free will

FREE WILL?

Why does anyone bring this up?

Do I talk about this with any kind of idea of independence or autonomy? Can I measure the distance between myself and my creator as far as control is concerned?

Does The length of the leash on my dog's collar 'determine' his freedom? How about my car? Does it have "free will" because it has automatic transmission or is fuel injected or because the lights will CHOOSE to go off if I forget to turn them off?

How about that rooster that crowded as Peter was denying The Lord, did this rooster have "free will"?

I must confess, I do not have sufficient knowledge at this time to intelligently discuss or determine wether or not or how much "free will" I have.

The Bible does say this:

"as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

From which I can safely conclude that:

1. There is a will of the flesh (instinct?)
2. There is a will of man (conscious choice?)
3. There is a will of God

The boundaries seem not to be always clear, varying from time to time and from person to person. 

I want to be as much focused as I can not on my own free will; which has proven to be defective or unreliable in the past; I AM TRYING MORE AND MORE TO FOCUS ON THE WILL OF GOD. Surrendered?

"be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what isthat good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Amen 

Amen 

Amen 

PS: I will become a 'little' anxious if/when my six year old grandson brings up the subject of "free will".

Wife

Herod's error with John

SOAP OPERAS OLD & NEWER

There is some confusion over whether Good Wives is merely the second part of Little Women, or a novel in itself. Louisa May Alcott wrote it after, not with, Little Women, but several publishers include it with the the latter.

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Herodias (Greek: Ἡρῳδιάς, Hērǭdiás; c. 15 BCE – after 39 CE) was a princess of the Herodian dynasty of Judaeaduring the time of the Roman Empire.[1] Christian writings connect her with John the Baptist's execution.

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Esther[a] is described in all versions[b] of the Book of Esther as the Jewish queen of a Persian king Ahasuerus.[1] In the narrative, Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, refuses to obey him, and Esther is chosen for her beauty. The king's chief adviser, Haman, is offended by Esther's cousin and guardian, Mordecai, and gets permission from the king to have all the Jews in the kingdom killed. Esther foils the plan, and wins permission from the king for the Jews to kill their enemies, and they do so

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Abigail (Hebrew: אֲבִיגַיִל‎, Modern: 'Avīgayīl, Tiberian: 'Aḇīḡayīl) was an Israelite woman in the Hebrew Biblemarried to Nabal; she became married to the future King David after Nabal's death (1 Samuel 25).[5] Abigail was David's second wife, after Saul and Ahinoam's daughter, Michal, whom Saul later married to Palti, son of Laishwhen David went into hiding.

Stumble

I really really didn't want to do this

posting, it is taking just as much courage 

and wrestling with self . . .  lest 

I come across as a 'holier than thou', pharisaical,  hypocrite !!!

So, yes, God's Holy Spirit is as real as what we see when we look in the mirror. James 1:23

The main point of this post is to remind readers that the Christian Believer/Disciple does not make up the principles that guide our lives. They come from the Bible, which the Holy Spirit brings to memory to guide our conscience or awareness of our behavior/actions.

JESUS: "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." John 16:13

"do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30

Amplified Bible

Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22

LET OTHERS TO 'STUMBLE' OR SIN?

Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. - Luke 17:1-3

"do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 

Aramaic Bible in Plain English

In this way also, Ministers should be pure and should not double-speak, neither be inclined to much wine, neither love defiled riches - 1 Timothy 3:8

"we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all"

New International Version

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. - Colossians 4:5

ARE YOU SAVED?

saved.com

Together

A SEASON OF CELEBRATION 

Today we celebrate the life of a blessed Child of God. Major Carmen Mott was a mother and friend to many of us who knew and loved her. 

I cannot remember when I first met her. It just seems as if I have always known her, just as my own mother. 

We traveled many roads together. In the early 90's, our family drove from the East coast of the United States to Chicago, the crossroads of America. We attended the Salvation Army Congress. It was an unforgettable experience driving hundreds of miles together, laughing, talking, singing . . . 

Then there were the beautiful extended vacations or home stays, sometimes as much as three months at a time at our homes in Collins Street, and Hazel Street and Mahl Avenue and Main Street and Burnham Street. We would travel to the Washington DC area to spend Christmas with her family or to New York. Good times, really really good!

Major saw us through many happy times and in the tough times as well she was a rock solid support for Millicent, myself and our extended family. At the birthday parties we looked forward to her prayers and blessing. We would be in touch by phone in the celebrations and in the times of challenge or crisis she was there to advise and encourage.

We love you Major. 

We will miss you.

On behalf of Millicent and Terry and Stephen and Mitzie and Catherine, we Thank you for the life you lived and shared and the much love and kindness you showed. You are a Godly example we try to follow.

Today, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope but as we look forward to that great reunion, we will continually remember your laughter, your liberty and your love.

Amen 

Amen 

Amen

BornAgain?

The Peterson Problem 

"the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

BEYOND BELIEF . . . 

"Who can know the LORD's thoughts? 

Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ."

TO KNOWLEDGE 

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The question: 

do I know Him?

"to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace"

LISTEN HERE

https://youtu.be/coTKSH_YN7E

If belief is birth then knowledge is growth.

Marvel not that I say to you, 

You must be born again.

Who are the righteous Who are the ungodly Who are the wicked 

the carnal mind 

"The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so"

VS 

the mind of Christ 

"we understand these things, for 

we have the mind of Christ."

https://tinyurl.com/yhb2b96h

SOLUTION - John 3:16

"unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled"

Holy

As nice as this may sound, we want to be careful to say only what the Bible says:

"grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

THE ISSUE IS NOT GRADUATION BUT GROWTH AND FRUITFULNESS

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain"

So let us be careful not to be caught in the devil's (half truth) BIG LIE that maturity and personal holiness doesn't matter.

#CityFathers

Kinship

GENESIS - beginning 

"the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created."

"the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." 

"This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church"

BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP 

If Discipline creates disciples are our children our first disciples?

"If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?"

The family was created before the church. Is the church based on the family?

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

"My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." Jesus looks carefully at his audience and includes them in His family

#CANNOT

"whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" - JESUS

"the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

GOD'S WORD® Translation

God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives, but rebellious people must live in an unproductive (condition) land.

Undone

WILL I REMAIN HUMBLE?

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

Our limited capacity for 1st hand knowledge is balanced by an almost unlimited capacity for inquiry and for BELIEF.

"He marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."

Scientific inquiry is ongoing and can be tedious. Scientific knowledge must also be tentative since new data will necessitate 'new' conclusions.

"The tentative nature of scientific knowledge – refers to the idea that although reliable and durable, scientific knowledge is neither static nor definitive. Rather it is subject to change in the light of new evidence or interpretation of existing evidence."

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

Secularism while minimizing or ignoring the idea of God, comes to vastly different conclusions about reality.

"even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient"

The LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land. (Hosea 4:1)

I MUST REPENT !!!

Growing

◄ 1 Timothy 6 ►

We all have opportunities to grow

in GRACE but GREED & GAIN can 

slow our growth in GODLINESS 

https://biblehub.com/kjv/1_timothy/6.htm

Family as Business? 

SOWING & REAPING

"we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." 

[means • motive • money • marriage]

BUSINESS 

(GAIN) PROFIT & LOSS

TRADE 

BUY & SELL

Partnerships 

Property 

Purpose 

Power

"whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Loss

◄ 1 Timothy 6 ►

We all have opportunities for

GREED & GAIN or for GODLINESS 

https://biblehub.com/kjv/1_timothy/6.htm

Family as Business? 

SOWING & REAPING

"we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." 

[means • motive • money • marriage]

BUSINESS 

(GAIN) PROFIT & LOSS

TRADE 

BUY & SELL

Partnerships 

Property 

Purpose 

Power

"whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

TheCure

This is the deception 

Do you see it?

https://tinyurl.com/2p9xvzsz

Satan lied "you shall not surely die" - STILL LYING !!!

FULLY VAXED

Every born again Christian !!!

Death by cancer or covid or 

car accident is still death. 

The ONLY cause of death

IS SIN !!! 

The only CURE is CHRIST.

Revelation 20:14

REMIND THEM !!!

Is this worth sharing with 10

of your Christian friends?

saved.com

Vax or no vax, germs or no germs - God says to the sinner, the Christ rejecter  "it is appointed unto man" . . . TO DIE !!!

CHRIST SAYS - "he that liveth and BELIEVES (on me the only way) is passed from death to life everlasting" . . . 

HALLELUJAH !!!!

So we are NOT preoccupied with or focused on death like these satanic voices in the electronic media - fear mongering

Let us stay focused and be about the business of spreading the GOOD NEWS of LIFE IN/THROUGH CHRIST JESUS !!!!

Hallelujah 

Hallelujah 

Hallelujah

JESUS SAVES PERIOD !!!

=======

Let us make 2022 

A SALVATION YEAR !!!!

"proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God"

So yes

Let's get busy

Quit listening to the

Vaccine saves vaccine saves lie

Start shouting again and again

Every chance you have

JESUS SAVES JESUS SAVES

https://youtu.be/oD5BKRQqHcg

amen 

Amen 

AMEN

"give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

HALLELUJAH !!!!

2022Saved

This is the deception 

Do you see it?

https://tinyurl.com/2p9xvzsz

Satan lied "you shall not surely die" - STILL LYING !!!

Vax or no vax, germs or no germs - God says to the sinner, the Christ rejecter  "it is appointed unto man" . . . 

CHRIST SAYS - "he that liveth and BELIEVES (on me the only way) is passed from death to life everlasting" . . . 

HALLELUJAH !!!!

So we are NOT preoccupied with or focused on death like these satanic voices in the electronic media 

Let us stay focused and be about the business of spreading the GOOD NEWS of LIFE IN/THROUGH CHRIST JESUS !!!!

Hallelujah 

Hallelujah 

Hallelujah

JESUS SAVES PERIOD !!!

=======

2022 is a 

SALVATION YEAR !!!!

"proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God"

So ya

Let's get busy

Quit listening to

Vaccine saves vaccine saves

Start shouting again 

Every chance you have

JESUS SAVES JESUS SAVES

https://youtu.be/oD5BKRQqHcg

amen 

Amen 

AMEN

"give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

HALLELUJAH !!!!

Confusing

(Why) I love the Bible!!!

"the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned"

they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind isenmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

THIS IS A 'MUST WATCH' VIDEO . . .

https://youtu.be/weE6ReB93Bo

warned

Mene Tekel Upharsin?

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN

https://youtu.be/HIiKm5jtRVM

Overflowing

MANY THINGS ?

"Martha (Ronnie) , you are worried and troubled about many things BUT one thing is needful"

The Holy Spirit brings 

scripture to our memories.

JESUS SAID: "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

I am in great shape when my mind is 'overwhelmed' with THE WORD. I will overflow to others what I am filled with.

WOW !!!

"Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God".

The devil is a liar . . .

Does his lies come in envelopes with his return address labeled "LIES" In large print?

I have began to realize that the lies come in various "professional opinions" and so-called news stories; I've even found some in songs and even in sermons !!!

Our part is to read THE WORD  - hiding truth in our hearts . . .

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Amen

Alive

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

2The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

3The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

4I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

5Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

6And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

7All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

8An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

9Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

10But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

11By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

12And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

13Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

filled

#RACISMEVERYWHERE 

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. JOB 3:25

Whether it is cancer or covid or coronary disease or communism or capitalism or any other human invention . . .

Am I deceived when what I'm looking at becomes what I'm looking for?

Whatever it is that I become obsessed with, whatever fear, whatever belief, whatever pet peeve . . . I must be emptied of it ALL.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN 

I AM FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?

I will overflow

I will bear the

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

Amen 

Amen 

Amen 

OMICRON

A synonym for death?

"Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

Most people tend to put the idea of their own death on the back burner of their consciousness. 

Yet, from time to time death is brought into sharp focus by tragedies in the news. It also comes close, with the passing of loved ones. 

The death of others, however, is not as jarring a thought as thinking of ones own death. It is for this reason that some instinctively shy away from things to do with the reality of their final demise. 

Has the modern Church taken to avoiding the unpleasantness of the subject?

Based on the Bible, some argue that the entire mission of the church is centered on the 'abolition' of death. 

8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, 

who hath abolished death, 

and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel - 2 Timothy 1

The present PANDEMIC has put death on the mind of most people, worldwide, in a curious way that seems to have made the word COVID a synonym for death.

Some Psychologists say that the root of every fear is the fear of death, so that the thought of death is the SUM OF ALL FEARS.

The Bible speaks about people being in BONDAGE ALL OF THEIR LIFE to the fear of death and the solution being Christ Jesus:

9we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; 

that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

This is the challenge 

for me . . .

Instead of being caught up in the fearfulness of our times, I MUST take advantage of the many 'pandemic opportunities' to point everyone to Christ.

Amen 

Testing Positive? 

      saved.com

. . .for Sin !!!