Seasoned by Grace

We'll, I've seen most everything else twisted here, why not this . Is there enough left of Christianity to even call it Christianity in these last days .

Thank you so much "SOWER" This statement I made that you quoted me on ("that has nothing special going for me.") I made thinking how empty I am, and we all are, of anything of any value to give anyone without our being filled by Christ and the Holy Spirit. Without Christ, our lives are totally worthless. We are nothing but CHAFF waiting for the coming FIERY HELL

I see my self as a pretty average, normal kind of nobody, that has nothing special going for me. Sometimes in the evening I'll turn off the TV and all the lights in my home, and try to imagine this GOD I love and worship each day - IT'S IMPOSSIBLE ...FOR ME, and I wonder "WHY ME", OR ANY OF US, when I think of the extravagances of His love, as HE daily pours out these phenominal blessings of miracles, the answered personal prayers and prayers for friends and family that are so special to me, and those prayers are more than abundantly answered sometime in greater ways than I could have ever imagined asking myself. The more I try to imagine HIM the more I'm sincerely "BLOWN AWAYY" because I'm remembering all the years past, 40 some, remembering all the things HE made happen that were IMPOSSIBLE and yet happened. And over and over similar things happened in His PERFECT steadfast commitment to LOVE, to provide to protect, to encourage and yes, sometimes "CHASTEN", but everything in LOVE. I know who I am, and who I've been in the past and what I've done and thought about, and it's not pretty, maybe like some of you even, and so I VIEW MYSRLF THROUGH THE CROSS and it breaks my heart because it was for me, AND ALL OF YOU, and I can't wrap my head around that kind of CHRIST...that kind of LOVE. So I praise GOD every day and GLORY in the name of CHRIST as I come up way to short to ever see His face, but out of HIS INCREDIBLE love, HE MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE IN THE Holy Spirits leading SO I CAN SOMEDAY BE CALLED home. What else do I say....PRAISE YOU AND THANK YOU.

Much love & Shalom to you my brother.

I appreciate your candor and i have noticed that you are different than most others here.. You have a tender spirit and are opposed to battle of any kind. YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR QUIET GODLINESS. God bless you !! Your loving character speaks volumns of your honest and true faith - a rare thing here. If I seem bold to extremes - it's my passion for the truth and GODLY LOVE. God has turned me into a DEFENDER AND CONTENDER OF THE FAITH - AN APOLOGIST WITH FERVENT DRIVE FOR GOD'S NARROW PATH.

".....and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with JOY INEXPRESSIBLE and full of glory. After being here on this forum for a while, I see being here is more about coming to a battlefield like many other WORDLY forums of all types, than coming here to discuss our faith. It's like most here have given themselves permission to do VIOLANCE TO GODS WORD in how people here attack each other and do their best to unmerceafully rip the "SPIRITUAL FLESH off anyone willing to do battle. So much of God's word here is VIOLATED in the cause of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS and being MORE RIGHT IN THEIR OWN ESTIMATION NOT GOD'S. What a sad picture of what some call Christianity, and it continues to grow in becoming worse. There is a sad justification here and other places about the continuing poor attitudes that are justified by saying ..."well some of us are just less mature than others and we have to be understanding and I get that, but when there's an overwhelming majority here setting a poor example and blatanly violating God's word in beliefs and horrible attitudes and in ATTACK MODE NEARLLY ALL THE TIME, and absolutely have to be right all the time VIOLENTLY.................. ......what does that leave GOD to work with if it's true that HE WORKS THROUGH US,...and He does when we allow it. When any of you here are attacking others do you ever think about the VIOLANT damage you are doing to God being able to use you as you fight to DEFENDI"YOUR" STAND TO BE RIGHT ? The verse I quoted above seems like a verse with many others like it that should guild every part of our GODLY NATURE if we have one. Take every thought captive. We'll be judged for every idle word spoken. Are these verse just believed here to be suggestions to believe or cast aside for a different choice that is more acceptable for the situation??? Now I know for sure that people will come here and attack me in order to diffuse what I've said or to distract or accuse me of some infraction myself or ask everyone on the forum who gives me the right to judge or complain...well folks God gives us all permission to do just as He did to all the churches in the book of Revelation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Somehow I think my words are just blowing in the wind, as what I have seen has become to prevalent to be turned around and simply love one another. To me, what's left of Christianity is in a sad state of disrepair - BROKEN. But there are still the CALLED OUT who have left what little remains, after finding the truth, and are REJOICING IN THEIR GLORIOUS STATE. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY

SAD........ Wish I could say more.

You see there ReenelW It's just wonderful the way you simplify the obvious when so many others here complicate this idea of love with so many RABBIT TRAILS OF IDEAS that take them off the main path that is so simple like you just stated here. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. BLESS YOUR HEART. Thank you !!! I hope many here read your response .

I like what you said here, but I think it goes a little deeper, maybe a lot deeper than this, and has a GODLY SUPER - NATURAL side to it that man doesn't understand, much like the LOVE teaching of JESUS that astounded people and how he performed that love in peoples lives they were over-whelmed by it like the adultress caught in the act and Jesus forgave her and didn't condemn her one bit - she was shocked, and so were the people when Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead. These were acts of love that no one else could perform or understand because they were SUPER - NATURAL and that's what God expects from us is a SUPER - NATURAL LOVE that stands out and is never experienced from a natural man. A kind of love that we have to pray for and seek God out for, so we can be that salt we're supposed to be for others to give a SUPER - NATURAL flavor to life that is so good that others want it, but God is the only source. Or think of being that LIGHT Jesus says we're supposed to be that comes into a persons life and has so much natural love from GOD for them in the way we treat them by accepting them, and being patient and supportive in a way no one can make happen unless the Holy Spirit is working through them. In fact for me what I have learned for myself is that all that God asks of us to do is impossible for us because God is asking us to be just like Christ was - PERFECT, and isn't that God's goal for us to be as perfect as we can be. James 1:2 says, "Consider it all joy when you encounter various trial, knowing that the testing of you faith produces endurance, and let that endurance have it's PERFECT result, that you may be PERFECT and complete, lacking in nothing. For us to achieve our COMPLETE "SALVATION" God makes it IMPOSSIBLE for us to do any of it on our own. All that He asks from us we must seek out on our knees in prayer for the impossible, each time God reveals something new that's required of us for our growth in our faith. Nothing God requires of us is possible on our own so that we get no credit at all, but God gets the GLORY - AWESOME Lastly....SALVATION IS A PROCESS NOT AN EVENT, ACTUALLY IT'S BOTH BUT COMPLICATED, SO WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT LATER...Sorry to those who disagree, but truth is truth unless your blind to it...I know, I know, you hate that too, maybe you even hate my theology or even hate me, so lay it on me and attack me with all you have, it'll just ROLL OFF, you're better off ignoring me. I'm not going away folks so ignoring me would probably work best. Ya know people, when you know the truth, the truth will set you free, and here I am ...........free indeed.......Lovin' on you the best I know how, because your all worth it. I like my new home.....WELCOME HOME DAVE. MAN LIFE IS GOOD ( By the way...some of you need to lighten up and enjoy life a lot more here, and not be so INTENSE A little LOVE and laughter goes a long way to just enjoy living. Too many here way too uptight)

As we age, God takes us through new "Seasons" or stages of life. Every seven years a new stage should begin according to the experts, and so far I have been right on track. I have noticed in the last few years a mellowing of my spirit has begun and continues.. There is less desire to control so much of my life, in fact I've been learning more and more how to put more and more events and issues into God's hands and let Him take care of what I can't, and have found "MUCH" more peace and contentment. In Job 8:7, Job 42:12 and Haggai 2:9 God says, "Your latter days will be greater than the former days"...I LOVE THAT Job 8:7 says, "Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase greatly...LOVE THAT TOO Psalms 92:14 says, "They shall bring forth fruit in old age. They shall be full of sap and very green...WONDERFULL WOW...What an encouragement to me and my older generation, as we begin this next season of our life as we get closer to taking that final breath, that takes us home The crown of life!! These verses give me so much energy and drive( I still go to the gym and treadmill walk and run and lift weights- Healthy as a horse at 76). I have so many plans for the future that I put in Gods hands, because although they are great plans, God may have different idea's and I'm good with that. Always having these verses in the forefront of my mind gives me a stronger faith and an exciting mindset about the future and after studying for over 40 years God's word, and the wonderful faith he has grown me into, how much better could it be as I learn even more and apply those new things to my life. This walk with CHRIST excites me. What will I learn in the next 10 or 20 years ( I have longevity in my family genes ) as I continue my studies in Greek and Hebrew. Seriously...does it get any better than this??? Will I start a new ministry or maybe write a book or 2 ?? Or maybe because I'll be entering my 11th, seven year season soon, God may have plans for me I've never considered...SO EXCITING. Finally, God has been helping me deal with a few loose ends of my life that needed to be tidied up, and that's all done now, and life has taken on a new "GLOW" of "FREEDOM", and a new sense of peace not having to constantly struggle with those issues. No matter how small the "BONDAGE", the release can leave us estatic, as it has me, and I feel a new sense of DELIVERANCE and GREATER LIBERTY IN CHRIST. 2020 and beyond should be quite a ride as my faith continues to grow and my relationship with God my wonderful Father becomes closer and closer. As we all know there are always troubles in life and I may lose some people or there may be other tragedies I have to deal with , or I could even become Ill and have to struggle with health issues ( NONE YET), but with this foundation of loving life and knowing for sure that God will be there to help me with whatever comes along, as He ALWAYS has in the past................................... How does life get any better ?

Thank you. God's many blessings on you - Dave

Thank you for your opinion. I'm glad we are all here to share what we believe is the truth and you can pick and choose or fully reject or fully accept. I've been attacked before and I accept it in love even though it may not be given in love. God bless you my friend as we continue to search for the truth that is GOD's alone.

My friend and brother Dennis. For me the love God wants us to share with the world is the most beautiful miraculous and precious GIFT GOD has ever created and given to mankind to experience and share. Years ago I didn't understand this love that is only Gods - a SUPER-NATURAL LOVE. I saw people I knew were going to hell and it tore my insides out - there was nothing I could do. I got down on my knees with tears streaming down my face like they are now, and pleaded with God to share that same love with me , that somehow I may be a reflection of HIM to others, not in a perfect way because I know I'm not perfect, but I had the desire to learn, to try and fail until I got it right, not in just word, but in His SUPER-NATURAL LOVE that is His alone to give us, to go about quietly loving on people by being kind, being patient, being accepting, being happy and joyful and bringing that to others just by loving life and GOD, by being at peace and having a life of contentment, or by how we handle the trials God allowed to come into our lives because in God's wisdom, that can be a reflection of Him, but only God can see our heart and know that we're serious and feel like we're dying inside because there is only one answer and it's GOD"S alone, and it's His WILL as to who He shares it with. We can't create God's kind of love or even pretend to have it - there's no point. God knows our heart and our desire to honor Himt!!!!!!!! But if we earnestly ask from a heart that longs to present a Christ to the world from an imperfect heart, by trying as hard as one can, The Holy Spirit will be with us as we make honest mistakes until we see fruit that is God's alone.

Alive together in all Christ's love.

If we are speaking the same language - I don't see it. Sometimes my brain doesn't get it right, like most of us - LOLDave

If you have read the bible you've read Jesus condemning the churches for having no love ...being luke-warm and forgetting their first LOVE Remember that when you read the bible God is speaking DIRECTLY to you, so don't say God doesn't tell us we have no love. How do you think He convicts you and I of our sin?

Hopefully, someday you will get it like it took me many years to. My faith nearly 50 years later is nothing like when I started or even as I grew over the years I've been at this going on 50 years so even though you give me no credit for all those years, continue studying and someday as you change, as I did many times, You will continually give God the GLORY and credit for the changes the Holy Spirit leads you into, because HIS TRUTHS are not only awesome and WONDROUS, but shocking and life changing as we grow and are exposed to a continuous new faith as we mature. Don't stay stuck and stagnant, but keep your heart open to the Holy Spirit as He fulfills God's command to us to mature and grow from "GLORY TO GLORY, as we study God's word for a lifetime. Just remember my brother, that for every verse you use to validate your beliefs, there is someone somewhere using the very same verse to validate their opposing view of what you think is true. So being right at your stage of life is merly a continual changing of your faith.. All the best my brother in Christ

It's fine to disagree with me - we live in America and have freedom of speech, even if some folks don't think so - LOL I love all the difference of opinions here and see where people are in their faith. So many different views. I enjoy it to see the cross-section of what the faith of today is about. I will also disagree with you, as you did me. God's word has been mistakenly been accepted as a "BOOK OF RULES", which to me it is not. WHAT A horrid thought To me there are NO RULES IN GOD"S WORD, or in my relationship with God whom I love, anymore than there are rules in my marriage to my wife who I live with in love and do what I do for her in love. I know what God has shared with us in His word and see it as a gift as to what it takes to have a relationship with Him in love and HARMONY, as well as a LOVING relationship with those around me. People have taken God's word and twisted it until it hardly represents the type of Love He had in mind for all of us to share with each other and with GOD To me there is NO LOVE in RULES, as they are legalistic without caring and love. Following rules, to me, is no more than following a list of do's and don't without the loving living Spirit of God leading me, as I just check things off because I feel I was told to do them, instead of being invited to JOIN Christ in the HARMONY He iINVITES US TO IN LOVE. I'm so glad I don't live with my wife like that, living by rules with her, as she is so much more worth anything like that. I do for her what I do because I love her and want the best for her, because she is so fabulous and worth all the love I can give her and treat her with - My beautiful "JEWEL" of my life. There are no rules between us, because of the love and respect and pride we have for each other I don't have a check-off list empty of love. Take out the garbage. Mow the grass. Get her RX at the pharmacy Take her to dinner Take her to a movie. If that was marriage, think how awful and heartless it would be - NO THANKS. I love functioning in love with my wife, my kids, my friends, my neighbors, and ESPECIALLY MY GOD !!!

Absolutely...and our opinions and knowledge can give us all options to consider in the plethora of false voices leading many astray. MAYBE I"M ONE OF THEM, but the truth is truth and many are seeking it just like you and I are. What has any value but truth...the foundation of our faith.

We can talk about what LOVE is all day long, but until it grows to life in us we are nothing more than "NOISY GONGS" and "CLANGING CYMBLES, including myself.

YES>. We are given a life that we can live IN LOVE. Not live a life with LOVE ADDED as an ADDENDUM or as an ingredient in a recipe. If you study the history of mankind for the last 2000 years and also study the history of the biblical culture for the last 2000 years, the violence and bodily harm and destruction will be about the same. Mankind ha a penchant for massacre, death and murder whether christian or not, and LOVE...well never seemed comprehended let alone applied during the christian wars, and burning witches. The Jews didn't comprehend the love God brought to them under Moses in Exodus, and mankind didn't understand the LOVE Christ brought when He came and lived among all those of His time, and today we are in the same situation where LOVE is a "THING" or an "ACTION" or A SHOULD DO LIKE A RULE or A FORM OF LEGALISM, instead of a SUPER-NATURAL lifestyle that can only be achieved by surrendering our lives to Christ and seeking with all our heart a kind of love that man has never understood and never will until the GIFT of SUPER - NATURAL LOVE becomes a Gift to them from their Creator, because they seek the IMPOSSIBLE. What is sought ONLY GOD HIMSELF can make possible in the heart of any human being. NO MAN CAN CREATE GODLY LOVE in Himself, so he must seek from God the GIFT of SUPER- NATURAL LOVE that ONLY BELONGS TO GOD and astonishes mankind, because it requires all who seek it to sacrifice as Christ did, and not many are willing, let alone even talk about. UNFORTUNATELY, most are too busy filling their lives with what pleases them, even though they know how to speak the "CHRISTIANEZE" language and wear the mask of the pretend believer, their heart is far from GOD. Scripture says that many continually learn, but never come to the knowledge of God - SAD, but true. I like the way that many will come back to this thread with all kinds of verses to validate their FALSE "JUSTIFICATIONS" of their life,....but Godly truth is Godly truth and nothing changes that, even those in denial of the truth who wish to live their own made up lives. This applies to me too. I don't point fingers, but love to share my views as all others do here to. Tell me. TODAY, how do we deal with Christians molesting Christian children and adults? How do we justify large organizations of 30 or more churches selling large numbers of people they kidnap, to send them all over this country for personal financial gain. Yes, we don't understand LOVE, and the CHURCH ABUSE only continues to grow. Do you think we'll ever have Gay pastors and leaders in churches??

Love is what we were created for and to live in the lives of all others for their eternal benefit as PAUL did. To practice Godly LOVE is the greatest commandment in the bible and isn't just something to do, but we are to be as Christ was as He walked this earth in the LOVE Christ speaks of. The LOVE Jesus talked about and shared was a SUPER - NATURAL LOVE that all of us should desire above all else, but have to surrender our whole lives to Christ and pray and seek that SUPER - NATURAL LOVE that is beyond all mankind to acquire or understand on their own. GODLY LOVE is a SUPER -NATURAL GIFT from God Himself that comes from desiring it more than life itself, for it is the life God intends for all mankind to not only live, but to shine into the world, but few will ever comprehend let alone receive and be willing to choose the sacrifice one must make that comes with it..

Something I do every Sunday in honoring GOD'S Commanded SABBATH REST for ALL who follow Christ's TRUTH > . Yeah - the SABBATH confuses people. I GET THAT

NO - I WOULD WELCOME THEM as I would any sinner as myself. but saved in Christ. Too many Christian TYPES raise themselves up above everyone they look down on in their arrogance of position, and never see their own "HUMBLE and terribly FRAGILE position. As a 76 year old Christ follower, (Definetly not a Christian - A hodgepodge of people who believe most any doctrine MOSTLY UNGODLY)) I love unclean spirits as we believers can bring Christ to them to be cleaned just as we once were cleaned, and I am thankful for those of the Gay rights community that can be reached out to in love and shown the same love that all of us sinners were shown by the Christ that saved us.. For some reason Christians have adopted a hateful and condemning attitude towards the gay rights community, or any other group that is opposed to the "Box of rules and legalism" that defines their heracy of doctrine, instead of adopting Gods attitude of love that saved all of us sinners. What happened to Love your enemy as yourself, love your neighbor as yourself, love those who hate you and persecute you. Have Christians re-invented GODS CHRISTIANITY - it seems so. Love is the over-riding factor for all mankind that defines true Godly living. God loves the human race and He says we should too. Remember, we are to be in the world , not of the world, so with that attitude in mind, we can minister to anyone, as long as we don't take up their sin and run with the sinners. God bless and may Gods truth cover you as a light on a hill to shine for all mankind - Dave

After studying many bible topics for over 40 years and now being 76 years old, God has been gracious enough to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth, and all the important things to me in my faith that have been fantastically answered, and I find myself at total peace and contentment after all the years of being criticized and persecuted. I praise God He allowed that in my life so far. So many trials, disappointments, mistakes and failures, yet Gods kindness was overwhelming and gracious even during my deepest sins, but I never gave up trying to be like Him the best I could. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now all the drama is gone for now, and His verses have come to life. "Your latter days will be greater than your former days". -------------------------- "Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase". -------------------------- "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test me now in this", says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the widows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more room. I have gone through my home and 2 sheds and given things away, and yet there is still no room in my sheds or my home for any more Christmas presents or birthday presents - PRAUSE GOD. He has been faithful to His word. I am more than amply supplied for and have no need. Live your life for Christ and His plans for you, and as you get older and experience His wonderful grace, the aging process will more and more become a gift hard to appreciate enough. In my younger years I didn't do drugs, or alcohol, or smoke or over eat and be glutonous. Especially in my later years I have eatin well, except for a periodic "OREO God says my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit so I took that to heart and cared for my body because God says it doesn't belong to me any more. My body is His and I honor Hid commands to care for it properly. Because of that I have no physical issues, and take no medication for my body. My doctor says I have the body and health of a 30 year old man. Heart rate and blood pressure is better than perfect. Now I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor in Christ. He is my all in all - Thank you Jesus.