JAM2b said:

I do believe God communicates through dreams and visions. The Bible tells us this is true and that it will continue. It does not indicate that it is something that will stop.

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I concur and had my share pertaining to myself and others. Something I dreamt several years ago has come to pass and I learned about it in December. During a planning event the Lord nudged me about relationships. It wasn't an area I intended to focus on in 2026 and I put it on the back burner to address more pertinent areas.

The nudge was enough and He didn't have to explain. I looked at my calendar to see the astronomical alignments in the heavens and the sun was in ophiuchus which is a constellation often associated with healing and transformation. The period is extremely short roughly 12 to 14 days if I recall. It's the time for breakthroughs and the event was taking place during that period and that was happening manyfold. It was powerful.

I had a dream about someone two weeks prior and shared it via email. He didn't respond but I reached out to two others. Believing them to be the situations He wanted me to address before the year closed. The second was quiet as well but the third was not and responded immediately. On the last day of the alignment we were messaging back and forth and it was incredibly emotional and you could feel something bringing things to a head.

I was resisting but her hand was outstretched. There was a point when a song appeared in my thoughts that I knew quite well. I heard the opening line, let's stay together loving you whether times are good or bad; happy or sad. Something within me broke and I said to myself what are you doing? You have 22 years together. And while it isn't a marriage in the natural the parallel was the same. We had too much to lose and I could resist no more.

During our exchange she revealed the dissolution of her marriage and said the divorce was finalized in the summer. I was surprised to hear it but not that it occurred. I dreamt it would come to pass many years prior and the split brought her to me physically and I helped her. The dream was so pointed that I asked her afterward many questions pertaining to her spouse and their relationship in respect to the children.

In the dream he had custody and her daughter's behavior was odd and hostile towards her. I felt it was a warning and spoke with my aunt about it and she concurred and said she knows what it means. You don't but she does. In response, I was adamant about her circumstances and advised her intentionally to insure she would be well fixed if it came to pass.

As a result the outcome switched. She has the home and primary custody of the children. The lone issue is the mortgage. She took a smaller settlement to buy him out and has a year to do so. That's where I come in. Nine days after our reunion I presented her with a business idea, 6 quarter plan and promise to assist her. Two weeks later she had a product to sell online and the last part to be fulfilled is underway.

When she sells the house she's following me southward for a time and overseas afterwards. This is not the crux of the point. I had a vision during the pandemic of remodeling her home. In the vision I'm sharing my desire and seeking her husband's agreement lest I step on his toes. I was responsible for everything and added an addition too. I saw every room in exquisite detail and revealed the outcome much like you see on HGTV with their loved ones in tow.

In her office there was a mural on the wall with butterflies and quiet nod to she and I in the form of a slogan we created long ago that was placed in the image. Bound by love and a promise. I shared the vision with her and it brought her to tears. It was once on the site but I took it off for privacy reasons. She was given a 6 figure remodel free of charge in the vision.

When she agreed to cross the pond unreservedly the gravity of her love and commitment compelled me to say. You don't need to buy a house. You can stay with us on the land and we'll work together and that's when I recalled what I saw and understood what would follow and the reference to a woman with children He wanted me to aid. I never knew who she was until that moment.

She was baptized last year and it was recorded. Each participant was allowed to make a statement and hers brought all of us to tears. She spoke graciously about Jesus and how she yearned to have a relationship with the Lord and the connection she lacked in the past in other settings that was filled with His presence in the now. She radiated joy and to know that I'm a small but lengthy part of her betterment is all the reward I need.

God changes not and always has a ram in the bush. Whether we know it or not. We take Him at His word and believe all things are possible. Not some or modern limitations. We put no restraints on our faith or His promises.

~bella

I have a favorite fantasy fiction from childhood that I absolutely love and revisit. It is Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series. It's heavily derived from Tolkiens Lord of the Rings series, but it is not as heavy of a read and is more age appropriate for children's reading level. The target audience is upper elementary-middle school students. It is a coming of age and rite of passage story. I never get tired of it. It is a great escape.

Peace in Christ.

We are to TURN from the power of Satan unto God. In other words, “Get thee behind me Satan.” We are to turn…be “converted”...TURN…from darkness unto light. When we "turn", then Satan is behind us and we face God.



The apostle Peter is symbolic of what has happened to His church throughout history….to the believers that believe that Christ is the Son of the living God.

We must pay attention to what happened with the man Peter 2000 years ago to see what has happened to His people who believe in Christ, the Son of the living God throughout this time period of 2000 years.

Mat 16:15-18
(15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
(16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
(17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon son of Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Satan has made war with His people. He was given authority to do so: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you (PLURAL), that he may sift (you) as wheat.”

Satan was given authority to test His people…sifting them as wheat…just as he was given authority to test Job. Job 1:12 .

His tares…his own ministers… were sown among the wheat. The enemy has sown them among us. The man-based churches are the domain of darkness where Satan has his throne as he was given authority to test the believers of Christ.

Satan’s ministers…their mouths… are the “gates” that open up and speak falsehoods (deceit) rather than the truth and lead many astray to their mortal deaths…without manifesting the life of Jesus in their mortal flesh which would have given them an age-lasting life (aka “eternal life”).

Their throat (singular for they all do this) is an open grave.

( Rom 3:13-14 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
(14) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness)

They are the gates of “hell”…that is, Hades which means “unseen one, grave, death.”

They have the power of death in their tongues as they speak/preach falsehoods to their congregations….leading MANY astray down the broad way to their mortal destruction.

(18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell (Hades) shall not prevail against it.

Satan has desired to have “you” (PLURAL). While addressed to Peter, the original Greek uses a plural "you" which means that this applies to ALL of His people….the believers who believe that Christ is the Son of God.

Luk 22:31-34
(31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you (PLURAL), that he may sift (you) as wheat:

He prays for us…to be filled with all wisdom and knowledge.

We are to be “converted”…to turn again…back to God. We are to turn from the power…the authority…of Satan unto God. We are to turn from darkness to light. Get behind me Satan.

We are to leave the man-based churches and not be unequally yoked together with them. What does light have in communion with darkness?

We are to strengthen our brothers by preaching the Word of Truth to them.

(32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted (TURN), strengthen thy brethren.
(33) And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
(34) And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

The eyes of our understanding are to be opened so that we might turn from darkness to light….from the “power” (Greek word = exousia = AUTHORITY, privilege) of Satan unto God.

Act 26:17-18
(17) Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
(18) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power (authority) of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

He delivers….rescues …us from the power (Greek word = exousia = authority) of darkness and translates…to transfer…to carry away… us into the kingdom of His dear Son. We are delivered from the man-based churches…the power/authority of darkness.

Col 1:12-14 KJV
(12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
(13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
(14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

What we have witnessed so far in Christian history are the vessels of His wrath. This applies to both Jew and Gentile.

Rom 9:19-24 KJV
(19) Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
(20) Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

The vessels of His wrath were sown in dishonor. They believed in Christ, the Son of God but mortally perished because of listening to false prophets who led them astray from the path that leads to His manifest life.

They attended man-based churches all of their lives and mortally perished without hearing the word of the truth of the gospel that their preachers did not preach to them because they had no understanding of it.

The vessels of His mercy shall be delivered from the man-based churches unto glory. They will hear the Word of Truth and depart from them and be separate.

(21) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
(22) What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
(23) And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

This applies to both groups.

(24) Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

The vessels of His wrath will be saved for Jesus is both the Lord of the “dead” and the living.

Christ both died and rose and revived that He might be Lord both of the dead (vessels of His wrath that mortally perished) and the living (the vessels of His mercy who will inherit an age-lasting life in their mortal bodies).

Rom 14:7-9 KJV
(7) For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
(8) For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
(9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

The vessels of His wrath were sown perishable…they all have mortally perished…but they shall be raised unperishable (incorruption). They were sown in dishonor but will raised in glory. They were sown in weakness but will be raised in power.

1Co 15:42-43 KJV
(42) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
(43) It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

The vessels of His mercy shall not “sleep” as the vessels of His wrath. They will not mortally perish for the duration of this age like the vessels of His wrath did. They will be changed from mortal to immortal (without ever seeing mortal death) at the LAST DAY of this age.

1Co 15:50-56 KJV

The vessels of His wrath…the corruptible…will then put on incorruption. The vessels of His mercy shall then have their mortal bodies (that did not perish ) put on immortality.

(53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

When both groups (the vessels of His wrath and the vessels of His mercy) will ALL have been “changed” at the very last day of this age, then death is completely swallowed up in victory. Death is the LAST enemy to be conquered and happens at the very end of this age…the last day of this age.

(54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
(55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
(56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Tranche of government-held files filled with ‘ham-fisted redactions’ and expose survivors’ identities, say attorneys

Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation have reacted to the voluminous – and possibly last – tranche of government-held investigative documents with calls for further accountability for the scheme’s alleged clients.

“It is without question that a significant piece of Epstein and [his convicted associate Ghislaine] Maxwell’s vast sex trafficking operation was to provide young women and girls to other wealthy and powerful individuals,” said Sigrid McCawley, a partner with Boies Schiller Flexner, a firm representing survivors of the scheme.

That practice, McCawley said, gave Epstein and Maxwell “control and power over individuals who were implicated in the sex trafficking”.

McCawley added: “Those who find themselves entangled in the mire of newly released information, no doubt, will play the deny and distance card, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is exactly how the sex trafficking operation worked.”

The comments came after the Trump administration’s justice department on Friday released about 3m files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender. Some files that were immediately appraised included references to and correspondence with prominent individuals, including multibillionaire businessperson Elon Muskand commerce secretary Howard Lutnick – who were at times associated with Epstein but have not been accused of wrongdoing.

Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said several categories of pages were withheld from release, including personally identifying information of the victims, victims’ medical files, images depicting child sexual abuse and pages related to ongoing cases.

Continued below.

5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, father board plane for Minneapolis after detention center release​

A federal judge on Saturday ordered that the pair be released.

They had a pending asylum case but no order of deportation directing that they be removed from the United States, ABC News previously reported.

In the order releasing Liam and his father, Biery said the case "has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children."

But in a statement after the judge's ruling on Saturday, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, "The facts in this case have NOT changed: ICE did NOT target or arrest a child."

They were merely targetting his father who has a pending asylum case and no deportation order against him.

McLaughlin's account differs from what the family's attorney and schools officials said occurred.

The pontiff echoed Cuban bishops’ call for “sincere and effective” talks after Washington announced new measures tightening economic pressure on the island.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday voiced "great concern” over news of rising tensions between Cuba and the United States of America, urging leaders to pursue “sincere and effective” dialogue to avoid violence and further suffering for the Cuban people.

His appeal, delivered after he recited the Angelus from the Apostolic Palace, came after Donald Trump’s administration issued an executive order late Thursday intensifying economic pressure on the island, including the possibility of imposing tariffs on countries that supply crude oil to Cuba. The order describes Cuba’s posture toward the U.S. as hostile and calls it a “national threat."

The pope explicitly aligned himself with an appeal from Cuba’s bishops and called on those responsible to choose dialogue over escalation: “I join the message of the Cuban bishops, inviting all those responsible to promote a sincere and effective dialogue, to avoid violence and any action that could increase the sufferings of the dear Cuban people.”

He then entrusted the Cuban people to the patroness of the island: “May the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre assist and protect all the children of that beloved land!”

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This will be the first public display of the beloved saint’s bodily remains.

About 350,000 people have registered to venerate the relics of St. Francis of Assisi — the first public display of the bodily remains of the beloved saint.

From Feb. 22 to March 22, the Lower Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi will welcome pilgrims from around the world who will come to the Italian city to pray before the body of the man whom ecclesial tradition has described as “the living mirror of the Gospel.”

The event marks a moment of great historical and spiritual importance on the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death: For the first time, his body will be transferred from its resting place in an underground chapel and placed in front of the papal altar in the Lower Basilica. In this way, the church will hold a “revealed treasure” for one month, granting pilgrims time for veneration and prayer.

Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special jubilee year for St. Francis of Assisi on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of his death. The year will extend until Jan. 10, 2027, during which the faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence.

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Life flourishes as we focus on what really matters and seek what is above.

Sunday, Feb. 1, is the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mass readings: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a.

Life becomes blessed and flourishing when we are single-hearted and centered, when we “see God” because we are no longer distracted by so many lesser things. That’s what Christ teaches us through the beatitudes.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of God is theirs.

In other words, what happens when our hearts are centered on the eternal glories of heaven? These glories are a promised treasure that will not disappoint! Blessed indeed are we if we grasp this truth.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

What happens when we are no longer emotionally addicted to the need for worldly happiness and accept that this world has its trials?

Continued below.

Among the most ancient in Christianity.

Known among people of Mexican descent in the U.S. as ‘La Candelaria,’ the traditional Feb. 2 feast bids farewell to the Christmas season not with a whimper, but with a bang.
Husband and wife Jose Luis Ortiz and Sylvia Monroy plan to take their made-in-Spain resin, life-size ‘Niño Dios’ to church for a blessing on Feb. 2. (photo: Cristina Treviño)

Sylvia Monroy vividly remembers Christmas Eve 1991.

The housewife had prayed to God that her family, which had been separated, would be together for Christmas. That night, at 11 p.m., a friend brought a gorgeous, life-size figure of a Nativity Baby Jesus to her home in Nogales, Mexico, located just next to the Arizona border.

“My friend told me I had won it in a raffle. But I cannot remember ever taking part in a raffle,” recalled Monroy. “But that night, we got our sign. Our family got together. We carried the Baby Jesus and sang lullabies to him. It was a miracle.”

This Monday, Feb. 2, Monroy and her husband, Jose Luis Ortiz, plan to take their made-in-Spain resin, life-size Niño Dios(“Divine Child”) to their parish for Candlemas Day. Monroy says that the statue inspired her to start Santa Filomena, her small Catholic gift shop, which to this day is still going strong.

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Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX, and Tesla, has been shown in the newly-released Epstein Files to have had a number of friendly exchanges with the late pedophile financier. Emails show Musk expressing a strong interest in visiting Epstein’s private Caribbean island, known as a notorious hub for his abuse.

In one November 25, 2012, email, Musk replies to a question from Epstein about how many people he planned to bring to the island, writing: “Probably just Talulah and me. What day/night will be the wildest party on =our [sic] island?” At that time, Musk was married to British actress Talulah Riley.

A December 2013 email shows Musk asking about visiting the island over the holidays. Epstein responded: “always space for you.” However, Epstein later had to cancel on the tech mogul due to a scheduling conflict, writing, “Bad news- Unfortunately, my schedule will keep me in New York. I was really looking forward to finally spending some time together with just fun as the agenda. so i am very disappointed. Hopefully we can schedule another time in the near future.”

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RileyG said:

Misguided perhaps. Hopefully he comes to repentance.

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Yes lets hope they all do. I think 9 have now been arrested.

Sometimes the conservative refrain, “there’s a war on men,” functions less as a diagnosis and more as a gatekeeper, one that prevents even the most measured, necessary criticism from entering the conversation at all. Any attempt to examine male failure, cultural rot, or institutional responsibility is waved away as feminist hysteria or cultural Marxism before it can even clear its throat.

Earlier this week, I stumbled upon a Christian Post article titled “Is It Always the Women?” It immediately set off my internal alarms. In the article, the author argues that the recent decline of women in church attendance is largely tied to cultural forces and values that lead women away from traditional Christianity, portraying women (especially politically liberal ones ) as the most visible agents of societal unrest and moral collapse.

“Here we go,” I muttered to myself. “The woman whom thou gavest me did give me the fruit, and I did eat,” verse forty-three million and seventy-four.

I’ve long argued that both sides of the political and cultural divide are engaged in the same dishonest game. The Left insists that white conservative men are the singular source of all human misery. The Right, meanwhile, behaves as though America went to Hell the moment women were allowed to vote. You may think I’m overstating my case, and you may be right. I’m exaggerating for effect, perhaps. But you have to at least acknowledge the outright hostility to anything feminism adjacent, even the good stuff.

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https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/house-bill-clinton-hillary-clinton/2026/01/29/id/1244154/ Some connected with Trump when to jail for ignoring a subpoena. Will the Clintons be above the law

The Morning Offering

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) readings & commentary

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time readings & commentary

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A readings & commentary

Sunday Reflections, 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Readings & commentary

A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for Sunday, February 1, 2026

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A) Bible study

Picture This! A Homily for the 4th Sunday of the Year

Exegesis of the Word: On the Beatitudes as a Spiritual Portrait

Daily Gospel

Saint Bridget of Ireland

Saints of the Day

This is from the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant, and yet what it teaches us here, in content, is taught us in the New Testament, under the New Covenant God has with his people Israel (Jew and Gentile by biblical faith in Jesus Christ). For we read in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 that what the Israelites did in the wilderness happened as examples to us, and they were written down for us so that we will not crave evil things as they also craved. For the majority of them made sin their practice, and not obedience to God, and so they were put to death and they did not enter into God’s eternal rest.

So, we are taught in the New Testament not to put our Lord God to the test, as the Israelites (the majority) tested God in the wilderness and did not get to enter into God’s eternal rest because of their disobedience (unbelief). But we are to be those who walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands in holy living, by the grace of God, in the power of God. And, yes, in the New Testament, under the New Covenant, we who claim to believe in Jesus Christ are taught to do what is righteous and good (holy) in the sight of the Lord if we are to have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God.

For belief in Jesus Christ is not something we do by professions of faith in Jesus Christ only. For just because we may claim to believe in Jesus Christ, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are of biblical faith in Jesus Christ. For, by faith in the Lord Jesus, if our faith is genuine biblical faith, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but now as servants of God and of his righteousness in walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands. But if sin is still our practice, and not obedience, we do not have eternal life with God.

For, in Jesus’ death on that cross, he who knew no sin became sin for us that he might put our sins to death with him. And this was so that, by faith in him, we can now die with him to sin, in his power, and walk in obedience to his commands, in his strength. Because of what Jesus did for us on that cross we can come out from underneath slavery (addiction) to sin, and we can serve the Lord with our lives, in obedience to his commands. We can now live for the Lord, and for his purposes, in the power of God, and no longer live for the sinful pleasures of the flesh, by the grace of God.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

And all the glory belongs to God and not to our human flesh. Amen!

Give God the Glory

Based off Psalm 19
An Original Work / March 10, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

All of creation now proclaims:
“Give God the glory; honor His name!”
Each day the stars in heav’n above
Show forth His wisdom; tell of His love.

They do not speak. They have no voice.
Yet, they declare we have a choice:
“Worship the God of heav’n above;
Believe in Jesus; trust in His love.”

God’s word is perfect, just and good,
Refreshing souls who trust in the Lord;
Makes wise the simple; radiant -
Lighting our lives with God’s righteousness.

Joy to the heart His words now speak;
Pure and enduring, now we seek.
They are more precious than our gold;
Sweeter than honey; never grow old.

Keeping the word brings great reward.
By the word Jesus speaks and He warns,
Convicting hearts of all their sin;
Forgiving all who call upon Him.

Praying You keep me, Lord, from sins.
May they not rule my life again.
Then will I walk in all Your ways,
Following Jesus all of my days.

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Don’t Put God To The Test
An Original Work / February 1, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Lauren_ said:

I'm not an ex-Catholic and still new to this site. I thought there was a place to post for people who are ex-Christians so I don't think you will get any responses here.

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This is a subforum of the Eastern Orthodox forum called The Ancient Way which itself is under the Christian Communities forum.
The purpose of this subforum is found here.
The OP is requesting responses from fellow Eastern Orthodox, some of whom were former Catholics, so the thread is in the right place.
I'm guessing this thread appeared on the home page of the forum or as related thread links at the bottom of another thread. So when you click on the link you don't actually know which subforum you are in and some have strict rules associated that have gotten people into trouble by inadvertently breaking rules they didn't know about.
When you click on a suggested thread, it's always a good idea to scroll to the top to see what subforum you have ended up in.

The following passage of Scripture is from the Old Testament, and it was taught under the Old Covenant God had with his people Israel (Jews only at that time). But some of this is repeated for us under the New Covenant, and the rest of this passage we can learn from, as well. For, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV) Amen!


And, Jesus Christ, when he was asked which was the great commandment in the law, said: “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NASB1995)

And Jesus continued to teach that if we love him, we will keep (obey) his commandments. We will keep (stick to) his word. For, those who do not keep (obey, adhere to) his words do not love Jesus/God. And he said that if we keep his commandments, we abide in his love. But if we do not obey his commandments, and if sin is what we practice, instead, we will not inherit eternal life with God. We will not be saved from our sins and be on our way to heaven if obedience to God is not our practice, and if sin is our practice.

[Matthew 7:13-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 8:51; John 14:15-24; John 15:10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 5:9; James 1:21-25; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-15; 1 John 3:1-24; 1 John 4:19-20; 1 John 5:2-3; 2 John 1:6]

Now, love for God is not in words only, or just in song. Love, which comes from God, for he is love, prefers what God prefers. And he prefers all that is holy, righteous, morally pure, upright, godly, faithful, honest, and obedient to his commands. And this love for God chooses his choices to obey them, too, in his power, wisdom, and strength. For if truly we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and might (strength), we will be those whose lives are surrendered to the Lord, to doing his will, and to obeying his commands.

And if this is true of us, this should not be a private affair that is kept secret from everyone else. It should be obvious by the words that we speak, and by our attitudes, our actions, our behaviors, and by our life choices. And this is not saying that we will be absolutely perfect in all these areas at all times, but this should be how we live, in practice, by the grace of God. And it should be shown outwardly and not inwardly only, for we are to be our Lord’s witnesses throughout the earth, sharing the gospel with the people.

So, we should be living the truth of the gospel, in practice, by the grace of God, and then we should be teaching others the truth of the gospel. We should be teaching our children and grandchildren what it means to believe in Jesus and to live the life he has for us all to live, as his followers. But we must set the example before them, too. For words only mean nothing if they are not followed up with action, and in truth. But words are important, too. For we should be talking about Jesus with other people, in daily practice.

Now, as far as physical displays of faith go, we must be very careful that our outward displays, in the forms of signs and posts and photos and t-shirts with printed words on them, etc., are what we are living, in practice. I have seen some vehicles with “Christian” bumper stickers or pasted signs on their windshields, and then saw the drivers giving someone “the finger,” which is something bad, not good. And, again, I am not saying we will never fail, but that we should be living what we are professing, in daily practice, by habit.

Walking in The Light

Based off 1 John 1-2
An Original Work / November 16, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

When I lift up my voice, and
Sing praise unto God,
I will fellowship with my
Lord and Savior, King.
In Him there is no darkness.
He is in the light of truth.
If we walk in His light,
From sin He purifies.

If we repent of our sins,
He’ll forgive us now,
When we humble ourselves, and
Before Jesus bow.
The man who says, “I know Him,”
But does not obey His truth,
There is no truth in him.
In darkness still he’s found.

Do not love the world of sin,
For it is hell bound.
If you follow the world, you’ll
Not in Christ be found.
The world and its desires
Will not last; they’ll expire.
The one who does God’s will,
Receives eternal life.

See that what you have heard from
Christ remains in you.
Then, you’ll remain in Christ, and
In His Father, too.
This is what He promised us –
His eternal life with God.
So, continue in Him, and
You’ll receive a crown.

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When We Walk By The Way
An Original Work / February 1, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

May the Lord have mercy on you and restore you to full health and strength!

His grace and peace to you!

May God have mercy on these men and women and bring them to the light of the gospel! Amen!

Michie said:

Thank you Riley.

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You’re welcome

Aldebaran said:

Would it be worse if president Trump put his face on a dollar bill such as "dictators" or "King" Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Andrew Jackson, etc.?

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At least these fellows had the good grace to be dead before their likenesses were emblazoned upon our currency.