*Zion*

All creation glorifies the Maker, the Master Creator. Praise the Lord!

This has always been a hard one for me. Can we laugh along with Him? Are we allowed to share the joke?

True thing! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I witness, my brother! I wish more men - especially Chrstians - would too...

Sorry, I thought I was being obvious; the OP. Not sure about it, I think I need to understand a lot more...

I was discussing this very topic last night with my husband and a brother from church. We were reading Numbers 22-25 and Revelation 2, where the Word talks about Balak, Baalam and Jezebel. It seems that if the enemy wants to get us to fall it's through the opposite sex. Men, whether you like it or not, you need a helper. That's why God created women in the first place. And girls, we have to admit, though we can bear children, keep house and work at the same time, still we are the weaker ones in this senario. We need protection, support and love. So what does the enemy do? Fills women with inferiority and, in the extreme, gets them to wear next to nothing to attract some male attention, and in equal extremes fills men with a lust that is so dangerous they will fulfil it even if it means by force, and we all know what that means. Women are told to submit, but sometimes it's to the most awful of situations. Men are told to love, but run the risk of being dangerously manipulated. Hence why we have this: Ephesians 5:25-33 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. It takes two tango my friends, let's not give the enemy any room! Love your wives for who they really are. Men need help, but they have their uses too Just playing! I love my husband very much. Thank you Lord Jesus for our relationship.

Sorry, this post has left me somewhat confused. Just saying. Will pray about it.

That's beautiful Desi, thanks so much. Lord hear her prayer please! And mine. Amen.

I feel ya. I'm ready and watching and crying out loud! Whoohoo! Luke 12:3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. That's what I'm talking about! There's a time to be silent, then there's a time to rise up.

Just in case there are still those out there who think I'm being a little too much here: 1 Corinthians 11: 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood[d] of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner[e] eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s[f] body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Paul here is talking about taking communion together. He recognises that we are all part of one body. I believe communion isn't just about breaking bread together or sharing a meal, but it's about remembering the Lord's death until He comes again. Together. But because some do this in an unworthy manner, many are sick and have fallen asleep. Because some treat the bread and the cup, symbolically the body and the blood, unworthily, and therefore bring judgement upon themselves, it affects the rest of the body of Christ. If you cut your finger, you're the one who is conscious of it and who feels the pain, not just your finger. The whole body is aware of it. When were told to wake up we're not condemning one another, we're encouraging one another. Now is not the time to get bitter. Bitterness doesn't just hurt the bitter person, but the whole body. I believe FresnoJoe said it best this time around. But praise the Lord, He only chastens us and doesn't punish us in condemnation with the rest of the world. It's not a bad thing to get out of bed and start the day, am I right? The thing is we're not in the day, but in the midnight hour, just like Paul and Silas. But at that time they were awake. They had a job to do. They had somebody to call on, someone to praise, someone who was listening and was not slow to act on their behalf to deliver them. Come and let us praise the Lord and be encouraged, even in this dark, dark night. For reals. Day is coming. Soon. Trust. If anyone is feeling condemned at this point I hope you can clearly see now that this was not the OP's intention. Most importantly, you should know that there is now therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus - part of His body. Just concentrate on the encouragement part. God will see us through. AMEN!

That's what I'm saying! Praise the Lord, we overcome the enemy by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony! Hallelujah! Like I said, glad we're in it together. That's how it's supposed to be I like it too! Love you all my dear brethren. Be encouraged! Couldn't agree more. Bless you!!! Bless you all.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Thanks for your understanding. Glad to know that there are others out there who feel like I feel. Like I said, you all family. Indeed we are protected by our God, and we need to be on the advance in Him and without fear. What I feel more than ever is that it's time to stop with silly arguments and time to stand together and encourage one another to get to that other level in Him. The world has plenty of discouragement for us already and is constantly trying to accuse and hold us back. But like you already know, we are more than conquerors and triumphant in Christ. He will uproot the bitter evil - indeed He has already won the victory over it on our behalf. I praise God. Stay blessed and at peace.

First of all, I love you all. You're my brothers and sisters. We're stuck with each other. Deal with it. Second, I know that I am not perfect, and that I don't know everything. But I can read, and it says in God's Word that in the last days there will be more suffering (tribulation) than there has ever been before. Ephesians 5v16 says to redeem the time because the days are evil. However, it seems to me that many Christians do even not know/recognise that we are in fact in the last days. It's such a shock to hear of wars and rumours of wars, and yet Jesus told us not to be troubled about these very things. Crime is on the rise, economies are de-stabalizing, earthquakes and storms and violent weather in extreme are on the increase; so is the famine, disease and pestilence and death and fear. Corruption is everywhere, in government seats and in the legal systems, and in the minds of the youth. The youth are blatantly out of control and what we are told to teach them in the schools is equally chaotic when measured against the Word of God. And yet we are all so surprised, it seems. It's like nobody got the memo - these things are happening, like it or not, and will only get worse until THAT day comes. And it's coming quickly. The Word of God has no error in it, and that is exactly what is written therein. Is it just me, or is the body of Christ sleeping when we're supposed to be keeping watch? It's like, what, were you really expecting things to get better when the Bible clearly states that they will get a whole lot worse before they do? Sorry guys, we ain't seen nothing yet people. I'm not saying that we should not be concerned about the injustice, or that we should turn a blind eye to it, but it's like we're so caught unaware by it that the rug's being pulled out from under our feet, when Jesus tells us to be prepared and ready. Isn't it outrageous? Isn't it a scandal? Isn't it a shame? Yes, yes and yes; but where's the prayer, intercession, resistance? Resist the devil and he will flee, says James 4v7 and the beginning chapters of the book of Revelation contains promises from God to he who overcomes and endures to the end. Ephesians 6 equips us with armour and weaponry with which to fight the true battle, the spiritual one. We can't fight if we're still in shock, can we? And soldiers can't fight in their sleep. Its like the alarm goes off every five seconds, but we hit the snooze so many times that we're slowly getting accustomed to the sound, eventually enough to sleep soundly right through. The enemy knows his time is short, but we act like we have all the time in the world to figure things out. God is on the advance, but how many of us are moving with His Spirit? In the blink of an eye, that's how quick the rapture will be. And here we are still debating whether it's pre-mid-or-post-trib... why aren't we ready now? We don't even know if we'll be alive at that time or if our time will be up tomorrow. God can take us any time and any way He wants to. How many of us will be ready to go? How many of us will have accomplished that which He has given us to do in the time that we have been allotted? Yes, it's frightening. That's why we have Jesus. He is love, and perfect love casts out all fear: 1 John 4v18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. I think my next response to the next big outburst will be: are you afraid? John 14v27: 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. Let's encourage one another in love not to be afraid but to wake up in order to redeem the time, for the days are evil. Time to take it to a: WHOLE.NOTHER.LEVEL. That means for some of us we have to rise up in faith and quick - it's about being on the right side of the war. I'm aiming to please God, and the Bibles says that there's no other way to do that. Anybody out there feeling me or am I all on my lonesome? Blessings everybody. Stay strong. Love you all.

Wow, I'm in Sutton! I'm going to look up NLCC, I haven't heard of it before. However the church I'm a part of is in Victoria, (moved just recently, cheaper in the suburbs) but the train connection is good so travel isn't an issue. It's called Holy Nation Church. I love my church a lot, it's the most at home and with family I've ever felt, and that's saying something. I'm so grateful, and yet... still this relationship/social thing just keeps nagging at me. I just feel like I'm not appropriate enough sometimes. Maybe God just wants me to grow a different way... He loves me, and that will never change. It should be more than enough for me. It is, but I need to realise it more, I think.

Hi Eve, glad to have someone nearby-ish! Which church do you attend if I may ask? my church is smallish (100-150 people) so it's quite easy to make friends and acquaintances. Very few seem to have the same spirit that I do, so it's not so easy making the connection that seems to come so effortlessy to others. But God is bringing me to a place of 'handling it', if I can put it that way. although I still feel like a David who would like to befriend a Jonathan, y'know?

Wanted to post a picture but wasn't allowed, so: Double facepalm...

Am I right in thinking that the author of this article was actually mixing astrology with his message, rather than using astronomy?

Dress Pretty And Carry A Big Stick What's the stick for, Joe?

You're fine, but I bet John the Baptist's camel hair drew a few frowns even in his time! But he did that as directed by the Lord, so at least it wasn't him being a fashion victim...

Finally, a man who understands! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Guys be very careful! Don't be deceived! Matthew 24:22-24 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

3. What people need most is good information about God. Well, consider this - how many sermons focus on filling your head with knowledge about God and other aspects of theology? Now consider - how many sermons focus on teaching you how to live the Gospel. Or even better, how many churches are actually focused on discipleship? ("Go and make disciples....") Discipleship involves hands and feet learning, not book-learning. True thing. You better preach it girl! well I was trying to enhance what I believed you were saying.... we are set free in Christ yet while here we are restricted by that freedom even within our own bodies. Case in point the car person you mentioned is involved with who's who and position by possession and we the same but ours is Possession of The Holy Spirit hence the eternal unlimited freedom we have eternally yet here we live in the restriction to be at peace as much as possible to all men as being in the world but not of it! Is it wrong to have nice things no... but since Jesus has come and told us all things... isn't seemingly vain to amass that which passes away? Rom 12:18-21 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NKJV Love, Steven I wholeheartedly agree, but I would like to explain what I meant about paying for someone's car. These people say that if we give to their ministry we ourselves will be blessed. But their ministry is not the gospel but their bank account. Shock and horror for some to hear, but I assure you, it's a true thing. Don't get me wrong. TV can and should be used as a medium to preach the gospel. But the gospel has disappeared from many of these people's messages. Not bad to have good things at all. But bad to deceive people into thinking their giving to contribute to God's work when they're just sustaining a greedy con-man's - yeah I said it - lifestyle. The good news is they have already received their reward in full here on earth. We have treasures in heaven where nothing can destroy them. Bless the Lord!

True thing.

Whoever moved this thread, didn't quote know where to place it myself. Now it's like: duh!!!!