bropro

3 hours ago, Close_to_Jesus said:

You know it amazes me how we can grieve about something and not even know we are grieving!

Someone made a comment that grief only applies to the loss of a loved one, I disagree.  I myself have had to get ahold of myself grieving over lost years instead of standing on God's promises of beauty for ashes.  I believe we can grieve over the loss of just about anything (I grieved over KFC taking the Doublelicious off the menu, LOL KIDDING).

Please share your thoughts!

--Misty

"I Wanna Know!" Christian Podcast
YouTube/ Spotify/ iTunes

Hello Misty

I don't know if this comes under the spirit of grief or not, but during my tour of duty in Vietnam, I experienced traumatic loses that come back to my mind on the anniversary dates of those events. These are things that I have to battle every year. It leaves me battling depression, anxiety, and a few other emotions. And I cannot for the life of me, understand why I still have to deal with these issues year after year. As a disciple of Christ, I know I have the victory over these things, though I don't feel the victory. Along with the presence and promises of Jesus, I have a good support system with my wife and those in the church. I am in the middle of one of those anniversary dates even now as I am writing this, and I know that by the grace of God I will get through it. But the emotions will have to run their course I guess. At least that is the way it has been for the last 54 years. Anyway, I will stop here and sign off. Have a blessed evening.

Gary

On 7/14/2022 at 7:45 PM, Jayne said:

One thing that almost makes me smile because it's so ridiculous is Balaam, the wicked prophet for hire.

He's such a horrible person [not funny], tells King Balak how to reach the Israelites with vile sexual immorality [not funny],  and is listed in Jude as an example of who NOT to be [not funny].

But what makes me shake my head with a slight grin is when he is traveling on his donkey and the donkey sees the angel sent to slay Balaam and the donkey tries to get away from him, and Balaam can't see it and just start BEATING the donkey to pieces, and God makes the poor donkey talk and say...

..."What have I done to make you beat me these three times?"

Balaam is SOOOO MAAADDD that he can't wrap his mind around a talking donkey and he just TALKS BACK!

...“You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

The donkey keeps talking, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

Balaam says, "No!!"  He STILL HAS NOT NOTICED that the donkey is talking  like a human!  He is THAT mad!!!!!

How ludicrous!  How arrogant and self-puffed up!!  What a moron!
 

 

 

 

 

I was talking about this with someone the other day. Balaam just carries on this conversation with the donkey like it's nothing out of the normal. If it had been me, when the donkey said the first word, I would have been about a hundred yards away before he finished his sentence and gaining speed.

Gary

43 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

They didn't recognize each other's voices?

They're old and can't hear well.

Gary

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker-function and begins to talk.

 Everyone in the room stops to listen. 

MAN: "Hello."

WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"

 MAN: "Yes." 

WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and I found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1000. Is it OK if I buy it?" 

MAN: "Sure,.....go ahead if you like it that much."

 WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw one I really liked"

 MAN: "How much?" 

WOMAN: "$90,000."

 MAN: "OK, but for that price I want all the options."

WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing......the house I wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000."

 MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer of $900,000. They will probably take it. If not, we can go the extra 50 thousand, if it's really a pretty good price." 

WOMAN: "OK, I'll see you later! I love you so much!! " 

MAN: "Bye! I love you too."  The man hangs up. 

The other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths agape....... He smiles and ask: "Anyone know who this phone belongs to?"

8 minutes ago, Daily verse and quote said:

“Go to the ant, you sluggard;

consider its ways and be wise.

It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,

yet it stores its provisions in the summer

and gathers its food at harvest”

Proverbs 6:6-8

 

God, You bring meaning and purpose to all my labors.

Our Daily Bread

Naturally, God Speaks

The whole essence of life according to Jesus is to know the Father, and Jesus Christ whom the Father had sent.

John 17:3 (KJV)
³  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
 

Gary

The Bathtub Test

 During a visit to the mental asylum, I asked the Director how do
you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized. *

*"Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a *

*Teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her
to empty the bathtub." *

"Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket
because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup." *

 *"No." said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do
  you want a bed near the window?"**
 

4 hours ago, creativemechanic said:

What do you think of this perspective I heard from another christian.

A mistake we as Christians  can make is thinking its our place to make people live like we think they should against their will.  Something that God himself doesnt do.

God will give us  directions and warnings of what to do through His word or via prophets in Bible times and then leave the individual to make their choice.  If they chose wrong, theyll get the consequences of their decisions. Samwe way, we should speak up and call sin, sin but beyond that , its not in our jurisdiction to do much else

But often times, we christians dont do that . We sometimes try to force people, especially the unsaved to live according to Biblical principles (that christians themselves sometimes dont follow)

Eg  we try to make a big fuss politically and marches etc to bar or ban gay marriage and abortions. Yes its a sin, yes, it goes against Gods word and we should never compromise and act like its not. but its their choice to make and God will deal with them for their decision.  This is problematic too because.

1) It's none of our business.

2) These are the same people we should be trying to reach with the gospel. Doing stuff like this can make that harder.

30 It makes  us look hypocritical because we dont raise as much a stink  if any about other issues that the bible prohibits- eg What dont we make a big noise for poverty allieviation policy, where's the anti-divorce movements, why dont we protest fornication?

 

What do you  think?

If we as the church would fulfil the great commission as we should, things would be different. We would see more people transformed into disciples of Christ, who are making more disciples of Christ, who are affecting those in our communities. God transforms people, who transform communities, who  transform societies by way of the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom of God. Our responsibility is to view all people, regardless of their sinfulness, as people for whom Christ died.

Gary

On 6/9/2022 at 1:18 PM, not an echo said:

Salvation is free, but being a disciple can cost you your life

Amen! This is something that is hardly ever heard during a salvation message. The church needs to get back to this.

Gary

11 hours ago, creativemechanic said:

I have a thing for  listening to  proverbs, both biblical and international. I find them pretty interesting. I actually draw comics based on them. Its so amusing how well they are put together and how wise they are. Have you ever heard any that you stick to of stand out?

 

Some of mine-

 

If you dont feed your dog, prepare to feed the thieves- If you  dont nurture or care for  people ( eg not show love to your kids or spouse) youll open the door for people wholl take adcantage of that- affairs etc )Estonian)

A man who wants to drown his dog ,will first claim its mad-  People who want to do something wrong to someone will often first lie or exaggerate its negative characteristics- eg when people want to leave church or stop serving God, theyll often make it look like the most horrible place/people on earth thus justifying their departure. (French)

 

 Dont try to remove a fly from a friends forehead with an axe-  Correction/ criticism doesnt have to be unnecessarily harsh..

 

Mix yourself with  bran and youll be eaten by pigs- I think it means hang with bad company, youll find yourself in the same messes they do

 

He who rattles wife's cage, will sleep in cage alone.

5 hours ago, missmuffet said:

God is ____________.

God is omnipotent.

On 6/6/2022 at 8:56 AM, bropro said:

 

For some reason this did not post properly the first time. I like your illustration/parable. To be honest, I think all of us have to battle the wild horse mindset. It is part of the carnal man that we need to reckon as dead to sin. I also like your life scripture. I on many occasions meditate on, and pray this passage, especially when the wild horse gets a little restless. I would have to say that John 15:7 "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you," would be my life scripture.

Thanks for the parable, and have a blessed week.

Gary

10 hours ago, Daily verse and quote said:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,

disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,

treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--

having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

 

This scripture reference defines exactly what is going on in our nation and around the world. Jesus is coming!

Gary

7 hours ago, not an echo said:

7 hours ago, not an echo said:

my life Scripture---relates to the above.  It is this:  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;  and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS."  As one who used to be like the wild horse, but now is fully broke, I would encourage all to let "THE GOOD MASTER" have the reins of your life.

I like your illustration/parable. To be honest, I think all of us have to battle the wild horse mindset. It is part of the carnal man that we need to reckon as dead to sin. I also like your life scripture. I on many occasions meditate on, and pray this passage, especially when the wild horse gets a little restless. I would have to say that John 15:7 "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you," would be my life scripture.

Thanks for the parable, and have a blessed week.

Gary

On 5/10/2022 at 5:58 AM, SavedByGrace1981 said:

I believe the Lord is prompting me to update this thread. Not sure exactly why, but here goes:

Random thoughts in no particular order

1.  My wife Linda and I sold our home and moved almost 2 hrs away to be closer to our daughter, her husband and our two grandaughters.  We purchased a new home and were able to pay it off with the settlement funds we received.

2. As is the case in many father/daughter situations, my daughter and I had "issues" - particularly during her late teen years.  (she's almost 36 now).  Suffice it to say - we're closer now than we've ever been.

3. Our 38 y/o son and his wife (both pastors) - though they live a few states away from us now - are closer to us now as well.

4. As a paraplegic (no feeling from mid-chest down) I require assistance - mostly in the morning (3 hrs) and some evenings (an aide 1 night/week plus a PT person 2 nights/week.) Linda (my wife) does the rest (I'm not helpless though.  There are things I can do for myself. And I praise the Lord for that!

As a result of #4 above, Linda and I have begun what my daughter-in-law calls an informal "cross-cultural" ministry.  By that I mean that when Linda and I have our morning devotions and the aides are here, we always invite them to join us (but making it clear that they don't have to if they'd rather not)

Almost without exception, they DO join us.  And the resulting workings of the Holy Spirit are a wonder to behold!  PTL!!

So good things CAN come out of tragic situations.

I'll close  by saying I have forgiven the trooper and I do not harbor any ill-will toward him.  He's still a young man and will have to live with this the rest of HIS life.  If he hasn't already, I hope he finds the Lord

Please keep all of us in your prayers

Blessings, 

-Ed

This is an amazing testimony of faithful endurance. I'm sure this will inspire others even though they don't know you. Would it be okay with you if I shared this with a group of people in my church?

Gary

On 5/14/2022 at 11:25 AM, MonicaWife said:

Shalom! 

I guess a similar thread has been started before in here, even if I haven't seen one, but I start one anyway. 

Please don't answer my question if you are not comfortable with it.... 

My question is, where are you from, what country (or state if you want)? I'm just curious, as I think there's many nationalities in here. ☺️ 

I'm from Norway 🇳🇴, by the way. 

I was born in Longview Washington, but I have lived in Kansas City Missouri most of my life.

Gary

16 hours ago, George said:

When I first came to faith in 1996, I got rid of all my music and turned off my TV.  Just read the Word in and out for months writing every question and taking notes upon notes.  I didn't even open a commentary or read a man's perspective on anything for about 6 months -- I was so concerned about false prophets and false teachers.  

That is very interesting. I'm sure this was quite an experience. Have you seen a need to repeat this exercise, especially amid all that is going on in our world today?

Gary

14 hours ago, Sower said:

Considering God's desire for His children be, according to scripture. And what do we do to accomplish this goal.

Sort of a survey, with individual responses of your own personal beliefs that are most important to you.
Doesn't matter if someone already posted your priorities, just post your own to see what is important to us here.
 

Our real priorities we each believe we are called to do.

I ask my wife about this and I think she may have hit the biggie, as she said;   To glorify God. 
I agree. But how? 

Psalms 145 says;     The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever.

  The preacher or Solomon said;

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

   My personal;

To sow seed and share the good news.  (Great commission)

Assemble with like minded believers to study, worship, and edify, help and pray for each other.  (Forsake not assembling together)

Put what I have learned in scripture to use.     (To whom much is given much is required/ being a good steward.)

Help those in need the Lord brings my way..     (Pure religion, James 1:27 )

Try to be less overbearing and just be a nice person. (meek)

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I believe God would have us to do is listed below.

Luke 9:23 (KJV)
²³  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Paul in the 1st chapter of Philippians stated that his earnest expectation and hope was to magnify Christ in his body. May this become every believer's desire and pursuit.

Gary

23 hours ago, Not me said:

Philippians 3:14-15(NASB20)
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well;

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scripture puts forth that a sign of one being matured in Christ is having the attitude of pressing on towards the upward call of God, which is the natural outcome of letting the life of Christ in one have its way…. This is the desire of the life of Christ that was born in each believer at the moment of regeneration, this desire, given leave to grow, is the truth that is being pointed towards…. 

For the desire of this life of Christ in one, has but one desire, and that is, toward this upward call of God…

This desire in the life known and recognized for what it is, will in its course teach the believing heart what it needs to know to grow up in Christ…. If the believing heart does but one thing, and the one thing is the simplest of all things, and that one thing is; keep wanting it…. Through the ups and downs, through the failures and victories, will this heart keep on pressing into its upward call…. This continuing of this pressing into one’s upward call is what scripture calls a sign of maturity in Christ….

For this scripture does not put forth one’s victory’s and failures as a sign, but it does put forth one’s willingness to look away from, to the higher or greater then one at present has achieved…. Then the scripture goes on to say; 

Philippians 3:16 (NASB20)
however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

Then the, however, meaning, at the very least, let us keep living by the standard that we have attained, so that the lessons of the passed won’t have to be repeated…. For we all sin and fall short in many ways, as well as overcome and gain victories… It is not being content in one’s walk with one’s victories and failures, that is that which is being put forth as the sign of being matured, that being, the desire for the pressing in for the more that says; ‘I will not quit’…. 

Be blessed the heart with the desire to the pressing in, for the growing in one’s upward call…

 

A fellow believer, Not me 

As this goes along with the OP, I hope it is okay to post this link. Even when we fall, we are not to quit. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9rUUz8cMDM

Gary

And don't forget Judas Iscariot. He went to church/synagogue with Jesus every Sabbath day.

Gary

On 4/11/2022 at 3:18 AM, Figure of eighty said:

Idk there isnt specific scripture on it. 

Psalm 139:13-16 (NASB)
¹³  For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
¹⁴  I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵  My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
¹⁶  Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Although scripture may not deal specifically with the issue of abortion, it does point to the fact that life was created in the womb,

“You (God) wove me in my mother’s womb.” As you read the rest of the passage, it explains that God was the one creating every detail of the life and body in the womb. With this in mind, would it be right for man to step in and interrupt/abort God’s creative work. If we do interrupt/abort His creation of the person in the womb, how does God view this? Are we going to judge this action through the lens of scripture, or through human logic? Just some things to think about.

Gary

20 minutes ago, Jayne said:

It's not one or the other.  It's both.  Mercy - MORE.  Sacrifice - definitely desired by God - but mercy trumps.

 

 

 

I think you covered this subject quite well. We are to declare and live by the whole counsel of God, not the counsel of man or our own hearts. Thanks for the post.

Gary

57 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

After browsing Worthy for a couple of minutes I have not seen this yet.

HAPPY Resurrection Day!

 

Happy Resurrection Day to you too.

Gary

9 hours ago, Daily verse and quote said:

“O Lord, please help us. Save us. Give us success.”

Psalm 118:25

 

Success is not an instant action –

it is a road we travel.

[1st Ave.Bapt.]

Naturally, God Speaks

 

Good post. According to the verse below, we are to be in cooperation with God in order to experience success and prosperity. As we meditate on His word day and night with the intent to learn how to observe and obey it, prosperity and success will follow. God’s idea of prosperity and success, not mans.

Joshua 1:8 (NASB)
⁸  "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Have a blessed Resurrection Day.

Gary

13 hours ago, TJGospels said:

Most of the pastors are pro

-femnism

-lgbtq+

-abortion

-black lives matter

etc.

The two pastors I respect are not, but most of the rest of the pastors are. They have less sway for now, but who knows for how long. 

Matthew 18:15-17 (KJV)
¹⁵  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
¹⁶  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
¹⁷  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

The above passage of scripture provides the Lord’s way in which to address such issues. If we are offended by what is being taught in a church by it’s leaders (and what you shared is reason to be offended), the process that Jesus gives is designed by Him to bring a person/s to the realization of his/their offence so that he/they may make things right and redeem himself/themselves. The whole idea of this process is to restore doctrinal purity to the church, and to redeem/restore a brother/sister who has erred from the truth. Confronting someone concerning their sin is never a pleasant task, but a needful one. Many years ago there was a man in our church that was living with a woman in the church. She wanted him to move out, but he was resisting her. I had the unpleasant task of confronting him concerning his sin, and what the Lord and the church expected him to do. I won’t go into all the details of that conversation, but he listened to what I said, and came to me that Sunday at church and told me he had moved out and broke it off with the woman. He renewed his walk with the Lord and became a worker in the church, marrying a woman some time later.

 That unpleasant task served as a wake-up call for this brother, and a reminder to those who may have known about it in the church, as to what we as a body of believers stand for. This brother may have been lost forever if the church had not responded to his need to be corrected.

Not all confrontations play out this way. Those who refuse to turn from their sin after going through all the steps in the process Jesus laid down in Matt. 18, will be removed from membership in order to maintain Christ’s integrity.

If you choose to act on Matt. 18 and the leadership does nothing to correct the situation, that would be the time to remove yourself from that church. There is the hope, however, that when you follow this process, that the issues will be addressed and taken care of in the right manner, restoring order in the church. I hope this helps in some way. Have a blessed day.

Gary

3 hours ago, Walter and Deborah said:

My Birthday Is Today 4-11-22

Hope you had a Happy Birthday. 29 right?

Gary