The fact that this journalist is comparing the event in the Bible to pornographic content placed in elementary and middle school books is egregious. A journalist is to know the source and content correctly in context. The Bible does not teach how to perform pornographic acts. Sloppy journalism ticks me off and proves what people already know–that the mainstream media and its journalists are liars. Parents spoke out against this content being available to their children in the school library without parental consent. The school boards that approved this material refused these books to be read out loud in a public meeting.
The movie industry rates it as X, adult only, so why is the media acting as if this is censorship? When children are not ready to handle adult problems, they turn to drugs, alcohol, or suicide. Adults cannot handle pornography, so why put it in the hands of children?
Romans 8:1-3
Tamar was raped by her half-brother Amnon. She fled to her brother Absalom's house in torn robes. David was angry but did nothing because Amnon was his heir apparent. This story is in the Bible not to condone acts of violence but to show man's depravity and the consequences of sin, of listening to evil friends that say you have the right to do whatever you want. Amnon was murder two years later for his actions and did not become king of Israel.
Look at God holistically. Rightly divided, the word of truth is as sharp as a two-edged sword.
November 29: Trade Can we trade our despair, anxiety, and disappointment for rest and peace? Impossible, you may say, but not so. God made the impossible into I'm possible through Christ Jesus. Paul had to learn the art of contentment. I call it art because every art project begins messy and is a work in progress. Rest and patience come from knowing the God who has it figured out and knows how He will accomplish what he promised he would do. Paul's contentment came from knowing God and recognizing his limitations. His strength, understanding, compassion, and grace are infinite. In our measure world, He is immeasurable.
November 22 Fighting through loss, seeing with clarity is part of the mystery of chosen-ness. Proverbs 27:17 -As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. It is difficult to let God heal our wounds, to let God sharpen us for the battles of this world, to cry, and to let him catch every tear. Proverbs 56:8-You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Knowing God bottles your every tear means your hurt is not lost.
Love hurts but with hope, love heals. Hope lies beyond our regrets and loss. Hope restores the heart and clears the way for renewed dreams. Hope rests on the foundational truth of Jesus Christ. When we've lost our way, hope shines a light. It dispels the darkness of despair. The heart responds. Hope carries the vital healing power of frankincense and myrrh. Its soothing components restore our faith and love. Hope heals!
November 15: Void-a feeling of want or hollowness.
Can grace fill the void when current circumstances leave us feeling empty?
It is not the things or objects but the memories tied to a moment in time that fleshes out echoes of the past with family and friends. Raise a child correctly; when they are old, they will find the truth again. It is a beautiful promise that I have not yet seen. Hindsight can dredge up loss, and old hurts with family and friends.
Imagine God holding a ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand and the end in the other. He surveys all time simultaneously. This time-ribbon has its beginning, its seasons, and its end. We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time to know Him. We have "the wondrous works of him who is in perfect knowledge" (Job 37:16) and sees all. Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, free from not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even if we cannot see.
Let grace fill our void when circumstances leave us feeling empty. God has chosen us for this time.
The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He makes everything beautiful in its time. Every sorry or harm we suffer will be redeemed by God.Eccles 3:11
Long version: Time is always moving forward to its finality. As a fixed entity (having a beginning and an end), time has a purpose which is unchangeable and set for a season of salvation to measure man's free will. Hebrews 6:11. Omnipresent. Page 94- There is no place, no time where God is not. He is immeasurable by our standards and our limited knowledge. But that does not mean he is unknowable.
We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time for the purpose of knowing Him. God has ordained my days perfectly. Herein lies the paradox of my human limits and God’s sovereignty to bring about eternal results in my life and the life of others. Page 15- We cannot measure God’s thoughts or His ways. Knowing the Lord brings about an awe-inspiring fear and amazement that it draws us closer to God. When we experience this type of awe, we become less individualist, less self-focused, and less materialistic. Sovereignty Page 145. We only have a glimpse of Him. He is knowable.
"Because we are created in God’s image, we possess both the right to life and the responsibility to protect it. No other human has the right to take life from us, because God is the origin and the giver of life.” [None like Him by Jen Wilkins, p. 47.] We are guardians of life giving to us by God. Page 43-45- God is self-existent and creative down to the last straw. I see His creativity in his wondrous works all around me (Job 37:16). We have it in us to reflect His creativity. Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even what we cannot see or understand. His plan is incomprehensible, yet I am included in it. Psalm 145:3 Page 31
God has chosen us for this time. Only God is Self-Sufficient so we can rely on Him. He is immeasurable, immutable and is therefore a rock that I can stand on. He is not bound by my limited understanding; I can trust His immanence. The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He is eternal. Page 72.
Application: Can grace fill the void when current circumstances leave us feeling empty?
It is not the things or objects, but the memories tied to a moment in time that fleshes out echoes of the past with family and friends. Raise a child correctly; when they are old, they will find the truth again. It is a beautiful promise that I have not yet seen. Hindsight can dredge up loss, and old hurts with family and friends.
Imagine God holding a ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand and the end in the other. He surveys time simultaneously. This time ribbon has its beginning, its seasons, and its end. We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time to know Him. We have "the wondrous works of him who is in perfect knowledge" (Job 37:16) and sees all. Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, free from not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even if we cannot see. The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He makes everything beautiful in its time. Every sorry or harm we suffer will be redeemed by God. Eccles 3:11 Let grace fill our void when circumstances leave us feeling empty. God has chosen us for this time.
Paraphases or referances are marked by page numbers from None Like Him by Jen Wilkins.
Cain refused to worship God but offered his effort as an offering. God cursed the ground when Adam sinned, but Cain knew the ground was cursed, yet he offered his self-effort instead of accepting grace. Only God saves and offers forgiveness. Our efforts always fall short.
November 8: Look towards Trees whisper in the wind as the gentle river flows downstream before the coming storm—a girls' retreat and back porch sharing. We listen. Leaves whistle one last time in a psithurism wind before letting go. As sienna hues blanket the ground, we count our blessings with each falling leaf.
Even with the coming seasonal changes, we are to enjoy the present. Yet, knowing as the seasons shift, storms will come. Here is where we trust the Lord to bring in the beauty of each moment as we walk through life's changes.
leaf-whistles, needles oscillate in a psithurism wind
Proverbs 10:30 The righteous will never be uprooted 2 Corinthians 6:18 ESV And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
November 1: Unexpected. Being chosen by God through the Holy Spirit is elusive and mysterious. What does it mean to be selected by the Chooser?
Chosenness is a mystery worth pursuing, with a surprising destination. Our pilgrim’s progress is fraught with perils. We hold on to our pain, hurts, and losses, which keep us looking inward and not upward. Yet, we are chosen for a holy, special, and particular purpose. We discover this purpose by building a relationship with the Chooser.
This concept may seem antithetical to a humble heart, but elitists view themselves above everyone else. If they could, they would dictate every aspect of your life. But not so with God the Father. He gave you free will to discover who He is. First, all creation is an expression of Him. His spirit reveals more of Who He Is. And the Father chose to set us free from spiritual bondage to live in the freedom of His promises.
11 responses to “Unexpected- The Mystery of Chosenness”
carolapv
Amen. We are blessed to live in relationship with God.
There is really something
’bout a psithurism wind,
and the blessing it can bring
when you know you’ve sinned.
The restless rustling, trees in leaf,
speak of soft eternity,
and you can hold to the belief
of sternness and of mercy,
for these must always be combined
that forgiveness finds its meaning;
stern alone is brutal-blind,
and lone mercy is dreaming,
but put together like they is,
and the result is a catharsis.
restless rustling, speak of soft eternity, sternness and mercy…lovely description with contrast and alliterations. The Spirit of God does whisper to our souls.
Loved both the short and long version of your post–and Andrew’s sonnet posing the question “There’s a God-shaped hole inside of me, and I think this may sound odd, but could perhaps might there just be a me-shaped hole in God?”
Friendships are the threads woven into the tapestry of one's life.
September20-Matter
Iridescent threads Shimmering in sunlight Woven in my heart. I imagine God showing me a tapestry of my life in heaven. Family and friends who have shaped my life will be like shimmering sunbeams woven throughout. The iridescent lines of friendship will burst forth in a prismatic array of colors, revealing the depths of God's love.
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17
Book by Jennie Allen, Find Your People: Building a Deep Community in a Lonely World.
Page… God has set a time and a place to love people, and others love you in ways that draw you toward Him. Your inner circle is gone due to friends (or you) moving away, busyness, or not maintaining relationships. The ache of loneliness is real. This is a reminder of the importance of maintaining relationships. What steps can be taken to keep these connections? The time to reach out and build is now, beginning with the people in front of you. Find friends you are willing to be transparent with and accountable to, with a shared purpose of serving each other. One person cannot be everything. Find your sage friend, the encourager, the challenger, and the fun one. Be each other's core group by building a community through the network of friendship.
Page 49. "It will take deliberate intention to return to the kinds of relationships that God had in mind for us to enjoy: Proximity, Transparency, Accountability, and Consistency." It will take trust and practice. It will take learning to ask the right questions, learn to listen and learn to listen with the Holy Spirit's ears.
Page 129. "Pride is our insistence that our opinion is Bible truth...our good works...our virtue." Page 135. "Truth in love is the safest place to be." Page 218. Remember, this is a learning process, and we will make mistakes. "A friend says she tries to react to patterns, not one-offs. Everyone messes up unless it is habitually."
Page 165. "Bearing one another's burdens means to get close enough to get up under that burden alongside you." In the movie The Forge, Isaiah is handed a sword to hold, but after a few minutes, it becomes too heavy to carry alone. His arm begins to shake. Then, his brothers step forward and offer their support with two fingers. He can hold it up without shaking.
Page 217. How to build, strengthen and preserve old and new friendships: Ask real questions Listen to everything, the whole message Tell each one what you are grateful for in them Talk about Jesus Do fun stuff together.
September 6- Youth
3 responses to “September FMF Preserve, Build and Renew”
Iron sharpens iron … I just met with my friend who sharpens me. We encourage each other. We are very different, but our desire to trust God more is the same. We don’t get to meet very often, but I write down the things I loved or I was challenged by our meeting and I can go back and review. Yes, I need to focus more on my friends who sharpen me and stay in touch! Thank you! FMF#3
I’ve started a new Bible Study group called Radical Mentoring. We are reading Find Your People by Jennie Allen as a way to understand a biblical prespective of discipleship. We watch the movie, The Forge, together last week.
It is past time for Christians to take up the political mantel and turn back our country. Moral laws in people’s hearts have kept this country and other countries vital and prosperous, providing opportunities to succeed.
The most ‘Hilterist’ people in America are the leftists who are anti-American socialists, void of valuing life and resort to violence when confronted with any opinion not their own. Peaceful protest is a part of our Republic, but not outright lying and hate-mongering. It is past time for Christians to take up the political mantel and turn back our country.
Usually, We lose when we argue with the Truth. Hebrews 4:12
We lose defending ourselves to those who love to gossip. Proverbs 20:19
We lose to those who love to have their ears tickled with empty philosophies. Colossians 2:8
You lose arguing with a narcissist. Proverbs 21:4: “Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].”
You lose when we say an empty prayer inviting Jesus into your heart but have not confessed and repented of your sins and turned from your old self. You must become a new creature in Christ. Repentance is an about-face, not two-face. Revelation 3: 20, Upon confession and repentance, Jesus enters in. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Salvation is on the inside, and baptism is on the outside.
Signs of the time, policies align a shift in the fault line. Is America given another chance? !! Chronicles 7:14
Defeat vs Victory, What does that look like?
Morning stillness Rhythmic movement Zephyr and leaf
My brother passed away on July 28. His funeral was at the Biloxi National Cemetery on August 16. At the end of his funeral, a gentle southern breeze blew during the final prayer. 1 Corinthians 15:55, "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The verse continues, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Scene 3 Marriage of Ruth and Boaz Ruth represents all Gentiles and is a picture of the future church. She left her country to follow Naomi and converted to Judaism. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for all mankind, Jews and Gentiles. Jesus' Jewish disciples were to preach His message of salvation to everyone. The church age began. We are saved by grace and adopted in. At the rapture, the church age ends, and God deals with both Israel and rebellious men.
Scene 2 The Lord is with Abraham. The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly great. I will go down and see if they have done according to their outcry; I will know." The two angels turned and went toward Sodom. God is omniscient and knows the heart of every person there. God was there for the victims of Sodom and Gomorrah. He heard their outcry. The angels turned toward Sodom and Gomorrah to give the people one last chance to repent. And yet- God would save the five cities for the sake of ten righteous. But there were not even ten righteous in Lot's family. Abraham bargained for Lot's family, which is why he stopped at ten. Revelation 6:10 The martyrs cry out, "How long, O Lord, holy and true until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" As Revelation reveals, Sodom and Gomorrah are testaments to God's future judgment of man's sins. When the rapture occurs and the Holy Spirit is removed, men will face God's judgment. Some will be like those in Sodom, some will die in disbelief, and others will still give their lives to stand for Jesus Christ, beginning with the 144,000 thousand from every house of Israel. God hears the victim's outcry and will restore all that is lost. If not here, then in heaven, where he will wipe away their tears. The stories of the old are sometimes pictures or prologues of future events, giving us discernment.
The Scene 1: I Kings 18:20-40 Eliha vs the the prophets of Baal How long will you falter between two opinions? The God of Eternity vs the god of humanity.
One man, Elijah, stood against 450 prophets of Baal. Until the oblation hour, the prophets of Baal called on the god of their imaginations to act. Elijah taunted them. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Elijah called upon the Lord. Through Elijah's prayer, the fire of the Lord fell. Next scene: Jesus is hanging on the cross; it is three o'clock, the oblation hour. Jesus cried, 'It is finished,' and the wrath of God for mankind fell upon Him. Elijah was the prologue of what God was going to do on the cross. Revelation reveals God's judgement.
Revelation 3:15-18, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
How long will we vacillate between the God of Eternity or the god of our own making? We have God's Word and now are in the church age, with Revelation as the epilogue. Note: My pastor's sermon was much better at drawing the comparison.
Tolerate and tolerance do not equate in today's world. God's command to preach the Truth of the Gospel is clear: do not add to or take away God's Word. If you fail to preach about hell and eternal separation from God, then there is no true love, respect, or need for the free gift of salvation. If you preach God is love, and there is no hell, then there is no fear of judgment—who needs God?
God warns us as Christians from our Jewish beginnings through our Christian heritage not to add or take away anything to HIS Word. Scriptures contain the path to salvation-true salvation, the path to understanding God, gave us free will to worship Him-the one who created it all. You can't remove Romans 1 from understanding God's love or Galatians 5:19. It is our path to God- to understanding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- the one God, Father, Son, and Spirit. God says to spread the message with tolerance, love, and understanding of the lost.
The Spirit draws and brings conviction to the lost, but we are commissioned to go and tell-not leave them in darkness or on the wrong path. Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6, and Revelation 22:18-19:
How many will be in hell because I was being tolerant and not straightfordward with the Gospel? I will know when I stand before Jesus.
"The Bible consistently emphasizes love as the foundational Christian virtue. Love is not merely tolerating someone; it is actively seeking their well-being. It is desiring the best for another, regardless of their beliefs or actions. Love is not blind to sin or wrongdoing but seeks redemption and restoration. Furthermore, the Bible presents truth as absolute and unchanging. It is not merely one perspective among many. While we are called to engage with those who hold different beliefs with gentleness and respect, we cannot compromise on biblical truth. To tolerate error is to dishonor God." This is from Grace Filled Moments/FMF post. https://www.gracefilledmoments.me/2024/08/01/fmf-tolerate-the-illusion-of-tolerance/
6 responses to “FMF Post August”
Sandra K Stein
“How many will be in hell because I was being tolerant and not straightfordward with the Gospel?” — very convicting.
Amen. Strong words for strong facts. We cannot accept the Gift of Jesus without knowing how badly we need it. Conviction, then salvation. So many skip the conviction part … Thank you for the reminder! FMF#6
Amen. Exactly. Nothing to add, except that it is difficult but necessary to tell others that you can’t get the good stuff without giving up the bad stuff, pride, arrogance, entitlement, etc. If you aren’t humble and know you NEED Jesus, then it’s all foolishness to you. I’ve had a few people say to me, “I don’t need saving.” Pretty arrogant … I’m still praying for them. ~ blessings!
As Judas, in his willful rejection, walked daily beside Jesus, a contrasting hope was about to be born.
Judas’ callous heart longed for an earthly king, which led to betrayal with a sealed traitor’s kiss.
Blind ignorance prevailed. The Pharisees denied their Messiah, and Jerusalem cried out, unable to see.
A despairing loss, overcome by fear, caused hope to flee. Peter denied Him.
Overwhelming grief filled John. He cannot contain his tears as his Messiah died.
Dementia cried out. Darkness enveloped the cross as death’s grip shook the earth.
We, too, walk daily beside the true Messiah, unmoved by the truth and unable to see the light of hope.
Heartbreaking loneliness, man’s despair descended to hell’s depths. Where is hope?
YET,
The morning light hummed with renewed hope. The eternal, wrapped in clay, set Terra free. The Troubadour sang, illuminating the darkness with the song of salvation.
His message rings true: a gift of grace freely given honors choice. The church’s song is the gospel story of God’s eternal plan.
When the harvest is complete, marking the end of the church age, Israel will again have a hand in redeeming man.
The Christmas Story: The Arrival of the Troubadour
The Arrival of the Troubadour
Anticipation filled the air. To the Father’s delight, Emmanuel was born as a beacon in a world shrouded in darkness. The Eastern Star shone brightly through the night, illuminating the path to future hopes.
The Word sang a melody for my heart, a beautiful and poignant tune that resonates within the soul. For those with ears to hear, it was soft and gentle. Like the tiny beats of a hummingbird’s wings, a whispered message arrived.
Gabriel announced the arrival of the King; Jesus dwelt among us. The prophecies of old were fulfilled, awakening a sanguine hope for mankind’s redemption.
The longing for heaven’s echo of the Troubadour’s aria in a songless world. The dawning light of a new beginning quenches our thirst, bringing renewed hope in man’s redemption story.
Beginning of a New Year
The dawning light of a new beginning slates our thirst.
Arousing a sanguine hope for the coming year.
A salubrious optimism laced with intent, tempered.
Death's grim triumph of the fallen thirteen, betrayed, left behind. Our soldiers' demise at the hands of a few won't be forgotten.
The Afghan Thirteen The pulse is weak, life's last vapor vanishes. Death grins when breathing ceased.
Thanatos’ grim triumph- of the Afghan thirteen, fallen, betrayed from within, and left behind.
A country's demise at the hands of a few. America's heart bleeds. They will not be forgotten.
Hope hurts. Hope heals! Hope shatters the grip of hate- the past and present repeat. 1776 to Aug. 26, 2021.
In memory of the thirteen men and women who died in service of our country and who fought to defend the freedom loving Afghan people.
Sgt. Johnny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, assigned to 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California, assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah. His military occupational specialty was 0369, infantry unit leader. Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, a rifleman, decorated marine.
Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California, decorated marine.
Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, assigned to 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California, decorated Navy Corpsman.
Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee. Knauss was assigned to 9th PSYOP Battalion, 8th PSYOP Group, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
Short Version: The Afghan Thirteen by RL Brown
Death's grim triumph-of the fallen thirteen, betrayed, left behind. Our soldiers' demise at the hands of a few won't be forgotten.
A Call to Arms: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Arms yours self with the Gospel; it is time to fight. How? Prayer and fasting is the key to winning this fight. Find your prayer closet, your church pew, and get on your knees.
2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
A Call to Arms: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Arms yours self with the Gospel; it is time to fight. How? Prayer and fasting is the key to winning this fight. Find your prayer closet, your church pew, and get on your knees.
brontebrown2 
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