Willa

The problem is that God always stretches my faith till I am sure I have failed the test and He comes to the rescue when I think it is too late. It is like when the official from the Synagogue asked Jesus to heal his daughter who was near death. So he was delayed and she died. Then He raised her from the dead. Even when He arrives too late He still helps us in time of need. We serve such an amazing God Who truly has compassion on us.

To the third heaven - The Jews sometimes speak of seven heavens, and Muhammed has borrowed this idea from the Jews. But the Bible speaks of but three heavens, and among the Jews in the apostolic ages also the heavens were divided into three: (1) The aerial, including the clouds and the atmosphere, the heavens above us, until we come to the stars. (2) The starry heavens, the heavens in which the sun, moon, and stars appear to be situated. (3) The heavens beyond the stars. That heaven was supposed to be the residence of God, of angels, and of holy spirits. It was this upper heaven, the dwelling-place of God, to which Paul was taken, and whose wonders he was permitted to behold - this region where God dwelt; where Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father, and where the spirits of the just were assembled. Barnes Notes This portion speaks of the galaxies also being a heaven: Gen 1:6 Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." Gen 1:7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. Gen 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. Some portions speak of the heaven that the birds inhabit. Still others speak of the heaven where the Lord dwells. This is what I was always taught. I don't often disagree with "Got Questions".

Jesus is the One Who had been caught up to heaven. He will return and rule for 1000 years with a rod of iron. In John 1 we read the the Word was with God the Father and the Word was God Jesus v.12 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jesus). Rev 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. This refers to the Church

Why do bad things happen? All things were created good. Then satan became proud and rebelled, desiring to overthrow God. That was a joke--we have an all powerful God. However, he did succeed in taking 1/3 of the angels with him and they were cast out of heaven. Here on earth satan did succeed in deceiving Eve and spreading his rebellion against God to mankind. That placed mankind in his domain. We are now captive to satan and sin and all mankind is predisposed to sinning. The only way out is to receive Jesus as the Messiah sent to rescue mankind by becoming one of us to die for the sin of the world, thus becoming the propitiation, the appeasing sacrifice for our sin. He made it possible for us to be reconciled to God by His own blood. He took our evil upon Himself and in return gave us His righteousness. We can only receive this by faith as God enlightens us. So all mankind is heading for hell under satan's rule unless they accept God's way out, by the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our sin. He alone can rescue us. Meanwhile the rest of mankind goes on in rebellion and sin, hating and spreading chaos. Even nature is corrupted by our negligence and selfishness. Wickedness is the way of the world, and that is why bad things happen. God did do something about it, by the way. He sent Jesus to rescue whomever will come to Him.

The last few times I was attacked I just said, "I don't have to listen to you, you lie!" I haven't been bothered that way since. That doesn't mean he won't try another way. That is why we have to stay on guard.

The word pastor means shepherds. All of us, especially our elders and pastors, should be servants. They are to be role models; as Paul even said, imitate me.

Life is not worthy living without God in my life daily comforting and guiding me. There would be no hope for the future without Him. He is life and He is my light. Jhn 6:67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Jhn 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, Jhn 6:69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

You have done well. People don't have to earn our forgiveness. God gave it to us freely and we are too pass it on freely. Trust is something that when destroyed, a person must earn back. We don't have to be stupid. 2Ti 4:14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 2Ti 4:15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. Paul has forgiven Alexander--he is not planning to get even. He is letting God do that. Yet he is obviously warning others to be on guard against the guy so I don't think he trusts him.

I so agree with Jade. We often go to Christian marriage seminars, go to marriage retreats, and take Sunday School classes in parenting, then spend the rest of our lives trying to apply the Biblical things we have learned. But it is so worth all the work to have children and grandchildren who love and serve God, especially when we look back and see that 90% of the results are due to God's grace.

Paul called himself the chief of sinners because he had participated in the stoning death of Stephen. He was most certainly forgiven. The only sins not forgiven are the final rejection of Christ and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. They are pretty much the same thing since a person who does one has likely done the other.

Jhn 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. God's peace is from His perspective, knowing the end from the beginning. Perfect peace. We grow to see people and situations from His perspective. It doesn't come immediately. We do get a measure of peace when we obey Him in baptism, Bible reading and prayer. Whenever we obey Him He blesses us with peace. Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. We grow in our trust as we apply the word to our lives and find it trustworthy.

Yes, Glass Harp on LP.

Our pastor had several couples that were in a prayer group with him. They were directed by the Lord to plant a new church in our area knowing only that there were high power lines over the area. They moved here as 3 couples and had their first meeting in a Motel 6. Their first home was under giant high power lines spanning a wide river. These families have remained close, especially the pastor and assc. pastor. They and staff have been close as well as elders. Much of the staff are the wives of the pastors, which are 5 or more now.

I have his first 3 pre Christian albums and others of his early ones, including his tour with 2nd Chapter of Acts.

I don't have this one, and loved it. Thank you.

The best thing you can do is pray. Revivals have been started by one person interceding. Pray.

I also know someone who was saved due to the fact that she had an abortion when she was a teen. 25 years later she still mourns for the child on its anniversary in spite of the fact that God has forgiven her. She has trouble forgiving herself. She has 3 kids now and is a terrific mom. If she is not saved I would invite her to church or to a Bible study with you. If she had been a church goer and is repenting, she needs to be restored. But if she claims to be a Christian and is boasting about what she did because she thinks she should be able to do what she pleases with "her" body, then and only then are you to avoid her according to Scripture. After all, the "tissue" that was removed has unique DNA that in not hers, so she had paid to have a baby murdered who was a unique human being with great potential..

Always pray and ask God to explain it to you. When you do understanding something underline it or keep a diary and record it. Then when a situation comes up where you can apply it to your life, do so. Usually you will find an opportunity within the week, or something has happened recently that you can apply it to. That way the word becomes a part of you and you remember it. The New Testament especially is meant to be very practical.

Turtle, you have been given the privilege of carrying on your mom's legacy. You now minister to us that way.

Saul was zealous about persecuting Christians. After his conversion he became zealous to spread the Gospel. God in us is love--compassion. If only we were that zealous in compassion for both unbelievers and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

My pastor always gives this example. He has fruit trees in his yard. He says that to produce fruit, the branch just has to stay a part of the tree. If he goes out in the yard, he doesn't hear them grunting to grow fruit, they don't strive or work at it, they just remain connected to the tree and soak in the sunshine. We don't need to work at acting like Jesus. We just have to allow His life to flow through us just as the branch gets its nourishment from the tree. Corrie tenBoom wrote a book called "Not Good if Detached". The cover shows a ticket with a stub, and the words "not good if detached" are printed on the stub. It is true, without Him we can do nothing. He is the One doing the work in us and through us.

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called sons of God.

Friend, I love the way you rejoice in the Lord. It just puts a big grin on my face!

Welcome, Darrell. Have you repented not trusting in Christ for your salvation? Have you surrendered to Jesus Christ as the Lord and Master of your life, to serve Him on His terms and not just when you agree with the Bible? Do you pray often and desire fellowship with the Father? Do you enjoy fellowship with other Christians? Do you read your Bible regularly, study it and meditate on its words? If you can say yes to these you are definitely a Christian, even if you may fall on your face occasionally.

I used to tell my sons to be a friend to someone who needs a friend. So they had friends who were of other nationalities and who were not always included. When I was in my 20s I preferred church friends who were elderly and who were so often rich in the grace of God.