Willa

Welcome. Do reply here 5 times. I should have waited. At least she is honost. Willa

Anyone who disagrees with progressive values is subject to name calling. So we are deemed bigoted and unloving by those who are bigoted and unloving toward us.

After an auto accident in which I crushed my bones in my foot, I also developed a frozen shoulder and could not use crutches. So a crawled around the house on raw, bleeding knees. And I felt worthless. It was then that God showed me that He treasures us simply because He made us, and not because of anything we can do. He reminded me of pictures I had painted that I still enjoy. They are something I created. They may not win any prizes but I enjoy them. So God enjoys us, as well. It especially delights Him when He can see His Son in us.

I have a new heart and I don't want to sin. I still fall, and there must be sin that I am yet blind to, but my hearts desire is to stay in fellowship with God. In addition, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have they that keep His commandments. Psm. 111:10

I disagree that the Hebrew Bible was ever "trimmed down". The Masoretic text, to my understanding, was established before Christ and was accepted by the most competent, conservative scholars. It is noted for its extreme emphasis on accuracy. The accepted texts ended with Daniel. Other branches of Judism such as those affected by gnostism and the Sadducees may have accepted other manuscripts, which we call approchraphal. The Greek translation and O.T. texts were used often by the early church and most of the New Testament was in Greek. But they remained as collections of scrolls for many centuries. 2 Peter 3:16 calls Paul's epistles "Scriptures". I have heard that the book of Mark was found among the dead sea scrolls. Most of the New Testament has much earlier dates than liberal scholars give credit for. They were widely circulated among areas of churches with only a few not extending to the farthest regions. They were widely copied for personal use in the Greek church, but not always accurately. The best early manuscripts were lost by the destruction ordered by the Roman emporers. There is a cohesiveness in all of God's Word that shows a single Source of inspiration. It is indeed God-breathed, even though it was written over many centuries and ended with the writing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

He is risin indeed!

Jer. 31:31 does say with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. But that became a reality by Christ's blood on the cross and when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jewish believers at Weeks/Pentacost. The beginning of the church was all Jewish. We gentiles were grafted in later beginning with the house of Cornelius and then with Paul and Barnabus' ministry. I don't think of the church as being gentile. I do think of it being a Jewish entity that has, by the blood of Christ which brings us into one body, been chosen to be enlarged by gentile believers. And I believe that the time of the gentiles is soon coming to an end. The mystery of the body of Christ is the mystery of the church. We are made one in Christ. We both are so endebted to God's grace since we are certainly not getting what we deserve. For while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Mat 26:28 was given to the Jewish disciples with the promise of drinking of it again in our Father's Kingdom..

My understanding is that the new covenant, the covenant of grace, is made with the church. Eph 2:11-3:7 shows the equality of believing Jews and gentiles in Christ. Gentiles do not inherit the land. But in all other respects we seem to be equal. Eph 3:6 that the gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body, and partakers of the promise of Christ through the Gospel,. And being in Christ enables us to inherit all He inherits. Eph 1-2:7 I don't believe that we are the new Jeruselem. I do believe we will be included as a part of it. An example might be the pearls that compose the gates. Pearls are an unclean gem of the gentiles. Rev. 21:21 Since we also have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life, we shall be a part of it. For we shall ever be with the Lord. Indeed, we are IN Him, and He in us. There is no call for an elitist attitude among Jewish believers and even less of an excuse for gentiles. Christ has broken down the division. Romans 11:32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. We also are children of the promises to Abraham. By faith, and by the promise of "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Zec 2:11, Ga 3:14, Eph 5:3-6 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all, and in you all. Nkjv.

This nation's leaders need to start taking God at His Word, and taking Him seriously. He won't be mocked.

The green husks turn black and can be very messy. We tried to find ones with the husks off. The dry walnuts aren't very messy. I don't recall black stains from them--just shells. But that was 60 years ago.

I had to work with a very profane person on a school bus. Everyone seemed to know I am a Christian by my life and attitudes. So when she questioned me as to why I didn't laugh at her dirty joke I would smile, shrug and say I just didn't find it to be funny. But she would act the same way to parents, which I found very embarassing. When she would use the Lord's name in vain I would remind her that He loves her anyhow. When, knowing I would be offended, she would loudly use profanity when she saw me approach, I would abruptly turn away. She considered herself a Christian because she had once attended a Bible study. So I treated her as though she might be a Christian in hopes she would discover she was not. She chose to work with me the following year even though she turned harder, and proceded to start false rumors about me and slander me, I learned later, but she would tell Christians what a nice lady I was. She died at an early age--under 45. It was even more embarassing when a lady who claimed to be a devout Christian wore vulgar ear rings at Christmas time. I did suggest that it was not appropriate to wear them when parents were present. I do correct people when they have misunderstandings as to what the Bible says. Many people have told me that there is nothing that says they must forgive. That is an easy one, since the verse after the Lord's prayer mandates it. Mt. 6:14 Forgiving one another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must do. Eph. 4:32, Col 3:13. Mk. 11:25 etc. Our pastor used to work in construction and says he just expects unbeliever to act ungodly. Most don't know any better and some don't even realize they are ungodly because they were raised that way. It is habitual. People who are held in satan's grip are like Ninavah, not knowing their right hand from their left. They need to know that God loves them and desires to deliver them from destruction. Having lived with an unsaved husband for 11 years I heard and saw a lot of ungodliness that was not evident while were dating. It was a matter of tapping into God's love for him, and a deep desire to demonstrate that love, just as he was. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. It was God's job to point out his sins, not mine, and I had a list that God could have used to convict him. God didn't use even one of them. He is the expert. Satan is the accuser of the brethern so I am very hesitant to reprove others. Too many times I have been falsely reproved by a person who addressed me with logs in their own eyes at best, who completely missed what God was doing in my life. At worst the person simply expressed their loathing condemnation. Sometimes when I prayed about the issues God told me they were lies and confirmed this. So I am very hesitant to reprove others. I don't want to do it at at time they can't take it, such as during the loss of a loved one. I don't want to do it not knowing if it is the truth. Misunderstandings do happen. I don't want to do it if it is not necessary. So I definitely don't want to do it unless God is directing me in every respect. "It is better to err on the side of grace" since we serve the God of all grace.

At least almonds are specificly mentioned as "the best" in the Bible. Walnuts bring back such memories. There was a Dick Van Dyke show with Danny Thomas from the planet Twilo about aliens that ate walnuts and took over human bodies. Their thumbs and imaginations were removed when they succumbed to the invaders, and they gained eyes in the backs of their heads. We had a half dozen huge black walnut trees in our neighborhood. My neighbor and I would sit on the concrete floor of her garage with a pile of husked walnuts and a hammer, cracking them and eating them off the floor. But I still have my thumbs.

We used to sing Zeph. 3:17. Thank you for the Easter blessing. We sing the hymn often in our church as well. In context He is speaking to Zion, Jerusalem. We shall be a part of the New Jeruselem. We will be the Bride of Christ, sought by Him, courted by the Holy Spirit, redeemed by His own blood, and someday His bride. There is rejoicing in heaven over each sinner that comes to repentance. "He will take great delight in you." The angels are in awe of what God's grace is doing in us. The mystery of the church is a beautiful thing. Ephesians 1:18 says that we are His inheritance. 2:19 says we are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,---Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. This is why we cannot be a Christian in isolation. We are being built and fitted together to make a dwellingplace for God in the Spirit. We are a unit together, meant to function as one. Eph 4:16 Christ--from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Every cell of the body is necessary to supply nourishment and oxygen to every other cell as well as to carry away waste. Without each cell doing its part, some other part will die and putrify. Gangrene. Each of us is necessary and valuable to the health of the body. Each was created for good works that God prepared for us beforehand that we should walk therein. 2:10 David's and Herod's temples were built with stones. We are living stones. 1 Peter 2:5 You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices (righteous acts of love, prayers) acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Zion. The city of God. " He will rejoice over you with singing." NKJV

Computers can be hacked. They can have food and drinks spilt on them, they can be destroyed by lightening, they can get viruses. I don't trust computers and still fight with my pads. Spell correct inserts words i never said. I would much rather argue with a person. They say that computer error is in reality operator error. Hogwash! How about programmer error? Bill Gates should know. His company put out a whole lot of programs that were faulty. Don't trust dem new fangled gadgets.

Everyone develops their own way to study the Bible. But I look at it as God's Word written to me to reveal His character and personality to me. So praying first does help, and asking the meaning of a passage helps as well. But usually I don't get hung up if I don't understand everything. It is better to find the passages that are meaningful and underline or highlight them. So try to act on what you do understand, or ask God to help you to apply it to your life. He will help you to understand more when you need to, and after you have acted on what you do know. But most of us would be glad to explain any passages that you are having difficulty with. Often it will mean different things to different people and we learn from each other, especially in how the Word applies to us. It may help to read the passage from another translation which may seem clearer. It may help to ask who, what, where, why when and how type of questions. Who is it written to or about. What are they discussing. Where and when did it take place. Why was it being written. How does it apply to me.

The battlefield of the mind. Circumstances of life and grief are very real. And they can dig a very dark hole with no light at the end. It is then, when we are so totally self involved in dealing with our loss and self pity, that satan tells us God does not love us. It is at that point that he tells us that nobody loves us and nobody cares. Certainly stress hormones can screw with our minds as well and make us more vulnerable. I can remember concluding, at such a time, that I know that God loves me because Jesus died for me. Bottom line. So shall we take a look at righteous Job? In all his suffering he did not accuse God. But he did start to question God, and for this God came down on him saying things like, where were you when I created the earth?. He did start to justify himself as well. A person's faith has to go deeper than intellectual knowledge. It must involve the indwelling Holy Spirit crying Daddy! in our hearts. Even those who endured abusive fathers can learn that their real Daddy in heaven is pure and caring, self sacrificing on our behalf, giving and providing. It is Christ in us, the hope of glory, that makes us worthy of heaven. And knowing all that He has done for us and is doing in us is what gives us worth. Only He is worth. I have no worth in myself. Yet God, knowing my wretched condition, through grace has given me faith. The way out of the pit is to determin that life goes on, and so must we. We must first recognize that satan is the father of lies, and that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He came to give us life and that more abundantly. So we must move forward. He created us for good works that we should walk therein. Eph 2. Those good works include reaching out to someone who is hurting worse than we are and offering them the comfort that we have received from God in our time of need. 2 Cor. 1. The purpose for our suffering is so that we can help others, having gained compassion. Faith is built over time. It comes through small steps and answered prayers. We gain a relationship of trust as based on God's Word, and through experience we grow in dependance on His loving, faithful character. The person who can't accept God's love for themselves, who believes that God loves the world and they are part of the world, but God couldn't possibly love them alone, will be caught up in the hell of constant envy. They are comparing themselves with others and always trying to show themselves a being better or even worse; they may constantly boast about their family or possessions in surperlatives. It is likely that they won't be able to receive the love of other Christians either. They will constantly feel rejected because they are trying to gain acceptance and love from people, and normally they have chosen certain people that they envy most to want these from. So they are consummed with self. Selfishness. But God came to set these people free as well. And they do need our prayers, because only God can set us free from ourselves. We must die daily to self. It involves pain till we no longer notice our own, but can see the pain of others in need. James 3:14 NKJV But if you have bitter envy and self-seaking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seaking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. Self esteem. Agree with God that in me lies no good thing. Only God is good. We have this treasure in earthen vessels. Esteem others as better than ourselves. Humility. But we must recognize how much God loves and treasures us before we can give up our worth and humble ourselves or die to self. Phil. 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God--made Himself of no reputatation, taking the form of a slave--he humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the cross. He washed feet. He served men. He died with thieves.

Our grand daughter is active in both basketball and softball on a grade school level. Our church has Sunday and Wednesday services for kids, but those are the two days that her school scheduals games and practices. They cut short practice and arrive late for church, but occasionally they miss out of town games that start at 9 AM. on Sunday. You would think that they would at least limit the games to Sunday afternoons. I find this schedualing to be inconvenient if not offensive.

Yes, and one such appointment, though slightly different, occurred when one of our mods, Fez in South Africa, sent Nigel (NCN) a message when he most needed it. Fez was in the quiet of the jungle discribing the sights and sounds of the beauty of the day. Nigel was in a clinic about to receive a round of chemo therepy. It was a divine appointment that he so needed. God is so good to know when we need to be encouraged and need a friend. God does put people on our hearts to witness to or to reach out to. Unfortunately, some people misinterpret this. I had this happen at another church concerning a new young couple. God put them so strongly on my heart but I did not know them and felt that they needed to be included by other young couples. I prayed for them intensely but could not let it drop. Finally I called their home and spoke to him since his wife was indisposed.. He was upset but would not say why. Asking what I could do, he finally said that he had played the drums for a punk band and wanted to be in another band. I knew a young music teacher who was working on a doctorate in percussion, and called him, asking him if he would listen to the kid play and perhaps include them socially as well. He was also in charge of our music team at church. Well, the kid is now playing drums for that church. Unbeknown to me, It was a pivotal point of his life. His bride had just left him. The music teacher's ministry kept him on the right path and helped to give him stability during the crisis. But I was attacked by his mother who viciously railed on me for gossiping about him. I had known NOTHING to gossip about. No one had told me a thing and the last thing I wanted to be was a busy body or a gossip. She could not understand how God can put people on our hearts and that we can be an instrument in divine appointments.

A clone would have been another male exactly like Adam. Just saying. The more I studied biological sciences the more I came to the same conclusion--intelligent design. I would come home from college with more questions than I left with. Each day just awed me at the wisdom and intricacies of the human body and I would break down in worship of our God. It is stretching the imagination that an amoeba could be created by chance, let alone human beings which brings the chances to absolute impossibility..

The world will never succeed in trying to become like Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit can do that, and the world does not begin to understand the things of the Spirit. So when church started hiring and following people who are not born again or walking after the Spirit--people who are not called by God to the ministry--it started buying into a false gospel. Deception. Following the pride of reasoning and philosophy and not following God's word. Desiring a Saul for a leader instead of a David, Churches look for someone who was top in their class at seminary, who majored in psychology, or who graduated from Harvard school of divinity. Man's qualification are not God's. God chooses the John the Baptists as well as the apostle Paul, the Peters as well as Barnabus. Some, like Paul, count all their education as dung in comparison to knowing Christ, and follow God in spite of their credentials. But often we end up with the blind leading the blind.

One way that I appropriate God's grace is to trust that God has it all under His control and is holding me close to Him in His arms. I am secure in Him and His love, so there is no room for fear. I can rest in Him and in His care.

You have to be away from lights, out in the country side to see them. We saw them once down in Oregon west of Florence but nearer to Coos Bay, since we were heading that way. It was one of the few times I got a good look and they lasted for a long time. But hubby got some great photos on the way to work in south central WA. He had a 45 mile commute one way and they were all colors of orange, fucia, green blue and purples. His old camera was low pixil but they were still beautiful.

Our cat had the grasshopper eating technique down to a science. She would position them so that the legs fell off as she ate the body. I would often see her with legs hanging off each side of her mouth. Grasshoppers were all she could catch at the time to feed her hungry kittens and she prepared them without the legs. So, leaning upon her wisdom, I think I would eliminate the locusts' legs from my honey locust breakfast. Maybe a little lemon juice would add some tang. But you have given me another reason for not liking chili powder, even though chitin might make an excellent anti caking agent. By the way, are the flies a bonus or do they charge extra for them? Most open air markets are swarming with flies. And swarms of locusts or grasshoppers can decimate crops and any living greenery in no time, so cattle would be considered less harmful to the environment in my opinion.

Many animals communicate with body language, which is also considered to be more reliable among humans. And they do understand verbal communication even though they don't reply with words. They reply with body language. The man who raised a flock of wild turkeys from the time that they hatched, however, claimed that he understood at least 35 verbal communications of the turkeys. They had different sounds for Red Tail Hawks, as well as for separate species of snakes, and could communicate their plans for the day to him. He slept with them, ate insects with them and learned to think like a turkey. lol I have heard that the use of tools separate us from the animal kingdom, but both great apes and crows use tools as well. In fact, several species of birds have learned to use tools and sometimes shape them to suit their purposes as well. So perhaps the main thing that separates us from animals is that some of us are indwelt by God's Holy Spirit.

When shopping I am preoccupied, unaware of the world around, me and don't even see my family should they encounter me. So you do have a ministry. You notice other people who need a smile and need you to look them in the eyes and listen. I hope you are in prayer even while they speak, and God will give you the words they need as well as His love.