There are currently wars and rumors of wars. Ukraine+UN/Russia is the biggest currently.
Nation rising against nation. UN stands for United Nations and UN is against Russia and probably China and Iran who seem to be natural partners. The US is pushing WW3 hard with blowing up Russia's pipeline, funding nefarious labs in Ukraine, overthrowing their government, putting carriers close to strike, putting assets in south china sea. They are doing everything that a country would do if they wanted to start a world war. They are not moral peacekeepers by any means, that was an idea of the past. It's based on greed, lust for power and evil. Immoral lost people are in charge. Look at the Biden admin staff- the health director is an overweight transvestite. They are committing federal crimes in public such as treason and interfering in presidential elections by changing voter laws and human trafficking on a huge scale to bribe and import voting power. They took over all the DAs so they don't prosecute themselves and the supreme court are cowardly and are not challenging any of their open criminal activity.
I think the wars and chaos will cause famine. We saw how the covid scare created shortages and panic. Many in the US were artificially created such as locking down ships from docking from Long Beach harbor, and employee shortages. Prices are skyrocketing and there are now probably more homeless than ever in the US. Artificially forced minimum wage at high levels means more laid off workers and automation, but may lead to shortages and closures. There's currently minor pestilences from crickets, cicadas, and regional bug issues. Not aware of any mass earthquakes yet, but I agree that these are to come. I think it will be obvious when its happening. But as we saw with covid, fear causes people to act like irrational wild animals and cause us much harm.
That's a good question. I have heard many different speculations. Recently, during COVID, many people felt that getting vaccines was connected with the mark of the beast. I did some research on verse 18 for the number 666 and this is what I found.
1. Biblical numbers have meaning. So the number 7 is "good" and represent completion. 6 is less than 7, so it represents imperfection. The 6 is tripled "666" so the mark of the beast is gross imperfection. Basically, it symbolizes an organization ( maybe an entity) that represents man's fall from God's glory.
2. The beats is in opposition to God and Jesus. Those that support organizations, thoughts, and ideas that oppose God and his word would have the "mark" of the beast. ( Revelation 19:19-21) So what I understood, is that the mark is not a literal mark, but a symbolic mark. Afterall, I don't believe I have ever seen anyone with a divine "666" mark placed on them.
Good Question. I hope I added something to the discussion.
I look forward to read your answers because I truly want to know what you believe on this topic and understand your point of view better. I will be better able to respond back to you without assuming that you believe in ways you do not.
If there are any questions you wish to ask me, I would be glad to give you answers to those this week, too. Take care. I am on the mend and am thankful that covid did not do me in, having avoided it for 4 years. It seems that the present strains are not as dangerous for at risk people as at the beginning of the outbreak. Thanking God for that!
Please pray for my nephew. He has been in psyche ward twice in the past two months. He has attempted suicide 5-6 times in the last two months. He does not want to go back home to live with his dad (my brother) or his mom (both contributed to his traumatic childhood by serious neglect, manipulation, and denial of his medical needs and mental health issues. They are catalysts for this dangerous place he is 'in' right now. He wants to move to Texas to live with his sister. He has several sisters there. I hope that will work out and we will help him move there if he needs assistance. It is best for him to not be around my family because so many things can trigger him. He asked my other brother if he could stay with him for a few weeks until he can move to Texas. But neither my brother, nor I really know him very well. I pray that he can go straight from the hospital to his sisters home to live. His sisters know him and experienced the same neglect and denial of medical needs as he did to their detriment. His sisters were also sexually abused by my brother, their father and step-father, which led to him being put out of the family when my nephew was 18 months old. He has been living with his dad (my brother) since he was 18 years old. But my brother is a spiritual abuser and manipulator to him. So, such a sad and bad situation. I think his sisters can give him the best support.
I am improving from covid. I got a secondary sinus infection that was worse than the covid. My face was aching all over really badly. Went into the dr. got antibiotics, prednisone and Visteral. Improvement in a day! no more face pain!.
My daughter in law had an IV iron infusion on Friday because her iron levels were so very low. Glad they gave her this therapy. May need to be repeated before the baby comes in May. Otherwise, she is feeling good and baby is growing well.
Our home repairs are coming along slowly right now. Waiting for some materials to finally be delivered. We need to order cabinetry this week. Electricians coming this week to install electrical panel. One bedroom downstairs should be completely done Monday or Tuesday so our son can move back in there so we can move our master bedroom stuff into the room he has been in. Then the contractor can complete the repair on our master bath, remove the popcorn ceilings in there and lay the flooring before they start on the other bath upstairs, complete that, remove the popcorn ceiling in the hall and stairs and lay the flooring to the doorways to the other two bedrooms upstairs. Then we move back into our master and they finish the ceiling and flooring in that room. Then Kevin and Viv move into that room, and the contractor finishes the other bedroom ceiling and flooring and then flooring down the stairs. When that is all done the upstairs will be finished. So a big process. We will be painting walls in between moves from room to room. But it goes pretty fast.
When the upstairs is done, then the popcorn ceiling downstairs will be removed, and begin demo of the kitchen and removal of walls and the drop down ceiling in there. Then the electrician will come and install can lighting, outlets, etc, before the walls get prepped for painting and installation of the cabinets, appliances, etc. There will just be two more rooms to finish after the kitchen. Whew!
Thank you for taking time to help me understand Isaiah 53:5.
Healing puts back in place something that is out of order. Healing fixes things. Jesus' purpose in the land of the living was to make us whole.
It seems that Jesus reassured people that came to him for healing that their sins would not hinder their healing if they believed. Isaiah 53:5 is referring to both body and soul. In one scripture , the devils knew the prophesy of Isaiah concerning him. Jesus not only heals the "sin-sick soul, (transgression, iniquities) but the mind, BODY and soul. (COVID, Cancer, AIDS, Heart
Trouble, High blood pressure, diabetes) I noticed that in many conversation with the sick, Jesus mentions "sin." He was connecting sickness and sin.
St. James also mentioned Elders of the Church in relations to prayers for healing "sickness. and "sin."
The words " the chastisement of our peace, (our anxieties)
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." "Jesus stripes" are talking about healing every part of us that need fixing.
A good example is likening God to a tap of water. We drink as much as we wish. We turn the tap as much as we want, The tap is there, the water is there, but we drink as much as we turn that tap. The more we turn it the more we drink. It is up to us. God is always there. As simple as that.
About the kids brother, the problem with kids nowadays is not only a matter of overprotectiveness and lack of punishment. I think it is mainly of what people teach to their children. On top of that nowadays kids get their standards in life, not from the family, or the church and the Word of God, but mostly from the internet. Often from the rich and famous, the celebrities, who usually are drug or alcohol addicts, violent (don't you see how the gangsters are heroized on TV?) with broken families where fornication and adultery are the usual thing. Sex and violence is what the Kkids eat nowadays. As there is no censorship on the net, kids see and learn all sort of weird things there and then spread them to others.
And as there are no borders nowadays the sin is propagating from one country to another very easily. Sin is like a virus, a spiritual covid, that goes from a place to another easily if there is nothing to stop it. And nowadays there is nothing to stop it. It is written that the people of the end times will be the worst of all times. And we see that in our countries, don't we?
Wel,l maybe I say the same thing as you do but with different words. GBU
Just a quick update. My husband Steve, tested positive for covid this morning. He began Paxlovid just as I did. I expect he will have similar results as I have had. I am nearly recovered now, with just a slight cough. I guess the CDC changed the isolation rules for covid March 1 and as long as one is improving and without a fever, one no longer needs to isolate but care should be taken when around vulnerable people.
I just got back from Urgent Care and I have covid. I have not had it before so I do not know how my body will do. God Paxlovid to take this week and have prednisone to take when Paxlovid is done.
Please pray for my health to hold strong and that I have a quick recovery. I am feverish, coughing, have a headache and my chest is tight.
Pray that no one else in our home gets this, especially Vivian who is 6 months pregnant.
In light of the Great Commission at the end of Matthew 28; it is easy (at least for myself) to ignore the implications of us as a BODY in Christ doing the work of laboring. Again; I have stated in earlier posts that since I moved back home with my folks I am not surrounded by those who regularly go on the streets. As for now I am considering returning to the Nursing Homes in my area but apparently with COVID rampant that will have to wait at least a month or so.
My past experience sharing the Gospel with others has often provided good opportunities for discussion among the believers I am out with as well as other believers encountered on the streets and elsewhere. Of course we also have opportunity as Proverbs 27:17 states to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron. Prayer is an investment to see growth in a local church; and I am seeing signs people are making more effort in my local congregation with seeing more teenagers and kids activities available. I have noticed in my home state (let's just say in the Northeast) at least there seems to be few youth groups for teenagers as there used to be 30 or 40 years ago and I would assume this is a larger issue; but was informed down south (specifically Texas) things were different.
In reality we can do janitorial work and be using a gift of service; or with a skill we have help someone with home repairs or moving (as I did quite often a few years back before I moved back here). In fact at my first church where they had youth group in large numbers I remember a service project day when we were randomly asked to do something for a few hours for someone else (I think someone helped wash my car).
In general we should seek the Lord to see what He would want us to do; and of course Pastors and elders should assist in these plans (for example all night prayer; fasting and the like). One big question is are we READY to see God answer such prayers should attendance increase?
Our healing is spiritual not physical . The body is just a shell that decays with age and ailments . I have been ill for well over thirty years , different things , some permanent some not , including stage 4 cancer ten years ago . I've had covid twice for sure but I think maybe three times , I have arthritis , sicca syndrome , fibromyalgia and a heart condition . My God has taught me many things through my ailments , lessons that I needed to learn and I'm sure I still have plenty to learn . God permitted His Son to suffer terribly for our sins , why should we think that we shouldn't suffer ? Do we think that we don't deserve to suffer ? Do we think that other people , sinners ? atheists ? idolaters ? do we think that they deserve to suffer more than we do ? We must learn than none of us are any better than anyone else , we must understand it , accept it and believe it whole heartedly . Why me ? say some . Why not me ? say I . Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth . God brings us into submission by whatever means He sees fit , only He is righteous , we are not , not ever . Accept your lot and thank God for showing you such mercy every day . If you cannot imagine that your life could be even worse , then just watch the news and see how others live and suffer . Thanks to God for His very great mercy and generosity , Thy Kingdom Come .
You too Gigi , my Christmas was full of covid but it meant that my husband and I got to stay home alone together for ten full days , which was very nice for us . Sometimes bad things can bring blessings also . Much love to you and your family .
More thoughts on fellowship in light of Hebrews 10:25
Since the COVID restrictions and the exodus of a significant percent of those professed believers from the overall corporate body of Christ in churches there has been a continued isolation from physical presence in the houses of worship. This made it easy to find an excuse to do what clearly was desired all along by many in that regard.
I have been privileged to personally meet a number of missionaries in recent years; and supported one from Bangladesh that since has gone stateside. Seeing the interaction with their wives and children has been an inspiration to me along with sound doctrine being proclaimed. We should seek to involve congregations; as in a former church I attended where there was a "missions moment" discussing a certain country where a missionary was active. Unfortunately; most churches only have an occasional presentation on this subject; yet today more than ever would be a great time for the average layperson to have communications online to support these individuals. Realizing their prayers for us (as they did when I was involved in a church plant that started seven years ago) should help us to feel closer to those formerly on the field.
Something came up recently in regard to a couple churches that are renting the building that our church worships in. I have seen issues elsewhere in regard to that situation as well. Currently there are maintenance annoyances (leaving messes; etc) but I am praying that there can be some interaction such as prayer and fellowship between these congregations at our church. This surely is a commonplace occurrence these days. When I lived in Pittsburgh I saw more interaction with various churches and charities than I see where I live today. Certain cautions need to be taken as to the doctrines being preached elsewhere; however. Missionaries have brought up to me more than once that the same errors found here occur on the mission field.
I, and most likely, many of us, are watching Putin, Iran, etc. so we did not dismiss what you said. I, speaking only for myself, am in a "wait and see how this pans out" mode because I believe the Lord is in control and will guide this conflict to the end He wishes. There have been many conflicts like this for Israel ever since it became a nation in 1948. They have had to "fight for their life and right to exist many times so far. AND I am praying for all involved. America did the same thing over 250 years ago.
Jema, I think that there are Christians all over the world watching and praying what is happening to Israel today. It is a BIG thing. So don't think that you are alone in your concern. Have a blessed day.
I just found out yesterday that I am officially a grandparent as my son and daughter in law went to the doctor yesterday and came home with an ultrasound of their 10 week old baby in utero. The doctor wanted to check on the baby since she had such a rough time with covid this last month. Baby is o.k.! They were waiting for this appointment to give the news since she had symptoms of possibly miscarrying this last month. I kind of thought she might be pregnant from being nauseated since even before she got covid. We are very happy. This is our first grandbaby. So prayers are welcome for Vivian and baby.
Thank you so much for your reply , I appreciate it . I'm surprised more if us are not commenting on recent events , maybe it's because we are scared we might get it wrong ? I hope that isn't the case :) if I only ever posted when I believed I was 100 per cent right I wouldn't post very often :) . I think Israel will go too far in its retaliation against the Palestinians and this will turn Israel's allies away from it . Israel needs to remember what God says : vengeance is mine , I will repay . Israel is over confident because it is relying on its allies USA , UK etc . Only God can save Israel . Israel will be left isolated because Putin will throw his hand in with Iran and the other muslim countries and this will deter USA etc from getting involved . This has been brewing for years , Putin has been testing the world's response to his aggression , he has poisoned people with chemicals in their own countries , assassinated his enemies in exile , I believe he was responsible for covid and he's invaded Ukraine . What has anyone done about any of these things ? Nothing . He's been testing our response and he's very confident that no one will oppose him . My guess is that he's correct . God will save Israel . What are everyone else's thoughts please ? Thanks again Giannis :) .
It is going on midnight here but I wanted to take a break from my personal studies to check this forum and respond to you. I do hope that you can add posts to this study on Who God Is. I hope others will also add what they are led to contribute. God is the best subject to study, I believe. To study how He has revealed Himself to be is worthwhile. it grounds us in the truth of Who He is so that we worship Him more truly.
AS for my daughter in law. She had IV fluids at Urgent care and at ER, but has not been hospitalized. She came home each time. She is not keeping any fluids/foods down and is just not bouncing back from this covid infection. My son got it after she did and he is ready to return to work on Monday So, she has had a rough week and then some days. Thanks for your prayers for her.
As to criticism, sometimes I will respond with a post and other times I do not. People are free to criticize what any of us post on here. But we are not always led to post a reply. I wish each person well, though, always.
I'm hoping to return to my study in Deuteronomy and have been doing some research on it as a book. Hope to pick up on chapter 2 soon.
Please pray for my daughter in law Vivian. She is back at Urgent care again because she cannot keep and liquids/foods down. She will receive IV fluids again. Covid is hard on her. This is her third visit to get urgent care since last Wednesday. Thank you.
Yes, Jema, Galatians 3:28 says we are all one in Christ without rank, but equal and equally blessed with the workings of the Holy Spirit.
I am certainly aware that what women, you and myself included, say in fellowship with others may not be accepted by some men due to the verse discussed in Giannis' post, (but he is not one of them) but each man or woman is to be obedient to the promptings and instructions of the Holy Spirit as to what to say to and what to receive from other believers regardless of their gender. You and I are responsible for what we say and do not need to own what others are willing to receive. If their convictions towards receiving biblical insights from women don't allow them to do so, then I believe God will bring the same insights to them from a man in the future according to His will. So I don't fret over this.
I am thankful for this forum and blessed by those who participate. Being pretty much a homebody since Covid and retirement, I don't get a chance each day to share insights with others outside my family often, so this forum allows for us to use our minds that God has blessed us with that are being transformed by the Spirit to be as the mind of Christ.
The Mark of the Beast is about who you will worship, Jesus (our Saviour and Creator of all things) or Satan (the Beast power). It has to do with what you think and your actions.
It cannot have anything to do with the covid shot. Even the childhood vaccines have aborted DNA debris in them and this too adds someone's DNA into your body and your stem cells readily take the DNA into them.
Six (6) years after my first comment on Gen Ch. 41 we are now only 4 months away from the New Year (2024).
From the numbers in Gen Ch. 41 we eventually get to 3:3:3 (please see my comment 6 years ago (2017).
We could also place more significance on this by recalling that the COVID Global Pandemic started ringing alarm bells in the third month of the third decade of the third millennium (March 2020).
But could the third number 3 not just be referring to the month but possibly the year that we're in right now, that is 2023?
As I said there's only 4 months of 2023 left now. With the invasion of Ukraine entering some sort of stalemate we won't have long to wait to see if 'the crisis' morphs into the final nuclear solution. So much has been said about global warming and the reduction of emissions by the year 2050, but if 'the crisis' does reemerge before the end of 2023, we won't have to worry about how hot it'll be in 2050, will we?
Getting a foot in the door is often the most difficult initial obstacle for such ministries. Usually a place wants to know what church you represent. Sometimes I have found (as with someone in Pittsburgh who started something in 1999) that going into a facility and just asking if there is a need for a study pays off; that is how I am getting a second one started near Philly in August. Previously before I moved here there was a small group in a home church and study that would regularly visit a Rehab facility; the same one I mentioned as being started in 1999. The Lord has seen fit for it to be reestablished once the COVID restrictions ended by one of the brothers who had been in that group previously.
People on the street often enjoy regular conversations; this is accentuated in Nursing Home facilities. Having the boldness to challenge the faith and to confront (lovingly) facts such as mortality need to be addressed. Mercy; service and teaching spiritual gifts are good as a group as well.
It has been hard for me to find consistant attendance from the church members I had in Pittsburgh. Here in Philly a lady from church got me in the door after I inquired about the need; and she has time to sit in on the study and gather people together. The activities director is also saved and apparently recently ministered to a dying man at night. I have found that rather substandard places tend to have better opportunities as there is a less controlling mindset. Usually you have a Jewish service as well as Catholic "rosary" activities. I recently established a second study just doing a walk in and asking in a new facility with the Social Director. Apparently they have a "psychic" hour there and I avoided having my study at the same time so I wouldn't have a spiritual war in the facility at least the first week.
Prayer is key to deal with out of control people; as well as for request for the residents.
These things concern me greatly, too. Back in the 60's and 70's the issue regarding sexual freedom was centered on sex outside of marriage and living together without being married. Birth control was the means by which people could freely indulge their sexual freedom without consequences and abortion was the back up plan. Their strategy worked so well that now it seems that most couples live together before marriage. society became desensitized to this sinful lifestyle and it became "acceptable".
Then in the 80's and 90's it was homosexuality that was being touted as the next barrier to eliminate in our communal sense of morality. The desensitization began full throttle with so many celebrities "coming out of the closet". Once society became so desensitized to this lifestyle, same sex marriage was next on the docket and then the right of homosexuals to adopt children.
Next, came the LGBTQ+ push in the last 20 years to include whatever sexual deviant lifestyle one chooses to pursue. Now in the 20's transexualism and gender fluidity is being pushed strongly. Bruce Jenner's decision was publicized with full embrace.
The most hideous aspect of all this perversion is the targeting of children these lifestyles cannot produce. The agenda is to groom and recruit more and more young people so that their % of the population increases giving their lifestyle more power and political clout. Parents need to wake up right now to what is going on in schools.
Having recently retired from public school teaching, I saw what was being proposed by the state dept. of of education and how it was being implemented in locale schools by first indoctrinating teachers and not allowing teachers to object without repercussions. I am glad I was able retire before all this social justice, equity, and social learning was required to be taught. I would have resigned anyway after speaking my objections, but covid brought about my retirement.
Dear Halerandj, I will be happy to pray for your brother today.
Although covid lung is really bad, as your brother's treatment indicates. But the good that came from the procedure was to detect this cancer. So, we can know better how to pray for him. I am sorry that cancer has been found in his lungs and lymph nodes. But I will keep him in my prayers along with my friend who just had a bone marrow transplant for leukemia and others from this site who have cancer of some sort. What is your brother's name?
I just want to praise the Lord. My son who lives with us tested positive for covid last week and now he is cleared to return to work. He did not have much in the way of symptoms. But I want to thank the Lord that neither my husband nor I contracted covid from him. I just got over a month-long respiratory infection, so my system is a bit weak. But God preserved me from another infection. Hallelujah!
Hi Richard, In my research on the Covid shot, in the development of the vaccine, reproduced fetal cells from a baby back in the 70's were used. This also has been done with other medicines commonly used. The reproduced cells are not the original ones taken from the baby. The vaccine themselves do not contain any fetal cells, from what I read.
But even if they did contain these cells reproduced from this baby, does it make it any more immoral to use such cells that were obtained from a sinful death of this baby than to use an organ or tissue donated from someone who was shot to death, stabbed to death, or any other sinful way of bringing death to the one whose body elements are being donated? I don't think so. None of us caused that baby to be put to death, as none of us caused the sinful deaths of many donors. For me, I do not have a moral dilemma about benefitting from receiving body elements from those who have died not matter how they died as long as I am in no way responsible or condoning sinful taking of life. The death has occurred in the past and any benefit received to those not associated with the death are unrelated to the sin that caused the death.
Others may differ on this. And I would never condone the killing of any person to harvest cells, organs, tissue, etc. as I see that as immoral.
Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up before you Bob's son. In the name of Jesus we ask that you will bring healing to this son form covid and the flu and that his symptoms will be mild and not worsen over time. Bring him comfort and relief from these symptoms, good rest and all that only you can provide to bring him to health once again. Amen.
Hi Lena, went to doctor to be tested for influenza and covid. All negative, so that is a relief. Still a respiratory infection but a better scenario than to have the any of these flus.
Thanks for your praying heart. I know that God is healing me already. But he brought this situation upon me so that I would humbly seek the prayers of others. How blessed I am for all who pray for me. May God bless those who pray for others as well as answer our prayers ever according to His perfect will.
Heavenly Father I thank you for your son Jesus more then anything in life. Without His courage, strength & death we would not know what to do. Lord I ask that you be with GiGi, as you know, she is fighting a respiratory virus w/a cough, being tired & wheezing. Give her the strength to fight this Lord as she ask for a quick recovery w/out asthmatic problems or painful breathing. Oh, and thank you for keeping covid away from her. In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen....Love, Hugs & Prayers your way
I did my own opinion piece on the subject the other day.
Without mentioning any particular charlatans by name (I'll let you use your imagination) anyone preaching a false doctrine or clearly in the ministry for "filthy lucre" ( 1 Peter 5:2) are not to be funded. So to begin this discussion we need to have a clear definition of what a true church is.
Assuming the church has the core doctrines and as we can best tell they are making a genuine attempt to proclaim the true Gospel message; the next thought is exactly what is the reasoning and methodology for asking for funding? I am certainly not going to say that every fund raising option other than directly fulfilling the Great Commission or taking care of immediate needs with a church building or hopefully the widows and others struggling in the church is wrong; but I certainly wouldn't feel obligated to put more than "chump change" into it (unless I suddenly came into a fortune). As I stated in my post the other day we should seek a clear financial statement from a church. One example I can give is that my current church had an issue with someone whose mental acuity after having COVID apparently was compromised and major errors occurred. Thankfully the man is still welcome to attend our church but others had to be called in to oversee the accounting (and also there are multiple checkers of figures involved as well). Transparency needs to be there; if anything to relegate cost effective means to get work done which may be better suggested by those for instance talented in building repair as contractors; etc.
As to methodology; I think anything which brings worldly vices for financial gain such as raffles; bingo etc should be ruled out.
As for rummage sales; I suppose that is ok; what I am more concerned about is if money from that is going to a ministry that is Godly; or to some politically correct activity that I can't support.
Even good TV preachers won't starve soon; they are last on my list.
There are currently wars and rumors of wars. Ukraine+UN/Russia is the biggest currently.
Nation rising against nation. UN stands for United Nations and UN is against Russia and probably China and Iran who seem to be natural partners. The US is pushing WW3 hard with blowing up Russia's pipeline, funding nefarious labs in Ukraine, overthrowing their government, putting carriers close to strike, putting assets in south china sea. They are doing everything that a country would do if they wanted to start a world war. They are not moral peacekeepers by any means, that was an idea of the past. It's based on greed, lust for power and evil. Immoral lost people are in charge. Look at the Biden admin staff- the health director is an overweight transvestite. They are committing federal crimes in public such as treason and interfering in presidential elections by changing voter laws and human trafficking on a huge scale to bribe and import voting power. They took over all the DAs so they don't prosecute themselves and the supreme court are cowardly and are not challenging any of their open criminal activity.
I think the wars and chaos will cause famine. We saw how the covid scare created shortages and panic. Many in the US were artificially created such as locking down ships from docking from Long Beach harbor, and employee shortages. Prices are skyrocketing and there are now probably more homeless than ever in the US. Artificially forced minimum wage at high levels means more laid off workers and automation, but may lead to shortages and closures. There's currently minor pestilences from crickets, cicadas, and regional bug issues. Not aware of any mass earthquakes yet, but I agree that these are to come. I think it will be obvious when its happening. But as we saw with covid, fear causes people to act like irrational wild animals and cause us much harm.
1. Biblical numbers have meaning. So the number 7 is "good" and represent completion. 6 is less than 7, so it represents imperfection. The 6 is tripled "666" so the mark of the beast is gross imperfection. Basically, it symbolizes an organization ( maybe an entity) that represents man's fall from God's glory.
2. The beats is in opposition to God and Jesus. Those that support organizations, thoughts, and ideas that oppose God and his word would have the "mark" of the beast. ( Revelation 19:19-21) So what I understood, is that the mark is not a literal mark, but a symbolic mark. Afterall, I don't believe I have ever seen anyone with a divine "666" mark placed on them.
Good Question. I hope I added something to the discussion.
I look forward to read your answers because I truly want to know what you believe on this topic and understand your point of view better. I will be better able to respond back to you without assuming that you believe in ways you do not.
If there are any questions you wish to ask me, I would be glad to give you answers to those this week, too. Take care. I am on the mend and am thankful that covid did not do me in, having avoided it for 4 years. It seems that the present strains are not as dangerous for at risk people as at the beginning of the outbreak. Thanking God for that!
Please pray for my nephew. He has been in psyche ward twice in the past two months. He has attempted suicide 5-6 times in the last two months. He does not want to go back home to live with his dad (my brother) or his mom (both contributed to his traumatic childhood by serious neglect, manipulation, and denial of his medical needs and mental health issues. They are catalysts for this dangerous place he is 'in' right now. He wants to move to Texas to live with his sister. He has several sisters there. I hope that will work out and we will help him move there if he needs assistance. It is best for him to not be around my family because so many things can trigger him. He asked my other brother if he could stay with him for a few weeks until he can move to Texas. But neither my brother, nor I really know him very well. I pray that he can go straight from the hospital to his sisters home to live. His sisters know him and experienced the same neglect and denial of medical needs as he did to their detriment. His sisters were also sexually abused by my brother, their father and step-father, which led to him being put out of the family when my nephew was 18 months old. He has been living with his dad (my brother) since he was 18 years old. But my brother is a spiritual abuser and manipulator to him. So, such a sad and bad situation. I think his sisters can give him the best support.
thank you for asking.
I am improving from covid. I got a secondary sinus infection that was worse than the covid. My face was aching all over really badly. Went into the dr. got antibiotics, prednisone and Visteral. Improvement in a day! no more face pain!.
My daughter in law had an IV iron infusion on Friday because her iron levels were so very low. Glad they gave her this therapy. May need to be repeated before the baby comes in May. Otherwise, she is feeling good and baby is growing well.
Our home repairs are coming along slowly right now. Waiting for some materials to finally be delivered. We need to order cabinetry this week. Electricians coming this week to install electrical panel. One bedroom downstairs should be completely done Monday or Tuesday so our son can move back in there so we can move our master bedroom stuff into the room he has been in. Then the contractor can complete the repair on our master bath, remove the popcorn ceilings in there and lay the flooring before they start on the other bath upstairs, complete that, remove the popcorn ceiling in the hall and stairs and lay the flooring to the doorways to the other two bedrooms upstairs. Then we move back into our master and they finish the ceiling and flooring in that room. Then Kevin and Viv move into that room, and the contractor finishes the other bedroom ceiling and flooring and then flooring down the stairs. When that is all done the upstairs will be finished. So a big process. We will be painting walls in between moves from room to room. But it goes pretty fast.
When the upstairs is done, then the popcorn ceiling downstairs will be removed, and begin demo of the kitchen and removal of walls and the drop down ceiling in there. Then the electrician will come and install can lighting, outlets, etc, before the walls get prepped for painting and installation of the cabinets, appliances, etc. There will just be two more rooms to finish after the kitchen. Whew!
Thank you for taking time to help me understand Isaiah 53:5.
Healing puts back in place something that is out of order. Healing fixes things. Jesus' purpose in the land of the living was to make us whole.
It seems that Jesus reassured people that came to him for healing that their sins would not hinder their healing if they believed. Isaiah 53:5 is referring to both body and soul. In one scripture , the devils knew the prophesy of Isaiah concerning him. Jesus not only heals the "sin-sick soul, (transgression, iniquities) but the mind, BODY and soul. (COVID, Cancer, AIDS, Heart
Trouble, High blood pressure, diabetes) I noticed that in many conversation with the sick, Jesus mentions "sin." He was connecting sickness and sin.
St. James also mentioned Elders of the Church in relations to prayers for healing "sickness. and "sin."
The words " the chastisement of our peace, (our anxieties)
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." "Jesus stripes" are talking about healing every part of us that need fixing.
A good example is likening God to a tap of water. We drink as much as we wish. We turn the tap as much as we want, The tap is there, the water is there, but we drink as much as we turn that tap. The more we turn it the more we drink. It is up to us. God is always there. As simple as that.
About the kids brother, the problem with kids nowadays is not only a matter of overprotectiveness and lack of punishment. I think it is mainly of what people teach to their children. On top of that nowadays kids get their standards in life, not from the family, or the church and the Word of God, but mostly from the internet. Often from the rich and famous, the celebrities, who usually are drug or alcohol addicts, violent (don't you see how the gangsters are heroized on TV?) with broken families where fornication and adultery are the usual thing. Sex and violence is what the Kkids eat nowadays. As there is no censorship on the net, kids see and learn all sort of weird things there and then spread them to others.
And as there are no borders nowadays the sin is propagating from one country to another very easily. Sin is like a virus, a spiritual covid, that goes from a place to another easily if there is nothing to stop it. And nowadays there is nothing to stop it. It is written that the people of the end times will be the worst of all times. And we see that in our countries, don't we?
Wel,l maybe I say the same thing as you do but with different words. GBU
Just a quick update. My husband Steve, tested positive for covid this morning. He began Paxlovid just as I did. I expect he will have similar results as I have had. I am nearly recovered now, with just a slight cough. I guess the CDC changed the isolation rules for covid March 1 and as long as one is improving and without a fever, one no longer needs to isolate but care should be taken when around vulnerable people.
So, I think I am good to go now. Great!
I just got back from Urgent Care and I have covid. I have not had it before so I do not know how my body will do. God Paxlovid to take this week and have prednisone to take when Paxlovid is done.
Please pray for my health to hold strong and that I have a quick recovery. I am feverish, coughing, have a headache and my chest is tight.
Pray that no one else in our home gets this, especially Vivian who is 6 months pregnant.
In light of the Great Commission at the end of Matthew 28; it is easy (at least for myself) to ignore the implications of us as a BODY in Christ doing the work of laboring. Again; I have stated in earlier posts that since I moved back home with my folks I am not surrounded by those who regularly go on the streets. As for now I am considering returning to the Nursing Homes in my area but apparently with COVID rampant that will have to wait at least a month or so.
My past experience sharing the Gospel with others has often provided good opportunities for discussion among the believers I am out with as well as other believers encountered on the streets and elsewhere. Of course we also have opportunity as Proverbs 27:17 states to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron. Prayer is an investment to see growth in a local church; and I am seeing signs people are making more effort in my local congregation with seeing more teenagers and kids activities available. I have noticed in my home state (let's just say in the Northeast) at least there seems to be few youth groups for teenagers as there used to be 30 or 40 years ago and I would assume this is a larger issue; but was informed down south (specifically Texas) things were different.
In reality we can do janitorial work and be using a gift of service; or with a skill we have help someone with home repairs or moving (as I did quite often a few years back before I moved back here). In fact at my first church where they had youth group in large numbers I remember a service project day when we were randomly asked to do something for a few hours for someone else (I think someone helped wash my car).
In general we should seek the Lord to see what He would want us to do; and of course Pastors and elders should assist in these plans (for example all night prayer; fasting and the like). One big question is are we READY to see God answer such prayers should attendance increase?
Since the COVID restrictions and the exodus of a significant percent of those professed believers from the overall corporate body of Christ in churches there has been a continued isolation from physical presence in the houses of worship. This made it easy to find an excuse to do what clearly was desired all along by many in that regard.
I have been privileged to personally meet a number of missionaries in recent years; and supported one from Bangladesh that since has gone stateside. Seeing the interaction with their wives and children has been an inspiration to me along with sound doctrine being proclaimed. We should seek to involve congregations; as in a former church I attended where there was a "missions moment" discussing a certain country where a missionary was active. Unfortunately; most churches only have an occasional presentation on this subject; yet today more than ever would be a great time for the average layperson to have communications online to support these individuals. Realizing their prayers for us (as they did when I was involved in a church plant that started seven years ago) should help us to feel closer to those formerly on the field.
Something came up recently in regard to a couple churches that are renting the building that our church worships in. I have seen issues elsewhere in regard to that situation as well. Currently there are maintenance annoyances (leaving messes; etc) but I am praying that there can be some interaction such as prayer and fellowship between these congregations at our church. This surely is a commonplace occurrence these days. When I lived in Pittsburgh I saw more interaction with various churches and charities than I see where I live today. Certain cautions need to be taken as to the doctrines being preached elsewhere; however. Missionaries have brought up to me more than once that the same errors found here occur on the mission field.
I, and most likely, many of us, are watching Putin, Iran, etc. so we did not dismiss what you said. I, speaking only for myself, am in a "wait and see how this pans out" mode because I believe the Lord is in control and will guide this conflict to the end He wishes. There have been many conflicts like this for Israel ever since it became a nation in 1948. They have had to "fight for their life and right to exist many times so far. AND I am praying for all involved. America did the same thing over 250 years ago.
Jema, I think that there are Christians all over the world watching and praying what is happening to Israel today. It is a BIG thing. So don't think that you are alone in your concern. Have a blessed day.
I just found out yesterday that I am officially a grandparent as my son and daughter in law went to the doctor yesterday and came home with an ultrasound of their 10 week old baby in utero. The doctor wanted to check on the baby since she had such a rough time with covid this last month. Baby is o.k.! They were waiting for this appointment to give the news since she had symptoms of possibly miscarrying this last month. I kind of thought she might be pregnant from being nauseated since even before she got covid. We are very happy. This is our first grandbaby. So prayers are welcome for Vivian and baby.
It is going on midnight here but I wanted to take a break from my personal studies to check this forum and respond to you. I do hope that you can add posts to this study on Who God Is. I hope others will also add what they are led to contribute. God is the best subject to study, I believe. To study how He has revealed Himself to be is worthwhile. it grounds us in the truth of Who He is so that we worship Him more truly.
AS for my daughter in law. She had IV fluids at Urgent care and at ER, but has not been hospitalized. She came home each time. She is not keeping any fluids/foods down and is just not bouncing back from this covid infection. My son got it after she did and he is ready to return to work on Monday So, she has had a rough week and then some days. Thanks for your prayers for her.
As to criticism, sometimes I will respond with a post and other times I do not. People are free to criticize what any of us post on here. But we are not always led to post a reply. I wish each person well, though, always.
I'm hoping to return to my study in Deuteronomy and have been doing some research on it as a book. Hope to pick up on chapter 2 soon.
I pray that your job is going well for you.
Yes, Jema, Galatians 3:28 says we are all one in Christ without rank, but equal and equally blessed with the workings of the Holy Spirit.
I am certainly aware that what women, you and myself included, say in fellowship with others may not be accepted by some men due to the verse discussed in Giannis' post, (but he is not one of them) but each man or woman is to be obedient to the promptings and instructions of the Holy Spirit as to what to say to and what to receive from other believers regardless of their gender. You and I are responsible for what we say and do not need to own what others are willing to receive. If their convictions towards receiving biblical insights from women don't allow them to do so, then I believe God will bring the same insights to them from a man in the future according to His will. So I don't fret over this.
I am thankful for this forum and blessed by those who participate. Being pretty much a homebody since Covid and retirement, I don't get a chance each day to share insights with others outside my family often, so this forum allows for us to use our minds that God has blessed us with that are being transformed by the Spirit to be as the mind of Christ.
Thank you for the kind reply
It cannot have anything to do with the covid shot. Even the childhood vaccines have aborted DNA debris in them and this too adds someone's DNA into your body and your stem cells readily take the DNA into them.
Six (6) years after my first comment on Gen Ch. 41 we are now only 4 months away from the New Year (2024).
From the numbers in Gen Ch. 41 we eventually get to 3:3:3 (please see my comment 6 years ago (2017).
We could also place more significance on this by recalling that the COVID Global Pandemic started ringing alarm bells in the third month of the third decade of the third millennium (March 2020).
But could the third number 3 not just be referring to the month but possibly the year that we're in right now, that is 2023?
As I said there's only 4 months of 2023 left now. With the invasion of Ukraine entering some sort of stalemate we won't have long to wait to see if 'the crisis' morphs into the final nuclear solution. So much has been said about global warming and the reduction of emissions by the year 2050, but if 'the crisis' does reemerge before the end of 2023, we won't have to worry about how hot it'll be in 2050, will we?
Getting a foot in the door is often the most difficult initial obstacle for such ministries. Usually a place wants to know what church you represent. Sometimes I have found (as with someone in Pittsburgh who started something in 1999) that going into a facility and just asking if there is a need for a study pays off; that is how I am getting a second one started near Philly in August. Previously before I moved here there was a small group in a home church and study that would regularly visit a Rehab facility; the same one I mentioned as being started in 1999. The Lord has seen fit for it to be reestablished once the COVID restrictions ended by one of the brothers who had been in that group previously.
People on the street often enjoy regular conversations; this is accentuated in Nursing Home facilities. Having the boldness to challenge the faith and to confront (lovingly) facts such as mortality need to be addressed. Mercy; service and teaching spiritual gifts are good as a group as well.
It has been hard for me to find consistant attendance from the church members I had in Pittsburgh. Here in Philly a lady from church got me in the door after I inquired about the need; and she has time to sit in on the study and gather people together. The activities director is also saved and apparently recently ministered to a dying man at night. I have found that rather substandard places tend to have better opportunities as there is a less controlling mindset. Usually you have a Jewish service as well as Catholic "rosary" activities. I recently established a second study just doing a walk in and asking in a new facility with the Social Director. Apparently they have a "psychic" hour there and I avoided having my study at the same time so I wouldn't have a spiritual war in the facility at least the first week.
Prayer is key to deal with out of control people; as well as for request for the residents.
Remember: the disciples questioned two things with JESUS: Matt. 24:3
1 - what shall be the SIGN of thy coming?
2 - and of the END of the world?
We cannot forget the prophetic message, and the warnings of our Lord JESUS, about the two above signs, as follow: Matt.24:4-8
1- Pre-tribulation Period - Beginning of sorrows
(My view: We are already living/ we already entered in this period. I'm awaked.
JESUS listed seven terrible events as the beginning of sorrows, and they are the signs of the END of the world, and JESUS's coming:What signs?
1- Appearance and manifestation of false Christs/false messiah ( John 5:43-47 combined with Revelation 13:11-a false lamb);
2- Wars and rumours of war ; (fulfilling LITERALLY);
3- nation shall rise against nation ; (in process / processing)
4- and kingdom against kingdom; (Kingdom of GOD X Kingdom of Devil - Rev.11:15 and 12:7-12- Take a look.) ;
5- famines ; (in process / it's processing)
6- pestilences ; (more recent - Coronavirus-COVID 19. Global cases
Updated Jul 18. confirmed 767,972,197 - deaths 6,950,642)
and
7- earthquakes in divers places. (more recent - Turkey)
JESUS said: 8-all these are the beginning of sorrows.
There will not be any gap between the period of sorrows(Pre-Tribulation)and the beginning of Tribulation, this will be sequential:
2 -THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
JESUS said: Matt.24:9-16
9 Then shall they(they whom?)deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise(false preachers of GOD's Word (sects, false movements gospel, dead churches-Rev.3:1,etc.)and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound(consequence of the apostate environment),the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall ENDURE unto the END,the same shall be saved
But the worst comes
From the comment I would say the poker poke is the covid shot.
God bless you
These things concern me greatly, too. Back in the 60's and 70's the issue regarding sexual freedom was centered on sex outside of marriage and living together without being married. Birth control was the means by which people could freely indulge their sexual freedom without consequences and abortion was the back up plan. Their strategy worked so well that now it seems that most couples live together before marriage. society became desensitized to this sinful lifestyle and it became "acceptable".
Then in the 80's and 90's it was homosexuality that was being touted as the next barrier to eliminate in our communal sense of morality. The desensitization began full throttle with so many celebrities "coming out of the closet". Once society became so desensitized to this lifestyle, same sex marriage was next on the docket and then the right of homosexuals to adopt children.
Next, came the LGBTQ+ push in the last 20 years to include whatever sexual deviant lifestyle one chooses to pursue. Now in the 20's transexualism and gender fluidity is being pushed strongly. Bruce Jenner's decision was publicized with full embrace.
The most hideous aspect of all this perversion is the targeting of children these lifestyles cannot produce. The agenda is to groom and recruit more and more young people so that their % of the population increases giving their lifestyle more power and political clout. Parents need to wake up right now to what is going on in schools.
Having recently retired from public school teaching, I saw what was being proposed by the state dept. of of education and how it was being implemented in locale schools by first indoctrinating teachers and not allowing teachers to object without repercussions. I am glad I was able retire before all this social justice, equity, and social learning was required to be taught. I would have resigned anyway after speaking my objections, but covid brought about my retirement.
So sad what is happening.
Although covid lung is really bad, as your brother's treatment indicates. But the good that came from the procedure was to detect this cancer. So, we can know better how to pray for him. I am sorry that cancer has been found in his lungs and lymph nodes. But I will keep him in my prayers along with my friend who just had a bone marrow transplant for leukemia and others from this site who have cancer of some sort. What is your brother's name?
But even if they did contain these cells reproduced from this baby, does it make it any more immoral to use such cells that were obtained from a sinful death of this baby than to use an organ or tissue donated from someone who was shot to death, stabbed to death, or any other sinful way of bringing death to the one whose body elements are being donated? I don't think so. None of us caused that baby to be put to death, as none of us caused the sinful deaths of many donors. For me, I do not have a moral dilemma about benefitting from receiving body elements from those who have died not matter how they died as long as I am in no way responsible or condoning sinful taking of life. The death has occurred in the past and any benefit received to those not associated with the death are unrelated to the sin that caused the death.
Others may differ on this. And I would never condone the killing of any person to harvest cells, organs, tissue, etc. as I see that as immoral.
Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up before you Bob's son. In the name of Jesus we ask that you will bring healing to this son form covid and the flu and that his symptoms will be mild and not worsen over time. Bring him comfort and relief from these symptoms, good rest and all that only you can provide to bring him to health once again. Amen.
Thanks for your praying heart. I know that God is healing me already. But he brought this situation upon me so that I would humbly seek the prayers of others. How blessed I am for all who pray for me. May God bless those who pray for others as well as answer our prayers ever according to His perfect will.
Without mentioning any particular charlatans by name (I'll let you use your imagination) anyone preaching a false doctrine or clearly in the ministry for "filthy lucre" ( 1 Peter 5:2) are not to be funded. So to begin this discussion we need to have a clear definition of what a true church is.
Assuming the church has the core doctrines and as we can best tell they are making a genuine attempt to proclaim the true Gospel message; the next thought is exactly what is the reasoning and methodology for asking for funding? I am certainly not going to say that every fund raising option other than directly fulfilling the Great Commission or taking care of immediate needs with a church building or hopefully the widows and others struggling in the church is wrong; but I certainly wouldn't feel obligated to put more than "chump change" into it (unless I suddenly came into a fortune). As I stated in my post the other day we should seek a clear financial statement from a church. One example I can give is that my current church had an issue with someone whose mental acuity after having COVID apparently was compromised and major errors occurred. Thankfully the man is still welcome to attend our church but others had to be called in to oversee the accounting (and also there are multiple checkers of figures involved as well). Transparency needs to be there; if anything to relegate cost effective means to get work done which may be better suggested by those for instance talented in building repair as contractors; etc.
As to methodology; I think anything which brings worldly vices for financial gain such as raffles; bingo etc should be ruled out.
As for rummage sales; I suppose that is ok; what I am more concerned about is if money from that is going to a ministry that is Godly; or to some politically correct activity that I can't support.
Even good TV preachers won't starve soon; they are last on my list.
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