Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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I loved that tree, I really did

I had a tree that lost the will to live,

In my will I stood desperately week after week, for months as I cut away branches where the leaves where drying out, I was young all knowing but daft in doing things my way.

Sime days I stood there holding its branches in prayer and hope,

Longing for the tree to bounce back.

All the hope I had was not enough and I lost that tree,

I stood there wondering many days why his neighbouring tree I planted was still alive, and still alive to this day, some 3 years later to. Because I had only pruned it's branches at start of spring

It was then I realised perhaps I did something wrong, I had,

I had to

I had pruned it's branches at the end of summer and it got diseased.

I was the bad gardener who pruned wrongly, and the poor tree died, it was a very special tree, every year it would produce beautiful leaves, and I never stopped to think I should have I should have seeked advice on how to care for it

In the end I learned how to prune and how to grow this rare tree an evergreen California I planted a new seed . and I planted a new seed and now it's flourishing 😂
I seem to see such a picture In the warm sunshine A hardworking gardener with a beard.Working.He planted the seeds of a new tree.He looks forward to his growth.He's very happy. It seems.God bless, have a nice day!🌳🌳🌳🌳
 
That would be to do what Jesus commands > believe in/trust in Him for salvation. Nope that is off limits!!
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"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." John 6 verse 44 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2 verse 14 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8 verse 7-8
 
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Not when they are gemstones arranged in a certain way that imitates the activities of the occult. You may not see a problem with it, but the occult takes these things very seriously. The Bible says we are to avoid having any appearance of evil.
You teaching occult symbolism has more an appearance of evil than an "art" woman wearing a gemstone necklace.
 
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You teaching occult symbolism has more an appearance of evil than an "art" woman wearing a gemstone necklace.

I agree, sister; And I mean, people who spend their time criticising things like this must be a bit bored!
 
The real issue is there's multiple Verses where God made the decisions and the end result was exactly how God chose the outcome to be.

Then there's multiple Verses where God allowed free decision making and it ended like God already knew how it would be.

There's proof for both but people themselves choose which side to be on then they commence war.
 
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I seem to see such a picture In the warm sunshine A hardworking gardener with a beard.Working.He planted the seeds of a new tree.He looks forward to his growth.He's very happy. It seems.God bless, have a nice day!🌳🌳🌳🌳
Nice to meet a fellow Gardener sir, the story was me, and my words.

It's a very special relationship to God, ☺️

It shows him you care,

I believe God did indeed create us to be stewards of his land, to as well as other reasons,

Thanks i always do have a nice day to, even when it seems im not. Because I'm a special tree too.

My tree has a network that's connected to the true vine, and it doesn't take long for me to filter out the poison trying to turn my seed into poison,

And then there the seed that's want to set fire to my poor little beaches that get watered, by the seed that's gets delighted when I water his seeds, I know that to be true, cuz quite often I get a gentle gust of wind when my prayers are answered.

I know this may be long winded to some, but I love the wind, as God can control it
 
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Romans 3 v 9B-18~ Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. As it is written, “There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The venom of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery lie in their wake, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
 
While this may not have been your intention, the image of this necklace on this woman is designed with occult-style symbolism. The central blue turquoise stone represents the spiritual core, often associated in occult systems with inner vision, intuition, and psychic receptivity, since blue symbolizes spiritual insight and the element of water. Placed at the center of the chest, it functions as a “heart-of-power,” similar to a displaced third eye or a magical center that signifies hidden wisdom or mystical authority. The seven surrounding stones reflect the common occult use of the number seven, tied to chakras, celestial powers, and esoteric “completion.” The gold branching filigree beneath the main stone resembles a stylized Tree-of-Life or sigil pattern, symbolizing the flow of spiritual energy, while the overall downward-pointing triangle shape reinforces feminine mystical themes and receptivity. The purple backdrop and floral elements further reinforce a New Age or enchanted-priestess aesthetic. Together, the shapes, colors, and arrangement imitate a magical talisman that embodies intuition, spiritual power, and mystical energy according to occult design language.


Sources:

1. Blue/Turquoise stones meaning intuition, spiritual insight, and communication
Rock Paradise: “Blue Crystals and Gemstones – Names, Meanings, and Healing Properties.”
https://rockparadise.com/blogs/news...mstones-names-meanings-and-healing-properties

2. Blue stones associated with wisdom, insight, and mental clarity
Emmanuelle Guyon: “Symbolism of Stone Colors – Blue Stones.”
https://www.en.emmanuelleguyon.com/vertus1_en.php

3. Turquoise associated with protection and spiritual connection
GemSelect: “Top Ten Most Spiritually Powerful Blue Gemstones.”
https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/powerful-blue-gemstones.php

4. Downward-pointing triangle symbolizing feminine energy, water, and receptivity
Cassie Uhl: “Magical Meanings & Uses for Triangles & Pyramids.”
https://www.cassieuhl.com/blog/magical-meanings-uses-for-triangles-pyramids

5. Downward triangle as a symbol of the divine feminine
Atlas of Soul: “Divine Feminine Symbols.”
https://atlasofsoul.com/blogs/feminine-archetypes/divine-feminine-symbols

6. Number seven associated with chakras, spiritual completion, and esoteric mysticism
Esoteric Meanings: “Mystical Number Seven.”
https://www.esotericmeanings.com/mystical-number-seven

7. Number seven as mystical in occult sciences and ancient esoteric systems
Palash T. Thakur: “The Significance of the Number 7 in History, Chaldean Numerology and Occult Sciences.”
https://palashthhakur.com/the-significance-of-the-number-7-in-history-chaldean-numerology-and-occult-sciences

8. Chakra colors linking blue to communication, expression, and inner clarity
Chakra Anatomy: “Throat Chakra Meaning.”
https://www.chakra-anatomy.com/throat-chakra.html
Yup. That's the vibe I'm getting when I see these "high priestess" ego centric self-styled grandiose hyper-embellished self-portraits.
Its just too much man. And very unsettling.

And the exposure to this kind of thing day after day after day is enough to drive anyone daffy......:sick:

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Dear Blue1 ... this is the thing ..... a person can make all manner of choices ... but there is one thing that they can never do!!!

That would be to do what Jesus commands > believe in/trust in Him for salvation. Nope that is off limits!!

This god only wants his pre-selected and he had to make sure of it, so all people are born dead, dead, dead like programmed zombies.

Now these blind, unable to hear, black hearted, slaves to sin, held captive by Satan zombies are born hating god, probably the first words out of their young mouths are, "I hate god and I want to do evil 24/7."

Now you may be asking why ... well god creates and chooses the individuals for salvation according to his own good pleasure .... what I find weird is we are told to "love our enemies" but the god of Calvinism does not, so Christians have a higher moral duty than god.... hmm?
Dear Blue1 ... this is the thing ..... a person can make all manner of choices ... but there is one thing that they must never be allowed to do!!!

FIFY.....
 
On the day of atonement the high priest went in and sacrificed for the sins of the whole of isreal.

Then you have Christ atonning death on the cross

Then you have John saying. "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"
 
Why would or should He save anyone who has no love for Him when given the opportunity (by grace) to reveal their true desires?
Perhaps it is because when we or others see this happen He is Glorified. In other words He is revered even more by man.