Willa

On 8/1/2022 at 1:39 PM, Selah7 said:

What would you do if you woke up in the morning, turned on the TV, and the headline story was, “Jesus has returned!  Reports on sightings from Jerusalem!  Stay tuned!” 
 

Selah

What happened to the "every eye shall see" part.  If I have to hear about it on the news via reports of sightings, something isn't right.  I should be seeing Him myself.

5 hours ago, Sower said:

Now, if you can find the scriptures that show us HOW, in Christ, to abide and walk in the spirit, I'm interested.

1.  Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit on a regular basis.  We see the apostles were filled many times in the book of Acts.  The command to be filled is in a progressive tense that means keep on being filled.

Luk 11:11  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Luk 11:12  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  Luk 11:13  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

2.  Each day ask God to lead you to opportunities to share or demonstrate His love or encouragement to others.  

3.  When reading the Scriptures list the ways God demonstrated His patience, His love, His kindness, His provision, His forbearance, gentleness, power and authority, etc.  God is also holy and righteous. We can more easily identify His voice when we are acquainted with His character (which is expressed in His still, small voice).

Eph 5:1 AMP.  THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].  Eph 5:2  And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a  slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. [Eze 20:41]

Eph 5:18.  And stop getting drunk with wine in which is reckless behavior, but continue being filled with the Spirit.   (Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament 3rd edition by Gary Zeolla)

57 minutes ago, Daily verse and quote said:

I will be with them in trouble.

God was with Daniel's friends in the fiery furnace.  Sometimes we still must go through difficult trials.  

Both old and New Testaments primarily reveal God to us--His nature and how He deals with people;  His love, trustworthiness, righteousness, holiness, omniscience, omnipresence, His discipline, guidance, provision etc. 

Over the years I have stopped doubting and critiquing God's word and have realized that it is totally trustworthy because God stands behind it.  As I apply its precepts to my life I grow in faith and in my relationship with God becomes firm.  No more doubting and questioning.  Just peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Little children are completely dependent on their parents to provide their needs, guide them, teach and encourage them in the way they should go.  We should be dependent on God in the same way.  True faith means cling to,  trust in and rely upon.  As we mature as a christian we don't become more independent but rather we become more dependent.  That requires humility.

2 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

I would rather see those colors on fingers and toes rather than all over their body. I see women with tattoos all over their body. 

I tried to explain to my granddaughter in law that when I was young the tattooed lady was a side show at the circus.  

20 hours ago, HAZARD said:

I see lately, many women, especially the younger ones paint their fingernails and even their toenails all shades of colors. Green, blue, black, grey, yellow, deep purple, even orange? I see this everywhere I go lately.

I would much rather see these colors on fingers and toes than on faces.  I believe that facial make up should enhance features slightly but not call attention to a feature.  So lips should not be purple, green or blue, eye shadow should be barely discernible, eye brows should follow the contours of the bone structure and not point straight up and so on.  Women should not look like clowns!  

I can't wear much make up because I am allergic to even hypoallergenic stuff.  However, I do think it is attractive when not used in excess by WOMEN, not men.  Even the thought of being kissed by a man wearing make up makes my skin crawl.   Men wearing nail polish?  I adapted to men wearing ear rings so it might be possible to accept nail polish on men but I don't think I would find it attractive, just as I usually don't think tattoos are attractive.  

On 7/21/2022 at 6:14 PM, other one said:

The only good pun is a really bad one, for which I always give an Oh Vey!  So don't be offended.

 Rev 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This speaks of habitual liars who are unrepentant.  Rev 22:15 NKJV But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

I have to add that we should give some latitude to new believers.  Lying was one of the first things God dealt with in my life but it may not be in someone else's.  God is merciful to not show us all our sins at once but deals with them little by little as we are able.  He changes our hearts first so that we no longer love the lie, wink at it or boast about it.  We start to see sin as God does and to hate it.  in time evil habits are broken.

Praying that God would soften her heart and open her eyes to her need for her Savior.

Act 15:28  For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:   Act 15:29  that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

These were the only laws or requirements placed upon Gentiles (us) in the church.  All others the Holy Spirit is given to us to follow Him in love rather than laws.  The 10 commandments are given as a guide  how to live a life full of God's blessing.  

Instead we are warned against following such regulations such as not touching unclean animals, which only give you the appearance of being holy and religious:

Col 2:20  Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—Col 2:21  "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"  Col 2:22  which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?  Col 2:23  These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

I went with my husband to the church of his choice for 6 months and then, after he received Christ, asked if we could just visit my home church.  He actually liked it better (it was not dead but was full of love and joy).  Right after that the pastor of the dead church wanted him to go to door and testify to people.  That was a deal breaker that only God could have arranged.  We never went back.  

There is a lot of truth and beauty in the liturgy that God can use, excluding the veneration of Mary.  Praying that God will use it all to bring about his salvation.

True, but often the blessings we receive from God are not material.  He blesses our obedience when we respond out of love.

I think it would vindicate and protect the police.   It might even help to convict criminals.  When I was working on school busses someone with mental problems made false accusations about me so they put a camera on my bus.  I was thankful because it vindicated me.   

Sometimes officers leave their mike keyed so it could be known what they were dealing with.  It was broadcast on the scanner and was pretty bad.

5 hours ago, Sower said:

For Catholics, a Door to Absolution Is Reopened

By Paul Vitello

Thank you for taking the time to post this.  I was unaware.  It is heartbreaking that the Roman church has taken one step forward and two steps back into a man made dead religion rather than a Christ centered, Bible centered living faith.

 Some Protestant churches have also rejected the Bible as their sole source of doctrine but include tradition and human reasoning as sources of doctrine.  They also are on their way to becoming dead religions.  Others have made preaching a means of getting rich.  All such errors should be rejected and avoided. 

I have known many Roman Catholics who love Jesus, read and love their Bibles and walk with God in spite of the errors in their denomination.

Most people don't read or understand the Bible.  They should pray and ask God to help them to understand it.  I once found a small medal of the descending dove, the Holy Spirit, that had this printed on the back: "Come Holy Spirit, enlighten me".  AMEN!

1Co 2:10  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  1Co 2:11  For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  1Co 2:13  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

1Co 2:14  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

On 5/18/2022 at 6:38 PM, Angee Licaa said:

. Christianity covers quite a wide range, including churches or religions with different names such as Catholicism (Christianity), Judaism, and Islam, ...

Christianity has nothing to do with Islam;  even though Islam calls Jesus a prophet, it does not recognize Him as being our Creator or God with us Immanuel.   Likewise, Judaism does not recognize Jesus as I AM, our Creator, or God with us the Messiah.  While Christianity includes Old Testament Scriptures, Judaism does not recognize the New Testament Christian Scriptures.  

Christianity revolves around Christ Jesus.

On 5/18/2022 at 6:38 PM, Angee Licaa said:

Taoism worships the triune God, going the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Taoism is related to Zen Buddhism and Shinto, but not Roman Catholicism.  It has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

On 5/19/2022 at 12:59 PM, Sower said:

T If you have a rich relative, they can give money to the church to pray for indulgences to get you out of jail and the torcher sooner, as the hired priest is able to say  Gregorian Masses.  

I understand that the Roman church did away with the sale of indulgences some time after Luther's death.  Could be wrong, but I remember thinking that it was one thing made right but dozens of false doctrines to go.  They added some worse ones after that, as well.  

Fenelon, born 1651,  was a close friend of Madame Guyon, who was his first cousin.   They strongly influenced the protestant movement in its early days.

Personally I have found that his letters to be profound and true.  Hebrews states:

Heb 4:2  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.  Heb 4:3  For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "SO I SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:10  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Heb 4:11  Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Fenelon deals with an aspect of the rest of faith.  We cease from our own works and trust in the completed work of Christ on the cross. We trust in His blood.  This is the true Sabbath rest that brings peace.  

We give up our own agendas and adopt God's.  Nevertheless not my will be done but thine were the words of Jesus as He wrestled to surrender to God's will at Gethsemane .  That is not unbiblical rubbish.  It is trusting in God's love and goodness.  It is to cast all our cares on Him for He cares for you.    It is trusting that He is all-knowing and forsees the future.  This allows us to rest in His arms.   It allows us to surrender our wills because we can trust Him.  That is faith in a nutshell.

The opposite is to wrestle with God, to struggle.  Self will is rooted in pride, the source of contention. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  The humble have quieted their hearts and walk in the Spirit with God.  They follow Him.

The Spirit causes us to hunger for God's word.  As the Holy Spirit opens our understanding we become familiar with His nature, His character, and the full meaning of His Name.  We learn that way to recognize His voice and not be deceived.

"THE TRUE SOURCE OF PEACE IS IN THE SURRENDER OF THE WILL".   LETTER 6  of "LET GO" by Archbishop Fenelon.

"Nevertheless, not My will be done but Thine."

 Many of Fenelon's letters deal with the total peace that only God can give.  It is the sort of internal peace we get when we trust God even though the world is crumbling and in turmoil around us.  

"SURRENDER IS NOT A HEROIC SACRIFICE BUT A SIMPLE SINKING INTO THE WILL OF GOD".   LETTER 34.  

It is letting go.  He goes on to say:

 "Let me tell you what real surrender is.  It is simply resting in the love of God, as a little baby rests in its mother's arms.--

"Surrender consists not in doing great heroic deeds about which self can brag but simply in accepting whatever God sends, and not seeking to change it (unless it is His will that it be changed).--Surrender is the source of true peace;  If we aren't at peace it is because our surrender is not complete."

Fenelon deals with humility and death of self.  Sometimes his letters cut like the two edged sword of the Holy Spirit.  They have always brought me peace.

                  Archbishop Fenelon was archbishop to the court of Louis XIV. 

4 hours ago, BeyondET said:

Did you know freemasons has more conspiracy theories about them than any other organization, 99.9% are bogus. The top being a satanic cult which it is not.

The Masonic religions are similar to the Mormons.  I don't consider them compatible with Christianity.  My father in law was a master mason and a shriner.  I was at his funeral and inherited his ritual book.  They promote a works based religion.  If you advance in degrees and follow their regulations you go to heaven.  

Praying it doesn't affect any of your organs or require hospitalization.

 Four of my grandchildren have recently married and looked for homes.  They had to live with parents even after they were married till they could find a place that was reasonably safe.   It took both of their incomes even though one had good work record and a masters degree.  Pay has suffered in many professions.

When I see tree climbing cubs I always wonder where mama bears is.  

On 5/18/2022 at 5:42 AM, Ray12614 said:

All I can say is that it is not any one thing we are doing, but, it is teaching/preaching the Bible, encouraging our people to do what it says, and allowing the Holy Spirit to do whatever He feels needs to be done in our services as He sees fit, and covering our members and leadership in prayer daily.

Yes, our secret to success is God's grace as well.  We have added a high school to our school and 10 portable buildings.  A new sanctuary is being built so that the gym we now meet in can be turned over to the school.  No one asks for or talks about money.  God provides our needs.  We still have 4 services on Sunday and a Wednesday sermon, prayer requests, questions and answers.  The sermons are still based on a book of the Bible, word upon word, precept upon precept.   We are not packed in as tightly as we once were but allow for more space between rows.  So there may not be as many in attendance, but we are still adding many by baptism, mostly adult men.  What we lack in committees is made up for by individual members reaching out to others in the community as the Lord leads them.  We celebrate the goodness of God.

Update:  Baby is home from hospital.  Praise God!  He looks like his mommy.