2017 Christian Random Thoughts … New Beginnings In God Our Father.
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Laela
Sidestepping the "lynch mob"
LifeWay.com has some great 40day programs...sharing some good ones on prayer 
The Puritans ... exhorted one another to "pray until you pray." Such advice is not to become an excuse for a new legalism ... But in the Western world we urgently need this advice, for many of us in our praying are like nasty little boys who ring front doorbells and run away before anyone answers. Pray until you pray.
D.A. Carson
Presumptuous prayer speaks to God without first listening to him. It obsessively anxiously, or pretentiously multiplies human words to God, but with, at best, a distracted, indifferent, or fitful interest in God's words to us. But God speaks to us before we speak to him. If we pray without listening, we pray out of context.
Eugene H. Peterson
The Psalms train us to pray with others who have prayed, and are praying: put our knees on the level with other bent knees; lift our hands in concert with other lifted hands; join our voices in lament and praise with other voices who weep and laugh. The primary use of prayer is not for expressing ourselves, but in becoming ourselves.
Eugene H. Peterson
The Puritans ... exhorted one another to "pray until you pray." Such advice is not to become an excuse for a new legalism ... But in the Western world we urgently need this advice, for many of us in our praying are like nasty little boys who ring front doorbells and run away before anyone answers. Pray until you pray.
D.A. Carson
Presumptuous prayer speaks to God without first listening to him. It obsessively anxiously, or pretentiously multiplies human words to God, but with, at best, a distracted, indifferent, or fitful interest in God's words to us. But God speaks to us before we speak to him. If we pray without listening, we pray out of context.
Eugene H. Peterson
The Psalms train us to pray with others who have prayed, and are praying: put our knees on the level with other bent knees; lift our hands in concert with other lifted hands; join our voices in lament and praise with other voices who weep and laugh. The primary use of prayer is not for expressing ourselves, but in becoming ourselves.
Eugene H. Peterson
Laela
Sidestepping the "lynch mob"
A love that can never be fathomed; A life that can never die; A righteousness that can never be tarnished; A peace that can never be understood;
A rest that can never be disturbed; A joy that can never be diminished;
A hope that can never be disappointed; A glory that can never be clouded;
A light that can never be darkened; A happiness that can never be interrupted;
A strength that can never be enfeebled; A purity that can never be defiled;
A beauty that can never be marred; A wisdom that can never be baffled;
Resources that can never be exhausted.
~ Anonymous
A rest that can never be disturbed; A joy that can never be diminished;
A hope that can never be disappointed; A glory that can never be clouded;
A light that can never be darkened; A happiness that can never be interrupted;
A strength that can never be enfeebled; A purity that can never be defiled;
A beauty that can never be marred; A wisdom that can never be baffled;
Resources that can never be exhausted.
~ Anonymous
kanozas
se ven las caras pero nunca el corazón
G-d provided examples through the Patriarchs. We can identify with them through their struggles. No earthly man has heard from G-d as Moses. How incredible the relationship the Apostles and disciples had with Jesus! The Prophets, Joseph, St. Joseph and Mary, Jesus' Mother. I mean, examples are through their lives and provided in scripture of their struggles and ordeals. How wonderful a provision for us all.
mz.rae
Well-Known Member
So, I've finally found a church that feels like home. I feel this pull and tug to be there, and I haven't had that feeling since back a few years ago when I started going to my old church that closed. It's interesting because in a Facebook post my old pastor recommended this church. Anyway the only problem is that it's so far! It's like 34 minutes away from where I live, on top of me having to drive 34-35 minutes for work and school throughout the week. And I'm the type of person that I'm not just a Sunday service only type of a person, I like to go to Bible study and other events throughout the week. I'm praying that God makes provisions for me to be able to move out that way, because my school and job is all in the same area or close to area as the church is in.
kanozas
se ven las caras pero nunca el corazón
Human limitations, we are not self-sufficient...prayer and dependence upon G-d. This world will try and make you feel stupid for depending upon G-d, specifically, upon Jesus. Loved this, it's edifying and it came at the right time.
Is this guy 1/2 Ethiopian? I swear he's habesha or at least 1/2. Solomon? Anyhoo, I like his messages.
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movingforward
Moving forward and onward
kanozas
se ven las caras pero nunca el corazón
You expired, O Jesus,
but the source of life gushed forth for souls
and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.
O Fount of Life,
unfathomable Divine Mercy,
envelop the whole world
and empty Yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water,
which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus
as a fount of mercy for us,
I trust in You.
Amen.
but the source of life gushed forth for souls
and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.
O Fount of Life,
unfathomable Divine Mercy,
envelop the whole world
and empty Yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water,
which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus
as a fount of mercy for us,
I trust in You.
Amen.
kanozas
se ven las caras pero nunca el corazón
Isaiah 18New King James Version (NKJV)
Proclamation Against Ethiopia
18 Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings,
Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
2 Which sends ambassadors by sea,
Even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying,
“Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin,
To a people terrible from their beginning onward,
A nation powerful and treading down,
Whose land the rivers divide.”
3 All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth:
When he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it;
And when he blows a trumpet, you hear it.
4 For so the Lord said to me,
“I will take My rest,
And I will look from My dwelling place
Like clear heat in sunshine,
Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
5 For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect
And the sour grape is ripening in the flower,
He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks
And take away and cut down the branches.
6 They will be left together for the mountain birds of prey
And for the beasts of the earth;
The birds of prey will summer on them,
And all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.
7 In that time a present will be brought to the Lord of hosts
Froma]">[a] a people tall and smooth of skin,
And from a people terrible from their beginning onward,
A nation powerful and treading down,
Whose land the rivers divide—
To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts,
To Mount Zion.
Proclamation Against Ethiopia
18 Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings,
Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
2 Which sends ambassadors by sea,
Even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying,
“Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin,
To a people terrible from their beginning onward,
A nation powerful and treading down,
Whose land the rivers divide.”
3 All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth:
When he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it;
And when he blows a trumpet, you hear it.
4 For so the Lord said to me,
“I will take My rest,
And I will look from My dwelling place
Like clear heat in sunshine,
Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
5 For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect
And the sour grape is ripening in the flower,
He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks
And take away and cut down the branches.
6 They will be left together for the mountain birds of prey
And for the beasts of the earth;
The birds of prey will summer on them,
And all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.
7 In that time a present will be brought to the Lord of hosts
Froma]">[a] a people tall and smooth of skin,
And from a people terrible from their beginning onward,
A nation powerful and treading down,
Whose land the rivers divide—
To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts,
To Mount Zion.
kanozas
se ven las caras pero nunca el corazón
Rant
just to get it off my chest. But this particular situation from a particular denom. cannot come for the Jews in that fashion, equating unbelief to the Pharisees. Those were religious leaders way back when. If anything, many people don't want Jesus because 1) they don't see the biblical evidence (eyes not opened to it) and 2) they see the behavior of racist and anti-semitic Christians. It's no different than Blacks not wanting anything to do with the White churches/Christianity in general...or Native Americans shunning the Catholics who mercilessly persecuted and oppressed them. People ain't stupid. They see the ugliness of the people. That's not talking about people who find fault no matter what...it's a generalized "why are you so prejudiced and hateful" kinduva thing. You can't love G-d and hate Blacks...you can't worship Jesus and spit on Jews. I mean...
Get a clue.
just to get it off my chest. But this particular situation from a particular denom. cannot come for the Jews in that fashion, equating unbelief to the Pharisees. Those were religious leaders way back when. If anything, many people don't want Jesus because 1) they don't see the biblical evidence (eyes not opened to it) and 2) they see the behavior of racist and anti-semitic Christians. It's no different than Blacks not wanting anything to do with the White churches/Christianity in general...or Native Americans shunning the Catholics who mercilessly persecuted and oppressed them. People ain't stupid. They see the ugliness of the people. That's not talking about people who find fault no matter what...it's a generalized "why are you so prejudiced and hateful" kinduva thing. You can't love G-d and hate Blacks...you can't worship Jesus and spit on Jews. I mean... Get a clue.
kanozas
se ven las caras pero nunca el corazón
As a way of referring to the specific place in scripture when presenting the readings...Jesus wasn't saying G-d forsake Him, He was pointing to Psalm 22 which detailed the crucifixion long before that type of punitive execution was even invented:
Psalm 22King James Version (KJV)
22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Psalm 22King James Version (KJV)
22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
movingforward
Moving forward and onward
Whew! People know they come up with a million and one reasons to not tithe. Even if you dont give 10% give something to the Lord. It's a sacrificial offering and do it cheerfully! I'm so tired of listening to people excuses on why they cant (wont) give. You went to Popeyes and spent $10 on a meal. You could've gave half to the Lord. I'm just saying.
Rant over!
Rant over!
movingforward
Moving forward and onward
On another note, I find that Im relying on God more and more. Not just mindlessly living day to day. But actually conversing with him and making good use of my time.
Im putting more and more of my trust in Him.
Thank you Lord for all you have done and will do. Also, thank you for my new job.
Im putting more and more of my trust in Him.
Thank you Lord for all you have done and will do. Also, thank you for my new job.
Maracujá
November 2020 --> 14 years natural!!!
Such a powerful message today at church. It was about wisdom and how true friendship with God, automatically gives us wisdom.
One line at the end, in particular, stood out to me. It was about how the blessings God gives us, can become a curse if we're not truly ready. She spoke about lust and how some parents, for never having dealt with it, molest their own children. It was so powerful.
I'll continue to be patient for what God is doing in me.
One line at the end, in particular, stood out to me. It was about how the blessings God gives us, can become a curse if we're not truly ready. She spoke about lust and how some parents, for never having dealt with it, molest their own children. It was so powerful.
I'll continue to be patient for what God is doing in me.
Sharpened
A fleck on His Sword
I had prepared to post something else, but reread your post and got a reminder about purification (the process of refinement). That is the point of the daily "picking up the cross" - to have the Father search our hearts and test them (Psalm 139:23), to allow His refiner's fire (Malachi 3:2) to burn the dross out of us (Proverbs 25:4, Malachi 3:3). Easier said than done, but it can become a habit if one is willing to endure and learn from the trials of life in order to become mature children of Father Yah. Amen.
Sharpened
A fleck on His Sword
Does anyone understand that the battlefield is also the prize - the mind and heart of man? A choice must be made daily: knowledge or life. To choose life is to choose the Spirit of Life over knowledge and submit to His leading supernaturally. Which is more valuable, man's biblical interpretation or His leading? I foresee another schism happening because of this.
YvetteWithJoy
On break
It has been on my heart to start 2 different threads/discussions in the Christian forum:
(1) The difference between believing in christianity and believing in christians
(2) A thread for us to share how our faith has evolved from how it began to what it is today
I'm not one who thinks your faith has to look like mine, and I'm not trying to start any drama at all. I'm just a passionate defender of authentic, real christianity . . . and I believe that if we discuss what THAT is to us, then we and nonchristians can learn what it is that we find so beautiful, pure, empowering, and loving about it.
Because right now, people are making Christianity look weak, evil, etc. The Roy Moore situation, for example.
What do you guys think?
@Sharpened
@Shimmie
@Aggie
@newgrowth15
(1) The difference between believing in christianity and believing in christians
(2) A thread for us to share how our faith has evolved from how it began to what it is today
I'm not one who thinks your faith has to look like mine, and I'm not trying to start any drama at all. I'm just a passionate defender of authentic, real christianity . . . and I believe that if we discuss what THAT is to us, then we and nonchristians can learn what it is that we find so beautiful, pure, empowering, and loving about it.
Because right now, people are making Christianity look weak, evil, etc. The Roy Moore situation, for example.
What do you guys think?
@Sharpened
@Shimmie
@Aggie
@newgrowth15
Sharpened
A fleck on His Sword
(1) I hate religion and do not care for the church system because they both keep people from becoming mature children in Yah. I believe in no one, but Christ and His Father's work in, through, and around me. I will always favor being Spirit-led.
(2) That would be a good one, if people check their judgment at the door and ask respectful questions. This is why I journal, so I can see my progression over time.
YvetteWithJoy
On break
Sharpened
A fleck on His Sword
While discussing Yah and science with DS1, I gave him a quick Hebrew lesson.
"D'you know how the word good has a very abstract meaning in modern times?"
"Yes."
"But, get this. In the Hebrew, it, tov, means functional."
DS1's face lit up. He is a young man of logic, no flights of fantasy with him.
"Yeah, as in 'God saw that the light was good,' actually means He saw it as functional, working according to His Will. This means ra, the basic word for bad, means dysfunction. Tov + ra = Torah - what is function and dysfunction."
He was still lit. "That makes so much sense!" He started to talk about quantum theory and how humans distort it in comparison to how Yah operates. Yeah, I barely understood it myself. I love these little moments.
"D'you know how the word good has a very abstract meaning in modern times?"
"Yes."
"But, get this. In the Hebrew, it, tov, means functional."
DS1's face lit up. He is a young man of logic, no flights of fantasy with him.
"Yeah, as in 'God saw that the light was good,' actually means He saw it as functional, working according to His Will. This means ra, the basic word for bad, means dysfunction. Tov + ra = Torah - what is function and dysfunction."
He was still lit. "That makes so much sense!" He started to talk about quantum theory and how humans distort it in comparison to how Yah operates. Yeah, I barely understood it myself. I love these little moments.
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