking in these protests is the demand for the Gazans to return Jewish hostages. Thereby demonstrating the innate susceptibility of these protestors to evil lies. 1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Psalm 92 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

I'd rather..... pray the same request 10,000 times to God - in brokenness and tears and earnestness..... than to be silent..... and have the devil bask in that silence.

As it looks more & more apparent that the middle-east situation is set turn into a major conflict, I've been having the realization that this is a big opportunity for the gospel among those we know! How simple is it to show people that God's main prophetic focus is all about Israel and the middle-east, and that this marks the ending of the age? Regardless what your particular theology or eschatology is, I think most would agree that the stage is being set and that this is according to what the Bible has laid out - the whole world will be drawn into conflict in this area. So I'm developing a few, simple talking points to tell others that this all is according to God's plan for the end of the age. It starts out by saying that the background of Israel becoming a nation again, after 2,000 years, is unprecedented in history. And soon, serious conflict will erupt there, of which we are already beginning to see. And then a very charismatic leader will arise to resolve the situation with a treaty, which will not last more than a few years. These events will start the countdown to the Lord returning - and now God is calling all people to repent and call on the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved! So that seems simple enough, right? And, of course, we need to be ready with a few verses/passages to back that up . . . but just keep it simple - His Spirit will do the rest!

Her lifestyle is not yours to judge and any child is a gift from God so congratulate her and keep praying that she hears Gods voice

I believe it has to do with the following: is the affliction caused by an unclean spirit? That's the real issue, not a.) unclean spirits are the cause of every human malady, or b.) that doesn't happen any longer. What I find is a propensity (eagerness among some) to blame Satan and unclean spirits for the evil of man when clearly, this is not the case. Neither Adam nor his wife were able to blame the serpent for their disobedience. The judgment of the dead answers that error in a definitive manner. An alternative is to blame human weakness and affliction on sin; specifically, someone sinned to be afflicted in the first place. That was dismissed by the Lord Himself in the 9th chapter of John. Ah, so now we find ourselves considering consequences which arise through no fault of our own because of a, b, c, and d together. In other words, according to the will and purpose of the Lord. What? The Lord will afflict someone who didn't otherwise deserve to be afflicted? Yes. Our Lord was afflicted for our sake and His blameless servant, Job, was afflicted greatly. Affliction, much like rain, falls upon the just and the wicked alike. That's hard for some to accept but nevertheless, it's true.

The answer is here: 1Co 14:1-3 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (2) For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. (3) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

I Believe in what He did, done, then I work. (created to do good works for what God has done) vs... I work, done, believe in what I did. (created to believe in my works for what I have done)

Similar in most ways. Difficulty has been the means by which the Lord teaches me. When I was younger, it was His discipline but now, He counsels me after the fact, reminding me of lessons learned through much hardship. I'll furnish a pertinent example. Normally, I'm silent toward all save for the Lord Himself. I use words sparingly unless He moves me to speak to another; my calling is different in focus and yet similar to your own. I usually find myself ministering to the desperate and those who have nothing left to lose. Over the years I have come to admire those whom the Lord places in my care, for their honesty and lack of pretense is encouraging. Indeed, I prefer this dangerous part of the city to locations of high real estate value. It has been my observation that comfort and plenty breed insolence and arrogance... and this is where difficulty arises, brother. Silence served me well for so long! By remaining silent, I controlled my tongue perfectly. Ah, but silence cannot serve as an escape route to avoid the hardship our Lord uses to for our benefit. The Lord knows how I struggle to treat those whom I perceive as pretentious or religious in the manner which I wish to be treated myself. My answer was silence and for years, this sufficed. There were other matters that the Lord focused upon. These days, the Lord bids me to break that silence and speak... in other words, I must take the risk of treating others poorly on account of my prejudices and flaws. Heh. Surely that last sentence sums up the learning opportunity in the Lord that breaking my silence affords. I criticize others on account of prejudices and flaws that I perceive... and I'm not oblivious to how this springs forth from my own prejudices and flaws. I'm not oblivious because after the deed is done, the Lord reveals the resounding irony of my actions and words. What do I say? "Lord! Why do I open my mouth or keyboard? I'm an idiot." No, I'm just a man... just like my brother is. Treat my brothers and sisters with the greatest care... that lesson which Christ delivered to me through the darkest of times in the desperate places. I forgot about that lesson.

Satan is a great deceiver. So much so that at the very end, HUMAN BEINGS created by God try to kill their own loving Creator at Armageddon whilst being led by the great deceiver Satan and his minions, the very same one who is responsible for death, mayhem, murder, rape, lies, greed, hate et al. Anytime I hear something like this I know right away the problem is the liar is whispering to the person. It is what it is, if we put on the world, our hearts will meld into worldliness, if we put on God our hearts will meld into Godliness and hate this evil world. It comes down to CHOICES.

Reminders – If you love me, keep my commandments. There is some confusion in the body of Christ concerning the keeping of the law of commandments. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 As Christians, we certainly love the Lord, don’t we? And if so, He says we should obey Him. Don’t Jesus’ commandments include the Old Testament law? So, what should a Christian’s relationship to that law be? As we’ve heard so many times before, we must always interpret scripture in context and in its relationship with the rest of the Bible, never isolating verses to fit our doctrine. As we do that concerning the law, we learn from the New Testament that keeping the law for salvation is impossible. “For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:20a The law was not given to save anybody, it was given to reveal man’s sinfulness in not keeping it. “…for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20b Paul explains what the relationship of the law to man is, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid…the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good…But sin, that it might appear sin, works death in me by that which is good; that sin, by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.” Romans 7:7-13 To punctuate the impossibility of being righteous by the law, James tells us, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10 But there is hope. Jesus lived a perfect life according to the law and thus fulfilled the requirements of the law for mankind forever. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17 And Jesus’ fulfillment of the law, removed the requirements of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 When we believed the Gospel, He forgave all our failures to keep the law, “having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 “For [God] hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 Final Thoughts: When asked what the New Testament commandments of Jesus are, most savvy Christians will quote Mark 12:29-31 which is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbor as yourself. Even the holiest among us will have to confess that they fall woefully short of loving God with ALL. Though we may want to love that much or try to love that much, that little word ALL humbles us into admission of not living up to that standard. So, what are Jesus’ commandments? Whatever He says to you. John 10:27 He is the living Word of God and He tells us what He wants us to do. Not as a list of commands with punishments attached for disobeying, but rather the revealing of His will and what is best for our walk with Him in fellowship. Because we love Him, we want to keep and do those things He asks. The ‘I have to’ of the O.T. law, has now become ‘I want to’ as new creations in Christ. ph

Hi @RdJ Biblical Theology begins with God being Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient. This means that in Eternity and Infinity He always exists and always knows all that is knowable, so that each second of time and everything that exists in that second is examinable by God in Eternity and Infinity. If this were not so God would not be God. The fact that God put the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil in the Garden of Eden proves He knew beforehand what evil was. God always knows everything regardless of time.

Why do we melt iron? It purifies the iron to make steel. Why do we thresh wheat? It separates the wheat berries from the unusable stalks. Why did God give man the opportunity to sin? It gave man the choice to serve Him or reject Him. Angels were created to serve. Only the greatest of them have the ability to accept or reject God. For the others, it's their nature to follow. Satan rebelled and was cast out of Heaven, taking 1/3rd of the angels with him because they followed him. So, cast out of Heaven but not banished from it, Satan roamed the newly created realm. He deceived Eve and caused her to sin, but Adam was not deceived. He willingly broke the law. Because of that, the new creation was cursed. Sickness and death came into the world. The animals, created to eat plants, began to eat each other. Still, God had a purpose for Satan. He was there to tempt Jesus at His moment of weakness. To demonstrate that a man could resist the temptation to sin, Jesus had to do just that. Thus, Jesus showed us that we can resist the devil in exactly the same way. He showed us that Satan could be defeated by using the Scriptures, which even Satan knew were accurate. Sadly, many Christians don't have the faith in the Bible that Lucifer had. We have a choice to follow God's word or to reject it and follow Satan's temptations. Man is being tested from birth to death to determine his worthiness in eternity. Most will fail. When Jesus returns following the tribulations, Satan will be bound for a thousand years. After that will come his judgment and final condemnation. He hasn't gotten away with anything. Every sin will convict him, just as our sins will convict us unless we have someone to take them away from us. That's where Jesus comes in. Only through Jesus can sins be forgiven. Can a Muslim who sees Jesus only as a prophet go to Heaven? No. Can a Buddhist who strives to be a moral person go to Heaven without Jesus? No. God provides us with an example of holiness and an example of evil. The choice is ours. When our time on earth has ended and there will be no more time to choose, Satan will go where he belongs. Until then, we are in a war. Will you fight on the side of Jesus, or follow Satan into damnation? You have a choice until you die. Then there is no second chance.

I didn't/couldn't quit!............... I was delivered. By God, totally! May sound petty, but to an addict, it's a miracle. Thanks farouk..

Gideon's International provides Bibles for free in hundreds of languages. I just emailed them asking if they could provide Hindi Bibles to you. https://www.gideons.org

It's worth sharing how I learned to "speak in turn." How? I lost the ability to speak and had to learn how to do it all over again. That was the first step along the way to be sure. The second step ---and arguably the most important lesson that the Lord delivered to me in this regard after He taught me how to speak again --- was remaining silent while my adopted mother did her very best to drive me away. How I did I know when I should say nothing? The Spirit commanded me to say nothing. He made it all too easy to do the "right thing" at the right time, for this is precisely what He promises to do for us all. When the Lord told me that I was to honor her as if she was my mother, this included bearing whatever she threw my way in silence. Did I ever want to pack my duffel bag and take off? Yes indeed, and on more than one occasion. The Lord intervened, saying that I was going nowhere. I didn't realize that I was facing dementia until the Spirit said as much one day when I cried out to Him to reveal why saying nothing --- and ignoring her bizarre demands that I leave --- pleased Him. She was suffering from dementia and I was the one whom He chose to be a son until her time was finished. The one who waits upon the Lord speaks in turn, my friends. There are times when we say nothing at all.

I been listening to podcasts by the Orthodox Church various ones. I don’t hold to there position on Mary and icons. But I am finding a lot of there teaching is spiritual nourishment. Nothing heretical I have found. They teach repentance on a daily basis. They say if you sin get up and confess it right away. I believe that too. I rather listen to the Orthodox Church then the word of faith teachers. Like Copeland and others.

Approaching God in prayer especially about a topic I would rather brush under the rug, namely, my shortcomings and sins are subjects that I make certain I do pray about, to clear my conscience and remain an open book before Him.

You are either going to focus on the great love of God or you are going keep your mind stayed on your problems. It's your choice. I understand - completely understand the struggle. I've had a BAD, BAD day and it's just 1:00. Keep a few scriptures written down to read when you are overwhelmed and remember what @Tristen said. "God knew exactly what he was getting with you and loved you anyway." Here's a good scripture. Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In "EVERY" situation. With "prayer" and "petition", WITH "thanksgiving".

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

I so often find it amazing how after hearing a sermon at church, and receiving one of my devotionals in my emails, they both address the same topic I had been concerned with. Like gears from different sources that mesh together to bring about a common understanding of the word. For myself the devotionals I receive expound the word of God, Neighbor. In layman terms, like you said to 'inspire, reveal, encourage, point out something, edify etc. And to verify to me how we all experience similar ups and downs, and learn how God has provided his word to show us how we can apply his wisdom to our situation we're in. The two I receive are both from old friends I have known for years, working class guys just like us, who are led to reveal their thoughts to bless others according to God's word. Gives me new insight so often that bless me. And receiving them in the morning gives me a great start on the day ahead. "devotions as compared to God's inspired word the Bible" The devotionals I receive are the word of the bible as revealed from another brother sharing these nuggets of truth. Not compared to the word but led by the word from the word to bless others, as says the word to do. Thanks Neighbor...

The Devil knows our sinful proclivities and he exploits these weaknesses. Personally, I have never had a weakness toward substance abuse (I have never been drunk, nor have done drugs, nor tobacco, etc.) and I "don't get it" why others have these weaknesses, but that is human nature: we "don't get it," until we ourselves have the same problem. My weakness (not surprisingly): being self-righteous, something I struggle with daily.

Good post Heb 10 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 1 Pet 5 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. John 1 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

I will venture there is an overlap. To continually experience Christ is to continually solve problems. I look for that in all things material and spiritual. For me it is a given that the apostles and saints are used of God to that end.

I think you're doing fine, @Thewhitedove. The lure of fleshly religion to condemn this or that is what you are to overcome, not being kind and compassionate toward your colleague. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Remember this: conviction is godly and a work of the Spirit, but condemnation is ungodly and a work of the flesh. The one who convicts this woman is the Lord; our place is to be gentle, meek, and patient. Our example is what speaks to others. Being pointed at, accused, and condemned is the example of defiled religion. It's powerless and hollow, lacking love.

Of course you can "honor God" - by treating her with love and acceptance, by being kind and patient with her, by being the closest thing to Jesus she will ever likely encounter besides Jesus Himself (ideally). The child is now a reality - and loved by God. There's no reason you have to stop being friendly towards her. We were all corrupted by sin - before we found His grace. This friend is no different. She, like many others, has been deceived into thinking her sexual proclivities are morally acceptable. With a baby on the way, she is about to go through some challenging times (as is true for all new parents). This is an opportunity to show Her the love of God. Pray for her, see if she has needs you can help meet, get other Christians around her if possible. Only Jesus can give her righteousness. If you show her His love, perhaps He will use you to turn her heart towards Himself in repentance. If she asks, be honest about the truth - that God loves her overwhelmingly but is very clear regarding His disapproval of homosexuality. Then the choice will be hers as to what she does with that information. But otherwise, be Jesus to her as much as you have opportunity. "Love never fails".

It seems to me that while cups are literally containers from which to consume whatever they are filled with, figuratively "cups are a statement about allotted portions given for related reasons to those specially chosen to partake of them." Psalm 16:1-11 A Michtam of David. (1) Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. (2) O my soul, you have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You." (3) As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." (4) Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips. (5) O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. (6) The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. (7) I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. (8) I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. (9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. (10) For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. (11) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Say what? ??? Am I to be worshiping the product of various publishers, books sold for profit, as though they are sacred idols to me? Seems to me what is written by God into one's heart may be considered of great value or sacred, but a bound stack of paper? What of our computers or cell phones with their Bible apps, are Christians to hold them somehow sacred, not to be placed in a purse or pocket, especially not a back hip pocket?

Pagans regarded these occurrences as signs from their gods. Two to five solar eclipses occur every year so this isn't a unique or necessarily noteworthy event.

Hi, Kristina. Jeremiah 2:13 = “For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” This is figurative of course. God is about to condemn Judah to be taken captive by Babylon for 70 years. He chooses the very young man, Jeremiah to pronounce to them why. They won't listen. According to this verse, they have done two things wrong [1] They have turned their backs on God who is the fountain of living waters. Living waters - representing the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Living waters = running water, fresh and clean/clear. [2] To replace their worship of God, they made for themselves "cisterns". A cistern is a man-made pit or hole dug to store water. It can also be made hardened with something like clay. The water can get stagnant and even dry up. And if the cisterns BREAK as God claimed theirs were - then there is no water. He isn't talking about real cisterns. God is says that Judah has turned their back on HIM, the only God who can provide, protect, and save. And that they have turned to other gods who can do NOTHING. Why? Because they don't exist. They are just broken and empty imaginations.

In fellowship this evening with a couple others, I realized that one other thing is needed that I wanted to convey to you - declare scripture out loud. That is, take a verse you think is good and speak it, even pray it back to the Lord. His word is living and operative, and by speaking it, it changes you. (and also puts the lying enemy to flight) Do you have any favorite verses?

As a true Jew according to Paul is one who is inwardly so in their heart, and not due to heredity (Romans 2:28-29);--the formation of the land of Israel in 1948 that many individuals claim to be the gathering of the Lords people would then be inaccurate. The gathering of the Lords people from the four winds would then consist of people throughout the world who are inwardly spiritually circumcised in heart who believe in love for their fellow man. Among these individuals will also be full blooded Jews who are inwardly spiritually circumcised in heart, who believe in love for their fellow man, who will be gathered from the four winds of the earth. This gathering of the faithful throughout the world happens following the great tribulation, when most who believe thusly, will have been killed during the beasts reign. Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

I hope God gives me a new heart. So I can enjoy God like everyone else and not have issues.

You may ignore God to show him your anger. But he won't ignore you. He will never leave you! He will never forsake you! God doesn't lie. Trust is best when things get hard. Wait upon the Lord...And his timing. EDIT, PS: Those sins you mention have been paid for, washed away!

I think I should try some of that procrastination stuff . . . but . . . maybe tomorrow or next week . . .

Praying for your healing and recovery. Regarding selling your stuff . . . take some time to recover, and then make your decision regarding those things. I have made many a bad decision in the 'moment' of circumstances, and regretted those decisions later . . . Ray . . .

I agree 100%. God speaks through His word and His word says he speaks through the gifts ;) Praise God! Quite awhile back a church I attended was broken into and all the sound gear was stolen. About two weeks later they found the robbers and the gear was all returned. God watches out for His own .