We must devote, not only times and places to prayer, but be everywhere in the spirit of devotion; with hearts always set toward heaven, looking up to God in all our actions, and doing every thing as His servants; living in the world as in a holy temple of God, and always worshiping Him, with our lips, with the thankfulness of our hearts, the holiness of our actions and the pious and charitable use of all His gifts.
- William Law -
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156 comments:
Go Dawgs!
WA. (U of W) needs one win! LOL!
Grany,
Please post your last comments on this blog, okay? I just went back and read it, and it should be shared here, for everyone.
Ok Marge, but this one is gonna cost ya, big time!
JIB, or another else. It is Time for the Church Age to draw to a close, Suddenly! In praying and listening to what the Holy Spirit is leading me to, I feel this Age is maxed out and there is one more move of God before we are called to "Come up here". We have a few things to do before we go and that it seems is paramount to the urging going on in believers of all denominations. None shall be lost that has been called out. Jesus said that no one can snatch us out of his Father's hands and he will complete in us the work that has begun by the Holy Spirit. We have much to be thankful for but we still have a bunch of folks to get into the ark.
Lisa, I believe that Lot and his family along with Noah and his group, were examples for the Jewish people and reflection of God's mercy and grace for the Church Age. What Jesus sealed no man can destroy and that relationship will become very real if it isn't already. And you know that there is no need to give place to fear; fear is just the opposite of faith as you also know. As the Holy Spirit leads all of us, we become encouraged by the results we see when we listen and obey.
Most of my life I have seen people who were believers in word only, fall away from the Gospel and soon go back to the life they once lived. That is why the scriptures tell us about the fruit trees production. There is a passage in the old testament that said the figs were too rotten to eat and God was talking about the Israelites. But when someone is truly Born Again by Spirit, the Holy Spirit never stops wooing them. I know! I was one of them and believe me, the loving and drawing of the slick and sliden ones is very intense. It makes you weep because of your departure from the truth and the presence of the Lord and is so profound that there is nothing else to do but run back to the shelter of God's arms. You know that too and then it seems we get feet clad with Iron or concrete which ever we need the most to keep us in place.
I do know that during my sabbatical from God's presence believers were saying very little to me and I needed the words that came from my friend's lips "Wilma, why are you angry with God? He didn't do any of these things to you!" Oh, she touched on my heart like no one else could because it came from the Holy Spirit to her to me. It is so easy to get judgmental when dealing with someone who has fallen away from the pursuit of God but they need to have someone share the love of Abba with them in all sincerity. Most of them only need to plug back in to the fellowship with true believers where the Bible is preached in all truth and power.
Now I have to share with you a personal note. The father of my daughter and son, Spanky, left this earth to ascend to his heavenly abode in the spirit, this morning at 4:30 a.m. He had suddenly taken a back set that caused his lungs to build up fluid and was admitted back into the local hospital in Missouri on Friday. My daughter and hubby are on their way to Missouri as I type this and it is hard to let go when you have been a daddy's girl all of your life. Her brother, who lives in the little town he was born in, is taking it very hard too. This could be the occasion of the only one remaining still not saved. My grandson, Jeramey. He was very close to his grandfather and does have a tender heart. I would truly cherish all of your prayers for them to deal with any and all situations in the atmosphere of Jesus Christ.
I am getting a head start on fixing all of the trimmings for Thanksgiving so I had better get with the program. I also feel very sad in lots of ways because I know my children are weeping at their loss. Seems strange not having anyone to supervise my progress.
Grany
November 24, 2008 11:00 AM
Grany, please know that your family is in our prayers with a special extra prayer for your grandson, Jeramey.
<><
Thank you Donna for your prayers.
I just made a big pot of Turkey soup if anyone is hungry and needs some warming up. I love to add my Mexican seasonings to the stew and this time I cut back on the fire quite a bit. But it made the house smell oh, so wonderful. Not only that but it helped to warm up my kitchen and get me enthused to begin the Turkey feast.
Alesia, it is good seeing your posting comments and I am still praying for you to be pain free and back on top of everything, like before.
Talk to you all later,
Grany
Wilma, what's the main course?
More on the "Fireball" sings & wonders in the sky"University of Calgary planetary scientist Alan Hildebrand called it one of the largest meteors visible in the country in the last decade."
Grany,
I agree w/the Lot/Noah Mercy Grace thoughts as well. Those stories can be multi-layered in teaching.
Of course us Pre-Tribs also think they could be a shadow of the Church being spared from the Trib Judgment as well.
Some AIDS patients face microchip monitoring
Indonesian lawmakers support controversial bill to track infected people.
Global Aids Chart
This one was brought up on the topic:
Rev 20:21-23
"....to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts...."
I'd love a bowl, Grany. Sounds perfect.
Will pray for Jeramy.
-HB
Lori, what ever your heart desires! But the soup is smelling so good right now and I can hardly wait for supper time to get here.
HB, you are welcome too. An old practice in our home was never throw any part of the turkey out until you had all of the goodness out of it. Well, that involves baking the bones, scrap meat, etc. Of course, in this modern age, I used my cast iron Le Creuset dutch oven and it just works wonders. I am also sneaky to boot; if I waited until after Thanksgiving, we wouldn't be intersted in Turkey anything and I would have to freeze all of the good things. Fixing it today, we will enjoy the soup so much more. It is a fresh turkey by the way and I love it so much more.
I am going to make a special pumpkin pie that was in Gourmet magazine years ago and get this, I am going to add brandy to the filling and then serve it with brandy whipped cream. Now before JIB gets too excited, I am going to use Cool Whip and add the flavoring instead of the liquor. After all, brandy is just wine that has been aged longer, isn't it?
I have some great cranberry salad that I have been spiking with Grand Marine and you better believe it is worth walking all the way to Oklahoma for. I have made this same salad for years and even served it to a group of So. Baptist women years ago. It was the best meeting and everyone was sooooo friendly that they requested it every year after that. Now they ask my daughter to fix it and she doesn't know the magic ingredient. Hehehehe!
I don't use anything but the real thing in it either. Not very much but it really makes the difference.
Well, now that I have ruined my reputation, I am going to go sneak a bite of my salad. I might even have a couple bites.
Love you all,
Grany
Grany,
I think if more salads, like yours, were served at Church, there would be a lot more happy faces there! LOL!
Keep smiling!
US Requests 300 Billion Dollar Loan From Arabs
Nov. 24….(AP) The United States has asked four oil-rich Gulf states for close to 300 billion dollars to help it curb the global financial meltdown, Kuwait's daily Al-Seyassah reported Thursday. Quoting "highly informed" sources, the daily said Washington has asked Saudi Arabia for 120 billion dollars, the United Arab Emirates for 70 billion dollars, Qatar for 60 billion dollars and was seeking 40 billion dollars from Kuwait. Al-Seyassah said Washington sought the amount as "financial aid" to face the fallout of the financial crisis and help prevent its economy from sliding into a painful recession. The daily said the United States plans to use the funds to help the ailing automobile industry, banks and other companies suffering from the global financial turmoil. The four nations, all members of OPEC, produce together 14 million barrels of oil per day, around half of the cartel's production and about 17 percent of world supplies. The four states are estimated to have amassed close to 1.5 trillion dollars in surplus in the past six years due to high oil prices that rocketed above 147 dollars in July before sliding to just above 50 dollars. The daily also said that the United States has asked Kuwait to forgive its Iraqi debt estimated at around 16 billion dollars.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” Matthew 10:28.
Lori, that verse jumped out at me the other day for some reason!
Grany, keeping you all in prayer.
Grany,
I can just smell that soup cooking! And that pie! I was not blessed to be near my grandmothers while I was growing up and if I lived anywhere near you I would have to ask you to adopt me as a grandaughter!
I will pray for your kids and especially Jeramey right now.
Bless you!
Diana
Lisa, Shalom! You wrote:]
It seems more like an excuse remove yourself from blood saying to give them a choice to do the right thing-but if they don't well-that's their problem w/God. My hands are washed clean. They had a choice & made the wrong one.
To which I can only say,
When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Look to it yourselves." Matt. 27:24
<><
Mac, I thank you greatly for your prayers and I know this might sound odd to some but I can actually feel the prayers since about noon. I have a peace that I could never generate and I know in my knower that God is in control of the whole scene in Missouri. No evil deeds will be accomplished and no weapon formed against the family will produce any positive results. Praise God!
DIANA, you are most welcome to join my family and share in our provisions. Those provisions come from God and he desires that we share with all.
We had our soup and it um um good! Um um Good, Granies soup was really good. I give all of the credit to my Abba and my Dutch Oven. I didn't add anything to the pot except turkey, onion, celery, a smidge of fresh garlic, water, potatoes and carrots. Brown the turkey bones real well and let them just simmer for about 2 hours. Then add your liquids and rest of the veggies and you are ready to go. I remove the bones of course and add in turkey breast chunks that I have sauteed until golden. Now if I had only fixed an apple pie we could really be purring about now.
I am going to leave you for a little while but I will be keeping an eye on you all.
Marge, they were happy faces, all of them.
Grany
drat not the real thing? well why ever not!
I make a great fruitcake-got the recipe from Emeril and it has lots of alcohol you betcha.
don't care for Grande Marnier-never have. don't like anise liquers either. I do like rum and amaretto however.
Grany
my mom makes the same soup the day after turkey day and she actually uses very little seasoning because she cooks the stuffing or dressing in the bird and uses rice instead of potato. bet it's good either way.
praying for your family.
and if you all want to know what she was talking about to me go back and read toward the end of the last thread
I'm searching the computer for my grandmother's peanut butter pie recipe-can't seem to find it in the actual recipe box so here's hoping I actually remembered to put it on the computer.
I'll be making her molasses cookies tonight as well. they are quite the best and even folks who aren't big on molasses cookies like these.
found it. if you like peanut butter this one's a dandy
1 prepared crust 9". back according to directions or use a graham cracker crust. if you want use a chocolate crumb crust
1 4 serving size cook and serve (can not be instant) vanilla pudding mix
1 cup peanut butter
whipped topping
*if you use the chocolate crumb crust cut mini reese cups in half and use to decorate the top of the pie.
prepare pudding as directed on the package and allow to cool to lukewarm temperature. stir in peanut butter until well mixed and then pour into crust. refrigerate until set-overnight best although a few hours will work. top with whipped topping. keep refrigerated.
Grany;
Soooo... You spiked your salad with liqueur and brightened the lives of some Southern Baptists? You couldn't have just whipped up a couple of bottles of Grany's Home-Style Dry-County Elixer (good for what ails you, especially Women's Conditions, dry coughs, and the vapours)? Why don't you put on the gramophone and teach them the Mango while you're at it?
G_D's keeping His eye on you, girl...
<><
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Oi! Alesia and I want to know how come some of us are in capitals and some of us are still small. Huh?
Wait...has it always been this way? Grany, Marge, Lisa (maybe others, quick glance) in caps and Mac, jib, Jim C (who else) in lower case. Have to post this to see what I am. Is this new or did I just never notice?
What? I'm capitalized?
Well, I don't get it. I thought I was all lower case but I went back to June and I'm capitalized. Hmm. Sorry, Mac and Alesia, I'm obviously no help with this mystery.
Oh, JIB I used to soak my Fruit cakes in either bourbon or brandy, depending on which kind I made. I like the dark one with whiskey and wild, oh no! That is song I need to forget. I love molasses cookies and so does hubby but because he has to fight being so darn sweet, I quit making them. Just smelling them triggers an uncontrollable urge to splurge. Same with the brandy. But you know, there is probably more in the flavoring to hurt him than the real thing. I think you have convinced me to go for it. The real thing that is. It doesn't take very much and it isn't anything like my cranberry sauce. Oh, no! Nothing is like it! LOL
I have to tell you, I made peanut butter pies when my brother was still healthy. Mother and I were cooking for all of the family to gather at her home and our pies were the last things on the to do list. This was in Iowa and it was cold so we put the pies in the pantry on the side porch which is never heated. The next morning the only thing left was the crust and then only part of it. We knew who did it and brother was in hot water, big time. He tried to tell us that the coon's had gotten in and somehow miraculously managed to open the pantry door. The telling tale? Meringue on the tip of his nose. Never let him forget it either.
I got my recipe book out today and this book goes way back to when my Grand parents on my mothers side moved from a little rural river town to Newton, Iowa in late 1919. The houses were non existent at the time or rather, not enough to accommodate all of the settlers coming in for work. The Maytag Company was making farm equipment and harvesters were the cream of the production. My grandfather was hired to build the country club there, along with his son. The only living quarters that they could come up with was a home made tent. They worked in Newton until winter set in and the construction had to stop. The decision was made by my grandfather to move his entire family to establish a basis of employment other than farming and all that entails. They constructed a large, very large tent with a wooden floor and it was set up in the vicinity of his work area.
Some of the recipes in this cook book come from that era of pioneering. Good ole day? Not in my book! But way back then the recipes were a modern day nightmare. Butter galore, eggs, lard, sugar and oh, yeah, a good old hot cast iron skillet! When I opened my beloved cook book, memories began pouring out from those pages. The book contains the hand writing of almost every female that has passed through the pages of life in our family. Even a few of our closest friends have written their favorite or secret concoctions for our development. It was a wonderful way to spend the day and I have added some of my own so it will be complete when I pass it on to my daughter or grandies.
I love this Holiday the most because it is of very humble beginnings and is a picture of the strength of the Human Race. We can and do march on through life no matter what the challenges are and we can look back, smile and say, we did again! God is good and He has given this Spirit of Anything is Possible for those who love the Lord. Enjoy your cooking and your eating and don't forget to praise Him for all that He is and all that He has done.
Grany
Mac, you and Alesia and Jib and all of the other's who are lower case characters! Well, what can I say other than to tell you all, you are all First Class Upper Case in my book, and always will be. But you could go to your blog dashboard and check how you spelled your name for your ID.
DAH!
Grany
I made applesauce today. It was so pretty and pink, and it tasted good too. But I took it to Lisa since it's the only fruit she is allowed to eat.
Made the whole house smell yummy. I found my Cortland apples at BJ's wholesale warehouse again this year. I have about 15 lbs left, so I can make 3 pies.
The only liquor/licker that goes into these pies is our tongues! I just don't like the flavor of liqour.
We're having a big roast chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes (candied of course), cranberry sauce, peas, corn, rolls, apple and pumpkin pie. Hmmm, what should we eat first?
(no squirrel, snails, guinea or intestines this Thanksgiving)
Grany, do you need left handed scissors?
Oh yeah!
the big M C!!!
Boy, I didn't know I was socializing with a bunch of boozers!
(J.K. Rum Raison Ice Cream-Yum!)
Grany,
When you write I can picture it all in my head, you have a gift. :)
Folks, please say a prayer for me tonight. My hubby, who is a carpenter, is out of work. I have put in applications in about 20 different places to no avail. His truck needs $700 worth of work to keep it going and I have a few painful cavities that need filled but no insurance! The Lord has always, always provided for us even when we did not ask! Please ask the Lord for a quick answer for this one and for His provision to come in His time!
Thank you so much, we are very disheartened right now.
Diana
Praying for you and hubby, Diana.
Diana, consider yourself and your family prayed for.
Perry Stone has a good study now on Rosh Hashanah. I backed up this verse (from where he taught) though & found it quite intriguing.
Isaiah 26:14-21
"....(speaking of their enemies & their death) You have increased the nation, O LORD, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land. (Psalm 83 or Ezekeil 38/39?)
LORD, in trouble they have visited You, They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them. As a woman w/child Is in pain and cries out in her pangs, When she draws near the time of her delivery, So we have been in Your sight, O LORD. We have been w/child, we have been in pain. (Matthew 24 Birth Pangs?) We have, as it were, brought forth wind; We have not accomplished any deliverence on this earth, Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake & sing, you who dwell in the dust; For your dew is the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out it's dead. (Ressurection)
Come, my people, enter your chambers. (Wedding chambers) And shut the doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, (typically 7 days in Jewish wedding=7 years) Until the indignation is past. For behold the Lord comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood. And will no more cover her slain."
27)"In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great & strong, Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,...."
Shalom, all! For your consideration...
The Angel with an Hour Glass over Indonesia
On the webpage, click on the "Prophecy" button on the left to get to the article.
(The 7.7 earthquake he describes actually turned out to be 6.3 -- significant, but not as bad as a 7.7.)
Jib, Shalom! In the last blog entry on 8:36 AM, you brought up the possibility of Obama being made the Secretary-General of the UN. I really doubt that, because frankly, I see the UN SG as being a figurehead leader. I think it is MUCH more possible that if Obama should be disqualified from being President, that
a) Massive, massive riots would break out in the US -- a breakdown in social order, that would lead to the breakdown in the political order;
b) for their safety, the Obamas would flee to Brussels, where in a few months he would be elected as President of the European Union. (If he's not a citizen of the United States, then he is a citizen of the World.)
If Obama doesn't qualify for the presidency, then by the 20th Amendment Joe Biden would become President on Jan. 20. He would then have 21 days to nominate a successor to the Vice Presidency, and 9 days for Congressional hearings. My guess is that he would nominate Hillary to VP, and that she would pass confirmation.
<><
Grany, I'm sorry to hear about Spanky - praying for the family, especially your grandson.
And, the food sounds delicious.
I'm not looking forward to Thanksgiving (food wise) I still can't chew very much!
Diana - Long overdue WELCOME and praying for you & hubby, too.
Lord,
We bring all our blog friends up before you today and ask for a supernatural provision to bring this body out of financial bondage.
Be glorified in the liberation of your saints, Father. That they would seek you first, Lord in all things.
Meet them where they are and if they need to make adjustments to their expenses, give them the wisdom to do so.
For those hammered by credit card debt, release them by giving them a plan they can work with. We pray for God's favor in that release.
Father, you said that it's your will that we prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper, teeth fall under that catagory. The whole body falls under that promise to us.
Lord, be glorified thru our lives, our thoughts, our actions, our relationships, and even our finances.
Thank you for caring about every area of our lives, In Jesus' name, Amen
Lori, thanks for that very appropriate prayer.
Diana, just a couple thoughts...if you are near a university which has a dental school, have you considered going there for dental work? My husband has a mouthful of fillings and crowns from our nearby university. Also, when I had a bad toothache a couple years ago, Tylenol extra strength took the pain away.
In the blink of an eye
I just saw something very, very disturbing on CNN Headline news. The bad economic times are leading to boom times for psychics.
<><
Anne,
Really good advise about Univ. Dental Schools.
I work at a university & have my dental plan through them. In fact, my jaw surgery was done by the Chief in one of their departments.
Univ. dental schools are up on cutting edge technology, are supervised by faculty and are a very cost effective way of having work done - usually 1/2 (if not more) off of regular prices.
Do You Need a Breakthrough?
by Os Hillman
"...while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, 'Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding'" (Dan 9:21-22).
There are times in our lives when we simply need a breakthrough from God. Maybe you need a new job or a breakthrough in your finances, direction on a big business deal, or maybe physical healing from an illness. Sometimes we need to hear from God directly for situations in our lives.
Daniel was seeking God to understand why the nation had been in captivity for 70 years. He began to fast and pray. At the end of this time an angel of the Lord appeared to him. It is clear the angel came to Daniel because of his fasting and prayer and his seeking God for answers.
The prophet Jeremiah says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jer 29:13). The problem with most of us is we are unwilling to seek God for the answers. Seeking God requires an intentional focus that may require prayer and fasting.
Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ said, "I believe the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world. The longer I fasted, the more I sensed the presence of the Lord. The Holy Spirit refreshed my soul and spirit, and I experienced the joy of the Lord as seldom before. Biblical truths leaped at me from the pages of God's Word. My faith soared as I humbled myself and cried out to God and rejoiced in His presence."*
Do you need a breakthrough? Consider committing to a time of fasting and prayer.
US to watch Russian-Venezuelan manuevers very closely
Russia's Medvedev Renews Cold War Rhetoric
Russia: We did not fire on presidential motorcade
Keep missile shield out of Poland, Czech Republic, Putin warned Obama
A fiery Czech is poised to be the face of Europe Vaclav Klaus (means more glory, victorious people)
Defamation' of Islam Resolution Set to Pass, but Losing Ground Although the OIC says the campaign is aimed at protecting all faiths, once again only Islam is cited by name..... Neither version cites Christianity or any other faith by name.... Apart from the council's 16 OIC members, the measure also won the backing of China, Russia, Cuba, the Philippines and South Africa.
'Iran to make big nuke program strides'
Newsweek: US foiled missile shipment to Iran
US based Muslim Charity Convicted of Funding Terrorism
**** Israel 'occupies' no Arab territories
India, Turkey and Israel to discuss pipeline
Lebanon president visits Tehran: Suleiman meets in Tehran with Ahmadinejad
IAEA chief ElBaradei: Let Syria have nuclear aid
Iran urged Lebanese people to unite to confront Israel
Jordan signs two nuclear agreements with China
Israel military urges contingency plan for Iran strike
'US warns Israel against large IDF ops'
DM Barak: Hizbullah is 3x Stronger than Before 2006 War
Pratt & Whitney's F135 Successfully Completes First Supersonic Flight
Italian President: Israel can count on our solidarity: President Shimon Peres met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Tuesday. The two are expected to visit Yad Vashem. "Even today there are countries that preach death and destruction against Israel. Italy responds to such outcries with outrage, Israel can count on Italy's determination and solidarity," Napolitano said.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano answered a Ynet question on Italy's failure to boycott Iran financially, saying, "The fact that we have economic and commercial ties with Iran does not mean that we are not doing out part in the UN's sanctions." Napolitano added that "the Iranian problem is not just Israel's. Iran is trying to spread nuclear weapons and intervene in the lives of many countries."
Israeli rabbis call for prayer, for finances
Lori,
Amen, to your prayer.
Jib,
A really interesting article!
(In the Blink of an Eye.)
Diana;
Welcome to the cave.
I am joining with the others in prayer for your situation. My father was a carpenter and I remember the lean times when he didn't have work but the Lord always provided when we had need as He will for you. God Bless!
Maranatha!
Oh no! I'm in all CAPS! What happened??
Maranatha!
RUSSIAN ANALYST PREDICTS DECLINE AND BREAKUP OF USA
Snippet from the article:
Professor Igor Panarin said in an interview with the respected daily IZVESTIA published on Monday: "The dollar is not secured by anything. The country's foreign debt has grown like an avalanche, even though in the early 1980s there was no debt. By 1998, when I first made my prediction, it had exceeded $2 trillion. Now it is more than 11 trillion. This is a pyramid that can only collapse."
The paper said Panarin's dire predictions for the U.S. economy, initially made at an international conference in Australia 10 years ago at a time when the economy appeared strong, have been given more credence by this year's events.
When asked when the U.S. economy would collapse, Panarin said: "It is already collapsing. Due to the financial crisis, three of the largest and oldest five banks on Wall Street have already ceased to exist, and two are barely surviving. Their losses are the biggest in history. Now what we will see is a change in the regulatory system on a global financial scale: America will no longer be the world's financial regulator."
When asked who would replace the U.S. in regulating world markets, he said: "Two countries could assume this role: China, with its vast reserves, and Russia, which could play the role of a regulator in Eurasia."
Jim C., although it doesn't appear that Obama meets the constitutional requirements to be president (if I can believe what I've read about the definition of a natural born citizen), I've found myself wondering if being disqualified would be worse than the electors ignoring his qualification (or lack thereof) when they meet next month.
I also find myself wondering if the bottom isn't going to drop out in the coming months. I keep reading of bailouts and the money is in figures that no longer seem to have any meaning. It strikes me as a "recipe" for disaster.
Grany,
You HAVE to share that fruitcake recipe!
Angie
Angie, I asked my husband (an attorney) about it (the Obama citizenship thing). After researching it he thinks that the situation will not conclude until after the inauguration. Apparantly, the only thing the SC will decide in December is whether the case needs to go back to the lower court. Then, no matter what happens there, whoever loses will go on to the SC. None of this will happen quickly, so the EC will cast their votes for Obama, he will be sworn in and if it's found later that he is not a citizen, he'll be impeached.
As far as which is worse, IMO it is absolutly essential that the constitution be upheld. I don't know if he is a citizen or not, but we must not allow the constitution to be violated. So, if it is found he is not, he's got to go regardless of the consequences. BTW, my husband who strongly supported Obama, said that if it was found BO doesn't qualify, he (my husband) would be first to demand his resignation/impeachment.
(I'm sure I messed up all the legalese, but that's the gist of what he said)
Here is wisdom from the Word concerning finances and rebuking of the "devourer". I am in the process of relearning these myself!
3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
Maranatha!
Thank you everyone for your prayers and advice. Anne, I do live by a university but no dental school, that is 3 hours away. but, the community college where they train hygenisits can do some of the work just not the fillings and root canals.
The Lord has always, always taken care of us. I am sure that He will answer in His time. thanks Lisa on the fasting and prayer. I will be doing that too.
It is such a blessing to have the body of Christ pray for me and my family. Thank you and lord bless all of you
Diana
Diana,
I haven't said hi yet. Welcome! I will be praying for you as well. God is good and He is faithful.
Jim G,
It's a good thing we have the Lord, and He has us, isn't it?!
Kathy
Diana, Shalom! I left a message for you on your blog. How is your husband's hunting coming along?
<><
Well, goodbye ole USA.
Do you think the USA may have been used as a restrainer for the last piece of the End Time nations to arise?
The USA goes down-Russia & China gain strength.
Is America In Bible Prophecy?
Who are Sheba and Dedan? "Sheba and Dedan are not difficult to identify. They are located in the modern country of Saudi Arabia."[5] Sheba and Dedan are said to be in alignment with "the merchants of Tarshish, with all its villages."
Hey-If we get all those Billions of Arab dollars to try & bail us out of this mess-Are we then marrying Saudi Arabia? Would this not make us somewhat controlled by them or "in alignment?"
the problem with diqualifying BHO-if the main person on the ticket is disqualified wouldn't that make the whole ticket disqualified? I mean there is no way that if he had been disqualified before the election that the dems would have run Biden by himself. They likely would have put HRC in the top spot and kept Biden second or let her pick someone else.
personally I think if he is disqualified that the whole ticket is disqualified but that's just me
another thought on the twinkling of an eye link-
while I don't discount the Rapture as the even in question I would also note that there are two other things which could also qualify as changing the world in such a short time frame
1-any nuclear weapon
2-God's direct intervention in Gog and Magog. Although the time to get rid of all the invading forces etc could be more than a twinkling the initial act of God being involved WOULD be that swift
Amen Kathy!
On Christ the Solid Rock we stand, all other ground is sinking sand.
I just received a prayer request for a young man named, Ed. He had a double-anyurism. They were able to save him, but he has a ways to go. Please keep him in your prayers that his brain functions will be fully restored. I do not know if Ed is a believer, but I will find out.
thanks
BTY: I still think America is in prophecy...
Jeremiah 49:31 & 32 states: Arise, get you up agaisnt a wealthy nation that dwells in tranquility, says the Lord. (This doesn't describe too many countries) that has neither gates nor bars, that dwells alone. (The choice narrows down since we can travel thru-out our country without borders and if this was Israel, why didn't Jeremiah just write Israel.)
Joel 2:2 also uses a familiar description: And the day of darkness and gloom is near, a day of clouds and of thick darkness like the morning spread upon the mountains; it shall come upon a great and strong people; (USA?) there has not been ever the like from it, even to the years of many generations.
The clincher for me is in Ez. 38 vs. 8; You have been commanded in former days, and in the later years you shall come against the mountains of Israel AND against the land which is at peace and free from the sweord, whose people were gathered from many nations, and now they all dwell safely in it. (This describes two countries.)
vs. 11; And you shall say, I will go up against a properous land, I will go against those who dwell in tranquility, without walls, and having neither bars, nor gates,
vs 12: To take captives and to take a spoil; to turn your hand agaisnt the desolate places that are now inhabited and against the people who were gathered together out of the nations, (USA: the great American melting pot) who have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell in the beauty of the land.
But that's just my opinion.
Interesting Lori,
I have not thought of it being "Two" nations.
This country AND that country.
Hum.
Is that why Russia is playing around w/their warships in the Caribbean & getting cozy w/Venezuela & Cuba?
Famines (among other signs)
Matthew 24:4-8
4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
I've been thinking...
If the U.S. has significant disruptions (due to economic chaos, energy shortages, and/or war), I'm afraid these things unfortunately would have ripple affects across the whole world in terms of food supplies. The United States produces and exports a tremendous amount of food to other nations.
Anne,
Thanks for the info!
In these days where the constitution doesn't mean much to the Democrats, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the issue of BHO's qualifications never gets resolved. Clinton lied under oath as president, and to a lot of Democrats, the issue couldn't go away fast enough.
As for the issue of Clinton's adultery, the silence from the feminists was defeaning. And regarding Sarah Palin, all of a sudden they were eager to wipe out all their gains from the last 30 or 40 years.
There's so much hypocracy and blindness in politics that I'm getting to the point where things no longer surprise me.
But there's a part of me that hopes the issue is settled in favor of him not being qualified and absolute chaos breaking out because I think that means I can eagerly look up and wait for the call to come on up!
<><
Citizens Riot Against Financial Crisis, Corruption in Iceland
Rome's Plague-Starling birds Remember that movie "The Birds?"
to make a long story short, we just got back from having our daughter being in the hospital again for fainting and staying in a faint like state for extended periods of time.
Please keep her and us in your prayers.
I also wanted to post this link from the Prophecy Central website thru their Obamawatch link.
I encourage folks to check it out...it includes some of the things Grany said recently.
<><
Donna I also saw this linked from that Obama article:
Nov. 7, 2008 - Compared to the Democrat candidate in the previous presidential election, support for Obama by Evangelicals doubled among 18 to 29-year-olds and 30 to 44 year-olds. This means younger Evangelicals are less concerned about abortion and same-sex unions.
Source: Telegraph - UK
Doubled? This may constitute a "falling away".
interesting thought in passing which could make the fur fly
I don't think LaHaye, Jenkins and Rosenbberg have the lock on the truth necessarily nor
would I equate any of their books with scripture BUT
I do note that no other authors, fiction or non except perhaps Walid Shoebat, with other
views of end times theology other than classic pretrib rapture, literal antichrist, third
temple etc etc have books that end up on the NY Times bestseller list and make such substantial inroads into popular culture (The Left Behind series was parodied on the Simpsons which tickled Jerry Jenkins to no end as it means you've arrived in terms of cultural impact). interesting when you think about it. it seems things like Earthquake resurrection, Israelistine, books on pre wrath, mid trib, post trib etc are popular amongst Christians but don't translate into the general population. which got me to thinking about why that might be and for what it's worth my conclusion is as follows
either theirs is the most correct version to what is actually going to happen (meaning the others are less correct) and God has blessed their efforts to get the
truth out there such that fewer are unprepared for the Rapture and aftermath and fewer are deceived other than willingly (I mean common here-with all the stuff out there on the rapture and the AC it is somewhat difficult for me to believe that people would choose the AC in ignorance) OR the books of LaHaye and Joel are part of the deception that God brings in the last times. There have
been some who have charge LaHaye and Jenkins in particular with being heretical because
they allow for folks being saved after the Rapture who had heard the message before AND/OR that they as authors forgot to include in their books that a God allows or gives up folks to a great deception.
thoughts?
Hi Donna,
I'll be praying for your family and your daughter's doctors to locate the cause of her fainting spells...just rest in knowing that God already has that info and will be happy to point them in the right direction.
About starlings...we had several days last week of their migration, right through our backyard and woods. The noise was so loud that we could hear them flocking from inside. The kids got a kick out of running onto the deck and yelling at them and then watching as they took off in huge waves. Kinda drove the dog nuts though :-)
And a tidbit about the pesty creatures....they were brought to the US by a Shakespeare enthusiast who wanted all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays to be living in the US. Read about it
here
Blessings,
Jen
Donna, am praying for your whole family and I know this is not a fun thing to go through. Praying that the cause will be discovered Suddenly!
Angie, I will find my fruit cake recipe for you but it will have to be after Thanksgiving. There is a white fruit cake that is jam back full of fruit and very little cake and then there is the dark one that you get drunk on bourbon. We never had the money for bourbon (good ones anyway) when we were young marries so I used a real cheap whiskey. Thinking the more I used the better it would taste. Well, I kept it in the lower level of our house and had a complete kitchen there and also upstairs. I didn't realize you could smell the liquor all over the house and outside too and invited the pastor and his wife to our house for dinner prior to Christmas. I hadn't been saved but a few months and didn't really see the harm in cooking with the stuff. Well, you know what happened next, don't you? The pastor really laughed about it though and I was very embarrassed to say the least. However, they ate the bourbon balls (with cheap whiskey) and really enjoyed them.
I learned many years later that if you heat the liquor in a small pan first (away from flames) the heating will just about kill off the alcohol and you still get the taste. Anyway, I love seeing happy people and I will go to great lengths to get them to smile just a little.
Lisa, Paul tells Timothy in 2nd Timothy that the people will refuse sound doctrine and that will be another cause of their falling away. Sound doctrine is based on scripture and not on man's opinions and imagination. I used to wonder how men who taught strange doctrine could get into women's houses and teach them without husbands becoming enraged. Low and behold, along comes the internet and we have all kinds of strange men and a few strange women doing just that thing. In fact, the very books that we buy, bring home and then devour can be part of the picture also.
There is a song that the little children sing that goes something like this: Becareful little eyes what you see, becareful little eyes what you see, for the Father up above is looking down in Love so be careful little eyes what you see. Then it goes on and covers every part of the body going in wisdom. Or the lack thereof!
I have a friend who teaches Scripture in one of Illinois' Higher Institutions and she said that it is amazing the fire that is in a lot of her students to know the truth about what God's word says. She said about 20 years ago it was a fight to teach solid Bible Scripture but the tide is changing and there is genuine zeal for God's Holiest Word. I have met 3 or 4 of her students and they remind me of the young man we had some body post a link to a while back. Paul Washer I believe his name was. Anyway, these students of hers will make you very well aware of the Saving Grace of God and the Power of the Name of Jesus Christ.
I love talking with them and I only wish they would set a fire under the dead ends that are calling them selves pastors today.
So, I am off of the computer until after Thanksgiving now. My son and daughter both appreciate your prayers and thank you for much needed support. I have no idea when the services are being held but probably tomorrow. Jeramey is really taking it hard. We know who works wonders in these times, don't we.
Have a wonderful and praise worthy Thanksgiving Everyone and Mac, Keep the lights on in the cave.
Grany
Are those Evangelicals who are no longer bothered (their conscience seared) by Abortion or Gay Marriage buying into strange doctrine or Man's opinions? Or is it a culmination of both?
Jib,
The "success" of one's Christian publishing is a good thought. But-there are so many mega-popular "Christian" books which we know are false and are extremely successful as well.
I read quite a bit but just think of it in terms that they may all have a bit (some more than others) of truth to them.
The only one we can be certain is 100% true is the Bible but there are still secretes left to be revealed. And we want to know them all right now. I know I do.
We may just be well out of here before some really juicy ones become known. Like the 2 witnesses & the AC. Babylon rebuilt & the Temple. What is that mark anyway? Is Islam going to do the beheading or ? Nephilium or no Nehilium? Oh & to see Israel protected by God again in the wilderness! What is the "water" that flows out of the dragon's mouth?......
So the best thing to do is listen to the Holy Spirit & see where He leads us. We can't go wrong there & won't be deceived by anybody.
Amen to Jen's prayer for your family, Donna.
Happy Thanksgiving, Grany.
Lisa
true enough but my point was success not with Christian publishers and Christians but how it hits the mainstream and the general public. (I grant you could point to someone like Joel Olsteen but I am specifically referencing eschatology) you are likely too young to remember but the other book with success in the mainstream that comes to mind is "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey. When the USSR broke up he took a lot of heat then and a lot of heat for some of his other stuff but I think he was just off by a few years. He'll get some vindication yet. His name is a by word for some on "predicting" the future.
A question for anyone...what is the "it" that will not come unless the apostasy comes first...in 2 Th. 2:3?
Kathy,
The "it" that will not come unless the apostasy comes first I believe is concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him.
2 Thess. 2:1-4
1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Kathy,
I couldn't resist;-)
That's what I see too Jim G.
Joyce, you made reference that it is somewhat difficult for you to believe that people would choose the AC in ignorance...in that same chapter we are told by Paul that because people did not love the truth God will send a deluding influence on those who follow after AC. You all here love the truth so I don't worry about you! Paul also says we are not to be deceived concerning when the day of the Lord comes, when the Lord appears and we are gathered. This was a key passage in taking me to the understanding that the church will see AC revealed.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving all. We have so much for which to be thankful!
Peace deal with Palestinians soon
Livni warns of ties between Iran, South American guerilla groups
Italian president defends his country’s economic ties with Iran
Amid nuclear tensions, Iran says it successfully launches rocket
Libyan Ship to Test Israeli Sovereignty over Gaza Coast
"The Digital Intifada" Promises to Fight Zionism Online
International conference for digital solidarity
US taps online youth groups to fight crime, terrorism
UN to Mourn 60 Years of Israel's Existence
US is planning to boost military support to Lebanon
Ban: Israel, Lebanon must 'seize the moment' and make peace
EU, Syria move closer to signing association agreement
Farmer links seed patents to the Antichrist
Jib,
I don't know is 40 young? I guess it depends how old you are. But I do keep away from fiction books when it comes to eschology. Great Late , Left Behind & others I have not read.
Here is an article a friend copied & sent-you'll like it:
Let's talk turkey (and eggnog and noisemakers, for that matter). It's the beginning of the holiday season (no, that's not a PC term; I'm talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's) and I have just one question: Do you even remember what it's all about?
I'm guessing you don't, because we've buried the magic of those holidays under so much noise and irrelevance that we really don't enjoy this time of year - and we certainly don't grow spiritually from the gifts that are right in front of us. Over time, we've mangled these holidays into unrecognizable displays of gluttony and greed.
Take Thanksgiving, for instance. In November 1789, President George Washington made Thanksgiving a national holiday when he declared that the nation needed "a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer." Somehow, this day in late November that was intended to be a timeout to give thanks to Almighty God has turned into a feast of food and football that has nothing to do with prayer (unless you count praying for your football team to cover the spread, which I obviously don't).
Christmas is intended to celebrate the birth of Christ, but political-correctness and consumerism have mangled it so far beyond recognition that I'm actually surprised when I see a reference to baby Jesus anymore.
January 1st offers the promise of a new start and a new calendar year, but it's become an excuse to party and drink so much that you wake up not even knowing what day it is.
It's no wonder that, after the turkey comas and pine tree needles have disappeared, the only thing left over from the holidays is a bigger waistline and more credit card debt.
I want to take us back to the real meaning of these holidays. I don't think it's an accident that they are clustered together; I see it as divine design. Every year they offer us a clear series of steps we can take to become better people.
Step one is gratitude. Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to humble ourselves and give thanks for the many blessings we have. Prayers help us find peace and acceptance with who we are.
Step two is redemption. If you have seen my Christmas show, you know that I believe Christmas is more about the death of the man than the birth of the child. We celebrate the birth of the baby on December 25th, but the reason for His existence was so His death would cleanse our sins. His journey, from manger to cross, gives us a second chance.
Step three is hope. The New Year gives us a clean slate, made possible because we've already humbled ourselves, given thanks, and found redemption. You can't succeed in your resolutions if you are still damaged from the past or if they are just a list on a piece of paper.
None of these holidays started out as anything extravagant. Thanksgiving was just a proclamation, Christmas began in a stable, and the New Year has always just been a day on the calendar. But their magic is in what they represent and in the opportunities they give us. They are very simple in their rewards: your grandmother's tablecloth; your child discovering the Christmas tree; the promise of a new year.
The true gifts of the season aren't in a lighting display or a gourmet meal; they are in your heart, and gathered around your table. You just have to take the time to look for them.
Traditions and glittery stuff are fine - but our souls need attention, too. There is such a thing as a second chance and I hope, if you need one, you will find it this season in all the blessings around you.
Happy Holidays.
Glenn Beck
Fusion Magazine
December 2007
Lori, the article about the farmer and seed reminded me to tell y'all about something I discovered.
Out of curiosity, I took a seed from an organic apple, stuck it in some dirt and put it on top of the fridge for warmth. Lo and behold, it sprouted! So, now I'm babying the little thing so I can plant it outside and get my own organic apples! In a few years, that is. Now, I'm going to buy some non-gm pears and try the same. I wonder if I can grow oranges and grapefruit indoors (Minnesota, you know).
sigh, I should have known my post was going to start up the whole pre wrath thing again.
Kathy
I find it difficult to believe anyone would choose the AC in ignorance because there has been much published both fiction and non over the last few decades which has made it into popular culture. I had a non churched person ask me the other day (who didn't know that I am "in to" eschatology if I thought perhaps that BHO was the AC? eschatologic terms permeate the popular consciousness these days whether one believes them or not. I had someone else make a reference in passing to "rapture nuts"-also unchurched to me knowledge at least at this time. BUT in general the terms only penetrate the popular consciousness so far. Given the fact that folks who should know better actually consciously and actively voted for BHO I now no longer have difficulty believing that folks would actively choose death over life. My first exposure to end times stuff was Hal Lindsey back when I was 12 or so. When I was 12 I couldn't conceive of how a one world religion would remotely be possible since I
grew up in a predominately catholic town and that was back in the day when if catholics and protestants dated it was considered a modern day Romeo and Juliet! fast forward about 15 years or so and that is when the whole "all paths lead to the same god" stuff started. so now it is imminently clear that such a thing is possible. I have had ever since the year 2000, which is when the AC began creeping into popular culture, have just been astonished how wide spread some eschatologic thought has become because of the Left Behind series. was it by design on the part of God? was it so that fewer are left behind, was it such that God can look at people and tell them-you actively chose evil over good and actively decided to be on the side of death and destruction? With the election of BHO I have les difficulty believing that people will choose the AC out of ignorance over God. I think it will be really clear to those folks just what they are doing no doubt about it.
oh and the AC is said to have the ability with speech etc to come close to deceiving the elect.
Lisa
Late Great Planet earth is not fiction but non fiction. it came out likely when you were in kindergarten or thereabouts and had been widely "discredited" by the time you would have been old enough to have read it.
Anne
I thought organic meant that no pesticides, antibiotics etc were used in the growing/farming of the product but was not under teh impression that it meant not genetically modified. there are unmodified seeds out there-they are called "Heirloom seeds" and they are VERY expensive. if you want to grow citrus I would suggest dwarf plants.
Hi jib & Anne,
I purchased a variety of heirloom seeds this fall from seedsavers.org
They raise unaltered plants and then save the seeds to sell. It's a very large farm and organization with the goal of keeping the seeds from being hybridized. I think they even take seeds from others to add to their collections, once they are proven heirloom. They have alot of flowers in addition to the veggies/fruits. One of my biggest beefs with growing flowers is that I can't collect the seeds for next year's planting like we used to do when I was a child. I had jars and jars of collected seeds in the basement (in the mid-70s) and now I only have 1 plant that I can still do that with (miniature gerbera daisies.) For the veggies, I just don't like the bland taste of hybridized produce, so I wanted to try to get back to the old flavorful summer salads I remember from my childhood, too.
Of course, a second reason to buy the seeds is so that I can begin my own little produce stand, should things get really bad with food availability. However, to maintain the heirloom quality, you have to prevent pollination from neighboring hydrid gardens and I haven't figured out my plan for that yet. At seedsavers, they have pollination tents where they control the bees that pollinate so they don't come in from other farms to introduce hybrid pollen.) But if nothing else, it will be a good intro into gardening for the kids next summer. I'm saving all the yogurt cups we use til planting time so I can start them indoors and then share the extras that germinate, too.
Anyway, check out the website if you're interested. I thought the prices were reasonable.
Blessings,
Jen
Jib,
give an inch...
Joyce,
The rest of that verse about loving the truth includes "so as to be saved". These are unbelievers (of course you know that). 2 Cor. 4:4 tells us that "the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." So you've got the blinding of Satan and God giving them over to a deluding influence. They are going to think they are following the truth. Satan is a master at lies. I'm thankful the Lord added the "if possible" in Mt. 24:24. The Lord is clearly implying that such deception is not possible for the elect. The deception is going to be great for the unbeliever. I love Jesus words in John 10:4,5 - the sheep follow the shepherd, for they know his voice...yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
I'm so thankful He called me and gave me understanding so I could hear His beloved voice!
Jib;
My backround with eschatology is similar to yours in that I read "Late Great" back in the early 70's. I was born and raised RC and credit the RC church with giving me a reverence for God and the backround of christianity. It took the reading of "protestant" books and friends that were not RC to understand what salvation was. In fact Hal can be credited with my being born again, I accepted Jesus thru the reading of his book and others at the time.
I do believe that Hal was given a "mission" (by God) to put into main stream thinking the idea of the end times. His book was close to the top of all time read books next to the Bible! I do agree with the idea that God must have made special provisions to allow "Late Great" to be so widely read and to get His plan into the hands of average people. It also did serve as a witness to unsaved people (as it did for me) about the comming AC.
One thing must be noted though, Hal's "Late Great" was not a new idea at the time, he was just updating other writers before him and putting the prophecies into the main stream with illustrations from the news headlines of that day. The others before him stood on the Word of God and believed that Israel would be "reborn" even when there was no evidence of it happening (they were the "Noah's" of their day).
As far as "Left Behind", I did not read them because I don't read any fiction books concerning eschatology. Just my personal preference. I can see however, that they could be useful in introducing some to end times ideas who do not read non fiction. I used to read a lot of science fiction and could also see where people could get confused and believe that eschatology is just "fiction" by reading "Left Behind".
Another note; Hal has said that he was refering to Russia and not the USSR when he mentioned the references in his book. He still believes Russia is Gog not the USSR.
Maranatha!
Jib, I should have been clearer. I don't know if the organic apple seed was non-gm, I just stuck it in the dirt on a whim. The pears I plan to buy I am going to make sure are non-gm to improve my chances of getting fruit which will reproduce. I'm doing this just to see what will happen if we are in the situation where we have to plant what we have on hand. Today I baked bread with "expired" yeast just to see what would happen and right now I'm lunching on fresh baked bread with 2 year old whole wheat flour (stored in my cupboard in the paper wrapper) and "old" yeast...it's great! Raised perfectly, no bugs (in the flour) or anything!
Jen, I thought about the heirlom seeds from seedsavers but haven't done it yet. I wonder if I'll regret that procrastination. I'm not a gardener, still learning. Last year I got only one red pepper on my plant, but oh, it was good! The year before my lemon balm took over my little flower bed. I tried to dry some of my herbs, but I'm too scared of mold so I threw it out. Also, on a whim, I stuck an old potato in the dirt, just to see and it sprouted and grew until the dog dug it up, or was it a deer, can't remember.
I think I will ask for the heirlom seeds for Christmas...my family already thinks I'm nuts, might as well.
Anne
actually I was wondering if they were genetically modified or if they could be classifed as organic and still be genetically modified. I'll bet Jim C would know. what a great idea to ask for heirloom seeds for Christmas. and thanks for the info on old flour and yeast-I had been wondering.
GT
just as many came to Christ via Late Great there are a tremendous number who have come to Christ via the Left Behind series. While the movies were kind of flops, the books were soooo popular and on the best seller list for so long that it was thought worth while to make a movie. i have read the whole series and loved it. LaHaye and Ice I believe wrote a book on the theology of the left behind series-a very interesting read.
the other interesting aside is that the two competing series on the ny times best seller list were Harry Potter and the Left Behind series-that juxtaposition always rather amused me and raised my eyebrows just a bit
OK so, here is an explanation (again) of the pre-trib meaning of 2 Thes. One would have to believe that Paul was not talking about the Holy Spirit as "restrainer" to not understand this. You must read carefully to see that Paul is talking about 2 parts of the same event 1)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and 2)our gathering together unto him.
The End Times 2nd Thessalonians
Ikvot ha'Mashiach
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
Between the two letters we call 1st and 2nd Thessalonians something happened that nearly scared the recipients right out of their socks! They received a letter that appeared to be from Paul but was in fact a forgery. Confused and frightened, they dashed off a hurried request for clarification since this new letter contradicted what he had taught them.
"God is just," Paul responded, "He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you." (2 Thes. 1:6-10)
Explaining that someone had obviously played a mean trick on them and that the Lord would punish whoever it was for it, he then chided them for being so easily taken in.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. (2 Thes.2:1-2)
Here we get an extraordinary insight into the sequence of End Times events that Paul had taught them. Receiving word that the Day of the Lord had come would have upset them only if they'd been led to believe that the Rapture of the Church would precede the Great Tribulation. Think about it. From any other view, this kind of news would have been greeted with a certain amount of joyous anticipation. Sure the next few years would really be rough, but whether by martyrdom or survival they would soon be in the presence of the Lord forever. But from the pre-trib perspective, hearing that the Day of the Lord had come would be horrifying, because it would mean that they had missed the rapture. And that would mean that they weren't saved. No wonder they wrote Paul for clarification!
It's important to understand that they had asked Paul two questions. The first concerned the Day of the Lord and the second was about our being gathered to Him, the Rapture. Paul answered the 2 questions in that order using verses 3-5 to describe conditions that would bring about the Day of the Lord and verses 6-8 to explain when the rapture would occur in relation to them.
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? (2 Thes. 2:3-5)
Confirming and amplifying Daniel's 70 weeks prophecy (Daniel 9:27) and the Lord's own words in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:15), Paul pegged the beginning of the Great Tribulation to the moment the antichrist stands in the Temple in Jerusalem proclaiming himself to be God.
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. (2 Thes. 2:6-8)
Before the antichrist can be officially revealed, One who is currently limiting the power of lawlessness has to be taken out of the way. The phrase "out of the way" literally means out of the midst, or from amongst. Some force that restrains (literally: holds back, or hinders) the power of evil within certain predetermined limits (for this power is already evident on Earth) has to be removed.
Scholars who read the passage literally identify this force as the Holy Spirit. And since the Holy Spirit is sealed within us, if He's taken out from amongst the people of Earth, we have to go too. You can't take the Restrainer without taking the container, as someone has said. This is the Rapture of the Church, and once we’re gone the power of evil will be free from restraint and all Hell will break loose on Earth until the Lord returns at the end of the Great Tribulation to put a stop to it.
Here then is the sequence. Before the Day of the Lord can come, the antichrist has to be revealed, and before he can be revealed the church has to be raptured. So according to Paul the next prophetic event concerning believers will be our own disappearance. No prior notice, no precedent condition to fulfill; a clear presentation of the Doctrine of Imminence. (We're primarily interested in prophetic events concerning Israel and the End times to try and judge how close we are to our own next event.)
Now, just to further inform them, Paul added detail to the antichrist's revealing. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (2 Thes 2:9-12)
Nicodemus once said that he believed Jesus was the Messiah because no one could perform miracles such as His unless God was with him. (John 3:2) In a sense he was right. No one in Israel had ever seen sight given to a man born blind, for example. (John 10:32-33) But don't believe in Jesus because of His miracles. As the passage above makes clear, miracles can be used to deceive people. Believe in Jesus because every important detail about Him was foretold in prophecy before being fulfilled in His life.
It's important to note that the reason people will perish in those days is not because they never heard the truth. No, they'll perish because they refused to embrace it. Having hardened their hearts against the truth of the Gospel, they’ll be fair game for the lies of the devil. And as He often does the Lord will actually orchestrate events so that those who've rejected Him can experience the full consequences of their choices. There will be no gray area, no middle ground to hide in. The power of evil will be free to deceive people in ways we haven’t even begun to imagine.
According to tradition, Paul had poor eyesight. Some think it was a consequence of being struck blind on the Damascus Road, while others blame a disease he contracted. To make his life easier and his letters more legible, he often dictated them to an assistant who wrote them down. One consequence of this was that it made the earlier forgery easier to pull off. To make sure the Thessalonians knew this letter was authentic and not another forgery, after some closing instructions on living the Victorious Christian Life, he signed it with his own hand.
And so in these two letters Paul showed the church what's going to happen to us in the latter days, allowing us to add these things to the Lord's briefing to Israel in Matt. 24 for a complete picture of End Times events. Also, for the first time it could now be clearly demonstrated how the Lord would fulfill His promises to Israel AND the Church.
Sometime before the antichrist is revealed, triggering The Great Tribulation, the Lord will make a surprise visit here and secretly whisk the Church off to Heaven to be hidden from this awful time. After He's defeated His enemies He'll complete His promised 2nd Coming to begin His Millennial reign, bringing us back with Him.
Maranatha!
GT,
Great post!
Jib,
I believe that God blessed the, Left Behind series, and books along that line to become popular, for several reasons. But mostly, for yet another call to come in to the ark of safety. (salvation thru faith in Christ Jesus) Because no matter as to the timing of the rapture? Jesus is coming again! The Bible said so, the angels said so, and Jesus said so.
Also I'm still shaking my head about so many believers voting for someone that clearly didn't endorse Bible truths. Another sign we're living in the end of the end of days. The Day of Grace is coming to an end in short order. The rapture is near. Very near, even at the gates, IMO. Another move of God? Maybe. But, IMO, it'll only be a short/quick one. Time is short. Keep walking in the truth, and looking to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our Faith.
My thoughts.
I agree about the Left Behind books. A friend of mine lent them to me & they prompted me to keep on learning.
Marge - right about the time you mentioned reading Dekker's "Saint", I was reading his "Sinner" book. You should read it too, it was pretty good. Scary though, especially for the times we are now facing.
Jib and Marge;
I do have some of Tim Lahaye's books, just not any of the left behind series. I agree with you both that God had blessed the books to be used as witness tools.
I also find it sad (understated) that America has voted against Biblical principals "once again", it is not a new thing! We are in a time where economic concerns seem to mean more than values. That is the down-fall of the US I'm afraid to say.
Maranatha!
All this end time book discussion got me thinking.
The JW's are big into End Times & believe that THEY have to preach to all the ends of the earth "And then the end will come."
There will be one final call @ some point & if your not a JW-then your doomed. The literal events of the Trib take place.
I forgot when the JW's started up but I wonder if it was not a ploy used by Satan to confuse people @ the same time some of the other eschology authors were popular.
The main focus on the JW's is their end time beliefs. That's what motivates them to go door to door.
Ed update:
Yesterday morning they doctors put in a drain tube in Ed’s forehead up at the hairline and 24 CC of fluids was drained off.
In the afternoon they did the angiogram. An angiogram is where they go into the groin area and enter the vein with a small camera and lines to correct the aneurysm. They found the aneurysm was at a place where the vein separates into 2 sections. The aneurysm is 1 inch long and in both sections of the vein. They were able to repair the right side of it but were unable to get to the left side with this procedure.
The left side will have to be corrected by surgery going in through the skull. At this time Ed is not in good enough condition to have this surgery.
He is still in danger of the left side bursting. They are keeping him sedated and the ventilator is still breathing for him.
Tammie is still by his side. Thanks to the wonderful generosity of Mr. & Mrs. Taylor, Tammie has a place to go shower and rest.
Nov. 26
They were going to do another CAT scan at 2:00 AM today and a brain Doppler and skull x-ray between 7& 8 AM.
I will update this again tomorrow.
Ed is still very, very sick and needs your prayers and best wishes. Please continue to pray for him and ask everyone you know to do the same.
We know God answers prayers.
This is from an email:
"NBC is taking a poll on whether we think 'In God We Trust' should remain on our American currency. Please send this to every Christian you know so they can vote on this important subject, and do it right away, before NBC takes this off their web page."
Vote for In God we Trust
Anne, I hope you do get a fruit baring tree. That would be wonderful. Some of the hybrids will have a few seeds, but upon germination and maturation is quite obvious they do not produce any fruit.
Hmmm..... hybrids are like some Christians....
Gunmen in India Take
Westerners Hostage
URGENT: Terrorists reportedly holding 40 hostages, including Westerners, after launching seven attacks in India's financial capital that killed at least 78 and injured 200
Fox News
Mike <><
Prayer Request
I'll try to make this as brief as possible while still providing enough information for folks to lift my family and me up to the Lord.
My wife and I struggled with infertility for many years (next year we will celebrate 20 years of marriage!). During the years of waiting, seeing specialists, and addressing the various medical issues that testing would reveal were perhaps preventing pregnancy, we always had hope and desire to one day have a child (or children).
As the biological clock was ticking, my mom began to make comments like maybe it's just not the Lord's will. We began to discuss adoption as a way to build our family and the resistance got very strong. My mom has always said that "blood is thicker than water" and has lived her life accordingly.
Well, fast forward to a miracle story (I wish I could go into all the details of God's hand working in this) and we were blessed to be able to adopt a precious baby boy back on September 12, 2006. We had no advance notice that he was coming. We received a call one day from a wonderful Christian counselor for birthmoms asking us if we would be willing to pick up a baby boy who needed a home right away. We live in Salem and he was born in Newport, OR (about 90 miles away).
My mom and stepdad were away that week camping. We had Daniel a full week before we were able to suprise my mom and step dad with this wonderful gift from the Lord.
They were "nice" but there was always this passive resistance and never full acceptance. About 6 months or so after he was born, my wife and I had a big blowup with my mom and stepdad over this whole issue. Unfortunately, we both had some harsh words for my mom.
She was able to forgive me but not my wife. Because of the lingering harsh feeings, it came to a head again last Christmas season. My mom told me to my face (while I was there with Daniel in my arms and my brother by my side) that she simply could never forgive Angie. I explained that the Lord says we have to. She claims to love the Lord but has been out of fellowship since the divorce back in 1971. She gets her church via TV.
Well, I drew the line (something I had warned her I might do and had contemplated for some time). I told her that until she was willing to forgive Angie and to love and accept Daniel as a grandchild without regard to the fact that he's adopted, she wouldn't be seeing me or Angie or Daniel again.
She and my stepdad are the only family on my side that live in town. They live about 4 miles from our home. Angie's mom lives in town and fortunately she has a WONDERFUL relationship with Daniel.
Other than that, we have no family close by.
We haven't seen my mom or stepdad since last December. It makes me very sad but I want to protect my wife and my son and was hoping that my mom's love for me would overcome her feelings of animosity and unforgiveness towards Angie. I still can't comprehend how she doesn't long to see and be close to Daniel. He is an absolute joy. Children are such a blessing. I can't begin to express how blessed and honored we have been to be called to by his parents.
My brother and his family are coming to Salem from Sacramento today. The plan on having Thanksgiving at my moms though they will be staying with us because they want to visit us and we have a bit more room for them. He and his wife love the Lord very much.
If all goes as planned, Angie and Daniel and I will simply be home for Thanksgiving without any extended family to celebrate and be thankful with.
Please pray that the Lord would help healing and forgiveness and reconciliation to come to my family. I also desperately want my mom and dad to get back into fellowship but that seems next to impossible. With God, nothing is impossible. I want to honor my mom but don't want to subject my wife and son to the passive-aggressive comments and attitudes and I don't want Daniel to ever feel like he is second class because he is adopted.
Sorry this is so long. I know you all really, really, love the Lord and are prayer warriors. Thanks in advance. I'll be sure to report back to you what God does.
Marge,
Judy copied your post from her blogspot and emailed it to me.
Congratulations my friend. I know you must just be tickled pink. I am so happy for you.
I pray that the LORD will open many doors of service for you now that you are unhindered by a job.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.
GT,
I so appreciate your posts. This last one you posted just thrilled my soul. You do a really good job rightly dividing the WORD. Thanks for sharing.
J.R. Church from Prophecy in the News, has a wonderful article posted on his site entitled "Behold the Bridegroom
Cometh." I hope you all will take a look. He did a beautiful job in my opinion.
May the LORD richly bless each one of you.
A Child of the King
Keep on keeping on!
Alesia,
I'll have to read that book, by Ted Dekker. The Sinner?
I have enjoyed reading many of the Ted Dekker's books :)
GT,
Agreed. America's downfall is the love of money.
Lori,
A few years ago, I heard that the mustard seed was used as an illustration in the Bible, (to plant faith) not only because of the size (x-small) but it was a seed that couldn't become a hybrid? Now, I have no idea if this is true, or not. BUT, if it were true, it would make the meaning of the mustard seed a little clearer, IMO.
Also agreeing with you, in prayer, for Ed's healing.
Jim G.,
I'm in total agreement, in prayer, for the healing of the relationships in your family.
The lyrics to one of the new songs, from the Cris Tomlin CD, Hello Love, came to mind as I was reading your comments.
"Love is the answer, love will find a way..."
Everyone,
Well, I'm about ready to go work. My next to the last shift today :)
God is good, and good all the time!
A Child of the King,
Thank you for your warm words of encouragement! And God bless you!
You know, we all miss you a bunch, don't you? Come join us more often, okay?
And may you have a blessed Thanksgiving this year!
God bless you, and yours!!!
Love,
Marge
Jim G.
Hey good for you. Standing up to your mother & protecting your wife & family.
My family dynamics have not been even close to "ideal" as well.
I had Thanksgiving w/my Mom/Dad one time in my life. She was a waitress & always worked. It was a busy day and the $$ was more important to her than this family tradition. (Christmas was always the big deal.)
Then finally when she retired I was looking forward to spending more time w/my parents & these traditional days (we never did Easter either-she worked) as Lorraine was only 8mo old.( My husband's mom died when she was 3mo. old & his father had been gone a long time. When my husband (only child) sat his mother down & told her we were getting married her jaw dropped open & she left to go cry.)
So right after Christmas 01 my mother sprung it to me they they were moving from CA to SC. Within a few months they were gone.
They have seen the kids a few times growing up but we thought it was sad that they thought more about relocating than being near the grandkids. Soon after they moved to SC my Dad gets diagnosed w/Alzheimer’s and dies this past Jan.
So now my Mom is alone in SC. No husband & one lame relative. Now we are trying to figure out how to get her back & live w/us so we can take care of her.
So although the situation is a little different-I know how you feel about your mother. I have other crazed relatives that have done/and are doing the dumbest things, holding onto resentments, you name it.
My sister (who I was not raised w/but we lived in the same City) lives in CO. She's married to a great guy (not the father) & she is a "Christian" yet is allowing her daughter (20?) to live in their house with her boyfriend who does not work.
The daughter (she's always had some issues-gothic interest) met some guy on the internet & got stranded in a real bad part of Chicago. Then my grandma & sister had to drive out & rescue her. Then later the boyfriend comes following along & moves in too.
It's almost unbelieveable. They are what you would consider a normal middle class American family-not exactly trailer trash.
The daughter has been so unstable & unhappy that it's being justified under her current state of happiness living w/this guy. They are hoping she'll eventually see the light & get rid of him.
I've really had to let the water roll off the ducks back my entire life. It was the only way I could survive & not end up needing psychiatric intervention.
Most people are shocked to find out some of the details of my family dynamics (I grew up thinking my real father was my brother.) because I don't appear to have been effected by all the nonsense.
(But you all know better here don't you? Ha Ha!)
Some day we will be healed from all of the trials of life & in the glorious presense of Jesus Christ.
Our true family are all of the Brothers & Sisters in Christ who we will live throughout eternity with. (Including the saved family members.)
"And [Jesus'] mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark 3:31-35
Sheetrit: It's wise and worthwhile to give up the dream of a Greater IsraelWhen asked where he hoped to put an ever increasing Israeli population which is more than twice the size of that of 1967 if Israel were to return to the 1967 borders, Sheetrit replied that there was plenty of room in the Negev and the Galilee. "I prefer a smaller territory with a Jewish majority," he said. "It is wise and worthwhile to give up the dream of a greater Israel. We don't need a greater Israel. We need peace, because peace will guarantee security on both sides."
Jim G, I know that God heals all wounds with love, prayer and patience. I'll hold the situation up in prayer.
GT and TexanForChrist, good to hear from you guys. If I've left anyone out it's because I'm currently caffeine deprived.
Jib, Shalom! "Organic" is a certification regarding the farming practice -- no pesticides, natural fertilizing, etc. I believe genetically modified seeds are automatically ruled out from being certified for the "organic" label, but I will check on that with my brother-in-law, the farmer.
I would LOVE having heritage seeds; the problem is that in my apartment I don't have any place to grow anything except cats and maybe a vine.
<><
Jim,
I've got a Goooood one for you!
Aliens @ the Vatican
One of the ladies helping me pack is a Roman Catholic-so I've already warned her tonight (:
Lisa;
Meh.
<><
Aliens at the Vatican? I believe it's all true. We discussed that very thing at our last meeting...on Mars.
Hi Jim G,
I will join the others in praying for relationship restoration in your family. I think it's often easier to forgive and restore relationships with people we know casually or even those we don't really care to be with that much rather than close family members. Maybe because the expectations are less.
I know very well how emotionally and then physically exhausting a breach like that can be. In our case, (I'd mentioned awhile back that we also have been through the fertility process), my mom took the opposite view of yours and did all kinds of things to delay our journey in that direction. To this day, I don't fully understand her motives, but she basically laid a huge faith-based guilt trip on me about going forward with treatments. She never called to see how my surgeries went and after our first baby was lost, she sent a "care" package with all kinds of adoption information about a week later. I think she wanted the quickest route to grandmotherhood possible and we weren't taking it! I remember at a family picnic one year, my cousin was there with her new baby and I had a really hard time hanging around while everyone fussed over her. I felt horrible about it, but it was either stand there and cry or remain at a distance and keep occupied with other stuff. Afterward, my mom told me that I looked 'sour' all day and everyone felt uncomfortable because of it.
I eventually got couseling at our church and was able to really deal with some of those issues once and for all. The biggest relief was shedding the guilt I had carried for a long time about not having enough faith or not listening to God as He was obviously telling us we weren't to have our own children (those were my mom's opinions that I had absorbed over time.) Today I (and we as a couple) are much more able to stand firm in decisions we make and not let the unspoken vibes we get do damage as they used to. My relationship with my mom (which was really close until the fertility stuff started) isn't what it used to be, but I've also come to understand that it was probably based on some things back then that weren't healthy anyway. I look forward to getting to know her in heaven when all these earthly issues won't stand between us and we can simply love each other purely as was originally intended.
Blessings and comfort,
Jen
Were the Nephilim sons of God?Fallen Angels? Giants of Genesis 6:4?If you scroll down you will see some nice diagrams of very large skeletons.
Sorry, I didn't see you there, Child. Good to see you. I'm still catching up with the comments.
New post at Joel's.
Oh Mac, I was just sneaking in to say hello and to congratulate Marge on her retirement. But thanks for the hello.
I came in just now to alert you to Joel's new post and I see that someone already did. I didn't get an alert, just happened to go check his blog. He posted a link to his talk at the King of Kings Church. I'm listening to it now it is really good.
This is the church that Stan and Frannie Goodenough and their chlldren go to. I have many friends that go thrre too. They have wonderful music too.
Alesia, it is so good to see you posting. Still keeping you in prayer.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone.
A Child of the King
Keep on keeping on! And keep looking up.
Grany,
The story of the alcohol and the pastor was too funny!
To the rest,
I think someone mentioned how the rapture might be explained. I remembered bookmarking some websites, but was unable to get online at home for a few days. So here they are. And if it was someone on another site who mentioned how the rapture might be explained...well, enjoy these interesting articles anyway. It's hard to believe people take the "space brother" thing seriously!
Now all I have to do is figure out where my instructions for inserting links went to!
http://www.redmoonrising.com/newage.htm
http://www.thenewearth.org/index.html
Oh Angie, how nice to see you posting.
I wanted to share something else that I noticed today. I didn't take time to read all the posts so I'm not sure it hasn't been posted yet. But just in case you haven't seen it.
Prophecy in the News has two new articles that are really good in my opinion.
"BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH - NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY THE BRIDE AWAITS THE GROOM," by J.R. Church.
and
"REV. 4 AND 5: A DOOR TO HEAVEN," BY GARY STEARMAN.
I enjoyed both so much, I just wanted to share if anyone is interested.
Keep on keeping on!
A Child of the King
Jim G., I will pray for your situation. Nothing can be so hurtful as problems in your family. I have in laws that we have problesm with. My husband has had to stand up for me in the past to his own mother as well. We have had to learn how to put boundaries in place yet still have a relationship, even if it is a distant one (and we live only 10 miles apart). We feel the need to protect our children from the influences of their own family. Sad but it is needed.
Also, everyone, let us remember to pray for those in India right now. I hear that there are still hostages. Let's remember to pray while we have our own Thanksgiving, especially for our brothers and sisters that are in the middle of the mahem.
Blessings to all of you here and have a nice Thanksgiving praising our Lord for His goodness to us!
Diana
Praying for those in India. May God protect and comfort them.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Maranatha
And Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Mac.
Your Aussie accent remeinded me of one of the years we spent Thanksgiving in New Zealand (I know, the accents are distinctly different, but less so to American ears. But I understand the complaint since I was often mistaken for a Canadian).
Many of us Christian Americans got together and reserved an entire restaurant, and we provided the kitchen staff with favorite recipes from home. The staff was delighted to try out these new ideas and were particularly interested in pumpkin pie! They had pumpkin soup, pumpkin muffins and many other pumpkin dishes but not pumpkin pie. We Americans were thankful for our time in NZ and the many blessings there, but on that day we were a bit homesick.
Many of the Kiwis liked the idea of a day set apart to thank the Lord and complained that all they had was Guy Fawkes day!
Happy Thanksgiving, all. I'm praying for those of you with difficult family situations.
To my American Brothers and Sisters,
Happy thanks giving to you all and may God bless you and your families.
I am praying for your country and especially your men in the armed services, may God protect them and bring them home safely.
Yours in Christ
jeri.
I listened to Joel Rosenburg's sermonTen Steps to a Victorious Life which A Child of the King mentioned- & I would have to give it a 4 star/A+ rating.
It's an hour long but worth every minute.
Jim G
kudos to you even though it was difficult to in making that decision. my Dad did not make that decision and my mom suffered for it. fortunately we lived 3000 miles away so it wasn't as bad. no hateful words were exchanged but it was made fairly clear that my mom was not a part of the family in many subtle ways. until the day she died-over 30 years. she was an unpleasant unhappy woman in many ways and actually took it out on her husband, her kids, their spouses etc. she was unmourned for the most part when she passed and she was a Christian. she did have some undiagnosed psychiatric issues in all fairness which were never treated. had she been treated who knows. all you can do is pray and be open. I know a couple other couples where the son did not take a stand against the parents such that you have and it has lead to significant problems for the grandkids and the spouses.
Lisa
wow. my story isn't nearly as bad as yours but like you don't have many major hangups. at some point I realized that my mom was the way she was, she wasn't going to change, she was never going to apologize for what she had done so I could go forward, forgive and realize that while the Bible commands that I love her I didn't have to like her at all. Since I was the only one involved that was a reasonable thing to do. I will say, she has apologized after a fashion much to my surprise because I really didn't expect her to 20 plus years after the fact.
much love to you all my brothers and sisters in Christ. may you enjoy your day with friends and family
Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone! You are all in my thoughts and prayers! God Bless!
Child of the King;
Thank you for the kind complement but I cannot take credit for the article I posted. The credit belongs to Jack Kelley of Grace thru Faith. I wish I could communicate as well as he can but alas... God Bless you Child!!
Angie,
Those are good links to reference.
I know it's hard to believe people really fall for this stuff-but look @ Oprah. Now she's leading a charge of show followers down the broad path to deception.
After this Obama fiasco-it isn't really that hard to believe people will chase after "Hope & Change" no matter what sort of package it's wrapped up in.
I used to have a weekly massage @ home from a masseuse who I became friends with @ the time. He was into the "energy fields" and other holistic healing therapies & mentioned to me a few times that I was a "star child."
This was in my backslidden days & I never figured out what in the world he was talking about. He never explained much to me other than I was supposedly "set apart" somehow. I always wondered (in the far reaches of my mind) what this "star child" thing was about. All I knew is that it sounded weird & was not Bible based.
Well, now after researching this "New Age" stuff I know. Too bad I wasn't an active Christian at the time or I could have at least reasoned with him on the matter.
Thank you Jim G, Lisa, Diana & Jib for sharing your stories & entrusting us with them - it is a compliment to us all and an honor.
Praying for you all.
Am happy & grateful to hear from all of you that don't post on a regular basis, as well.
Happy Thanksgiving, all!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! from, of course, Okieland!
Got my pies done (yep, did the apple and pumpkin) and I have enough dough for another one later. Might go for a fruit ambrosia.
It is very quiet here right now as hubby is at the local airport talking airplanes and whatever else comes to their flight happy minds.
I have even taken the time to read some of the comments and got as far as Child of the King and it blessed my cowgirl boots off of me. So good to see her name there.
I am praying for all of the needs that have been posted and trusting that God is working mightily in your life as you share and read here. The song, "Won't It Be Glorious Up There" keeps rolling through my spirit man today and for the last 2 or 3 months all of the songs seem to be about getting to heaven and what is going to be like.
I haven't even looked at my email messages because I know there are way too many for me to answer today and I can't seem to not try doing some of them. However, that would mean a very well done dinner for this evening, so, everyone keep the prayers going, the lights on for this darkened world, and Praise to the Almighty continually in your heart, mind and out of your mouth.
Grany
Jim G, Lisa, JIB,
I second the kudos for sharing and entrusting us with your stories.
I do not know if you all are aware that my mom passed away on Nov. 7th.
Our life was a long a sordid story but I did get to see her before she died. We prayed many times with her while we were there and that was something that I never did before. The last words I said to her was "Please open your heart and mind to Jesus." I do not know if she did.
Alesia and Mac sent me a very sweet note of condolance and I am including my response to them here.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving service at church lastnight and the Spirit of the Lord was there. What a blessing it was!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all !
Grace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alesia and Mac,
Thank you so much for your thoughts toward me! I actually read at the Cave every day even if it is just a speed read through. I love the people there so much, I just do not always know what to say.
I so appreciate the postings of the past day starting with Jim G and then Lisa, then JIB about the difficulty in their parental/grandparent relationships. I really feel like it is the Lord ministering to me through the stories they generously shared.
My mom and I had a very difficult relationship. She left when I was an infant and I did not have any contact with her until I was 16. She lived in California and I lived in Oregon so the distance did not help.
We were as different as night and day. When my oldest daughter was about 7 it struck me that I could never leave my child because I wanted to "have fun". I went through many years of healing. Years of working through forgiveness toward her regardless of what she did. I realize now that God is still in the process of healing those wounds.
I have struggled with my feelings about her death, and it is hard when there is not a bond there.
My husband and I and our daughter drove down and I did get to see her in the hospital before she died. She was very much a new ager but we shared Jesus with her as much as she would allow us to. God worked alot of miracles to open doors for it. I cared about her eternity. I do not know where her heart was at, but hours before she died the chaplain of the hospital sat with her and talked with and prayed for her until she died.
I cannot tell you how much I love and appreciate the Cave! I often think about the day when we will all meet face to face and see the Lord's working in all of it. Looking forward to the latte's with LW and you all!
Praise Jesus Christ for ALL He has done!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Much love to you,
Grace
PS:
Child of the King! So wonderfully awesome to see you here.
You have a very special place in my heart, my friend!
Grace
Yes, Happy Thanksgiving to All!
You are all in my heart and prayers!
<><
Maranatha!
Just wanted to say how much I feel for those of you who have expressed painful experiences in your family lives. These wounds run deep, and only the love of the Lord can heal them.
As a three year old child I lived in a household where my four year old sister was dying, and I felt so unwanted, and pushed aside. I was too young to understand what my family was going through, I just knew I was not wanted,and in the years following I thought God had made a mistake and had taken the wrong one to Heaven, after all she was the one they wanted, not me!
This affected the whole way I looked at everything, and I felt I had no value, I did things that I am not very proud of and I hurt those I loved the most in the process, I am so thankful that I finally realized that I have value in HIS eyes and got my life straighted out.
I have made it my first priority to make sure the people in my life know how precious they are to me, and to the Lord.
I'm so thankful for all of you, I am here every day reading and praying, and looking forward to meeting you all one day .... soon!
King holds dialogue with Jews, Christians
Interesting Historical Article on "Allah & the Temple Mount." Read what it says on the walls inside the Dome of the Rock-N,S,E & West. Also note the name of Mohammad's winged horse.
This is UBELIEVABLE_gift certificates for abortions!!!
Grace
my condolences on the passing of your mom. Difficult relationships are always a trial and very draining even if one is praying about them. Surely we would hope that before she passed your mom made a decision for Christ. It is hard because all of us have relatives who have passed on and we just aren't sure they ever made a decision for Christ and we won't know for certain until the Rapture at least and we just have to have faith.
My dad as the eldest works extra hard at being the peacemaker with his siblings. Which is unusual for the eldest child-it's usually the middle child. the only one who talks with any civility and love to any of the siblings is my dad and they only talk to my dad and not each other if it can be helped. Sad but true.
I just wanted to say thank you to all of you.
I have learned a lot and its been great to be able to fellowship with you all.
I am going to check out the links that have been posted today asap....the JR Church one and Joel R's and the other ones, too.
I have been touched by the stories that have been shared.
It all makes me yearn even more for the time when He will make all things new...when there will no longer be any crying, sickness, death, pain or suffering.
In the meantime all we can do is trust Him for all things...I believe that's really what it all boils down to.
Its so nice to read posts from everyone who has popped on the last couple of days!
I hope you keep posting ~
Happy Thanksgiving To All,
What a glorious day to spend before the Lord thanking Him for our blessings.
We may not like the direction our country is heading with it's financial worries and appointed leader's wisdom, however this is the day the Lord has made and we shall rejoice in it:) You can tell the adult dinner conversation today at my house!
I have been on a great site today that some of you may have frequented or have been on before
www.bible-prophecy-today.blogspot.com
Excellent articles on the AC, on Thanksgiving and the Bible, Joel Rosenberg and Chuck Missler are on there too. (sorry I don't do that blue thing. Worth a lookie-lou.
Well Grany, between my two sisters and I we may have given you feast a run for its money. Then I was struck with how wonderful our banquet feast will be some day...I can't wait. Soon my friends very soon. We will all be face-to face with our Glorious Creator, we will meet each other face-to-face and you will be reconciled and arm-n-arm with those broken and bruised relationships. They will now be whole again and Jesus will wipe away every tear and painful memory. It will happen and it will leave us speechless.......which is saying a whole lot for this group (which I am grateful for-don't get me wrong:)
You are all precious and my husband and I are thankful for you.
Fighting the good fight,
Jenny
I probably won't be online for the next 8 days, Hubby and I will be on a fact finding trip to Tenn.
We could certainly use prayer for safe travel, nice weather and wisdom in decision making.
I appreciate it greatly and will keep you all in my prayers.
Will keep you in prayer, Lori. Have a safe and prosperous trip.
Oops, Grany. I didn't mean to exclude you from the links I posted. I wanted something to separate the two parts of my post. I should have either made two posts or typed "To everyone." I'm glad you can't see my red face!
Jenny, after the election, I discovered a great deal of peace when the Spirit helped me realize that God was in control. Those who aren't saved (or the saved who aren't living the lifestyle) are looking for life among the dead. And it's all going to blow up in their faces, though they'll refuse to see the truth of what's happening.
We have a relationship with Him and with other believers that no one can take from us!
Angie
I have to say to everyone here that it has been an incredible blessing to be able to read your thoughts and prayers.
I too have experienced a very painful childhood but the Lord has brought much healing, all praise to Him!
Still praying for you in your family situation, Jim G. Praying the Lord will work in your parents hearts. I feel for you.
Yesterday was wonderful. I got to spend time with my brother and his fsmily who I rarely see, the live 3 hours away. But, I am confused and disheartedned today to have learned that my Christian, seminary student brother is for Obama, voted for him and does not see the deception that surrounds this man. I asked him what he thought of Obama's voting record in the Illinois senate regarding the born alive protection bill but my mother made us stop talking about it. My brother is in seminary, studies all of the great Christian thinkers of the past, studies the Greek and Hebrew texts, follows Jesus but still does not see the problem of B.O. nor does he see that we are heading very closly to the end. Still has faith in the stock market. It makes me feel a little nuts because besides my own dad and husband I know no one else who sees the troubles that are at the door. I do know people on the internet, of course, but that is new to me and I don't even know people's first names most of the time. It is all very surreal.
Anyway, in a small state of shock this morning over my brother.
It is refreshing to read from people here!
Diana
Oh, Hallelujah, Jesus is alive and he is living mightily in all of us! Well, Glory!
I don't know about any of the rest of you but I am still full from yesterday and for some reason or other, food has lost it's appear. At least for right now. Does it seem like your turkey has grown even more since dinner yesterday? Mine has!
I love Thanksgiving because it is the time of reflections and focus. My hubby woke up yesterday morning with a very "all is well with my soul" feeling and it was such a blessing. Then my dinner went very well and merited a kiss on the cheek by hubby and seemed like my kitchen was the best smelling place in the whole world. There was a little sadness also over the misguided multitude who are putting their trust in all the wrong things but I am counting on the Holy Spirit to make a few corrections among the many in just a few days.
Diana, I know the feelings you are having because it is happening in many, many Christian homes. Keep praying for discernment and revelation to spring up inside your brother and then start praising God for the wonderful works he is doing in your brother. You have no other choice than to trust God to bring all believers into the fold. He did promise to do so you know.
Love to all of you and Angie, I sure didn't take any offense. In fact, just between you and me, I include myself in all of the comments. You know, all of one and one for all. Instead of a free for all!
Love you,
Grany (who is Wilma)
Here is one I couldn't link to Andrew Strom sent:
The MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE of THIS HOUR-by David Wilkerson (June 2, 2008).
Christians all over the world have a sense we’re living in the final
days. The mounting crises, the growing fears, the signs of great
shaking all these things are evident, even to secular commentators. Now, for every follower of Jesus, the question of
the hour is this: Will my faith endure what is coming?
I believe the most important issue of this hour has to do with what
is called enduring faith. Simply put, will the faith of God’s people
endure the terrible shaking of all things, the intense trials and
testings to come, which no previous generation has faced?
Jesus promised, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same
shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13). When Christ spoke this, he had
just described the frightful trials to come upon his disciples: false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, nation pitted against nation,
upheavals in the natural world, earthquakes and pestilence,
persecution and martyrdom (see 24:4,12). When those days
arrive, Jesus said, “Many shall come in my name, and shall
deceive many” (24:5).
What would be the impact of all these things on the church, those
who call themselves by his name? Jesus states very clearly:
“Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (24:12).
Already, our nation is feeling the tremors of the frightful shaking.
Right now, America is facing an economic perfect storm.
This past March (2008), the American financial system nearly
collapsed. Bear Stearns, one of the nation’s top financial
institutions, had to be rescued from bankruptcy by the Federal
Bank. The Wall Street Journal, a newspaper not prone to
alarmism, blared the startling headline: “Fed Saves American
Financial System From Collapse.”
The Fed had to pour $30 billion into the deal initially, to stave off a panic that would have sunk this nation into the worst economic
depression in its history. To date, more than $300 billion has been put into the system to save it.
Ten years ago, I wrote a book entitled, America’s Last Call: On
the Brink of a Financial Holocaust. In that book, I warned of the following events:
-There would be a meltdown of the bond market.
-God’s judgment would strike suddenly on the U.S. economy.
-A brief, false sense of prosperity would precede the coming
economic collapse. (This short flicker of prosperity would be God’s final mercy call before the chastening to come.)
-There would be a real estate meltdown, with a market made up of
mostly sellers and very few buyers. Multitudes would lose their
homes to repossession.
-There would be an ominous rise of homosexual power.
-A sudden storm of confusion would take place on Wall Street.
-God’s watchmen and prophets would be silenced.
-The U.S. dollar would collapse.
-America would lose control of its economy. To date, China has
loaned America hundreds of billions of dollars. We have become
the world’s number one debtor nation, no longer in control of our
finances.
-Along with many other watchmen, I see that the greatest shaking
of all is still to come.
-What we are about to witness upon the earth will affect every
person living. The world is going to see a temporary calm, with
relative stability, causing many to say, “The crisis has passed.”
But in truth, the real panic will still be ahead of us.
Right now, a political madness is gripping America. Think about it:
it is utter madness for politicians to promise all kinds of new, multibillion-dollar programs, while the Fed is scrambling to keep the nation’s head above the rising flood of debt.
Yet, for the church of Jesus Christ, the real issue is not economic collapse. It isn’t even about who presides over the nation. Rather, it is all about enduring faith.
Indeed, this one issue has to be foremost in the minds of all who
claim to serve Jesus. I ask you: do you at present have an abiding
trust in the Lord that will hold up when the world descends into
chaos? Or will you waver in times of affliction, as the fearful things Jesus said would come begin to appear on the earth? When that
hour comes to pass, will your love for the Lord endure? Or will it
grow cold, as Jesus predicted would happen to so many believers?
I ask these questions not to judge or condemn anyone concerning
his or her walk with Christ. I ask them of our readers only because
these are the questions Jesus put to all who would choose to
follow him.
Christ asked, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on
the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Let me give you the context for Jesus’ question here.
He had just told the story of a persistent woman who asked a
judge to rule in her favor and bring justice to her cause. Jesus
uses her as an example of the kind of persistent, enduring faith he
is looking for: the kind that calls upon God in times of trial and trusts him to fulfill his promises. Christ knew such enduring faith would be the only kind able to sustain his people in the times to come.
When Jesus addresses this issue of enduring faith, he speaks of
those whose belief will endure ,but for a while. In other words,when their prayers are not answered , when the deadlines for
their requests are not met they will fall into unbelief. Why?
Their faith has no roots.
“He hath no root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when
tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by
he is offended” (Matthew 13:21).
Too often, when afflictions begin showing up in such believers’ lives,they become offended. You’ve probably heard such offense
expressed by Christians who have faced dire afflictions. They have
read God’s Word, they have claimed certain promises, they have
prayed earnestly, but still their trial continues. And, over time,
because they haven’t seen an answer to their prayers, they
become offended by the Word they’ve been clinging to.
At some point, a seed of unbelief is planted in their heart. And
soon they begin to question God’s faithfulness. They can’t shake
the nagging thought that the Lord has failed to keep his promises to them.
They trusted in him for a while. Whenever you talked with them,
their conversation was full of faith, and they testified of God’s
trustworthiness. But now you begin to hear little doubts in their
speech. Instead of faith, you hear questions, remarks that betray
an inner unbelief.
Make no mistake, Satan feeds those growing doubts. Over time,
prayer becomes a burden to such believers. Their love for God’s
Word begins to fade until they never pick up their Bible anymore.
Eventually, their passion for Christ is reduced to a flicker.
Some reading this message are in a dangerous place with their
faith. Maybe what I’ve said here has struck a chord in your soul. I
must ask you: have you allowed seeds of unbelief in your heart?
Do you now have serious questions regarding God’s faithfulness?
Instead of worshiping him, do you now doubt him?
“Lord, why haven’t you intervened for me? Why have you allowed
such confusion in my marriage, my family? You have put on me
more than I’m able to bear. Such an attitude can lead to a
hardened heart and eventually spiritual deadness.
The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy, “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). The Greek word for
“hardness” here indicates suffering, difficult afflictions. What does Paul say about these things to Timothy? “Endure them, son! You are a soldier in the Lord’s army. You’ve been trained to undergo hardship in spiritual battle.”
We see this reflected in the Old Testament as well. We are told,
“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to
show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect
towards him” (2 Chronicles 16:9, my italics). The Hebrew word for
“perfect” in this verse means :wholly given to him in trust.
Think of it: God looks down upon the whole earth, searching
diligently for that man or woman of faith who is wholly given to him
in trust. Whenever the Lord finds such a servant, he says of that
person, “This beloved one is holding fast to his faith and confidence in me. Therefore, I will show myself strong to him. He’s going to know my power, to see my strong arm revealed on his behalf.”
The words in this verse were first spoken to King Asa, ruler of
Judah, by the prophet Hanani. The searching eyes of the Lord had
come upon King Asa, who was loved because he did what was right before God’s eyes.
Asa was by every measure a righteous man who trusted God. He
walked in faith, bringing each matter before the Lord so he might
receive divine direction. The king was a devoted man of prayer,
wholly dependent on God , and his actions proved it.
Asa abolished idolatry in the land, tearing down all false gods. He abolished witchcraft, sodomy and prostitution. And he built up the cities, with strong towers, high walls and secure gates. Under this faithful king’s rule, the nation of Judah prospered and was blessed.
And Asa was faithful to remind the people that all their blessings
had come to them “because we have sought the Lord our God, we
have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they
built and prospered” (2 Chronicles 14:7).
It must have been wonderful to be an Israelite living in Judah at
that time. Try to imagine the atmosphere in Judah during those
years under Asa’s righteous rule. There was peace all around, with
everything in divine order. The people were blessed, with full
employment and abundant harvests, because God was in their
midst. No one had to go off to war, because both the king and the
people were seeking after the Lord. There was no call for judgment because these were an obedient people.
But one day, suddenly, that peaceful environment changed. A
messenger brought to Asa a frightful report: a million-man army was spied heading toward Judah. The Ethiopians and Lubims had combined forces, and now they had a huge militia. It was made up
of 300 chariots, multitudes of horsemen, and a million-man infantry, all racing toward Judah and bent on its destruction.
On the very day prior to this, Asa had called on the people to give
thanks to the Lord, for the peace and blessings they were enjoying
because they had sought him. Now we read, “And there came out
against them” (2 Chronicles 14:9). Overnight, Judah was at war,
facing one million hostile soldiers.
So, what does a trusting servant of God do when facing such a
dilemma? How does he react? Will he panic? Will he turn to the
arm of man for help, or place everything into the Lord’s hands, in total trust?
God had his searching eye on Asa in this critical hour.
What was the righteous king’s reaction?
“Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with
thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power:
help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we
go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man
prevail against thee. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa,
and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled” (2 Chronicles 14:11,12).
Tell me, what does Asa’s reaction here say to us, the church of
Jesus Christ, today? This godly man had been given the most
horrible, frightful news. He was facing incomprehensible odds
against his survival, much less victory.
Beloved, the meaning of this passage is clear: it shows us that
victory “ impossible victory “ is preserved for those who put their
trust wholly in the Lord.
The awful crisis had fallen on Asa and Judah during their most
wonderful time of seeking the Lord, when God was smiling on
them with his favor.
I can’t explain why the Lord allows attacks on his godly servants. But I do know Scripture warns us to expect fiery trials to test our faith. Yet, even so, we are told God will find pure gold in our enduring faith.
Surely the Lord was pleased with Asa’s faith in this crisis. Still, he sent a prophet to warn him:
“Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah ,The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:2).
The prophet added that this had been true for God’s people
throughout their history. In times past, whenever there was no
peace but only vexation and trouble, each time God’s people
turned to seek him he was found of them (see 15:3,4).
Azariah’s prophecy to Judah is a warning to the church of Jesus
Christ today as well: “One glorious victory of faith is not enough.”
More great trials will come to pass in the life of every believer.
Indeed, the more you seek the Lord, the greater your call, the
deeper your walk with him , you’ll also encounter further
afflictions and sufferings, ever-increasing tests of faith. These will continue until the end, Scripture assures us.
So, what is God’s message to us in all of this? Simply the following: We are not to be shaken in faith when even greater tests come upon us.
Beloved, please know that I do not speak this word to you lightly.
What I am preaching in this message has been born from my own
personal crucible of great sufferings, hard times and crushing trials of faith.
Don’t misunderstand: I am not complaining. I can testify that I have seen the loving hand of God in every trial and tribulation throughout my years. I have watched as my wife, Gwen, and my two daughters have come close to death from cancer. I have endured
the death of a granddaughter from cancer. I have seen all my
children and grandchildren under attack at various times. And I
have gone through personal fiery trials.
Through it all, I have experienced eclipses of faith, where the
Lord’s face seemed completely hidden from me during my ordeal.
Yet, after all these years of afflictions, here I stand, testifying that God has brought me through each trial with peace and his song of victory.
Yet, this is not the end of the story.
After thirty-six years of walking in trust and enduring trials faithfully, Asa grieved God’s heart.Another terrible crisis arose in Asa’s life. This time, the righteous king of Judah lost his faith.
Up to that point, Asa had lived as a trusting man of God. He was a
vibrant example of devoted faith and zeal, seeking the Lord
continually. His ministry over Judah had brought about a powerful
spiritual revival in that land, establishing God’s righteous rule.
Then another sudden crisis befell Asa and the nation of Judah.
This time, word came to the king that Jerusalem was being
blockaded by an enemy army. All trade routes into Judah had
been shut down by this foe. The town of Ramah, just five miles
outside of Jerusalem, had been invaded, captured and fortified,
with all roads shut. No one could go in or come out.
The blockade could cripple Judah’s economy. Something had to
be done quickly, or the people would starve. So, what did King Asa do?
This time, he did not go to the Lord. In fact, Asa didn’t even pray
or consult his spiritual advisors. Instead, he panicked. He didn’t
just put his trust in man , he relied on his own enemy! Asa
turned to wicked king Ben-hadad of Syria, Judah’s arch enemy, to
seek military aid.
In this way, Asa bribed his way out of the conflict. He stripped the Nation’s treasury of all silver and gold and sent it to King
Ben-hadad, with this message: “Here is all of our gold and silver. It’s yours. Just get this invader off my back. Deliver me from my attacker.
How utterly tragic! It is always a great tragedy when godly people
who have trusted God before the world’s eyes suddenly fail in their
belief, turning to the flesh in a time of crisis. And the world
responds with mockery, saying, “Is this what happens after
spending years believing in God? Is this how faith ends, in
shipwreck? How foolish that you ever believed in God in the first place.
Now another prophet was sent to Asa, with this word from the Lord:
"Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on
the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped
out of thine hand". Therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars”
(2 Chronicles 16:7, 9).
Let me sum up this whole issue of enduring faith. Here is enduring faith: it is the committing of all things into God’s hands. Enduring faith says to the Lord, I cast every event, every future success, into your care. And I hold you to your promise to commit all that you are , all your omniscience and omnipotent strength to preserve me.
Whenever we face afflictions and persecution, Satan comes to us
whispering fears and lies:
“How are you going to make it through this crisis? What will you
do now? If God is faithful, how could he allow this to happen to
you? How could he put your loved ones at risk this way? What will
become of you, your family, your job, your ministry?”
But enduring faith rises up and answers the enemy’s lies:
“Devil, you’re asking the wrong questions. The question for me
right now is not how I’m going to make it. It is not what shall
become of me and mine. I have already placed everything ; all
afflictions, all trials, everything that concerns me into my loving Father’s hands. I have trusted all future events to him. And he has proved himself faithful time after time. He is trustworthy with my future.”
With this established in our hearts, the question for us then
becomes clear.The question for us is, “How can I love and serve my Lord better? How shall I serve others as myself?”
You see, enduring faith means casting ourselves wholly on the will of God as Jesus describes it in the Sermon on the Mount. In short: we are to seek God and his concerns first, and the desires of our heart will then be given to us (see Matthew 6:33).
Enduring faith declares, “I have no will of my own. Rather, his will
be done. No more personal agenda for me. No more playing God
by trying to solve my own problems or those of others. Holy Spirit,
keep my mind stayed on my Lord and his promises.”
With such faith, we’ll be ready for whatever the present hour brings. Amen!
Sorry-that is really messed up-I had tried to correct it ): WAAAAA
Lisa, that is a great message from David Wilkerson and I have read the book that he authored and was mentioned here. It is well worth the time to read it. Don't expect to be told that all will end well and we will all have riches in abundance because that is not who David is. His heart truly belongs to God and he has lived his life trudging on the streets of real life, proclaiming the Word of God and bringing men, women and children to a wonderful saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Here is a link you might be interested in.
RESTING IN JESUS
Lisa,
A GREAT message from David Wilkerson!
WOW! Enduring Faith! We all need to be "doers" on this one, amen? Amen!
Donna,
I couldn't agree with you more, about "yearning for a time when the Lord will make all things new..."
Lori,
In agreement with you, in prayer, about your trip.
Grany,
I agree. We can point others towards the Lord. But it's the Holy Spirit that draws them to God.
Oh my goodness, I have to run some errands. But I'm waiting until the "madness" of the A.M. shopping comes to a halt :) Wow! Getting out of bed, (or not going to bed) and standing in lines since midnight? You gotta be kidding me!
Have a great day in the Lord, everyone! And God bless!
Maybe its me, but I still you all are going a little overboard with the whole Obama thing.
I highly doubt he's the Antichrist.
(Of course we have to wait and see.)
Grany, you've said that people thought FDR was the Antichrist, too.
I know a lot of Christian who voted for O, and none of them are for abortion.
It shouldn't be totally suprising considering the mess this administration has made of things.
The other day I suggested people look at the prophecy central "obama watch link" which will be ongoing and added to regularly.
I still suggest folks check it out.
It suggests that we pray for the Obamas and all world leaders, etc., and seems to have a pretty balanced view about the whole thing...and of course they'll keep us updated.
Donna
Yes we are to pray but that doesn't mean we aren't to think critically of our leaders. Whether those who voted for BHO think so or not, a vote for him was a vote for gay rights and abortion. period. the man stands for things which are diametrically opposed to that which Christ stands for on a number of fronts. so while he might not be THE antichrist and do think he is AN antichrist because he puts himself in place of God and his followers put him in place of God-it is Obama who will fix things so that all have houses, cars, money and the world thinks he is the one to bring peace. i personally think it is a travesty that so many evangelical voters did vote for Obama.
I think your post contains a double standard btw-you in this post and the past have been highly critical of Bush yet when we are critical of Obama you tell us we're over the top and we should be praying for him instead. Ii trust you have expended as much effort in prayer on Bush's behalf as you have criticizing him?
Well, there is no question that I have been a critic of the admin.
I have no ill feelings towards him personally, and of course I pray for him as I would anyone else....I just personally think he was a lousy president.
Obama puts himself over God? I haven't seen any indication of that.
I don't think O is saying that he is the answer. He just wants to change some policies.
Come on Jib,
You have to remember Donna is far more tolerant on certain issues than we are.
But it's not what we think is important but what would God think is acceptable?
From what I can tell & have posted from Scripture is that He would hope (since we have free will) that we would choose a king (or president) that would reflect His moral & ethical standards.
If the people wanted to ignore His ways & His suggestions then as a form of judgment God would let them have the leader that was not inline with His divine will.
This is what I think is happening in America right now. The majority made it clear what type of king they wanted & now they have him. What have the current prophets BEEN saying & are saying right now? It's judgment.
So when there are two Presidents available- one who supports (more or less) God's statutes & the other who is radically opposed to God's statues & a Christian casts their vote they are saying in essence that they agree & support what that person upholds in values.
So when you vote for Obama who is Pro-Abortion & Pro-Gay then you are keeping company w/that person and supporting the same thing weather you realize or want to admit it or not. You can't separate yourself from that without being a hypocrite. And we know what God thinks about hypocrites.
If a Christian does not support either candidate then not voting at all would be the best choice.
What this has done to the Pro-Abortion & Pro-Gay lobbyists is embolden them to continue pressing for these issues. Obama has stated he is going to change policies to support Gay rights & a "Woman's right to choose" Abortion. The Jewish & part of the Christian community basically said that it's more important to vote for whom they feel is best to lead the country in economic & popular social issues than follow God's commandments.
So this is what the big deal is.
Not that Obama could be the Anti-Christ or not. Frankly it's not the most pressing concern but rather that we as the body of Christ could be so divided on this issue.
The problem seems to be that many "Christians" don't read their Bibles & know who God is. Therefore to support Obama & his radical beliefs is of no great concern.
What the numbers are revealing is the spiritual sickness in the Body of Christ. Maybe God is showing us who we need to reach out to in compassion & truth in order to nudge them back on track.
My best guess is that many of these “Christians” consist of the say a sinner’s prayer mind set. You don’t actually have to “obey”,”seek” & “love” God. You’re not “born again or converted”. You can do whatever YOU FEEL is OK and that’s it. You even pray & warm the seat on Sundays.
What a rude awakening they are in for. But shame on us if we just sit back & don’t proclaim God’s truth in this hour.
Here is a Bible study on "What is Hyprocrisy>"
Jib,
I agree. Obama and Obama "followers" look to him, for the answers. They are placing Obama in a plcace that should only be reserved for God, in anyone's heart/soul. Obama says he has the answers. I've never heard Obama say, that he is looking to God for any help, or answers. Maybe he has? If so, I've missed it.
How could anyone, claiming the name of Christ Jesus have voted for Obama??? IMHO they'll have to give an account for that vote, (any deed done in the flesh) to God one day, unless they repent. Because we should always keep God, family, and Church in priority. Country follows. And as far as Country? The Bible says to call on God, for countries to be restored, etc. Not to some heralded "savior." Oh yeah, we'll be getting change alright. Ever heard of the Fairness Doctrine? Enjoy Christian freedom while it is still available. Time will tell. But voting for Obama, and being a believer in Jesus Christ shouldn't be breathed in the same sentence, IMHO. Going overboard? Oh I don't think so. My prayer is that God will still have mercy upon America, and still bless our land, because of the remant of believers that remain. Time is short. Jesus is about ready to come back to receive His Church. As the song goes, "people get ready."
Donna,
~sigh~ You have no idea how many times I have gnawed on my hands when you make your B.O. comments.
Honestly, I have no idea why you think it appropriate to chastise us here regarding him. You've been here long enough, clearly, to know our views on this.
I'm with Jib.
New post is up, BTW.
Lisa,
IMHO you are missing the point. Tolerence hasn't anything to do with obeying God's Holy Word.
Jesus wasn't too tolerant with the Money Changers in the temple.
Be very careful how you divide God's Word. Don't add anything, and don't take anything away from it, either. The book of Rev. (at the end) is quite clear on that point.
Think about it.
And may God bless both you and Donna.
This wasn't writen in any mean spirited sort of way. Believe me. Neither was Jib.
I suppose someone should start a new blog?
Alesia,
How did I know you would start a new blog? LOL!
I'm praying that God takes away all your pain, and sends complete healing soon.
Hey all who are commenting on the Obama thing. Great reading here!
Lisa, you mentioned that we are a nation of Christians who do not know the bible or God really and that it was all just about saying that "sinners prayer" mindset. I so agree with all you said there. That is why I am so blown away with my own brother being for Obama. he is in seminary! He studies the original language of the scriptures! He has poured his life into campus ministry and now church building. I am literally sick about this.
I have felt so sad with the knowledge of what is to come on the church and how blinded people that I love are. It is really too much to even think about most of the time but this thing with my brother has me really knocked for a loop! How can someone who loves Jesus be for a person who is for abortion? People might argue that no one is really "for" abortion but if one votes in favor of it and promises to do away with laws meant to protect our teen girls from themselves then that person is "for" abortion. I just cannot wrap my mind around this because it is my own brother.
Oh, and I completely agree with praying for Obama. I know that God sets up rulers and kings. So, I do not agree with him and think he has an antichrist spirit about him but I will still pray for him.
Blessings to you all!
Diana
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