Jesus said in Matthew 5:

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.

Click to expand...

That's shocking and graphic language. Jesus meant it seriously but not literally. Even if you literally gouge out your eye, there is no guarantee that you won't sin.

It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Click to expand...

Losing an eye is better than losing your eternal life. That's certainly and literally true. Still, there is no need to gouge out your eye.

Jesus used powerful hyperbole to point out the seriousness of sin. We need to deal with sin drastically. We need to cut sins out of our lives.

Yes, a thread about St Francis. I think he is that significant. Unfortunately he is commonly only thought of as a dreamy, poetic nature lover. The truth is that he was rather rugged. His commitment to social change, poverty, justice, penance and preaching was extreme and difficult. And yet, as difficult as it was, he inspired others to join him. His spirituality was as Christ centered as possible. He still inspires me even though my life and time is very different than his.

"How much interior patience and humility a servant of God may have cannot be known so long as he is contented. But when the time comes that those who ought to please him go against him, as much patience and humility as he then shows, so much has he and no more."

#13

It is possible for Jesus to be married. Theologically, I don't think it would have great consequences.

Is it likely that Jesus was married?

I would doubt that. The NT seems to assume that Jesus didn't have a wife. If Jesus had had a wife, I'd think that it would have been mentioned in the gospels, Matthew 13:

55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

Click to expand...

There is no mention of Jesus' wife at this most natural point to do so.

Jesus mentioned 3 types of eunuchs, Matthew 19:

12 For [1] there are eunuchs who were born that way, and [2] there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and [3] there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Click to expand...

Jesus seems to belong to the 3rd type.

Paul followed this sentiment in 1 Corinthians 7:

1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” ...
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife.

Click to expand...

There is also the joke about the Pope would not claim infallibility if he were married

Ideally, an unmarried man can focus his whole life on God. I think Jesus practiced this ideal.

Which do you think it is? Incompetency or are they trying to hide something?

In the Olivet Discourse Jesus indicated armies would come in, surround Jerusalem, and destroy both it and the temple. We get this consistently in all 3 versions, Matt 24, Mark 13, and Luke 17 and 21. Matthew and Mark do not go into detail about what the Abomination of Desolation is, but they refer the reader to Dan 9.26-27 where an Abomination of Desolation is named in conjunction with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by "the people of the ruler to come," which seems to refer to a Roman army. Rome was the "ruler to come."

For whatever reason Matthew and Mark did not spell this out in as much detail as Luke did. However, they did describe this "Abomination" as "standing in the holy place," or "where it does not belong." Rome was obviously an "abomination," being that they were a pagan people assuming control over the holy place of the Temple.

My assertion here is that "holy place" can refer to a room in the Temple called "the Holy Place," or it may refer to the entire Temple complex, the whole building and the courtyard, or it may apply to all of Jerusalem, including its environs. The "holy place" is where God has devoted something as His resting spot.

And so, in the Olivet Discourse I see no problem identifying the "holy place" to be Jerusalem, where this abominable pagan army would come and be set, or "stand." It was a siege against a place devoted to be holy. The spiritual condition of the people there was poor, but did not cause the place to be any less dedicated to God or devoted by God to be holy.

Profaning such a holy area was forbidden by God, but something God allowed to happen. God allowed Israel to sin and so profane this holy area. And He allowed pagan Romans to draw near, also profaning the Temple area, to show Israel a graphic example of what they were themselves doing.

It was precisely because Israel was profaning the holy area that God determined to "devote it to destruction," both the city and the Temple. And so, the Scriptures say that God Himself caused His own city and Temple to be "desecrated."

But this was not a new pathway for God. He had demonstrated the same during the Babylonian invasion, and was now repeating things. In fact just as Ezekiel donned the name "Son of Man," indicating God's word to Mankind, so Jesus donned the same name, to indicate that history was repeating itself.

Jesus condemned Israel for their sins, and promised that in one generation, the same one that rejected him, the city and the Temple would fall. So consider the following language where God described this in the past, in particular with respect to the Babylonian invasion...

Isa 47.5 “Sit in silence, go into darkness, queen city of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen of kingdoms. 6 I was angry with my people and desecrated my inheritance.

Eze 7.22 I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure. They will enter it and will defile it.

Eze 23.39 On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecrated it. That is what they did in my house.

Eze 24.21 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.

Eze 25.1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile.

Eze 28.By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.

Dan 11.31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

I believe this last reference, to Dan 11.31, to refer to Antiochus 4, who also was termed an "abomination of desolation." But his act of desolation took place well before Rome violated Jerusalem, the "holy place," And Antiochus did not actually destroy the temple as the Romans did. But both of these "AoDs" are indicative of God's willingness to have his "holy place" violated and desecrated, to make a point to Israel about their own uncleanness.

What is being taught today as who the first Homo sapiens were that settled in the Americas?

If one were to set the parable of the prodigal to music, it would be in a minor key. I am always saddened by the principle of the prodigal. It is true that there is great gladness and merriment in it, but the setting is sadness.

Think of this loving and generous father, with two prodigal sons. The younger a harlot-monger, and the elder a “me-monger.” The younger unrighteous and lawless, and the elder self-righteous and legal; both far, far from the loving father, with the latter set in his law-bound implacability. Does that not make your heart sad?

If you are already sad because you are a poor prodigal, or the parent of a prodigal or two, you can be sure that the Father of prodigals understands and cares. Yes, and in God the Son we have a High Priest who can “be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” our burdens, our trials and heartaches (Heb 4:15).

Actually, we can all relate to, and are related to the prodigals. The principle of prodigality is there for us all. When we were unsaved, by the grace of God we came to realize that we were in a far country, “having no hope, and without God in the world” (Eph 2:12). When no man gave unto us, we finally came to ourselves, and rose, and went to the Father. It was then that He came to meet us in fullness of love and acceptance. There was great joy in heaven, in our heart and in the Father’s heart, over that one sinner that repented (Lu 15:7).

Yet, long after we are saved, the principle of the prodigal reasserts itself in our lives (but it’s just the devil working through the old man’s attempts, from which God always delivers us—NC). Assured of your eternal security and acceptance in the Savior (yet saved but only instability results here until security is established—NC), we slowly drift into self-righteousness and independence (Jas 1:24—NC). We may be in some type of service for the Lord, but sooner or later we find ourselves in the far country; out of fellowship with our Father, and struggling to keep up appearances in our Christian life and service (Romans Seven).

We may slave on in this far country for years, slowly learning that the husks of the world and the old man are not even fit for swine. Finally, finally, we can struggle no longer and we give up—at least for the time being (still saved but in need of deliverance again—NC). Then it is that we whimper, “Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death” (e.g. from the old man, which is the sin nature and has its members like a body - Col 3:5—NC)?

It is then, by the Father’s mercy that we come to ourselves once again. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ro 7:25). He is the answer, and back to the Father we go (always keep everything, good and bad into His trust, for He uses it no matter what to bring about our “good” - Ro 8:28). In His eternal love, He meets us again, this time not with the truth of justification, but with the truths of identification (He always sees the believer in Christ—NC).

Having subsisted on a far-country starvation diet for years, we hungrily feed upon the succulent identification truths. In due time we are fattened up on the liberating facts that we died unto sin, and that our life is now “hid with Christ in God” (Col 3:3).

As a result, Galatians 2:20 becomes our “life verse”: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Christ lives His own Life in the believer, like a hand in a glove, He being the Hand—NC). We begin to reckon, reckon, and reckon: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ro 6:11).

We study, study, study, all of the wonderful “deeper life” books. We share, share, share, the deeper truths—whether the recipient (victim?) is ready or not! We are learning about our position in Christ above, and we are improving in our condition. Our heart-hungers are being satisfied by more and more freedom from the old man, and more and more freedom in the new Man—Christ, “who is our Life” (Col 3:4). Liberation at last (of course the “new man” is the new nature which was “created,” not Christ, for He wasn’t created—NC).

No, it is not quite that pat. It is freedom at first! In this way our Lord gives us a taste of His ultimate triumph in our lives, and assures us that we are on the right path to that maturity in the Lord Jesus—“dead indeed unto sin, and alive unto God in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:11).

Hence, we reckon as we may, our wonderful victorious life and testimony begin to fade (everything seems less meaningful at repeated times—NC); and there is our principle of the prodigal, strong as ever. Once again, it is the far country—maybe not quite as far as before (because we know it’s just temporarily the old man again—NC), but too far for fellowship with the Lord Jesus and the Father (the purpose of this type of repetitious trial is to increasingly reaffirm our continuous dependence on God, the Lord Jesus and Their Holy Spirit—NC).

Could that be where you are right now? Well, yes, kind of. But I would like to know why. You will be encouraged to know that there are a number of reasons, and all of them are good (regardless of the reason; Ro 8:28, esp. 29). First, your loving Father has you right where He wants you at this time (He always knows what we are going to do and preplans all for the good of increasing our faith, which can always grow stronger - Luk 17:5; Eph 6:10—NC). He is not allowing you to grab the identification truths, run off with them and attempt to reckon upon them. He rather intends for you to become established, clearly and solidly, in those two basic growth truths—that you “died unto sin” (no more desire for sin and permanently forgiven—NC), and are now alive unto Him in Christ Jesus. A little farther on in this material we will see whether or not you are established enough in these truths to enable you to receive their practical benefits consistently and increasingly.

Second, while reckoning will result in definite gain in your Christian life, that is not God’s primary purpose for it. That is prodigal thinking. The young prodigal reckoned upon his father’s faithfulness (God always delivers and provides—NC), and was willing to settle for bread and servanthood. At least that would free him from the pig sty, and give him some of the comforts and benefits of family life.

But the father would never settle for that. He fitted him for fellowship (best robe, which is the Lord Jesus—NC), and took him into his presence in complete acceptance (permanent forgiveness—NC). That is the Father’s purpose for you. He has freed you from the old and positioned you in the new, that He may enjoy fellowship with you. If there is to be service, it will be as a son, not as a servant or hired hand. “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal 4:7).

Third, your Father does not want you to be like the elder prodigal. He served his father faithfully and kept his commandments, all to establish his own self-righteousness. His father humbled himself and went out into his presence, while he refused to go into his father’s loving presence. If your Father were to give you freedom and make you fruitful through your present state of reckoning, you would be just another elder prodigal. You would expect Him to come to you and bless you and use you, and you would see no reason for responding to His pleas for you to come inside and abide in His glorious presence.

Fourth, while you reckoned by faith for your new birth, you do not reckon for your growth. Reckoning is the basis for growth, but it is not the means of growth. Reckoning yourself dead unto sin does not free you from the reign of sin and the sinful old man—the Cross has already accomplished that (Ro 6:6-8 - reckoning doesn’t produce effect but assumes truth with what has been already done—NC); and reckoning yourself alive unto God in Christ Jesus does not establish you in your position in the Lord Jesus above—the Holy Spirit has already done that, too (Jhn 3:6, 8—NC).

It is true that the Father has made you the object of His eternal love. He has saved you, and thereby freed you from the old sinful Adam-life, and placed you in the Life of His perfect Son at His own right hand. Now it is for you to count upon these truths (which are mostly contained within the Pauline Epistles—NC) so that He can be your Object.

Hence it is by the Spirit that you grow (all power comes from the Father and the Son and flows through the Spirit to the believer—NC). He centers your attention and affections upon the Lord Jesus in glory, and you are thereby “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (Col 3:1-4). Your reckoning upon your freedom from the old man (Ro 6:12, 14), and your position in the Lord Jesus, comprises the basis for your access for face-to-face fellowship with Him in glory, and that by the ministry of the Holy Spirit (the Word of God, which is through the Spirit is like a mirror to see what you’re supposed to look like - 1Co 13:12—NC).

That is how you make the Father your Object, and thereby glorify Him—in the Son, and by the Spirit. The Father has you in His presence that you might partake of His glory, and by that means grow in His image. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Co 4:6).

Surely you cannot reckon yourself to be unworthy (Eph 4:1; Col 1:10; 1Th 2:12; 2Th 1:5; 2Th 1:11; Rev 3:4—NC) as the younger prodigal, nor too worthy as the older prodigal. Rather, reckon yourself in glory for the Father’s glory (as the Son glorifies the Father we glorify the Father—NC). “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (Col 1:9).


—Miles J Stanford





MJS devotional for Aug 2

The joy of sowing is exceeded only by the joy of harvesting; and yet both sowing and reaping are a matter of death.

“If we follow and note the history and ways of any true servant of the Lord, we shall see, that on the one side they, like Moses on the Mount, or Paul in Arabia, are entranced with the brightness and most marvelous display of divine glory; yet on man’s side, those who know most of the divine ways, suffer most because of the indifference of those who have professed to be the Lord’s people.

“It is nowhere admitted in Scripture that a servant can be merely the herald of the light of God’s grace; that is, that he should only have the joyful side of service. For every real servant, be he evangelist, teacher, or anything else, there must be the side of suffering, burden, and humiliation.”

“We must bear in mind that, while it is the Father’s purpose, in His dealings with Job, to vindicate His own estimate of His servant; it is, at the same time, shown us how He educates or disciplines that servant so as to render him worthy of that estimate.”

“In every trial, however gloomy, there are gleams of light and relief; but full deliverance is often delayed by our anxiety to obtain it. God Himself, and not the deliverance, is to be the satisfaction of His servant; consequently the deliverance is often postponed until we are without prospect or expectation of it; and then it may be accorded in a manner so transcendently beyond our conception, that we must see and understand the love and interest which surrounded us during the whole period of our trial.”

—Mile J Stanford

Prosecutors say court documents showed that Goltz threatened several people [and their children and family members] — including a lawyer with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and a Maricopa County elections official — on far-right social media platforms.

I’m struggling with addition to my smartphone. When I come from work I tend to like to relax in my comfy chair and just shoot the breeze by texting friends. I take up lots of time by doing this and sometimes like to go to bed much earlier than my bedtime and text friends to give me some relaxation before I go to sleep.

I think I’m addicted to texting and more productive activities like playing the guitar or memorizing Bible verses are falling by the wayside.

I am thinking that I may want to come home from work and either turn my phone completely off or put it in the desk drawer and not touch it, and work on memorizing Bible verses or playing the guitar, and after some time of enjoyment, write a to do list with tasks I want to accomplish and try to work on those tasks. But after a long day at work I tend to just want to relax and not work on anything. I just tend to be glued to my phone not wanting to do much else.

Some tasks on my to do list are to post certain discussions in discussion forums or write certain emails to people on my phone with the bluetooth wireless keyboard I use, so I may want to use my phone some in the evening at some point.

When I am sitting there texting friends I could be more productive on my phone by watching Christian messages on YouTube or listening to Christian podcasts, but it seems like texting reigns supreme.

What are your thoughts on what I should do about this struggle and have any of you struggled with spending too much time with technology?

Just reading 2 Chronicles 20 right now and it stirred my heart. Something we are told to do as believers is to stir one another up to good works (Hebrews 10:24-25), so let's use the OT here to share our favorite stories. What about the passage you share inspires faith within you? What lessons do you get from reading your favorite OT passage?

Romans 15:4 (BSB), "For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope."

What does God intend to be the main work of Christians?

Please explain your answers in your own words only.

I may ask follow up questions.

Wishing you God's blessings.

Hi these are small 5x7 anamorphic style watercolors .They are in 1 inch thick desktop glass picture frames which make them look more 3d irl

The police department received criminal behavior allegations about Officer Matthew Beebe, 37, on Friday and immediately began an investigation, suspending Beebe pending the outcome.

Additional charges are anticipated. The initial complaint was not what he was arrested for, and the police department is still investigating those allegations.

Kazakh businessman Kenes Rakishev inexplicably wired $142,000 to Hunter Biden in April 2014 so he could buy himself a sports car.

Mr. Rakishev sent the money around the same time then-Vice President Joe Biden dined with him at a Washington restaurant at Hunter Biden‘s request.

The details of the gifted car were revealed by Devon Archer, a former business partner of Hunter Biden‘s, in four hours of testimony before House investigators and memorialized in a newly released transcript.

Archer did not know the reason for the payment.

“That’s a business matter between them,” Mr. Archer said.

Psalms 119:134-136 ESV


This is a prayer to be released (liberated, delivered) from man’s oppression, i.e. from his persecution, abuse, cruelty and mistreatment, i.e. from those who are at war with God and who are against his Word and who are against the saints of God who are the Lord’s messengers. Paul often prayed such a prayer when he was being persecuted for his walk of faith in Jesus Christ and when he was suffering much mistreatment for the teachings of God which he then taught to others under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

But this oppression is not singled out only to the persecution of God’s saints, for these oppressors are at war with God and with his Word and with his moral standards and with his commandments, so they are at war with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But rather than just attack it, they are altering it and they are using it as a front for lying to the people. And they are twisting God’s words in order to give themselves pardon and/or excuses for their sinful practices, and then they are teaching what is false to the people.

So, what they are doing is teaching a diluted and an altered gospel message which makes no requirements for dying with Christ to sin and living to Christ and to his righteousness. Their “gospel” does not require death to sin and walks of obedience to the Lord in holy living. Under their “gospel” people can “get saved” once in their lives and now they are promised God’s forgiveness of all their sins (past, present, and future) and heaven as guaranteed them when they die, but regardless of how they live their lives on this earth.

But Jesus Christ taught that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) 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 die with him to sin and live to his righteousness, we then have the hope of eternal life with God. For Jesus also said that not everyone saying to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one DOING the will of God the Father.

[Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; cf. Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14]

So, what these oppressors are doing is they are manipulating people’s minds and hearts to accept the lies as truth and the truth as lies, and they are also strongly opposing those who are teaching the truth of the gospel and they are making attempts at trying to discredit them or to bring false charges against them of teaching “works salvation,” so that the people will not listen to them. For their goal is to convince the people to accept the lies so that they will continue living in sin without conscience and without remorse.

For these oppressors are the self-indulgent, the addicted, i.e. those whose lives are out-of-control, who are the vain and worthless, who are living immoral lives, unrestricted, in non-conformity to God’s moral standards. And they are those who are making allowances for what is unnatural, perverted, deviant, and twisted, and they are calling it “normal.” And they steal from God’s words what is not theirs and what is taken out of context, and they alter it to excuse away all behaviors which are sinful.

Therefore, we who are servants of the Lord, who are walking in his ways and in his truth, need to reject the lies, and we need to expose them for what they are, and then we need to proclaim the truth of God’s Word in opposition to the lies in the power of God and under the direction of the Holy Spirit. And we must do this even if we are being attacked, and even if we are being falsely accused, and even if we are hated and rejected and thought badly of and if no one wants to be our friend.

For human lives are at stake here. For the lies, although they may make people feel good about themselves, if believed, are going to send their adherents straight to hell on the false promise of heaven as their eternal destiny. So we need to be telling people the truth that can save their souls from hell. And that truth is that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. And the truth is that if we continue in deliberate and in habitual sin we will not inherit eternal life with God; all lip service denied.

So, if we are true servants of the Lord, it should break our hearts that so many people calling themselves “Christians,” at least here in America, are still living in sin, and they are not walking in obedience to the Lord and to his commands under the New Covenant, for they have convinced themselves that they don’t have to. We should weep over that situation, and it should motivate us strongly to reject and to expose the lies and to get the truth of the gospel out to as many people as possible before the end of all things.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; 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 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; 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; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

My Heart’s Desire

An Original Work / June 29, 2013
Based off Rm. 10; Lu. 9:23-26; Ep. 4:20-24

Loved Ones, Oh, my heart’s desire
Is that you might come to Jesus.
Many appear zealous for God,
But they do not trust in Him.
They have not submitted to the One
Who saved them from their sins;
Not forsaken their sins,
Nor have they obeyed their King.

The word of the Lord is near you:
The word of faith we’re proclaiming:
That you must confess your faith
In Jesus as your Lord and King:
Believe in Him as your Lord,
And follow Him where’er He leads.
Share the gospel; be a witness,
And meet others’ needs.

Beautiful are the feet of those
Who bring the good news of Jesus:
Anyone who would come to Him
Must deny himself today;
Die to sin and self, and
Let the Spirit transform you in heart;
Put on your new self in Jesus,
Yielding to the cross.

Login to view embedded media

Hello Dear friends I pray you are all doing well. Like the titled says, this isn’t very important I know there are way more urgent and important matters, but i would very much appreciate prayer for this.
Long story short a lot has happened in my life , I lost dear loved ones at a young age and a lot of sad things have happened in addition to the tragic losses. My parents feel bad for me so they surprised me and go me a puppy, I love her so much i thank Jesus for her all the time. I don’t have very many loved ones anymore, I belive Jesus brought my doggy into my life. A little background, my pup was born small and sick and almost died, and when I was born I wasn’t breathing and my arm was hurt so it couldn’t move, and We we’re both born in February , i thought it was so cute how we had that in common, i know it’s crazy lol. But I’m having an issue with her, she is a wonderful behaved dog but she cannot sleep a solid night through, health wise thank God she is good she just always gets uo at about 2am and sometimes again at 4am , she’s even done 12am 2am and like 5am I’ve had her since last April and i haven’t gotten a full nights sleep! She doesn’t like potting in the house so she cries to wake me up , i have to get uo half awake and let her out, which is dangeorus to do so late at night you never know who’s outside. I am kinda loosing it honestly wih no solid sleep, i have to work and take care of things, I have a little bit of anxiety before I go to sleep because i anticipate her waking me up just 2 hours later, which she does. It seems I’ve tried everything walks before bed, feeding the proper time , no late snacks. If she keeps this up i May have to give her to my relative because her waking up in the middle of the night disruptes the household. Could you please please pray that Jesus would touch my doggy and let her sleep through the whole night and never wake up in the middle of the night again, that God will give her a peaceful nights sleep. I would so appreciate it, she means so much to me. Jesus has already healed her of different issues (health)she’s had in the past she’s 100 percent healthy now which is a miracle, i CANT even think about giving her up i would just be broken-hearted. I love you guys and thank you so much for reading I’m sorry it’s so long, i am praying for u all.
Lord bless,
Natalie

Looking for clean, faith-filled Christian fiction romance?! Try "The Lawson Series" on Amazon or contact me, Katlyn Grace, for a signed copy! Purchase here!



Finding Hope - Book #1
Hope Lawson’s bakery has been a haven to Ethan Grey’s troubled soul ever since that horrible accident when Ethan lost everything. He lost his family, his faith, and his dignity. Now, he’s turned to alcohol to fill his voids, but is it really working? Problems seem more out of hand, and depression is slowly seeping in holes where there used to be joy. Hope’s compassion runs deep for the alcoholic whose lifeless eyes could use a sparkle of hope. When she steps out in faith to help Ethan, Ethan’s faced with the struggle of his intimidating past. Everything in him begs a second chance for a better life, but is it worth it? Is it worth giving up the alcohol that beckons him every waking second? Is it worth opening up about his past?Will Ethan begin to realize that he needs Someone better than himself to save him? Will Hope be able to help remove the blinders from Ethan’s eyes, so he can truly see his life for what it could be? And will it spark more than a friendly, Christ-like gesture between the two of them?

Finding Faith - Book #2
Police Chief Mark Lawson is known for being Alton, Illinois' biggest hero. But when an angry teen and one bullet are two factors to the product of his fate, Mark's life is put at risk, and the odds are not in his favor. ICU nurse Emma Stirling has nursed many patients in her career, but she's never met someone like Mark Lawson. Sure his big brown eyes are attractive, but something interests her more...his faith in God. But who is God again? While Mark is clinging onto his life in Emma's care, will he be able to help Emma find faith? Will something romantic spark between the two of them?

Finding Love - Book #3
Well-known baker Brianna Lawson may speak her mind quite often and have a witty sense of humor, but she's clever at using those qualities to mask her fears. When the man that used to haunt her in her sleep emerges from hiding, Bri can't get a grip on her spiraling anxiety. Deputy Police Chief Brandon Smith has known Bri his entire life, but he's never been let in on the secret that constantly keeps her on edge. When Brandon's own suspicious past begins to unravel, Bri and Brandon realize they have a lot more in common than they thought. But Brianna can't let her guard down, not when her life is at stake.Will Brandon be able to put Bri's stalker behind bars and help her conquer her anxiety in the process? Will they find love along the way?

Devotional Prayer Journal (for the waiting woman!) purchase here ​

Waiting Woman of God, this is for you!
Searching for a way to be content and fruitful in a season of waiting? Letting what you don't have consume your thoughts and wondering what to do with your life as you wait?
Joy and fulfillment can be found when we learn to be content with what we have and to steward it well. Peace can come when we surrender our timeline for God's.

This thirty-day devotional is going to teach you to draw closer to God and THRIVE in your waiting season.

Friend, I don't know what you are waiting on but God does. He sees your heart. He has a beautiful plan for your life. And yes, you can live abundantly in the wait. This devotional is here to teach you that.

This PDF 30-Day Devotional Download Includes:

• Scriptures to read for each day
• A devotion to go along with the Scripture
• Application questions to dig even deeper
• Prayer section to talk with the Lord about what you're learning and needing help with

This is a digital product and so refunds will not be given.

Here is a link to the FAF lecture of About Ellen White. very good

Login to view embedded media
"The shut door theory" is discussed in much detail.

Then don't contribute to it.

Quite often we might even pray for peace but have you personally worked on it? in your own heart.
I know my own heart can get stirred, riled, when I see posts or hear comments that I disagree with.
But truly, that is where our most difficult work starts. I am talking about equanimity no matter what happens.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if

“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

and

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

That little three letter word there say sit all. "Let"

Many of the posts on this forum are good examples of not letting.

But I am finding that the more challenging work is with family. They push my buttons, test me and help me to practice peace daily.

But here also, I often feel good about not responding at all to posts I think are ridiculous.

So, changing my reactions to real life disturbances is a slow and difficult process. But with the grace of Christ I am seeing changes. It takes vigilance, watchfulness, mindfulness 24/7.

Who is with me?

Halo,

there is one question that bothers me. (Although I believe also in reincarntion and so I can give the answer myself. The simpliest answer would be: Before you are born you chose the moment in your life you will meet God... but this answer ist not enough because, who would God be if it would be predistinated if you are atheist or not???).

How do people find or reject God???? It is known that sin leads to believe God would not exist, especially in younger years. Sexual sins when you are young. But it is written in the bible that people who do not believe in God would supposely know very well God exists and would do this out of evil??? Do not ask me where I read this in the new testament I do not remember.

If you take me for example. As a child I already talked to God before my parents even told me about Jesus. When I was young adult I nearly lost my faith. I sincerely believe that it was FANTASY of my own that lead me to the experience to TRY OUT IF GOD EXISTS by starting a prayer! And God immeadetly responded. So why are atheists evil? Maybe they do not have enough FANTASY to start a prayer? And many people find God only if they loose everything, money health and family, out if DESPAIR.

And if you show atheists a VIDEOS about the christian wonder on youtube ( miracle of damascus part 10, from minute 3:45) some SEE and start to believe, some have still wooden boards in front of their eyes and think about fraud. It is like the Quran says: They have wooden board in front their eyes. This the Quran says about christians .

(or for those who need a non-paywall version)


I think he does a good job explaining some things here and perhaps lays out some uncomfortable truths with regards to analyzing why some people on the right have hitched their wagon to Trump, as well as gives some perspectives that don't conform to the standard "People who support him are either stupid, bigoted, resistant to change, or all 3" kinds of talking points.

You do not have to take my word as when you read 2 Peter 3:15 and 16 explain why !!

#1 Even as our BELOVED brother Paul also according to the WISDOM given unto him HATH WRITTEN ( I believe it is Hebrews ) unto you !!

#2 Beginning in verse 16 , ALL / PAS in the ACTIVE CASE , and in the PLURAL

#3 And speaking in his EPISTLES / EPISTOLE , is in the DATIVE CASE , and in the PLURAL .

#4 In THEM / AUTOS , is a PERSONSAL POSSESSIVE PRONOUN in the DATIVE CASE in the PLURAL .

#5 THESE THINGS / TOUTON , is a DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN , in the GENTIVE CASE , in the NEUTER and is PLURAL

#6 ARE / ESTI , in the PRESENT TENSE , INDICATIVE MOOD and means that verse 16 is true , in the SINGULAR .

#7 Are HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD / DYSNOETO Iis in the NOMINATIVE CASE , means the subject of the verse , in the PLURAL , and is in the NEUTER which means either , male or female .

#8 That they that are UNLEARNED / AMATHES , in the NOMINATIVE CASE , and is PLURAL .

#9 ARE UNSTABLE / ASTERIKTOS , also in the NOMINATIVE CASE , and PLURAL .

#10 WREST / STREBLOO in the Greek PRESENT TENSE , ACTIVE VOICE , INDICATIVE MOOD is a FACT and PLURAL

#11 THE / HO , DEFINITE ARTICLE that is pointing that they are always WRESTING all other scriptures , unto there own DESTRUCTION .

Why do we follow Paul , 1 Cor 11:1 says to be IMITATORS of him , just as I also am of Christ '

dan p

what's you're interpretation of Mark 16:18 ?

Interesting article.