turtletwo

@marvelloustime This one goes out ESPECIALLY to you because you helped me remember this song. It has great advice for us ALL. "Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days." ( Ephesians 5:16) "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10)

MATTHEW 24:44

Beautiful! I see you just joined Friday. I'm glad you're here.

@johnthebaptist Definitely. Speaking out against abortion is one of my passions. I have written a poem about it. If you or anyone wants to read it I will put the link below. @Repose Thanks for your post. You gave excellent examples of this. It's so crazy the way the mind can twist to make light of sin and come up with what I call 'ridiculous rationale.'

Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and—look!—all things have become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17

@Figure of eighty So proud of you! A big congratulations on your graduating. I knew you could do it. God has been watching over you and strengthening you all these months. I remember how afraid you were in the earlier part of your pregnancy. But praise the Lord- He has brought you so far! I will pray about the childcare situation. Looking forward to more postings by you in my Children thread. GBU.

@listener24 So worshipful.

@listener24 I write poetry so I have shared the gospel through poems over the years. Special occasions are a good opening for this. I will sometimes (if the Lord so leads me and inspires it) write a holiday oriented poem and weave the gospel into it. Christmas and Easter; Thanksgiving and birthdays are all golden opportunities. So instead of just sending a greeting card I will enclose the poem I wrote inside it, too. Of course, any time of year God guides becomes a special occasion. One thing I have learned is people tend to be touched when you take time for them (and respond favorably.) Deep down everyone wants to be loved. When they are dealt with in a personal way, this one on one approach can give them pause. Once they feel YOU care, it is easier for them to consider that God cares about them, too.

@angels4u Thanks for bringing this to our attention. This definitely needed exposing. Dangerous stuff!

After reading the following scripture, the Lord inspired me to write a poem. So I wanted to share it with you, my Worthy family. "Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless." (Proverbs 31:8) For Those Who Have No Voice For those who are without a voice The Lord would have us speak For babies threatened in the womb, The elderly, the weak For those they call 'not normal' Let us dare to make a choice To stand up for the people Who just don't have a voice For no one is superior Though some claim it's that way In God's eyes, are deemed precious These ones who have no say Oppression is a travesty We must combat with prayer And speaking out against it Is the way we show we care

Modern day Pharisees do not walk in love... love for God and love for one another. (these being the first and second greatest commandments. Matt 22:36-40) Like the Bible day Pharisees, they are knowledgeable of the scriptures. But that is where it stops. It is simply head knowledge that does not transfer into heart knowledge. They will 'talk the talk' without truly walking the walk. As in Luke 10:25-37. The Levite walks to avoid seeing the neighbor, while the Good Samaritan walks to encounter and help the neighbor. The Pharisees likewise lacked compassion for the downtrodden. Jesus scolds them for their wrong priorities and hypocrisy. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel!" (Matthew 23:23-24)

day LORD Satan Satan Satan roaming fro going back and forth on it

What hymn was written by a lovelorn Scottish preacher? When he was 19 years old, everything looked golden for Glasgow-born George Matheson (1842-1906). A brilliant student, graduating with honors, he was engaged to be married to the love of his life. But then he rapidly began to lose his sight. The doctors said there was no cure. Turning for comfort to his sweetheart, he was stunned when she fled. She couldn’t be the wife of a blind man, she said. Matheson’s hymn of love Twenty years later, on the eve of his sister’s wedding, the shock of rejection resurfaced. By now, Matheson, the “blind preacher,” was beginning to amass attention for his scholarly writing and inspiring sermons, but all the success in the world could not cure his broken heart. Alone in the parsonage that night, 40-year-old Matheson succumbed to “the most severe mental suffering.” That’s when he composed the words of the hymn “O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO.” This hymn is a celebration of God’s extravagant love, with images of rainbows emerging from rain, joy arising from pain, blossoms springing from dry ground. Matheson’s hymn celebrates a love that is faithful, not fickle, a love that will endure through the worst of life’s crises, a love in which our weary souls can rest from all the stress. This is a song of faith sung from parched lips, a vision of healing from sightless eyes. The preacher later wrote about the experience of shaping the verses while in a wilderness of pain: It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high. A hymn to heal broken hearts The world found comfort in Matheson’s verses, and why not? We, too, fall in love with the wrong people, endure fickle hearts and broken promises. Self-help books pushing new ways to find (and keep) our soul-mates are bestsellers. Sales of romance novels soar even when the economy dips. The experience of rejection, in all its forms, shakes us to our very foundations and crumbles our fragile egos, even when the world rewards our accomplishments. Imagining a love that will not let us go seems like the stuff of fantasy, but when we surrender our wounded hearts to God’s love, we know ourselves immersed in its ocean depths. The Sacred flows over and around us. O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.

About them: Eastward's mission is to inspire and equip a new generation of laypeople of all ages to be whole hearted medical missionaries, following in the footsteps of Jesus. Education in medical missionary work has been our main focus, with 70+ students having been trained for a life of mission, since our establishment in 2003. Mission trips, supporting industries, filming, music camps, and church outreach programs are some of the other activities facilitated by Eastward. Our approach to education is broad and wholistic, including agriculture, natural health training, community service, practical life skills and scripture classes in a supportive family environment. We are committed to seeing the blue-print of true education succeed in Australia.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31) Don't be afraid His eye is on the sparrow You are in your father's care Continually held in His gaze Ever before His face His Eye Is On The Sparrow 1 Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home, when Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is he: his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, (I’m happy) I sing because I’m free, (I’m free) for his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. 2 “Let not your heart be troubled,” his tender word I hear, and resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; though by the path he leadeth but one step I may see: his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. [Refrain] 3 Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when song gives place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to him; from care he sets me free: his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. [Refrain]

@miss muffet Praise the Lord! So true and beautifully expressed. We are each special to Him. Scripture says this, "Not one sparrow (What do they cost? Two for a penny?) can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t worry! You are more valuable to him than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)

@naominash Praise God! I'm so glad it was a blessing to you. "Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

A lovely rendition of a beautiful hymn. Enjoy.

Amen. Here is the post from the prayer request forum. Posted August 20 HI My sister Wendy has not much time now, the cancers are getting worse and she isnt having anymore chemo. My other brothers and sisters are going to see her while she is still capable. Please pray for my brothers and sisters and Wendy. pray the Lord may reach her still with the truth of the gospel Thanks

@lovethelord Thanks for your kind suggestion. Yes, I've thought about that. It was the desire of both my parents. They encouraged me to do so. They have both gone on to be with the Lord since (Dad, 9 years ago. Mom, this year.) The biggest obstacle to publishing is lack of money and how to go about it. I have none to invest to 'get my foot in the door', so to speak. I am glad my poem was a blessing to you.

@naominash Thank you, dear sister. You are such a blessing in my life. You have touched it spiritually. In fact, the Lord used you to inspire me in the writing of this poem.

Here is a poem that I wrote yesterday. Till then Homesick for Heaven Awaiting the day Jesus my Bridegroom Will sweep me away There in His presence Forever I'll be Worshiping Him Who bought pardon for me Till then I serve Him In season and out Though there be heartaches And moments of doubt He is my Lord And in charge of my story While I'm on earth For His purpose and glory

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.