"Praise The Lord"...(He can work through those who praise Him)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZNYw_lWwwA8

by Russ Taff

one of my favorite poems that I think is fitting Totage

Footprints in the Sand


One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."

Mary Stevenson

I have been reading you on the forums , young man.

You have wit( I loved that greyhound you shared in one of the

threads..had me rofl)....

you have warmth.....

you have character...

you have love to offer...

you have depth...

and most of all you have God in you and with you

forever.


There is a special lady whose heart God is preparing just for you.

Believe now.... and let God do the rest.


Be Encouraged now,Totage..for this too shall pass..this season you

are going thru in your life.


Allow it...go thru it..for in doing so...you come out like pure

gold...and more prepared and ready to recieve and become all

that God created you to be.


God longs to give you..

and all of us in fact.....

the desires of our heart...but there is

also a work God is doing in each and everyone of us...in order

that we may be truly ready to receive what He has planned for

each and every one of us....when

it does comes along.

Amen?


Hey...Be Blessed now...cause you are a Blessing , Totage!!

We on here can plainly see that.

((((((Totage)))))))))

Life on earth is fleeting compared to an eternal life. This isn't heaven. It's a stage of life. God gave us life on earth to do with it what we will. Some will be victims more than others. There is a vast universe of good and bad. For whatever reason, what happens must happen on this little dot in the universe. It's your God given right to be apathetic, or take a pro or con attitude to what happens around you. What's in your heart at any moment is recorded in your book of life. It's good that you are appalled by what we can do to each other here on earth. Don't let that overshadow the good things and the joy to be had. Especially, don't blame God for what we do to each other.
Take another read through Job?

God was loving and caring for me this morning. We were short handed at work which can be normal operating procedure sometimes. God was like my second aide because after praying for him to be with me my job went better than expected. It was like he was right there with me. I have asked God to reveal his spirit to me before and he has. He has made impossible situations before me possible. One law he gives us is to obey the law of the land. I have to go by state mandates and follow our doctors orders and our nurses decisions for us as aides. God will honor his part of the bargain. Once when Moses was troubled because of his speech his brother Aaron spoke for him. The just live by faith.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Amen!

This is my truth,,I shall go to heaven as HE has promised me that for my living for and with HIM..
NOW,,does THAT say anything for what I shall be or act or see or think,,once THERE?,,NO..
So,,trust me here IF i have my will and mind once there as I do NOW.
The Lord and I will have these questions here that YOU asked answered through HIM to me.. AS I WILL ask their reasoning to have been left alone to be....
I LOVE MY GOD..I WILL TODAY DIE FOR HIM, AS HIS SON DIED FOR ME ALREADY, FOR ALL OF US!
Am I such a good Christian that I LOOK AWAY from my thoughts of wonder why's? NO,,I do ask and talk to the Lord with all my questions and my anger to HIM NOT DOING SOMETHING WHEN THAT SOMETHING SEEMED SO WRONG FOR ANY GOD NOT TO ACT ON IN MY THOUGHTS.
Do I get answers from him in a clear straight path,,NO,,BUT,I do get messages through my eyes or ears that HAVE ME THINK,,theirs my Light to see His reason...SHOULD I QUESTION OUR GOD,,,NO,,BUT HE MADE ME "ME"",,so HE above any man or being KNOWS ME and MY HEART TO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS IN MY THOUGHTS..and MY PRAYERS for Him to HEAR and KNOW,,and IF this "ME" is wrong in doing THAT,,WHEN I STAND BEFORE HIM,,HE SHALL BE MY ONLY JUDGE ON THAT.
IF HE WAS to tell me he was busy at THOSE TIMES,,I'd say then CAST ME AWAY, for YOUR NOT THE GOD I "KNOW" TO LOVE, WITHIN ME.
The Eternal GOD I KNOW ONLY HAS LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN AND THAT LOVE IS THE ONLY PURE LOVE IN THIS UNIVERSE OF BEING.
Do I THINK MY GOD could say THAT,,NO,,but do I sometimes wonder that,, YES. I HOLD OUR LORD TO ALL HE HAS TOLD US HE IS AND WE SHALL BECOME.
HE knows my heart and mind,,as HE knows yours,,HE made us with all our imperfections as to have ideas and reasoning,,
I WALK IN HIS PATHS FOR ME TO FOLLOW,,but as I also AM A PRODUCT OF HIS CREATION HE KNOWS WE SHALL BE TESTED and SEE OUR TRUTHS for Him to Judge,,,WE CAN ALL HIDE OUR TRUTHS OF THOUGHTS FROM EACH OTHER,,BUT WE SHALL NEVER HIDE OUR TRUTHS FROM HIM.
I WILL NEVER TURN AWAY FROM HIM, I WILL ALWAYS FEEL HIM WITHIN ME SURROUNDING ME,,,AND FOR THAT REASON,,,,I CRY AND PRAY AND ASK HIM THEN,,WHY OH LORD MUST THAT INNOCENT CHILD BE MURDERED IN THIS WAY,,?
There are some things in life here that NO TEST to me should be so great a cost, for the plain of salvation in SOME is just a GREED upon THEM to NOT BE CHARRED BODIES LIVING IN THEIR HELL.
WE ALL SEEK OUR TRUTHS THROUGH HIM, YET WE LIVE FOR NOW IN AND WITH MANY QUESTIONS WE KEEP BETWEEN US AND GOD...
YOU ALL can try and judge me for my thoughts here, and to do THAT is also a wrong in GOD'S eyes..But THIS is ONLY MY WITNESS OF ME..
Filled with many flaws and sins and questions,,as each day passes I learn, feel,,listen,and Pray,,,IN THAT,,I become MORE,,as we all do.
I "KNOW" THAT GOD IS HERE,,,and INSIDE ME MY WHOLE LIFE.
But my why's and how-comes surfice and make me WRONG in many others eyes,,but my truths of heart,mind, body and soul,,rise only to HIS BEING..
WHY did I write all of THIS,,why should I care about your thoughts?
Why would so many here TRY and help you with all your questions about HIM?
Because Totage,,HE HAS COMMANDED THAT OF US TO DO,,THROUGH THE LOVE WE SHARE IN OUR HEARTS FOR HIM...
IS THIS NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO KNOW?-------> HE IS! and shall always BE!
YOUR ONLY AS HUMAN AS ME MAN!!!! and I LOVE HIM,,and YOU BRO. and inside your heart,,HE LIVES,,to bring YOU HERE NOW!

Thank you all, I suppose I can give this another shot.

AMEN






psssssst,,hey totage,,, He knew that before you,,


THIS is that way,,,of KNOWING!

Here's the hard truth sir. We don't choose God. He chose us before the foundations of the earth were laid. If you don't hear His voice and respond, then, you are not part of the chosen. So, if you don't believe...... then..... in my opinion.... don't waste the little speck of time you have on this earth worrying about it.

And as far as questioning God goes. The very thought of that is ridiculous. We don't have a clue about the way things really are... or how long this whole thing has been going on. He has His reasons.... but as far as the heavens are above the earth are His ways above our ways.

He says that He knew us before the earth. That's extremely deep man.

If you are looking for a man to convince you about faith.... u don't have much. You can't earn it.... it's a gift.

totage

plenty of good 'fruit' in this thread

everyone gets weak/tempted/hopeless sometimes, thats when God sends us the people, situations, or things which help us get closer to him


I hope you are finding spiritual nourishment here and in life,,,

Totage,
It could have been any of us Christians
needing to hear heartfelt words of encouragement.

Thank YOU for hearing US.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I Believe, Help Thou My Unbelief" By Bill Gaither
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB9VACH5H7s&feature=player_detailpage


Mark9:23,24

23, Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe,
all things are possible to him that believeth.

24, And straightway the father of the child cried out,
and said with tears,

Lord, I believe;

help thou mine unbelief.

treeonetoo,
thank you for joining us in Mingle2 Christian Forum.

John Chapter 20

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.

Just to say my thoughts here..

These new days of "I WANT IT NOW!" AND I MEAN IT!,,,lol

Many of this generations youth,,look and are looking for new found discoveries of our life,,and our purpose here on this Earth.

There are sometimes,,,SOMETHINGS,,that won't be believed in the Bible or even read by many to see...

THESE folks NEED,,,NEW INSIGHT to FIND GOD IN THEIR HEARTS..

Many are weak,,and then ,,MANY feel THEY are smarter than all the past ages of people lived,,,because TODAY,,,IS A NEW TIME..LOL,,

I will always know and believe that when you want to find God, he IS already inside your heart,,making you KNOW HIM..

God is everywhere,,and no-where to the non-believers..

WE Christians NEED to show GOD IS HERE,,ALIVE,,and SHOW THEM HIS HEART, HIS WORKS, HIS SPIRIT, HIS POWER,,,,because WE AS A PEOPLE have had MANY turn away from Christ,,because all that MOST Ministers and Pastor's relay to them,,are the words of GOD from thousands of years ago,,,,in their minds,,,like when dirt was the only thing here,,as for that time period...

I wish so much that more people talked of Christ's healing and His Mercy and His Grace,,IN AND THROUGH THESE TIMES NOW THAT WE LIVE.

Or many will just walk away from him,,,and NEVER open their hearts to receive HIM....

ITS almost like WE DON'T BELIVE HE"S HERE,,,BECAUSE WE NEVER TALK ABOUT ALL THAT HE IS DOING AND GIVING AND HEALING,,RIGHT NOW,,EVERYDAY IN EVERY TOWN,,,THROUGH AND BY HIS AMAZING GRACE!

God's Word is never out dated. It's never boring.
It's sad to think that a "believer" would view it as such.

God's Word must continue to be taught and preached "in season and out of season".

His Word says:
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Isa_55:11,

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart."
Heb_4:12,

CeriseRose says: We do have our personal testimonies...but...

God's Word says: "God forbid: yea, let God be true,
but every man a liar; as it is written,
That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings,
and mightest overcome when thou art judged."
Rom_3:4,

CeriseRose says: I try to be careful not put my words where God's Word belongs.

God's Word says: "Even so the tongue is a little member,
and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Jam_3:5,

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity:
so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body,
and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
Jam_3:6,

"But the tongue can no man tame;

it is an unruly evil,

full of deadly poison.

Jam_3:8,"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There are not to be many teachers.

(as to the inward disposition of the man)

We all fail;

and to teach others and fail ourselves only increases our condemnation.

For vanity can easily be fed in teaching others;

and that is a very different thing from having the life quickened

by the power of "truth."

CeriseRose,,Thank you for your thoughts here as mine,,a try to show praise to our God..As for me speaking about God's words,,I did not say I thought they were boring,,I meant THAT as our younger people would and do see His words in that NOT-LIGHTED WAY...

To them,,or MANY YOUTHS,,see the Holy Bible and THY GOD,,,as old words,,history stuff,,,,LONG AGO,,but NOT HER NOW? Kind of ways and thoughts,,and A thousand Preachers could read God's words to them for a year and THEY WOULD HAVE CLOSED EARS AND MINDS...
SO,,the Church has changed in MANY OF THEM,,as to have CHANGE IT,,in order to give these people a NEW LOOK,,a COOL WAY to except the old way...
WE have churches with giant screens on their walls to show lights and music and HIS WORDS ON TO THEM...
But they've changed all the words HE used,,,to more modern words to understand...
Their choice in music in many of these churches is like rock music
Evy metal blasting out HIS WORDS,,,just done in another light,,STILL I HIS MEANINGS AND TRUTHS,,,just jazzed up a little to make THEM FEEL HIS HEART....
And to THAT, is all I was and am TRYING to say,,is we can't just look at our neighbor and say,,SINNER,,,,YOU NEED TO REPENT OR DIE IN THE FIRES OF HELL....
Because your MISS EVERYONE OF THEM,,on giving THEM SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO SEE OR FEEL? THEY will just turn and walk away,,thing your crazy,,,,,NOT MY THOUGHTS HERE,,,I said THEM,,and THEIR THOUGHTS..
I've been on that receiving end already,,I've witnessed more of their walk aways than I want to remember...
SO I will say this,,IF ANY FASHION OF DISGUISE ALLOWS A PERSON TO SEE AND KNOW GOD,,IS THAT NOT IN ITS SELF A BLESSING TO HAVE TRIED AND DONE? Just saying??

There is much evidence that you are speaking from your own personal preference.

So-called believers

speaking their own riddles is more confusing than Bible words.

YOU want the Scripture verses to cease more than the youth do.

I teach youth...

Young people are wiser than YOU care to give them credit...

my youth beat me to the classroom...

and are excited about what they learn.

while more older adults shun Scripture than younger adults and children.

God's Word is Light... that's uncomfortable for a lot of adults.


And note this...

If I wanted to debate the signficance and power of the Word of God...
I'd hang out with the Atheists in the General Religion Forum.

The words YOU are saying here are more detrimental to young

people than you care to acknowledge.

wow,,,This is YOU being a good Christian with me and my words here huh?
I don't have the Bible memorized,,,to give quotes to others, nor would I ever try to,,for I might miss-quote some,,which would be very Wrong to have happen.
I do NOT proclaim to be ANY FORM of teacher here...
So my words to youths are MUCH fewer than YOURS TO THEM,,
and EVERYTHING i had said,,was ad IS a FACT already happening in Hundreds of Churches across this Globe?
I ONLY talked about what THEY'RE DOING?
as you have stated YOU TEACH TO THEM!
YOU have no room in your thoughts or understandings, to be capable of trying any new ideas or concepts that may HELP THOUSANDS OF KIDS FIND GOD IN THEIR HEARTS,,,
As long as YOU can TRY and USE, GOD'S MIGHT THROUGH HIS WORDS TO CONVINCE THEM THEIR SINNERS,,AND CONDEMN THEM ALL FOR ANY MIS-FRACTIONS OF HIS WORDS....
Just in what you have said here to me,,in this attack mode of YOUR ALMIGHTINESS,,,,Don't you see?? Or have YOU BEEN like this all your life?
YOUR PUSHING GOD'S WORDS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH,,,LIKE YOUR "HIM"..
YOU JUDGE,,in the HARSH TONE OF YOUR WORDS SLUNG OUT AT PEOPLE.
Just as you have me already JUDGED BY YOU,,,,HERE,,,
Telling me, my words to kids and young adults are DETRIMENTAL, to THEM, and I don't care to think about THAT??
EXCUSE ME?? I guess YOU have MADE YOUR JUDGEMENTS UPON MY SOUL HERE.
I could just see or hear one of your youths,,talking about ANY FORM of Homosexuality( if they had ANY) and You having a little informative talk with them about that,,,,WOW,,,would they have regrets and fears from our Lord through your, to the LETTER of HIM to---help them....(as you have caused them to PUSH THAT DOWN INSIDE THEM)
I had a friend on here who had told me a story once.
(oh,,she also had cancer then)
I had asked her to pop in here in this forum to read a poem I had done,,,she told me ,,she does not go in there anymore,,because a lady in there,,once called her a heathen,,,because she was of American Indian Heritage....
She told me that lady's name on here,,,But I never went forward to say anything about that to YOU.
But now I do see and know what SHE kind of felt like back then,,(alone with her tramas of cancer)being be-littled by someone who THINKS THEY CAN BE GOD'S JUDGE HERE TO ANYONE WHO DOES NOT FIT THEIR LIKING...
GOD IS MY ONLY JUDGE IN LIFE!!!
sorry to burst any bubbles about that....

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE AND WELL..
and may I say, to have the ability to teach anyone anything they need to know, you have to have great communication skills..and an OPEN-HEART,as WELL,,as an OPEN SOUND MIND!
And in THAT,,,I find yours very poor...
GOD FORGIVE ME FOR TELLING THE TRUTH.

iam4u, just relax and let The Lord do His work.

His Word is Trustworthy and NOT offensive nor out-dated.

Please don't try to provoke those who use it to edify others.

God grant YOU a better understanding of HIS Word.


P.S.
You are free to create a separate thread
as this one seems to be Off Topic!