Usa

[ted]

Now this is some of the best stuff I've read on this board or others.

Let's keep this one going....

Am I wrong or is this one of the only nations that was birthed with the purpose of glorifying God and the intent of spreading the Gospel of Jesus? I mean from the very beginning? (1692)

We've stumbled some along the way but seem to be heading towards national revival. We even have a president that starts the day off with prayer.

Only through prayer will this nation continue to be blessed. The Old Testiment is filled with history of nations torn down for their rejection of God's direction.

This nation enjoys God's blessings because it started with His direction.

Love in Christ,

t.

[Guest shilou]

I need to comment here on what I'm trying to say. I was pm.ed on my thinking or writing that I was calling others hypocritical. If anyone else took offense I'm sorry. I did not mean it that way. What I meant is we are in a very important time in history and as christians we very seriously need to be carrying the banner of Christ. If we are all caught up in all the things that people are saying about the president we have lost our focus. If we are all caught up in what a great nation we have here we have lost our focus. Our battle cry is for the kingdom of God, not one of us is worthy, no not one. The stage has been set, the fuse lit and we my beloved are living in a literal tinder box. The wrath of God is going to come to the world and we need to be ready. If our focus is on a man, any man we are suseptible to all the lies of satan. You see when our focus is on defending Christ alone all the other stuff said about anything and I don't care what it is or who said it, all that stuff should slide right off our backs. If we are all caught up in it then we are still caught up in the world system and I don't care how many things we have done in the name of God. If we have one person standing in front of us living in darkness and we choose to condemn and critisize rather than to reach out with salvation whose tune are we playing to? All the justification and rationalization and all the stuff we want to throw out there to make ourself feel righteous and superior just doesn't matter. What does matter is pulling as many out there over to this side of the fence while there is time left.

Christ died for us, he willingly crawled up on a cross and died a brutal death to show us how much he loves us. Could we possibly lay aside our opinions, our self righteousness, our pride for him? We can not live unless we die first. That means to all the old ways, to humble ourselves, to say ok nothing matters except salvation and reaching others to tell them about it. All those people who are marching and speaking out are living in a system they honestly think they can change. They think they are right, they think their cause is just, they believe all the lies lucifer tells them. And they are going to die in a very real way unless those of us who know the truth do something. Critisize them? Oh please no, my heart bleeds for them. How can I help satan shove them farther in his box? How could I possibly stand before my Creator and say yes I know Lord you told me to tell them about the cross, but I chose to lash out at them instead because well look what they were saying. How will Christ respond to this. Will He say well done my faithful servant. No more than likely I'm going to get my head ripped off. Read Job I don't want to go there. I can hear Him now explaining to me in no uncertain terms. Shilou I asked you to do a simple thing for me, I asked you to tell them how very much I love them, how I want to spend eternity with them, how I want to invite them to a great feast, a banquet so we could be joined forever. I didn't ask you to blast them with critisizm, I didn't ask you to dig up there lack of education to show them how unworthy they are, I didn't ask you to throw stones at them. I didn't put them in front of you so you could pile more hurt on them, I just so much wanted you to tell them I love them. Now was that to much to ask of you? I can see me on my knees begging His forgiveness, knowing there is nothing I can do at that point to change it, knowing that some may be lost because I chose to follow my pride instead the Holy Spirit, knowing that there is no way I can make up for it, and knowing that even with all of that He still loves me and I let Him down. Nope so much don't want to go there. Why would anyone want to go there? I don't get it, I can't understand it? He loves us so very very much, and He loves them too. Could we find it in our hearts to stop condemning and start loving, thats all He asks of us, is it too much?

Luke 15:7 "I tell you that in the same way their will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Love in Yeshua

Shilou

[Guest]

Shilou I wish there was something I could add to what you just said. But I can not. Well said sister and I know that it surely must have come from your heart.

I think you make the Father smile a lot more than you know.

God bless you and Lord pour your love out in our hearts that we may love like You do.

[ted]

Very well put. I won't try to inject worldly doctrine here, I'll save that for the "war on terrorism" threads.

But it is hard because we are here on earth right now.

Looking for that blessed hope keeps me going.

t.

[traveller]

Hey Shilou, girlfriend, when we got to our Heavenly abode, let's have coffee!  :t3:

[OneAccord]

Shilou:

Amen Amen Amen Amen amen and Amen some more.........

:il:  :il:  :il:

[Guest shilou]

Thanks guys but it really isn't me. I pray for many things for others but for myself I pray for a heart like Christ's and God is more than happy to give me that. Nothing I am is of my own making. Sometimes to be honest I get my dander up and am not grateful for this even though I pray for it. I have had to swallow large amounts of pride, let go of many many hurts that I liked to hold on to and nurture. Day by day I see my old self float away and at times I miss her. Does that sound strange? Usually when I start to write my mind is in an intellectual mode and the Holy Spirit takes it where He wants it to go because I'm willing. It's a strange place we have been thrust into in the middle of all of this. We are American's and as such have had pride instilled in us from a very young age. Then we find Christ and He says let it go. There is a mass of humanity swarming around us and everyone is saying different things. Everyone has an agenda and we are standing back trying desparately not to fall into the masses and hold firm onto the words of Christ. There are issues piling up on issues and everyone is screaming to have their voice heard. Oh if they could only hear themselves. I have days where I feel like I'm at the top of the Titanic when it was going down and the person beside me lets go and I'm screaming no don't fall there is death waiting there. Once in a while I let go of my safe anchor and drift out into the voices and the insanity is so deep and unrelenting. It is a virtual tidal wave of hate and anger and it is engulfing the masses and they can't see it. Everyone is so caught up in each little detail of this and that they can't see it eating them alive. And then I see Lucifer standing behind it all and He is laughing a delirious laugh and there is spittle running down his chin and He is hate. He hates us, his hatred is so deep and so ugly you can literally smell it and taste it. At times like this I become very frightened and run back for the safe harbor in the arms of Jesus and He says it's ok, I love you, I will never forsake you and you will always be safe with me. But I need you to see this so you can tell others, tell them to stop pushing and pulling against each other. Tell them it is not the guy with the sign or the guy without the sign, it is not the educated or the uneducated, it is not the abortionist or the antiabortionist, it is not the politician or the people, it is Lucifer he is my enemy and yours. And I say Oh Jesus they will not listen to me, I'm nobody to them, they want their agenda's, they want their issues. And He says no Shilou listen to me, some will hear and some will come, don't worry about the outcome just do as I tell you. So I bow my head in obedience and say yes Jesus I will do as you say no matter the cost.

I remember being caught up in the world, I remember all the issues and all the things I thought were just causes but even though they fit with God's word they had no love behind them. In my early walk I did things according to what I thought was morally correct, things that came out of His word for sure but along with that I was on an intellectual bent and could not apply love so I applied judgement to anyone who wasn't where I was at. I'm here to tell you I was wrong, so very wrong. Until we can tap into the love of Christ's death on the cross our words hold no power. They are just added to all the words swirling around out there. I mean seriously how huge is this, God was spit on by man and stood humbly while it happened. Until we can honestly say we are willing to stand humbly by while our fellow man spits in our face, we don't know what we are talking about. When we take offense to something said we need to stop for a minute get on our knees and just simply say Lord give me a heart like Jesus and see if we still feel the same way when we get up. It will make a world of difference, and I'm not asking anyone to trust me on this, trust God He is faithful.

Love in Yeshua

Shilou

[Guest]

Shilou I thank the Holy Spirit that is speaking through you. And I want you to know you will make a difference. Not in everyone you speak to, but some will listen and find the Truth.

The love and insight you are sharing can only come from being with the Master. I love when I see a brother or sister who has yielded to the Master's touch.

He will keep you and cherish you. You are His.

Thank you for being you  and  letting the Love of God shine through.        Bless you in the Name of Jesus

[OneAccord]

Oh, Shilou,. that's everything I've been trying to say all along, all rolled up into one beautiful, spirit-filled post.  I'm totally 100% with you on this one.  This is what it truly means to "Come up out of her".  Thank you for this encouragement, inspiration and holiness this day. :il:  :il:

[Work in Progress]

Not all will be saved. Like Judas, there are just plain evil people amongst us who are doing the will of satan, sometimes willingly, sometimes not. Like God said, their hearts are hardened, period. We don't know who they are, but they are our enemies because they are the enemies of our Lord.

Thank God that all believers are not the same, or just robots. We all have different missions. Yes, we share the great commission, but we have different gifts and strengths. If all Christians went the "meek lamb" route, we would have been extinct long ago. If all were "warriors of evil", no one would hear the gospel.

I would like someone to give some Biblical references to "we are never to criticize anyone". Like "judgement", "criticize" is not a bad word. Jesus had no problem criticizing evil.

Thank God for a balance. We are all important. Is it any more acceptable to put down