Is there a place I can go? Like a Protestant nunnery? Or is there something I need to do?
- Thread starter MercifulPalace
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A continuation of my earlier "Thank you!" post: I truly appreciate your prayers.
The chickens were indeed noisy. My mother ended up gifting them to a neighbor, who graciously welcomes us to free eggs if we ever would like. It is a blessing! I've been meaning to take them up on that offer.
The chickens were indeed noisy. My mother ended up gifting them to a neighbor, who graciously welcomes us to free eggs if we ever would like. It is a blessing! I've been meaning to take them up on that offer.
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Hi, MP.
I have not had a chance to reread your testimony yet because I have been busy dealing with a troubling situation on this website which was recently rectified, but I will now say a couple of things which I believe that the Lord would have me to share with you. As always, I hope that you will compare anything that I ever say to you to the Holy Ghost inspired word of God. If there is ever, God forbid, any contradiction or discrepancy between what I say and what God's word says, then always go with what the word of God says without any hesitancy whatsoever.
Early on, as I read some of your posts on other threads, I recognized what I perceived to be a genuine zeal and love for God in you. I have wanted to encourage you along those lines before, but I have not because I sometimes feel awkward when trying to minister to or simply encourage a female. That is something that I need to get over because Jesus pretty regularly ministered to women himself. Anyhow, as one who regularly sees things or filters things through the word of God, you remind me of the Shulamite (which means "woman of Jerusalem") woman in the Song of Solomon. That book, although usually quoted because of its romantic intimacy, in my estimation, really has to do more with the heartset and the mindset of that woman than it has to do with any physical intimacy which it may have eventually led to.
For example:
Song of Solomon 3:1-4
"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me."
Four times in just these four verses, the woman mentions the one "whom my soul loveth", and it was this great love which motivated her actions to not only find him, but to also hold him, and not let him go. This is what I perceive to be in you in relation to your tremendous love for Jesus Christ, and I want to encourage you that you are definitely headed down the right path with this type of love. Poor Jesus when you grab a hold of him. He might not be able to break loose from your grip, and he therefore might not have any time for the rest of us. lol. Seriously though, it is uplifting and beautiful to see such love emanating from you for Jesus, so stay the course.
Matthew 22:34-38
"But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."
Jesus said that to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind is the first and great commandment, so, again, be encouraged, and stay the course.
Which leads me to the second thing which I believe the Lord would have me to share with you. In your comments here, you have rightly mentioned that you desire to be in this world, but not of it, or that you desire a life of righteous and holy living. That is great, and that should be the heart desire of any true Christian. That type of living, which I am definitely encouraging, does, however, oftentimes lead to this:
1 Peter 4:1-5
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead."
As we cease from sin, or as we no longer work the will of the Gentiles by walking in such things as lasciviousness, lusts, excesses of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries, we will suffer in the flesh, even as Christ suffered in the flesh, and we will have evil spoken of us. With such being the case, we need to arm our minds so that we are not caught off guard when these types of things happen. Basically, I just believe that the Lord wanted me to remind you of this inevitable reality so you do not think that some strange thing happened to you when it comes to pass. I do not mean for this to come across as some sort of ominous foreboding or prophecy of doom and gloom. Instead, it is simply part of the Christian life, and God wants us all to be armed for or prepared for the same. I hope that you understand what I am saying.
As I have said before, you are in my prayers, and you are an encouragement to me.
God bless you and keep you by his powerful might.
I have not had a chance to reread your testimony yet because I have been busy dealing with a troubling situation on this website which was recently rectified, but I will now say a couple of things which I believe that the Lord would have me to share with you. As always, I hope that you will compare anything that I ever say to you to the Holy Ghost inspired word of God. If there is ever, God forbid, any contradiction or discrepancy between what I say and what God's word says, then always go with what the word of God says without any hesitancy whatsoever.
Early on, as I read some of your posts on other threads, I recognized what I perceived to be a genuine zeal and love for God in you. I have wanted to encourage you along those lines before, but I have not because I sometimes feel awkward when trying to minister to or simply encourage a female. That is something that I need to get over because Jesus pretty regularly ministered to women himself. Anyhow, as one who regularly sees things or filters things through the word of God, you remind me of the Shulamite (which means "woman of Jerusalem") woman in the Song of Solomon. That book, although usually quoted because of its romantic intimacy, in my estimation, really has to do more with the heartset and the mindset of that woman than it has to do with any physical intimacy which it may have eventually led to.
For example:
Song of Solomon 3:1-4
"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me."
Four times in just these four verses, the woman mentions the one "whom my soul loveth", and it was this great love which motivated her actions to not only find him, but to also hold him, and not let him go. This is what I perceive to be in you in relation to your tremendous love for Jesus Christ, and I want to encourage you that you are definitely headed down the right path with this type of love. Poor Jesus when you grab a hold of him. He might not be able to break loose from your grip, and he therefore might not have any time for the rest of us. lol. Seriously though, it is uplifting and beautiful to see such love emanating from you for Jesus, so stay the course.
Matthew 22:34-38
"But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."
Jesus said that to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind is the first and great commandment, so, again, be encouraged, and stay the course.
Which leads me to the second thing which I believe the Lord would have me to share with you. In your comments here, you have rightly mentioned that you desire to be in this world, but not of it, or that you desire a life of righteous and holy living. That is great, and that should be the heart desire of any true Christian. That type of living, which I am definitely encouraging, does, however, oftentimes lead to this:
1 Peter 4:1-5
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead."
As we cease from sin, or as we no longer work the will of the Gentiles by walking in such things as lasciviousness, lusts, excesses of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries, we will suffer in the flesh, even as Christ suffered in the flesh, and we will have evil spoken of us. With such being the case, we need to arm our minds so that we are not caught off guard when these types of things happen. Basically, I just believe that the Lord wanted me to remind you of this inevitable reality so you do not think that some strange thing happened to you when it comes to pass. I do not mean for this to come across as some sort of ominous foreboding or prophecy of doom and gloom. Instead, it is simply part of the Christian life, and God wants us all to be armed for or prepared for the same. I hope that you understand what I am saying.
As I have said before, you are in my prayers, and you are an encouragement to me.
God bless you and keep you by his powerful might.
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1
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Well, I appreciate you. So there! lol. It is my pleasure to pray for you, so there really is no need for you to thank me.
I have a public confession to make.
I would eat the chickens!
I am sorry, but when it comes to eggs or chicken, I am going the chicken route every time. Especially if it is a chicken sandwich from Chik-fil-A or some chicken parmigian.
Please do not throw any eggs at me.
The chickens were indeed noisy. My mother ended up gifting them to a neighbor, who graciously welcomes us to free eggs if we ever would like. It is a blessing! I've been meaning to take them up on that offer.
I would eat the chickens!
I am sorry, but when it comes to eggs or chicken, I am going the chicken route every time. Especially if it is a chicken sandwich from Chik-fil-A or some chicken parmigian.
Please do not throw any eggs at me.
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1
- Show all
Hi, MP.
I just finished re-reading your testimony. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to compose it and share it.
I was happy to see that you learned at any early age that God is to be loved and revered. The reverence part is actually the "missing variable" that I was alluding to in an earlier post of mine on this thread, and I was genuinely curious to see whether or not it was a part of your experience. I figured that it was, and especially after reading some of your comments that you made when we were discussing "The Pilgrim's Progress" on another thread. When you spoke of how it caused you to soberly consider your own walk with the Lord...well, that is not something that I often hear, but I was happy to hear it because we should reflect soberly upon our walks with the Lord.
One of my favorite parts of your testimony is the part about your childlike faith, which was truly childlike in that you were but 6 years old at the time, and which resulted in the birth of your brother, and on your own birthday, no less. It must be a constant reminder that God hears you every time that you see your brother, and especially on your mutual birthday.
I can also relate to the part where you fell into sin, and the process that it took to get delivered from it. I had a similar extended period of time in my teen years which led into my twenties, and it took genuine deliverance from the Lord to get me out of it.
Here comes the bad part, but in relation to me, and not in relation to you. I still had to pause and laugh when I read about your mother's chickens. I do not know what is wrong with me, but the simplest things cause me to laugh my head off at times. Not in a mocking way. I just have a weird sense of humor.
AAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!
God help me!
Is there no deliverance available?
lol.
On a more serious note, I most definitely relate to what you said near the end in relation to the mundane things in this life which so easily distract us. This is something that is ever upon my heart and mind. I feel like so much of my life has been wasted on things of no eternal value whatsoever, and that really troubles me. I know, although I do not act upon this knowledge often enough, that the only way to perpetuate true and lasting change is by humbling myself daily before the Lord in prayer. I do pray every day, but not with the sense of urgency and fervency which I need to at times.
Anyhow, thank you again for sharing your testimony. Like you said in one of your posts, we need to share certain things with others for their own potential benefits, and I have benefitted from what you have shared here. Also, thank you again for sharing that link to the reading of Andrew Murray's book "Abide in Christ". I intend to start listening to it as soon as I finish with this post.
God bless you, and may he preserve you and yours unto the coming kingdom of God.
I just finished re-reading your testimony. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to compose it and share it.
I was happy to see that you learned at any early age that God is to be loved and revered. The reverence part is actually the "missing variable" that I was alluding to in an earlier post of mine on this thread, and I was genuinely curious to see whether or not it was a part of your experience. I figured that it was, and especially after reading some of your comments that you made when we were discussing "The Pilgrim's Progress" on another thread. When you spoke of how it caused you to soberly consider your own walk with the Lord...well, that is not something that I often hear, but I was happy to hear it because we should reflect soberly upon our walks with the Lord.
One of my favorite parts of your testimony is the part about your childlike faith, which was truly childlike in that you were but 6 years old at the time, and which resulted in the birth of your brother, and on your own birthday, no less. It must be a constant reminder that God hears you every time that you see your brother, and especially on your mutual birthday.
I can also relate to the part where you fell into sin, and the process that it took to get delivered from it. I had a similar extended period of time in my teen years which led into my twenties, and it took genuine deliverance from the Lord to get me out of it.
Here comes the bad part, but in relation to me, and not in relation to you. I still had to pause and laugh when I read about your mother's chickens. I do not know what is wrong with me, but the simplest things cause me to laugh my head off at times. Not in a mocking way. I just have a weird sense of humor.
AAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!
God help me!
Is there no deliverance available?
lol.
On a more serious note, I most definitely relate to what you said near the end in relation to the mundane things in this life which so easily distract us. This is something that is ever upon my heart and mind. I feel like so much of my life has been wasted on things of no eternal value whatsoever, and that really troubles me. I know, although I do not act upon this knowledge often enough, that the only way to perpetuate true and lasting change is by humbling myself daily before the Lord in prayer. I do pray every day, but not with the sense of urgency and fervency which I need to at times.
Anyhow, thank you again for sharing your testimony. Like you said in one of your posts, we need to share certain things with others for their own potential benefits, and I have benefitted from what you have shared here. Also, thank you again for sharing that link to the reading of Andrew Murray's book "Abide in Christ". I intend to start listening to it as soon as I finish with this post.
God bless you, and may he preserve you and yours unto the coming kingdom of God.
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I have listened to two chapters of it so far. I am taking it slow because I want to make sure that I absorb what I am hearing. On that note, I will probably go back and listen to the first two chapters again before I proceed further.
Thanks again for the link. This is definitely something that I need to be hearing right now. If I am to be totally honest with myself, then there have been times in the past where I was truly abiding in Christ more fully than I presently am, and it got a bit scary. In other words, I started having some really holy encounters with God, and I kind of shrunk back a bit from his total call upon my life. Time to press back in.
Thanks again to Cameron as well for reminding me of this book. It is a simple teaching, but following it requires total sacrifice.
Thanks again for the link. This is definitely something that I need to be hearing right now. If I am to be totally honest with myself, then there have been times in the past where I was truly abiding in Christ more fully than I presently am, and it got a bit scary. In other words, I started having some really holy encounters with God, and I kind of shrunk back a bit from his total call upon my life. Time to press back in.
Thanks again to Cameron as well for reminding me of this book. It is a simple teaching, but following it requires total sacrifice.
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It's no problem at all! I appreciate the complete, unshortened replies.
I greatly appreciate both the encouragement and the forewarning regarding Christian life. I pray God enables all of us to endure mightily, with great peace and joy in our hearts, and that He enables us to be prepared for whatever time suffering might come in our lives.
Often throughout my day, I feel unworthy of God's presence. I have so many imperfect areas in my life and in my thinking that I need God to work on. But I know the blood of Jesus Christ makes us worthy. And I really would love if I could enjoy Jesus's company every day. I can see how the Shulamite woman's heartfelt motivation applies to my own life. Thank you for sharing such encouraging scriptures!
I greatly appreciate both the encouragement and the forewarning regarding Christian life. I pray God enables all of us to endure mightily, with great peace and joy in our hearts, and that He enables us to be prepared for whatever time suffering might come in our lives.
Often throughout my day, I feel unworthy of God's presence. I have so many imperfect areas in my life and in my thinking that I need God to work on. But I know the blood of Jesus Christ makes us worthy. And I really would love if I could enjoy Jesus's company every day. I can see how the Shulamite woman's heartfelt motivation applies to my own life. Thank you for sharing such encouraging scriptures!
Our worthiness, as you said, has everything to do with the blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 9:6-15
"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."|
Under the old covenant or old testament, only the high priest could enter into the holy of holies, and he could only do so one day out of the year, or on the Day of Atonement. When he entered in, he needed to enter by the blood of animals, which foreshadowed Christ's sacrifice as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and this blood was offered for his own sin, and for the sins of the people. Those old testament sacrifices could never make the people perfect in relation to their consciences because, in those sacrifices, there was a remembrance again of sins made every year in that they continually needed to be offered for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 10:1-10
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
In contrast to the old testament sacrifices which needed to be offered continually, we are sanctified, or set apart unto God, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, and his sacrifice can indeed purge our consciences, where our sense of unworthiness comes from, from dead works, or from our past sins, so that we might serve the living God. Without such a purging of our consciences by Christ's blood, we are always going to shrink back from God's presence, but we can actually enter into God's presence, because of what Christ has done for us as our High Priest, with boldness so that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our times of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
As Paul said:
Colossians 1:20-23
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"
We can have peace with God through the blood of Christ's cross.
Isaiah prophesied in relation to the same:
Isaiah 53:11
"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."
On the cross of Calvary, God saw the travail of Jesus' soul, and he was satisfied. In other words, you do not need to add the travail of your own soul in order to satisfy God or in order to enter into his presence. Whenever you are reminded of a past sin, just confess it before God, and allow the blood of Jesus to purge that from your conscience. That is the only way that you will ever be able to truly have fellowship with God.
I hope that you understand what I am saying here.
Have a blessed day...and so much for my "concise" responses. Yikes!
Hebrews 9:6-15
"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."|
Under the old covenant or old testament, only the high priest could enter into the holy of holies, and he could only do so one day out of the year, or on the Day of Atonement. When he entered in, he needed to enter by the blood of animals, which foreshadowed Christ's sacrifice as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and this blood was offered for his own sin, and for the sins of the people. Those old testament sacrifices could never make the people perfect in relation to their consciences because, in those sacrifices, there was a remembrance again of sins made every year in that they continually needed to be offered for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 10:1-10
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
In contrast to the old testament sacrifices which needed to be offered continually, we are sanctified, or set apart unto God, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, and his sacrifice can indeed purge our consciences, where our sense of unworthiness comes from, from dead works, or from our past sins, so that we might serve the living God. Without such a purging of our consciences by Christ's blood, we are always going to shrink back from God's presence, but we can actually enter into God's presence, because of what Christ has done for us as our High Priest, with boldness so that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our times of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
As Paul said:
Colossians 1:20-23
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"
We can have peace with God through the blood of Christ's cross.
Isaiah prophesied in relation to the same:
Isaiah 53:11
"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."
On the cross of Calvary, God saw the travail of Jesus' soul, and he was satisfied. In other words, you do not need to add the travail of your own soul in order to satisfy God or in order to enter into his presence. Whenever you are reminded of a past sin, just confess it before God, and allow the blood of Jesus to purge that from your conscience. That is the only way that you will ever be able to truly have fellowship with God.
I hope that you understand what I am saying here.
Have a blessed day...and so much for my "concise" responses. Yikes!
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Well, I appreciate you. So there! lol. It is my pleasure to pray for you, so there really is no need for you to thank me.
I have a public confession to make.
I would eat the chickens!
I am sorry, but when it comes to eggs or chicken, I am going the chicken route every time. Especially if it is a chicken sandwich from Chik-fil-A or some chicken parmigian.
Please do not throw any eggs at me.
I have a public confession to make.
I would eat the chickens!
I am sorry, but when it comes to eggs or chicken, I am going the chicken route every time. Especially if it is a chicken sandwich from Chik-fil-A or some chicken parmigian.
Please do not throw any eggs at me.
And you would eat the chickens?! Oh, no!
I'm just joking. I eat chicken as well, so I will not be throwing any eggs.
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a place to go/ yes. pick your most peaceful, quiet, flowery, colorful place & study God's word there. you are not responsible for the people that distract you. just simply forget about them. train your condition response in that regard. be peaceful & smile about it. it always works. know that the Holy Spirit is always living with born again Christians. Read & learn John 16:13, 14:26 & 1st Timothy 2:7 & 15. the ability to not be able to concentrate can be a cause of too much sugar in your diet. blueberries, fish & spinach are all proven brain foods. repeat to yourself, 100's of times a day: "i will learn how to concentrate"! your brain has to learn it. your brain will learn anything you put into it whether it's good, bad, wrong, right, sad, mad, sinful, etc. you may know someone who holds Bible study with singing or ask around.
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I feel like I've said it before, but I greatly appreciate your and CC's kind responses. You all's encouragement and Godly counsel has been a true blessing. I thank God for you all!!
And you would eat the chickens?! Oh, no!
I'm just joking. I eat chicken as well, so I will not be throwing any eggs.
And you would eat the chickens?! Oh, no!
I'm just joking. I eat chicken as well, so I will not be throwing any eggs.
I had better go before I get any more syrupy with my comments. I think I smell pancakes cooking. lol.
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I agree. We are to examine ourselves in our walk with God so we can catch anything we may have let into our lives that may get in the way of us growing in our relationship with God. I'm reminded of this scripture:
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
I truly appreciate God for showing me that He hears. And you're right, Him answering me in my childhood is an uplifting reminder for me. Even when I don't feel His presence, I do know He's there and that He hears.
And thank you for taking the time to read my testimony! I know it was really lengthy, but I was trying to give as complete a picture as I could. Still, I wonder at what exact point in my life did heaven celebrate my coming to Christ. Does heaven celebrate when a lost person comes to Christ? I feel like I vaguely remember a scripture in the Bible that says so. If it's true, that would nice. And I definitely hope to find out what day I was born-again. Maybe God will let me know when I get to heaven.
I'm grateful to God for His ability to turn our lives into testimonies that can be helpful to others.
And may God bless you, and preserve you and your loved ones as well, rescuing also any who need rescuing, that they find a saving relationship in Jesus Christ, in Jesus's name, amen.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
I truly appreciate God for showing me that He hears. And you're right, Him answering me in my childhood is an uplifting reminder for me. Even when I don't feel His presence, I do know He's there and that He hears.
And thank you for taking the time to read my testimony! I know it was really lengthy, but I was trying to give as complete a picture as I could. Still, I wonder at what exact point in my life did heaven celebrate my coming to Christ. Does heaven celebrate when a lost person comes to Christ? I feel like I vaguely remember a scripture in the Bible that says so. If it's true, that would nice. And I definitely hope to find out what day I was born-again. Maybe God will let me know when I get to heaven.
I'm grateful to God for His ability to turn our lives into testimonies that can be helpful to others.
And may God bless you, and preserve you and your loved ones as well, rescuing also any who need rescuing, that they find a saving relationship in Jesus Christ, in Jesus's name, amen.
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Here is the scripture you are thinking about:
Luke 15:8-10
"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Luke 15:8-10
"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
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Hi, MP.
I wanted to say more in my response to you the other day, but I also did not want to bombard you with a possibly overwhelming wall of text, so I withheld a bit.
When we come to Christ, we are initially likened to newborn babes. In the natural, a newborn babe goes through cycles of growth, and the same is true in the spiritual as well. In other words, the more time that we spend in God's presence, the more we will see imperfections which need to be dealt with in our lives, and this is part of our growth cycle, or part of our ongoing process of sanctification.
I believe that you might benefit from this exhortation in scripture:
Hebrews 12:5-13
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."
When the Lord shows us our imperfections, or when we are rebuked or chastened by him, it is important that we respond in the proper manner. In other words, we need to understand that God is chastening us because he loves us, and scourging us because he receives us, and that he is doing so for our profit, or benefit, or that we might be partakers of his holiness. Such chastenings are not initially joyous, as you seem to already know, but grievous instead, nevertheless, if we respond to such chastenings properly, then the outcome or yield of the same is the peaceable fruit of righteousness. In other words, we come out on the other side having greater peace with God because we are walking even more rightly before him.
In contrast, if we respond to such chastenings wrongly, then we can easily faint in our minds or lose hope, or we can become feeble or weak-kneed and give up our walk with Christ.
Basically, what I am trying to say to you is this:
The imperfections which you are seeing are not reflective of you being out of God's presence, but in his presence instead.
This same principle is seen here:
John 15:1-2
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."
It is because you are abiding in the true vine or in Christ that the Father is purging you or pruning away any dead wood. It is when we are not being chastened by the Lord that we should be worried because it is bastards, or illegitimate children, who do not endure the same.
Chin up.
Legs firm.
Onward Pilgrim!
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
I wanted to say more in my response to you the other day, but I also did not want to bombard you with a possibly overwhelming wall of text, so I withheld a bit.
When we come to Christ, we are initially likened to newborn babes. In the natural, a newborn babe goes through cycles of growth, and the same is true in the spiritual as well. In other words, the more time that we spend in God's presence, the more we will see imperfections which need to be dealt with in our lives, and this is part of our growth cycle, or part of our ongoing process of sanctification.
I believe that you might benefit from this exhortation in scripture:
Hebrews 12:5-13
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."
When the Lord shows us our imperfections, or when we are rebuked or chastened by him, it is important that we respond in the proper manner. In other words, we need to understand that God is chastening us because he loves us, and scourging us because he receives us, and that he is doing so for our profit, or benefit, or that we might be partakers of his holiness. Such chastenings are not initially joyous, as you seem to already know, but grievous instead, nevertheless, if we respond to such chastenings properly, then the outcome or yield of the same is the peaceable fruit of righteousness. In other words, we come out on the other side having greater peace with God because we are walking even more rightly before him.
In contrast, if we respond to such chastenings wrongly, then we can easily faint in our minds or lose hope, or we can become feeble or weak-kneed and give up our walk with Christ.
Basically, what I am trying to say to you is this:
The imperfections which you are seeing are not reflective of you being out of God's presence, but in his presence instead.
This same principle is seen here:
John 15:1-2
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."
It is because you are abiding in the true vine or in Christ that the Father is purging you or pruning away any dead wood. It is when we are not being chastened by the Lord that we should be worried because it is bastards, or illegitimate children, who do not endure the same.
Chin up.
Legs firm.
Onward Pilgrim!
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
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These are good points! I agree, the Lord's chastening is indeed a blessing, even though at those times it doesn't feel pleasant. He doesn't want us to stay the way we were when we found Him--He wants us to become more like Him, bearing the fruits of the Spirit. And just like you've said, we can only do that by staying in Christ. When we stay in Christ, He prunes us so we can bear more fruit. It's good that you brought attention to our need to respond to the Lord's chastening correctly. I pray I'll do just that.
I'm reminded of this scripture:
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. --2 Corinthians 7:10
I'm reminded of this scripture:
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. --2 Corinthians 7:10
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I do have limited time, but good answers make the time worthwhile. I'm really fond of your long responses. You don't seem to shy away from the truth, even though it may sting. That's a good thing. And in regard to your syrupy comments:
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." --Proverbs 16:24
I hope you continue to answer however the Lord may lead. I do enjoy these answers.
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." --Proverbs 16:24
I hope you continue to answer however the Lord may lead. I do enjoy these answers.
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Yes. His desire is that we grow to be perfect, or fully mature, or to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, and this is precisely why he has gifted us with what is normally called the fivefold ministry.
Ephesians 4:7-16
"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
As his body, we should all be receiving something from our head, who is Christ, and not just for ourselves, but also so that we might supply the same to other members of the body unto the edifying, or building up, of each and every member in love. I am not sure exactly what your place is in the body, but I am thinking that it might be related to his legs or feet because your posts always put a little pep in my step...lol.
Seriously, it is always a pleasure to see and read your posts. We may not have the benefit of much of your time, but it is always a pleasant time.
Ephesians 4:7-16
"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
As his body, we should all be receiving something from our head, who is Christ, and not just for ourselves, but also so that we might supply the same to other members of the body unto the edifying, or building up, of each and every member in love. I am not sure exactly what your place is in the body, but I am thinking that it might be related to his legs or feet because your posts always put a little pep in my step...lol.
Seriously, it is always a pleasure to see and read your posts. We may not have the benefit of much of your time, but it is always a pleasant time.
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