Mat 18:12 "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, he leaves the ninety-nine in the hills and goes to look for the one that has strayed, doesn't he?
Mat 18:13 If he finds it, truly I tell you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that haven't strayed.
Mat 18:14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost."
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146 comments:
Looks like I'm on second.
I get so excited when I see I am or might be the first one on the page. So, all I could muster was Hello!
But I just heard that Obama is considering addressing the USA from one of the Muslim nations capitol. For crying out loud, what will he think of next. One thing you can say about him, he loves the stage and the spotlight is his. Hope it doesn't burn his nose too much.
Grany
I agree that he loves the spotlight. He's definitely a narcissist, Grany. I prefer my dark little place.
PS Has anyone heard from Mr Carroll lately?
And I don't know is on third :)
BTW I like that widget Spurgeon thing!
Spurgeon was one wise man,for sure.
I wonder if Obama will address the USA from one of the Muslim capitals...
These next few months will definitely be interesting, to say the least!
Blair Urges Council on Foreign Relations to Pressure Israel
How come I don't know is on third? Where's who?
Mr. Hyde don't you know that if you are in a dark spot, it isn't dark anymore? You got a little light, and you gotta let it shine! Do you come out for Cheese cake like Mac does?
I think I am going to call it a night and close down my puter. Good night you all and have a sweet peaceful sleep and Mac, you and Mr. Hyde on now on your own. However, I have no fear that you will stay sweet and nice until we meet again.
Shalom,
Grany
In conversations about the rapture and the resurrection of Christians I sometimes get some difficult questions. For example, if our cells are continually being replaced and our bodies are currently made up of different cells than say 15 years ago, what will be resurrected? What if part of the body has been removed (amputation for example)? What about organs transplanted into non-Christian bodies? (Remembering Jesus still had the holes in His hands and feet and His side after the resurrection, and therefore wasn't "perfect", it had the marks of the world on it).
Sometimes the people I'm discussing these things with are just scoffing, but others are sincere and I sure would like to have good answers for them. Any ideas?
Goodnight, Grany, I'm going to bed, too.
Mac, I like Grany's idea of tying his shoelaces together! Do it!!
Dear Wilma,
Thanks so much for going to all the trouble of writing to inquire about the identity of the person hosting "Prophecy Today."
I do enjoy most of the people he posts.
I was thinking that I used to have a website with that name in my favorites, but I have deleted it. Can't remember why.
My computer is still not completely put together yet, they are still working on it. But, this one (used to belong to my daughter but she needed a bigger and faster machine - so I inherited her old one) is much faster and bigger than my old one.
And I thank God for it. We may get it altogether before we're raptured out of here, but I'm expecting Him any minute. So we'll see.
My eyesight is about the same, no better and no worse. This is really not a good time for me to be trying to post anything as they seem to be weaker and more tired at the end of the day. I have better luck emailing as I can make the font larger, bold, and in a bright color. Easier to proofread. I really can't read what I'm typing now. So, I'm just trusting that my fingers will find the right keys.
I stumbled upon a new team of authors, a husband and wife team, Bodie and Brock Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee). They write historical fiction and mostly about the Jews.
They are fabulous. They did a series about the Jews in Europe before and during the halocaust, which was absolutely incredible.
Then they followed with a series of the Jews that managed to sneak into Israel prior to 1948, and all the problems they had with the British arming the arabs and siding against them. The fight over the Old Jewish Section of Jerusalem was just incredible.
Now I've started a series about the time after Israel declared their statehood and all that entails. Really incredible. I try to read a little everyday, but I have to be careful because it is so hard to put down.
Please don't expect very many posts from me, I really do not have any wisdom to impart. I peak in every so often to see if there are any prayer requests that need my attention.
These days my attention is not in the same direction that seems to prevail here. I find the subject matter many times very distracting to me. But, I love reading the ones who write about their personal lives and ministries.
Well, I'm probably pushing my luck, with a post this long, it may be full of typos. Hope not.
Wishing all of you the most blessed Christmas ever if we're still here.
Going to snuggle up in bed and listen to my new Gaither tape with the Gaither Vocal Band together with Signature Sound. It is just fabulous! Goodnight all.
Keep on keeping on and keep looking up!
A Child of the King
Anne, if you are still awake, perhaps you could dwell on this thot. Our entire physical being is defined by our DNA, which is simply a mathematical code. The small errors in the code, (such as my inability to be like mac) are easily corrected. God keeps all these numerical formulas stored in his big computer in the sky, and since our spirits never die, when the time comes, he just punches the formula into the replicator and presto, out pops our new body without any of the nasty things that we added or took away from it after we were born. We will just slide into that thing of beauty, and people will recognize us for who we are.
Isn't technology wonderful?
have a good nite all.
Wayne
Mr. Carroll,
Could you give a biblical reference to those thoughts that led you to the above conclusion.
Well said, Wayne. I do remember seeing an article somewhere where Chuck Missler adresses this topic, but I couldn't find it. Pretty much when we die, our bodies return to dust but our true being is not lost. God keeps track of us.
Revisiting 'the burden of Damascus'
Anne, Shalom! RE: the ressurection of the body:
The bodies we will be given will be perfect -- the deaf will hear, the blind will see, I'll finally be able to touch my toes (which I couldn't do back when I was skinny, anyway). As the bodies of those that have died before us are created anew, so will our bodies be created anew. Organs that have been transplanted from our bodies into other bodies won't be returned to us. Those organs are of the old body, the body of sin, which is corruption. Our bodies will be fresh and free from corruption, which is sin. Every bone and sinew, cell and organ will be created for us by G_D.
As for Jesus having "the marks of the world" on His body, with the holes in His hands and feet and the wound in His side, those are not evidence of His body's imperfections, but of it's perfection. He is the Lamb that is Slain, and those marks are the proof that He is who He is. They were made visible to us so we would recognize Him. When that proof is no longer necessary, He may chose to have those visible marks vanish, or He may chose to keep them as a sign of His Victory over sin and death.
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Anonymous, are you addressing me? And if so, which thoughts and conclusions are you talking about?
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Mr. Hyde, Shalom! Thanks for the concern, but I did post two days ago, replying to boro eagle.
Shalom, all! Reading about all the stuff that's happening, I'm ready to start a pool going.
"Which do you think will be first?
a. The Burden of Damascus
b. War of Psalm 83
c. War of Gog/Magog"
Wagers will be accepted in cookies only -- no brownie bars or hard candies. Plain cookies, like snickerdoodles or sugar cookies, have the lowest value. Cookies with something extra (such as sugar cookies with frosting) are worth more than the plain cookies by 6:1 (i.e., 6 snickerdoodles equal 1 sugar cookie with frosting). Anything with chocolate is worth 6 of the cookies with something extra, and 36 of the plain cookies. So one chocolate chip cookie is worth 6 sugar cookies with frosting or 36 molassass crinkles.
So I'll start the pool by putting 6 chocolate chip cookies on the War of Psalm 83.
C'mon! It's time to put your sugar where your mouth is!
<><
P.S. -- Next date to watch out for is Jan. 26. Jan 26, 2009 is 1 Sh'vat 5769. This date is in Deuteronomy 1:3, when Moses spoke to the people "in the 40th year." In the Hebrew calendar it's one year since Pres. Bush told the people of Israel they can't trust G_D to keep His promises, and it will have been 6 days since he left office.
Jim Carroll,
Please tell me what the Burden of Damascus is. I am not too familiar. After that then I can throw in a cookie wager!
Child of the King: I have read some of Thoene" books. There are great! Very suspensful and well written. It has been years though so maybe i will read them again!
Diana
Jim,
Put me down for 7 oatmeal cookies without raisins for the war of Psalm 83 being ended by the burden of Damascus.
(It would have been a dozen cookies, but I ate 5, sorry)
Diana,
Scroll up & read mac's post of "Revisiting 'the burden of Damascus'" link. That will give you a snippet.
I'm sure Jim C. will be happy to fill you in as well, though!
Diana, Shalom! Isaiah 17 talks about "The Burden of Damascus." Damascus is the worlds longest continuously occupied city. Isaiah 17 talks about how it is destroyed utterly, overnight, so that only shepherds use their ruins to graze their flocks.
(Personally, to me that says "neutron bomb" rather than your standard nuke. After a neutron bomb you could be grazing flocks there in a few weeks.)
And Alesia! Less talking, more betting. And the cookies have to be homemade -- Oreos have their place, but gambling on the fate of the middle east is not one of them.
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JIM C. Put me in for 1 dozen chocolate chip, 1/2 doz. Date Nut Spirals and how about a pan of peanut brittle crunch! Put it on the nose for Isaiah 17, then Psalm 83 and then Ez. 38 and 39. Let the whole batch hold for all three and I am expecting 3 to 1 odds.
You can call my bookie anytime of the day and his number is 1-111-333-3333. Tell him The Fat Lady who Sings sent you. She is getting warmed up back stage and the curtain is about to go up. This is the final curtain call so Everyone in their seats, and the concession stand is now closed. Dim the lights, let the action begin!
Lord, have mercy on our souls. And forgive us our sins.
Grany
CHILD OF THE KING
You can change the size of the print on the blogs too. I don't whether you use Internet Explorer or FireFox for your browser but on Firefox you can simply hold down the Ctrl key (lower row of keys on the board and there is one on each side of the first row. As you hold that key down, touch the + key on the numerical row and the print should increase to the size you want. I have lost the sight in my right eye except for a very small margin of peripheral vision that is getting less and less very suddenly. If you get the print too big for you purpose, just reverse the size by touching the - (minus) key next to the plus key. When I am on the Home page of the blog and the background is blue, the print gets bolder as you touch the plus key. HOpe this helps you because Child, you have a lot of teaching to do and you know it. Your command of the Scriptures is awe inspiring and we all need you and want you to be a part of us too.
I will search out Internet Explorer to see what you do to increase the size of the print there and let you know. We can overcome this thing with the eyes and you already know that.
I really appreciate your sharing the authors Bodie and Brock Thoene. They are good and I had forgotten about them entirely. When one of my precious friends was fighting cancer we shared books and one of them was by these two authors but I don't remember the title of the book. As soon as I saw their names I thought, it sounds familiar and then I called her. She is rummaging in her collection to find it so I can read it again.
In the meantime, here is a link for you to read more of the Thoene's works and it is a wonderful site.
BODIE AND BROCK THOENE
I am looking up and know you are too.
Shalom,
Wilma
Oh Jim - you don't want me betting, I can't bake cookies for diddly-squat.
Although, hm, IF I won, I'd get all the cookies! My bet's on Grany winning.
I really need to stop going to FoxNews when I'm supposed to be working!
Wake Up America! Don’t Let Activist Atheists Rewrite History
I have to share this with everyone here, whether you make your comments known or not. I lifted this from Bodie and Brock's interactive portion of their site:
Questions to them and their responses:
Q: Are there common themes that run through all the series?
A: Absolutely!
Here's one: there are really only two groups on this planet---the saved and the lost. Any other division is artificial and inspired by the father of lies to divert us from our calling to preach the good news. Loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength is not possible if we violate the next commandment Jesus cited--to love our neighbor as ourselves. There's no wiggle room in that instruction. We don't get to pick and choose which neighbors we'll love because they're the right church affiliation, or color, or creed, or nationality.
Then there's this: We say to everyone who reads, "No matter what you've done, who you've been, how far from God you think you are---there is hope for you. There is forgiveness for you. There is acceptance for you."
God showed His love toward us by having His Son, Jesus, Yeshua, die for us while we were still His enemies. Still His enemies! That means there's hope for everyone, and more importantly, for ANY one---YOU!
No one has ever dug a hole so deep or built a wall so high that Jesus cannot reach down or over and say, "Come here, friend. Let me show you what forgiveness and love really feel like."
Baruch atem b'Shem Yeshua (blessings in the Name of Jesus)
I think we have struck gold with this one. The responses that they give are so right on it made me weep. Thank you Child for making me remember the good things in life.
Shalom
You all know that our Lil Marge has told us that Washington State is so far away from God that it is not funny. Here is an article that I cannot link to. Tried but couldn't.
"Olympia’s War on Christmas
by Dan Springer
If you haven’t heard about this atheist display in the Washington State Capitol, let me share. It’s a plaque on a stand which reads, “At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.” It is placed about 15 feet from a Nativity scene with Joseph, Mary and Jesus. What a contrast in messages. Full disclosure here, I’m a life-long Catholic who happens to love this time of year. I love the generosity I see on display just about everywhere. I love the extra attention paid to those in need, the giving trees and the spiritual awakening that happens in people throughout the world as they reflect on Jesus’ message of selfless love, sacrifice and forgiveness.
Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation which sponsored the atheist sign told me it was his intent to be confrontational. He views it as his job to be like the doctor who is charged with curing an illness. An illness called faith. Barker admits that not all believers are bad people, but he wonders why they need a special season to do nice things for each other. Perhaps he’s unfamiliar with the charitable giving statistics which show religious people give far more to charity than non-religious people. And it’s not just during one time of year.
Barker’s plaque of holiday hatred was allowed by Washington State governor Christine Gregoire. She refused our request for an interview but issued a statement saying, “once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of non-believers.” Rob Mckenna, the state’s attorney general agrees. He too was “unavailable” for an interview, but his spokesman explained that the atheist rant is the non-believer’s expression of faith and must be given equal prominence to the Christmas tree and Creche.
As many people have figured out by now, the Pacific Northwest is the most unchurched part of the country. But I must say that this has struck a nerve (and not just with my colleague Bill O’Reilly and his viewers). The phone lines at the governor’s office have been lit up. Yesterday they were getting 200 angry calls per hour and had to add more phone lines to handle the volume. There is a protest planned for Sunday at the Capitol. Washingtonians are a very tolerant lot, but in this case it appears to many here that the atheists are the angry, intolerant ones."
Have I got news for that Group! Their uncovering of the truth is scary to say the least and I don't want to be standing anywhere close to them when the surprise package is delivered.
Grany
a Child of the King,
Thanks for reminding us how books bless us!
Christian fiction is great! And I've seen those books for years, and I've never read one of them :(
That will have to change, in the near future, I'm thinking.
Also, for you Joyce Meyer readers: she has a book out called;
Conflict Free Living.
I heard about it from a new friend, and I have it on hold, at Borders. (I'll pick it up today)
Anne,
Also another thought about how God creates our new bodies.
According to Scripture children have an angel assigned to them. Do we ever lose that angel as we mature into adults?
Of course, God is God.
But (maybe) this is a part of our angels assignment? I certainly dunno.
Just a thought :)
Enjoy the day! And God bless!
Good "seeing" you, Dave! Don't eat too many cookies, though :)
Grany,
Yep! That's WA. State! We need prayer, and plenty of it!
Right, Kathy and Grace?
Child of the King! The type can be enlarged the same way on Internet Explorer as it is on Firefox. You can even go further by going to the Toolbar click on "VIEW" then on "FULL SCREEN" and it gets rid of the goobly goop on the top. I had to give up trying to read regular print until my friend gave me an Owl magnifying sheet for books. What a blessing that is and if I limit my consumption of reading at night I get by very nicely. Then Texan4Jesus very graciously sent me the audio of Joel's new book, Dead Heat and I am hooked on that method now. He is a real sweet heart and I can never thank enough for opening my eyes to other avenues of "reading".
Shalom sis,
Wilma
Mac, I found something that you might like to investigate on David Reagan's site. HERE is the link to it.
I am going to try to use it on my blog. I am really excited about this one for sure.
Grany
Here’s even more to the atheist sign story.
It is obvious our country has become an anti-Christian nation and I think we are seeing God’s hand of protection being lifted. I believe we are going to see more and more of this kind of thing. Our governor said she was a Christian. Oh that those who name the name of Christ would boldly speak against such darkness…(myself included!)
In the last days, perilous times shall come. It seems our nation is a freight train headed for perilous times.
Romans 1 says it plainly…when men reject truth, the darkness of spiritual falsehood replaces it.
CHILD OF THE KING and everyone:
My comment about Texan4Jesus was wrong in the name. It is TexanforChrist and I am so sorry for the error. Texan4Jesus was the nut case on Joel's blog.
Grany,
Getting old is not for sissies.
Grany,
Amen, to the getting old ain't for sissies!
How true, how true!
"Mr. Hyde, Shalom! Thanks for the concern, but I did post two days ago, replying to boro eagle."
Hyde was worried you might have been involved in one of those dangerous and covert CIA ops. He does tend to fret.
Thanks, Grany, I'll take a look at the widget.
Kathy, I'm amazed at how quickly society is turning anti-Christian. In some cases violently so!
It's kind of funny how atheists dream up fudge factors to explain the universe and evolution and are trying to exclude God from everything. One Day they will all wake in fright because the Lord will return to claim what is rightfully His. This earth and the universe belongs to Him - not the gays, not the atheists, not the politicians etc. Let them march and protest then. For now, we pray for them.
Mac, can we get a little boot action while we pray? I mean, get to the seat of the problem? They remind me of my 14 year old nephew. He knows it all because he has watched all of the movies on the subject. Can't read worth a lick but he is a brain surgeon in his own mind. Scalpel! Sponge, nurse! Closing! Yep, just what I thought, nothing there. LOL
If you want to really get your blood circulating, click HERE
Thanks Mac
Grany
Where's JIB?
thanks for that last link, Grany.
We definitely need to keep watch on this situation.
Pray for peace in Jerusalem!
Thanks for the comments about the bodily resurrection. Now we are on to parallel universes!
Ho, boy.
Yeah, where's Jib and where's Jim G?
Alesia, I'm so glad to see you, almost back to your old self!
Anne, maybe Jib is helping Lisa shift house.
CHild, thank you for bringing up the books by Bodie and Brock Thoene. I am not familiar with them but after reading your comments and others about these, I am definitely going to look into them.
I love their response re: the theme of their books that Grany posted!
And, Grany thank you for looking into the background of the Bible Prophecy Today Blogspot
I love that site at so many great Bible prophecy teacher's articles, etc., are gathered there, in one place.
I just spotted a headline that there was a moderate earthquake in Ca...and will go check that out, too.
And I place lots of cookies on
Isaiah, Psalm 38, then Ezekiel :)
Anne, Shalom! You wrote:
Thanks for the comments about the bodily resurrection. Now we are on to parallel universes!
Reminds me of T-shirt I saw sometime back that I want to buy:
"Diagonally parked in a parallel universe."
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Great Grany 5
Follow that 'blood circulating' article you cite further and you come to an expose of one of Obama's middle east (albeit disputed) advisors - Robert Malley. This expose will make your blood catch fire. Satan's trying, but Israel's Helper will conquer nonetheless.
Praying for Jib, who's sick with possible food poisoning, for a speedy & full recovery, in Jesus' name, amen.
Here's the Fox News report on the earthquake in So. Cal. I'll be down there for a month over Christmas.
Hmm...
Actually, I grew up down there so I've been through several large quakes, still, they are always unnerving!
Alesia,
Agreeing with you, in prayer, for Jib's full recovery, (right away!) in the mighty and powerful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
It's soooo good to "see" you back, Alesia!
I just copied this from the previous Posting at the Cave. It is regarding JIB and then I will catch up with all of you wonderful peppy people.
jib said...
well this will get lost in the shuffle-
Alesia
thanks for checking on me. busy wednesday and developed food poisoning thursday to the point I couldn't manage to get out of bed Friday for any length of time. even sitting in my overstuffed chair yesterday was too much like effort. I am doing somewhat better today although not sure how much. I even called and canceled my office hours! can't tell you the last time I had to do that.
December 6, 2008 6:15 AM
Sounds very serious and it was written today at 6:15 a.m.
Praying for you JIB and wish I was there to help you get past it.
Grany
To my fellow believers,
I have a heavy heart that I would like to share with you.
The past several months I have seen so much hate and hard feelings everywhere I turn. On the radio, on TV, on the internet, in my incoming emails, from our political pundits, encumbents, and candidates, and even from our Christian broadcasters, and Christian op-eds. And so much doom and gloom. Do you know that there are people everywhere who actually believe that the fact that the republican party lost the elections to the democrats is the most important thing that could happen to any of us.
Do you get emails from Christian Ministries spouting hatred at those non-Christians like I do? Giving us lousy advice as to how to fight back and what we need to do. Just praying for the rapture to take place ASAP is not the right answer.
What is wrong with the world? People without Christ are lost in their sins and they are headed for hell unless we lead them to the Savior. We can't legislate salvation or better morals.
I find that a lot of people have a heart for lost people in foreign lands, it is not hard to pray for their salvation, but our next door neighbors, and all the people across the land who are so lost and say ugly things about Christ and His body, and who would like to do grievous things to us, they are not as easy to weep over, are they? Those people who advocate abortion, same-sex marriages, homosexual behaviors, pacifist attitudes towards people who desire more than anything to kill all the Christians and other religionists across the world who don't share their beliefs. No, not as easy as praying for our own family and friends and those without Christ in foreign lands. We rant about their ignorance, their sins, especially the ones that are most grevious to us. But God hates all sin, even ours.
But God does not hate the sinner, He gave His only begotten Son to pay the penalty for all sin. He provided the only redemption that will save them from the Lake of Eternal Fire. A changed heart brought about by redemption is the only thing that will make the sinner's heart clean.
The Church of Jesus Christ needs to repent and change our ways. We need to see people the way Jesus sees them, we need to weep and pray for them and share the gospel with everyone. Let's stop cursing the darkness and take the light to them before it is too late.
People are dying everyday all over the world. Today, may be their last day to find salvation. Yes, a lot of people are going to be here on that day that Jesus opens the sky and it rolls back for the whole world to see the King of Kings coming in His Glory, but many millions will have already gone out into eternity lost forever.
Please join with me in praying for a revival in each Christian heart that we will truly understand what the main thing is - not the economy, not the horrible politicians, but people who are lost and without hope. And we have the ONLY answer that they need.
Your Sister in Christ,
A Child of the King
P.S. Jib, joining in prayer for a speedy healing for you.
Child of the King;
Amen!!! It's so easy to forget that it's not "us" against "them" but us against the antichrist spirit of sin. We so easily seem to focus on "them" forgetting our own sinful nature. To have the "mind and heart of Christ" is to pray for the lost as well as being aware of our own sin nature.
Maranatha!
Shalom, all! I wanted to pass this on, just because.
There's been a real shocker in the Orthodox Church in America this week. Orthodox churches tend to organize around ethnic or linguistic lines: Greek Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Syrian Orthodox Church, etc. Services are usually held in the national language. This became a problem in America, where you might have someone from the Greek Orthodox Church marry someone from the Georgian Orthodox Church. They're both Orthodox, so that's not a problem, but which services (and which language) are they going use to worship?
So about 20 years ago, the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)was organized and became recognized within the worldwide Orthodox Communion. It solved a uniquely North American problem, since worship services were held in English, and it's a centerpiece of Orthodoxy in both America and Canada.
In the last couple of years, there's been a scandal within the OCA. About $4 million has simply evaporated. To quote the blog I'm going to link to,
"Rocked by a financial abuse scandal that's seen several top officials and hierarchs disciplined or even deposed from orders and its leader cleared out after an investigation, the million-member Orthodox Church in America's top council of clergy and laity received a stirring, prophetic call to conversion from its juniormost bishop -- a Texas auxiliary ordained to the episcopacy just eleven days earlier...
...then, hours later, said juniormost prelate -- a 49 year-old monastic who converted from Anglicanism before his 20th birthday -- was elected as the church's new head.
As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished."
You can read the blog entry that explains things here: Jonah and the Wow: An Orthodox Shocker, and here is a link to Ancient Faith Radio that has the speech he made that got him elected.
Definitely keeping Metropolitan Jonah in my prayers!
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Oh, wow.
After that last post, I clicked on a link in the blog entry that took me to the OCA home page. The first item of news was that His Holiness, Patriarch Aleksy II of Moscow and All Russia died yesterday.
This is significant to end times studies. There has been suspicion for years that Patriarch Aleksy was linked to the KGB. The common wisdom was that you didn't become prominent within the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) unless you had been vetted by (and possibly made a member of) the KGB. The relationship between Putin and the ROC has been very close. It will be very interesting to see who is picked by the Holy Synod to be the next Patriarch.
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Hi Scott,
I hope this finds you well today. I have been trying to get a post to you since you first shared your needs with us and I’m so thankful that you felt comfortable doing that. As the many replies can attest, you will be uplifted in prayer now and mountains will be moving shortly!
When I read your original post, my first inclination was to share a similar experience but I felt led to prayer instead. I asked for a passage to focus on as well and God took me to the story of Job. I resisted at first because I always feel like Job is the one story I don’t want to hear about when I’m struggling in my relationship with the Lord. His life is bad enough, but then his friends start harassing him and then God chastises him and he ends up in such a pitiful state. I didn’t want to make you feel that way, so I figured I’d just keep praying, but I know the passage was meant to be shared, so here it is…
Check out Job 3: 20-26. Those were the verses I read upon opening my Bible. Verses 20-24 mirror what you expressed in your post. It’s clear Job was indeed in depression. It’s also clear that he couldn’t identify the root cause of his struggles and his ‘friends’ suggested all kinds of reasons why such calamity had come upon him...they seemed to settle on unconfessed sin. (It’s interesting to note that God later chastises those same friends for taking their counsel too far into condemnation of Job! :)
But the next verse is what really stood out to me. Job admits something important: “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.” Before these terrible events, Job had already been worrying about them happening to him. I think this speaks to the power – real power – of fear and worry in our lives. When we get a cut on our skin, we know to apply antiseptic and bandage it to keep out infection. I think fear might be a spiritual version of this same process. Luke 12:32 and Isaiah 41:10 tell us not to fear. I used to read verses like that and take it like good advice from my grandfather….’Don’t drive too fast now!’ But I’m starting to consider it more of a strong command from God who knows the effect of letting fear and worry take up residence in my mind. It’s not just a suggestion…it’s a directive. It would be interesting to study the original texts to see what they reveal about the real meaning of those words. I think God knows that those attacks eventually influence the basis of our belief if we let them hang around long enough. Jesus talks about this very condition in Luke 6 when he talks about fruit and the overflow of our hearts.
I’ll share a personal example of how fear determined my path over the last 2 decades and I didn’t even realize it until recently. As I’ve mentioned a few times before, I’ve battled infertility since age 15. (OK – that sounds bad! I wasn’t trying to get pregnant then, but it was at that age when I first started having symptoms of trouble.) My doctor had no advice on how to fix things so the future held many questions for me…would I ever have children? Who would want to marry me knowing that biological children possibly weren’t in the picture? I found many ways to subvert those fears. At first, I made it a badge of honor, something that made me different from my friends. Then I convinced myself that I really didn’t want kids after all. When I started to get serious in college about my future-husband, I turned to pity and defensiveness. Once I realized I really did want children, the fears which I had held off for so long began to morph into anger and bitterness. Anger at my small-town doctors for not trying to help me a decade before. Anger toward my mom who accepted their answer and didn’t seem upset at the prognosis. Then came irrational anger at my husband who was willing to accept the fact that we might not have our own children and anger at every person I saw either pregnant or holding a small child. Eventually my whole life revolved around fertility doctor appointments and avoiding any situation that would remind me that I couldn’t have a child (that’s pretty much the whole world!) And all the while, fear-fed anger was percolating inside. All through those years, I don’t recall once really ever trying to reject that prognosis or cling to what the Word said about God planning good things for me. It got to the point where I couldn’t accept that blessings in this area of life were meant for me. I began to believe the lie that God had created me to be barren. I prepared myself for failure, thinking it would be easier to accept if I didn’t have my hopes up. I had short bursts of victory, but every month that went by knocked me back a few pegs. I even allowed myself to accept the idea of defeat as part of His plan for me! Crazy now that I look back on it!
My anger at God himself didn’t come until my second miscarriage. For me, that was the ultimate betrayal by my Heavenly Father and I decided that I couldn’t trust anything I had believed about Him before. I didn’t stop believing that He existed, but I began to consider Him like a bully who finds pleasure in taunting and humiliating the weaker ones around Him. I couldn’t pray, read the Bible or stand to be in church with others who were finding joy in His house. I remember Christmas Eve service in 2003, just a few months after the second miscarriage. The message of course was on the birth of Jesus and I just sat in the pew and wept. A total stranger turned around to me and hugged me and I crumpled into her arms. Within months I was in a full fledged depression and really didn’t care if one day I simply didn’t wake up. I’ve always said that the physical pain was terrible but short. The emotional pain was terrible and drawn out but the spiritual pain was endless and consuming. I, too, remember thinking it would have been so much easier to be an unbeliever at that point.
I did have one epiphany during those dark months which I will never forget. A few years before all this was happening, I had asked God to help me understand what it was really like for Jesus to face the cross alone. I felt like I had lost my understanding of the gravity of that day in His life and was taking what He did for granted. Well, it dawned on me one particularly bad day during my depression that the abandonment I was feeling was a small taste of what Jesus felt while hanging on the cross. Multiply it by billions for every soul that is separated from God and for whom Jesus died. It was such a humbling moment and for awhile I was able to praise Him and thank Him for doing that for me.
To wrap up this much longer than expected post, I did seek counseling from our church center and was blessed with a very wise and compassionate lady who I’m sure has a day job as an angel. It didn’t happen overnight, but eventually things began to seem lighter and more bearable. Now with those years behind us, I can see how God took things meant for harm and turned them into good. I also can see the role that fear played in those years and I often wonder if I had understood God’s command more clearly if I might have been able to steer away from those pitfalls. I recall how impossible it seems at this point to believe these claims we’re making about God’s love for you. Perhaps we can serve as middle-men (or middle-people) for you in belief of that truth while you rest and wait upon Him.
Blessings to you and your loved ones and looking forward to hearing about your victories, too!
Jen
Amen, Child, Amen!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, Jen, what a beautiful testimony! May God continue to bless you and use you in the wonderful way that He does; and may He bless your husband and your wonderful triplets!
<><
a Child of the King,
Wow! Yes! You hit the nail on the head! (once again!)
I'll join with you, in prayers for Revival! That's what this land needs.
Believers to repent, and do the works of Jesus.
Jen,
Excellent post!
Fear can become a self full filling prophecy in anyone's life.
Fear is also the opposite of Bible Faith.
There are many "fear nots," in Scripture. And with good reason.
just checking in
I have been feeling the effect of your prayers I'm sure since I really overdid today after being so ill yesterday-spent far too long on errands, much longer than intended so early bedtime tonight. I pretty much slept all day yesterday-only got out of bed for about 1 hour for any length of time and didn't eat or drink much of anything-yea I know not a good thing but didn't want to make good on the nausea either.
my stomach is still not very happy but it is happier than yesterday.
thank you so much for your prayers. I hope to be much better for tomorrow since my little man's bday party is tomorrow.
Child
I love the Thoene books. I have two of their series-the Zion Chronicles and one with a bunch of music names
Jen
I felt the same way about dating or should I say not dating. It didn't help that many of the christian girls I went to school with kept telling me that I couldn't possibly go into medicine and be married too. after all, who was going to cook and clean and bring hubby his slippers at the end of the day, with the newspaper. We each have our own hot button issues-kids, romance, jobs, illness and when things don't go quite the way we planned or want we go through the grieving stages just as if it were a death. While not a christian in so far as I know-Dr Kubler Ross has done seminal work on the process of grieving and whether one is a Christian or not it is very applicable.
The 5 stages of Grief
Scott,
may be reading this will help you also
Wow! Is all I can say about our trip to Tennessee. I played in snow, that was really great. We spoke with everyone we could about God and there is a revival of hearts going on in those mountains.
Now, I'm going to ask for prayer for several areas;
Lisa is still battling illness/hubby
Rosie's aunt has tongue cancer, due to her heart condition, operating is not an option.
Addison and Mia are battling a respiratory infection.
Judy's dad, Pops, just passed away Weds. unexpectedly. He was a believer. We will miss him, we camped with him on a regular basis.
We found a camp suitable for the vision that God gave us more than 20 years ago. We were not spiritually prepared as we are today. Now, we need the provision to make that happen, Lord willing.
We're not going to stress about it. If God's leading, he'll provide, but we are going to act. We are going to have a garage sale. "Make me an offer, will be our theme." God provided supernaturally for us this way once before.
Please pray for Miss Hattie who owns the property. She had to have part of her foot amputated.
Pray for our wisdom as we cling to Christ.
Thanks
lori
Jib, hopefully you will be fully recovered for your son's birthday. My husband got food poisoning many years ago...and it was the sickest I have ever seen anyone. Sorry you had to go thru it.
Lori, praying for your requests!
and everyone else's too!
Good God's Day everyone, hope you are all refreshed after your work week. I got out yesterday and enjoyed the day visiting with my friends here in Okieland. Some of them I hadn't seen in a long time and surprisingly we all met at Wally World. Great day out with the girls and some of their grandkids.
It is really amazing the crowd of shoppers at the mall yesterday and I only remember one gloomy face and that one belonged to a little girl who couldn't get what she wanted and pouted to high heaven. Of course, the fact that is missing is everything she saw, she wanted. Oh joy!
There are many very interesting things going on out in the world but you know, this is Sunday and I am taking a siesta from it for the day.
LORI you have my prayers and agreeing with you that it will come about where God gets all of the glory and you will just stand there and blink wondering "Wow, how did He do that?".
Sounds very inspiring to say the least. It is great having you back among us.
Child of the King, I totally agree with your comments yesterday and yes, it is true we have an easier time witnessing and caring for others at a distance than we do our next door neighbors. Remember the next door neighbor that would run inside his house everytime anyone came out? Well, hubby and the neighbor, Aaron, visited for quite a long time just this morning, out in the middle of the street and he is becoming a totally different man. So is hubby.
Come to find out, Aaron was born and raised in the area of northern India and yes, he is Hindu. He said that the conflict between Pakistan and India is ages old and in his opinion, which we find to be very truthful, the attackers did indeed belong to the group that Al Qaeda is strongly supporting. As they were talking, our neighbor to the south of us, also a minister of the Church of God, came out and visited also. They had just came back from lunch after church and hubby said it was a great visit.
Hope you all enjoy this day!
Grany
Lori - joining with you in prayer for all those issues.
I just came across this ARTICLE. Apparently atheist bloggers etc rallied against the Cincinnati Zoo’s partnership with the Creation Museum. This is a perfect example of atheistic activism. Activists championing minority causes can badger organizations to bend to their will – sometimes under threat of action by the ACLU. The challenge for Christians is to somehow get involved in these issues and yet remain prayerful and objective. It’s not easy.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
well, it's official. In just over 5 weeks, I will be Pastor Wayne. It is an incredible privilege and responsibility, and my prayer is that I will always remain a humble, listening servant of our Lord.
Thanks for your prayers for us.
We now get to move 750 miles and sell our current place in this slow market. We will have a parsonage to move to, but it would be nice to divest ourselves of these material bonds. I was also laid off last week, so I am free to concentrate on the business of moving, etc, while still enjoying this Christmas season.
In His loving care,
LW
Wow. I just finished watching the question and answer period of Joel Rosenberg and LGEN W. (Jerry) Boynkin (RET.) at the Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego.
I hope you all got to watch it too.
This morning's worship service was very good too.
If you missed it, it will be showing in their archives soon.
Hope you all had a great and restful LORD'S Day.
Keep on keeping on.
Your Sister in Christ,
A Child of the King
Ugh.
Evangelical leader supports 'gay' civil unions
Hi there!
We all made it safely back to CA.
The only one who didn't make it was the Hermit Crab. I think it got water logged on the bumpy
drive across country.
RIP }:
We went to the annual Christmas program @ Maranatha last night. One of the real Camels from the living nativity was walked through the Church. He had the fancy blankets on his hump & no mis-haps
w/the tail end.
Well-I have alot of catching up to do.
Glad to be back!
Oh-I've been thinking about this as well (but had not researched it yet)-the SD pastor Ray mentioned today that he's really been studying Josephus & Biblical Astrology. How the 12 Zodiac signs were origionally a communication from God to Man (in particular used in the pre-written word era)and how they represent God's plan in the redemption of man.
*So perhaps having a knowledge of God's origional purpose for the stars could assist in watching for the signs in the heavens in our day as well.
Lisa
Hi there!
We all made it safely back to CA.
The only one who didn't make it was the Hermit Crab. I think it got water logged on the bumpy
drive across country.
RIP }:
We went to the annual Christmas program @ Maranatha last night. One of the real Camels from the living nativity was walked through the Church. He had the fancy blankets on his hump & no mis-haps
w/the tail end.
Well-I have alot of catching up to do.
Glad to be back!
Oh-I've been thinking about this as well (but had not researched it yet)-the SD pastor Ray mentioned today that he's really been studying Josephus & Biblical Astrology. How the 12 Zodiac signs were origionally a communication from God to Man (in particular used in the pre-written word era)and how they represent God's plan in the redemption of man.
*So perhaps having a knowledge of God's origional purpose for the stars could assist in watching for the signs in the heavens in our day as well.
Lisa
Congratulations Wayne! I hope you'll keep in touch with us Cave dwellers after you take up your new role. I'll keep you in prayer.
Welcome back, Lisa!
Shalom, all!
Lisa, welcome back, and glad you had a safe trip!
Wayne, congrats!
Quick question: last year there was a DVD available that explained the different theories on the exact birthdate of Jesus, using astronomy and biblical information. Does anyone remember the name of that DVD? I'd like to buy a copy.
<><
Shalom, all! With the book recommendations that were going on earlier (So many books, so little time...) I wanted to recommend something very topical: 1 and 2 Maccabees! If they aren't in your copy of the Bible LMK and I'll steer you to an online edition. All I know is I started reading it and suddenly I could see what is in store for Christians in the coming months. The Maccabees leaving all their posessions behind to live in the hills, rather than deny G_D, as so many of their kinsmen were doing; and the fact that no matter what the odds were against them they relied totally on G_D for their victories, and were victorious beyond all belief.
<><
Could this be it, Jim?
The Star of Bethlehem
Mac, yes that's it! Thanks!
<><
Congratulations Wayne - awesome news!!!
Welcome back, Lisa!
Lori - am praying for all.
Jim, What is the online link to the Maccabees writings??? Sounds very intersting.
Wayne, congrats!
Lisa, welcome back. We had hermit crabs once too. they did not last long. Now we have a baby bearded dragon and our old dog.
Also, anyone...I would like to read from the book of Enoch. Are there any publications you could recommend or web sites??
Praise report..I had shared a prayer request a week or two ago about our jobs and money situation. The Lord has blessed my husband with a bathroom remodel contract. That will give us enough for the month! Also, had a great interview the other day at a health clinic, should find out about it today! Thanks for your prayers!
Diana
Diana - great news, Praise God!
I'm pretty sure I have a link to Enoch on my blog.
Anne, Marge & Child - Thanks for your comments.
I am finally feeling a bit like a "new & improved" me!
Covert marine operation uncovers Syria's return to plutonium production
Peres says he will meet Syrian president without preconditions
Syrian Actress: Hatred is in our genes; no peace treaty will change that
Bush promises Obama won't allow Iran nukes
Iran rejects Obama's 'carrot-and-stick' proposal
Iran says will not halt nuclear work despite U.S.
IDF preparing options for Iran strike
Iran and Ecuador sign 12 agreements on energy, oil, industry
Iran tests new missile from warship: reports
Israel's push for Iran strike may hurt U.S. ties
Next EU presidency wants to boost ties with Israel
Blair says that Palestinians and Israelis Reached a Secret Agreement
Element of surprise leaves Hebron settlers with little time to resist IDF evacuation
Rain stopped when Jews left Mideast
Robotics in Israel
Study Links Religion and Mental Health
Liberals clinically mad, concludes top shrink
Solana to discuss Russia-EU
Russian warship passes through Panama Canal to Pacific
Russia sends helicopters, peacekeepers to Chad
SWAT Team Like Raid by Ohio authorities on a farm house in LaGange
Book of Enoch online
a good reminder...
The fruit of kindness
"When the Holy Spirit controls your life, he will produce this kind of fruit in us:…kindness, goodness. Galatians 5:22 NLT"
In spite of it all
"On that ghastly Friday morning, which ironically has become known as "Good Friday," Jesus was a swollen, bloody mess. Most of his friends had hightailed it hours before, leaving him alone to face the physical agony of crucifixion, the emotional anguish of a jeering crowd, and the spiritual horror of separation from God the Father.
Yet during this entire nightmare, Christ responded, well, strangely. On the way to his execution, he paused to console a group of grief-stricken women. He used what little breath he was able to catch to pray for those who were so merciless to him. He demonstrated compassion and forgiveness to a criminal dying at his side. And he took pains, literally, to see that his grief-stricken mother below him would be cared for by a friend.
In the ultimate "tough time," Christ oozed kindness and goodness. And because his Spirit lives in us, we also have the capacity to use personal tragedy as an opportunity to care for others.
Praying God's Promise:
Cause your kindness and goodness to flow through me, Lord. It is not natural for me to think of others or to think of glorifying you, especially when my own life is filled with pain. Teach me to live supernaturally. I want to be selfless like you, Jesus, always looking for opportunities to bless others.
Congratulations LW, our prayers are with you as you take this journey in faith. God be with you and your family and may He pour out a blessing to you that you may not contain it.
Lisa and Lori
glad you both had a safe trip/travel
LW
how excellent for you
Diana
good news as well
Alesia
glad you are doing better
update on me
while not incapacitated to the extent that I was on Friday I am still not completely better. I need strength and stamina and an appetite
our son lost the first toy he ever bought with his own money-rough lesson to learn. there is still a chance that we could get it back as it was at church but then perhaps not. he is very disappointed because he bought it with his bday money.. a trifle to be sure but when you are 6...
It's called Christmas with a Capital C
Rom 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
Rom 1:29
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
Rom 1:30
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
Rom 1:31
they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Rom 1:32
Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
does this sound like our culture or not? especially when evangelicals say gay unions are ok? they invent ways to do evil.
another more important request and a praise-our new sunday school teacher is a former pastor who is also a covenant theologian-expressly says that the church now is in place of Israel although he admitted he didn't know why the actual state of Israel exists anymore since they are no longer God's people. i started panicking about needing in depth study material and where could I get this to refute these lies etc and then I remembered, on a "whim" I bought Frucht's Israelology book with some other stuff from amazon-turns out that is what this whole book is about. bought it 2 weeks before I knew I was going to need it-isn't God good?
Jen & Jim C,
Thank you for sharing your testimonies! They brought to my attention about how good I am at accepting defeat and how I struggle with dependency.
To Everyone:
These verses from 2 Timothy 3 go with what JIB has posted.
1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
6For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I've just been inspired to share one of my favorite spots on the world wide web with all of you.
If you like to sing God's praises and listen to fabulous singing, this is the spot for you.
http://gaither.com/gaithertv/
Every Monday afternoon, they show excerpts from a special DVD/CD presentation. It only changes once a week.
This week is a Gaither Homecoming, Christmas at Johannesberg, South Africa.
This special was made several years ago, as it shows our beloved Anthony Burger at the Piano. Anthony has gone on up, maybe he's getting the heavenly choir ready to welcome us who plan on joining them any minute.
Have a wonderful day!
Keep on keeping on.
Your Sister in Christ,
A Child of the King
Jib,
Yes! God IS good, and good all the time :) Amen!
Angie, and a child of the King,
Many thanks for sharing! It is so GREAT to "see" you here!
Love,
Marge
And welcome back to everyone else, too!
We just got back from the Eye Clinic and need your prayers for Jim's left eye. His sight is getting worse instead of better and his new glasses don't help. He is so disappointed and thinks there is nothing that can be done about it. Doubt and fear never won a battle and I just need patience to help him.
I have a bearded dragon too, Diana (I think it was you). But my dragon's name is Jim like in hubby.
LW - wonderful news and I know you are excited about it also. I am joining with all of the others here in praying for the fast and speedy real estate transaction in your favor.
Angie, I have found the recipe for the dark Fruit cake and I will type it and post as soon as I get hubby fed. The white fruit cake recipe is still hiding but never fear, I will keep looking.
Child I clicked on your link and as I am typing this I am listening to the wonderful music. Thanks for sharing that with us. It really has helped chase the gloom and doom away. Jim was listening and then decided to take a short nap. Thanks again.
JIB, it is good you are repairing and posting. I have missed you and Alesia and Lisa, the traveling one.
LISA, you know, I missed you too! By the way, how is SD? My brother lived there for many years while serving in the Coast Guard.
Well, I didn't want to miss anyone but hubby is up and hungry.
Talk to you all later.
Grany
Wilma,
If you'd like to hear a great song that I promise you can not sit still while listening, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C00senz1PHU&feature=related
I'm sorry I can't link, but if that doesn't take you there, go to youtube and search for:
Ernie Haase & SSQ +Gaither Vocal Band - Oh! What A Time
I just have to listen to this several times a day. I love it.
God didn't bless me in this earthly state with musical talent, but I'm hoping that when I get Home, I'll get to sing along with the heavenly choir.
Keep on keeping on
A Child of the King
From one of Lori's news links:
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has stated publicly that Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have reached a secret agreement. In an interview with the leading Palestinian daily Al Quds, Blair stated that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have resolved differences between them, although he was careful to note that this agreement has not been signed.
Hmmm...deja vu? I have this bridge I'd like to sell to Mr Blair...
Child of the King, I think you can count on getting to sing in the heavenly choir and why not the lead singer. But you know that I will not allow any rocks to praise the Lord for me, so I will count on joining you and maybe this time, I won't be needing to hide while I sing.
I am going to go listen to the youtube link you posted and see you all back here later.
Grany
OH, Child it was great and I am going back for more. Then on to bed so I can get my "beauty not" sleep.
Good night Mac, keep the lights on; nite JIB, Marge, Alesia, Donna, Lisa, Jim G. and Jim C., Diana, Anne, LW, Jeri SA, Kathy, Mr. Hyde, and everyone else. I am so sleepy I can hardly think.
Love all,
Grany
Grany,
Sleep well :)
You ARE beautiful, you know.
I'm about ready to blow the whistle, myself.
And go and read a little bit.
I'm half way thru reading, Conflict Free Living, by Joyce Meyer. It's excellent! But, then again, I've never read any Joyce Meyer books that weren't really good, either.
Love to all, and God bless!
And now for a world government
I want to thank all of you who gave me words of encouragement and prayed for me after I shared about the struggles I have had with my mom and stepdad. It was shortly before Thanksgiving that I shared and I did promise I would report back to you all.
As you may recall, I hadn't seen my mom or stepdad since last December (That was when I made the decision to cut off contact in an effort to protect my immediate family).
Well, Angie (my precious wife), Daniel (my precious son) and I had a simple and quiet Thanksgiving meal together at our home. After the meal, we were able go over to my mom's house for desert.
I called my mom on Thankgiving before the big meal. We hadn't even spoken since last December. We agreed to "start things fresh" and forgive each other though my mom did make it clear that she can't forget past hurts. (there's plenty of anger and frustration on both sides along with different perceptions of past actions and underlying motives on both sides). Anyway, the phone call was good in that it made me feel like the door was open to try to establish relationship again but it went poorly in terms of both of us getting a bit riled up and frustrated with each other.
Our actual visit for dessert was cordial. It was nice to have my older sister visiting along with my younger brother, my sister-in-law, and two of their five children. All love the Lord.
My little boy Daniel hadn't seen Grandma and Papa in nearly a year. He's only 2 years and 3 months old right now and he remembered them! He was very well behaved and charming. He told them he loved them, too. I could see my mom was touched by that.
So, I thank the Lord for the healing that he has begun. I still covet your prayers though as I know their is more work to be done in all of our hearts. Thank you again.
The godly wisdom, counsel, lovingkindness, encouragement, and grace that is in this little cave is amazing. I so want to meet any of you in person. I know we will all be together someday. Praise the Lord for that!
Excellent article regarding discernment. It's pretty brief.
PREPARED FOR THE SLAUGHTER:
The Disarming of the Church
By John Green
This A.W. Tozer quote at the end of the article is worth pasting here.
"The healthy soul, like the healthy blood system, has it's proper proportion of white and red blood cells. The red corpuscles are like faith: they carry the life giving oxygen to every part of the body. The white cells are like discernment: they pounce upon dead and toxic matter and carry it out to the drain. In the healthy heart there must be provision for keeping dead and poisonous matter out of the life stream." A.W. Tozer
Spiritual Adultery Bible Study Series: False Prophecy
Still keeping you in prayer, Jim G.
**********
The Real Threat to Democracy
Diana, Shalom!
I'm afraid your request for the texts of 1 and 2 Maccabees online as well as The Book of Enoch have lead me to a veritable cornucoapea ... cornucupula ... cornycop ... a whole lot of resources you might find interesting.
For Maccabees, go to The New American Bible. Since this is a Catholic bible, it follows the Septaguint list of the Old Testament canon, so you'll find these books -- as well as others -- all in one list. (I.e., they're not listed as apocrypha.) Towards the bottom of the first column you'll find both 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees as linked text. When you click on the link you'll see another set of links to individual chapters, as well as an "Introduction." The Introductions to each book are very good, and usually provide some context with other books of the bible or with historical events. The footnotes that appear in each chapter are also very useful.
1 Maccabees is a straight historical telling of the Maccabean revolt -- the last time Israel existed as an independent nation until 1948. It's the one I'm reading now that I believe fortells what we as Christians can expect. Personally, I would LOVE to see this made into a movie!
2 Maccabees is NOT a sequel to 1 Maccabees. Instead, it is a retelling of the Maccabean revolt from a more theological perspective. Read the Introduction for more details.
While you're at The New American Bible, go ahead and check out Sirach. It's one of the Wisdom books. Since it was written in Greek, it wasn't included in the Hebrew canon but was included in the Septaguint. You might be surprised at how much New Testament writings are echoes of what is written here. The part that speaks to me now is Sirach 2:1-11:
1
My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials.
2
Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.
3
Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great.
4
Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient;
5
For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.
6
Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.
7
You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall.
8
You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.
9
You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.
10
Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
11
Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble.
The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch) can be found online in several places. There are two translations available at http://www.sacred-texts.com/:
The Book of Enoch the Prophet, Translated by Richard Laurence [1883], and
The Book of Enoch, Translated by R.H. Charles [1917]
While Enoch may have an important place in understanding some of the early Jewish biblical authors, use great care in studying it. One reason it was not accepted as canonical by either the Jews or the Christians is that there is a very strong magical influence underlying it, and several pagan or "magik" religions use it as part of their study. At that "Sacred Texts" website, you'll find some pages devoted to "Enochian Magic" One of the pages devoted to this starts out with an editor's note:
NOTE: There may be some minor typos in this document, which, all things considered, is probably a good thing.
You also may be interested in reading The Book of Jasher (or "The Book of Jashar". This is a non-canonical text that is mentioned in two places in the Old Testament: Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18.
Enoch and Jashar are only two books that show how much oral tradition influenced (and still influences) biblical study. If you want an article that has enough external references to keep your interlibrary loan librarian busy for a month, read ORAL TRADITION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, by David Palm. He draws on many examples from the New Testament, the Old Testament, and rabbinical works to make his point.
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100 !!!!
Good God's Morning everyone! The sun came up this morning, the planets are all in their assigned places and all is right with the world. It's just the people who are messed up! LOL
OH, LORI, you don't look 100 darlin! Not in the least.
JIM G. I thank God for your report on Mom and Dad. A little child shall lead you all and it is the way it should be. Love got side tracked and I will keep you and yours in my prayers. But at least there was forward progress made and that is worth a shout of victory and praise.
JIM C. Thank you for the links to those additional sites on the Maccabees, Enoch and Jashar. I have been really curious about them and I am going to have a look see. A long time ago, I was given a Jerusalem Bible and I enjoyed reading it. Then someone, forgot who, borrowed it and I had completely forgotten it until you mentioned 1 and 2nd Maccabees. So, I went looking in my cache of returned books that I hadn't put back into their proper places. There it was and so I am enjoying reading it again. See you helped me get one more task taken care of and you didn't even know it.
I have to tell you about my wonderful final experience after I left the cave last night. You remember Child posted that link to the Gaither's Christmas in S. Africa? Well, I got started on the Gaither video listing and decided to sleep to the tune of the whole bunch. I went to sleep listening to them all singing and I sleep sweet and peacefully. It was great!
Time to get myself moving and doing, so will talk you to later.
Grany
Jim G,
I'm so glad to hear that you chose to call your mom. Love covers (throws a blanket over)a multitude of sins. Love begins as a choice...where would we be without God choosing to love us?!
Wilma and Child,
My dad loved Gaither. I think he had just about all the Homecoming videos. They were a comfort to him after his massive stroke. When we would go visit, he'd pull one out and I would sit and watch it with him. He's with the Lord now, rejoicing in His presence!
Scott,
How are you doing? I'm still thinking about you and praying for you.
Kathy
Kathy,
You are so right about love!
One of the new Chris Tomlin songs, (From his newest CD, Hello Love) includes the lyrics, (based on Scripture)
"Love is the answer,
Love will find a way..."
Have a wonderful day, and God bless!
All you mom's will love this video.
Child of the King;
I will join you in singing plus I am counting on the Lord to allow me to play some instruments too, Violin, piano. Psalm 150 :)
Jim C., Wow! Thanks for all of the info! Very happy to get it. I have never ever looked at any of these writings. I will be careful, also, with the book of Enoch. I really wanted to read these things for the historical contextm of things. i love history and biblical history is my favorite.
Jim G, Thanks for the update. Of course, How could your mother not be touched by your adorable son?! My youngest is 3 so I know how they can just touch a person right where they need it! :)
I have experienced a kind of renewing in my relationship with my own mother-in-law. I have to admit that I was harboring some bitter feelings and unforgiveness. The other day though the Lord spoke to my heart and had me take the kids to go visit her. I NEVER do that! Well, turns out that she had been feeling really down and lonely all weekend, especially since she had no grandkids over to help decorate her tree. Well, she was so happy to have my little boys to decorate her tree with her and to play with her. It was truly the Holy Spirit that lead me over there!
I am still waiting to hear back from the clinic that I interviewed with last week! Ben praying alot about this job. I called the manager yesterday and she is waiting to hear back from the departmental manager. I have not heard from them today. I am praying also for God's perfect timing on the whole thing. It is hard!!
Granny, how old is your bearded dragon? Ours is only 4 months or so. We had two other babies before him and we killed them somehow. It was sad. This one is thriving though! They are such cute things!
Gotta go make some cookies for when my girls get home from school!
Diana
Overcomer; I have heard that "mom song" before. LOVE it!
Jim C,
That part form Sirach that you posted is wonderful. Made me cry. Perfect timing. Thanks
Shalom
Diana, you asked:
Granny, how old is your bearded dragon? Ours is only 4 months or so. We had two other babies before him and we killed them somehow. It was sad. This one is thriving though! They are such cute things!
Gotta go make some cookies for when my girls get home from school!
Diana"
Oh, Diana, my bearded Dragon is 80 years old going on 81 very soon. Never had any babies from him in my household and it is sad. My Dragon is thriving also but he has been having some eye problems lately and he is handsome with his gray beard and fussing ways. But I quit making him cookies when he started having sugar problems. You see, Diana, my bearded dragon is my hubby and he tries to throw flames every so often but he forgets what he is doing and ends up frustrated. My Dragon is the love of my life and also, the dragon when he gets cranky. He gets cranky more often now and it takes a lot of care not to put him back in his place for his safety sake.
I was pulling your leg Diana and I should have made my remarks much clearer. I work hard to have a little fun once in a while.
Love you and hope you will forgive me this time.
Grany
Granny,
LOL!! :) I am so giggling right now. I get it now, "bearded dragon" Hee Hee.
Ya gotta have fun!
Diana
Wilma,
You made me laugh right out loud! I had you pegged at "gray beard".
Grany,
I was really impressed that you would own a "REAL" bearded dragon.
What a let down.
He He!
Lisa
Jim C.
Today's article was similar to "The Star of Bethlehem" DVD.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3077385/?GT1=43001
Interesting! I have a slightly different species here: a "mustached dragon"....who definitely likes to throw flames around, too!
:)
Grany
I'm beginnig to think I was the only one who got that you were referring to Jim as your bearded dragon. ah well. still pretty funny
if you all haven't subscribed to Bible Prophecy today you should do so-it's free and the articles are well worth reading.
I will be knee deep in Israelology tonight-spent quite a bit of time reading this am in Isaiah. very fascinating stuff. skimmed through Hosea. got started because I was looking up references to wife when God addresses Israel as such. beats me how anyone can think after even a cursory reading of is chpt 1-10 and esp chpt 54 (which is what I read through 1st and then went back and started at the beginning-will need to read the rest of the book) that anyone can believe in covenant theology. it's a mystery to me
Friends,
Please keep me in prayer tonight. Been really down. No reply yet per jobs that I have interviewed for and feeling a certain "heaviness" on me right now. Been fasting and praying every morning. Hubby seems upset with me even because I have not been able to obtain employment yet. He is wondering what is wrong with me and why no one has offered me a job! I just want to go to sleep right now but my 4 kids need me for a few more hours.
Thanks for your prayers saints
Diana
Diana,
Have you ever read any Joyce Meyer books? I know it's an odd answer to your request for prayer. However, I feel the urging of the Holy Spirit, to tell you, that what you are experiencing right now, is the enemy of your soul coming against you. Tell satan, and his cohorts to leave you, in the mighty name of Jesus! Right now!
I would also highly recommend reading, Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer. Very insightful.
And while we're at it, let's all agree with Diana, that God opens up the right door of employment for her, in the very near future.
Begin giving God praise and thanks for giving you a good job, in advance.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Remember the joy of the Lord is your strength, too!
Agreeing with you in prayer, for all your needs being met.
Love,
Marge
Oh Diana,
I am praying for you just now! Don't lose heart. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Is. 26:3. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Ph. 4:6,7
May God's peace stand as a sentry between your heart and the world's commotion! He is so good and trustworthy! Love those four wonderful little gifts and then I pray the Lord will give you rich, sweet sleep as you drift off with your thoughts on Him!
I am joining everyone in prayer, too, Diana!
Hang in there!
We all know it is not always so easy!
"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths" Proverbs 3: 5&6
Jim G Thank you for sharing what has been going on with your mother and the rest of your family!
How sweet of your precious son!
Please know we will continue lifting you all up in prayer!
Families can sure get nuts!
Diana, I too will be praying for you.
Today, as I was cleaning out a desk drawer, I came across something I'd written several years ago as a reminder. "I have all the evidence I need to know that the Lord hears my prayers." I think at the time I must have needed to remember the many times God took care of me when I was going through trials.
I will also be praying for your husband.
Jib, I got Grany's subtle joke, too, and was going to make a comment to Diana clearing it up for her. But, then I thought, no, Grany will do a much better job with her wit. She didn't disappoint me!
just received this email...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a " Holiday ".*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd!*
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*; * Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
* Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
Not Happy Holiday !*
keeping Diana, Jib & Jim G in prayer.
Very funny Grany!
All this beared dragon got me curious. Sounded like a plant or a flower of some sort. Ha!
This is for those who, like me, were wondering what a bearded dragon is.
Jim G,
That picture is so cute. Mine looks like the one second from top. I kinda feel like that bottom one at times, just add one more little one on top and that would be me! HA HA :)
I am feeling your prayers friends, thank you so much. I am so gald to have been invited to this cave. Bless all of you and goodnight!
Diana
Hi Diana,
I'll be keeping your needs in prayer and will stand in agreement with the others here that God will be faithful in keeping His promises to you and your family!
My husband and I are in the process of making a list of our blessings that we're going to share with the family on Christmas. He has been listing all the things we have already but I encouraged him to also list the things we don't have...a car in need of expensive repair, an elderly parent to care for, a child with a health concern, a crazy neighbor! And also the things that we aren't even aware of which we've been shielded from. All those are blessings, too, and recognizing them before the Lord will make it harder for Satan to get any traction in our thoughts.
I was pondering Psalm 22:3 (God inhabits in the praises of His people) recently because it's one of those verses that I haven't been able to quite wrap my mind around and I found this commentary that you might find helpful as well.
The Power of Praise and Worship
Have a blessed rest-of-the-week!
Jen
Ha Jim! You're thinking of snapdragons?
My brother has a 5-year old bearded dragon named Olive. I can't believe his wife lets him keep it. The aquarium size keeps getting bigger and bigger and takes up half the dining room. Another baby's on the way now, so not sure how long Olive will be around :-0
Hey all, apparently google doesn't like me anymore, and I don't have time to figure it out tonight... but it's really me.
Just wanted to mention to look at the bible prophecy today site. Interesting and chill inducing article on how the EU is going to form into 10 regions and if combined with the med union would have the exact borders of the old roman empire.
In His Grip,
Scott
More movement towards the revived Roman empire...
EU agrees on cultural heritage seal for top sites
Interesting reading...
Assyrians: The Instruments of God's Wrath Against Israel by Rodrigo Silva
Keeping all you guys in prayer.
Shalom, all! Thought you might find this cute. This couple came back from church to find a number of their ornaments on the floor and their cat in the tree:
Not a good start to the afternoon.....
<><
Seriously?!?
Block Puberty, Let Confused Teens Choose Gender
Diana,
You are in my prayers, but I also feel the need to share something that happened to me a few years back.
I was feeling very discouraged and down about myself. One day I was lying on my bed thinking and praying. I was thinking about what a mess I was and asked God what He saw in me. And He told me, "Look up."
I was lying on my side, and when I looked up, I was looking at the low, narrow shelf on my headboard. Specifically, I was looking at my geode bookends.
If the word "geode" doesn't ring a bell, you've no doubt seen them. From the outside, they are plain, ugly rock, but when cut open, they contain the most incredibly beautiful crystal formations.
We tend to look at ourselves and see the plain, ugly rock, but our heavenly Father sees what's inside that ugly rock, and He sees something incredibly beautiful.
So remember that He is working on your situation and when He looks at you, He sees beauty.
Angie
OH, Angie, that was absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful contrast and yes, Geode is something that takes everyone's breath away because they see the ugly outside and then oh, lo and behold it is mind boggling the beauty of it all inside.
I am still working on the fruit cake recipes and will post them to your site, if that is OK.
I am glad everyone got a chuckle and/or smile from my dragon explanation to Diana because joy chases away the gloom and darkness.
I have a friend who is continually optimistic and she has been through every kind of trial you can possibly imagine. Her oldest son was seriously hurt in a horrific motor accident and her heart was so heavy, not knowing what to do and for the first time in many, many years, broke down and sobbed for days. She walked into the room at the hospital one day and heard the doctor say that what this boy needed was some good cheer. So my friend, working hard to come up with it, said from the doorway, cheer up Chad, you wild and woolly mother is here and she isn't taking anymore of this crap from the devil. Chad's machines started showing an increase in activity and the staff of pros were totally amazed. Chad got to go home a few months later and he is still in a special care electric wheel chair but when things get really tough, he manages to make what sounds remarkably like a laugh. Even in his present state he is an inspiration.
My point, God cares more for your needs and person than you can ever imagine and he will move heaven and earth to supply them. You might not want the wait but I have found in the years and trials that my answers to a situation are not always God's best intentions and plans for my life. Let him direct you and I am agreeing with all of the others that your answer is right at the door and is perfectly designed just for your needs.
Diana, as Angie said, God sees us in a pure light and delights in our dependence on him. Just praise him with all of your heart, soul and mind and mix in a whole bunch of love.
Grany
Angie,
I was really and truly touched by your sharing with us.
You ARE a beautiful gift from God!
Grany,
I loved the story about your friend dealing with satan. None of us are going to get very far in our Christian walk, until we learn how to come against the forces of darkness, in the name of Jesus.
We are in the world, but not of the world.
Our citizenship is already in heaven, according to God's Holy Word.
Everyone, have a great, and blessed day in the Lord!
I'm going to get my hair foil frosted platinum blonde, in little awhile. It always puts a smile on my face :)
Angie; That was incredibly beautiful. I always loved geodes. I had a collection of them when I was a young girl. Thanks you.
Granny; Thank you too. I am also a very optomistic person, so much so in fact that in gets on my husband's pessimistic nerves. My faith is being stretched right now, but I understand that to be good thing.
I do love the Lord so. He has given me the ability to praise Him through all of the tough, painful places in my life. He is so incredibly amazing. In His great mercy, His Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin and need of Him 15 years ago. I will praise Him until I have no more breath in me and then I will praise Him perfectly in heaven.
Thank you to you all for your kind words and prayers
Diana
What wonderful messages!
:)
Maranatha!
New post at Joel's
Grany, I was wondering why you switched topic so fast between Angie's geodes and your fruitcake. Is there a similarity between them?
Wayne,
I don't know whay Grany did that, but I do know I've had fruitcakes that were about as hard as rocks :)
correction: that's "why"
Did you see the forecast for this weekend and next week Marge?! So. Cal sure sounds good on Monday!
Kathy,
It's good-well great weather really.A perfect 73 degrees. Rain this Sat/Sun perhaps.
The Jet that crashed here landed on a Christian family's home.
Immigrant doesn't blame pilot for deadly crash‘I don't have any hard feelings,’ he says after wife, 2 kids and relative killed.
I'm looking forward to those warm temps Lisa, even if it is rainy!
Was the crash close to you at all?
We should remember the husband in prayer. What a tenderhearted attitude he had towards the pilot.
New post is up.
May the Lord bless you all in the new day.
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