lovethelord

4everyume, I'm glad you decided to stop listening to that song and rapper. The fact that you have doubts about the music you seem drawn to is a clear sign to me. To make it simple (this can apply to anything we are doing). Are you willing to praise it? Would you be comfortable listening to it with Jesus sitting next to you? Aren't Satanic songs singing everything that is not about worshipping our Lord Jesus? Do everything possible to draw near to things of God who is a giver of life and peace and loves you completely.

Thanks Jag for posting. I'm glad I continued reading your post, I think this can be helpful for anyone presently going through pain, suffering or trials in their life. It reminds us how short our time is here in the world. 2 Corinthians 4:17, "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison"

Turtletwo, Great poem. Love these verses. Thanks for sharing.

Yeshua153, I never head about Gematria, so I went online to read what the name Christ and Jesus mean. Would you say these are accurate? I just wondered as I've never been good with math or numbers, which is why I just like reading the Bible but I know there is special significance in numbers in the Bible. CHRIST = 365567 (which is CHR yields us nothing less than the number of days in our solar year, or 365)

Hi Unworthyservant, Keep in mind that celebrities are sinners like all of us. Who is to know the state of anyone's heart. I know I've made some assumptions about people that were completely off base. My learning is that God is wise when he says. John 8:15-16, “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.” Once in church I was sitting next to and speaking to a really nice woman, and assumed she was a Christian. I was surprised later when at the end of the service our pastor asked who would like to accept Jesus and she stood up. I bring this up as an example that I was judging her based on her appearance and manner, obviously I didn't know her heart like God does.

Hi lftc, (I realized that I probably should have posted this reply on your other post your referring to. But here is my own study methods). Here is the way I read my bible, I tend to read each verse slowly and pray to God for direction. I supplement my study with the Treasury of Scripture knowledge. I also may look at other bible commentaries. I can spend up to 1-3 weeks studying just one verse or paragraph since my goal is to get quality of understanding. I was once told that I tend to dissect the passages because of the way I study. Again, speaking for myself I believe the Bible is supernatural and powerful. I love reading it! In my opinion you don't need a self help book. I believe the Bible gives us so much loving guidance. I am constantly amazed at the unbelievable wisdom given by God.

Peteros, This seems like a pretty clear sign to me. But it's your life and decision. Trust God to direct it. 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace."

Hi JTC, I'm the same way, sometimes it just helps to reinforce what you were thinking. Thanks for sharing more info. I will also keep this in my prayer list.

AdoptedWatcher, I highly encourage you to read your Bible every day. This is God’s Word communicating with us. The more you learn about him and develop a relationship with Him you faith and trust will grow in the Lord. You will see His amazing love and grace for all peoples. You will feel the salvation assurance that He wants you to feel. He has gifted believers with His Spirit to attest to our salvation. Even if you family doesn’t go to church, is it possible for your to go yourself? It’s important you get the support of other believers to strengthen and fellowship with others. It's also very important to regularly repent of all known sin so that you can have close fellowship with Him. Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” Romans 10:13, “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” John 6:37, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” 1 Peter 1:5, "who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

JTC, Your discouragement is exactly what our enemy what like you to feel. He wants to put a halt to your efforts. We are to be imitators of Christ. Jesus tells us to expect to be slandered, insulted and persecuted for His sake. You are trying to share the gospel message with those who are hostile to the message. Be an example to your cousin. Do not let any harsh words come from you in written or verbal form. Christ tells us in His word to bear our injuries with love, joy patience and gentleness. Continue to pray to the Lord for the forgiveness of your cousin and her husband. Don't let anger direct your steps. You have God living inside you and you are on the winning team. In prayer led Him guide you. 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;”

JTC, I hope you don't mind my unconventional reply back to you. But i found it easier to add in red font my responses to your questions. Thanks I love what you said here,LtL. I admit I didn't read it slowly until today. Today I looked to see who wrote it and I wasn't surprised you're female. I love the way women usually can see things from a different perspective. I wanted you to see my latest update. I hope I didn't make a mistake. (of course not, hope my reply helps in some way). I realized my cousin was not going to go out of her way to find a Michael Heiser book for her husband. She said she checked her local Walmart who didn't have it. I grew up with this cousin she was as my sister. I got the feeling she did her part, she looked & it wasn't there. She was done. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm wrong too often lately. (Don't doubt yourself...Satan wants you to doubt and stop you from doing anything that would hinder your purpose. It's obvious to me that you care/love your cousin and doing what you can to help her spiritual state). However, I want her hubby to see one of the books. I read reviews on most of them. If he liked the Bible I would have chosen the first book "Unseen Realm". But Heiser says it's technical and loaded with footnotes. He rewrote it to be more reader friendly. The 2nd book is also 100 pages shorter. It's called "Supernatural" and I know they love that word. But I didn't know that the title is longer and the word Bible is there. I did one more thing. I made the name on the package her hubby's name. The Amazon website tells me it should be delivered sometime today. So I wait with baited breathe. I hope they don't get mad at me for being so forward. (I understand your reservations, but keep in mind your motives . Remember, we can't control their reaction. But it was a gift done in love). My cousin doesn't like speaking on a cell phone so this may not matter but just yesterday my phone broke, again, it's the only phone I have. So if she wanted to call me she can't. But my PC will receive any texts she might send. Am I nuts? (Caring is not nuts) If & when she tells me it arrived I plan to say it's a gift for her hubby. She seems to think I hate him, which is wrong. I only spoke to him once on the phone 30 yrs ago. I don't recall any arguments. I barely know him. So in truth I can't hate him. But I guess when her brother was alive, he told her I hate. (your cousin can choose to listen to her brother's words or look at your actions which show otherwise). I hate sin so I hate what they believe, but not them. I am hoping this will prove that. They are in Florida I'm in NY, what else can I do from here. (I would continue in prayer! Don't give up. Prayer is very powerful). I was listening to Proverbs this morning and some verses about instructing wise men vs foolish men struck me. All I ask is he read this book. I know the Bible fairly well but even I didn't see the words in the light Dr. Heiser does. I know a wise man will always consider an idea before he decides what to do with it. So I'm also thinking how he handles this book will tell me something about him. (Also, Proverbs 14:16, "one who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.") Does her husband sound like the wise person or the fool? From my own experience I can say God can turn the seemingly obstacles and circumstances completely around. I hope that today can possibly change the relationship you have with your cousin in a positive way. I pray that she will see that she has a relative who truly cares for her. That she will realize what a blessing she has that someone cares enough not to give up on her and her husband. I know one day will come when she will need your support, love and care. She will know she can reach out to you. In the end we know that it is God who is in control but we can do what we can to help others see the light.

RR114, As noted by Jayne. In every biblical account of men having multiple wives, there is conflict. 1 Timothy 3:12, “Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.” Deuteronomy 17:17, “And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.” Mark 10:6-9, "But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.” Matthew 19:6, “So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Hi Luigi, I'm not contradicting my statement. I stand by what I said earlier. It will be clearly apparent that people will recognize that it is God's hand causing the cosmic chaos & NOT by man's hand. Please check out original reply to you.

Hi Luigi, I answered this with my first post. God will make it very clear that it is His hand that is causing the cosmic and ocean changes and not mans.

Yeshua153, I believe the following verse can apply to the written word as well. Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger"

Hi Luigi, People would recognize the worse was to come because we are told in verse: Luke 21:26, "people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For instance, we had a earthquake in Southern California at a magnitude of 6.4 I know many people were frightened and thinking what was going to happen next. I heard a lot of "Is the big one coming now" and people running to Costco to get supplies of water. If this happened for an earthquake of this size, can you imagine how people would react seeing the skies, water and other cosmic activity visibly changing? I imagine people would be very frightened at the unexplained phenomenon.

HI Luigi, I didn't say it would be a single event, I don't know how long these cosmic changes would last, but I believe the people who are so afraid are the unbelievers. They won't be able to understand the signs and wonders that they see. Those of us who believe in Jesus have nothing to fear.

Turtletwo, What a lovely inspiring and uplifting poem. Have you considered putting together a collecting of your poems and publishing?

Dennis1209, We can only speculate what Jesus wrote, but i think He highlighted the importance of being quick to pass judgment on sinners who are caught sinning. It is God's role to judge not ours.

Hi Luigi, I personally believe that the bible is talking about something that will be quickly apparent to everyone that it is a sign of God. It will be a cosmic upheaval that has nothing to do with man's polluting the environment.

Hi Jayne, My pastor sounds the same. He is going on almost 27 years and although I've only been at his church for 5 years now, he displays the same passion, humble, earnestness and love for God and his people from when I first started attending his church. I love how he also reads and teaches directly from the Bible. He encourages everyone to bring their bibles to church and regularly has us pray for our Nation's leaders. Thanks for sharing the message you heard at church yesterday. I know you must feel blessed to have such a pastor. I know I do.

Missmuffet, I understand the context in the bible where Jesus is giving this instruction to his disciples. However, I have used this instruction myself on someone who was hostile to the gospel message. This person ended up ridiculing and getting antagonistic the gospel and after some time I felt a clear conscience to move on and pray to the Lord for His intervention for this person to see God’s truth. This is just a guidance given and we have to listen to leading of the Holy Spirit. Currently, I have a niece who is resistant to the message, but I haven't given up on her. She is not rude or angry to me but will listen, so I am encouraged to speak to her more. In the end, we are only responsible for our obedience to God of sharing the gospel, not for the results of the obedience.

Hi Unworthyservant, I completely agree with you. It's always easier to look at another's sin and focus and judge them. That's me. Because I'm aware of this, I've gotten so much better and with God's direction and accountability in my life I now am much more careful in the attitude I have towards others and especially what I say.

Unworthyservant, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah due to their one sin as noted above. The bible verses you posted further explain what that sin was. Yes, God hates all sin, but Sodom's sin was exceedingly great. I feel fortunate that our pastor preaches directly from the Word of God. He does not stress that Homosexuality is any greater than cheating, lying or adultery etc... It's all sin. I do like the story you shared about the preacher in KY. I believe it was a perfect example of pastors, preachers, leaders who compromise and preach messages that don't offend anyone. They are out to please men and not God.

Hi Jay78, I pray you truly have accepted the Lord in your life. Please do not go back and continue being deceived by the Occult and all the other practices you’ve delved into the past 8 years. You just opened the door to evil’s influence over yourself and as you can see it just led you down a dark and deep path. I thank the Lord that you came here for support. Trust Christ to work His will in your life and give you the strength of the Holy Spirit. Don’t wait for Mark Hamans to come to town. Open your bible, pray, read and MEDITATE on His word. If you feel your mind is blank FILL it with God’s Word. Mark 2:17, “And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Ephesians 6:12, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."