Willa

It does depend on whose thoughts they allow to fill their minds. If it is the corrupt thoughts of the world, the flesh and the devil, they will reap the consequences of sin. If they allow God's word to transform their minds and hearts by the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, they will achieve good to God's glory. So the garbage in, garbage out addage is pretty much right. "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Prov. 23:7

I haven't watched the 700 club since the 70s, but we have been told that statistic was true for Calif. back in the early 60s, and then it is supposed to have spread to the rest of the USA. Now more people are just living together and split up even faster. They don't count longstanding monogamous relationships at all. But they do say that a couple has a better chance of staying married once they reach 35 years of marriage.. Money issues is the leading cause of divorse. Most disturbing to me were the statistics for children raised without fathers. They composed 63% of the teen suicides 71% of the pregnant teenagers---they didn't say how many were by mom's boyfriends 90% of the homeless and runaways 70% of the institutionalized juveniles 85% of those with behavioral disorders 75% of those in cemical abuse centers 71% of the high school dorp outs 85% of the youth in prison. They didn't mention how many of these were raised by siblings in latch key situations, or who were raised in day care. But it is heartbreaking. I have to admire the waitress who said that she had worked 2 jobs and her daughter's a pre-med student getting excellent grades. She managed to give them a lot of attention and keep a spotless house as well. I couldn't have done that. She somehow beat the odds. And we know that God can make the biggest difference. Moms and dads who may be in this situation, pray for your kids daily! Try to see as much of them as you can. Enjoy them. When you can't see them, text them and call them often. Forgive the spouse, no matter what they are doing or have done, and no matter how much your heart is breaking. You have to do it for your own sakes, for the kids' sakes, and for your relationship with God. The kids have to know they are not abandoned and that they did not cause the divorse. They need your time and your love, but not expensive gifts. They need to have 3 meals a day and basic clothing and shelter, and lots of listening and caring. And they need to do chores, to assume responsibility, and to be brought up to know the Lord.

There is not much I can add to the above. But I would emphasize praying for our NEEDS, and not our greedy desires. When we need basic fresh air, clean water, sleep, or money for food, housing, clothing, utility bills and the like we are told that God knows we have need of all of these things as explained in Matt. 6:25-34. But He wants us to be dependant on Him in all things and recognize that He is our provider. So it does Him honor to ask for our needs. Like other one, we have laid hands on our car and prayed for it to start in the past. God was always faithful to help us, whether to send help when we were stranded or to start our car. Sometimes He gives us wisdom in how to repair things. And I do talk to God like I would talk to my earthly Daddy on the phone, only I rarely asked for him for help except for huge emergencies. But I could trust him to help because when I was little I would ask him to help me do things that matter to kids, and he always found time. In the same way my faith in God was built by all the little things we have asked for help in. Then when big things came along I had confidence that He would help us then as well. Sometimes he reveals where lost things are in answer to our prayers--one of the many faith builders He is faithful in doing. But I also speak to Him throughout the day. God wants a relationship with us born out of His loving kindness and our heart felt gratitude. And there is no time that I feel closer to Him than when I share with others about His faithfulness to help us in time of need. His love cannot be measured. If He loves the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, and even cares about every hair on our heads, how much more He loves and cares for us. So I continue to seek first eternal riches like the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that God will supply all of my basic needs as I bring them to Him. We are told that His burden is light. When I take on His burden, I pray and then leave my heavy burdens for Him to bear. Some are left at the cross, like my sins, and He carries the rest when I cast all of my cares upon Him. Being fully surrendered to do His will as He guides me does help in taking on His burdens. Sometimes we pray that God will open doors of opportunity and close the ones that are a direction we should not go. Recently we prayed that way for a new job for our son. All doors were closed but for a very dangerous job. But he had been told by many bosses that he would lose his job soon due to down-sizing of the plant, and they highly recommended him for this job. I have to trust God to protect him in this new job that was provided, and that He will provide all their needs through it. He has already been given him a starting wage that is much higher than our son expected, but it is still lower than what he had been making and his insurance costs much more as well. So they are trusting God to provied all their needs. God comes first in their lives and they have been giving to Him and His kingdom first before they pay their bills so as to honer Him with their income. This area has become part of their surrender to Him as they seek His will for their lives.

This part is the prophecy of the coming Son of God, Jesus Christ. In prophecy, part of a sentance may refer to the present and part to the future, making it hard to understand. Often it even refers to both the present and the future. But the part you are referring to is in the New Testament speaking of Jesus. 2 Samuel 7:11-14, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5 Yes, Solomon was to build the temple, but the kingly linage came from Solomon through Joseph, Jesus' legal adopted father in Matthew 1. Jesus' throne is eternal, not Solomon's. I vaguely remember that one of Solomon's decendants was cursed that none of his seed would be on the throne because he was so wicked. There were many promises given that said David's and Solomon's linage would be on the throne. This is how God made it happen. In Luke 3 another linage is given which is thought to be Mary's Linage. It is through another of David's sons, Nathan. The 2 linages are necessary to fulfill prophecy. Please correct me where I am wrong. Willa

It would have been nice had he taken his wife and children with him, instead of leaving them for our government to support.

The problems is in what a person considers sin. Whatever is not of faith is sin. What is sin for one person may not be sin for another. This is evident in the scriptures about foods. Romans 14, for instance. So if you know in your heart that it is sin and you willingly partake in it, it is definitely wrong for you. All sin is evil. So the answer is no.

We used to have a Springer Spaniel in the neighborhood that would do things like that, but dogs are not closely related to foxes. Our dog steals our socks and sleeps with them under her chin. But the little foxes are just supposed to spoil the vine and not swipe shoes. Maybe its an end times phenomena . The world will get worse and worse. Or is it a conspiracy??? Someone is directing it remotely to cause chaos in England. Thousands of people are searching for shoes that mysteriously disappeared in the night.

Some of the people who have passed on that did come to know the Lord had a celebration of their life. It was a great opportunity to preach the way of salvation. But it helps to remember the good times even when they were hard hearted and hated Christians. Sometimes the good times were hard to remember. My hubby remembered wrestling on the floor with his dad. And had they been allowed a short eulogy that might have been one that he would mention. Hubby carried on the tradition with our kids and grandkids. As it was, Dad thought he was just as good as the next guy so he would go to heaven. The Masons declared him good because he had advanced a degree or 2. The Elks said he had been in good standing. The Episcopal church said he had been baptized so he was going to heaven. Even the Mormon relatives called us and told us they had been baptized for him! And hubby still hopes that he had time to repent and call on the Name of the Lord before he crashed his plane by flying into a mountain side. The thing that I hate about eulogies is when they rave about what a wonderful father someone had been when they were a dead beat dad who used drugs and never repented. Some even had repeated a prayer once but never had a changed life or even changed attitudes. To me, a total change in attitudes is the acid test. One lady who had led a sinful life was saved a year before she died. Her goal was to read clear through the Bible before she died. Her bones, brain and lungs were riddled with cancer and she was in excruciating pain. Pain and narcotics slowed her ability to accomplish this goal.. But until the last few months she still came to church. She was unable to be immersed with her colostomy bag, but they held a special sprinkling ceremony for her after church. This lady's attitudes had totally changed and she really loved the Lord. But her life was not a great testimony of good works---only that she no longer sinned or cursed and she loved fellowship with the Christians that she once mocked. She constantly called upon God to help her endure the pain and testified how He made it possible for her to make it through another night. It is not wise or kind to tell a family that has just lost a loved one that the person probably did not ever receive Christ. It will almost always turn the family away from God. It is better to preach the Gospel at a wedding or a baby dedication, or a baptism. God does not use the Gospel to club them over the head. It is good news of His unmerited kindness and love.

My hubby always addresses Father God as "Father". Whenever he leads in prayer by addressing Father, I think of the catholics saying "bless me father for I have sinned" when they go to confession! I called my earthly father Daddy. The name that the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts to call Father God is actually more like Papa, a more familiar and less formal name. It is one of relationship. But Jesus did teach us to pray Our Father Who is in heaven. It is not wrong at all to call Him Father. Our grandkids call hubby Papa. I can't call my pastor "father", even when I went to the Episcopal Church.

God has also given us gifts of pastors, evangelists, missionaries, teachers, etc who are people. They use their spiritual grace and power gifts to serve us in the church. I consider hospitality a gift as well. I know a guy who opens his home once a week to his old drinking buddies. No alcohol, just good clean fun as only Christians can have. He is a leader by nature and gift, and having them for barbecues and such presents a way to witness to them with a clean mouth and a changed life. We used to have summer parties in our youth group in which we would take inner tubes upstream to a warm river and float down to a park. There we would sing old gospel songs around a campfire, roast hot dogs and marshmallows and enjoy Christian fellowship. 50 years later we still remember those as some of the good memories that drew us back to Christ. People who can organize these and supervise them are exercising their gifts for serving the church; the youth pastor with his brief exhortation, teaching and invitation to receive Christ also exercised his gifts. All of these people worked together to accomplish God's purposes. Some plant, some water, but God gives the growth. Helping others with our natural talents and gifts is another way of serving Christ. A mechanic who repairs cars for the poor for only the cost of parts is also serving with the gift of helps. There are countless ways to minister to the church and to open doors to spread the truth of the Gospel---Even operating a news cast in Israel. These are some of the good works that God has created for us to walk therein. We use the gifts of the Spirit and talents God has given us to serve Him in unique ways tailored just for us. And each of us is needed, working together in love, to accomplish God's purposes on earth. By this all men shall know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 NKJV

A few of the rewards will be the crown of righteousness for all who loved loved His appearing, the crown of life for all who endure temptation and have been approved, the crown of glory for the pastors who are a good example to their congregation, the crown of life for those who endure tribulation and are faithful to the end. 2 Ti,4:8, Ja 1:12 1Pe 5:4 Re 2:10, I have also heard of a soul winners crown in Da 12:3 and those who have compassion on the lowly also get a reward, those who lend without expecting to be repaid, those who plant the seeds of the Gospel and those who nourish or water it, also receive rewards. However any good thing in us is there because Christ lives in us. He moves us by His Spirit to do any good that we have done, and He gives us the power and strength to overcome. So we end up casting all our rewards and crowns at the feet of Jesus. He is the One who deserves all the credit. In me there is no good thing--but Jesus. It all ends up being a tribute and act of worship to God. Rev:4:10 I have never worked for any rewards, In fact at the time, enduring hardship is not pleasant, even for Christ's sake. But I do look forward to honoring people who have been much used of God, or who have suffered greatly like the martyrs, and who have been examples to us. I am thankful for what God has done in their lives.

The cost of living in a small rural town may be much less than a large city. It has less to do with which state. When we lived in a town of 25,000 people, many places paid minimum wage of --$1.00 and hour. Now that dates me. We moved to a town of 1500 where the main source of employment had shut down. There were no jobs to be had, but when I applied for minimun wage, I was laughed at. They only paid $0.60 and hour. Now Seattle is paying $15.00 minimum wage in many areas. There is no way that small businesses in small rural communities in the same state can pay that. They would go out of business if they had to raise the cost of their products to pay their expenses. As it is they compete with Amazon and other online businesses. Small towns are quickly becomming ghost towns.

Hebrews 11:1 Wuest ExTran Now faith is the title deed of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen. I don't just hope that I am saved. I believe that I am saved because: 1. The bible states that I am. Jesus is my Savior and Lord God. 2. The Holy Spirit in me cries out Daddy to my Father God. 3. Christ lives in me loving and forgiving when I cannot. 4. He changes me to look more like Jesus as my selfish old nature slowly dies and produces the fruit of the Spirit in me. This is the title deed or evidence of something I can't see. Yes, it is a blessed hope to see Jesus face to face. But it is guarenteed me with a title deed when I am born again and sealed with the Holy Spirit. I can't think of a better example right now. Willa

I agree with Butero. 1 Cor 7:14 says that if the husband or the wife is a believer, their spouses are sanctified by the the believer; "otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy." To me that means that until children choose to not believe, they are dedicated to the Lord. We have dedication ceremonies for babies modeled after Hannah's dedication of Samuel to the Lord. But in fact the parents are dedicating themselves to raise the baby according the the scriptures and teach them about salvation through Christ. Parents who do not teach their children to fear and love God are not guarenteed any hope that I know of. It is so sad. But God can intervene as we pray for children, and I know of a lot of praying grandmas who have seen the salvation of their grandkids, even those raised in horrible homes. Our pastor is one of them. I have a friend who was raised in a horribly abusive home as well. A neighbor prayed for the 4 wild kids and every one of them has been saved.

No genuine Christian will ever accept such a basis for unity with other religions. In fact, it makes me wonder if you have surrendered your ideas to the Lord Jesus Christ and asked Him what He thinks of them. Your philosophy is good and your desire for world peace is good. But it has nothing to do with faith in God or Christianity. And it has everything to do with the world view of religion. You will find movie stars and possibly nominal Christians on your band wagon. But Christians who walk with God, believe the Bible, and who are filled with the Holy Spirit so as to understand the Bible cannot accept such completely anti-christ malarky. That is why we believe the prophecy that Christians will be persecuted in the end times for not accepting a one world religion. May God have mercy on you for serving this cause. It hurts to kick against the goads. This is not the direction that Jesus Christ desires you to go. Willa

Tigger, you have heard wrong. God will never ever desert us or leave us or let us down or forsake us. Nothing can ever separate us from His love. His Spirit will never leave anyone who wants Him. The Holy Spirit may not be working in some people the way He did years ago, but perhaps they have lost their first love. It is never God's fault. Hollywood and movies have been an evil influence making people think that everyone has sick morals. That may be true in the pretend world of movies and in LA, San Francisco and some large cities but there are still plenty of people who live for God. Some of the older denominations are falling away from believing the Bible but some are growing that still believe and people are still being saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. At the end of Mathew and Mark Jesus said, and Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. That is His promise. Love you, Willa

Perhaps you are thinking of Calvin's reformed theology. Lutherans actually teach that a lifestyle of sin will harden your heart and cause you to fall from grace and lose your salvation should you resist the Holy Spirit all of your life.. Luther's theology was evangelical, offering salvation to all who would believe. He chose the name Evangelical for his church. Calvin's reformed theology emphasized everything from God's point of view from eternity, and Luther emphasized things from man's point of view but dared not to go beyond scripture. His view was more balanced saying that we have to take seemingly contradicting scripture by faith. Luther taught salvation by grace through FAITH. But he taught that the Holy Spirit was limited to working through the word of God and the sacraments, I believe that He also works through gifts and is able to speak to us in many ways, such as through object lessons and through hymns, but His voice always agrees with scripture. The longer I have walked with God, the more I have looked back and realized that our whole Christian life is totally dependent on God's unmerited favor or grace. At the time I think it is my own doing or decision, but when I look back I can see how God took away my blindness and set me up to make the right decision. Faith is not of ourselves but a gift from God, lest anyone should boast. That is scripture--not dreamed up by Luther or Calvin. Amazing Grace. Praise God for His mercy and grace that He would reach out to save me. I can't understand it, but can only weep with thanksgiving. Bless His holy Name! Blessings Willa

The Greek word to believe is also translated to trust in and rely upon, to cling to and adhere to, in the Amplified Version. It depends on the use. In the same way the Greek word for to know can mean head knowledge or can mean intimate experiential knowledge. Salvation means both trusting in and relying upon Christ and knowing Him in an intimate experiential way. He lives in us and we rely upon Him daily. By sharing with each other we come to a more complete understanding of scriptures. Pricilla and Acquilla helped Apollos to understand the way of God more accurately in Acts 18:26. We do learn from each other. I have learned so much more about God's grace through the scriptures I have studied to find answers for others on this site. And I have been confirmed in the belief that He keeps and establishes those who were given to Him from the beginning; that Jesus died once of all sin, but that the first repentance is turning from a life of sin to Christ for forgiveness and to receive a new life in Him. So by studying the replies of others as well as studying the scriptures to answer others, my beliefs have also been refined to better understand all Christ has done for us. This has enriched my life so much. Lol. I always remember the adage: "Those who think they know it all upset those of us who do." It is very "tongue in cheek" and causes me to stop and check my attitudes and ask myself if my pride is showing, or am I teachable. God has sent many of you to me as examples as well as to keep me in check. But I probably learn the most when I fall the hardest, like once when I offended a few in the chat room and they asked to change the subject. Was my memory of scripture ever so wrong! Thank you for that gentle rebuff. My face is still red when I think of it. God does His best to keep me humble. So I thank you all for sharpening me, teaching me by example, and most of all for the love you've shown me. I have grown very fond of this fellowship. Blessings, Willa

There is some indication in 1 Cor.7:14 NKJV For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; OTHERWISE YOUR CHILDREN WOULD BE UNCLEAN, BUT NOW THEY ARE HOLY. To me this says that if there is one believer in the home, they can dedicate and seperate the children and spouse to the Lord as they do their own lives. You pray for them continually and teach them to pray from an early age. Before hubby was saved we sent our son to a Christian school. Older son was to memorize the Lord's Prayer in kindergarten. 2 year old brother learned it as well as he heard it recited. But he had bad tonsils and adenoids and could not pronouce some words correctly: Ow Fobbew in heaben, how would be dye name. Kingdom come, will be done, erff in heaben. Gib us dis day daily bwead, fogib us dets as we fogib dettos. Lead us not to temp but delibo fom ebil. Dine is kingdom powoe foe ebbo. Amen. (It was a little like Elmer Fudd) We read our kids Bible stories from an early age. We demonstrate Jesus to them. They grow up asking daddy pointed, embarassing questions. If he chooses to stay in this situation he will eventually be mellowed and sanctified. By God's grace he may choose to also receive Christ as will their children. But until such time as they choose to reject Him, they are holy and sanctified to the Lord. I don't know what becomes of the children of unbelievers. But I do know that praying grandparents make a huge difference. Even neighbors praying can make a difference. I had a friend who grew up in a very ubelieving abusive alcoholic home. The 4 kids, their eventual spouses and most of their children all are serving God. She said that the little old lady up the hill prayed for them continually when they were growing up. Blessings, Willa

Prov. 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. 1 Cor. 10:13-14 No temptation has overtaken you except is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Luke 6:31 NKJV And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. And others have mentioned "for the love of money is the root of all evil." These are the only ones I know of that have their roots in scripture. Blessings, Willa

Sometimes it is easier to forgive than to trust again. Trust must be earned and over time it returns--providing there are no more reasons to not trust. A marriage can't survive without trust, just as our relationship with God can't survive without trust. To believe in God is to trust Him and rely on Him. It is part of the foundation for our loving Him. He is faithful to us even when our faith is week and we waver in fear. A bruised reed He will not break. I always quote Isaiah 61:1-3. Especially the part that says He came to bind up the broken hearted. And how, when we grieve, He is able to bring beauty out of the ashes and give us a spirit of joy in place of mourning. So look it up and memorize it. God is faithful, though every human may fail us. He is our ever present help in time of need. Blessings, Willa

Someplace it says: the fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of wisdom. A good understand have they that keep His commandments. Sometimes it is the fear of God's chastening that keeps me from disobeying. But usually it is because I don't want to lose the close fellowship I have with Him. The warmth of His friendship means so much to me, and the reassurance that He is guiding my steps. When I obey His commandments and His voice I also gain understanding of His Word, and it becomes a part of my life. Then God gives me understanding of other passages that pertain as well. It is a cool process because it keeps it all from being just "head knowledge" but it also becomes"heart knowledge." God's commandments are "thou shalt not jump off the cliff" signs. They are designed to make life easier for us and keep us from getting into deep trouble. They are safety laws and warnings. I feel safe and secure when I walk with God in a love relationship.

God has helped me so much in this area of worry. He has me consider the lilies of the field, the sparrows and the ravens, and He reminds me of that old Gospel song. Your heavenly Father knows your needs before you pray; you can rest assured the answer's on the way. Of course, it is taken straight from Scripture. But He still wants us to acknowledge Him as our Provider and ask Him to supply our needs. Because what He wants most is a close relationship with us and having us totally to lean on Him. So now I pray a lot instead of worrying. I pray for our grandson who is a new driver with his first car. We pray for the safety of our family both on the job and traveling to and from work. We pray for the salvation of ALL our grandkids. We pray that God would heal our kids' bodies. He cares about them, and us, much more than we do. He said to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. He is so faithful to us. Our pastor says he lays all his bills out on his bed and says, Lord, I give them all to you. We have no money to pay them, and unless You provide they won't be paid. God always provides. He never tells others of their need--only God. Our God is our ever present help us in time of need. Blessings Willa

I agree with Fez. But also pray for them that God enlighten and draw them by His Spirit and grace like He did you. Only He can do it. My friend and her husband call themselves christians but don't believe the Bible is God's word, and they drink too much. We continually pray for them and they keep calling us long distance. We love them very much and she will talk for hours. Last time they called they told us that the reason they love us so much is because we love them just the way they are and we don't try to change them. I love them the way God does. For while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. When she has asked for prayer or advice I have always told her what the Bible says. And yet we are very close. When they finally surrender their lives to the God of the Bible, He will begin changing them. Meanwhile, they are full of love for us and they definitely see the change in us and the life of Christ in us. I know that God is working on their hearts and showing them that there is more than what they have. Someday they will ask the right questions and I will be able to tell them what they must do to inherit eternal life. She does believe that Jesus died for her sins, but I don't think he does. She is probably a baby Christian who has never grown because she started going to a liberal church that no longer believes in the bible. I believe that God will call them back to Himself. Meanwhile we pray.

I have heard Christians say that it was easier for them to overcome cocain addiction than cigarette addiction. I have known people who got help from doctors but smoked as well and never overcame it. Sometimes we leave ourselves "loop holes" as well. I will quit, but I know if my friends are smoking I will have one, too, type loop holes. So the key would be to avoid your friends who smoke. Hubby and I had to quit at the same time. And we were at each others throats for a month. But I was pregnant and 3 doctors had told me to quit. We did it cold turkey, the hard way, but they weren't as potent in the 60s. So if you really want to quit, you should probably see a doctor, and simply ask God to help you to stick to it. No exceptions. No loop holes. Then ask God to fill you with His Spirit again to give you the power to overcome. Then start focusing on God and do the things He does want you to do.--- If He tells you to give the money that you would have spent on cigarettes to the poor at a mission, do it. Whatever you feel God has put on your heart to do that agrees with scripture and is Christ like is what you should focus on doing. That is walking in the Spirit. Keep your eyes on Jesus, not the sin that so easily besets you. And I am not saying it will be easy unless God gives you extra special grace. If it would help, find a self help group or a pastor who might hold you accountable and pray for you. Ask for prayer from your family or any people that you know who are prayer warriors. And present your body a living sacrifice to God, which is your reasonable service. Renew your mind daily in the washing and regeneration of His Word, the bread of life. I do ask God to give you the grace to overcome this, and to help you leave them behind for good. Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. Be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world. Read Romans 7 and all of Romans 8 again. Walking in the Spirit is the answer to the o wretched man that I am scenerio. Thanks be to God!!! He has given us a way out!!! Blessings, Willa