Willa

OK, I confess to having been a chronic complainer! After a study some years ago on the children of Israel complaining in the wilderness I was convicted down to my toes! It has been my resolve since then to be thankful, not that I always succeed. It is very clear to me that we need to learn from their mistakes. 1Co 10:6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 1Co 10:7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." 1Co 10:8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 1Co 10:9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 1Co 10:10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 1Co 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

We stop striving. We ask God to fill us with His Spirit because we can't in ourselves ever be worthy. Only Jesus has ever done that and only His Spirit in us will ever find us worthy. It is his life that loves through us, forgives others through us, and reaches out in compassion to those needs we see around us. Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Does it contradict Scripture? Do they confess Jesus as Lord? Do they confess Jesus as having come in the flesh? Is it in harmony with the Spirit of Scripture? Does it produce the fruit of the Spirit? Col 3:15 AMP. And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Does it glorify God? I once heard and read a testimony of a convicted criminal who claimed his life had been changed by salvation through Christ. However, he wrote a book that 99% glorified his sins and at the end, as an afterthought added that Jesus changed his life.. Had it been genuine he would not have boasted about his sin life but would have been ashamed and minimized it, to glorify what God had done in his life.

While I agree that we can't put our Creator in a box, He has expressly appeared to us in 3 persons as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, separate but One Eternal God in 3 persons.

I have done this as well. He never fails to catch me up into the Lord's Presence in worship and praise! We speak and international language, we who love the Lord Jesus. It is awe and admiration of the majesty of our Creator. Praise His Holy Name!

John 8 Jesus claimed to be I AM of Ex. 3 and Rev. 1,. He is the Word Who existed with the Father before all worlds and Who Is the Eternal God. YHWH. Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham leaped for joy that he should see My day, and he saw, and rejoiced. Joh 8:57 Then the Jews said to Him, You do not yet have fifty years, and have You seen Abraham? Joh 8:58 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham came to be, I AM!

I use NKJV, ESV, AMP, and ALT3 (Analytical-Literal Translation). I refer to Young's and Green's literal translations as well.

I love this completely scriptural worship chorus. We used to sing it in a round--so beautiful!

Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, We know but we know that the Creators of the universe is our Daddy God. For me it came when I totally surrendered, stopped questioning and contending with God. He had just used me in a miracle that blessed someone else before either of us was even aware of their need. The Holy Spirit had urged me like a hunch to go to a nearby town to do this and I had no idea where I was going, but I obeyed and found the people. That afternoon we learned what had happened. It absolutely blew my mind and I fell on my face before God. Incredible! In it I saw God's love as never before, His care and concern for each of us.

Heb 7:25 AMP Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God]. uttermost G3838 (Thayer). παντελής pantelēs Thayer Definition: 2) completely, perfectly, utterly I do believe in eternal security of true born again believers who recognize God's authority over them as their LORD. Some only accept Christ as fire insurance but not as their Lord here on earth. Some only believe He was a good man, and some worship and pray to deceased people but never really pray to God unless they are repeating a written prayer. Some believe they are born again because their church tells them that happened at their infant baptism. All of these people may consider themselves Christians. Perhaps some are, but at some point I look to find some fruit or some sign of growth and life. Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Rom 8:9 WEB But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. Rom 8:15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.

It is Well is one hymn that I can sing slower.

When I led hymn service in the nursing home we sang it in double time--that was the way the 80 year old lady played it on the piano so that was the way we sang it!

By the way, Rachmaninoff when played by a 21 year old Russian kid named Ivan Bessonov absolutely blows me away. I used to try to play Rachmaninoff when I was still taking piano lessons but could never come close to his speed, clarity and accuracy. He is amazing!

I enjoyed my husband's elevator music for many years but finally got bored with it. There are so many other styles that I enjoy. The only thing I really don't care for is music that drags very slowly. Grandma Willamina used to croon the hymns that way. It wasn't till 25 years later that I realized those hymns were joyous songs and not dirges. In spite of that I do enjoy Mehalia Jackson.

It all started when our sons introduced me to Stryper in the 80s. I was walking 6 miles a day to work off stress hormones, and my classical romantic style was too erratic a tempo. So I found Leviticus and Jerusalem, hard rock groups to pace to. Then I noticed that my sons and other kids were handing out tapes to their friends like adult might had out tracts and kids who liked the music were getting saved when challenged to read the lyrics. Music can be a powerful tool--I think of David playing his harp for King Saul. 1Sa 16:23. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

And only the Holy Spirit can reveal their true condition to them. We don't have a clue what sin the Lord will put His spotlight on and should never try to nail the person on the one that we think is most glaring. That too is God's job. People usually just get in God's way and gum up the works when we try to convict--it usually comes across as condemnation and it is satan who condemns.

"You are the light of the world" - What does this mean? All born again believers have the Holy Spirit of Christ residing in them. Jesus, the light, lives in us and shines out from us to shed His loving salvation to others in darkness. People without Christ have faces clouded by worry, fear, hatred and evil desires. The darkness is deep within them and only the Love of God can disperse it. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it (neither can it comprehend it.). John 1:5.

I have prayed, Lord, I don't want to be in the valley of trials or on a mountain top, I just want to be in the cleft of the Rock! So snuggle up to Jesus and let Him hold you in His mighty arms, choosing to stay in that place of safety comfort and healing. Let the oil of His Spirit flow over you.

I do like the song "I Can Only Imagine". I also have several Mahalia Jackson CDs love her as well. Phil Keaggy remains a favorite guitarist. One Bad Pig isn't the best punk music but they are a fun bunch with a serious message--a cop and a street preacher formed it. Otherwise I like hard rock and alternative/post punk. Of secular I like Santana, Rush, Creedence Clearwater Revival and King's X. Of Christian I like Whitecross, Bloodgood, Mastedon, , X Sinner, Rez, Siloam, Breakfast With Amy, Mad At the World, and Steve Taylor among many many others. Kids have been saved just reading Bloodgood's lyrics! DO CHECK OUT SILOAM AND IDLE CURE based on this comment. I love folk music and dances of all nations and the classical romantic period tops much of my listening preferences--from Gershwin to Tchaikovsky, to Khachaturian, Kodaly, Borodin, Prokofiev, Smetana, Rachmaninoff, Litz, Brahms, Lecuona, and Rimsky-Korsakov. No concussions as yet from head banging but there isn't much danger of one since I do have to be careful about re-injuring my neck. Many thanks to you guys for your concern-- I am sure that many out there need to be warned that head and neck injuries are very real dangers of head banging and that deafness will definitely follow listening to loud music. Not only are my son and I wearing hearing aids but I have had 3 dogs go deaf from my loud music!!! There are few things more pathetic than a dog that can't hear you call him away from danger.

Whiplash is more like it!

One of my favorite worship songs is Isaiah 6 by ONE BAD PIG, a Christian punk rock group. I never fail to worship to it with tears in my eyes and a little head banging.

Heb 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.