When I worked for a Navy contractor many years ago we couldn't even take any of the military personnel we were working with out and pay for their lunch without violating our contracts. This is so transparently unethical and it's so obvious what is going on here and there's nothing that can be done about it? Ridiculous.

One can learn to be at peace with everything, knowing that God causes the believer to benefit in all things (Ro 8:28)! “Be anxious for nothing.” “Let not your heart be troubled” (Phl 4:6; Jn 14:1, 27). One can achieve these commands when in the right understanding of their impress; and this obedience (strengthened faith) admits to the greatest satisfaction, encouragement and exhortation! One will have occasional problems, and this is for the learning and strengthening of our faith, which mostly comes through the trials, but one does not have to allow anything to escalate to the point of “trouble”; and I’ve eventually learned (after 20 of my 45 years in the Lord Jesus) not to allow anything to trouble me, because I’m certain that God uses everything, one way or another—for my “good.” May our beloved Father teach you to be at peace in all things. Blessed be God!
NC


It is ten years this month since the Lord called away our son, then 18 years of age, to Himself. It seemed almost unaccountable to me that He should have deprived me of him when he was so thoroughly devoted to Him, and therefore could have been such a help and comfort to me.

It is very easy for me to weep with you. I never realized the exit of a saint until I saw our dear boy pass away. It then made a very decided mark on me. Stephen looking up steadfastly into heaven came before me in quite a new way. Thank the Lord it grows upon me: the hardness seems shorter. The Spirit leads to the brightest spot, and the Father allows the wave of death to overtake us here so “that we may be partakers of His holiness” (Heb 12:10). It is His doing. Surely, from the bottom of my heart, I desire and pray that this immeasurable sorrow may be only the night before your brightest say. God comfort you in His own blessed way.

Your chief friend is the one who is found near you in sorrow. Anyone can share in your joy, but there is really only One who can enter into the nature of your sorrow, and He, blessed be His name, is very near you in your desolation. He proves to us that “it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting” (Eccl 7:2 – “by the sadness of the countenance, the heart is made better” - Ecc 7:3). The silence of death is a terrible reality; though, through divine grace you can anticipate the great day when we shall all surround our Lord Jesus, and be with Him forever (if we are not certain of this, we still are not at the level of peace God’s desires us to be, and are in grave need of learning—NC).

There is no sorrow as great as the sorrow of death, and this the more so as the one removed is near and dear to you. There is a desolation about death that no one can understand who has not been in it. But your desolation is the Lord’s opportunity of making known to you the deep interest He takes in you, not merely in your bright hours, but in the moment when you are well-nigh crushed with sorrow.

It imparts the deepest sense of His interest that He should draw near to me when absorbed with my own sorrow, to console me with Himself that He becomes more to me than my sorrow. This His sympathy effects. It is an effect never to be forgotten, or rather the impression He will give you of Hs love which will never be forgotten, so that your deep affliction through His grace will be turned into the deepest blessing (blessings for sorrows forever to exchange—NC); “the dry ground into watersprings,” “The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Psa 107:35; Isa 61:3).

There are sorrows that the heart thinks that it only knows; and this is true, speaking naturally, and yet there is One who knows well the deepest, and far more than the deepest sorrow ever in our hearts (His own past sorrows which were the greatest of all—NC). Sorrow is to me not only the deepest feeling known to the heart, but it is, I might say, the sublimest, because entirely one’s own. No one else can have the exact same. How aptly it suits one in sorrow to sit alone. How truly the heart can say, “My sorrow lies too deep for human sympathy,” and yet, when the Lord Jesus joins you in this great solitude you will find in Him, as Mary did, that not only He knows your sorrow, but that His sorrow is deeper, beyond any comparison. A Man of Sorrows” (Isa 53:3).

The darkness of sorrow is deep indeed, but I pray that the deepest joy may be known to you with the Lord Jesus Himself. The deepest sorrow here, but the deepest joy with Him in company with Himself. Surely when we are in our spirit apart from this place, and with the Lord Jesus at the other side of death, we taste a joy and a solace which bears us above the deepest anguish here (because our eternal guarantee supersedes all sorrows—NC). There is a blessed comfort for the heart in sorrow when you are drawn to His side where He is. Nothing mellows anyone so much as sorrow does, when the heart has found sympathy in it from the Lord Jesus.

I do not think that physical suffering weans the heart from the present seen to the same extent that sorrow does. Bodily suffering too often engrosses one’s personal attention; one feels so helpless, and there is such a constant effort to remove it, and indulgence (maybe even to sin—NC) often is excused on the plea of consideration for one’s weakness. But in sorrow, we grow into the sense that we are in “the valley of the shadow of death” (sorrow can bring one to the point of having no feelings for anything, but we need not to dwell in sorrow, considering what we have in Christ—NC). When there is suffering of the body there is a longing to get well; and often resistance to the suffering, so that we are taught how helpless we are, and in sorrow on account of another everything around has lost its interest to us.

In physical suffering there is inability to enjoy or to do things which others do. But in sorrow everything has lost its enjoyment; there is a dark shadow on everything and everybody (best time for the “old man” to tempt—NC). I am cut off in sadness and affliction from the present scene (God eventually brings us out of the numbness of it all—NC)—but at the very moment when all is a blank here, when I have descended to the depths, I find the Lord Jesus beside me who makes known His heart to me where no one else could reach me (Christ makes it known that He is always with us—NC). “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”

It is then one is really softened, because the heart knows in its saddest moments, the love of the Lord Jesus; and hence, instead of being vexed and soured, you come out of it softened, because you have learned in your sorrow the greatest love; so that where the greatest darkness was, the greatest light has sprung up (because we eventually learn not to allow ourselves to be “troubled,” as in despair, regardless how deep the sorrow we might have (Jn 14:1, 27—NC).

In illness, there is more relief; or His power and goodness one learns and looks for; but in sorrow, where there is nothing to cheer here, He makes known to the heart the greatest cheer; so that the saddest moment connected with the earth becomes the happiest moment, because of His eventual comforting presence, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.

You will easily trace the effect of each on souls. In one, there is the knowledge of His hand and His power; they are receptive, and often depended upon. In the other, in addition, the heart refuses to bind itself to anything again here (no matter how bad you feel, restoration defiantly comes, and it’s just a matter of “patiently” waiting it out; and the more patient we are the stronger our faith is - Rom 12:12—NC).

The Lord Jesus came to Bethany when Mary and Martha were in the depths of their sorrow (due to their brother Lazarus’ illness and death—NC). That was the time for Him. He waited until things were at their worst. If He had not waited until the worst came, His ability to relieve from the worst would not have been known.

He comes to you now, in this moment, to make you know that He can comfort you in this, the saddest and darkest hour; but you must receive the rays of His comfort; you must not dwell on your sorrow, loss and bereavement—you are simply to turn to Him to make up the blank. Look to Him, and you will receive a comfort from His heart that will more than compensate you for your great loss and sorrow. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

— James Butler Stoney (1814-1897)





MJS daily devotional excerpt for June 6

Often the lapidary will polish the jewel with its own dust. Just so our Father makes use of the weak and beggarly element of our nature to produce the mirror-like luster in which His image is finally reflected for all to see. “They shall be Mine. . . in that day when I make up My jewels” (Malachi 3:17).


MJS daily devotional excerpt for June 7

“We find the greatest difficulty often in bringing our sorrow to God. How can I do so, some may be saying, as my sorrow is the fruit of my sin? How can I take it to God? If it was suffering for righteousness’ sake, then I would, but I am suffering for my sin; and can I, in the integrity of my heart towards God, take my sorrows to Him, knowing I deserve them?

“Yes: the Lord Jesus has been to God about them. This, then, is the ground on which I can go. There has been perfect atonement for all my sins; Christ has been judged for them. Will God judge us both? No; I go to Him on the ground of atonement, and God can justly meet me in all my sorrow, because Christ’s work has been so perfectly done.”

“The guilt which the throne detects, the altar removes. If in the light of the throne one object is seen, namely, ruined, guilty, undone self; then, in the light of the altar, one object is seen, namely, a full, precious, all-sufficient Christ. The remedy reaches to the full extent of the ruin, and the same light that reveals the one reveals the other likewise. This gives settled repose to the conscience. God Himself has provided a remedy for all ruin which the light of His throne has revealed.” - John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)

Hello. I'm new around here and not sure where to post my intro. I hope this is the right place.
I'm a cradle Catholic, growing in my faith. I like anime, gaming, and working out.
It's nice to be here. Thanks for accepting my request to join.

Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk, dementia and Alzheimer's disease expert, joins David Parkman to discuss cognitive concerns about former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden with regard to their age and brain function.

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Harry Segal, clinical psychologist and Senior Lecturer in the Psychology Department at Cornell University and the Department of Psychiatry at Cornell Weill Medical School, joins David to compare and contrast what is being labeled "cognitive decline" with regard to both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden

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IMO, It’s time to let the cat out of the bag on “Fact Check”, formerly requiring a gymnastic search towards confirmation, is now an A.I. hijack victim, also capable of manufacturing feeds.

Am I in the ballpark?

In our world, filled with an abundance of tasks, challenges and constant rush, often immersed in everyday life, we can easily forget about the presence of God in our lives. Our minds and hearts are occupied with worries, plans and the ordinary things of everyday life. We often forget that there is something greater, something that guides our destiny and gives meaning to our existence.
Believing in God, we should be aware that His action is real and affects our lives in extraordinary ways. God is not an abstract concept or a historical figure described long ago. He is a living presence that touches our hearts and works in our lives in ways that are often difficult to explain.
In this Video, we would like to share with you six amazing signs that indicate that God is at work in our lives. These signs are like His fingerprints, indicating His closeness and concern for our salvation. Of course, there are many such signs, some of which we have explained in previous videos, which we cordially invite you to watch. Links to these characters can be found in the description under the video.
In moments when we are very determined to change our lives and ourselves for the better, we can see one of the signs of God's presence in our lives. As Christians, we believe that God is the Creator of our lives and that He Himself is our greatest guide. When we feel the need to change, it is often the result of God working in our hearts. Not only is God interested in our lives, but He wants us to be happy, joyful, and reach our full potential.
The deep determination that arises within us is like the spark that God sends on our path. This is the moment when we begin to see that we are not doomed to stagnation and unhappiness, but we have the power to change and develop. This determination is our response to God's call to change. When We are determined to change for the better, God is present in our lives in many different ways. First, it gives us strength and support to take these difficult steps towards change. He does not leave us alone, but leads us by the hand, step by step, so that we can achieve our goals. Remember that determination is not easy. Sometimes we encounter obstacles that make us want to give up. However, God is with us to support us and give us strength in these difficult times.
. He is our strong foundation upon which we can build our changes and grow as children of God. The second aspect of God's presence in our determination to change is the transformation that takes place within us. God not only helps us take specific actions, but also works in our hearts, transforming our thoughts, desires and attitudes. It is He who makes us desire goodness, love, forgiveness and service. When we are determined to change for the better, we begin to see that we need God's power and grace to overcome our weaknesses, habits, and difficulties. Alone, we often encounter limitations that make it difficult for us to achieve the desired changes. However, God is our reliable ally who promises us his support and infinite resources of power. God not only gives us the power to overcome our weaknesses, but also guides us in the path of truth and wisdom.
His presence in our lives gives us direction and guidance so that we can make wise decisions and choose paths that lead to our good. His wisdom and light illuminate our path and help us avoid traps and delusions. However, this does not mean that our determination and effort become redundant. God does not work for us, but with us. He wants us to trust Him and engage in the process of change. It is our attitude, effort and perseverance that are important, but let us always remember that God is our strength and source of inspiration. Let us remember that our determination is not a matter of willpower, but of a deep relationship with God. It is He who gives us the power and inspiration to overcome all obstacles and develop for the better. Therefore, it is undoubtedly a sign of God's presence. Our path to transformation can be difficult, which is why other people become the second sign of God's presence in our lives.
People that God sends to help us change for the better. Whether they are friends, family members, mentors or complete strangers, their appearance can be a second sign of God's presence in our lives. In Christianity, we believe that God is omniscient and knows our needs perfectly. He sees our weaknesses, our desires and our dreams. In His immeasurable love and wisdom, God sends us the right people at the right time to help us. These people can be instruments with which God touches our lives and guides us on the path of transformation. We often don't realize the deep meaning these people have in our lives until we look back and see how much they changed us.
They can be people who accompany us throughout our lives, but also those who appear only for a moment to teach us an important lesson or help us in difficult moments. In their presence and through their dedication, we can experience love, wisdom, support and inspiration that lead us to a better and more complete life. Sometimes people sent by God can come into our lives when we are in greatest need. This can be in difficult situations when we feel helpless or hurt. God, in His grace and love, sends us people who can comfort us, support us and help us see life from a new perspective. It is worth noting that God works in our lives in a precise and organized way. Sending the right people at the right time is evidence of His care and love for us.
He knows what our needs are and when we need support to get through difficulties and grow spiritually. Even if we don't see this connection sometimes, God is a master of harmony, and the people we meet are part of a greater plan that He has for us. When God begins to work in our lives and lead us on the path of transformation, not only do we feel these changes, but also others begin to see the difference in our behavior, attitude and relationships. This is the third sign of God's presence in our lives - when people around us notice that we are already different. Our relationships with others are one of the most important areas where God's presence can be perceived. This can be our family, friends, co-workers or other people who have regular contact with us.
When God works in our lives, people notice that we are more loving, respectful, humble, kind, and kind. Our family may notice that we no longer react with the same anger or impatience, but we show them more understanding and compassion. We can become better spouses, parents or children who know how to listen, support and show unconditional love. In our relationships with others, we may also notice a greater openness to forgiveness, conflict resolution, and harmony building. Our friends may notice that we are more genuine and genuine in our behavior. Our attitude can inspire them to be better people and to discover the deeper meaning of life. We can show more care and support, listen more attentively, and be present in difficult times.
Our associates may notice that we are more responsible, honest and loyal in our work. Our ethical and moral values become visible in our decisions and actions. We are ready to work for the good of others, giving the best of ourselves. What is even more important is how these changes affect our interior and our relationship with God. When others see our transformation, it becomes a confirmation that God's work in our lives is real and visible to the world around us. This revives our faith and gives us the certainty that God is present and active in our lives. It is important to remain humble and remember that God is at work in our lives. He is the main agent of transformation. We are only tools in His hands. Therefore, in our transformation, we should not boast or seek recognition. Our goal should be to give glory to God and thank Him for His work in our lives.
Many people are looking for true joy and fulfillment in various aspects of life - in career, relationships, success or material wealth. But true and lasting joy is found in our relationship with God. This is the fourth sign of God's presence in our lives - when we experience the joy that He walks with us through life. What is this joy really? It is not a momentary excitement or a fleeting feeling that depends on the circumstances. It is a deep sense of fulfillment and completeness that comes from our closeness to God and the awareness of His love for us. This joy does not depend on external circumstances, but is the fruit of our relationship with God, which transcends all obstacles and difficulties. When we enjoy having God walk with us through life, it means we are putting Him first.
Our relationship with Him is paramount, and we constantly yearn for His presence. Whether we are in a moment of success or failure, our joy comes from knowing that God is with us and guiding our steps. Many saints and martyrs throughout the centuries have experienced this joy, even in the face of the greatest trials and sufferings. Their joy did not come from external circumstances, but from a close relationship with God. Looking at their lives, we see that they were able to maintain inner joy because their hearts were fully committed to God and trusted in His leading. We can also experience this joy in our daily lives. It's not that we're always smiling or that we don't have any difficulties. This joy is deeper and stronger. This is the joy that comes from knowing that God is with us in all circumstances.
This is the joy that comes from trusting and believing in His goodness and wisdom. In our lives, we often look for our true purpose and meaning where we cannot find it. The true meaning and purpose of life is to know our identity in Christ. This is the fifth sign of God's presence in our lives - when we discover who we are in Jesus, our purpose becomes clear: to do God's will and give glory to God in everything we do. As we come to know our identity in Christ, we discover that we are not random beings pushed into this meaningless world. We are God's creation, created and loved by Him. Jesus Christ gave His life for our salvation so that we could be redeemed and accepted into God's family. In Him we find our true identity and value. When we know our identity in Christ, we become God's children and heirs of His promises.
We discover that we are destined for greater things. Our purpose is not self-fulfilment or satisfying our own desires, but to fulfill God's will in our lives. We are called to be a light for others, to preach the Gospel of love and mercy and to do good. As we discover our identity in Christ, our purpose becomes clear. We are no longer uncoordinated pieces of a puzzle, but we have complete perspective and direction. Our goal is to do the will of God and give Him glory in everything we do. Regardless of our field of work, our role in our family or community, we can glorify God by being His witnesses. We can show His love, truth, and justice in our daily lives.
When we accept our identity in Christ, everything we do becomes our way of giving glory to God. Our works, talents, relationships, and service become the tools through which we can bring glory to God. Whether something is big or small, important or seemingly insignificant, all of it can serve as a testimony of our faith and devotion to God. Wandering through life, we are often exposed to various challenges and difficulties. Sometimes we feel lonely, helpless and unsure how to cope with everyday demands and needs. But then we see the sixth sign of God's presence in our lives - His ability to supply us with everything we need wherever we are. God is not only the Creator of the universe, but also our heavenly Father who cares for our needs with care and love.
All power and wealth is in His hands, and He willingly provides what we need. Whether it's material goods, spiritual support, emotional comfort, or spiritual strength, God is ready to provide it all in His perfect time. As we look at our lives, we see numerous examples of God's provision. It can be an abundance of material goods that we need to meet basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing. We often experience His goodness through people who share their wealth and support with us. It is God who works through the hearts of people to provide us with what we need.
But God's provision is not limited to material goods. God also provides us with spiritual support, wisdom, and encouragement in our journey of faith. Through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, we receive the wisdom, strength, and purification that are necessary to face the difficulties and challenges of life. God is our Comforter who surrounds us with his presence and gives us peace even in the most difficult moments. The key to experiencing God's provision is trust and faith in His promises. Jesus encouraged his disciples to pay attention to the birds in the sky and the lilies in the field that God provides for their needs.
He said: "So don't worry too much and don't say what we're going to eat, what we're going to drink, what we're going to wear, because the pagans care about all these things. After all, your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. God knows our needs and is ready but that does not mean that we will be without trials and difficulties. Sometimes God places us in situations where we must rely on His provision. It is in those moments that we experience God working in extraordinary ways to meet our needs. God works in many different ways to show that He is our dependable supply,
therefore it is important to be open to the action of God and trust Him in every situation, whether we have our hands full and abundance, or we are in need and expect help, God is ready to provide us with what we need.

Donald trump impostor.





The real Donald trump


What you guys think

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Hi all, I am in a particularly dark and lonely time in my life, and would appreciate some Christian encouragement, advice and prayers.

I come from a broken family. Both my parents would profess to being strong Christians but fight often with each other and pretty much non stop spout venom about their other half, or venom about other people, or about how the world has mistreated them...kind of like what you are about to hear in this post...I am sorry but I have to state what happens to get advice and prayers for it, but everyone is anonymous here.

For example, I have tried to get my parents to focus on and talk about positive things for just one day (like their birthday) or even 30 minutes....but they are unable to do so. It seems almost like a spiritual wall; after I complete the sentence they would immediately be talking about how someone wronged them, or somesuch.

Both my parents committed adultery to get together and I was their first son as a result of it. Could I have been doomed from birth like David and Bathsheba's firstborn son because of this? My parents became Christians after they divorced their first partners and married.

At various points in my life, my parents have cursed me, for example saying that I am a bad seed, a wicked person, will never amount to anything good or have never brought them good news. Like a piece of paper cut by a pair of scissors, I remember the events although for some of them my parents claim they do not remember.

My life itself has been that of an afflicted Christian, so the words of my parents if they did not already cut deep, resonate in my life like an echo chamber because of the evidence I see of how my life is.

For example, I have had multiple near death experiences in my life since I was a baby (choked, drowned, many different accidents, attempted suicide, etc.). I was falsely accused and ended up in prison with a criminal record for crimes I did not do. I have been unemployed for a few years already, despite having a PhD. I am in my early 40s and have no family of my own. When I see my other siblings and friends have happy families, jobs and moving forward career-wise, it saddens me because I think about the life I could have had if things were different.

I try to read the Bible every day, and pray, and thank God for giving me life despite my circumstances, and saving me from all my trials and tribulations. I always try to give credit to God for any accomplishments I do, and I pray that God would exonerate me from false accusers, show kindness to me in the land of the living and to prove wrong people who condemn me on the basis of my life's afflictions.

It does look like my life is cursed. In Genesis we see Jacob curse some of his sons. Also, we see in Isaac/Esau/Jacob that the blessings of our parents are irrevocable, likewise the curses?

What do you suggest I do in the circumstances? My parents are in their 80s. I feel like I have to honor them while they are still alive but the whole relationship is toxic.

Is my life doomed because of the curses of my parents upon me?

Please pray for me.

Now, I cannot write about the whole book of 1 John in one writing, so I am going to encourage you, my readers, to please read the whole book before you form any opinions on what this section of Scripture is teaching, for this has to agree with the book as a whole unit. So, to recap:

If we claim that we are in fellowship with God/Christ, but while we walk (in conduct, in practice) in darkness (sin), we are liars. For it is only if we walk (in conduct, in purpose) in the light (Jesus Christ, the gospel, righteousness, obedience to God) that we are in true fellowship with God and with the body of Christ, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. And if we say that we know God, but we are not keeping (obeying) his commandments (New Covenant), then we are liars. For whoever keeps (obeys) God’s word, in him/her the love of God truly is perfected (1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6).

For Jesus Christ died on that cross that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness, and that we might live for him and no longer for self. For he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin, so that we might now walk in obedience to his commands in holy living, and no longer in sin. But if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to our Lord, and not righteousness (holy living), then we don’t know God, we are not born of God, and we do not have eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess. For lip service does not save anyone.

[1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:15,21; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 5:3-6; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; 1 John 3:4-10]

Okay, so with that understanding we can read this present section of Scripture in 1 John 4:13-21. For, just because someone professes faith in Jesus Christ and/or acknowledges what Jesus did for us in dying on that cross for our sins and/or prays a prayer “to receive Jesus Christ into his heart,” it doesn’t mean that he has been given the Spirit of God, and therefore it automatically dictates that he is abiding in Christ, and Christ in him. For abiding in Christ is something we are instructed to do in the Scriptures, and it results in us dying to sin and obeying our Lord.

Also, this word “confesses” has a much deeper meaning than just verbalizing faith in Jesus Christ with our lips. It means to promise, to agree with God, and to speak to the same conclusion as God about our sin, i.e. to be in full agreement with the Lord regarding our sin and what Jesus did on that cross for our sins and what is required of us in order for us to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. So this means we willingly surrender our lives to Jesus Christ to die to our sins and to now obey his commands, in practice. For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

*See noted Scriptures above

So, if we are abiding in Christ we are living in him and him in us, and we are following him in obedience to his commands in holy living, and we are no longer living in deliberate and habitual sin against our Lord. And it means that we are continuing in those walks of faith until the very end so that we have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. It doesn’t mean we are perfect, but that we are making death to sin and living to God and to his righteousness our practice, and sin is no longer our practice. But all this can only take place because of God’s grace to us, and in his power.

*See noted Scriptures above

Now we get to the meat of the matter when it says, “whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” For this is agápē love which centers in moral preference, and which prefers what God prefers, which is all that is holy, just, righteous, upright, morally pure, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord and to his commands. And if we are abiding in this love, we are remaining and continuing and living in that agápē love, as a matter of life choice and life practice, by the grace of God, in the power of God. So we are following our Lord in obedience and we are no longer living in sin.

So, we have to be continuing in this agápē love, in practice, in how we love and serve and obey the Lord and in how we love our fellow humans and serve them, too. This has to be how we live, in practice. And this is perfected by Jesus Christ as we walk in faith in him on a day to day basis. And faith in Jesus Christ is shown to be genuine by our obedience to our Lord and by us dying with him to sin daily. And then we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as Jesus is so we also are to be in the world, in character, which is a process of being perfected in Christ via obeying him.

So, if we are walking in faithful obedience to our Lord, but not necessarily in absolute perfection, but as a matter of daily practice and living (abiding) in him, then we have no reason to fear hell or punishment for sin. But if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, and not obedience to our Lord, and if we hate our fellow humans while we claim that we love God, then we do not have God’s love abiding in us, and so we do not know God, and we do not have forgiveness and salvation from sin, and we do not have the promise of eternal life with God. So, please take these words to heart.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Hebrews 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Love Must Be Genuine

An Original Work / October 22, 2013
Based off Romans 12:9-21

Love must be genuine.
Hate what’s evil; cling to good.
Love each other with affection.
Show respect for ev’ryone.
Never lack in your zeal.
Serve the Lord with diligence.

Rejoice in steadfast hope.
In affliction, patient be.
Keep on praying; share with others.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute.
Feel with others sympathy.

Be not filled with conceit.
Daily sit at Jesus’ feet.
Live in harmony with others.
Live at peace with ev’ryone.
Repay not to someone
With the evil he begot.

Do not take your revenge;
Leave it to the wrath of God.
If your enemy is thirsty,
Give to him something to drink.
Do what’s right for mankind.
Evil: overcome with good.

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September 6, 2012

Prior to the Lord giving me this song on prayer, he gave me three songs in a row on the subject of love, mainly on loving other people. Whenever I study the Scriptures on the subject of loving others, I am reminded of how much I still need to learn and to practice in this area of loving others as Christ loves me and showed his love by giving himself for me.

And the love that this is speaking of is agape love, which prefers what God prefers, which is all that is holy, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord and to his New Covenant Commands. So when we love God with this love we prefer to live through Christ, to choose his choices, and to obey them in his power.

So when we love other humans with this love, we will love them as God loves us, and we will do for them and say to them what will benefit them spiritually and what is for their good, as God defines good. We will be concerned about meeting their legitimate needs, and we will pray for direction in how to do that, and we will not sin against them willfully.

And the second most convicting subject for me is this subject of prayer. My prayer life can always stand improvement, especially in the area of praying consistently for others’ needs and requests. So, as I share this with you, I also sing it to myself and pray God will continue to teach me to love as he loves and to be more diligent to pray for others’ needs and requests.

Pray, Pray, Pray

An Original Work / September 6, 2012
Based off Various Scriptures

Pray that eyes may enlightened be,
So they may know Christ.
Pray that they may Him better know,
Strengthened by His pow’r.
Pray that they may grasp
How wide and long
And high and deep
Is Christ’s love.
Pray that they may be filled
To the fullness of God’s love.
Pray with thanksgiving.

Pray for an open door for me,
So I may share Christ.
Pray when the gospel is proclaimed –
Shared with clarity.
Pray words are given me so
I declare the gospel fearlessly.
I pray for you to be active
Sharing your faith, too.
Pray continually.

We oft not know for what to pray,
So we ask for help.
The Spirit intercedes for us –
Words cannot express.
Just keep on praying for the saints
With all kinds of requests to God.
Pray they may have faith to
Please their God in ev’ry way.
Pray with joyfulness.

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None of us are guaranteed long lives. In fact, we are not guaranteed the next breath. The breath of life could be snatched from us in an instant without warning, and then our destiny will either be eternity in hell or in heaven. So it is critical that our lives are surrendered to Jesus Christ to do his will, and that we are following him in his will and purpose for our lives, and that we practice self-denial and dying to sin daily and following our Lord in obedience to his commands and in loving God and our fellow humans. For this is the will of God for the life of a true believer in Jesus Christ.

And if we are at all observant about what all is going on around us in this crazy world of ours, I believe we will see the signs of the times and that the end of all things is drawing close to an end and that prophecy of Scripture is being fulfilled before our very eyes, and soon things are going to get even worse than they are now. For all this craziness is building up to something, but I don’t believe it is something good, for we know what the Scriptures teach about these last days before the return of Christ. And things won’t get better until Jesus returns and he takes his bride to be with him forever.


And this is the present state of affairs in the world, and sadly in much of what is called “church,” too, at least here in the USA. So many who profess faith in Jesus Christ are so worldly that it is barely distinguishable between the church and the world these days, although there are exceptions to that statement. And so the Lord is calling out to the people of the world and to those who profess his name but who are not presently living for him in walks of surrender, obedience, denial of self, and dying to sin daily. And he is calling them to repent of their sins and to now follow him in obedience.

For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, then we have the hope of eternal life with God. And he said that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father who is in heaven. So please take these words to heart (See Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

So, let’s pray with the psalmist that the Lord would teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. For so many professers of faith in Jesus Christ today are lacking in the wisdom of God for they are following the wisdom of man and of the world, instead. And this should not be! So let us pray to God that he would show us where we are lacking in faith and in obedience to his will and to his commands and where we need to change course so that we are walking in obedience to him in holy living, and so that we are not living for sin and/or for self instead of for God and his will.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 2 Tim 1:8-9; 1 Pet 1:5; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 9:28; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-29; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

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Please pray for Colton’s salvation and protection

I have bought Dutch Farms hardboiled eggs, they come in a sealed package and refrigerated lasts about 2 months, I then buy a 1 1/2 a cup of cut fruits. I am having this every day for breakfast.

Other than the added costs, what am I potentially missing out on or even end up risking by buying these already prepared foods, then doing it myself? I have never gotten sick from eating these, I hear the food standards and safety is high here in America.

Posted from a study point on Word that I was working on and thought it belonged here...

The Doctrine of the Law and Grace Unfolded: Chapter 18 - Two Hell-Bred Objections Answered (My notes at end)

Object. If it be so, then one need not care what they do; they may sin and sin again, seeing Christ hath made satisfaction. [The first objection].

Answ. If I were to point out one that was under the power of the devil, and going post-haste to Hell, for my life I would look no farther for such a man than to him that would make such a use as this of the grace of God. What, because Christ is a Saviour, thou wilt be a sinner! because His grace abounds, therefore thou wilt abound in sin! O wicked wretch! rake Hell all over, and surely I think thy fellow will scarce be found! And let me tell thee this before I leave thee-as God's covenant with Christ for His children, which are of faith, stands sure, immutable, unrevocable, and unchangeable, so also hath God taken such a course with thee, that unless thou canst make God forswear Himself, it is impossible that thou shouldst go to Heaven, dying in that condition- "They tempted Me, proved Me," and turned the grace of God into lasciviousness, "so I sware," mark that, "so I sware," and that in My wrath, too, that they should never enter into My rest. Compare Hebrews 3:9-11, with 1 Corinthians 10:5-10. No, saith God; if Christ will not serve their turns, but they must have their sins too, take them, Devil; if Heaven will not satisfy them, take them, Hell; devour them, Hell; scald them, fry them, burn them, Hell! God hath more places than one to put sinners into. If they do not like Heaven, He will fit them with Hell; if they do not like Christ, they shall be forced to have the devil. Therefore we must and will tell of the truth of the nature of the Covenant of Grace of God to His poor saints for their encouragement and for their comfort, who would be glad to leap at Christ upon any terms; yet therewith, we can tell how, through grace, to tell the hogs and sons of this world what a hog-sty there is prepared for them, even such an one that God hath prepared to put the devil and his angels into, is fitly prepared for them (Matt 25:41).

Object. But if Christ hath given God a full and complete satisfaction, then though I do go on in sin, I need not fear, seeing God hath already been satisfied. [The second objection]. It will be injustice in God to punish for those sins for which He is already satisfied for by Christ.

Answ. Rebel, rebel, there are some in Christ and some out of Him. 1. They that are in Him have their sins forgiven, and they themselves made new creatures, and have the Spirit of the Son, which is a holy, living, self-denying Spirit. And they that are thus in Jesus Christ are so far off from delighting in sin, that sin is the greatest thing that troubleth them; and O how willing would they be rid of the very thoughts of it (Psa 119:113). It is the grief of their souls, when they are in a right frame of spirit, that they can live no more to the honour and glory of God than they do; and in all their prayers to God, the breathings of their souls are as much sanctifying grace as pardoning grace, that they might live a holy life. They would as willing live holy here as they would be happy in the world to come; they would as willingly be cleansed from the filth of sin as to have the guilt of it taken away; they would as willingly glorify God here as they would be glorified by Him hereafter (Phil 3:6-22). 2. But there are some that are out of Christ, being under the Law; and as for all those, let them be civil or profane, they are such as God accounts wicked; and I say, as for those, if all the angels in Heaven can drag them before the judgment-seat of Christ, they shall be brought before it to answer for all their ungodly deeds; and being condemned for them, if all the fire in Hell will burn them, they shall be burned there, if they die in that condition (Jude 15). And, therefore, if you love your souls, do not give way to such a wicked spirit. "Let no man deceive you with" such "vain words," as to think, because Christ hath made satisfaction to God for sin, therefore you may live in your sins. O no, God forbid that any should think so, "for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience" (Eph 5:6).

Thus have I, reader, given thee a brief discourse touching the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace, also of the nature of the one, together with the nature of the other. I have also in this discourse endeavoured to show you the condition of them that are under the Law, how sad it is, both from the nature of the covenant they are under, and also by the carriage of God unto them by that covenant. And now, because I would bring all into as little a compass as I can, I shall begin with the use and application of the whole in as brief a way as I can, desiring the Lord to bless it to thee.

(Note: This is so quite true today, in that many follow and teach these highly erroneous doctrines of hell. Bunyan is correct, they are hell bred. We often think of James 3 regarding the tongue as about cursing, swearing, gossip, slander, etc, but it must also apply to those who speak false doctrine with their mouth:
"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." (James 3:6)
And as well the pen or keyboard that writes such rubbish, spouts out the words of hell, and of the devil; for they make people comfortable in their sins, thinking all the sin they ever do no matter what will be forgiven. They might say we really shouldn't sin, but if we do, and they teach you will [sin], it's all covered, no matter what.
How a mighty truth can be twisted into a greater lie, for John wrote that ye sin not, first, and second, if ye sin. And John, the closest to Jesus on this earth wrote that he who sins has neither seen nor known Him!
Let us be careful to walk according to the true gospel of Christ, following Him who said "Go and sin no more.") K

Hi everyone!

I wanted to reach out and report back on my beloved chicken Annie.In a miracle turn of events her condition has skyrocketed for the best!

I’ve fortunately been graced with a traveling vet I was able to reach out to for help on Saturday June 1st and I was able to take her assistant a fecal sample for analysis,fortunately her droppings showed no parasites.The vet came out on Monday June 3rd and gave me medicine to treat her.

I came home yesterday after work and I saw that her droppings had miraculously changed form to look normal,I took her out of the quarantining tent I put her in(which has water,food,a nest box,toys,and treats) and I had a can of her adult feed sitting nearby for later and i turn around after looking out my garage and see her eating the food! Something she hasn’t been able to do this previous week!

I immediately teared up thanking the Good Lord for hearing my cries.I cannot thank you all for your prayers,words cannot describe the sheer amount of gratitude I have for you all who prayed for her health.

Thank you all so much!

Hello folks. While I am a Catholic, I really like Vlad Savchuk, a Nondenominational pastor. He made a great sermon on the state of the world in 2024, especially in June with some of the rhetoric spoken in progressive churches and society as a whole.

Life anecdote: As a guy with bi attractions, I made a promise that I will remain celibate, unless with a wife, and that I would remain unmarried unless with a woman, as the Bible teaches we should be with a woman as a guy.


Is There A Dark Principality Behind the Pride Movement (1 hour) [Age warning: 17+, due to heavy topic and discussion about dark forces]
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6038. anavah This is the Hebrew Transliteration for the word Humility and it has 4 occurrences in the OT.
Proverbs 15:33
Proverbs 18:12
Proverbs 22:4
Zephaniah 2:3
5012. tapeinophrosune This is the Greek Transliteration for the word Humility and it has 8 occurrences in the NT.
Acts 20:19 N-GFS
Ephesians 4:2 N-GFS
Philippians 2:3 N-DFS
Colossians 2:18 N-DFS
Colossians 2:23 N-DFS
Colossians 3:12 N-AFS
1 Peter 3:8 Adj-NMP
1 Peter 5:5 N-AFS

1344. geah This is the Hebrew Transliteration for the word Pride and has 1 occurrence in the OT.
Proverbs 8:13

5243. huperéphania This is the Greek Transliteration for the word Pride and has 1 occurrence in the NT.
Mark 7:22 N-NFS

The word "inerrant" is not in the Bible. The term is not in the Scripture. I neither believe nor disbelieve it. When it comes to doctrines, I prefer to adhere to the phraseology of the Scripture. I would not bother using the term in the formal doctrinal sense. People who like to generalize tend to overgeneralize in a doctrine. More precisely, I know the following:

2 Timothy 3:

16a All Scripture is God-breathed.

Click to expand...

See Is the Bible the word of God?.

Common sense ought to tell anyone that raising fuel prices will also cause inflation...

Is God worthy to be worshiped, praised, glorified, or to rule over all?
This question was raised before the foundation of the world.

Who raised the question, and was that question ever answered unequivocally?
The question was asked, when an angel of God, accused God of being anything but benevolent.
Genesis 3:4, 5

4 The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! 5 For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.”

Click to expand...

Never in history was that question ever answered unequivocally, since no one has ever been sole ruler over all things.
No one has ever had the opportunity to rival God.
Is the question valid though?

An angel said of God... “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; [because] You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11
As Creator, God is worthy to receive the glory, honor, and power. However, that does not answer the question unequivocally. Nor does it address the question of whether God is benevolent, or not.

Is God benevolent?
While many have pointed to evidence of God's goodness (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Psalm 119:68; James 1:17), many, including those who served God, has questioned his goodness (Job 7:17-21; Job 13:24; Psalm 10:1-3; Habakkuk 1:2, 3) down to this day.

Does anyone dare question the creator of the universe?
Does God not have the authority, and right to kill anybody that challenges his authority, or power?
That's another question that has not been answered unequivocally? Is God's way of doing things righteous?

To be fair, leaving these questions unanswered without answering them, could leave lingering doubts in the mind of God's subjects.
If God simply executed anyone that challenged his authority, and righteousness, far from thinking God is benevolent, many would think that God is unrighteous, unjust, malevolent, cruel, sadistic, savage...
So what does a righteous and just God do?

The Bible says God allowed time for three reasons

1. to settle address these issues, once and for all. Romans 3:25, 26
2. to undo the damage done by the selfish motives of a rebellious angel, and selfish actions of the first humans. Genesis 3:15
3. to give mankind a fair chance at benefitting from his goodness. 2 Peter 3:9

By doing so, God was well aware of the suffering mankind would experience, through no fault of his own (the damage was already done Romans 5:12). However, God needs to allow things to run its course. Romans 8:20, 21

Was God wise in doing this, or was this a foolish and unjust action on God's part?

US B-1B Drops Live Bombs in Firepower Warning to North Korea​

An American B-1B Lancer strategic bomber dropped live bombs on mock targets on the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday for the first time in over seven years during a joint exercise with treaty ally South Korea meant as a direct warning to the North.

The supersonic heavy bomber assigned to Anderson Air Force Base in Guam was escorted in the drills by a pair of South Korean air force F-15K Slam Eagles from Daegu Air Base in the country's southeast.
All three warplanes hit their marks at the Pilsung Range with Joint Direct Attack Munitions, South Korea's Defense Ministry said in a press release.

JDAM is a precision guidance kit that converts munitions into so-called "smart bombs" that can be released by all U.S. Air Force aircraft, including drones.

The U.S. Seventh Air Force, headquartered at Osan Air Base, 30 miles south of Seoul, said the U.S. and South Korean aircraft dropped 500-pound GBU-38 munitions "simultaneously striking multiple simulated targets."

US B-1B drops live bombs in firepower warning to North Korea

A joint air drill involving U.S. and South Korean aircraft comes after North Korea sent nearly 1,000 trash-carrying balloons across its border with the South.

www.newsweek.com

"This is provocation! North Korea will destroy your Bombers, and use Nuclear weapons! We will defeat the Imperialist regime and your puppet in the South! I send you poop balloons and all my cigarette butts for warning you better watch it!"
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Hi everyone, I would greatly appreciate your prayers- I am in a situation where I would like to move out of my current apartment ASAP and I would like to move into a 3 or 4 bedroom house or apartment with some friends that are believers in Christ, however my parents are acting like they are not going to allow it. They are trying to run my life, they are saying they will cut off my health insurance unless I do what they say and I need the insurance for medication that I am on. I really want to move in with 3 friends, I know them well and we will get along fine, we can get a nice 4 bedroom place in town that I can easily afford and it would also be a tremendous blessing to live with other believers. Please pray that my parents will allow me to do this! Thank you!