Willa

As long as the Holy Spirit is active, convicting men of sin, of righteousness and of judgement, people will be searching for a way to remedy this problem. Here God has provided the only answer. To every person who is doubting God's Word or Christianity I ask, but do you need to have your sins forgiven? And why would I ask that? Because that is the thing that led me to a relationship with God, and to which I would return when questioning. It was the only way to have peace. Every time we question God's love we go back to John 3:16 and to "God demonstrated His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8 NKJV All of life's answers are in the Bible. When we argue with God's Word or dismiss it we find torment and misery. When we surrender to the Great Judge's verdicts that have been confirmed as true and righteous through the centuries we find peace. So a whole lot of the problem is due to man's pride and the temptation to think he is God and can do whatever he wants. Man will continue to dream up a lot of excuses for not believing God's Word until he finds he needs forgiveness. At that point he is open to God's solutions provided by the Bible.

Our son was taken by ambulence from work in atrial fibrillation due to energy drinks high caffeine. They had to use a defibrillator on him.

Before we start throwing cabbages, did any of you have a pet rock?

God's foreknowledge may have a lot to do with all of this. 1 Peter 1:2 (pilgrims) elect according to the forknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:---

The Holy Spirit came to glorify and reveal Jesus and Jesus came to glorify and reveal the Father. So I don't find anything wrong in asking The Holy Spirit to enlighten the Word to us or to help us to see Jesus. So songs of that nature may direct our attention to His Presence. Jesus has often directed my thoughts to our Father.

Www.biblestudytools.com has a good selection of lexicons, dictionaries, and Bible translations. I use it frequently. Another favorite tool is e-sword, but some of the later resources are not free. Perhaps some of our scholars have better ideas and resources. I use The Complete Word Study Dictionary by Spiros Zodhiates a lot. He was Greek born and speaking but make Koine Greek his lifes work.

As said, pride is rarely evident to ourselves but is most often seen by others. We may have a superior attitude do to our level of education, like a doctorate in theology, due to our superior gifts, or our level of Bible knowledge. We can even be proud of our humility! As soon as we think we have "arrived" in some area we become proud. When we begin to think we are less worldly that other Christians we become proud. Some can't handle becoming worship leaders without becoming proud. Satan became proud and wanted to unseat the LIVING GOD! Pride is the root of rebellion. As soon as someone wants people to look at them and pay attention to them instead of seeing Jesus, there is pride at work. Our society champions pride and rebellion. We became a nation by rebelling against the king of England's tyranny and the South to this day call themself rebels. So the great sin is able to hide in plain sight in the USA. It is our shame and undoing. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Some have asked why we don't see miracles like other lands are seeing. I think it is due to our pride. God have mercy on me, a sinner.

1 Cor. 13:10 says when the PERFECT comes that which is in part will be done away. So I don't believe they will cease till we are in heaven or else when Jesus comes back. But 13:8 is used to deny the reality of its existance today. I believe it is out of context.

In 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 it is also referred to as praying in the Spirit. It is often practiced privately because in verses 18 and 19 Paul says that it is not profitable in church without and interpretation. It is also referred to as the least of the gifts. Yet in vs. 18 he thanks God that he speaks in tongues more than you all. So it does have value in that it edifies oneself, encouraging ones own faith by speaking to God in verses 2 & 4. We are told that when we don't know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in Romans 8. And we are also told to pray at all times in the Spirit in Jude 20, and in Ephesians 6:18 where supplication in the Spirit is also mentioned. But in all these cases the prayers in tongues or in the Spirit are directed toward God and not toward men.

We already sacrificed the Kurds to Sadam, now we sacrifice the Christians to Isis. But this is the greater shame.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the ultimate rejection of Christ and God's grace. The people mentioned in Revelations are not mentioned to have come to repentance and received Christ. Instead they made war against Him, having received the mark of the beast. The Law was to be placed on the foreheads and hands of the Jewish people. The law is now in our hearts by the work of the Holy Spirit. But I also have often thought that the Seal of God is the Holy Spirit so the satanic counterfeit may be an evil spirit or a spirit of the antichrist. But I hope I will not be here to find out.

Our faith is based on God's character. Knowing the attributes of God and seeing how He has dealt with His people over the centuries is part of building faith. But also having Him answer the little prayers on a daily basis becomes part of a relationship that builds faith. We find that He is attentive to our every need and never fails us, even when it seems is though He has. So many times I remember Jesus arriving too late to heal Lazarus. But we serve the God of the impossible, Who is even able to call forth the dead that stinketh. (That is one word I remember from KJV.) And when we are experiencing the worst days of our lives, we can be comforted by the fact that we know He loves us because Christ died for us!. We serve a God Who is righteous, holy, and overflowing with undeserved mercy for those who humble themselves. We must acknowledge that He is God, and He doesn't need a reason for doing what He does. He is our Creator. The vase doesn't dictate to the Potter what to do or how to do it. We must meekly accept His dealings with us and with others. Our God does all things well.

Galatians 3: 10-14, 23-25 NKJV For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them". But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." 13. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 23-25 But before faith came we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith that would afterward be revealed. Therefor the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we no long need a tutor. John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. by this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Mt. 22:37-40 NKJV Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD (YHWH) your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind". This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.". On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." 1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. I understand that all of the 10 commandments were repeated in the New Testament but for the Sabbath laws. Instead we are told in Romans 14 and Col. 2:16 not to judge one another as to which days we observe. But as stated, when we walk after the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, and we are not under the law. Gal. 5:16-18

God promised the Israelites blessings if they obey His commands and cursing if they disobey. The same principle applies to us. God does bless us for obeying Him, walking after Him to please Him and be in communion with Him. We are blessed by sweet fellowship with Him. We are blessed by His guiding us and using us. Walking away from God brings us into a pit of misery, especially when we have once known Him. We do find ourselves eating from the pigs' garbage. Most of the time we could never have imagined that our lives, attitudes, and language could become so despicable. But God does send wake up calls. My sis-in-law asked me if I had been saved! It suddenly occurred to be that if she couldn't tell, something was very wrong. And Joe, you beat me to those very scriptures! Praise God for His exceedingly great and precious promises as well as His warnings. Heb. 2 NKJV Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord---? Pray for those friends, that they might come back to the Living God. The Danger Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Hebrews 3:12 And The If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 Hope For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

There is a tendency in some denominations to not encourage people to read God's written word. Without that anchor it is easy for either sex to be deceived. That is how the "Toronto experience" became the newest "move of God" some 20 years ago. But some women are more apt to look at such a book less discriminately and more emotionally. It would be more productive to read the Bible and high light or write down passages that speak to the issues that are on one's mind. It is true that God speaks to us in the Still Small Voice. But those encouragements, affirmations and corrections are quite personal and not to be published. However, the devotional "Streams in The Desert" is a classic made up of the lessons a missionary was taught while in a concentration camp. Its character appears to be less shallow than this devotional in question. I highly recommend it.

20 years ago a Kurd was explaining their heritage daily by radio. He told them about the men Daniel had trained to know about a star in the east, and a Messiah who would come. Many were saved by this ministry. It occurred during Sadam's reign of infamy, when a church of thousands met in Bagdad. The Kurds were very open to the Gospel.

We are told that true religions is to visit the widows and orphans in their distress. I suspect that Jesus would be comforting them and spending time with them.

There are people that I call the "bless me bunch". They may go from church to church searching for a goose bump experience. The person in the sound booth obliges them by manipulating the volume of the music to generate emotional experiences. The is not only wrong but it doesn't truly satisfy. The person is searching for the same experience they had when they were first saved, and they can only have it by more genuine encounters with the Living God. There is an ebb and flow of the Spirit in genuine worship, but it can't be engineered. These people searching for an experience have not matured to a giving relationship. God fills us with His Spirit so that we are empowered to witness to others and share the Gospel. We are meant to be a conduit of His love, not a pond that grows stagnant. We are to be filled with living (lively) water that flows out to others like an artesian well, speaking of the Holy Spirit. To grow properly we need the Word, fellowship with other Christians, and daily or constant prayer. But I am reminded of Jacob who would not let go of the Angel till he blessed him. God does bless those who truly seek His Face, His Kingdom and His righteousness. I have known of people being healed in bogus healing meetings. People who came to see miracles instead were filled with compassion for those who had obvious needs, birth defects and the like. So they prayed for the people around them and saw the miracles. God met people's needs who were sitting in the audience, even if what was happening on the stage was a sham. True healing does take place without the fanfare of a so called healing meeting. It takes place in pastors' offices, in counseling sessions, and through laymen who act in obedience and step out boldly in faith to pray for the sick. I have seen the recovery of a lady who had been left for dead by the doctors, having been told she had hours or a couple of days to live. Friends had gathered around her and prayed for several hours. I knew her very well. But is it any less of a miracle for souls to be saved, for marriages to be healed and families reunited, or for people to be set free from their addictions? By the way, a word of unlearned knowledge is one of the genuine gifts of the Spirit.

Our sermons are expository Bible teaching. We study books of the Bible verse by verse. He does at times exhort, make personal applications and give examples during his teaching. All of his messages keep me engrossed and my mind rarely wanders. There is no shouting or empassioned pleeding. There is urging. The scriptures come alive, feeding my soul and transforming me by the Holy Spirit. He also teaches subjects in our Bible college classes. These are largely informative such as church history , bible history, and doctrine. They are more of an intellectual nature. But I am still kept engrossed. Since we are to preach the Word, in season and out of season, I don't see that they are so easily separated. I do find that the message the Holy Spirit has for the churches is often repeated by sermons in other denominations during the same week. Empassioned shouting and pleeding does not make preaching authentic. The message of the Holy Spirit makes it authentic. A lot of people have yelled about hell fire and sin with great disdain. The more godly messages have proclaimed God's love and compassion for sinners and His grief over the sin that besets us.

Mexico is fairly high on the list of countries that persecutes Christians, according to Voice of the Martyrs. I was surprised.

Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious. NKJV I see the root as being Jesse/David, or the Judaic linage of Christ, the promised root.. We have been grafted into Christ as adopted children of God. Jewish peoples are the natural heirs by birth, but by adoption we are--will be-- made one in the Holy Spirit. Those natural branches that have been broken off due to unbelief may be grafted in again by faith as we have been grafted in by faith. Romans 11:16-32 So as individuals we all must be grafted into Christ by faith. So I see the question as who is grafted into Whom? Jews and Gentiles are grafted into Jesus the Messiah by faith. It is not so much Jews or gentiles into Israel or the church,, but it is about people being grafted into God. We all become one family. But the Jews were promised the land through Abraham. We only inherit by virtue of the fact that we are in Christ, and He is the heir of all things. Children of Israel have a special place as they are children by linage as well as all Jews will someday be saved by faith. V. 26 And so all Israel will be saved,--- v.. 28 concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. Jesus will reign over Israel. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Sorry if that gets confusing. I tried. And I may wrong.

My hubby is a true culprit in this, but usually he just hoards the few that are put in the bag. But grabbing extra napkins while on the road is a necessity. Spills and messes are normal with kids. But adults? Yes, I spill coffee most often. We always grab the napkins rather than the roll of paper towels because the latter always ends up in the rear of the car.

It goes without saying that Christians should only marry Christians. I can remember telling our son that what a woman looks for is a best friend. So he started praying that God provide someone that he had known for at least a year and had as a friend. God provided a girl he had known for several years but had never considered her for marriage. They had worked together on the worship team at church as well as having lunch together at his place of employment. They had been in the young adults group at church and in Bible school. But God had to open his eyes to see her. They have been married for 20 years. Our other son would not date someone who was not a Christian. So he started inviting a girl he liked to group activities with other Christians. Then he invited her to the young adults group. Afterward she poured out her heart to him, and her past, and he led her in the sinners prayer. They were married within a year and also have been married 20 years. However, they have had lives of severe trials illness and pain that they have met with God's help God provides someone who will complement us in abilties, providing strength where we are weak. But that person also may be sent into our lives to refine us! Becoming one is a growing and refining process that takes time and committment. As both people become more like Christ they merge into the One that God created them to become. A gifted evangelist admitted that he and his wife go out as a team to approach people about Christ. She is the silent partner and prayer warrior. To make a marriage work, both have to pliable in God's hands. That takes meakness and humility. God will help us to become those things through life's hardships. I do encourage married couples to pray aloud for each other's needs and concerns and for others. That is a very strong binding force that knits their hearts together.

To judge a person means to assign a person to heaven or hell. Only God knows whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. But we are told to judge our own thoughts and actions before going to communion and to forgive anyone that we have not forgiven. As to the actions of others, even Paul spoke of Alexander the Coppersmith who had done him much harm, and told others to beware of him. We are also told about the actions of people in the last days that we are warned about. There are some that we are told to have nothing to do with and avoid, such as those who are in sexual sin, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner who call themselves Christians. 1 Cor 5:11. So we are to judge peoples' actions and attitudes. Most of all we are to pray for them that they come to repentance. You are told, if you have spoken to this person about her actions, you are to take someone with you the next time, and if ignored you are to take a pastor or elder with you the final time. But we are to be sure that we have the log out of our own eye when we do it, and also we need to be aware how frail we also are and how close to stumbling we can be. Most of all we need to put on love, knowing that Christ died for that person as well as us. I also agree about the need for discipling. Many people do not know how to walk in the Spirit or don't even realize that Christ lives in them so they need to allow Him to live through them. We need to draw on His love and forgiveness for others.

At work I once had a dirty old man tell me he would take me to paradice. I couldn't resist an opening like that. I told him that Jesus had already bought me a free ticket to paradice and had paid for it with His blood! He died for my sins and He died for yours, too. He didn't say another word, which was good since I was assigned him as a client.