 | hello there to all | Oct 16, 2008 |
You can ask anything you want or comment anything you want within christian guidelines...I am also a nurse (retired) so if you have a medical question , I will try to answer it as well. A prayer need..I will pray. The literal blood of Christ was violently shed at the crucifixion. Those who deny this truth or try to spiritualize the death of Christ are guilty of corrupting the gospel message. Jesus Christ bled and died in the fullest literal sense, and when He rose from the dead, he was literally resurrected. To deny the absolute reality of those truths is to nullify them 1 Cor. 15:14-17
The meaning of the crucifixion, however, is not fully expressed in the bleeding alone. There was nothing supernatural in Jesus' blood that sanctified those it touched. Those who flogged Him might have been spattered with blood. Yet that literal application of Jesus' blood did nothing to purge their sins.
Had our Lord bled without dying, redemption would not have been accomplished. If the atonement had been stopped before the full wages of sin had been satisfied, Jesus' bloodshed would have been to no avail.
It is important to note also that though Christ shed His blood, Scripture does not say He bled to death; it teaches rather that He voluntarily yielded up His spirit John 10:18 Yet even that physical death could not have bought redemption apart from His spiritual death, whereby He was separated from the Father.. Matthew 27 I have been doing an awful lot and have been neglectful coming here... I have been assertively arguing with my daughters school...if you want particulars ask and i will post them. They are as sly and sneaky as the common politician!!!! I have been in a 6 month fight trying to get my daughter health insurance...actually it has been since last year but i found some laws on the books ..Praise the Lord, and was ready with ammo...and i just got notice today that she has it..Thank-you Jesus for the victory!!! I have been on Facebook, which is easier for me to get on than here...it took me 1 1/2 hrs to log in here... I have been in shock over some doctrinal issues i find there....People doctrine does not save anyone..i know you guys are different here..yet being a minister i found it all interesting, intriguing and informative on what we should know so we can be prepared to come against lies that christians are believing... One belief that i never heard of is a full preteristic view...This view is that ALL prophecy has been fulfilled in 70 a.d. at the second destruction of the temple...which many believe Jesus came and went...(his parousia as well)... Another is audience revelation which many believe that the scriptures were meant for that century, for those Jesus spoke to at that time and not for us. While i do believe their are certain prophecies have been fufilled, not all has been. While i do believe at certain times certain scripture does have a meaning for those at the time they were spoken ...not all.. What is happening is so sad in the world and worse grieves my the Holy Spirit within me of what is happening in the Body of Christ...A house divided by itself cannot stand..and this goes for the body of Christ as well... I encourage all to not let the enemy divert your attention from the intial foundation He has set you on..whether he is using this worldly system...or the Christians around you...if you have to swim upstream when they all are swimming downstream...do so knowing the path you walk are ordered by the Lord and not anyone else... That your mind is full of Truth and the Light of the Lord Jesus...be not swayed by others manner of speech, intelligence.....trust no man accept Jesus...love you...trish Well, It has been a while...I have been arguing with my daughters school to get her evaluated running back and forth from one school to another...one meeting to another...exahausting!!! Revamping Emilys room, lol How many beany babies and books can one have? I can open my own store!!! Another thing...Praise the Lord..for i have been looking and praying for a opportunity to make extra money for a vey long time and the path God put me on recently lead me to a wonderfull man who had both knees replaced and needed therapuetic massage. Although I am not liscensed for it I can do it...My trail run with Him was the other night and he has hired me to help him... He has gone from the wheelchair to standing and walking in one week! he had been using the wheelchair since July...Thank-you Jesus Since I am needed at off hours I have not been here..but i must admit I have taken short romps on facebook... Just want to let you know I am well ...miss you all and will return soon...God has answered my cry to Him...and i Pray He does for all of you...Amen It has always been my opinion that it is not the so called antibiotics that we are becoming resistant to because of overuse; it has been my opinion that it is all the vaccines we are getting. Since whatever is place in the blood stream, along with the vaccines as a way to induce immunity, this is done by our bodies attacking the substance...and subsequently the ingredients that are used in the vaccine besides the virus. Squalene is harmless in itself..its a fat and we all have fat. Now when introduced into the bloodstream our body will attack this too and the rest of your own natural fat. This will cause extreme illness in most people....immune defeciencies and nervous system disorders.. Now i will not go into conspiracy theories here..but the WHO and CDC know this and why would they want this to happen? hmmm This product is in the H1N1 vaccine...so the next time a so called pandemic comes around ... Don't go runnig so quickly... and whatever is put into your body...Pray that all ingredients not helpful to you be remove during and /or after the vaccine is given... Upon waking this morning the words Jesus spoke to satan "do not tempt the Lord thy God" weighed heavily on my mind and in my spirit. They are words we rarely hear today..oh we hear little catch phrases that soften these words such as 'Do not put God in a box' and so on. Upon meditation on these words i wondered how many of us and myself included may do this? Perhaps unknowingly and maybe because we still fight for control in our lives. But these are not good excuses at all. First Jesus was prepared in the word..The word went out from John in declaration "I must decrease so He can increase" When we come to Jesus we should be declaring this same truth! Then Jesus got baptized with the Holy Spirit and publically with humilty, His Father..Our Father declaring "This is my son in whom I Am well pleased" Do you know the Father must say the same about you! Then the SPIRIT of GOD led Jesus to the wilderness...alone...not with prayer warriors and not with any other christian companions...Alone! think about it...Then Jesus fasted 40 days and forty nights...Oh that devil thought Jesus must be weak now...and moved in for the kill. Fasting and praying strengthens us...how foolish was satans thoughts... 1st temptation-- Knowing Jesus was hungry the devil tempts Jesus to change the stones into bread. That would be a a small thing for Jesus to do...I mean in the natural I am hungry and I am of divine nature, The Father would not mind! That would be the natural way to think. But God being our divine sustanance would mind.. Jahovah provides for us...His way and not ours. 2nd temptation-- Throw yourself off the pinnacle of the temple satan suggests God will send divine protection for you...Now for me I know this temptation well for without Jesus I was plagued since the age of ten with suicide..and in Christ as well..It is a depth of despair I pray not even my enemies will know. But this is not the will of God for Jesus nor any other Christian... 3rd temptation-- Bow down and worship me satan says and you can have all the riches you see here...Worship of anything else besides God and covetesness...wanting what another has What made Jesus not Falter in temptation...it was not His divine nature..But His faith and security, confidence He had in knowing WHO His Father is in relationship to Him.... Then satan Leaves Jesus and the angels came and ministered to Him...then Jesus' public ministry began. Let us learn of Christ here to be at God's finding, rather than at our own; and not to take any irregular courses for our supply, when our wants are ever so pressing . Jehovah-jireh; some way or other the Lord will provide. It is better to live poorly upon the fruits of God's goodness, than live plentifully upon the products of our own sin. He tempted Jesus to presume upon his Father's power and protection. See what a restless unwearied adversary the Devil is! If he fail in one assault, he tries another. Christ so confident of his Father's care of him, in point of nourishment, he endeavors to draw him to presume upon that care in point of safety.. Some who have obtained a persuasion that Christ is able and willing to save them from their sins, are then tempted to presume that he will save them in their sins. Thus when people begin to be zealous in religion, Satan hurries them into bigotry and intemperate heats. Let Us pray as Jesus told us..Lead us not into temptation but Deliver us...is my plea for us all today...Amen!!! Read: 1 Kings 18:20-39 The prophets of Baal had influence with King Ahab, but no fire. Elijah had almost no human support, no influence with the king, but he had fire. The altar for Baal was surrounded by people, action, activity, noise. The altar for the Lord seemed pitiful, by comparison. Pitiful, especially after Elijah had it doused with water three times -- twelve huge jars full of water like the twelve tribes of Israel. But when Elijah prays … fire. This is the issue: Is our assembly, our religious gathering, our "Christian" effort, the work of crafty men and women who know how to manipulate a crowd, or is it the work of God? If it is the work of God, it will have the mark of God on it – the same mark that was on Elijah’s altar. It will burn with the fire of God. If you and I are servants of God, we too can call down fire from heaven. But before we do, we had better understand what we are asking for. John the Baptist is speaking, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11 Whenever the Holy Spirit baptizes a people, that baptism is accompanied by another baptism which we hear little about these days: the baptism of fire. We see this fire burning all through Scripture from Genesis through to Revelation. If you allow it, you will see this fire fall from heaven into your life and into your assembly. The fire of God is the fire of which all earthly fires are but a symbol. It is the fire that guards the doorway to paradise. It is the fire through which we must pass, if we are going to enter into the kingdom of God, live under the anointing of God, fulfill the purpose of God in this world. Here are four things about the fire of God which we must know: 1. Out of this Fire God speaks. Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within the bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:1 For eighty years Moses had heard about God, read about God, recounted the exploits done under the anointing of God. But it was not until Moses drew near to that burning bush and stood before the holy fire of God, that he began to hear God speak. In the days of his flesh, Jesus was the burning bush. He burned, but was not consumed --- until he arrived at Calvary, where suddenly Jesus was consumed by his baptism of fire. Anybody with integrity could see the fire as they watched him die. And as they stood before this burning bush they heard God speak. Today the authentic Body of Christ on earth is the burning bush. It burns but is not consumed. And God himself speaks through its flame. And yet, every disciple follows the Master to a Calvary where we too are consumed by a fire in a death like his. It is when we are willing to go to our Calvary, when we are willing to submit to those flames, that we burn all the way to the end of our earthly journey. And when the fire of God burns in us, not only do we hear God speak, but others hear God speak through us. Out of the fire God speaks. 2. Through this fire God refines. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present righteous offerings to the Lord. Malachi 3:2 When the fire of God begins to lick at our lives, it is because we are being refined. It burns out the hypocrisy, the mediocrity, the apathy, the self-righteousness that infects us all. Things begin to happen in our lives that cause pain. We experience persecution. We walk through trial. All this is a sign that God is dealing with us as sons and daughters. He is disciplining us. He is cleansing our hearts. Purifying our spirits. Toughening up our skin, so we can walk through flames. There has never been a servant of God who has not had to pass through flames on the way to the harvest field. There has never been a servant of God who has not remained close to those flames throughout the ministry God has given to them. We are baffled, like Job. “What’s going on?” we cry. Sometimes our bewilderment lasts for a few minutes. Sometimes we’re baffled for years. But if remain faithful, we will be assured that the Father knows what he’s doing as he refines us. 3. By the fire, God empowers us. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. Acts 2:1 Those tongues of flame dancing over their heads were the sign that they had now received power from on high. Such power is not given to just anybody! It is given for one purpose: to bear witness to the ultimate truth (to which this planet is blind) --- that Jesus is Lord! It is for that purpose alone that they receive such power. With this fire resting upon them they are able to speak with authority, as they match their lives to their message. They break the chains that bind the human mind to this world’s darkness, that blind the human eye to God’s light. When you get close to the fire, you are getting close to the power of God. Every person who has ever been under the anointing of God has been to the fire, stays close to the fire. Moses has been to the fire. Isaiah has been to the fire. A burning coal is brought by one of the seraphim and touches his mouth. Ezekiel has been to the fire. He looks up and sees blinding glory sitting on the throne surrounded by dancing flames. Mary Magdalene has been to the fire. The apostle Paul has been to the fire. “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” It is only when you have them both that you have the power of God. Any "power" which is divorced from the fire of God is spurious and dangerous; it may be "spiritual" but far from holy and clean. 4. The fire of God brings history to a close. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, voices, flashes of lightening, and an earthquake. Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, which fell on the earth; and a third of the earth was burnt up, and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the fountains of water. Revelation 8: 5-10 Fire-signs continue through Revelation until Babylon is destroyed — until history, as we know it, has come to an end. Be certain that the fire, which will one day purge the earth of all evil, and vindicate the holiness of the Living God, now burns among us. Out of the fire God speaks, through the fire God refines, by the fire God empowers, with the fire God brings history to a close. “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and would that is was already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Luke 12:49
Only after Jesus rose from the dead did he begin spreading fire on earth. This fire will never stop burning. And now Jesus, alive from the dead, speaking to in the Holy Spirit, says “You want the baptism of the Holy Spirit? You want more of the Holy Spirit in your life? This I will gladly give you. But are you willing to receive, with your baptism in the Spirit, a baptism of Fire? Will you follow me into the flames?” If we want our altar to burn like Elijah’s altar… If we want our churches to have a living Word for that world out there… If we want to have an impact for God … If we want our daily lives to make sense… If we want them to have eternal meaning … …we have no choice but to follow Jesus into the flames — to submit our lives to the baptism of fire. Are we willing to ask God to send his fire into our lives? ... so that we are the sacrifice prepared, the altar made ready… so that his fire, coming down into us, may accomplish its purpose… so that we may be brought into the burning life of God’s kingdom, offering an effective, powerful, living witness, not only with our mouth, but with our life. “Lord, send the Holy Spirit and send the fire!” Pray that prayer, and watch God work. Pray that prayer every day, and watch things change — within you and around you. The fire will fall; it will consume the sacrifice, the altar, the wood, the stones, and even muddy waters. It seems to me that there are times people want what they want in the way they want it even if God is not moving the way they think He should!!! It is a dangerous place to be in!!! And the enemy of our souls just loves it and steals from us many things... A sister in the Lord i know a long time who ministers in healing, is sick, refusing to go to the doctor..thinking it diminishes her faith in Gods ability to heal her. She is having fainting, dizzy spells..chest pain with pressure for two months..no matter who goes there to tell her she needs a doctor or the hospital she refuses to go and her countenance along with posture changes becoming belligerent and proud..yet she does not see it. She thinks God will heal her...the question i pose is in what way? Did Naaman really want to dip in a swamp seven times to get healed of leprosy? No! I have seen this happen over and over again...My girlfriends child we took from her and rushed him to the hospital, near death... another had a heart attack and claimed Jesus healed her and left the hospital..I was called the spawn of satan when i with the pastor told her she was NOT healed as God revealed this to me..The Pastor was like oh well... within that week she had another massive heart attack even weakening her heart muscle so much so that she could not get up in from the hospital bed for weeks...Of course I can go on and on...Wishful thinking does not make it so Sometimes God chooses for us to submit to a doctor...and being a nurse knowing what i know it is a miracle if you get healed either way...well thats my say.. Pray for Judy..whether its pride and/or fear..we are not to be foolish...Amen!!! Who Is the Holy Spirit? Christian tradition starts speaking of the Spirit by saying that the Holy Spirit is God, based on the Bible. The Spirit has the attributes of God : Not only is the Holy Spirit is God, the Spirit is a full person of the Trinity. What is meant by that? (Forgive me for talking strange here, but this is about the Holy Spirit, the One that can least be described by words.) The Spirit can be addressed as 'you' by other 'I's (such as you and me), and can respond as an 'I'. The Spirit is an 'I', able to take action and cause action. The Spirit is able to be a 'we' with other 'I's. In a Barna survey in 1997, 61% of US residents surveyed agreed with the statement that the Holy Spirit is "a symbol of God's presence or power, but is not a living entity". Even more : that answer was held by a majority or near-majority of those in most every Christian denominational family, including mainline Protestants and evangelical Christians, and was most common in non-whites and young people. It's not a new view. Back in the days of the early church, some held that the Holy Spirit was an 'emanation' of God the Father, and others thought of the Spirit in the same terms as the Talmudic discussions on the divine Shekinah (Presence), as an expression of what Christians call the 'Father'. Those are not far off, they're just describing part of a larger picture, like speaking of an elephant by describing its ears without reference to its trunk, tusks, or thick legs. Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is a person and is God : - the Spirit's work in the Old Testament is closely identified with the Word of YHWH spoken by the prophets (this was affirmed by the early church in 2 Peter 1:21).
- the close ties between Jesus' mission and the work of the Spirit (see the work of the Spirit).
- the close ties between the mission of the apostles and the work of the Spirit; esp. see 1 Peter 1:12.
- The episode with Hananiah (Ananias) in Acts 5, where first, Peter says that Hananiah lied to the Holy Spirit, then later says that he lied not to men but to God.
- The trinitarian baptismal formula found in Scripture ( Matt 28:19): "in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". It dates to the church's earliest days.
- Jesus made a habit of confronting traditions with "box-breaking" actions. He ate with tax collectors and other scorned people, He turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple, He talked to the woman at the well, He healed the occupier-centurion's daughter. The Holy Spirit does the same kind of thing in Acts, and ever since.
The Holy Spirit As A Person The Holy Spirit is not a mere symbol of anything. No mere symbol is able to: In the Bible, the Holy Spirit has intellect, passions, and will, and can be grieved. In short, the Spirit has a personality. The key way of giving the Holy Spirit grief is malice, which is shown as bitterness, rage, anger, clamor (making lots of noise and disruption), and slander. Paul follows this description by what makes for a happy Holy Spirit : forgiving others as, in Christ, God forgave you. The Holy Spirit can act in whatever manner the Spirit wants to act. The Spirit generally acts through the church, but doesn't have to; the Wind blows where it will. The Spirit is free not to always be seriously focused on those purposes; the Spirit can have fun while at work. This is all stuff that can't be true of a mere (or even 'The') Force. That is how we often experience the Spirit and know of the Spirit's presence, but that is not what the Spirit is. As God, the Holy Spirit is cause, and that cause has effect. Yet, there are those in the Christian churches who reduce the Holy Spirit to a force, or to a collective will or a living memory of the gathered believers, or the force of emotion or conscience within a person. Those people, fine as they may be, are describing a different spirit than the Holy Spirit as viewed by the Christian faith. The Spirit works in all of these ways and more, yet against all of them at times. The Spirit works in whatever ways are needed to do what needs to be done, except in choosing not to take forceable control of people's actions.
The Spirit In the Old Testament The Spirit shows up in the Old Testament (OT), especially in the prophets' books. - The OT does not use nephesh (soul of earthly beings) to describe God. It uses ruach.
- The OT does not present ruach as the mediator between God and humans. The Spirit is God at work, not a go-between. The word ruach means a movement of air (wind, breath)
- There are 'general' references to the Spirit of God, such as in Genesis 44:38 on the lips of a non-believer. When that happens, the term may have been used to mean 'divine spirit', a recognition that a god (whomever the god is) is at work, and some sort of power or authority beyond the usual is rather obviously causing things to happen.
- The Messiah is said by Isaiah to be specially endowed with God's spirit : Isaiah 11:2; 42:1; 61:1.
- The Spirit is seen as God's presence in the hearts of each believer : Psalm 51:11; Psalm 139:7.
- In Ezekiel (37:9) and Isaiah (34:16; 48:16; 63:10), there is a hint of personality, unlike in the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures.
In the main OT Jewish way of looking at it, the Spirit was a life force or energy of God, the operational side of what a Christian would term "the Father", rather than a Person in the Trinitarian sense. A psalmist speaks of God's 'Spirit' acting in a personal way (Psalm 143:10), but the use of 'spirit' there is probably another way to say 'God' (Hebrew poetry uses many ways to say the same or similar things). Isaiah and Ezekiel give hints toward envisioning the person-ness of the Spirit, but it is not until the writings between the testaments that this vision takes on a clearer shape, and not until Christ that it is given its full dimension.
 | news | Dec 16, '09 9:44 AM
for everyone |
Korea----6000 responses to a evangelistic altar call for Salvation....After years of christian opression and worse..Korea allowed for open service and Praise to Jesus...Many i saw were just so overcome with tears and with gratefulness to Jesus for this outpouring and freedom.. Although many tried to retain and prevent Christians from going the immensity of the crown was so overwhelming they could not...Hallelujh Jesus...Praise the Lord I did a victory dance last night Oral roberts passed from complications to pnuemonia. A man after 35 yrs in Jail for rape was freed by DNA results. He is allowed 50,000 dollars per year he has been incarcirated...money may make his life easier but can never replace years of life stolen..and where does this amount of money actually come from that he may be paid? 80,000 H1N1 vaccines given and some recalled due to (get this) not being strong enough...but those already vaccinated DO NOT to be revaccinated...so whats up with that... A boy in Texas was forced off his school bus by police with a father who convince them he had custody..The tape of the child was caught by school bus...it is so heartwrenching...The boy was telling the polce officer No he is not my dad and hits be all the time...Police officers response..."we won't let anything happen to you!" The child and Father are now missing.. Please Pray... 1 in five woman will be raped and/or attempted rape before finishing college...Sad and provokes me to anger that we remain vulnerable... A vast multitude was imprisoned in every place," wrote an eyewitness. "The prisons -- prepared for murderers and robbers -- were filled with bishops, priests, and deacons ... so there was no longer room for those condemned of crimes."[1] You'd hardly expect to find old St. Nick in jail. But St. Nicholas is more than a children's Christmas legend. He was flesh and blood, a prisoner for Christ, bishop of the Mediterranean city of Myra. What do we know about the real St. Nicholas? He was born, ancient biographers tell us, to wealthy parents in the city of Patara about 270 A.D. He was still young when his mother and father died and left him a fortune. As a teen-ager, Nicholas' humility was already evident. He had heard about a family destitute and starving. The father had no money for food, much less the dowry needed to marry off his three daughters. He was ready to send his oldest girl into the streets to earn a living as a prostitute. Under the cover of night, Nicholas threw a bag of gold coins through the window of their humble dwelling. In the morning the father discovered the gold. How he rejoiced: his family was saved, his daughter's honor preserved, and a dowry for her marriage secured. Some time after, Nicholas secretly provided a dowry for the second daughter. Still later for the third. But on the third occasion, the girls' father stood watching. As soon as the bag of gold thudded on the floor, he chased after the lad till he caught him. Nicholas was mortified to be discovered in this act of charity. He made the father promise not to tell anyone who had helped his family. Then Nicholas forsook his wealth to answer a call to the ministry. At the nearby city of Myra a bishop supervised all the churches of the region. When the bishop died, the bishops and ministers from other cities and villages -- Nicholas among them -- gathered to choose a successor. Nicholas was in the habit of rising very early and going to the church to pray. This morning an aged minister awaited him in the sanctuary. "Who are you, my son?" he asked. "Nicholas the sinner," the young minister replied. "And I am your servant." "Come with me," the old priest directed. Nicholas followed him to a room where the bishops had assembled. The elderly minister addressed the gathering. "I had a vision that the first one to enter the church in the morning should be the new bishop of Myra. Here is that man: Nicholas." Indeed they did choose him as bishop. Nicholas was destined to lead his congregation through the worst tribulation in history. In A.D. 303, the Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered a brutal persecution of all Christians. Those suspected of following the Lord were ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods. Nicholas and thousands of others refused. Ministers, bishops, and lay people were dragged to prison. Savage tortures were unleashed on Christians all over the empire. Believers were fed to wild animals. Some were forced to fight gladiators for their lives while bloodthirsty crowds screamed for their death. Women suffered dehumanizing torment. Saints were beaten senseless, others set aflame while still alive. Yet persecution couldn't stamp out Christianity. Rather it spread. Third Century leader Tertullian observed, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." Those who survived Diocletian's torture chambers were called "saints" or "confessors" by the people, because they didn't forsake their confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. Nicholas was one of these. Finally, after years of imprisonment, the iron doors swung open and Bishop Nicholas walked out, freed by decree of the new Emperor Constantine. As he entered his city once more, his people flocked about him. "Nicholas! Confessor!" they shouted. "Saint Nicholas has come home." The bishop was beaten but not broken. He served Christ's people in Myra for another thirty years. Through the prayers of this tried and tested soldier of faith, many found salvation and healing. Nicholas participated in the famous Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. He died on December 6, about 343, a living legend, beloved by his whole city. St. Nick of yuletide fame still carries faint reminders of this ancient man of God. The color of his outfit recollects the red of bishop's robes. "Making a list, checking it twice," probably recalls the old saint's lectures to children about good behavior. Gifts secretly brought on Christmas eve bring to mind his humble generosity to the three daughters. Yet if he were alive today, this saint would humbly deflect attention from himself. No fur-trimmed hat and coat, no reindeer and sleigh or North Pole workshop. As he did in life centuries ago, Bishop Nicholas would point people to his Master. "I am Nicholas, a sinner," the old saint would say. "Nicholas, servant of Christ Jesus." THE STORY OF CHANUKKAH (Part 2)
Antiochus enacted a series of harsh decrees against the Jews. Jewish worship was forbidden; the SCROLLS OF THE LAW were confiscated and burned. Sabbath rest, circumcision and the dietary laws were prohibited under penalty of death. Even one of the respected elders of that generation, Rabbi Eliezer, a man of 90, was ordered by the servants of Antiochus to eat pork so that others would do the same. When he refused they suggested to him that he pick up the meat to his lips to appear to be eating. But Rabbi Eliezer refused to do even that and was put to death.
There were thousands of others who likewise sacrificed their lives. The following is a famous story told of Hannah and her seven son’s courage happened at that time. They were arrested and compelled to eat swine’s flesh and thereby assent to the pagan sacrifice. One by one, when they refused to yield, they were tortured.
The first son had his extremities cut off, was scalped, had his tongue cut out, and still refused to eat pig. Finally he was boiled alive.
The second son had the skin stripped from his head, and still refused to eat pig. He exclaimed to Antiochus, "In-human fiend, you may discharge us from this present life, but the KING OF THE WORLD will raise us up, since it is for HIS Laws that we die, to live again forever."
Then, third son held out his arms for dismemberment saying, "It was the GOD OF HEAVEN that gave me these limbs; for the sake of HIS Laws I disdain them; from HIM I hope to receive them again."
When the third son died, the fourth son was tortured. He cried, "Ours is the better choice, to meet death at men's hands, yet relying on ELOHIYM'S promise that we shall be raised up by HIM; whereas for you there can be no resurrection, no new life."
As they tortured the fifth son, he said, "Do not think that our race has been deserted by YEHOWAH. Only wait, and you shall see in your turn how HIS mighty power will torment you and your race."
The sixth son died with the words, "We are suffering like this through our own fault, having sinned against ELOHEY, but do not think you yourself will go unpunished for attempting to make war on YEHOWAH."
Finally the seventh son died with the following words: "Our brothers already, after enduring their brief pain, now drink of ever-flowing life, by virtue of YEHOWAH'S covenant, while you, by the ALMIGHTY'S judgment, will have to pay the just penalty for your arrogance. I too, like my brothers, surrender my body and life for the Laws of my ancestors, calling upon ELOHEY to show HIS kindness to our nation, and that soon."
Ultimately, Hannah, their Mother was also put to death. All steadfastly refused deliverance in hope of the resurrection.
THE MACCABEES: In a little village 15 miles NW of Jerusalem, a priest named Mattathias and his five sons rebelled. Before his death, Mattityahu called his sons together and urged them to continue to fight in defense of GOD’S TORAH. He asked them to follow the counsel of their brother Shimon-the-Wise. In waging warfare, he said, their leader should be Yehuda-the-Strong. Yehuda was called "Maccabee (means: hammer)" - a word composed of the initial letters of the four Hebrew words "Mi Komocho bo'Eilim ha’Shem -- Who is like unto YOU, O GOD."
Under the leadership of the oldest son, Judah Maccabee, they launched a guerrilla-style war against Antiochus Epiphanies and his army. Its purpose was to force the Syrians out of Israel and restore worship to YEHOWAH. Mattathias killed all the traitors and then killed the Syrian commissioners. After a 3-year struggle, the Jews drove the Syrian army out of the Promised Land. Their rallying cry from Matthias was "Let everyone who has a fervor for the Law take his stand on the Covenant and come out and follow me. Let us fight unto death in defense of our souls and our Temple!" [1 Maccabees 2. 27 – 28] In other words, "return and obey the VOICE OF THE LORD your GOD, and do all HIS commandments. For the LORD your GOD is a COMPASSIONATE GOD; HE will not fail you nor will HE let you perish; HE will not forget the covenant which HE made on oath with your fathers." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 4. 29 - 31 Tanakh, Torah]
Exactly 3 years to the very date after the Temple was desecrated, the 24th of Kislev, the triumphant Jews made their entrance into the TEMPLE OF GOD and re-dedicated it to the service of YEHOWAH ELOHEY.
In the LORD’S TEMPLE, the priests were to leave a light burning in obedience to the command of GOD MOST HIGH, "Command the children of Israel to bring you pure beaten olive oil for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. In the Tabernacle of Meeting, outside the veil, which is before the Ark OF THE Covenant, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before YEHOWAH. It shall be a decree forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel throughout the ages." [Exodus (Shemot) 27. 20 - 21 Tanakh, Torah] When the Maccabees prepared to rekindle the Menorah to re-dedicate the Temple of ELOHEY which had been spoiled by the enemy, they discovered only one single jar of olive oil buried beneath the ruins with the seal of the High Priest still intact on its lid. This was tragic because the Jewish people could not carry out YEHOWAH'S command as there was only enough oil to burn one day.
For olive oil to be dedicated for use in the Lamp, it was to be made by the High Priest and sealed with his seal after being sanctified (set apart) for 7-days; then on the 8th day it was "Holy to the LORD." [Exodus/Shemot 29. 37; Leviticus/Vayikra 12. 3; Ezekiel/Yehezke-El 43. 26 – 27; 2 Chronicles/Dibre Hayamin Bet 29. 17] According to the Jewish tradition, "nes gadol haya shem (a Great Miracle happened there)" . . . the small flask of oil lasted for a full EIGHT DAYS! {In Jerusalem, they say: "Nes Gadol Haya Po -- a Great Miracle happened here (Jerusalem)."}
. . . to be continued
Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
Be blessed as we bid farewell to Shabbat! May the ALMIGHTY ONE, WHO separates the holy from the secular, forgive our sins and grant us a good week as we continue in HIS service!!
The 2nd Light of Chanukah is the LIGHT of TORAH. Israel's BOOK OF LAW: The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is a Light.
May mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. And, may you share wonderful holy-days together with friends and family.
Our prayer, also, is that the flame of the LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH burn brightly in your hear as you share HIS light with others. Happy Chanukkah! | Invites | Dec 13, '09 2:25 PM
for everyone |
Okay guys...i know i have invitations...can't get to them...do not know why.. Don't want you to thimk i am ignoring whomever...I will keep trying....God Bless
THE STORY OF CHANUKAH (Part 1)
Chanukkah means dedication. It is the Jewish Festival celebrating the Maccabees' victory over the Syrian army in 165 BCE (Before Common Era/BC -- Before CHRIST). The Feast of Dedication, Chanukah, celebrates two miracles: First, the victory of a small greatly-outnumbered army of Jews (the Maccabees) over the strong and forceful Greek army. The Jews had taken their stand for their faith, their GOD, and their way of life. . . and won! The Maccabees drove the Greeks from the Promised Land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (which had been desecrated by the Seleucids) and rededicated it to the service of YEHOWAH ELOHEY. The second miracle was that of the Menorah and the light that burned for eight days (which should have lasted only one day), allowing a ritually pure oil to be made as prescribed by those assigned to do so. Having the Menorah lit continually in the Temple was extremely important to worship the GREAT GOD OF HEAVEN as HE instructed. Alexander the Great once conquered all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, creating a vast Greek Empire. At the age of 33, he died broken-hearted, feeling that he had conquered all that was worth conquering. Wherever the Greek army went, Greek culture, language and religion were forced upon the population known as "Hellenism." After Alexander died, the Greek Empire was divided among his generals: Antigonus received Asia; Ptolemy, Egypt; Seleucus obtain Babylon; Lysimachus acquired Hellespont; and Cassander took over Macedonia. There were wars back and forth continually for years. At the time of the Maccabees, Antiochus Epiphanies (means: the deified god) ruled Syria and Ptolemy ruled Egypt. These two warred over the holy land. Antiochus launched a military campaign against Egypt in order to bring all of Israel under Syrian dominion. They imposed Hellenistic culture and religion on all they conquered with a vengeance. The Syrians were incredibly barbaric, even the Greek language was imposed upon the people they conquered. It was forbidden to study TORAH, observe Shabbat, use the Hebrew language or perform circumcision. Circumcised baby boys were killed and the mothers were forced to carry the dead infants hanging from their necks. Jews were given the choice to give up Judaism or die, often by torture; pagan temples were built throughout Israel. Then they plundered and desecrated the Temple of ELOHEY on the 24th of Kislev 168 BCE. The soldiers even sacrificed a swine on the Temple Altar, the HOLY TORAH was spattered with pig blood and cut into pieces, then burned. Then Antiochus committed the ultimate offense -- on the birthday of Zeus, which is the month of Kislev (December) 24. Antiochus had his soldiers erect an idol of Zeus Olympus, the Greek’s supreme deity, in the Holy of Holies of the Temple of GOD. Not surprisingly, the idol bore the face of Antiochus himself. He demanded that the people bow down to worship his idol god. {As described in Daniel/Danyel 9. 27; 11. 30-31; Matthew 24. 15–17} Many Jews would not give allegiance to a heathen deity, and as many as 80,000 people chose to die rather than commit idolatry. I am so annoyed at the government interfering in the education of our children.. The guidelines enforced not only on the schools themselves but also upon the teachers...I do not like being annoyed and complaining without doing something.. Does any one know what i can do about this? Any organizations lobbying against it? Do you think it is possible to get the government to release their hold? I belive that all things are possible through Jesus Christ...I guess i need to pray for the first step...   I saw this man on Charlie Rose and really liked what he had to say..since he is the commander in Afghanistan and also reports to the President I think we should all have his name and keep this man in prayer...thanks CHARLIE ROSE: The core of your philosophy is you have to convince the Afghan people that they have a reason to believe that they can live in peace with some security and some manner of governance that protects them? GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL, U.S. Commander in Afghanistan: Absolutely. At the end of the day, the people who judge success or failure will be the Afghan people, who will make decisions on how they go forward, who they support. So, it's critical that we convince them that their government can protect them and will protect them, and then meet their basic needs. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: There are a number of ways, Charlie. One, of course, is polling. You ask them. But there are a number of other ways as well. People make decisions that reflect their outlook on the future, whether a farmer plants a crop, whether someone makes an investment, whether individuals will join the government, whether they will bet their future with the government, join the police, join the army, in fact, join the government, accept a government position. All of those are indicators of confidence. When they believe that things are going in that direction they make very, very important life decisions. And we try to look at all of those. CHARLIE ROSE: Why are you confident that President Karzai, with all the allegations of fraud, with all the allegations of members of his family, is going to be up to the task that you have given him, that the Afghan people are expecting from him? GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: I think your last point is key. I think President Karzai absolutely understands what the Afghan people desire from him and expect of him. And I think he has a deeply held sense of responsibility to deliver for them. And I don't believe that the government is one man. No government is. I think that the government of Afghanistan has a tremendous number of leaders who come together as a team, just like the ISAF command is certainly not me. It's a team of people. And I think that that government increasingly is focused on providing for the Afghan people, and so I'm confident that they will move forward in a good partnership. CHARLIE ROSE: But this is the same people who everybody accuses of being in a massive fraudulent election. And so all of a sudden, even though they did that, you now believe that they can take confidence-building measures with the Afghan people. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: There are clearly steps that have got to be taken. CHARLIE ROSE: Yes. And that's what I want to know. GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Absolutely. There have got to be steps taken to reduce corruption, particularly high-profile corruption. There is a perception in many in the population that there is a sense of protection of many corrupt officials by the government, and that's got to be wiped away. That's got to be directly addressed, although I know that it's difficult to do that. They're going to have to take that on to regain their credibility with the people. JIM LEHRER: McChrystal said, the next 18 months will be decisive in reversing the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan. Excerpt: Gen. Stanley McChrystal on Charlie Rose You have a vision...you pray about it..you call a assembly together...Are they with you? or are they against you? you decide to call a fast and pray the vision into being... As the Leader those coming under your submission are servants along with you in the matter as well as you are to them and the Lord Jesus... But give it time..one will see those who are not loyal to the plan of Gods vision He gave to you...They will decide..it should be done another way..or this way..The times of the meeting should be changed to accomadate those who answered the call, Sometimes they show up..sometimes not...and when they do..it is a distraction Well my sister or brother..nothing went wrong with you...it is them... if you allow the others to control you ..you lost your leadership so remove them from your midst...It is not the numbers that mean a lot...it is those few faithful that come to do what God has called that will make the difference... Don't let rebellion, contention in the camp of the Lord...Keep on Keeping on.... Amen!!! “Leadership is what gives an organization its vision and its ability to translate that vision into reality” The Bible teaching about the nature of Christian leadership indicates that as leaders, we are a special people with a specific position and purpose. We are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20) who are ambassadors of God sent into a world hostile to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 5:20). That means we have a particular world view, motivation, purpose, and allegiance. Paul said, “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). As Christians, we are cast in contrast to this world system, which is organized in opposition to God, and headed by Satan and his minions. (Matthew 4:8, 9; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19; Ephesians 6:11, 12). Christian leadership can apply to any Christian, because we have all been given a task with resources and abilities to accomplish God’s will for our life and His program. We all have a sphere of influence. You do. I do. The Bible teaching about the nature of Christian leadership teaches that every Christian has also been given a spiritual gift, or special ability, to carry out their part in God’s plan. Leadership is one of those gifts. Paul said, “And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly…he who leads, with diligence…” (Romans 12:6, 8). Christian leadership highlights eternal matters over the temporary things of this world (2 Corinthians 4:18). We do what we can to make this life better. But, in the final analysis, what good is it if we, for example, cure a person’s cancer, yet let their soul slip into an eternal hell? Jesus asked the same question, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). Christian leadership also calls for a “servant” approach. Jesus modeled this approach when He taught the “Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). So you see we can all be leaders and are to be leaders.. It is not bossing people around or thinking more highly of yourself than another.. Is your vision lined up to your pastors...is it lined up to the vision God gave you? Take your rightful place as one of Gods ambassadors through Christ! | dream | Nov 20, '09 9:05 PM
for everyone |
Over the past few weeks Jesus has been waking me after certain dreams..two i will not display here, the Last is the most important.... The dream: There is utter chaos around where i am walking..stepping carefully and avoiding the evil demons which are all around...They were having dinner with our flesh...some were so devoured, dead and lost to God... I had no fear and started moving forward faster and my sight was on getting to a certain destination..time was really short..there was little time to even do battle against the demons seeking after people..time would be wasted... Some christians had been seen by me as being dead but this was a martyred death... I kept walkin and i saw my earthly dad and his wife both lying down and the Glory of God all over them..(this is a clue to timing..for they are very much alive and both are christians) They had shielded another to prevent death to that others soul. I reached my destination and was assisting many to a spot where I saw people being brought up into the heavens in pink thunderbirds..making sure who was to get there ...got there Now upon waking i giggled because of the pink thunderbirds....I do not like pink but this pink was pearlescent and pretty...I looked up the word thunderbird and it is a legend bird coming from the indian stories. But some have seen this bird in Pennsylvania...and it signifies 'snatching away' yet those in the thunderbirds were going up one by one...so it was a natural rendering of passing...not the parousia many speak of. But what impressed me the most was that there was no time for anything but ushering in souls....not even for stopping to talk to another christian... Doing the work of the Lord in His power under the anointing of His Holy Spirit in all diligence... Link This is from precepts site and i so enjoyed it ....  | Guestbook | |
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 | FACEBOOK ADD!!! Shalom my precious Multiply fren! ... I have been devoting most all my "online time" to FACEBOOK anymore, but i sure miss my multiply frens! Pray all is well with you and your family... :O) Am considering to close my multiply acct. but dont want to loose you as a fren, If you are on FACEBOOK, and we are not already frens there ...plz add me ok? http://www.facebook.com/Bornaju(¯`♥´¯) *.¸.*´ Love Always, Calvin Oscar❤ |
 | Happy Birthday Sis...Hope your day is special!
Give Emily a hug....Love ya'll!! |
| Just wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy Birthday!!! All the best to you!! ♥
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| "No Tears Today"
May there be no tears, today,or sadness found in your heart.
May the love of our Heavenly
Father fill your every need, as
He chases away all doubt and
fear.
May His presence compensate
for any loneliness you may feel.
Be strong of good courage and
filled with His strength, as you
face each new challenge;
And, with the dawning of each
new day, let hope arise in your
heart.
"Wishing you a blessed day"
Always in Christ !
From Mareesha
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 |  Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103: 1-5)
Do we pray to God for the sole purpose of praising Him? We have much for which to praise Him. For His love, and care never cease. He saves, keeps and satisfies us. Never take God for granted; always take time to praise Him! God bless you, my dearest friend!
Love and Peace,
Maria
Living For Christ Family |
| I pray that your day is a blessed one and that you have a great weekend. I thought I'd stop by and let you know that I'm doing okay and will be having an operation on my second eye at the end of October. Please take care and know that you are thought of.
Happy Friday
Happy Friday
Just to let you know I'm thinking of you and wishing for a blessed Friday and great weekend for you. I love you lots, Blessings, love and many hugs in Jesus, From Mareesha |
 | Hope you are well - just hasn't bee enough time in the day for all this neworking and working :-) I hope you are doing well my friend - hugs |
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I just want to share a cup of coffee with you....
I thought it would be nice way to begin our day.
I hope today finds you well.
Hugs and love,
Alfie
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 | With God NOTHING shall be Impossible." -- Luke 1:37
"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." -- Matthew 18:19
"And Jesus looking upon them saith, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." -- Mark 10:27 |
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.. I WAS .............
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.Leaving my .......
Footprints in your Sand ......
Alfie ...................................♥
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LEAVING A ROSE BEHIND A SIGN I VE BEEN HERE
HUGS,
ALFIE
........_.;_'.-._....FRIENDS WE ARE
......{`--..-.'_,}...........
....{;..\,__...-'/}.....FOREVER FRIENDS WE LL BE
....{..'-`.._;..-';...........
.......`'--.._..-'.........WHEREVER YOU ARE
...........,--\\..,-"-..........
...........`-..\(..'-...\.....YOU´RE RIGHT BESIDE ME
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.............,-""-;\...........GOOD WEEK-END
.........../....-'.)..\.............
...........\,---'`...\\........MY DEAR FRIEND
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| Happy Birthday Patricia... hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow and always! :) |
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY FRIEND!
On your birthday I wish you much pleasure and joy;
I hope all of your wishes come true.
May each hour and minute be filled with delight,
And your birthday be perfect for you!
By Joanna Fuchs
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