Willa

I saw something happen in my church yesterday that I hadnt encountered before. The pastor asked the worship team to play a specific song when they were all done. He wanted to hear it before he gave his sermon. It was Kadosh by Paul Wilbur. As we sang this in church, the volume of the singing increased, like doubled or tripled. It was amazing. The congregation singing to the Lord at the top of their lungs. Could an unbeliever playing music have helped lead the congregation in this kind of display to the Lord? In this adoration and praise of Him? Thank you Jadey. I looked it up on U Tube and sat listening to it with goosebumps while tears ran down my face. It rivals Handels Halleluia Chorus. We will be having a Sedar again this year at our church and I want to suggest it for one of the songs we sing. Can you imagine singing this in heaven?

My favorite worship leader would often turn his back to us, raise his hands and face to the Lord and pour out his worship and praise to God. He would inspire us to do the same and soon the congregation would be lost in worship. No unbeliever can do that. I don't have a problem with Christians from other churches singing solos or leading in special events if they are well known personally to the staff. But our worship team is also a small group with spontaneous prayer and devotions that is very close. So they need to basicly qualify as a deacon.

John 3:20 NKJV For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. I prefer to call groups lodges that renounce the Bible's relavance or deviate from the Gospel. They certainly aren't Christian or churches, for that matter, since THE church is all true christians and A church is a building in which Christians worship. So we have the United Lodge of Christ, the Lodge of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Unitarian Lodge, the Episcopal Lodge, the Emerging Lodge, the Disciples of ? Lodge, the EL?A Lutheran Lodge, and now the Presbyterian Lodge, etc. They often retain their creeds as part of their history, but no one is expected to believe them or the Bible. They are dead as far as God is concerned. I do recognize that there may be true believers among those who attend those lodges. They may be attending for the sake of a relative, for instance or a local congregation my have remained faithful. But those who propagate a false gospel are already damned according to Paul. So it is Rob Bell who is irrelavent and is headed for a rude awakening when he arrives at the place he claims does not exist. Without the Bible people do what is right in their own eyes, and create a god in their own image. They deny God's righteousness and holiness. The Corinthian church thought it was so loving and liberal to include a man who was sleeping with his father's wife, when they should have been outraged and excommunicated him. Lodges that condone all who commit homosexual abominations and officially endorse their sins are much worse. But how many churches condone or look the other way concerning those who commit fornication by living together without a marriage license? They both refuse to name those things as evil that are evil in God's eyes.

When God speaks we sometimes must learn to recognize His voice as Samuel did when he was a boy. 1 Samuel 3:1-21 The first time He spoke to me I was in a prayer circle in a small womans group from my church. So I told them about the strange thought that had popped into my head that I knew wasn't my own. The older ladies confirmed that it was probably God speaking to me. The suggestion was that if I changed churches, my husband might start going with me. He wasn't saved and I had given up on him. The next time God gave me a strong desire to give money to a church that reached out to kids on drugs that I had read about in the newspaper. I was not in the habit of giving to anything at the time, and we were poor. It is very rare that God speaks in an audible voice. It is usually the still small voice within us, and when we follow with obedience, He usually speaks to us more. Then I learned that when God spoke there were usually 2 or 3 witnesses. Matthew 3:11-17, When Jesus was baptized, a voice came from heaven, John the Baptist had testified of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came upon Him. The Scriptures also testify of Jesus. John 5:39. So I came to realize that His Voice should always agree with Scripture, at least in principle. God does not contradict Himself. [E.g. Giving to others is not wrong and my husband going to church is not wrong, in my case.] Often the same idea will be expressed in a sermon, or you might hear a hymn with the same message. But they will come to your attention in the days following till you come to be more familiar with His Voice and the ways He communicates with us. Usually He wants us to hear Him more than we do. I do not encourage you to seek any experiences with God. The enemy would love to get you off track by seeking them instead of seeking to walk with God in obedience to His voice. But Psalms 100 gives very good advice as to how to come into His Presence. Come before His presence with SINGING. Know that He is God, our creator. Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING. [Count your blessings and thank Him for all He has done for you.] And into His courts with PRAISE. [Marvel at all He as done, His creation, the beauty of the earth and the stars, and His covenants. God inhabits the praises of His people.] BLESS HIS NAME, for the Lord is good, merciful, and truth. {This last part is worship, to extoll God for Who He Is--His attributes.} These types of fellowship with God are what He desires of us--to walk in obedience to His voice and to live in communion with Him.

The bottom line is that the world doesn't love us or want us either. This world is not my home. My husband was rejected by his parents and didn't know love and acceptance either. But God CHOSE you to be His own. He adopted you and treasures you. They are treating you the way the world treated Jesus. He loves you and is praying for you. He was dispised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was dispised and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken by God and afflicted. Isaiah 53:3-4 NKJV Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ Who died, furthermore who is risen, who is even at the right hand of God, and who also makes intercession for us. Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution---Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that --(nothing)--shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:33-35, 37-38a, 39b. NKJV It is time to stop grieving and start living like a child of the King. You are loved. You can be more than a conqueror through Him who loves you.

I didn't remember the third verse. We probably don't sing it as often. Thank you. Most people don't realize how bibical the Christmas carols are either or even pay attention to the words. Maybe that is why I like "Mary Did You Know". It really makes us think about the Gospel and Who Jesus is.

Soupy, we women are always a sucker for a love song, but one from my husband would make me cry. We celebrated our 50th anniversary a couple of years ago. It gave me the opportunity to witness to a waitress. We revisited a restraunt chain where we had eaten our first meal as a married couple. I told the waitress that we had eaten at one in Oregon on our wedding night 50 years ago and told her how humiliating it was to be seated between two birthday parties for small children on the most romantic evening of my life. I had not turned 21 so was unable to be seated on the adult side of the restraunt. She sat down at our table and told us she was going through her third divorse right now, and asked what our secret of success was--sheer determination? I told her that was mostly it for the first 6 years. Then I rededicated my life to the Lord, and 5 years later hubby was saved. That made things a lot easier because we were both going in the same direction. Jesus was at the center of our lives individually as well as of our marriage. I could tell that the message struck home by the expression on her face. She stood up with a nod, deep in thought, her eyes wide and a slight smile.

Amen, Rusty. In the last few years I have started writing to congressmen as well. They probably never read them, but only some aide, and it just becomes a number in the yeas and nays stacks; but I can't sit quietly by anymore. I must at least try to make my voice heard. My last letter told him that, in answer to a recent poll, freedom to practice religious convictions as guarenteed by the bill of rights was my greatest concern for this country. It wasn't even a choice on the poll which mentioned the economy, terrorism and other things. I maintained that sinners are now guaranteed more rights than I have to not condone or endorse sin according to my conscience and Bibical religious beliefs. It is time that we as Christians made our voices heard while we still have the freedom to do so. It is easy to do so at church or on this forum. It is much harder to do so on our university campuses or where public opinion shoots us down immediately.

20 years ago I corresponded with a missionary to Nigeria. Her husband had died but she stayed on at as missionary school teacher. She spoke of saved children that had no fear of voo doo or spells of evil shamens because they knew that Christ in them was greater. The spells and curses had no effect on them. They were completely free. I know that others argue with this, but it does make me wonder. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed! Galatians 3:13-14 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 Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. So if He redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, it seems to me that He has redeemed us from all curses so that we might receive the Holy Spirit. A person must be delivered to be born again. Likewise a person who is demon posessed it still in darkness and cannot have fellowship with the Father or other Christians. 1 John 1:6-7 NKJV It is important to know the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. It is important to understand that Christ in us is greater than all the hatred and evil we may encounter. In Rev. 12:11 we are told that satan was overcome by the word of our testamony and the blood of the Lamb.

There is much godliness in contentment. Please listen to Kwik. She has been battling cancer by herself with no family close by. Even when she could not care for herself, no one came from her church to help after she notified them of her desperate situation. We were too far away to help when our daughter in law with MS suddenly was confined to a wheel chair and she had a small baby to care for. She could not get to a hospital when needed. Our son worked HVAC all over the metro area and sometimes was over an hour away or could not be reached. We felt so helpless. They had no medical coverage at his new job so we covered that, and we took them grocery shopping when we came to visit since the promised raises in wages never happened and he was stuck at half his former wages.. Their church was many miles away and they didn't know people because they often could not go due to her health. Heat can cause an exasperation of the MS, as well as the stress of moving. Having medical staff that even understands MS is so necessary. Some neurologists she has had from the east coast had never treated it and have no idea what to do. You can't wait for a month for an appointment for prednisone, for instance. Nearby family is so necessary in emergencies and poor health. Please be very sure it is God leading you to move away from them.

Me too kwik.It was 64 yesterday and I am in Washington....go figure Yes, but February was our warmest month, I believe, setting a record. Our snow pack in the mountains is minimal so we may have draught in the near future. An oil spill in the Yakima River will have further impact on the apples and wine grapes produced in that valley, making production look dismal this year. So warm is not always good for Washington, even though I am also enjoying the sunny warm wearther.

I agree that the Bible is best remembered when we apply its advice to ourselves and our situations so that it becomes a part of our lives. How else do we become doers of the Word?

People can't make change already and the machines aren't set up for odd numbers like 25. What a mess it would be. I would ask for Eisenhower, since he did much to place God before the people. He placed God in the pledge, added it onto our oaths, I think, and put In God we trust on our money. He has been on coins but not to my knowledge on bills. Humm. I just read he will be on one dollar bills this year. For a woman, I like Mehalia Jackson.

Bless those who persecute you and pray for those who spitefully use you. And do it from a position of being a child of the King who chooses to be a servent out of love. Phil. 2. May God bless you and fill you anew with His Spirit each day. Willa

Since I have always been pro Israel, I was astounded to find an evangelical church, Free Methodist, in which they claimed that they had missions in Egypt so they felt they needed to oppose Israel, as though they had to take sides. It just doesn't compute. I have supported missions in Libia and Iraq but am pro Israel and pray for the peace of Jeruselem. It gives me goose bumps when I think of the day when all Israel will be saved and worship her Redeemer. Oh come, Oh come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel. Most of her people are still in the grip of the world and the evil one. One day she will be free and the blindness will be taken away. Halleluia!

Mostly it is about listing to the Holy Spirit. Many restraunts here make you pick up take out orders at the bar. I felt uneasy doing this, so finally I was given permission to take a chair into the hallway and wait there near to the entry of the bar. So if you drive a porsche and start feeling uneasy about being seen in it, trade it for something more modest. Or if you if you feel uneasy about having dish, change to direct TV lol. I keep those channels that are MA or rated for sex and language in particular, locked out so I don't accidently stumble into them. But this year I am finding movies rated PG 13 that include some nudity and some really filthy language. Every year they change the ratings to include more filth and I feel helpless to stem the tide. So every year we threaten to get rid of it. And then we find something else that we enjoy watching like NRL rugby. Bottom line: so far the Lord has not made us uneasy or uncomfortable about having a dish since it affords more choices that are not objectionable, like the inspirational channel, or up, the western channels and some choices on family channels and hallmark. We are unable to receive antenna in our locality, hubby can't read anymore, and our recreational choices are limited due to our health. So if you have dinner with a married woman, bring the kids along as well and make it informal, like at a Pizza parlor. No romantic dinners in dark corners that might start gossip. You will always bump into someone who knows you who will think the worst, and it will probably be the person you have been trying to witness to.

disciplehelovestoo, yes I am glad to share my joy here and yes all praises should be given to Jesus (whom I call YHWH), he is truly worthy to be praised and I'm glad to say I will never doubt him again. I have even downloaded some sermons that will encourage me when I'm feeling like he isn't with me and with my mother. And I feel like yesterday was a great learning lesson to me that he never fails and that he's the same god yesterday, today and forever more. Also, that every day as a christian is not going to be rosy but if I keep the faith, the trust and the hope, he will uphold me with his right hand I feel ready for the next testing so I can prove to Jesus that I will be and am loyal and won't let satan get the best of me. Just expect a life of trials and testing. They are meant to keep us close to YHWH and dependant on Him, until such a time that we continually want to live that way and all desire to wander or do it on our own is gone. We then only crave intimacy with Him. Meanwhile I do rejoice with you that YHWH has blessed you and your mom so greatly. He is faithful even when we are not. Bless His holy name!!

God always seems to wait till the last minute possible and until I give up to answer my prayers. He stretches my faith that way. He is the God who raised Lazarus when it was too late and everyone had given up. Also, God helps us because we so desperately need His help, and we have just a tiny bit of faith in big and merciful God. He helps us because of the grace (the undeserved favor) that Jesus provided for us when He purchased us with His blood at the cross. We can never deserve His help or earn his help by believing more. In fact, sometimes He with holds help when we think we are someone special so we deserve it, or we are proud of our great faith. I cringe when I hear prayers for people that try to convince God how much someone deserves to be helped. None of us deserve His grace or it wouldn't be grace. He wants to help us because He loves us and He cares for His own.

Birds and squirrels also do a good job of planting seeds for trees, and Johnny Appleseed planted many as well.

I looked up Beth Moore on Carm after googling her. She seems to be a better exhorter than a teacher since her exegesis was criticised. Her texts that she spoke on were often just a springboard to delve into other subjects and were a real jump from what the Bible was actually talking about. But I thought she made good points in spite of this. Maybe it is because my mind can make leaps like this, too. She also did not include a specific statement of faith. But since she started out in a Baptist church I assume that she has a fairly good foundation. But I also first inspect a statement of faith. The writer criticised her because since she is on TV, men also listen to her and she should not be teaching men. But she plainly states that her ministry is to woman. So men should turn it off! Sorry, I just don't think this is a valid criticism. Without having done her studies, I would say that they might be interesting to try. There seem to be better texts to support her teaching, however. I just don't find her teaching unbibical from the little I have read. Try one and tell us what you think.

As long as it is evident to others that you are meditating on and praying to the God of the Bible, I don't consider it wrong. But if by your example you lead children or others to think you are looking deep into yourself, then you are leading them astray. So be sure to occasionally express your adoration for Jesus while you are meditation on Him, so no one is led astray.

Sure wish the print was larger than 10 & 11 points ... it's really hard to read with a magnifying glass. I had cataract surgery and had lens put it that corrects my astigmatism. They were more expensive but well worth it. Now I just use OTC 1.75 reading glasses and don't need any for distance!. So if you ever---see if they would work for you.

Sara, you are most welcome here. I would enjoy discussing these things with you but in a post in "general discussion'. So keep posting here and welcome others.

My MD is from India and recommended Yoga to me. I asked her if they had classes locally that does not involve meditation, but she did not know of any here. So I told her it is against my faith and that I am a Christian. She told me that she respected me for it. But I knew a devout Christian from India who assumed the lotus position (I think) whenever he prayed to our God. He explained that it was just a habit like some here fold their hands, and to not be alarmed. He, Dr. Bishop Moses Swamidas, runs a prominant school and mission program, Bible Faith Mission, in south central India for Dalit peoples. He was very active in promoting recognition of rights for Christians before the parliment of India.

The point is that unbelieves don't have godly wisdom as to what is good and evil. They is why our supreme courts make ungodly and anti godly decisions. I would rather use the Bible to settle disputes.