marvelloustime

Praying for those affected by the Earthquake. Our father, who art in Heaven Hallowed be your name Your Kingdom come Your Will be done On Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil For Yours in the Kingdom, the power, and the glory For ever and ever Amen.

Well, from someone, (me), who in my twenties thought that life was going to go very slowly and would take me decades to get old. The "oldies" were right. It does go very quickly. I'm now 44. Hehehe. It will come around very fast for you.

Hi @mlbrokish Well you certainly don't look old in your photo. I can really see the Lord's love shining through you. God bless you. Becky.

Yes, that's right. They are forced to leave their job, all just because they are turning a certain age. I've heard loads of stories about that.

You're welcome @naominash I have been praying for you today. Hope you are ok. God bless you. Becky. X

Abide In Jesus BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. - John 15:4-6 Abide: Where to Stay When Nothing Lasts By Jeanne Doyon Abide. This word has been on my heart lately as I study John chapter 15. We don’t use the word abide much anymore—maybe never—because nothing seems to last. Marriages fail. Riches flee. Cars break down. Health deteriorates. Friends fail. Churches split. Relationships cool. Possessions break. Quality erodes. Trust shatters. Nothing lasts. But, Jesus says: Abide. Stay. Remain. Trust that I AM your constant. I will never turn my back on you. I AM the one you can trust. When all else is falling apart, I will remain. I will be your rock and shield. Psalm 91:1 says, Abide in the shadow of the Almighty. To me this means: Not running ahead or lagging behind. Under His protection Surrounded by His presence Shielded from my enemies Covered with His hand Resting in His power and sovereignty Sure of His knowledge and leading Trusting in His timing and care God Covers You – Good News for Us So when we face shattered pieces and people around us, know that God is covering you with His shadow. This is news our world needs. It is the hope that anchors us. It is the message He wants you to carry and proclaim… God says: I will abide. My love will remain. My grace and mercy will be poured out. Forgiveness will be found because I AM is faithful. Abide in me, and I in you (John 15). What does Abide mean to you, and how do you need His close presence today? Will you remain under the covering of His shadow? https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/bible-study-minute/abide-where-to-stay-when-nothing-lasts-bible-study-minute-july-5-2018.html?utm_source=Your Daily Bible Verse&utm_campaign=Bible Study Minute - BibleStudyTools.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2863078&bcid=5da31583941ac0436f866785e89f41c2&recip=547950175

Oh my goodness, that forest fire photo @other one If I saw that in front of me, I would be thinking that that's it, I'm off Home. How did those people manage to stand there by that car, the heat from that fire must have been intolerable. We recently had a forest fire near here. We saw the smoke surround us, and we could feel the heat from it. We didn't see any of the flames though. Sorry to hear about that earthquake you had yesterday. I was in the chat room and some members were chatting about it, and how it was felt hundreds of miles away. It must be incredibly scary to experience something like that. What a thing to go through. @Debp I laughed at you saying that if you had to lie down flat like that, you wouldn't be able to get up again. lol. As others have said here, this world isn't our home. We are only safe and secure in Jesus, and we will be in our true Home when He calls us. We may not even be here tomorrow. We just don't know, as usually He doesn't tell us when our exit date is. God bless you all. Becky. X

I'm 44. In October I'll be 45. One thing I have noticed, each year spins round enormously fast. And each year appears to spin round faster! My husband is 59 on July 7th. The day after tomorrow! I don't have children, but @PinkBelt you say you are 41 and have a daughter of 21. That reminds me of my old school friend Sarah. She is the same age as me, and her twin daughters have just turned 21. I can vividly remember Sarah giving birth to them. Also @Michael37 you are right. I also know people well into their 80s, who are fit and active and running around like they are 20. Mentally I don't feel old. Physically, oh yeah, my body feels worn, tired and burnt out. I started noticing a decline when I was about 37. I'm always feeling tired. My joints always hurt and don't work properly. I get dizzy easily. My vision has deteriorated. I have chronic back ache. I feel unwell most of the time. Thankfully I don't yet have any grey hair and also my memory isn't too bad. I also feel I am gradually turning into my Mother! My mother was 86 when she passed away to go to Heaven last October. Even this October is spinning round. It won't be long until I'll be on the first anniversary of her going to Heaven. But things that are now happening to my body, I think; gosh, my mother had that! One problem my husband Graham and I have noticed, is that in this world, the Government have a set an exact age when you can retire, and recently in the UK, that retirement age has drastically increased because, as they say, "we are living longer". And it is due to go up again shortly. Which is fine, I understand that. But in this world, they don't take into account that individuals age at different rates. You can feel physically old at 40, but still have to plod on until you are 70 before you can retire. And yet someone at 75, who feels fit and healthy, and full of beans, can take it easy if they want, as they are retired. I know there's no way round that, because there has to be some system put in place in this life. But it reinforces to all of us, that we are very much looking forward to receiving our new resurrected bodies. I jokingly say; "I hope they have toilets in Heaven", as that is another problem I have! Hahaha. Oh, what a moaning old biddy I sound! God bless, Becky. X

Welcome to Worthy. It's lovely to have you here. Becky.

Hi @existential mabel I'm sorry to hear you are suffering so much like that. Life in this fallen, broken world is very difficult. I find when I want to shut out the world, and spend some time with Jesus, put on some headphones and listen to some praise music. Shut your eyes, and lie down if you can. I find that helps enormously. I will pray for you. God bless you. Becky.

Isaiah 43:1-2 1But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Thanks for posting this @turtletwo It's certainly opened my eyes, and I've learned a lot from your post. I appreciate it. God Bless you. Love, Becky. xxx

I love the fact He is with us all, personally, all at the same time. He meets all our needs, cares so deeply about each and every one of us. Loves us so much. And at the same time, in Heaven, He is almighty God, sat on His almighty thrown with majesty and glory. And yet so personal to each of us. He created the whole universe, and yet He'll also do the lovely and "small" things for us, just to give us a smile and remind us He is with us and loves us. Awesome!

Amen to this. Rejoicing in the Lord immediately lifts our heart and brings us so close to Jesus. We have a glorious future to look forward to and one day we will be there, with Jesus. Becky. X

Amen! Thank you for that @mlbrokish God bless you. Becky. Xxx

Hi @turtletwo Yes. I love that one. There's so many hymns that have great lyrics to them. Really speaks to you. X

I haven't heard anything. As @Debp and @ayin jade both say, one is risking one's life going hiking in extreme heat, or oppositely, in extreme cold. We often see the mountain rescue flying around rescuing people who have tried to climb up the mountains here. I don't really know what to say, other than if they didn't make it, then I pray for their families. Becky. X

Meekness and Majesty. Chorus O what a mystery meekness and majesty Bow down and worship for this is your God This is your God Verse 1 Meekness and majesty manhood and deity In perfect harmony the Man who is God Lord of eternity dwells in humanity Kneels in humility and washes our feet Verse 2 Father's pure radiance perfect in innocence Yet learns obedience to death on a cross Suffering to give us life Conquering through sacrifice And as they crucify prays Father forgive Verse 3 Wisdom unsearchable God the invisible Love indestructible in frailty appears Lord of infinity stooping so tenderly Lifts our Humanity to the heights of His throne.

Hi @Filip Perhaps deep down you don't want to do "it"? If that's the way your heart is leading, then that's the Holy Spirit working in you, to not do it. My mother used to say; "If in doubt, cut it out". Meaning not to do the thing you are unsure about. I will pray for you. God Bless you. Becky.

“Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” (Acts 3:19)

Good afternoon @George Hope you and the family are well. I hope you don't mind me asking this question. I read all your worthy devotions that you post. But I am absolutely fascinated, what is it like living in Israel, so close to where Jesus lived? God Bless, Becky.

I am praying for you @Neighbor I can think of better things I'd rather be doing. I've had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy done. Marvellous things. They did a sedation, and they did the Endoscopy. Must remember to only breathe through your nose and not your mouth. If you accidentally try and breathe through your mouth, you are unable to do so, and then start to panic. (Well I did anyway). The Colonoscopy didn't go as well. Way too painful. That was two years ago and I'm still here, so all was good in the end. This body we live in eh! Roll on with our resurrected bodies! God bless you. Becky. X

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Psalms 19:1 NLT

Amen to that!

Good evening everyone, I've just read this article. It is very encouraging and helps us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Nine Reasons we know Christ is returning. John MacArthur Grace to You 9 Reasons We Know Christ Is Returning Scripture is neither vague nor equivocal on the promise of Christ's return. A large portion (by some accounts, as much as one-fifth) of Scripture is prophetic, and perhaps a third or more of the prophetic passages refer to the Second Coming of Christ or events related to it. It is undeniably a major theme in the prophecy of both Old and New Testaments. And regardless of what the scoffers say, Jesus is coming (2 Peter 3:3-10). World history is barreling toward the conclusion that God ordained. It isn't an end that will come as a result of nuclear war, environmental irresponsibility, or alien invasion; it is the one that comes by the purpose and plan of God, foretold in Scripture. Make no mistake--Christ will return! Here are nine reasons from Scripture by which you can know that Christ is coming again. 1. The Promise of God Demands It The Old Testament is full of Messianic promise--that promised is its main focus. From beginning (Genesis 3:15) to end (Malachi 4:2), the entire Old Testament is filled with prophecies of the coming Deliverer--at least 333 distinct promises, by one count. Of the more than 100 prophecies dealing with the first advent of Christ, all of them were fulfilled precisely, literally. His riding on a donkey, the parting of his garments, the piercing of His hands and feet, and the vivid prophecies of His rejection by men in Isaiah 53--all these might have been interpreted symbolically by Old Testament scholars before Christ. But the New Testament record repeatedly reports that such things were fulfilled in the most literal sense, so "that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" (Matthew 26:56; cf. 2:15; 4:14-16; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:35; 21:4-5; 27:35; John 12:38; 15:25; 19:24, 28). Scripture says God "cannot lie" and that He will not change His mind (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2). What He has promised, He will do. The truthfulness of the Bible is at stake in the Second Coming. 2. The Teaching of Christ Demands It Christ's earthly teaching was filled with references to His Second Coming (Matthew 24; Luke 21). When He was on trial for His life, Jesus defended His own deity with a bold declaration of the Second Coming in the most triumphant terms. He told the High Priest, "You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). On the night of His betrayal, Christ told the disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself" (John 14:2-3). Not only is the credibility of God at stake in the Second Coming, but so is the credibility of His Son. If Jesus doesn't return, He's a liar. 3. The Testimony of the Holy Spirit Demands It Since "God ... cannot lie" (Titus 1:2), His promise guarantees Christ's return. Jesus is truth incarnate (John 14:6); so His teaching also infallibly confirms the fact of the Second Coming. And the Holy Spirit, who is called "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17; 15:26), also testifies of the Second Coming of Christ through the New Testament writers. Whether the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 1:4-7; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; etc.), the apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 5:4; 2 Peter 3), or the apostle John (1 John 3:2), again and again, through the inerrant Scriptures, the Holy Spirit adds His witness to that of the Father and the Son--Jesus is coming. 4. The Program for the Church Demands It God is currently "taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name" (Acts 15:14) and gathering His elect into one great body, the church. The church's role is to be like a pure bride for God's own Son, ready to be presented to Him at His Second Coming. Paul uses that wedding imagery in 2 Corinthians 11:2: "I am jealous for you with godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin." Marriage is a beautiful metaphor that pictures Christ's love and care for His church (Matthew 25; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:6-9). And that's why we can be certain He will return to claim her, just as He promised (John 14:2-3). He will come back to get His bride. 5. The Corruption in the World Demands It The world is a very wicked place, and when the "Son of Man [comes] in the glory of His Father with His angels ... [He] will recompense every man according to his deeds" (Matthew 16:27). "An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment" (John 5:28-29). That blessed hope of every believer (Titus 2:13) is the terror of the world. For unbelievers, His coming means immediate, impartial judgment (1 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jude 1:14-15; Revelation 19:11-16); for believers--unmitigated joy! Jesus must return in order to execute just retribution on sinners and carry out the judgment He has promised. 6. The Future of Israel Demands It In Paul's day Gentiles were coming into the church in greater numbers than Jewish converts, and in Romans 11, Paul reminded them, "You, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree" (v. 17). But the time is coming when the natural branches will be grafted back into the olive tree (vv. 23-24), a phenomenon that Paul expressly connected with the return of Christ (v. 26). That is the day when Israel will mourn over the One whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10), and God will save them all (Romans 11:26). 7. The Vindication of Christ Demands It It is inconceivable that the last public view the world would have of Jesus Christ would be that of a bleeding, dying, crucified criminal, covered with blood, spit, and flies, hanging naked in the Jerusalem twilight. Did you realize that after His resurrection, He never appeared in a public venue before unbelievers? Plenty of believers saw Him, touched Him, spoke to Him, and gave unanimous testimony that He was risen from the dead. But there is no record that unbelievers ever saw Him. But the unbelieving world will see His glory displayed to everyone. Scripture says, "Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him" (Hebrews 9:28; cf. Matthew 24:27). The Savior who was humiliated, taunted, and put to death in a public display of humanity's hatred of God will return as conquering Lord in view of the entire world (Luke 21:25-27). And every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7). 8. The Destruction of Satan Demands It Satan, though an already-defeated foe as far as Christians are concerned, still exercises a kind of dominion over this world (John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 5:19). But Christ is the only rightful ruler of this world, and when He returns, He will overthrow and destroy Satan completely. In Revelation 5, when Christ receives the seven-sealed scroll, the title deed of the earth, He unleashes judgment with the crack of each seal (Revelation 6). The seal judgments give way to the judgment of the seven trumpets (Revelation 8); the trumpet judgments lead to the judgment of the seven bowls (Revelation 16). Finally, after one last-ditch effort by Satan to retain his unlawful dominion over the earth, Christ Himself returns to vanquish the foe--He chains him, casts him into a bottomless pit, and finally confines him to an eternal lake of fire (Revelation 19). With that, Christ's victory over Satan the usurper is complete. 9. The Hope of the Saints Demands It Only Christ's glorious, triumphant return can fulfill the hope of the saints--every true believer longs for that day. Paul characterizes Christians as those who "love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). The apostle John says, "Now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). The return of Christ will instantly usher in the fullness of our glorification. John then adds these words: "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (v. 3). This is the test of a healthy eschatology: Is your hope a sanctifying influence on your soul? Are you looking beyond the commotion of this world with the realization that you could soon meet Christ face to face, and are you preparing your heart and soul for that? Are you eager and watchful? Are you filled with joyful hope and expectation? That is the attitude to which Scripture calls us. The Second Coming is not supposed to make you stop what you're doing to wait for the Lord's return. And neither should it motivate you to focus all your attention on the events and political developments of this world. Instead, it should prompt you to holiness as you direct your heart toward Christ, whose coming every believer anticipates with joy. https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/9-reasons-we-know-christ-is-returning.html?utm_source=Daily Update&utm_campaign=Crosswalk Daily Update&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2859948&bcid=5da31583941ac0436f866785e89f41c2&recip=547950175