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angels4u

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  1. angels4u
    Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
    One of my favorite Bible verses~~
    Isaiah 40:31 
    But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
     

     
     
  2. angels4u

    ~~Build wisely~~

    By angels4u,

    Received such a good devotion from George today, that I like to share it~~~
    Thank you Lord  for using  George to make us aware of the life we're building ~~
    Amen ~~~
     
     
     Build wisely! 

    1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

    An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. His contractor was sorry to see such a good employee go, and asked him if he would build just one last house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed but his heart was not in it. He resorted to bad workmanship and using cheap materials.

    When the carpenter finished his work, the contractor came over and handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "I appreciate all the hard work you've done for me all these years and I'd like you to have this house as a token of my gratitude."

    The carpenter was shocked! If only he had only known he was building his own house, he would have worked much harder! Now he owned a house that wasn't built very well.

    We should think of ourselves as carpenters, and our lives here on earth, as our house. Each day we hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall, we must build with care! It is the only life we will ever build. And what we do here will count for eternity! 

    Our lives today are the result of our attitudes and choices in the past. Our lives tomorrow will be the result of our attitudes and the choices we make today! Let’s proceed with caution.

    Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

    George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
    Negev Desert, Israel
  4. angels4u
    A promise from God I heard from another member here in Worthy explain in such a nice way ,I hope you don't mind me copying them in this blog? '
    They mean a lot to me and probably to many people who may read this?
     
    The Lord saved me in the year of 1981 after reading this Bible verse..my life very much changed after I accepted Jesus as my Savior and I have never been the same since .
     
    Glory to our God,for He is worthy to be praised !
     
    For God so loved = the focus is the love, mercy, and grace of God, not the sovereignty of God.
    The world = the world of humanity = every human being,
    That He gave = salvation if entirely from God, and of God, not of works or merit or anything manmade
    His only begotten Son = salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, not sacraments or anything else
    That whosoever = anyone and everyone without exception,
    Believeth in Him = salvation is by grace through faith alone
    Should not perish = none should go to Hell (the Lake of Fire)
    But have everlasting life = eternal life is God's gift to the sinner who repents and believes.
     
    ~~ Thank you Lord for Your promise!~~
    Come Lord Jesus come~~
     
  5. angels4u
    The Fish and the Rain
    The water in a lake was fast drying up. The fish were all alarmed. A meeting of the animals in the lake was held. The crocodile, as the most powerful among them, took the chair. The tortoise made a long speech, and concluded by saying: “Therefore it is, I do not care whether it is land or water. It is the same to me; I can live in either.”
     
    if they had been flying fish...
    The crab made another long speech, and, in the end, observed: “No less with me, brethren. Should the lake dry up I will go to the neighbouring fields and live in the holes.” The snails, the leeches, the water-snakes, and various other animals, gave some excuse or other to keep away from praying for rain.  
    The crocodile summed up, saying: “I care not where I live. On land I find better food than in water, for you must all admit that a hare, or rabbit, or some other land animal of the kind, is much better fare than fish or frogs.” At this there was loud applause, and the meeting came to an end.
    But the poor fish, who could not live out of water for one moment, thought it their duty, however, to pray; so they did.
    Very soon the sky was overcast, the clouds poured, and the lake was full. All the animals rejoiced at it. The fish, with heartfelt pride and pleasure, observed:
    “Heaven blesseth the many for the few!”
    Text source: Indian Fables. Collected and edited by P. V. Ramaswami Raju. With 18 plates by F. Carruthers Gould. London 1901.
    Image source: fresco of a flying fish from the bronze age excavation of Phylakopi on Milos

  6. angels4u
    The Fox and the Grapes
    by Aesop
    One evening in autumn, a mouse and a sparrow sat beneath a grape-vine chatting about this and that. Suddenly, the sparrow chirped to his friend: “Hide yourself, the fox is coming!” And he himself quickly flew up into the vine’s foliage.
     
    trying to get to those grapes
    The fox sneaked closer and closer to the grape-vine, his eyes longingly on the fat, blue, overripe grapes. Carefully he peeked into all direction. Then he pounced, put his fore-paws against the vine’s stem, stretched his body and tried to catch a few grapes with his mouth. Alas, they were hanging too high.
     
    Somewhat angered, he tried his luck again. This time he took a giant leap but again he only caught empty air.
    He tried a third time and he tried as hard as he could, jumping with all his might. Almost beside himself with greed, he snapped after the juicy grapes and stretched and stretched until fell down on his back. Not a single leaf had moved.
    The sparrow who had silently observed the fox’s attempts until now, could no longer contain himself and chirped cheekily: “Mister fox, you have your sights set too high!”
    The mouse peeked out from her hiding place and piped up: “Do not bother, you will never get the grapes.” And like an arrow she shot back into her mouse-hole.
    The fox bit his teeth, turned up his nose and said loftily: “They are simply not ripe enough yet. I don’t like my grapes sour.” And with his head held high he pranced back into the forest.
    Copyright for this fable’s translation: TaleTellerin
    Copyright for image used: The Fox and the Grapes, from ”The Æsop for Children”,
  7. angels4u
    The Frog and the Mouse
    by Martin Luther
    A mouse would have liked to cross the water, alas she could not do it. So she asked the frog for help. The frog was a jokester and the mouse’s enemy and so he said to the mouse: “Tie your foot to my foot and I will swim across the water pulling you with me.”
    But as they were in the water, the frog took a dive and wanted to drown the mouse. And while the mouse is struggling and fighting, a harrier comes a-flying, snatches the mouse with the frog still tied to her leg and eats them both.
    This fable shows that the world is filled by evil and betrayal. But in the end, betrayal beats her master.
     
  8. angels4u
    The Town Mouse and the Field Mouse (Luther)
     
    The Town Mouse and the Field Mouse
    (by Martin Luther)
    A town mouse was taking a walk when it met a field mouse. The latter was enjoying acorns, grains and nuts and whatever else she could find. But the town mouse said: “Why would you want to live in poverty like this! Come with me and I will secure enough delicious foods for both of us.”
    The field mouse moved with her into a wonderfully pretty house in which the town mouse lived. And they went into pantries which were bursting with meat, bacon, sausages, bread, cheese and so much more. The town mouse said: “Now eat and enjoy! Such foods I have every day in abundance.”
    But then the waiter came and rumbled with the key at the door. The mice started and ran off. The town mouse soon found her hole but the field mouse did not know where to go, she ran along the walls and believed her life over.
    But as the waiter was gone again, the town mouse said: “Now the danger is over. Let’s enjoy ourselves.”
    The field mouse replied: “That’s easy for you to say. You knew where to find your hole while I almost died of fright. I will tell you my opinion: You stay a town mouse and eat sausages and bacon but I will stay a poor, little field mouse and eat my acorns. You are not ever safe from the waiter, from the cat, from the oh so many mouse-traps and the whole house is your enemy. I am free of all that and safe in my poor field hole.”
    Who has got wealth, has many worries.
     
    https://taletellerin.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/town-mouse-and-field-mouse-luther/
  13. angels4u
    Hebrews 11:8
    8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
    This is faith without sight, seeing is not faith but reasoning.
    Too many of us want to see our way through a new endeavor before we will even start.
    Imagine  if we could see our way from beginning to the end.
    How ever would we develop our Christian gifts?
    Faith, hope and love cannot be picked of the trees like ripe apple's  ,it is our first step of faith that turns the key in the lock of His powerhouse.
    It is true that God helps those who help themselves ,but He can also help those who are helpless.
    So no matter your circumstance ,you can depend on Him every time.
    Waiting on God brings us to the end of our journey much faster then our feet.
    Many a opportunity is lost while we deliberate after He has said, Move!
     
    Streams in the dessert
     
  14. angels4u
    Leland Schmitt Yesterday at 4:28pm ·    This is Carrie Underwood. If this is your Idea of a Christian your not a Christian. Btw notice the revealing dress? See anything? Look again......... Her dress is a depiction of Baphomet, The Goat Demon. It's in our face every day, everywhere, these are truly times to be awake. Many so-called Christians that are famous are nothing more than workers of satan trying to deceive people and lure them slowly into apostasy. Here is a thumb rule I use in my daily life - " if it is acceptable to the Masses, or is a cultural norm its not of God. If it seems harmless, it's probably harmful". Without discernment your a sitting duck,
  15. angels4u
    Paul the Servant to All
    …21To those without the Law I became like one without the Law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the Law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some of them. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.…1 Cor 9:22
     13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble. 1 cor.8:13
     
     
     
  16. angels4u
    Faith in Action Hebr.11:1
     Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
     
    Hebr.1:1
    ... If we truly have cast our burdens upon another,can they continue to pressure us?
    If we carry them with us from the throne of grace ,it is obvious that we not left them there.
    In my own life I test the prayers in this way:after committing something to God , if I can come away ,like Hannah did ,with no more sadness ,pain,or anxiety in my heart ,I see it as proof that I have prayed the prayer of faith.
    But if I pray and then still carry my burden ,I conclude that my faith was not exercised. 
     
    Dr Payson
  17. angels4u
    Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
    God chooses people He can depend upon.
    God knows that you can withstand your trial, or else He would not have given it to you. His trust in you explains the trials for your life,no matter how severe they may be. God knows your strength ,and He measures it to the last inch. 
    Remember ,no trial has ever been given to anyone that was greater then  that person's strength ,though God ,to endure it.
     
  18. angels4u
    Reminder of who we are in  Jesus Christ !
     
    Our Identity in Christ According to the Scriptures
     
    Here is a list of Gospel Identity Scriptures to help remind us of who we are in Jesus.
    The Word of God Says in Jesus Christ…
    I am faithful (Ephesians 1:1)
    I am God’s child (John 1:12)
    I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
    I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
    I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)
    I am a member of Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:27)
    I am assured all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)
    I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
    I am confident that God will perfect the work He has begun in me (Philippians 1:6)
    I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
    I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
    I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)
    I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)
    I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
    I am chosen before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4, 11)
    I am holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4)
    I am adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5)
    I am given God’s glorious grace lavishly and without restriction(Ephesians 1:5,8)
    I am in Him (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
    I have redemption (Ephesians 1:8)
    I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)
    I have purpose (Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11)
    I have hope (Ephesians 1:12)
    I am included (Ephesians 1:13)
    I am sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
    I am a saint (Ephesians 1:18)
    I am salt and light of the earth (Matfthew 5:13-14)
    I have been chosen and God desires me to bear fruit (John 15:1,5)
    I am a personal witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)
    I am God’s coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1)
    I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
    I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)
    I am raised up with Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12)
    I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
    I have been shown the incomparable riches of God’s grace(Ephesians 2:7)
    God has expressed His kindness to me (Ephesians 2:7)
    I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
    I have been brought near to God through Christ’s blood(Ephesians 2:13)
    I have peace (Ephesians 2:14)
    I have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18)
    I am a member of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19)
    I am secure (Ephesians 2:20)
    I am a holy temple (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19)
    I am a dwelling for the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22)
    I share in the promise of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6)
    God’s power works through me (Ephesians 3:7)
    I can approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
    I know there is a purpose for my sufferings (Ephesians 3:13)
    I can grasp how wide, long, high and deep Christ’s love is(Ephesians 3:18)
    I am completed by God (Ephesians 3:19)
    I can bring glory to God (Ephesians 3:21)
    I have been called (Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:9)
    I can be humble, gentle, patient and lovingly tolerant of others(Ephesians 4:2)
    I can mature spiritually (Ephesians 4:15)
    I can be certain of God’s truths and the lifestyle which He has called me to (Ephesians 4:17)
    I can have a new attitude and a new lifestyle (Ephesians 4:21-32)
    I can be kind and compassionate to others (Ephesians 4:32)
    I can forgive others (Ephesians 4:32)
    I am a light to others, and can exhibit goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:8-9)
    I can understand what God’s will is (Ephesians 5:17)
    I can give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20)
    I don’t have to always have my own agenda (Ephesians 5:21)
    I can honor God through marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)
    I can parent my children with composure (Ephesians 6:4)
    I can be strong (Ephesians 6:10)
    I have God’s power (Ephesians 6:10)
    I can stand firm in the day of evil (Ephesians 6:13)
    I am dead to sin (Romans 1:12)
    I am not alone (Hebrews 13:5)
    I am growing (Colossians 2:7)
    I am His disciple (John 13:15)
    I am prayed for by Jesus Christ (John 17:20-23)
    I am united with other believers (John 17:20-23)
    I am not in want (Philippians 4:19)
    I possess the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16)
    I am promised eternal life (John 6:47)
    I am promised a full life (John 10:10)
    I am victorious (I John 5:4)
    My heart and mind is protected with God’s peace (Philippians 4:7)
    I am chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12)
    I am blameless (I Corinthians 1:8)
    I am set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32)
    I am crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)
    I am a light in the world (Matthew 5:14)
    I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)
    I am the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)
    I am safe (I John 5:18)
    I am part of God’s kingdom (Revelation 1:6)
    I am healed from sin (I Peter 2:24)
    I am no longer condemned (Romans 8:1, 2)
    I am not helpless (Philippians 4:13)
    I am overcoming (I John 4:4)
    I am persevering (Philippians 3:14)
    I am protected (John 10:28)
    I am born again (I Peter 1:23)
    I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
    I am delivered (Colossians 1:13)
    I am redeemed from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13)
    I am qualified to share in His inheritance (Colossians 1:12)
    I am victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57)
    Scripture Verses about Our Identity in Christ
     
    What Happened to Me?
     
    Rom. 5:1 I have been justified (completely forgiven and made righteous).
    Rom. 6:1-6 I died with Christ and died to the power of sin’s rule on my life.
    Rom. 8:1 I am free forever from condemnation.
    1 Cor. 1:30 I have been put into Christ by God’s doing.
    1 Cor. 2:12 I have received the Spirit of God into my life that I might know the things freely given to me by God.
    1 Cor. 2:16 I have been given the mind of Christ.
    1 Cor. 6:19, 20 I have been bought with a price.  I am not my own.  I belong to God.
    2 Cor. 1:21 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God in Christ.
    2 Cor. 5:14, 15 Since I have died, I no longer live for myself, but for Him (Christ).
    2 Cor. 5:21 I have been made righteous.
    Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  (The life I am living is Christ’s life.)
    Eph. 1:3 I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing.
    Eph. 1:4 I have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him.
    Eph. 1:5 I was predestined (determined by God) to be adopted as a son.
    Eph. 1:7, 8 I have been redeemed, forgiven, and am a recipient of His lavish grace, Eph. 1:13, 14 and have been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge (a deposit/down payment) guaranteeing my inheritance to come.
    Eph. 2:5 I have been made alive together with Christ.
    Eph. 2:6 I have been raised up and seated with Christ in heaven.
    Eph. 2:18 I have direct access to God through the Spirit.
    Eph. 3:12 I may approach God with boldness, freedom, and confidence.
    Col. 1:13 I have been delivered (rescued) from the domain of darkness (Satan’s rule) and transferred to the kingdom of Christ.
    Col. 1:14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (the debt against me has been cancelled).  (see Col. 2:13, 14)
    Col. 1:27 Christ Himself is in me.
    Col. 2:7 I have been firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built up in Him.
    Col. 2:11 I have been spiritually circumcised (my old, unregenerate nature has been removed).
    Col. 2:10 I have been made complete in Christ.
    Col. 2:12, 13 I have been buried, raised, and made alive with Christ.
    Col. 3:1-4 I have been raised up with Christ.  I died with Christ.  My life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Christ is now my life.
    2 Tim. 1:7 I have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.
    2 Tim. 1:9 I have been saved and called (set apart) according to God’s doing.
    Titus 3:5
    Heb. 2:11 Because I am sanctified and am one with the Sanctifier (Christ), He is not ashamed to call me brother.
    Heb. 4:16 I have a right to come boldly before the throne of God (the throne of grace) to find mercy and find grace in time of need.
    2 Pet. 1:4 I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which I am a partaker of the divine nature (God’s nature).
    Who Am I?
     
    Matt. 5:13 I am the salt of the earth.
    Matt. 5:14 I am the light of the world.
    John 1:12 I am a child of God (part of His family).  (see Rom. 8:16)
    John 15:1, 5 I am part of the true vine, a branch of His (Jesus’) life.
    John 15:15 I am Jesus’ friend.
    John 15:16 I am chosen and appointed by Jesus to bear His fruit.
    Acts 1:8 I am a personal witness of Christ for Christ.
    Rom. 6:18 I am a slave of righteousness.
    Rom. 6:22 I am enslaved to God.
    Rom. 8:14, 15 I am a son of God.  (God is my “daddy” so to speak) (see Gal. 3:26, 4:6)
    Rom. 8:17 I am a joint-heir with Christ sharing His inheritance with Him.
    1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19 I am a temple (home) of God.  His Spirit dwells in me.
    1 Cor. 6:17 I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.
    1 Cor. 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.  (see Eph. 5:30)
    2 Cor. 5:17 I am a new creation (new person).
    2 Cor. 5:18, 19 I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation.
    Gal. 3:26, 28 I am a son of God and one in Christ.
    Gal. 4:6, 7 I am an heir of God since I am a son of God.
    Eph. 1:1 I am a saint.  (see 1 Cor. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2)
    Eph. 2:10 I am God’s workmanship (handiwork) created in Christ to do the work He planned beforehand that I should do.
    Eph. 2:19 I am a fellow citizen with the rest of God’s people in His family.
    Eph. 3:1 / 4:1 I am a prisoner of Christ.
    Eph. 4:24 I am righteous and holy.
    Phil. 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven and seated in heaven right now (see Eph. 2:6)
    Col. 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God.
    Col. 3:4 I am an expression of the life of Christ because He is my life.
    Col. 3:12 I am chosen of God, holy, and dearly loved.
    1 Thes. 1:4 I am chosen and dearly loved by God.
    1 Thes. 5:5 I am son of light and not of darkness.
    Heb. 3:1 I am a holy brother, partaker of a heavenly calling.
    Heb. 3:14 I am a partaker of Christ … I share in His life.
    1 Pet. 2:5 I am one of God’s living stones and am being built up (in Christ) as a spiritual house.
    1 Pet. 2:9, 10 I am a part of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession to proclaim His excellencies.
    1 Pet. 2:11 I am an alien and stranger to this world that I temporarily live in.
    1 Pet. 5:8 I am an enemy of the devil.
    1 John 3:1, 2 I am now a child of God.  I will resemble Christ when He returns.
    1 John 5:18 I am born of God; the evil one (the devil) can’t touch me.
    Psalm 23 & 100 I am a sheep of His pasture.  Therefore, I have everything I need.
    http://crossinglouisville.com/sermon/our-identity-in-christ/
  19. angels4u
    Sacrifice, Obedience, and Prayer
    14For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. 15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. 16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.…
    Hebrews 13:14/16.    
  20. angels4u
    In speaking about homosexuality in my church and in different venues around the country (and sometimes around the world), the most common question I’ve received (by far) is whether a Christian who believes homosexual behavior is wrong should attend a gay wedding.
    The question is often a painful one. It’s one thing to hold to biblical views on marriage and sexuality in a culture that increasingly hates those views. That’s hard enough. But to tell your son or daughter or brother or sister or mom or dad or cousin or buddy from college that you won’t attend their (ideally) once-in-a-lifetime event feels like too much offense to give and too much of a burden to bear. I sympathize with sincere believers who really want to honor God and communicate love to their friends and family at the same time. These are difficult days to be Christians with convictions about marriage.
    And yet, as much as we can feel the weight and the heartache of the question, the answer should be no.
    I’ve written on this subject before, but my response assumed in part that the wedding ceremony would have some religious component to it:
    That was the gist of my argument. I went on in the article to address a number popular objections (e.g., Jesus hung out with sinners; we should fear being contaminated by the world; we don’t want to turn people off to God’s love), and at the end I made a passing reference to ceremonies that were not religious in nature. But I didn’t deal head on with the question posed in the title of this post: What if the wedding is thoroughly secular, does that change the moral calculus?
    You may be thinking, “I get your point about a Christian wedding ceremony. But my friend doesn’t claim to be a Christian. He and his partner are total agnostics. Their service won’t be religious in the least. I’m not going to worship God. I’m just going so my friend knows I care about him.” I’ve heard conservative Christians make similar arguments several times. I see their appeal. I don’t, however, find them intellectually or spiritually compelling.
    In short, as personally painful as it may be, and as much as the world will call us names and castigate our motives, those who believe marriage is between a man and a woman should not attend a ceremony that purports to be the marrying of a man and a man or a woman and a woman, even if that ceremony is completely secular in nature.
    Why such a “hard line” stance? Here are three reasons.
    1. The purpose of a wedding ceremony is to celebrate and solemnize.No matter the formal liturgy or no liturgy at all, the reason a couple puts together a wedding ceremony is so that others can join in celebrating with them. Isn’t this why invitations speak of “honoring us with your presence” or “join us as we celebrate”? Isn’t this why at a reception the couple invariably takes time to thank all their friends and family for coming? Isn’t this why we throw rice or blow bubbles or release balloons? Isn’t this why we wait in line to give the newlyweds a hug?
    Two (unmarried, of age) people can fill out the necessary paperwork and get married at the courthouse or on a beach or in the basement without any planning, any fanfare, or any guests. But hardly anyone gets married in this way. Instead they plan a party. They line up food and drink and music and invite their friends. There is nothing in the secular nature of a wedding ceremony that makes it less of a celebration. And there’s the rub: how can we celebrate what we deem to be a serious moral transgression and an definitional impossibility?
    2. Wedding ceremonies are almost always public in nature. Many Christians are quick to parse out their support: “They know where I stand. They know what I believe. I’m not coming to support the marriage. I’m coming to support my son and let him know that I still love him.” Again, I sympathize with this reasoning and do not dismiss lightly. But in addition to minimizing the previous point about celebration and solemnization, this line of thinking ignores the public aspect of a wedding (and no matter how small the event, if you are being invited to attend it is a public ceremony).
    Attendees at a wedding bear witness to the exchanging vows and the making of promises. In a Christian understanding, they do so before God and man. In a secular environment, they still do so before a watching world. Why do we go to the trouble of having ceremonies for graduation or retirement or Super Bowl champions? Because the occasion calls for celebration, solemnization, and public recognition. Whatever beliefs we may espouse privately, when we attend a wedding we state publicly that the union, which the event creates and commemorates, is legitimate and deserving of honor.
    Consider an analogy. Suppose your friend was an avowed racist. You’ve known this friend for a long time. You’ve told him before that you don’t agree with his racist views. He finds those conversations offensive and hurtful, but the friendship endures. One day he invites you to his white robe and hood ceremony at the local chapter of the Klan (I have no idea if they have such a thing, but let’s imagine they do). There will be a small event at the local park to bestow this rank upon your friend. He would love for you to attend. Will you? I doubt any of us would. (1) We’d be too embarrassed to be seen in public at such an event, no matter what we’ve said in private about it. And (2) however much we care for our friend, we can’t have anything to do with an event that is so repugnant to the beliefs we hold dear.
    Yes, I understand analogies are imperfect. No, I am not suggesting that racism and attending a gay wedding are the same thing. The point of a negative analogy like this is to get you to reconsider one position you do like by comparing it with one you don’t like. Why would we normalize what would be better stigmatized? How can we publicly endorse what we claim to privately condemn?
    3. The stark either/or options are not of our making. The emotional plea is strongly felt by friends and family members who want to maintain biblical fidelity without burning bridges: “If you really loved me, you would be there. You say you care about me, but you don’t care to show up on the most important day of my life. If you can’t be happy for me, how can we have a real relationship?” Most evangelicals don’t wake up in the morning looking for ways to compromise. It happens with a tug here and a pull there, often with the best of intentions, usually because of people we love. Who wants to burn bridges? Who wants to be a hater? Who likes upsetting people we care about?
    But this is where we need to remember that the either/or options were not (I trust) our idea. Not supporting a child’s decision in one area does not mean you are no longer interested in supporting him or her in other areas. Loving across our differences is a two way street. If traditional Christians have to learn to love gay and lesbian friends and family members despite decisions they disagree with, then gays and lesbians should learn to love their Christian friends and families despite decisions they disagree with. We should take time to hear why our attendance means so much to them. And then, hopefully, they will take time to hear why our faith in Christ and obedience to the Bible mean so much to us. We won’t agree. But maybe we can begin to almost, possibly, just a little bit, agree that we are going to be in this for the long haul so we better find out how to care for each other, even when we think the other person is living according to convictions that we can’t support.
    “I can’t say yes to your wedding invitation, but I’d love to have you over for dinner.” Give that a shot.

  22. angels4u
    The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom ♡
     
    Isaiah 43:2-3
    2 When you pass through the waters,
        I will be with you;
    and when you pass through the rivers,
        they will not sweep over you.
    When you walk through the fire,
        you will not be burned;
        the flames will not set you ablaze.
    3 For I am the Lord your God,
        the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
    I give Egypt for your ransom,
        Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.

  23. angels4u
    The King is coming,are you ready?
    Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. 36No one knowsabout that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.…Matt.24:36
     
  24. angels4u

    The rape of Europe

    By angels4u,

    Some people might not agree with the doctrine the present towards the end of the video ( pentecostal)
    I think it's a very good historical and prophetical  movie about   Europe  ,this movie was  made years ago..
    So ,what do you think , is Europe  the mystery Babylon?
     
     
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