http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/ Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:52:43 -0700 MyBB http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1658.html Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:38:04 -0700 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1658.html
I still don't know if I would have wanted her to tell me.

I knew her family and friends only through my conversations with her. As they tearfully reminisced of her, I wondered if they realized how much they meant to her; how much of a blessing they were in her life.

I came to believe that this is the important part of the memorial service. We certainly should share the memories of those departed, but what is uppermost is not what a blessing they had bee to us, but what kind of blessing we were to them.

I have since reflected on those who have gone before me. I have tried to hear their words if I had been first. Would they be able to truthfully say that I was a special part of their lives? Would they be able to truthfully say that I made a difference? In other words, could they truthfully say all those wonderful things we hear so often after a death?

So many in my life have been a true blessing to me. I pray now that God helps me each day to in some way be a blessing to them.

Just a Thought by the C.]]>
I still don't know if I would have wanted her to tell me.

I knew her family and friends only through my conversations with her. As they tearfully reminisced of her, I wondered if they realized how much they meant to her; how much of a blessing they were in her life.

I came to believe that this is the important part of the memorial service. We certainly should share the memories of those departed, but what is uppermost is not what a blessing they had bee to us, but what kind of blessing we were to them.

I have since reflected on those who have gone before me. I have tried to hear their words if I had been first. Would they be able to truthfully say that I was a special part of their lives? Would they be able to truthfully say that I made a difference? In other words, could they truthfully say all those wonderful things we hear so often after a death?

So many in my life have been a true blessing to me. I pray now that God helps me each day to in some way be a blessing to them.

Just a Thought by the C.]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1657.html Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:03:34 -0700 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1657.html Oh! How I hated those leaves..

Suddenly, I remembered that just a few weeks back, as Vivian and I were driving home, we caught a glimpse of our home from the main road. There she was, set back from the side road nuzzled deep within the rainbowed colored trees that surrounded her. The bright colored reddish orange leaves perfectly blending with the light browns and deep yellows . A baby sleeping in her mother's arms couldn't look more content. Our house looked like a picture on an Autumn calender. How fortunate we were.
Oh! How I loved those leaves.

These were the same leaves that in the torturous heat of the summer gave me shade and protection from the fiery rays of the sun as I sat on the bench swing and read a book or watched the grandchildren playing in the pool. These same leaves were home to the variety of birds which became our singing neighbors in both spring and summer.
Oh! How thankful I was for those leaves.

And now, I thought, just because these same leaves have become old and will cause me what really is a small inconvenience, I complain and want nothing to do with them.
I can only hope I do not treat people like this.
Just a “Thought by the C.”]]> Oh! How I hated those leaves..

Suddenly, I remembered that just a few weeks back, as Vivian and I were driving home, we caught a glimpse of our home from the main road. There she was, set back from the side road nuzzled deep within the rainbowed colored trees that surrounded her. The bright colored reddish orange leaves perfectly blending with the light browns and deep yellows . A baby sleeping in her mother's arms couldn't look more content. Our house looked like a picture on an Autumn calender. How fortunate we were.
Oh! How I loved those leaves.

These were the same leaves that in the torturous heat of the summer gave me shade and protection from the fiery rays of the sun as I sat on the bench swing and read a book or watched the grandchildren playing in the pool. These same leaves were home to the variety of birds which became our singing neighbors in both spring and summer.
Oh! How thankful I was for those leaves.

And now, I thought, just because these same leaves have become old and will cause me what really is a small inconvenience, I complain and want nothing to do with them.
I can only hope I do not treat people like this.
Just a “Thought by the C.”]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1656.html Sun, 20 Dec 2009 08:53:02 -0700 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1656.html
As my username suggests, my name is Jason. I hope this post doesn't end up too long for you all, but I feel like I have a lot to say. I'll try my best to keep it short and to the point. Those of you who continue, thank you.

I seem to be going through the hardest trial of my life right now. But allow me to back up a bit to explain how I got here...

Back in 2007, I was living a life of pride, with not much of a care of Christ. I suppose I believed in him, but I didn't really think much of him. I was doing what a lot of 23 year old guys do: partying, getting drunk, trying my hardest to have sexual relations with all the "hot" girls. Luckily, I never got in too deep it seems (we never do really), and looking in retrospect, it's because even though I wasn't looking out for God, he was certainly looking out for me. He was protecting me.

In May of that year, a former crush and me came back into contact after six years of not seeing each other. It was the first time we had seen each other and talked since high school. We acknowledged that back then we had crushes on one another, and were too scared or too insecure to tell the other one. Needless to say, that was in the past, and we fell in love within two weeks.

Now, just so you understand the love that I'm describing, this isn't the type of love you just throw around. In fact, I never believed that I would fall in love, ever, until it just happened with her. I had never loved anyone else. I genuinely cared for her, over the cares that I had for myself.

She came up in a Christian household, and was filled with guilt over the feeling that she never measured up in God's eyes. Me, never having came up in a Christian household, couldn't fully understand this Christianity she spoke of... at least not right away. In the coming months, I started going to church with her (here and there, not every Sunday), I read books about God's word and His purpose for me. I more and more started to realize that this girl I fell in love with brought God too me! Or, more so, that God worked through he to bring Himself to me! It was a wonderful thought.

We kissed, and we made love. We sinned in this regard, I know. But I can tell you that I did everything with love, and because I wanted to wed this girl. I suppose I could of resisted more, had I had more of a Christian upbringing, but it was hard for me to resist being sexual with her. If I had it all back to do again, I'd like to think I would be strong enough to resist, and save it for marriage. At any rate, understand that all the sexual experiences I had before this woman were devoid of love, and every experience with her was over saturated with love. I feel it's here that I became bound to her.

I feel like I was a good lover. She told me I was the most selfless, Christ-like lover that she had ever been with. Her needs trumped mine, and nothing pleased me more than fulfilling her needs.

She would tell you to this day that she was not the lover I was. She would willingly admit that she was selfish, unforgiving, and worst of all, emotionally and physically abusive. Why you ask? Any number of reasons... I wasn't the best dish-washer, I wasn't the most organized soul, I wasn't more of a Christian leader in our relationship. But one thing was for certain... I loved her with a genuine love. I forgave her, and loved her through all of this. I couldn't have persevered without God... It was the love and forgiveness of Christ that I modeled my love after.

After two and a half years, things were really bad. I kept trying and trying, but in the end, I was broken. I couldn't seem to give anymore. I couldn't seem to forgive anymore! She called the relationship off (something she had done many times before with hasty words), but this time I left willingly.

I didn't know it at the time, but I realize now that Satan found a foothold inside of me. I became bitter, and full of a hidden hatred. This was a hatred in my love, for not loving me as much, or in the ways that I loved her. It was also a hatred for God, for not giving me what I wanted. My mind told me, "Comon, God, I loved her with every ounce of my spirit, to the best of my ability. Through you I forgave and loved, yet YOU let her abuse me and remain unresicprocal towards my love!" Of course, it was foolish of me to allow myself to become angered at God... but I was deceived at the time. I fell into pornography. Something I have struggled with in my past from time to time, but I fell into it due to this bitterness, and loneliness. This killed my love... hurt her to the core. It hurt her I'd say just as much that it hurt me that she emotionally and physically abused me. In other words, we both hurt each other in various ways... and in the ways that we could maximize the hurt in the other one (curse the devil for this).

She wanted to get back with me, but I was so bitter that I said no. I told her we were not together, and I was single. For two months (September and October 2009) I lived for myself. I wanted to have fun. I did some drinking. I yearned to kiss another, or perhaps even beyond. But once again, like God did back in 2007, He did not allow this, and He protected me. I didn't kiss anyone, nor did I become sexually involved with anyone else (Thank God so much!). But I was still bitter. Because of my uncaring attitude, I hurt my love badly. She did what she had to do to stop the hurt, and she ceased contact with me.

I came to find out that during this time, she went to God. She read, and she went to church more. With me having abandoned her and living for myself, God was the only person she could turn to. In this time, she let go of me, and put it in God's hands. She claims she's never been closer to God.

After a few weeks, I came to realize how much of a priority she is for me. I love her, how could I have let her go... how could I have lived selfishly and lived for me alone, when she was right there in front of me? Lord how I have sinned. Lord how I was wrong to anger at her and at you. To anger at You who had blessed me with her in the first place.

We started talking again in the middle of November. In repentance I dropped the porn, and any masturbation whatsoever. I'm putting my sexuality in God's hands, having faith that he will provide the pleasures that are needed, and he will provide them when they are needed.

I yearned to give our relationship another go. Another try where once and for all, God was installed as the foundation of our relationship. I feel that I can do this properly this time. We have hung out as friends, and I've gone the extra mile with my actions to indicate that I want to work for her... I want to love her through actions for the rest of this lifetime. God brought us to one another for many reasons and lessons... and it's a miracle that we're still talking... I personally feel that God still has more in store for us. It's as if God is telling me that there is no other love for me. I have given myself to her, and Love - true love - isn't something to go throwing out the window, and then giving it to another. No. True love is something to fight for. Something to hang your hat on in life. I want to make this work.

But no, my love isn't having it. She had to let me go. She tells me that she still loves me. She hasn't written me off. She tells me that perhaps, in time, she would still marry me. She emphasizes that we are single. And it's here where I enter the hardest trial I've ever had to go through:

While we weren't talking, she kissed a co-worker. A guy into drugs and alcohol. A guy who drinks on the job. A fornicator. A man without God. Luckily, it was just a one time thing, and my love acknowledges that she is not interested in a man like that. As you can imagine, this hurt beyond belief, but it's forgiven. I still want my love.

But no. We are single. An ex-boyfriend has come to town (just this weekend) - one she broke up with due to pornography and lack of honest communication. It's a fact that he is more physically attractive than I, at least in certain aspects. A man that has gone on to sleep and fool around with more woman than I ever have, including one he impregnated, left, and then came to find out she had a miscarriage.

My love planned on spending this whole weekend with him while he's home. I get a call on Friday while at work, and my love explains that they hung out last night, and they kissed. She continues explaining that she doesn't love him... but that there is some potential, that he's better than me in ways, and I'm better than him. She says that he is not the selfless lover that I am, or the communicator that I am. Again she reminds me that she loves me, and has not written me off, and that one day - perhaps - we will still marry. Then she says she doesn't want me to call while they are together this weekend, but instead she will call me (my mind tells me that "Of course she doesn't... she doesn't want you to interrupt any "kissy" time, and that once she's done with her fun, then she'll call you").

This hurts me to the core. I'm still in love, and she says she loves me, so how can she do this. Isn't this a direct sign that she's choosing to let go of my love... she's choosing to forget... to devalue this love? It hurts alright. But this time I WILL NOT be angry with the Lord, and I will not betray him.

I ask, "Do you plan to kiss him more?"

"I'm open to it" she says.

"Do you plan to do more than kiss?"

"I'm open to it," she says, "as long as I don't feel like I'm doing anything wrong."

It's this that kills me. I feel forsaken. There is nobody for me. My family is not there for me in the ways of God (never have been, remember), and now I'm forced to sit back and imagine my love (who claims she still loves me) being involved with another man sexually. It hurts badly.

For the last 48 hours, I have talked more with God than I ever have in that amount of time before. I have read more of His word than I ever have before. Specifically His word about trusting him, and waiting with courage. I know I need to hand it over and trust that God's knows what I want (my love), knows what I need (only he knows), and knows the difference between the two. I have taken my petition to Him (my love and I wed and love in His image), I have asked for a miracle. Some hours are better than others. Some hours I feel like Christ is right there with me (I was literally hugging a pillow imagining that Christ was holding me, allowing me to cry on his shoulder - I understand that I was!). Other hours, I weep, and feel more alone and depressed than I have ever felt before. Satan and his demons allow images of my love locked with him sexually... countering what she said, that she wouldn't do anything she felt was wrong... but being seducted and tempted and even enjoying whatever occurs.

I need God more than ever. This is probably the closest I'll come to having a Job-like trial (or I can only hope). I watched Passion of the Christ for strength. If Christ went through that for us, than I can endure this for him. But it's hard.

Fellow believers, please pray for me. And for my love. Pray that God does not leave us. Pray that I can hand over my trust to Him, and that I will be OK with not getting what I want. I want His will over mine, but I want to love this woman he blessed me with for the rest of our lives. In his image.

Please pray. And certainly offer advice if you have it.

But please pray.]]>
As my username suggests, my name is Jason. I hope this post doesn't end up too long for you all, but I feel like I have a lot to say. I'll try my best to keep it short and to the point. Those of you who continue, thank you.

I seem to be going through the hardest trial of my life right now. But allow me to back up a bit to explain how I got here...

Back in 2007, I was living a life of pride, with not much of a care of Christ. I suppose I believed in him, but I didn't really think much of him. I was doing what a lot of 23 year old guys do: partying, getting drunk, trying my hardest to have sexual relations with all the "hot" girls. Luckily, I never got in too deep it seems (we never do really), and looking in retrospect, it's because even though I wasn't looking out for God, he was certainly looking out for me. He was protecting me.

In May of that year, a former crush and me came back into contact after six years of not seeing each other. It was the first time we had seen each other and talked since high school. We acknowledged that back then we had crushes on one another, and were too scared or too insecure to tell the other one. Needless to say, that was in the past, and we fell in love within two weeks.

Now, just so you understand the love that I'm describing, this isn't the type of love you just throw around. In fact, I never believed that I would fall in love, ever, until it just happened with her. I had never loved anyone else. I genuinely cared for her, over the cares that I had for myself.

She came up in a Christian household, and was filled with guilt over the feeling that she never measured up in God's eyes. Me, never having came up in a Christian household, couldn't fully understand this Christianity she spoke of... at least not right away. In the coming months, I started going to church with her (here and there, not every Sunday), I read books about God's word and His purpose for me. I more and more started to realize that this girl I fell in love with brought God too me! Or, more so, that God worked through he to bring Himself to me! It was a wonderful thought.

We kissed, and we made love. We sinned in this regard, I know. But I can tell you that I did everything with love, and because I wanted to wed this girl. I suppose I could of resisted more, had I had more of a Christian upbringing, but it was hard for me to resist being sexual with her. If I had it all back to do again, I'd like to think I would be strong enough to resist, and save it for marriage. At any rate, understand that all the sexual experiences I had before this woman were devoid of love, and every experience with her was over saturated with love. I feel it's here that I became bound to her.

I feel like I was a good lover. She told me I was the most selfless, Christ-like lover that she had ever been with. Her needs trumped mine, and nothing pleased me more than fulfilling her needs.

She would tell you to this day that she was not the lover I was. She would willingly admit that she was selfish, unforgiving, and worst of all, emotionally and physically abusive. Why you ask? Any number of reasons... I wasn't the best dish-washer, I wasn't the most organized soul, I wasn't more of a Christian leader in our relationship. But one thing was for certain... I loved her with a genuine love. I forgave her, and loved her through all of this. I couldn't have persevered without God... It was the love and forgiveness of Christ that I modeled my love after.

After two and a half years, things were really bad. I kept trying and trying, but in the end, I was broken. I couldn't seem to give anymore. I couldn't seem to forgive anymore! She called the relationship off (something she had done many times before with hasty words), but this time I left willingly.

I didn't know it at the time, but I realize now that Satan found a foothold inside of me. I became bitter, and full of a hidden hatred. This was a hatred in my love, for not loving me as much, or in the ways that I loved her. It was also a hatred for God, for not giving me what I wanted. My mind told me, "Comon, God, I loved her with every ounce of my spirit, to the best of my ability. Through you I forgave and loved, yet YOU let her abuse me and remain unresicprocal towards my love!" Of course, it was foolish of me to allow myself to become angered at God... but I was deceived at the time. I fell into pornography. Something I have struggled with in my past from time to time, but I fell into it due to this bitterness, and loneliness. This killed my love... hurt her to the core. It hurt her I'd say just as much that it hurt me that she emotionally and physically abused me. In other words, we both hurt each other in various ways... and in the ways that we could maximize the hurt in the other one (curse the devil for this).

She wanted to get back with me, but I was so bitter that I said no. I told her we were not together, and I was single. For two months (September and October 2009) I lived for myself. I wanted to have fun. I did some drinking. I yearned to kiss another, or perhaps even beyond. But once again, like God did back in 2007, He did not allow this, and He protected me. I didn't kiss anyone, nor did I become sexually involved with anyone else (Thank God so much!). But I was still bitter. Because of my uncaring attitude, I hurt my love badly. She did what she had to do to stop the hurt, and she ceased contact with me.

I came to find out that during this time, she went to God. She read, and she went to church more. With me having abandoned her and living for myself, God was the only person she could turn to. In this time, she let go of me, and put it in God's hands. She claims she's never been closer to God.

After a few weeks, I came to realize how much of a priority she is for me. I love her, how could I have let her go... how could I have lived selfishly and lived for me alone, when she was right there in front of me? Lord how I have sinned. Lord how I was wrong to anger at her and at you. To anger at You who had blessed me with her in the first place.

We started talking again in the middle of November. In repentance I dropped the porn, and any masturbation whatsoever. I'm putting my sexuality in God's hands, having faith that he will provide the pleasures that are needed, and he will provide them when they are needed.

I yearned to give our relationship another go. Another try where once and for all, God was installed as the foundation of our relationship. I feel that I can do this properly this time. We have hung out as friends, and I've gone the extra mile with my actions to indicate that I want to work for her... I want to love her through actions for the rest of this lifetime. God brought us to one another for many reasons and lessons... and it's a miracle that we're still talking... I personally feel that God still has more in store for us. It's as if God is telling me that there is no other love for me. I have given myself to her, and Love - true love - isn't something to go throwing out the window, and then giving it to another. No. True love is something to fight for. Something to hang your hat on in life. I want to make this work.

But no, my love isn't having it. She had to let me go. She tells me that she still loves me. She hasn't written me off. She tells me that perhaps, in time, she would still marry me. She emphasizes that we are single. And it's here where I enter the hardest trial I've ever had to go through:

While we weren't talking, she kissed a co-worker. A guy into drugs and alcohol. A guy who drinks on the job. A fornicator. A man without God. Luckily, it was just a one time thing, and my love acknowledges that she is not interested in a man like that. As you can imagine, this hurt beyond belief, but it's forgiven. I still want my love.

But no. We are single. An ex-boyfriend has come to town (just this weekend) - one she broke up with due to pornography and lack of honest communication. It's a fact that he is more physically attractive than I, at least in certain aspects. A man that has gone on to sleep and fool around with more woman than I ever have, including one he impregnated, left, and then came to find out she had a miscarriage.

My love planned on spending this whole weekend with him while he's home. I get a call on Friday while at work, and my love explains that they hung out last night, and they kissed. She continues explaining that she doesn't love him... but that there is some potential, that he's better than me in ways, and I'm better than him. She says that he is not the selfless lover that I am, or the communicator that I am. Again she reminds me that she loves me, and has not written me off, and that one day - perhaps - we will still marry. Then she says she doesn't want me to call while they are together this weekend, but instead she will call me (my mind tells me that "Of course she doesn't... she doesn't want you to interrupt any "kissy" time, and that once she's done with her fun, then she'll call you").

This hurts me to the core. I'm still in love, and she says she loves me, so how can she do this. Isn't this a direct sign that she's choosing to let go of my love... she's choosing to forget... to devalue this love? It hurts alright. But this time I WILL NOT be angry with the Lord, and I will not betray him.

I ask, "Do you plan to kiss him more?"

"I'm open to it" she says.

"Do you plan to do more than kiss?"

"I'm open to it," she says, "as long as I don't feel like I'm doing anything wrong."

It's this that kills me. I feel forsaken. There is nobody for me. My family is not there for me in the ways of God (never have been, remember), and now I'm forced to sit back and imagine my love (who claims she still loves me) being involved with another man sexually. It hurts badly.

For the last 48 hours, I have talked more with God than I ever have in that amount of time before. I have read more of His word than I ever have before. Specifically His word about trusting him, and waiting with courage. I know I need to hand it over and trust that God's knows what I want (my love), knows what I need (only he knows), and knows the difference between the two. I have taken my petition to Him (my love and I wed and love in His image), I have asked for a miracle. Some hours are better than others. Some hours I feel like Christ is right there with me (I was literally hugging a pillow imagining that Christ was holding me, allowing me to cry on his shoulder - I understand that I was!). Other hours, I weep, and feel more alone and depressed than I have ever felt before. Satan and his demons allow images of my love locked with him sexually... countering what she said, that she wouldn't do anything she felt was wrong... but being seducted and tempted and even enjoying whatever occurs.

I need God more than ever. This is probably the closest I'll come to having a Job-like trial (or I can only hope). I watched Passion of the Christ for strength. If Christ went through that for us, than I can endure this for him. But it's hard.

Fellow believers, please pray for me. And for my love. Pray that God does not leave us. Pray that I can hand over my trust to Him, and that I will be OK with not getting what I want. I want His will over mine, but I want to love this woman he blessed me with for the rest of our lives. In his image.

Please pray. And certainly offer advice if you have it.

But please pray.]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1655.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:37:27 -0700 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1655.html
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

If we truly "love God", and if everything we do reflects this perfectly, then everything we do dovetails perfectly with everything He is doing for us. That is the ideal. In practice of course we are imperfect. We are imperfect in our knowledge, in our faith, and in our application. But "doing what is well-pleasing to Him" is indeed the key to doing His will and, consequently, what is most beneficial to us in every way. In broad terms we know exactly what is "His will". We know He wants us to be saved, and, once saved, to follow His Son our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That means growing in the truth by hearing it and believing it, putting that truth into practice in all we think, say and do, making progress in our walk, and making progress in the preparation for and implementation of the particular ministries to the Body to which we have been severally called.

God gives us a good deal of leeway in how we approach more mundane and general matters. As Paul says, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not". We are soldiers who have been entrusted with a very important mission (spiritual growth, progress, and production). But our commanding officer has left it in our hands precisely how we are to go about it. As we grow and proceed, things will become more and more clear to us in regards to our particular path, and as the Spirit makes things clear to us in general terms, it is our responsibility to respond both generally and specifically. For example, if we are called to go to seminary, it behooves us to prepare in all appropriate ways for that experience ahead of time (that would certainly be "the will of God"). But as far as the more mundane specifics of our life are concerned, we are charged with growing spiritually, and our spiritual growth, the building up of our consciences, and the ever more clear testimony of the Spirit to our hearts as we grow will all combine to increase our "spiritual I.Q." so as to give us the guidance we need to figure out whether a particular action (or refraining from action) is truly "profitable" or not. We know not to sin, of course. And as we become more convinced about what it Jesus is calling us to do in this life, we begin to make decisions which are supportive of that specific mission we have been given. Indeed, the more "reward motivated" we become (and in the Christian life the motivation of eternal rewards is not only legitimate but extremely important), the more we find ourselves deferring present comfort and enjoyment for the sake of the "mission". You only have to take a look at a person like Paul to see what near perfect "mission-dedication" looks like. Paul came as close as anyone ever has (outside of our Lord Jesus whose approach was perfect of course) to subordinating his personal wants and desires to the "best possible" response to the Will of God, and as a result his eternal reward will be one of the greatest for all eternity.

It is not as if there is only one possible outcome or that every decision hinges on some very specific communication of the will of God to us (in cases where a contemplated action or inaction is not sinful). We have free-will faith, and that is at its essence the ability (and opportunity) to respond to the Lord by doing what is well-pleasing to Him. This "first best will" is not a matter of passive decisions concerning the mundane and largely unimportant things of life -- unimportant, that is, if divorced from our overall purpose. This "first best will" only even comes into play once we have begun to move forward spiritually, once we have decided to seek Him and follow Him, once we have begun to discover and */believe/* His truth, putting it into practice in our lives not only defensively (by avoiding sin), but offensively (by growing, applying the truth to life, passing tests, and serving Jesus through our spiritual gifts). It is only in that light that this question even becomes important. That is because for the vast majority of Christians who are sitting on their hand and not growing, progressing and producing, asking "what is God's will?" is absolutely ridiculous: God's will is that they get up and get moving, start seeking the truth, believe and apply it, start passing tests and living the Word, start following Jesus */forward/*, and begin to employ their gifts in the service of the growth of His Body the Church. Only then does this question become relevant, and, inevitably, when it does the person in question is already largely */doing/* God's will, so that more mundane questions on this score begin to answer themselves. Once we begin to ask ourselves "Is this the best way to carry out my mission? Will this help or hinder my efforts to gain the maximum possible reward in this life", then we are very close to seeing the will of clearly in all things great and small.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

In the One who will reward us for everything we have done for Him on that great day of days, our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless!]]>
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

If we truly "love God", and if everything we do reflects this perfectly, then everything we do dovetails perfectly with everything He is doing for us. That is the ideal. In practice of course we are imperfect. We are imperfect in our knowledge, in our faith, and in our application. But "doing what is well-pleasing to Him" is indeed the key to doing His will and, consequently, what is most beneficial to us in every way. In broad terms we know exactly what is "His will". We know He wants us to be saved, and, once saved, to follow His Son our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That means growing in the truth by hearing it and believing it, putting that truth into practice in all we think, say and do, making progress in our walk, and making progress in the preparation for and implementation of the particular ministries to the Body to which we have been severally called.

God gives us a good deal of leeway in how we approach more mundane and general matters. As Paul says, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not". We are soldiers who have been entrusted with a very important mission (spiritual growth, progress, and production). But our commanding officer has left it in our hands precisely how we are to go about it. As we grow and proceed, things will become more and more clear to us in regards to our particular path, and as the Spirit makes things clear to us in general terms, it is our responsibility to respond both generally and specifically. For example, if we are called to go to seminary, it behooves us to prepare in all appropriate ways for that experience ahead of time (that would certainly be "the will of God"). But as far as the more mundane specifics of our life are concerned, we are charged with growing spiritually, and our spiritual growth, the building up of our consciences, and the ever more clear testimony of the Spirit to our hearts as we grow will all combine to increase our "spiritual I.Q." so as to give us the guidance we need to figure out whether a particular action (or refraining from action) is truly "profitable" or not. We know not to sin, of course. And as we become more convinced about what it Jesus is calling us to do in this life, we begin to make decisions which are supportive of that specific mission we have been given. Indeed, the more "reward motivated" we become (and in the Christian life the motivation of eternal rewards is not only legitimate but extremely important), the more we find ourselves deferring present comfort and enjoyment for the sake of the "mission". You only have to take a look at a person like Paul to see what near perfect "mission-dedication" looks like. Paul came as close as anyone ever has (outside of our Lord Jesus whose approach was perfect of course) to subordinating his personal wants and desires to the "best possible" response to the Will of God, and as a result his eternal reward will be one of the greatest for all eternity.

It is not as if there is only one possible outcome or that every decision hinges on some very specific communication of the will of God to us (in cases where a contemplated action or inaction is not sinful). We have free-will faith, and that is at its essence the ability (and opportunity) to respond to the Lord by doing what is well-pleasing to Him. This "first best will" is not a matter of passive decisions concerning the mundane and largely unimportant things of life -- unimportant, that is, if divorced from our overall purpose. This "first best will" only even comes into play once we have begun to move forward spiritually, once we have decided to seek Him and follow Him, once we have begun to discover and */believe/* His truth, putting it into practice in our lives not only defensively (by avoiding sin), but offensively (by growing, applying the truth to life, passing tests, and serving Jesus through our spiritual gifts). It is only in that light that this question even becomes important. That is because for the vast majority of Christians who are sitting on their hand and not growing, progressing and producing, asking "what is God's will?" is absolutely ridiculous: God's will is that they get up and get moving, start seeking the truth, believe and apply it, start passing tests and living the Word, start following Jesus */forward/*, and begin to employ their gifts in the service of the growth of His Body the Church. Only then does this question become relevant, and, inevitably, when it does the person in question is already largely */doing/* God's will, so that more mundane questions on this score begin to answer themselves. Once we begin to ask ourselves "Is this the best way to carry out my mission? Will this help or hinder my efforts to gain the maximum possible reward in this life", then we are very close to seeing the will of clearly in all things great and small.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

In the One who will reward us for everything we have done for Him on that great day of days, our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless!]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1654.html Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:53:58 -0700 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1654.html http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1653.html Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:02:26 -0700 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1653.html
May we find so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and throughout this holiday season. May the joy of the Lord be yours and may we find peace and comfort as we gather as family.]]>
May we find so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and throughout this holiday season. May the joy of the Lord be yours and may we find peace and comfort as we gather as family.]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1652.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:10:53 -0700 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1652.html
God Bless!]]>
God Bless!]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1650.html Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:25:15 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1650.html full of grace and truth." John 1:14.

"But even as you abound in everything - in faith, and in Word, and in knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love in us - that you should abound in His grace." 2 Cor 8:7.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self-sufficiency you may abound to every good work." 2 Cor 9:8.

"That being justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:7.

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and we may find grace for help in the time of need." Heb 4:16.

"But working together, we also call on you, not to receive the grace of God in vain." 2 Cor 6:1.

"How much worse punishment do you think he will be thought worthy to receive having trampled on the Son of God, and having counted the blood of the Covenant in which he was sanctified common, and having insulted the Spirit of Grace." Heb 10:29.

"Beloved, when I gave diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, beloved, it was needful to write unto you, and exhort you that we should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. For certain men crept in secretly, those who have been of old marked out to condemnation, ungodly ones perverting the grace of God for unbridled lust, and denying the only Master, God, even our Lord Jesus Christ." Jude 3,4.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin ("Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness and sin is lawlessness" - 1 John 3:4) that grace may abound? Let it not be! We who died to sin, how shall we still live in it?" Rom 6:1.

"And everyone having this hope on Him purifies himself even as that One is pure. Everyone practicing sin is also practicing lawlessness and sin is lawlessness. And ye know that He was revealed to bear our sins; and sin is not in Him. Everyone remaining in Him (walks in His Spirit) does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him nor known Him. Matt 7:21-23.

Little children, let no one lead you astray; the one practicing righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. The one practicing sin is of the Devil; because the Devil sins from the beginning. For this the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the Devil. Everyone begotten of God does not sin, because His seed abides in him, and he is not able to sin, because he is born of God.

By this the children of God and the children of the Devil are revealed: Everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God; also the one not loving his brother. Because this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain was of the evil one, and killed his brother. And for what did he kill him? Because his works were evil, but the things of his brother were righteous.

Do not marvel, my brothers if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brothers. The one not loving the brother remains in death. Everyone hating the brother is a murderer, and you know that every murderer does not have everlasting life abiding in him.

By this we have known the love of God, because the One laid down His soul for us: and on behalf of the brothers, we ought to lay down our souls. Whoever has the means of life of the world, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3 (This entire message is from the Greek.)

"Blessed are the ones doing His commands, that their authority will be over the tree of life, and by the gates they may enter into the city." Rev 22:14.]]> full of grace and truth." John 1:14.

"But even as you abound in everything - in faith, and in Word, and in knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love in us - that you should abound in His grace." 2 Cor 8:7.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self-sufficiency you may abound to every good work." 2 Cor 9:8.

"That being justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:7.

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and we may find grace for help in the time of need." Heb 4:16.

"But working together, we also call on you, not to receive the grace of God in vain." 2 Cor 6:1.

"How much worse punishment do you think he will be thought worthy to receive having trampled on the Son of God, and having counted the blood of the Covenant in which he was sanctified common, and having insulted the Spirit of Grace." Heb 10:29.

"Beloved, when I gave diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, beloved, it was needful to write unto you, and exhort you that we should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. For certain men crept in secretly, those who have been of old marked out to condemnation, ungodly ones perverting the grace of God for unbridled lust, and denying the only Master, God, even our Lord Jesus Christ." Jude 3,4.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin ("Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness and sin is lawlessness" - 1 John 3:4) that grace may abound? Let it not be! We who died to sin, how shall we still live in it?" Rom 6:1.

"And everyone having this hope on Him purifies himself even as that One is pure. Everyone practicing sin is also practicing lawlessness and sin is lawlessness. And ye know that He was revealed to bear our sins; and sin is not in Him. Everyone remaining in Him (walks in His Spirit) does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him nor known Him. Matt 7:21-23.

Little children, let no one lead you astray; the one practicing righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. The one practicing sin is of the Devil; because the Devil sins from the beginning. For this the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the Devil. Everyone begotten of God does not sin, because His seed abides in him, and he is not able to sin, because he is born of God.

By this the children of God and the children of the Devil are revealed: Everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God; also the one not loving his brother. Because this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain was of the evil one, and killed his brother. And for what did he kill him? Because his works were evil, but the things of his brother were righteous.

Do not marvel, my brothers if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brothers. The one not loving the brother remains in death. Everyone hating the brother is a murderer, and you know that every murderer does not have everlasting life abiding in him.

By this we have known the love of God, because the One laid down His soul for us: and on behalf of the brothers, we ought to lay down our souls. Whoever has the means of life of the world, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3 (This entire message is from the Greek.)

"Blessed are the ones doing His commands, that their authority will be over the tree of life, and by the gates they may enter into the city." Rev 22:14.]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1649.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:39:52 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1649.html
God Bless!]]>
God Bless!]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1648.html Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:36:11 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1648.html Brother Dave]]> Brother Dave]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1647.html Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:43:58 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1647.html Around the world, Christians are being persecuted for their faith. My grandparents went to China as missionaries. The Communists went to every house in their village, and killed all foreigners, except their house. My grandfather was arrested by Mao Tse Tung, put on trial, with a gun held to his head. He was ordered to renounce his faith. Instead, he preached the gospel to thousands of Communist Chinese. They threw him into a dungeon. Meanwhile, my grandmother fled with the three children into the wilderness. My father, a very cerebral Pathologist said, bandits would ride up, slit your clothes (looking for valuables) and kill you. Out of nowhere, there was a sound of a bugle and it scared them off.

My grandfather prayed to the Lord, to take him home, or, set him free. That day "someone" came and opened the door. He thought he was going to be executed. Instead, he led him to the Hong Kong Harbor. He found his family and went to Singapore.

We are living in the last days, persecution is going to arise. When the church was being persecuted by Saul, the Lord said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, who art Thou Lord? And the Lord said, I AM Jesus, whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks...Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Acts 9:4-6.

Jesus said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake." Matt 5:11.

Jesus said, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matt 5:44.

There are Christians all over the world, that have experienced persecution. Radical Islam and radical Hindus are persecuting Christians in their own countries. But we hear them say, "Persecution only makes us stronger." Can we say that? Muslims in Iran are having dreams and visions of Jesus and are coming to Him. I heard a testimony by a former Muslim the other day, saying, that, there are over 15 million Muslims that are now Christians. There are Christian meetings of over 2 million strong in Nigeria. In Israel, there are over 180 Messianic congregations - those who believe, that, Jesus is the Messiah. God is pouring out His Spirit so much in China, that, they do not have enough pastors. Thousands of Christians disappear every year in North Korea. God is pouring out His Spirit in northern Europe, in Cuba, and in South America. We are approaching the end of all things.

Jesus said, "But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word, and anon with joy he receiveth it. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for awhile: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended." Matt 13:21.

The Apostle Paul said, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor 12:10.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ, shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:35-39.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim 3:12.

"And I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge, and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Rev 6:9,10.

Are we ready to be persecuted for our Lord Jesus Christ?]]> Around the world, Christians are being persecuted for their faith. My grandparents went to China as missionaries. The Communists went to every house in their village, and killed all foreigners, except their house. My grandfather was arrested by Mao Tse Tung, put on trial, with a gun held to his head. He was ordered to renounce his faith. Instead, he preached the gospel to thousands of Communist Chinese. They threw him into a dungeon. Meanwhile, my grandmother fled with the three children into the wilderness. My father, a very cerebral Pathologist said, bandits would ride up, slit your clothes (looking for valuables) and kill you. Out of nowhere, there was a sound of a bugle and it scared them off.

My grandfather prayed to the Lord, to take him home, or, set him free. That day "someone" came and opened the door. He thought he was going to be executed. Instead, he led him to the Hong Kong Harbor. He found his family and went to Singapore.

We are living in the last days, persecution is going to arise. When the church was being persecuted by Saul, the Lord said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, who art Thou Lord? And the Lord said, I AM Jesus, whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks...Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Acts 9:4-6.

Jesus said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake." Matt 5:11.

Jesus said, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matt 5:44.

There are Christians all over the world, that have experienced persecution. Radical Islam and radical Hindus are persecuting Christians in their own countries. But we hear them say, "Persecution only makes us stronger." Can we say that? Muslims in Iran are having dreams and visions of Jesus and are coming to Him. I heard a testimony by a former Muslim the other day, saying, that, there are over 15 million Muslims that are now Christians. There are Christian meetings of over 2 million strong in Nigeria. In Israel, there are over 180 Messianic congregations - those who believe, that, Jesus is the Messiah. God is pouring out His Spirit so much in China, that, they do not have enough pastors. Thousands of Christians disappear every year in North Korea. God is pouring out His Spirit in northern Europe, in Cuba, and in South America. We are approaching the end of all things.

Jesus said, "But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word, and anon with joy he receiveth it. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for awhile: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended." Matt 13:21.

The Apostle Paul said, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor 12:10.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ, shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:35-39.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim 3:12.

"And I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge, and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Rev 6:9,10.

Are we ready to be persecuted for our Lord Jesus Christ?]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1646.html Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:06:22 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1646.html I am sure that you all know of the oathe where they come up to you if you are a witness in a judicial trial to "swear on the Bible" to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help ye God" before you can take the stand as a witness?

I wish to point out a conundrum in what I see as an offense other than the obvious ignoring of Jesus's own words about not swearing an oathe to do so. Matthew 5:33-37

We have all seen this being done: The prosecuters will direct the witness to answer only in a yes or no answer, but not all questions can be answered truthfully in a yes or no answer. The situation is compounded because as the witness have sworn to tell the whole truth, but cannot honestly answer the question in a yes or no answer, the judge will hold the witness in contempt for not answering in a yes or no format.

The law is forcing you by an oathe to tell the whole truth, but the law process in the court room prevents you from doing so, and yet all eyes are on you to be a honest witness on the stand, not only before mankind, but before God as well.

What is really irritating is that as much as everyone will say that no one is above the law, former President Clinton committed perjury, and he did not get punished for it. I am surprised that society allowed this to occur. If our leaders do not follow the examples, then what is the point of the oathe if the higher judicial courts do not uphold them?

Getting to the root of the matter, what good is making that oathe to tell the truth? It doesn't make one tell the truth.

One can go to the stand and be informed to tell the truth to the best of their ability as directed and warned that there will be a penalty for lying or purposefully giving a false witness. One can stress the matter of telling the truth by stating what that penalty is. One does not need to make an oathe or swear to tell that "whole" truth on the Bible, especially when the parameters of the court process prevents them from doing so.

Seems that if anything should be dropped in this country, the oathe at the witness stand should have been dropped a long time ago by God fearing believers. ]]> I am sure that you all know of the oathe where they come up to you if you are a witness in a judicial trial to "swear on the Bible" to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help ye God" before you can take the stand as a witness?

I wish to point out a conundrum in what I see as an offense other than the obvious ignoring of Jesus's own words about not swearing an oathe to do so. Matthew 5:33-37

We have all seen this being done: The prosecuters will direct the witness to answer only in a yes or no answer, but not all questions can be answered truthfully in a yes or no answer. The situation is compounded because as the witness have sworn to tell the whole truth, but cannot honestly answer the question in a yes or no answer, the judge will hold the witness in contempt for not answering in a yes or no format.

The law is forcing you by an oathe to tell the whole truth, but the law process in the court room prevents you from doing so, and yet all eyes are on you to be a honest witness on the stand, not only before mankind, but before God as well.

What is really irritating is that as much as everyone will say that no one is above the law, former President Clinton committed perjury, and he did not get punished for it. I am surprised that society allowed this to occur. If our leaders do not follow the examples, then what is the point of the oathe if the higher judicial courts do not uphold them?

Getting to the root of the matter, what good is making that oathe to tell the truth? It doesn't make one tell the truth.

One can go to the stand and be informed to tell the truth to the best of their ability as directed and warned that there will be a penalty for lying or purposefully giving a false witness. One can stress the matter of telling the truth by stating what that penalty is. One does not need to make an oathe or swear to tell that "whole" truth on the Bible, especially when the parameters of the court process prevents them from doing so.

Seems that if anything should be dropped in this country, the oathe at the witness stand should have been dropped a long time ago by God fearing believers. ]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1645.html Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:04:36 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1645.html I cannot seem to find any Biblical reference anywhere of vows being made in marriage in the King James Bible.

There is a hint of it here:

Proverbs 31:1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

But it is vague since the vows could be regarding the raising of her son. One can do a word search at Bible Gateway and not fnd vow and marriage or vow and marry together at all. When one does a word search on vow, the above verses are the only thing that comes close, but it cannot mean marriage vows since it is of the mother regarding her son.

Have mankind added to God's covenant of marriage with unnecessary boasts of the flesh to love one another for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, and in sickness and in health till death do them part?

If we look at the covenant of marriage and see what God does:

Mark 10: 5And Jesus answered and said .... 6But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

... have mankind become vain by adding boastful vows of love?

1 Corinthians 13:4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Oh, I admit to being swooned by the lovely words of Shania Twain as she sang her song, "From This Moment On" which is a combination of hers and her first husband's wedding vows spliced together in forming that song, but as much as I had watched that music video and seeing her sing it that I could believe those words, the reality is, she is divorced and has another man as an interest in her life.

So the reality of the situation is: have we become religious in our marriage that it is susceptible to failure? Could that be the reasons for the many divorces today?

Back around the year 1994, a believer in Jesus Christ was asked by the parents of the girl he wanted to marry to make a commitment to follow Christ before he got permission to marry their daughter. He did. Three months after the marriage, the believer complained that he dod everything he could to please his wife, and she is off having that consoling relationship with another man... the same man I heard that girl talked about in passing by her one day at work about how she felt sorry for him and how much he needed her. By His grace, I stopped and reminded her about her engagement. She agreed and informed me that she knew all about commitments and trailed off to whatever she was mumbling in lower volume in saying that I had nothing to worry about. Well, that marriage is over.. as she went on to marry another as the believer did as well; much to my trying to correct them both by the Word of God to come back together again after praying and fasting, but the rug got pulled out from ministering any further when the senior pastor brown-nosed to the popular and the rich by preaching that it was not an unforgiveable sin to get a divorce:

The same preacher who seemed to have much confidence in the Promise Keepers' program to get men where they belong in the home, church, and community.

So not only are religious prideful men and women are making man-made bondages in God's covenant of marriage, but they are adding to God's New Covenant in living the christian life by the flesh as well.

Sometimes believers need to take a step back and relook at what God has done before thinking about adding anything to it, and walk humbly before their God.

I mean, really. Marriage vows has not proven to keep a couple together anymore than the commitment to follow Christ can help a believer follow Jesus.

Marriage is God's idea: not man's. Does anyone think that if two homosexuals or two lesbians get married legally in the USA, that God has joined them together by their vows? Certainly not.

So neither is there a necessity for marriage vows when God is the One joining them together, male and female, as one flesh.

And neither does God have any confidence in the flesh for any believer to live the christian life by keeping that commitmeent to follow Him because when we came to Jesus Christ for salvation, we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ as we are to live by that same faith by the grace of God in living that christian life also, thus just shall live by faith as we are known as the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ to be witesses of the Good News to man: Galatians 3:26 Galatians 2:20-21

Brings the whole meaning to ... Galatians 5:1 John 6:28-29 Philippians 1:6 ]]> I cannot seem to find any Biblical reference anywhere of vows being made in marriage in the King James Bible.

There is a hint of it here:

Proverbs 31:1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

But it is vague since the vows could be regarding the raising of her son. One can do a word search at Bible Gateway and not fnd vow and marriage or vow and marry together at all. When one does a word search on vow, the above verses are the only thing that comes close, but it cannot mean marriage vows since it is of the mother regarding her son.

Have mankind added to God's covenant of marriage with unnecessary boasts of the flesh to love one another for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, and in sickness and in health till death do them part?

If we look at the covenant of marriage and see what God does:

Mark 10: 5And Jesus answered and said .... 6But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

... have mankind become vain by adding boastful vows of love?

1 Corinthians 13:4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Oh, I admit to being swooned by the lovely words of Shania Twain as she sang her song, "From This Moment On" which is a combination of hers and her first husband's wedding vows spliced together in forming that song, but as much as I had watched that music video and seeing her sing it that I could believe those words, the reality is, she is divorced and has another man as an interest in her life.

So the reality of the situation is: have we become religious in our marriage that it is susceptible to failure? Could that be the reasons for the many divorces today?

Back around the year 1994, a believer in Jesus Christ was asked by the parents of the girl he wanted to marry to make a commitment to follow Christ before he got permission to marry their daughter. He did. Three months after the marriage, the believer complained that he dod everything he could to please his wife, and she is off having that consoling relationship with another man... the same man I heard that girl talked about in passing by her one day at work about how she felt sorry for him and how much he needed her. By His grace, I stopped and reminded her about her engagement. She agreed and informed me that she knew all about commitments and trailed off to whatever she was mumbling in lower volume in saying that I had nothing to worry about. Well, that marriage is over.. as she went on to marry another as the believer did as well; much to my trying to correct them both by the Word of God to come back together again after praying and fasting, but the rug got pulled out from ministering any further when the senior pastor brown-nosed to the popular and the rich by preaching that it was not an unforgiveable sin to get a divorce:

The same preacher who seemed to have much confidence in the Promise Keepers' program to get men where they belong in the home, church, and community.

So not only are religious prideful men and women are making man-made bondages in God's covenant of marriage, but they are adding to God's New Covenant in living the christian life by the flesh as well.

Sometimes believers need to take a step back and relook at what God has done before thinking about adding anything to it, and walk humbly before their God.

I mean, really. Marriage vows has not proven to keep a couple together anymore than the commitment to follow Christ can help a believer follow Jesus.

Marriage is God's idea: not man's. Does anyone think that if two homosexuals or two lesbians get married legally in the USA, that God has joined them together by their vows? Certainly not.

So neither is there a necessity for marriage vows when God is the One joining them together, male and female, as one flesh.

And neither does God have any confidence in the flesh for any believer to live the christian life by keeping that commitmeent to follow Him because when we came to Jesus Christ for salvation, we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ as we are to live by that same faith by the grace of God in living that christian life also, thus just shall live by faith as we are known as the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ to be witesses of the Good News to man: Galatians 3:26 Galatians 2:20-21

Brings the whole meaning to ... Galatians 5:1 John 6:28-29 Philippians 1:6 ]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1644.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:28:22 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1644.html ]]> ]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1643.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:28:39 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1643.html King James Bible

1 Peter 4:16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. KJV

The reference to the righteous in verse 18 is towards the Jews, because that verse followed those that obey not the Gospel of God as the righteous are grouped together with the ungodly and sinners to serve as a contrast of those that obey not the Gospel of God.

So the righteous in verse 18 has nothing to do with believers in Jesus Christ.

I read verse 19 as those that suffer are to entust the keeping of their souls "to him" as "unto our faithful Creator" in well doing. The "in well doing" is informing us in how our faithful Creator is keeping our souls. This was written to bring us peace while we, as believers, suffer, thus the meaning of these scriptures places the emphasis on Jesus Christ while we suffer.

Now compare the reading of these scriptures from the other modern versions in how they defer from the meaning in the King James Bible in what was intended to bring us peace while we suffer.

New International Version

[URL="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NIV"]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NIV[/URL]

New American Standard Bible

[URL="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NASB"]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NASB[/URL]

I can see why believers think their salvation is conditional from these two links above.

The term "commit" has been changed from its meaning of entrusting as in "He will do it.." to the religious definition of "commit" meaning as in "I will do it.."

I can see why believers do not see anything wrong with making that man-made bondage to Christ or to follow Christ because of the implication from those two links above.

So let us consider the reality of our relationship with Christ. Do we tell a suffering believer to quit his whining because he made a commitment to follow Christ or do we not pray with him for the Lord to help him through his trials? Which action and words do you think speaks of us and which action and words speaks of Him?

And for the One that is helping us, should we not show that faith by not speaking of ourselves in our commitments to Him so that others may see the hope and the emphasis in living this christian life being on Jesus Christ so that they will have reasons to look to Him and to praise Him more?

The following links are close to the meaning in the King James Bible, but again, it is hiding the truth of what was meant to bring us peace while we suffer as the emphasis is on the believer in doing good.

English Standard Version

[URL="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=ESV"]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=ESV[/URL]

New King James Version

[URL="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NKJV"]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NKJV[/URL]

Since the scriptures are to testify of Jesus Christ ( John 5:39-40 )and those that love His words will keep them ( John 14:23-24 ), this is another example of how a little leaven leavens into a whole lump from the modern translations, robbing many of the full joy of their salvation in Christ Jesus. ( 1 John 2:5 )

So for all those that believe they have not been saved yet, even though they believe in Jesus Christ and for all those that believe that their salvation is conditional, do read the King James Bible of whatever references from the other modern translations is being used in false teachings to deny the One that bought you when you came to Jesus to believe in Him as your Saviour.

May the joy of your salvation be restored so we can bear witness of the Good News that we are saved as we can live by faith in the Son of God to live as His in loving others as He loved us. 1 Peter 2:24-25 ]]> King James Bible

1 Peter 4:16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. KJV

The reference to the righteous in verse 18 is towards the Jews, because that verse followed those that obey not the Gospel of God as the righteous are grouped together with the ungodly and sinners to serve as a contrast of those that obey not the Gospel of God.

So the righteous in verse 18 has nothing to do with believers in Jesus Christ.

I read verse 19 as those that suffer are to entust the keeping of their souls "to him" as "unto our faithful Creator" in well doing. The "in well doing" is informing us in how our faithful Creator is keeping our souls. This was written to bring us peace while we, as believers, suffer, thus the meaning of these scriptures places the emphasis on Jesus Christ while we suffer.

Now compare the reading of these scriptures from the other modern versions in how they defer from the meaning in the King James Bible in what was intended to bring us peace while we suffer.

New International Version

[URL="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NIV"]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NIV[/URL]

New American Standard Bible

[URL="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NASB"]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NASB[/URL]

I can see why believers think their salvation is conditional from these two links above.

The term "commit" has been changed from its meaning of entrusting as in "He will do it.." to the religious definition of "commit" meaning as in "I will do it.."

I can see why believers do not see anything wrong with making that man-made bondage to Christ or to follow Christ because of the implication from those two links above.

So let us consider the reality of our relationship with Christ. Do we tell a suffering believer to quit his whining because he made a commitment to follow Christ or do we not pray with him for the Lord to help him through his trials? Which action and words do you think speaks of us and which action and words speaks of Him?

And for the One that is helping us, should we not show that faith by not speaking of ourselves in our commitments to Him so that others may see the hope and the emphasis in living this christian life being on Jesus Christ so that they will have reasons to look to Him and to praise Him more?

The following links are close to the meaning in the King James Bible, but again, it is hiding the truth of what was meant to bring us peace while we suffer as the emphasis is on the believer in doing good.

English Standard Version

[URL="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=ESV"]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=ESV[/URL]

New King James Version

[URL="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NKJV"]http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204:16-19&version=NKJV[/URL]

Since the scriptures are to testify of Jesus Christ ( John 5:39-40 )and those that love His words will keep them ( John 14:23-24 ), this is another example of how a little leaven leavens into a whole lump from the modern translations, robbing many of the full joy of their salvation in Christ Jesus. ( 1 John 2:5 )

So for all those that believe they have not been saved yet, even though they believe in Jesus Christ and for all those that believe that their salvation is conditional, do read the King James Bible of whatever references from the other modern translations is being used in false teachings to deny the One that bought you when you came to Jesus to believe in Him as your Saviour.

May the joy of your salvation be restored so we can bear witness of the Good News that we are saved as we can live by faith in the Son of God to live as His in loving others as He loved us. 1 Peter 2:24-25 ]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1642.html Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:39:50 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1642.html The Truth

You cannot be saved by being a 'good person':

"For by grace are ye saved through faith...Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8a-9 KJV)

And there are not 'many paths’ to God, there's only One:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6 KJV)

The Bible tells us that everyone is a sinner:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23 KJV)

You must realize that there is a punishment for sin:

"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23a KJV)

This does not mean only physical death, but also spiritual death:

"...fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28b KJV)

Jesus died on the cross for your sins:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 KJV)

And then He rose from the dead, conquering death:

"Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;" (Acts 10:40 KJV)

Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, eternal life becomes a free gift from God:

"...by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5:18b KJV)

"...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23b KJV)

But just like any gift, it doesn't become yours until you receive it. To receive God's gift of eternal life you must call on the name of the Lord:

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13 KJV)

Time is growing short and you should not put off your decision. The Bible tells us:

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)

There is no other way to be saved than by Jesus, and there is no better time than now to receive salvation.]]> The Truth

You cannot be saved by being a 'good person':

"For by grace are ye saved through faith...Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8a-9 KJV)

And there are not 'many paths’ to God, there's only One:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6 KJV)

The Bible tells us that everyone is a sinner:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23 KJV)

You must realize that there is a punishment for sin:

"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23a KJV)

This does not mean only physical death, but also spiritual death:

"...fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28b KJV)

Jesus died on the cross for your sins:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 KJV)

And then He rose from the dead, conquering death:

"Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;" (Acts 10:40 KJV)

Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, eternal life becomes a free gift from God:

"...by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5:18b KJV)

"...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23b KJV)

But just like any gift, it doesn't become yours until you receive it. To receive God's gift of eternal life you must call on the name of the Lord:

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13 KJV)

Time is growing short and you should not put off your decision. The Bible tells us:

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)

There is no other way to be saved than by Jesus, and there is no better time than now to receive salvation.]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1641.html Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:00:44 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1641.html
Genesis 6: 5And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Again, after the Flood:

Genesis 8: 18And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: 19Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. 20And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Now during the Roman era, there was a time when christians were spectacles at the Coliseum to be slaughtered by beasts and warriors. We think of the callousness of these people as spectators, but I do wonder what has propelled them: the sin that got the world flooded, which from that came the love of violence and gore?

Are we, as believers, being desensitize to the violence and worldly sins so dramatically displayed in movies and the media? Have the spectacles become the spectators?

One could argue that it isn't real, and so it doesn't count.

But the main thing God was upset about was that every thought of man was wicked. Do we really need the world to force feed their garbage through our eyes into the body of the Temple of the Holy Spirit? Do we really believe we can walk away from watching these shows and not be influenced in any way?

And some of those video games: the violent actions taken within are hardly to dwell on, let alone "entertain" ourselves with them.

Luke 11:34The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

The American way is to fight back: but Jesus' way is to suffer ourselves to be defrauded.

The American way is evil triumph when good men do nothing so do something.. anything, but Jesus's way is turn the other cheek.

The American way is logical, rational, practical, and realistic, to make a difference.. to make the world a better place to live, but Jesus's kingdom is not of this earth.

The American way is to kill the enemy, but Jesus' way is to love them.

The American way can be answered to by mighty men and nobles of this great nation, but not very many mighty men and nobles are called to the receiving of the gospel of grace.

1 Corinthians 4:8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

Is what I am sharing in this thread the warning Paul was speaking of?

Or is it the warning against complacency of living in a blessed society that we forget that the world will hate us, defraud us, hurt us, walk all over us, and even kill us just because we are believers in Jesus Christ? Could the complacency lead a believer to go with society in being a spectator rather than submit to being a spectacle?]]>
Genesis 6: 5And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Again, after the Flood:

Genesis 8: 18And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: 19Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. 20And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Now during the Roman era, there was a time when christians were spectacles at the Coliseum to be slaughtered by beasts and warriors. We think of the callousness of these people as spectators, but I do wonder what has propelled them: the sin that got the world flooded, which from that came the love of violence and gore?

Are we, as believers, being desensitize to the violence and worldly sins so dramatically displayed in movies and the media? Have the spectacles become the spectators?

One could argue that it isn't real, and so it doesn't count.

But the main thing God was upset about was that every thought of man was wicked. Do we really need the world to force feed their garbage through our eyes into the body of the Temple of the Holy Spirit? Do we really believe we can walk away from watching these shows and not be influenced in any way?

And some of those video games: the violent actions taken within are hardly to dwell on, let alone "entertain" ourselves with them.

Luke 11:34The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

The American way is to fight back: but Jesus' way is to suffer ourselves to be defrauded.

The American way is evil triumph when good men do nothing so do something.. anything, but Jesus's way is turn the other cheek.

The American way is logical, rational, practical, and realistic, to make a difference.. to make the world a better place to live, but Jesus's kingdom is not of this earth.

The American way is to kill the enemy, but Jesus' way is to love them.

The American way can be answered to by mighty men and nobles of this great nation, but not very many mighty men and nobles are called to the receiving of the gospel of grace.

1 Corinthians 4:8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

Is what I am sharing in this thread the warning Paul was speaking of?

Or is it the warning against complacency of living in a blessed society that we forget that the world will hate us, defraud us, hurt us, walk all over us, and even kill us just because we are believers in Jesus Christ? Could the complacency lead a believer to go with society in being a spectator rather than submit to being a spectacle?]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1640.html Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:09:34 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1640.html
This is what seperates the vessels unto honour, the elect, the chosen.. from the vessels unto dishonour, the called, but the foolish virgins and the prodigal sons as many are called but a few are chosen. That is why believers are warned against false prophets and sowing to the flesh in reaping corruption. Fighting the good fight is keeping the faith wherein there is reward: obtaining salvation which is in Christ Jesus WITH eternal glory ( 2 Timothy 2:10) as a vessel unto honour: the chaste bride.

Those left behind, Jesus will finish what He had started in them in that they had been bought with a price and sealed as His thus proving that the prodigal son is still son and the foolish virgins that did not have oil for their lamps: they will, so they will shine as witnesses of what Christ has done as Saviour for believing in Him. As there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus with the stipulation that they walk not after the flesh, so is in the love of God, that nothing shall seperate us as God the Father shall chasten every child He receives for as the Father, His wrath will fall on the "sons" of disobedience so that they may be partakers of His holiness: Hebrews 12:1-29 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 This is how He loses nothing, and how we have eternal security.

In light of eternity, dare we be ?

Pray to Jesus now for help in pruning away those offenses in being ready for the Marriage Supper... while the doors are still open for that first inheritance. ]]>
This is what seperates the vessels unto honour, the elect, the chosen.. from the vessels unto dishonour, the called, but the foolish virgins and the prodigal sons as many are called but a few are chosen. That is why believers are warned against false prophets and sowing to the flesh in reaping corruption. Fighting the good fight is keeping the faith wherein there is reward: obtaining salvation which is in Christ Jesus WITH eternal glory ( 2 Timothy 2:10) as a vessel unto honour: the chaste bride.

Those left behind, Jesus will finish what He had started in them in that they had been bought with a price and sealed as His thus proving that the prodigal son is still son and the foolish virgins that did not have oil for their lamps: they will, so they will shine as witnesses of what Christ has done as Saviour for believing in Him. As there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus with the stipulation that they walk not after the flesh, so is in the love of God, that nothing shall seperate us as God the Father shall chasten every child He receives for as the Father, His wrath will fall on the "sons" of disobedience so that they may be partakers of His holiness: Hebrews 12:1-29 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 This is how He loses nothing, and how we have eternal security.

In light of eternity, dare we be ?

Pray to Jesus now for help in pruning away those offenses in being ready for the Marriage Supper... while the doors are still open for that first inheritance. ]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1639.html Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:16:57 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1639.html
Luke 13: 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Amos 8:11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

With all those other Bible versions are changing the meaning of God's words, the King James is being scoffed as being the one to rely on. It is no wonder this prophesy above is happening now.

Jeremiah 50: 6My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. 7All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.

John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber..... 7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Will it take the appearing of the Son of Man to draw all wayward believers back to Jesus Christ at the rapture event?

John 3:14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1 Peter 2: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Stay tuned for the appearing of Our Lord Jesus Christ... coming soon to a horizon near you.

Jesus Christ to the rescue!!!!!

Yep. That was my announcement for the coming event!!!]]>
Luke 13: 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Amos 8:11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

With all those other Bible versions are changing the meaning of God's words, the King James is being scoffed as being the one to rely on. It is no wonder this prophesy above is happening now.

Jeremiah 50: 6My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. 7All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.

John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber..... 7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Will it take the appearing of the Son of Man to draw all wayward believers back to Jesus Christ at the rapture event?

John 3:14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1 Peter 2: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Stay tuned for the appearing of Our Lord Jesus Christ... coming soon to a horizon near you.

Jesus Christ to the rescue!!!!!

Yep. That was my announcement for the coming event!!!]]> http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1638.html Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:41:36 -0600 http://www.trustingjesus.com/forum/thread-1638.html
Even tho I keep praising the Lord for all good and bad that goes on, for I know it is in his perfect plan.

For me and my house we will serve the Lord]]>
Even tho I keep praising the Lord for all good and bad that goes on, for I know it is in his perfect plan.

For me and my house we will serve the Lord]]>