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Post by Cindy on Apr 15, 2016 10:48:35 GMT -5
today I studied John 2:12–25. I think what I'm to take from this section is that our "zeal" is to be for God, not for ourselves. Normally we look at everything from the perspective of self and how it will help us, but now, we're to look at everything from God's perspective - how it will glorify or honor Him. We're to see others that way, ourselves that way, circumstances and situations in that way. We aren't to get angry when we're hurt, but when God is dishonored. And then our anger is to be directed at finding a solution to the problem not to punish someone.
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Post by evafromgreece on Apr 15, 2016 12:47:45 GMT -5
Guys,
I am studying daily. But every time I start being here posting what I have done, and believing that I am doing well, I feel I get critisim from the other side. Lets say why you are doing this this way instead of the other way. I get dissapointed and I am not willing to write anything. Speaking honestly thats what I feel. I might be wrong, but this is the way I see these things and I have to say I am dissapointed
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391 
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Post by fearnot on Apr 15, 2016 13:03:19 GMT -5
Thank you for commenting.
I love reading your comments on what I wrote... it uplifts me when you agree, and if you have to correct something, it is a great learning experience and helps me to get to the truth.
I truly enjoy the exchange and it encourages me to really pray for God's Holy Spirit to guide me into truth, and then to meditate on God's word and also to upgrade my writing, because someone is carefully reading it with God's truth in mind.
I think I am becoming a 'wee' bit more disciplined in what I write.
I used to never re-read my comments, and I would write haphazardly.
Now I sometimes re-read, and I find myself thinking:
Is that the right word? Will this honor God? Is that offensive or rude? Is this the best way to explain this passage and explain how God helped me to apply it to my life, and so on.
I thank you for helping me in even a little discipline!! I don't mean your help was only a 'little'...only that I am slow-ish, but grateful you ( and of course the Lord) for even a little improvement.
My prayer is that regardless of how slow or fast,I will continue to grow in my relationship with Jesus, and His Word, and in discipline in studying His Word, plus discipline in writing more clearly (prayerfully over time I will slowly on, thru daily posting, after studying, get better).
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 15, 2016 13:51:16 GMT -5
Eva
I will let Cindy speak to your comment on your being disappointed, herself.
However, I would first like to say, I am glad you told us why you are not posting. I really wondered if you were seriously ill or what?
Further,I do understand how hard it is to take correction and sometimes not feel hurt and disappointed. In the past, I have felt that way much more than I do now...which is not to say, I don't still struggle with it from time to time.
For me ( I do not know how it is for you), but since you are being open and honest, I will speak of my feelings in a honest manner also.
I slowly began to realize that often it was my pride that was hurt. Cindy did not say that to me, God's Holy Spirit revealed it to me.
In other words, I was more concerned about me, my feelings, than I was in truly knowing God's Truth in the Bible.
I don't 'think' this is your problem, but I have often had in the past, an over rated opinion of my intelligence. Don't misunderstand, I do believe that I have a good intelligence and that it is a gift from God.
However, there are many many Godly people, who have been blessed to rightly discern the Word waaaaaay more than I.
There is a difference from being average or maybe slightly above average in secular intelligence, and intelligent in God's word. In fact, David in the Bible made such a claim that he was ( I am paraphrasing because I can't remember the exact verse, I think its in psalms).
But on the other hand God also says he does not choose many wise.
But I truly believe God has blessed Cindy for spending hours and hours, day after day, year after year, with the Love of Jesus as her first, middle, and last priority in her life.
So when she corrects me, and says something like, No that is not really correct....
And my pride immediately feels hurt, I stop and pray for the Lord to humble me and give me a 'teachable' spirit.....
Then
I go back, and because I want to love Jesus with all my heart, and... I know, that Cindy has my best interest in her heart....
I read what she says, because I want to Truth above all and I want to know my Lord and Savior.
I am getting better over time, but it still is hard sometimes, I am still a self-centered, foolish egotistic silly woman at times, who wants to win.
I am not saying this is you at all, but I just want to say, I understand what you are saying, but if you fell criticized/and or criticized unjustly, or your feelings are hurt...
Cindy has said over and over again, tell her.
But I think we both need to realize she puts God first over our feelings. Not that she doesn't care if we feel hurt, I believe she is very compassionate, but she truly loves us too much to let us remain devastated, disappointed, hurt etc.
We may ( if the Lord delays coming for a little while yet) face greater opposition,very very harsh words for being Christians.
We will need to be strong by knowing God's Word, we will need to 'correctly 'correctly' handle the word of truth. In order to do that ( even tho our feelings are hurt from time to time) we may have to overcome our feelings and focus on Jesus and correctly handling the Word.
We need to do that now, whether we face opposition, scorn, hate, etc. or not, I know my ( and you) first intention is to love Jesus and have a greater and greater relationship with Him.
Please don't not comment because you fear correction and disappointment.
One last thing. In the beginning when I first joined FH on several occasions my feelings were so hurt by being corrected, I angrily told Cindy, I was quiting FH!!!!!!!!!!!
She immediately responded with love and compassion but also with some to me, heavy truth, and again with love but loving the Lord Jesus as top priority.
In the end she left it up to me.....but I chose Jesus ( and her LOL) and stayed...until I huffed and puffed and threaten to leave again.
I don't do that now, I am finally beginning to put learning the Truth first ( but I do fall sometimes, I think, well I spent a LOT of time on that verse or that scripture, couldn't Cindy be wrong????)
Sure she could be, I think she would be the first to say so....and we do go back and forth....until God's Word show me, who is rightly discerning the Word and so far, all those hours and days and years, in the Word has been correct.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 16, 2016 20:35:20 GMT -5
Thursday 14th
I read Nehemiah 9
Friday 15th
Nehemiah 10
Sat. 16th
Nehemiah 11
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Post by Cindy on Apr 18, 2016 13:03:58 GMT -5
Eva, in order to reply to you, I thought it would be best if I looked at all of my replies to your posts since we started, so I could see if I was really doing that to you or not. I hope you will look at all of what you posted and my replies too so we can both see what was really said. I've also included Barbara's last post to you since again she answered you very well. I'll reply to you at the end, after reading all the posts again.That's easier I think. But it might be better to start a new thread I believe, in order not to confuse other members that read the topic Luke chapter 2 From the first verses we see that everything was done according to what the prophets said in OT about Jesus. So Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger, and He was humble, not like earthly kings who are full of pride. And the birth of Jesus filled also humble people happy, some shepherds praised the Lord for having the chance to meet the Son of God. Some angels told this humble people about this birth and they went to meet the Lord. This part of the Jewish nation acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, just like Symeon who lived until the time he met Jesus, and prophet Anna also acknowledged the Lord. What amazes me is that it was so clear that Jesus was the Son of God and Jewish people still don't see it up to this day. At the last verses we see the difference of Jesus, from the other children. He wanted to do his Father will, and that was more important than to be closer to His earthly family. Looks like you're both doing well. I studied Luke 1 for the last couple of days and really enjoyed it. I'm not feeling very well, so I'm going to go rest today. Luke chapter 4 The verses 4:1-13 are similar to Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." and we see how Jesus actually act like this, the way we should act also. He was fasting for 40 days, His human body was hungry and exhausted for sure! But He put God's will first and He continued walking the difficult way in order to fullfill His purpose. He denied food, He denied power and eartly possesions and He succesfully fullfilled 40 days in the desert. Then, in the temple He read the words of Isaiah that were talking about Him and what He was doing on earth, and of course people got angry with Him, He wasnt accepted in His hometown. They wanted to kill Him, but it was too early for this , so He left. He continued curing people, end even possesed people, even demonos recognised His identity unlike Jewish people who were the chosen nation Sorry I wasn't feeling up to saying much yesterday. I studied Luke 2:1-20 today. It amazes me how God's ways are so very unlike how we do things. Instead of His son being born in a hospital or in a nice home, with a midwife or doctor on hand, He was most likely born in a cave, with no one there but Mary or possibly Joseph, but as he's not mentioned, he was probably out looking for food or even for a midwife...we won't know till we get to heaven. Then, instead of letting the worlds most important people know of His birth which is who we'd do it,he only tells a very few shepherds, and shepherds were considered the lowest of all the people in Israel.In fact, they were considered "unclean" and they weren't even allowed to testify in court about anything! But God chose them to tell about the birth of His son. We would have sent out invitations with exact directions to our home, but God made them search for His Son. He only gave them enough hints so that if they tried, they'd find Him, but they still had to try. As new parents, we go on and on about our babies, but God says very little about His Son's birth. Most mothers too will tell the story of the birth of their baby to as many as will listen, but not the Lord. He only gives us two short sentences and simply says that He was born. (Luke 2:6–7) Truly, the Lord's ways aren't our ways, but I'm hoping and trying to make His ways my ways and to keep my eyes away from the worthless things of this world and on what's important for eternity. Luke chapter 4 The verses 4:1-13 are similar to Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." and we see how Jesus actually act like this, the way we should act also. He was fasting for 40 days, His human body was hungry and exhausted for sure! But He put God's will first and He continued walking the difficult way in order to fullfill His purpose. He denied food, He denied power and eartly possesions and He succesfully fullfilled 40 days in the desert. Then, in the temple He read the words of Isaiah that were talking about Him and what He was doing on earth, and of course people got angry with Him, He wasnt accepted in His hometown. They wanted to kill Him, but it was too early for this , so He left. He continued curing people, end even possesed people, even demonos recognised His identity unlike Jewish people who were the chosen nation You know how I have bouts now and then of fear of death, however reading Romans 6:1-10 I discovered a few things about 'death' that was actually uplifting, first and utmost:
being 'dead' v.2 died to sin!!
Now that is something that is so wonderful, so freeing, so thrilling to be forever dead to sin!!!
But also being 'baptized into Jesus death. I always fear being 'alone' when I die ( I know this is not true, Jesus said he would never leave us nor forsake us, so I can trust that He will be with me when I die.
But vs. 4 & 8 seemed to indicate we in someway have died with Jesus, and that too is comforting.
Thirdly, v.9 says Jesus as we know was raised from the dead, and therefore he cannot die again, death no longer has mastery over Him. I believe the same principal will hold true for me.
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14–15)
Luke chapter 5 In 5:1-8 we first see how "warm" (I dont know what other word to use) to Jesus. Many people went to see Jesus preaching. And He met the first disciples. At these verses fish, are similar to people. Without the guidance and help of the Lord fishermen couldnt catch fish, and He planned to guide them later to "catch" people and spread the Word over the world. Jesus did some other miracles also to make them notice who He was. And He did the miracles to people who had faith in Him and His identity, He knew their heart. In 5:12 we see the faith of the leper and in 5:18-19 the faith of the handicapped person. On the other hand we see Jewish religion leaders be blind and unable to recognise the Saviour, because their hearts were not open 5:21-24 and 5:30 Later Jesus spent time with a tax collector and again the Pharises were against this. And in 5:31-32 Jesus notes His purpose as a Saviour and His role, and the role every believer and every church should have. In 33-38 Jesus again explains to the religion leaders what they should have seen. There was not need for the desciples to fast as long as they had the Lord with them Very nice. Do you remember what we learned about the temptations Jesus went through? 1 John 2:16 defines all sin as either: 1. the lust of the flesh, (stones to bread; Luke 4:3–4) 2. the lust of the eyes, (plunge from temple; Luke 4:9–12) 3. the boastful pride of life; (kingdoms of the earth; Luke 4:5–8). and Satan tempted our Lord in each of these three categories. So, as Heb 4:15 states, “He was tempted in all things, yet is without sin.”
Thanks for reminding this also Very good Eva! I'm still in Mark, but am not up to posting anymore today, I'm sorry... I read Luke ch 5-6 Luke 6:20-49 I believe we should often focus on this. Are we the way He wants us to be? Do we love our enemies, or we love only the ones who loves us and the ones who likes us, and the ones who always agree with us. To be honest, I am not sure. I found my self sometimes praying that God helps people that have hurt me or harmed me in some ways, but do I really love them? I am not sure. Do I hear what God says, or what my emotions say, for example , anger, bitterness etc (all sins)... I will write more. I have my mind on this till yesterday Good Eva! But neither of you have done what I asked concerning the days you don't post here. Since I want to make sure Barbara also sees this, let me post both names to get everyone's attention:
Barbara and Eva:
The whole point of this is to hold each other accountable for spending time with the Lord in His Word daily. Therefore, when you've missed one or more days posting here, I need you to include what you read on the days you didn't post here as well as what you read today. Also, being sick, I forgot to remind you both again to tell me what you decided on for your schedule.
Let me quote what I said originally about this again. Part of the problem is because I posted the directions in two different posts and another problem was me being sick so I didn't remember to remind you guys of what we needed to do. Plus, I also forgot to tell you what my schedule is, mostly because I think you both already know it LOL, but still, that's no excuse. I'll do that at the end of this post. Here's the first part of the directions:
Although I was replying to Eva in my next post, it was actually for any of us when we missed a day, so here's the second part of the directions:
OK, here's my schedule: My time with the Lord is the same every day. I spend time with Him as soon as I wake up every day.
Today I studied the rest of Luke 5. I started with verse 17 where Jesus healed the man who was paralyzed after his friends let him down through the roof of the house he was at. I love that story and think that his friends show us how we're supposed to minister to others. We're supposed to care so much about them that we won't give up when things get hard, but will keep trying to help them no matter what. It also shows that they had a great deal of faith too because otherwise they wouldn't have bothered to go to all that trouble to get Jesus to see their friend. Again, that's the kind of faith we're to have too.
The next part was when Jesus called Matthew (Levi) to be His disciple. That part is always thrilling to me too. It's also has one of the scriptures some people will use to "prove" that it's ok to go to bars and clubs, because they'll say Jesus ate with these sinners. But in every single instance where Jesus did this, it was for the sole purpose of teaching and revealing Himself to them. He did not go to party, and did not join them in any kind of sinful activity. He went to tell them the good news. Nor did He continually go back to "keep giving them another chance" either, like people do today. He told them clearly what the good news was the first time and left. After that, it was up to them to come to Him wherever He was preaching. So people who use this as a way to spend time with unsaved sinners, are only fooling themselves.
Good Eva! But neither of you have done what I asked concerning the days you don't post here. Since I want to make sure Barbara also sees this, let me post both names to get everyone's attention:
Barbara and Eva:
The whole point of this is to hold each other accountable for spending time with the Lord in His Word daily. Therefore, when you've missed one or more days posting here, I need you to include what you read on the days you didn't post here as well as what you read today. Also, being sick, I forgot to remind you both again to tell me what you decided on for your schedule.
Let me quote what I said originally about this again. Part of the problem is because I posted the directions in two different posts and another problem was me being sick so I didn't remember to remind you guys of what we needed to do. Plus, I also forgot to tell you what my schedule is, mostly because I think you both already know it LOL, but still, that's no excuse. I'll do that at the end of this post. Here's the first part of the directions:
Although I was replying to Eva in my next post, it was actually for any of us when we missed a day, so here's the second part of the directions:
OK, here's my schedule: My time with the Lord is the same every day. I spend time with Him as soon as I wake up every day.
Today I studied the rest of Luke 5. I started with verse 17 where Jesus healed the man who was paralyzed after his friends let him down through the roof of the house he was at. I love that story and think that his friends show us how we're supposed to minister to others. We're supposed to care so much about them that we won't give up when things get hard, but will keep trying to help them no matter what. It also shows that they had a great deal of faith too because otherwise they wouldn't have bothered to go to all that trouble to get Jesus to see their friend. Again, that's the kind of faith we're to have too.
The next part was when Jesus called Matthew (Levi) to be His disciple. That part is always thrilling to me too. It's also has one of the scriptures some people will use to "prove" that it's ok to go to bars and clubs, because they'll say Jesus ate with these sinners. But in every single instance where Jesus did this, it was for the sole purpose of teaching and revealing Himself to them. He did not go to party, and did not join them in any kind of sinful activity. He went to tell them the good news. Nor did He continually go back to "keep giving them another chance" either, like people do today. He told them clearly what the good news was the first time and left. After that, it was up to them to come to Him wherever He was preaching. So people who use this as a way to spend time with unsaved sinners, are only fooling themselves.
Thank you Cindy, I did know some of what you posted but what was really interesting was if we had been with Joseph and had prayed for him and yet God had Joseph put in prison. I pretty much understood that God was sort of putting Joseph is another 'school/lessons'.
But what intrigued me was your saying how would we feel having prayed and seemingly 'failed'.
But my question would be what exactly did our pray accomplish?
t occurred to me that perhaps we could say God kept Joseph safe ( he wasn't killed...tho even if he had been killed, God could have used it for His glory, like the little girl that died but Jesus raised he from the dead or like Lazarus who also died. )
I missed posting yesterday so I will post two today. I had to get up at 3:30 last night to watch the grandchildren.
Hossanah's crazy work schedule makes it hard for me to have a disciplined time for Bible study....whereas grandchildren sitting started at 3:30 last night...
the next day is 1:30 in the afternoon,
then she works 10am -6pm
, then 6am to 10am
then 5am to 1 am
and so on and on.
Hon, I don't need to know your babysitting schedule, I need to know what times you'll be spending with the Lord. But since you wrote your babysitting schedule, it should be fairly easy for you to then decide when you'll be spending time with the Lord each of those days.
I am sort of going back and forth between two of my favorite books.
So the day before ( or night....I am not always sure if I am coming or going LOL)
Was Romans 1: 1-6
I focused this time (reading it once again) on v 1. where Paul says he is 'set apart'.
This time I realized all 'religions', cults, and even atheists, all 'set themselves apart'.
Before meeting Jesus, Paul as a Pharisee was 'set apart' from all kinds of 'unclean etc. things'. But he had become rigid, obsessed, and cruel.
Which is exactly what many Muslims are ( cruel without any compassion), Hindus without compassion of the 'untouchables', atheists who see themselves as kind mock, swear etc. at Christians with no pity.
Tho Paul was still separated after meeting the Lord, and becoming 'seperated' unto 'something....someone',
instead of just from things, he found joy, humility, compassion etc.
We learn of the gospel ( the 'good news' God at the beginning of Creation called His creation good....but we choose Evil....now God has 'good new for us'.
I will write more on the next verses tomorrow as I still have to write another day).
Genesis 3:1
There is so much in the first 3 chapters of Genesis I am amazed at how the Lord always shows me something new from scriptures I have read over and over and over!!!
To start with...this time the first word that God impressed on me was 'crafty'. I never paid a whole lot of attention to that word, (as I said there is so many nuggets of spiritual gold to dig, ) I had of course noticed it, and yes I knew Satan was cunning, and deceitful...
I already knew God had said through John that Satan was: "he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44
But this time His lies and His dazzling beauty, came together, with more impact than in previous readings and studying.
I knew Satan had been a former arch angel.
Ezekiel 28:11 ( doing a duel description the king of Tyre and Satan)
Calls him: a 'signet of perfection"
'perfect' in beauty
( you are well aware of my struggle concerning beauty)
So it hit me, that perhaps in the Garden, Satan ( among many cleaver lies) dazzled Eve with his former beauty even tho he was in some sort of snake form.
Which reminded me of a line I had just read in a Christian fiction by Tracy L. Higley called Garden of Madness in which she wrote this line that I read yesterday
" A lie, no matter how beautiful, is still a lie."
Again, that seemed to be so appropriate for my present situation.
I read Luke 6:1-11 today and enjoyed seeing how Jesus handled the pharisees and their rules. I love how He stated that He was the Lord of creation. I bet that really messed them up! It made me wonder at how often we tend to put God in a box and say that He is Lord of this or that, but then ignore His Lordship of other areas. We may live very godly lives for example, but then turn on the TV and glory in watching all kinds of sin because He's not Lord of the TV to us, or not Lord of our entertainment, however you want to put it. Same with reading or anything else for that matter. Maybe for some folks He's Lord in every area except for their jobs, or something like that. It made me stop and reflect to see if I could determine any place that I'd left Him out of my life.
Hey guys, This period I studied John and now I started the book of Acts. I read 1-3 yesterday and today 4 and 8-9. I have one question on John 21:7, the disciple who Jesus loved was John? Also I have one general question about John. In Patmos island there is a cave that it is considered to be the cave where John wrote the Revelation. Is this the actual cave? Is this true? Hey guys, This period I studied John and now I started the book of Acts. I read 1-3 yesterday and today 4 and 8-9. I have one question on John 21:7, the disciple who Jesus loved was John? Also I have one general question about John. In Patmos island there is a cave that it is considered to be the cave where John wrote the Revelation. Is this the actual cave? Is this true?
If you are going to be part of this, you need to first understand why we are doing it, and then you need to commit to doing it yourself. Do you even remember why we're doing it or what the directions were?
If you don't want to be part of this, that's fine, you don't have to be. If that's true, then at least tell us and then I will start a thread for you in this forum where you can just ask whatever questions you have. OK?
yes, John was the disciple that is called the "beloved one" or the one Jesus loved. That doesn't mean that He didn't love the others, because He did. John never names himself in his gospel because he is so humble. So when he calls himself the one Jesus loved, it was not to draw attention to himself but rather to let others know that he was no better then anyone else. MacArthur does a good job of explaining this:
If four people take a trip together and each carries a camera, the group shots each person takes will naturally not include them. In fact, someone else could probably guess who took which pictures by which member of the group was absent. The gospel of John functions this way. John’s absence by name shouts his presence. As for his signature phrase, the words “whom Jesus loved” convey both a sense of the apostle’s humility and the depth of his relationship to Jesus. The phrase doesn’t mean that John thought of himself as the only disciple Jesus loved. It simply expresses with disarming honesty the wonder of this disciple over the fact that the Lord loved him! The MacArthur Bible handbook
Here's what some of my books say about Patmos:
The location of the dramatic revelation of Christ recorded in this book of Revelation was the island of Patmos, a small island in the Aegean Sea southwest of Ephesus and between Asia Minor and Greece. According to several early church fathers (Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Eusebius), John was sent to this island as a prisoner following his effective pastorate at Ephesus. Victorinus, the first commentator on the Book of Revelation, stated that John worked as a prisoner in the mines on this small island. When the Emperor Domitian died in A.D. 96, his successor Nerva let John return to Ephesus. During John’s bleak days on Patmos, God gave him the tremendous revelation embodied in this final book of the Bible. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
PATMOS [PAT muhs] — a small rocky island to which the apostle John was banished and where he wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9). The island, about 16 kilometers (ten miles) long and ten kilometers (six miles) wide, lies off the southwest coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Because of its desolate and barren nature, Patmos was used by the Romans as a place to banish criminals, who were forced to work at hard labor in the mines and quarries of the island. Because Christians were regarded as criminals by the Roman emperor Domitian (ruled A.D. 81–96), the apostle John probably suffered from harsh treatment during his exile on Patmos. An early Christian tradition said John was in exile for 18 months. Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. 1995
Eva, you have only posted a few times on this thread, January 3rd, 4th, and 12th are your only posts before today, so it's been 3 and a half weeks since your last post. Because it's been so long, I certainly don't expect you to write a list of what you studied each day for the last 3 weeks. That would be ridiculous. I would like to know though whether or not you plan on joining us in this or not? We've worried about you and waited for you and wondered about you and prayed for you, yet you never showed up here, or at least never posted. Why? I know that Barbara has written you and asked you why and you told her that you were reading this thread, but why were you reading it if you have no intention of joining us? And why would you read posts that said we were worried about you and not reply? Actually I didnt say exactly this. I was studying alone and then I saw an email of her and login and then I read that you were worrying and replied.
If you are going to be part of this, you need to first understand why we are doing it, and then you need to commit to doing it yourself. Do you even remember why we're doing it or what the directions were?
If you don't want to be part of this, that's fine, you don't have to be. If that's true, then at least tell us and then I will start a thread for you in this forum where you can just ask whatever questions you have. OK?The truth is that I do want to be a part of this, but I dont see how of this is possible. We are doing this in order to be closer to the Lord and learn His Word. (I am not sure if I use correct English). I believe we partly lost the purpose of this and we spend too much time and energy on explaining reasons like this instead of discussing the actual Word. This is why I dont believe it is possible. I dont see it like a possible thing because of this As for the study, today, I studied Acts ch 10. I'm sorry Cindy, yes, I meant I read the whole chapter of Joel 2....
actually, I finished chapter 3 of Joel
and, started Amos 1 which listed condemned foreign nations and their specific sin or sins.
yesterday, I read Amos 2 which continued the condemnations Moab, even Judah and lastly Israel.
I know we have talked about how each and every one of us is totally sinful and depraved, and I do believe it.
Still when reading the sins of all the nations at first blush, it would be easy to think:
Yeah is was bad Judah rejected God's law, but Ammon's sadistic cruelty of ripping open pregnant women seems so horribly worse...
until you realize that without the true God, His Word and Law, and His love.....at some point every person could become sadistically cruel.
Today, I intend to read and study Amos chapter 3.
Did I get it right this time?
Thank you so much for putting up with me Cindy!!!!
monday I read:
tuesday I read:
Wednesday I read: etc that way you can show that you read something each day, and there's no question about it, ok? Obviously if you only miss one day, then it's fine to just say, "yesterday I read ____ and today I read ____"
What Ammon did was horrid. It's fascinating to know though that the judgment was fulfilled through the Assyrian conquest under Tiglath-Pileser III in 734 B.C. God keeps His Word. But as bad as Ammon was, Israel was just as bad, as were the other nations around her. And like you said, we're all capable of doing horrendous things like they did, when we aren't saved and even when we are, if we are not abiding in Christ. Thank God for His forgiveness! Reading about Judah and Israel also reminds us that privileges bring responsibility. They had God's Word and chose to rebel against it, therefore they would be judged more harshly then those who didn't have His Word. That should make us sit up and take notice and make us be very sober, because we have ALL of God's Word, His FULL REVELATION, through Christ, which makes our sin worse then anyone before. By "our sin" I don't mean just Christians, although we would be judged harshest of all, but even the unsaved because that full revelation is available to them and they haven't done anything with it. It reminds me of how we're told that there is a "sin unto death", for Christians, but you sure don't hear that preached about these days of tolerance do you? Makes me wonder how many people have died because they crossed the line and sinned unto death, so God took their lives so they wouldn't dishonor His Name any more....
Eva, you knew what we were doing because you posted on the thread and participated in it those few times right at first. Although you never told us what your schedule was. Then you just disappeared without a single word of explanation.
Now you say you do not know how you can be part of this???? The only reason we're spending time on "this" is because you haven't been doing it and you aren't following the directions. These are the directions I gave at the beginning and the reason for why we are doing this:
Therefore, because I love you and want the best for you, I want to set up a plan to hold us accountable for reading God's Word with Him every single day. It doesn't matter how much or how little you read; what matters is that you DO spend some time in His Word with Him every single day. It would be best for you to set up a schedule for yourself so that you're doing it at approximately the same time every day; or the same time on week days and a different time on weekends, but the point is that you have some kind of schedule that you follow so you can get into a routine. What I want you to do now then is to set up that schedule after asking the Lord to help you do so, tell me what your schedule is and then each day we will post what scriptures we've read with Him that day. OK, ready, set GO!
So, for example, we'd come here each day and say something like: Today I read Mark 16:1-5 and then we'd share whatever the Lord had shown us in our time with Him. You don't have to write much, just enough to show that you got something from the time you spent with Him. What's neat is that as time goes by, you'll find yourself excited about what He's shown you, and you'll want to share it with someone.
And this was one of my replies to you on January 3rd when you did post:
So if you want to do this, then you need to first let me know what your scheduled time to spend with the Lord is, and then be here every day and post what you read and what you got from it. If you do not want to do this, then again, just say so. But don't just disappear.
I'm studying the first 5 verses of Luke 11 today. Let me share something that I found that surprised me as I'd never thought of it that way before. These verses are about the Lord's prayer: “Give us each day our daily bread.” (Luke 11:3)
Generally speaking, the patristic expositors interpret this famous word in such a way that the petition prays, not for the common bread of everyday life, but for a spiritual food, even the Bread from heaven, which giveth life unto the world. “So taken, the petition raises us to the region of thought in which we leave all that concerns our earthly life in the hands of our Father, seeking only that he would sustain and perfect the higher life of our spirit.” St. Luke Vol. I. 1909
So if you want to do this, then you need to first let me know what your scheduled time to spend with the Lord is, and then be here every day and post what you read and what you got from it. If you do not want to do this, then again, just say so. But don't just disappear.
Ι am not sure if you understand what I am trying to say. My scheduled time is every night after work, but it cannot be the scheduled time in FH always. Anyway, if you wish create another thread as you said that we can talk about questions etc, and its ok Ι am not sure if you understand what I am trying to say. My scheduled time is every night after work, but it cannot be the scheduled time in FH always. Anyway, if you wish create another thread as you said that we can talk about questions etc, and its ok
By asking me to create another thread, are you saying you do not want to do this anymore? You said you felt we weren't talking about what we were studying enough here, but I can't talk about anything unless someone brings it up first. If you don't tell me what you're reading, then I can't talk about it can I? I said you don't have to write a lot about what you've read, because I know you hated having to write a lot when I asked you to before....well you thought it was a lot, but it really wasn't. So I thought you'd be happy that you didn't have to write a lot anymore. What I'm saying now though is that you can write as much or as little as you want to about what you studied, and I've always said you can always ask questions about what you studied and I'll try to answer them. So what do you want to do? Are you going to do this with us or are you quitting? Eva, I can't really speak for Cindy, I am sure she will come and speak for herself.....
But, I am pretty sure she is not asking us to post every day at the same time ( tho, it would be cool if we could)...
My understanding is that she is only asking we read the Bible and study it at approx the same time each day
In fact, she even said, if we can't post....
to let each other know what we read and studied the day before, or even several days in a row ( not ideal, and not to make a habit of that, but things happen).
I suspect that if we checked a few weeks of her posts here on this thread, we would see that she may have posted early morning one day and late at night the next ( but she read and studied bible scriptures each day)
Also, she has said to me, at least, I am fairly sure.....to feel free to ask questions if after studying, I have questions.
But if I am wrong, she will correct me.....but I really don't think she ever asked us to post the same time each day.
Anyway, I am soooo happy you are back. Cindy and I were really worried...I imagined all sorts of bad things like: maybe you were in the hospital dying of some rare disease, or some sort of violence had happened to you, you lost your job, your computer broke etc etc etc. sniff sniff
It's like what I used to ( and still sometimes still feel) with our children....it's the not knowing thats the worse....
Sort of like Cindy said....if for some reason, you didn't want to be with us studying God's Word anymore, well, ok, but don't just disappear into a black hole....just tell us so we won't worry. We really care about you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sooooo after all that....
Yesterday, I read Amos 3
So Amos 3 talks about why God was judging Northern Israel
( they were ungrateful, willfully ignorant, and they didn't know how to do right)!
Well, those all fit my life to a tee!!!
I have been 'trying'... and actually 'Thanking God' for some many of my abundant blessings....
Yet.... I so often fail..... by forgetting, or just not thinking of the Lord to thank Him....
until waaaay later in the day or night
( better late than never I guess),
but I do not want to settle for that,
its almost the same as not really being grateful at all.
Willfully ignorant reminds me of how children when caught doing something they know they were told repeatedly NOT to do,
Will say:
"I didn't know...you didn't tell me, I didn't understand etc.
It's true, there are occasions we do not understand, or miss
( if told over and over)....it's happened to me, on this thread.
However, I could have asked you Cindy ( like I did the day , if I was ok etc.)
That describes me too and I think it fits just about everyone really. We're all like that. I know it pleases God though when we ask Him to help us so that we won't be like that. I think we all go through stages where we're first like Israel was, then we try on our own not to be, and then we finally ask God to help us to do better. That's when things really start to change, although we may not realize it for a long while. I think that varies- we have good days and bad days and better days, but if we keep on persevering, with God's help, eventually we'll get there.
I wrote about something I studied that may help you someday. I posted it here:
fresh-hope.com/thread/1868/when-trials-love
I will reply to you soon. I am sick again with tonsilitis... I studied Acts 11-12 and now I am moving on Since we're starting a new page, I'm quoting my last reply to you both. I replied to your posts from Feb 7th:
Please read Barbara's post because she answered you about it perfectly and better then I could. All I wanted was for you to tell us when you spend time with the Lord each day, and now you have. You said you spend time with Him every night after work. That's great. That's all I was asking. Like Barbara said, I am not asking anyone to post here at the same time every day. I don't care what time you post here, all I care about is that you do post here at some time every day.
By asking me to create another thread, are you saying you do not want to do this anymore? You said you felt we weren't talking about what we were studying enough here, but I can't talk about anything unless someone brings it up first. If you don't tell me what you're reading, then I can't talk about it can I? I said you don't have to write a lot about what you've read, because I know you hated having to write a lot when I asked you to before....well you thought it was a lot, but it really wasn't. So I thought you'd be happy that you didn't have to write a lot anymore. What I'm saying now though is that you can write as much or as little as you want to about what you studied, and I've always said you can always ask questions about what you studied and I'll try to answer them. So what do you want to do? Are you going to do this with us or are you quitting? Thank you for answering Eva, you did a good job explaining it. Much better then I could!
That describes me too and I think it fits just about everyone really. We're all like that. I know it pleases God though when we ask Him to help us so that we won't be like that. I think we all go through stages where we're first like Israel was, then we try on our own not to be, and then we finally ask God to help us to do better. That's when things really start to change, although we may not realize it for a long while. I think that varies- we have good days and bad days and better days, but if we keep on persevering, with God's help, eventually we'll get there.
I wrote about something I studied that may help you someday. I posted it here:
fresh-hope.com/thread/1868/when-trials-love
I will reply to you soon. I am sick again with tonsilitis... I studied Acts 11-12 and now I am moving on
Please show what you studied on each day you were not here, like I explained several times. Your last post was Feb 7th, so you should say what you studied on Feb 8th; Feb 9th; Feb 10th; and what you studied today. That way every one knows that you studied every day.
Hello everyone. I am feeling much better now. I dont remember in detail to write what I studied before Feb 10. But Feb 11-12 I studied Acts 13. Feb 13-14 Acts 14 Feb 15 Acts 15 Feb 16 I just came back from work and just ate and slept, I felt too sick. I was sleeping more than 12 hours. Hopefully on Feb I had a day off. Feb 17 Acts 16 And now I am moving on to Romans As for the above it took me more time to study one single chapter , because when I was sick it was tto difficult for me to stay consentrated and I was reading the same verses over and over again... Hello everyone. I am feeling much better now. I dont remember in detail to write what I studied before Feb 10. But Feb 11-12 I studied Acts 13. Feb 13-14 Acts 14 Feb 15 Acts 15 Feb 16 I just came back from work and just ate and slept, I felt too sick. I was sleeping more than 12 hours. Hopefully on Feb I had a day off. Feb 17 Acts 16 And now I am moving on to Romans As for the above it took me more time to study one single chapter , because when I was sick it was tto difficult for me to stay consentrated and I was reading the same verses over and over again... Hey guys! Barbara, believe it or not, I just got your Christmas card and your small gift! It was AWESOME! YOU MADE MY DAY! I AM SO HAPPY AND BLESSED :) But I am laughing about our post services... How long it took? 2 months or more? Cindy, if you sent me also a Christmas card, I havent got it yet, maybe on Easter it will arrive! Or next year :P Due to our perfect postal services :) If not, it is ok :) I am just wondering what is wrong with these so called "services". Ah.... Things in my country is getting worse every day... I will write in a little while what I am studying Hey guys! On Feb 19 I studied Romans 5 Feb 20-21 Romans 6 Feb 22-23 Romans 7 Yeterday Romans 8 Today Romans 12 that's horrible that it took so long, but I'm glad you got Barbara's at least!
Sorry guys, I'm really sick (still) you can read why in my post in the chat thread in Christian chat if you want. I studied the first part of Chapter 17 today. I studied Luke Luke 17:1-19 which speaks among other things of how we need to be more grateful to the Lord. Just exactly what I need to hear about today.
Eva, I meant to ask you something yesterday and just wasn't up to it. You shared what you studied and that's wonderful, thank you. But just before coming in here, I was thinking about starting another thread for you for questions you might have, but then, I realized that would be silly, because you can ask your questions about what you're reading right here. The only reason for a separate thread would be if you weren't going to be reading daily and therefore had no place to ask questions. You said that you wanted the thread because you didn't feel we discussed what we read enough, which can be true. There are days, like today when I'm not up to writing a lot. But usually, we do talk about what we've read, and I try to always reply to anything anyone says about what they read - either adding more information about it, or just saying how much I enjoyed it. Yet you haven't really said anything about what you're reading. I realize that may be because you're still not feeling well, and that's fine. I just wanted to bring it up so that you'd know that if you do share about what you're reading, I'll read it and reply and will answer any questions you may have about it.
Hey guys On Feb 25-26 I studied 1st Corinthians 1-2 27-28 1st Corinthians ch 13 29-1 March 2nd Corinthians ch 4 2-3 March 2nd Corithians ch 5 And I am about to see again ch 5 and then I will move to ch 8 You are right Cindy, I have to write more on what I read. I will try to do so starting from what I am going to study today. Hey guys On Feb 25-26 I studied 1st Corinthians 1-2 27-28 1st Corinthians ch 13 29-1 March 2nd Corinthians ch 4 2-3 March 2nd Corithians ch 5 And I am about to see again ch 5 and then I will move to ch 8 You are right Cindy, I have to write more on what I read. I will try to do so starting from what I am going to study today.
Hey guys! I am not home. I am in Thessaloniki and I have limited internet access. I will write as soon as possible to discuss with you what I have been studying Hey guys! I am not home. I am in Thessaloniki and I have limited internet access. I will write as soon as possible to discuss with you what I have been studying Hi Eva thanks for letting us know what happening with you. Hey guys. I managed to have some days off work and came to see my old neighborhood. At least I am trying because its poring rain here. I don't have a computer or a standard connection . I just wanted to let you know I am here. I want to try to go to the church. The old woman I knew from that time asked me if we can go again there like in November because she liked the hymns. But I am not sure about this place after the disappointing experience we had there last time Hey guys. I managed to have some days off work and came to see my old neighborhood. At least I am trying because its poring rain here. I don't have a computer or a standard connection . I just wanted to let you know I am here. I want to try to go to the church. The old woman I knew from that time asked me if we can go again there like in November because she liked the hymns. But I am not sure about this place after the disappointing experience we had there last time
Hey guys :) I am back! Actually I couldnt get my laptop with me, and even if I could I couldnt use it with no internet connection. I had only some megabytes on my phone, which is almost nothing. I dont know if you have internet access through wifi on the streets, some countries in europe do have, but Greece does not. So if you are not at home, that means you have to have some data available from your mobile phone provider, some megabytes only, and this is actually almost nothing. To be honest I dont remember what I have studied exactly these past days. I should have writen the verses down, in a paper or something. And as long as I had a poor internet connection I havent post them immediatelly. I tried to go to another church in another area. found which but to go to. Found a map to get there... But I went to the area and got lost. I could not help myself with the map because in most streets there is not even one sign to show to you in which street you are walking, so... I was wondering around, and then got lost... And I got back without finding it :( And in a city of 800,000 people, Thessaloniki is the 2nd bigger city of Greecethere are only 2 evangelical churches. I found out that there are some pentecostal churches, but I avoid them. You know... Tongues and etc... Some false teachings... Remember about a year ago you gave me a link that had some bible reading plans. Do you still have the link to see some more reading plans? I think it was biblegateway.com, I will search again. I am wonering if it suggests some plans on lets say a topic or something. Hey guys Yesterday I studied Proverbs 4:1-27 and today 2 Corinthians 10: 1-6 and Ephesians 6:10-20 Hey guys :) I am back! Actually I couldnt get my laptop with me, and even if I could I couldnt use it with no internet connection. I had only some megabytes on my phone, which is almost nothing. I dont know if you have internet access through wifi on the streets, some countries in europe do have, but Greece does not. So if you are not at home, that means you have to have some data available from your mobile phone provider, some megabytes only, and this is actually almost nothing. To be honest I dont remember what I have studied exactly these past days. I should have writen the verses down, in a paper or something. And as long as I had a poor internet connection I havent post them immediatelly. I tried to go to another church in another area. found which but to go to. Found a map to get there... But I went to the area and got lost. I could not help myself with the map because in most streets there is not even one sign to show to you in which street you are walking, so... I was wondering around, and then got lost... And I got back without finding it :( And in a city of 800,000 people, Thessaloniki is the 2nd bigger city of Greecethere are only 2 evangelical churches. I found out that there are some pentecostal churches, but I avoid them. You know... Tongues and etc... Some false teachings... Remember about a year ago you gave me a link that had some bible reading plans. Do you still have the link to see some more reading plans? I think it was biblegateway.com, I will search again. I am wonering if it suggests some plans on lets say a topic or something. Today Monday March 21st
I read Zechariah ch. I
This part of v. 3 is so wonderful:
".....Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you..."
 Hey guys Yesterday I studied Proverbs 4:1-27 and today 2 Corinthians 10: 1-6 and Ephesians 6:10-20 
Hey guys! Do you have Easter there? We will next month , on the 1st of May. If thats true, I hope you have a Blessed Easter :) Here is what I studied these days. On the 24th Philippians 4:1-13 on the 25th Romans 12: 1-21 Yesterday Hebrews 3 And today Colossians 3:1-17 I've been thinking... I have changed my Bible translation some months ago. My previous Bible was a bit in a bad condition and I bought a new one at the same translation we used at church. But... I noticed that it is a bit harder to read from this Bible, it uses a bit more formal language and it needs more effort to understand. So, these last 2 days I went back to my old one and it was much more easy for me. So I am thinking to buy a new one in this translation, because as I wrote before this is in a bad condition. I dont know why, but I want my Bible to be perfect , Ι dont want even a small scratch in the cover :P And then I will have 4 Bibles. I have 3, one with small pages to easily have it with me. My old one, my new one. I dont know why I am collecting Bibles :P LOL Thank you that was a great explanation with great Bible quotes!
Yes, when you get time I would like to hear and learn more!! Today Saturday 26th
I read I read Zechariah 6
Hey guys! Do you have Easter there? We will next month , on the 1st of May. If thats true, I hope you have a Blessed Easter :) Here is what I studied these days. On the 24th Philippians 4:1-13 on the 25th Romans 12: 1-21 Yesterday Hebrews 3 And today Colossians 3:1-17 I've been thinking... I have changed my Bible translation some months ago. My previous Bible was a bit in a bad condition and I bought a new one at the same translation we used at church. But... I noticed that it is a bit harder to read from this Bible, it uses a bit more formal language and it needs more effort to understand. So, these last 2 days I went back to my old one and it was much more easy for me. So I am thinking to buy a new one in this translation, because as I wrote before this is in a bad condition. I dont know why, but I want my Bible to be perfect , Ι dont want even a small scratch in the cover :P And then I will have 4 Bibles. I have 3, one with small pages to easily have it with me. My old one, my new one. I dont know why I am collecting Bibles :P LOL
I have lots of Bibles (real book bibles, as well as computer ones lol) I think most people who love God's Word tend to get more bibles. I'd have even more except I usually wind up giving mine away except for the ones that I use the most.
That's good that you've returned to the one that's easier for you to understand though.
Yes, we celebrated Easter yesterday. It was a lovely day for us all!Dear Eva, nothing wrong with collecting bibles LOL
I am guessing the hard to read version was the King James. Cindy pretty much tries to steer people away from it because it is hard to read and other reasons.
Yes Thank you Eva, this Sunday (today) we celebrated Easter.
We did not go to church, as our car is not running, we will have the mechanic look at it Tue. ,.
Today Suday 27th
I read I read Zechariah 7
The people ask the Lord:
v.2 ".........“Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”
God answers them in v. 5 & 6
v.5 ".....‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?
v.6 And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?
We need to remember to ask that ever day, because if we're just reading/studying and not applying it, then it's not doing us as much good as it could be.
I studied Luke 22:54–62 Peter Disowns Jesus. It showed me how important it is to be alert and pray. It showed me why it's so important to train our minds to think righteously, & scripturally, so that we'll do so even when everything seems to be falling apart around us. That way we will walk by faith & not by sight - like Jesus did. I also saw it as a good picture of what fear of man does to us - whether it's fear of what others think of us, or what they'll do to us as individuals, or (like in Peter's case) as the legal authority in the land. Knowing what fear of man does to us showed me another reason it's so important to fear God instead or at least more then men.
What are you confused about Eva? Haven't you read anything in the last 2 and a half weeks since you last posted? Did you see our replies to you? Have you been sick or hurt or something that you've been unable to be here? I sure have missed hearing from you! Thank you Cindy. Yes, it seems like we are /men pleasers' instead of 'God pleasers'. Few are those who love the Lord so much they can withstand the onslaught of not being accepted by our fellowmen.
You did mention what you were having confusion about Eva? Would you care to share?
Today sunday
April 9th
I read Nehemiah 6
Interesting that Nehemiah didn't have a problem with being accepted by "Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies", in fact, he discerned that "they were scheming to harm me".
An application for me to muse about is that people don't have to be trying to literally kill us (me), to be either knowingly or unknowingly, harming us (me).
It's hard enough to sever ties with a non-believer, but imagine if they were persistent like Sanballat, who wrote Nehemiah 5 times?
And then the gloves came off, and the nice ( but sheming to harm him) words became more honest, in their true intentions to harm Nehemiah's reputation, trying to frighten etc.
Moday April 11
I read Nehemiah 7
Nehemiah's response to all this was really amazing, because he didn't get bitter, or angry, he just gave it all to the Lord and kept doing what He'd been called to do. I've got to remember that!
I love what one of my commentaries says about chapter 7:
Reading this long list of difficult names might be boring to the modern student, but these people were God’s “bridge” from the defeats of the past to the hopes of the future. These Jews were the “living link” that connected the historic past with the prophetic future and made it possible for Jesus to come into the world. Ezra 2 and Neh 7 are to the OT what Hebrews 11 is to the NT: a listing of the people whose faith and courage made things happen. Be Determined. Hebrews 11 is often called "the hall of faith".
One things confusing me though. If you look up at your post that I quoted, you said that that "today, Sunday, April 9th, I read Nehemiah 6." then you said later, that "Monday, April 11th," you read Nehemiah 7. You must have just mixed up the dates right? Cause you've been posting every day and so have I..... that's gotta be it,  but for a minute there, it really threw me LOL.
Guys, I am studying daily. But every time I start being here posting what I have done, and believing that I am doing well, I feel I get critisim from the other side. Lets say why you are doing this this way instead of the other way. I get dissapointed and I am not willing to write anything. Speaking honestly thats what I feel. I might be wrong, but this is the way I see these things and I have to say I am dissapointed Eva
I will let Cindy speak to your comment on your being disappointed, herself.
However, I would first like to say, I am glad you told us why you are not posting. I really wondered if you were seriously ill or what?
Further,I do understand how hard it is to take correction and sometimes not feel hurt and disappointed. In the past, I have felt that way much more than I do now...which is not to say, I don't still struggle with it from time to time.
For me ( I do not know how it is for you), but since you are being open and honest, I will speak of my feelings in a honest manner also.
I slowly began to realize that often it was my pride that was hurt. Cindy did not say that to me, God's Holy Spirit revealed it to me.
In other words, I was more concerned about me, my feelings, than I was in truly knowing God's Truth in the Bible.
I don't 'think' this is your problem, but I have often had in the past, an over rated opinion of my intelligence. Don't misunderstand, I do believe that I have a good intelligence and that it is a gift from God.
However, there are many many Godly people, who have been blessed to rightly discern the Word waaaaaay more than I.
There is a difference from being average or maybe slightly above average in secular intelligence, and intelligent in God's word. In fact, David in the Bible made such a claim that he was ( I am paraphrasing because I can't remember the exact verse, I think its in psalms).
But on the other hand God also says he does not choose many wise.
But I truly believe God has blessed Cindy for spending hours and hours, day after day, year after year, with the Love of Jesus as her first, middle, and last priority in her life.
So when she corrects me, and says something like, No that is not really correct....
And my pride immediately feels hurt, I stop and pray for the Lord to humble me and give me a 'teachable' spirit.....
Then
I go back, and because I want to love Jesus with all my heart, and... I know, that Cindy has my best interest in her heart....
I read what she says, because I want to Truth above all and I want to know my Lord and Savior.
I am getting better over time, but it still is hard sometimes, I am still a self-centered, foolish egotistic silly woman at times, who wants to win.
I am not saying this is you at all, but I just want to say, I understand what you are saying, but if you fell criticized/and or criticized unjustly, or your feelings are hurt...
Cindy has said over and over again, tell her.
But I think we both need to realize she puts God first over our feelings. Not that she doesn't care if we feel hurt, I believe she is very compassionate, but she truly loves us too much to let us remain devastated, disappointed, hurt etc.
We may ( if the Lord delays coming for a little while yet) face greater opposition,very very harsh words for being Christians.
We will need to be strong by knowing God's Word, we will need to 'correctly 'correctly' handle the word of truth. In order to do that ( even tho our feelings are hurt from time to time) we may have to overcome our feelings and focus on Jesus and correctly handling the Word.
We need to do that now, whether we face opposition, scorn, hate, etc. or not, I know my ( and you) first intention is to love Jesus and have a greater and greater relationship with Him.
Please don't not comment because you fear correction and disappointment.
One last thing. In the beginning when I first joined FH on several occasions my feelings were so hurt by being corrected, I angrily told Cindy, I was quiting FH!!!!!!!!!!!
She immediately responded with love and compassion but also with some to me, heavy truth, and again with love but loving the Lord Jesus as top priority.
In the end she left it up to me.....but I chose Jesus ( and her LOL) and stayed...until I huffed and puffed and threaten to leave again.
I don't do that now, I am finally beginning to put learning the Truth first ( but I do fall sometimes, I think, well I spent a LOT of time on that verse or that scripture, couldn't Cindy be wrong????)
Sure she could be, I think she would be the first to say so....and we do go back and forth....until God's Word show me, who is rightly discerning the Word and so far, all those hours and days and years, in the Word has been correct.
I told you several times that you didn't have to participate here if you didn't want to, but each time you came back saying you did want to. So I let it go and again kept trying to encourage you. It was honestly very frustrating to me. The whole point of this was to show that we are studying God's Word every single day. Now, if you have been studying His Word daily for the last 12 months or more, then you don't even need to be part of this anyway! I thought, when we first started discussing this, that both you and Barbara said that you did not study daily. It was for that reason that I started this, so that I could help you both get into the habit of daily study. I wanted it to be fun and encouraging for us all. I wanted us to be able to share with each other. That's hard to do when you don't show up most of the time. The few times you do show up each month, you act like nothing's happened and that no one should be worried or upset that you haven't been here. The only people who would act that way, are people who didn't care about you.
Our sin natures pulls us away from God's Word, and it hates correction, just as it hates self control and self discipline. It finds all kinds of excuses to get us away from God's Word and get us away from other godly Christians too. There have been many times when I have not wanted to come here and post, but I did it anyway because I'd made a commitment to both of you. When we make a commitment, we also make it before God, so we don't honor God when we break it. He wants us to keep our word. Our sin nature hates it though and will do all it can to stop us. I don't know if they have this saying in Greece, but here, we have a saying that actions speak louder then words, and it's very true. That you don't post very often tells me that you don't want to be here, and no matter how hard I tried, it hasn't gotten you to come more often. Instead, as you just said, you see my replies as criticism, which they are not. I ask you questions because I'm interested, and because I care. I asked why you were confused because I wanted to help you and I could not do that until I knew what you were confused about. I asked what happened to your computer because I'm often able to fix computers that other people can't fix, so I was hoping I'd be able to help you fix your computer. If you see my posts as discouragement, it's because of your sin nature. It is looking for an excuse to quit, just as it has been all along. I love you and care about you. I don't want to see you lose what you have gained from the Lord. But I'm very much afraid that is what is going to happen. I'm afraid that you either already are backsliding or that you will backslide, because as far as I know you don't go to church regularly and don't have any good solid Christian friends to help you in your walk with God. I don't want to see that happen to you. So I urge you to find a church, any church, and start going to it regularly. No church is perfect, but anything is better then nothing. If you do, then sooner or later, you will find a good godly young woman to be your friend.
Being here regularly with us would help you, but you're not here regularly. You let other things come before this. I know you work hard, and I know you get tired and I know you get sick at times. We all get sick and we all get tired. But this is where that saying comes in: "actions speak louder then words". If you really truly wanted to be here, you would find a way to do it. If being here was really important to you, then this is where you'd be. Being sick or tired wouldn't stop you. The same thing is true for me and for Barbara too, and everyone else for that matter. We all tend to do what we really want to do, and avoid the things that aren't that important to us. Barbara and I live with chronic severe pain and have more diseases then we can count anymore! But we want to spend time with each other in God's Word, so we make it here almost every day to do that. Sure, we miss a day or two once in a while and I take Sunday's off now that I'm going to church, as my children and grandchildren come home from church with me, so I have a house full, and can't stop and take time to post here that day. But no matter how much pain we're in, or how sick we are, we generally come here and post something to let the others know that we think this is important too.
Obviously if we lose our internet connection and don't have any other way of posting here, then we just have to wait till our internet is fixed. If we could find another way to post though, we would. I wasn't upset that you couldn't be here because of no internet.
I noticed one other thing in looking back and reading all the posts including many of Barbara's and my replies to her. I don't think there is anything I said to you Eva, that I didn't also say to Barbara at one time or another. I asked Barbara to explain her schedule, she did and I misunderstood it, and had to apologize for that. I asked her quite a lot of questions over the last few months, but she did not take them as criticisms, she took them for what they were...questions showing that I cared about her and wanted to help her grow in her faith.
I'm tired of being the "teacher". I'm no better then either one of you. I really wanted this thread to be a sharing thread for all of us. So we could share together what the Lord had shown us each day about what we'd read. It has become that for me and Barbara. I just wish it could be that with you too.
One other thing too. Barbara and I have both learned to give other people the benefit of the doubt. In other words, when someone says something to us, and we think it could be taken as criticism or a put down, we choose to think that the other person probably wasn't feeling too well, or was extra tired, and so what they wrote came out wrong. We choose to believe the best about the other person until they prove us wrong. (well, at least we try to, but we're human too and fail sometimes). You'd be surprised at how often it turns out to be true and the other person had no intention of putting us down or criticizing us. Other times, I'll choose to believe that I'm the one that isn't feeling well, and because of that, I'm taking what they said the wrong way. Again, 99% of the time, I'm right when I do that.
So if nothing else, I hope by writing all of this, that you can see that I care about you and love you. It's your choice whether or not you want to participate, just as it always has been. You need to let us know what you decide. In the meantime, I'll pray for you, and I'm sure Barbara is too.
I lost my first post to you so had to rewrite it and I simply have run out of time. I hope this answers your questions though.
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Post by Cindy on Apr 18, 2016 13:05:58 GMT -5
Thursday 14th
I read Nehemiah 9
Friday 15th
Nehemiah 10
Sat. 16th
Nehemiah 11
You're doing really well hon. I studied John 3 but will have to write about it tomorrow as I've spent the last two hours writing the reply to Eva, and just don't have anymore time. Sorry.... |
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Post by evafromgreece on Apr 18, 2016 15:52:12 GMT -5
After reading it all over again, I'm afraid I do not see any criticism and cannot see why you're disappointed. The only criticism was during the first two months when you were not following the directions. And that wasn't even really criticism, it was simply trying to get everyone to do what we had agreed to do, so that this would work for us. I see quite a lot of encouragement in my posts to you. Do you see that too? I tried to encourage you even though you still were not participating the way we had agreed to. I can see by my replies that I tried everything I could to get you to talk more and to participate more, but nothing worked. You have hardly posted at all during all these months, and half of your posts are about why you can't post. That tells me that you don't want to participate, and that's fine. You don't have to.
I told you several times that you didn't have to participate here if you didn't want to, but each time you came back saying you did want to. So I let it go and again kept trying to encourage you. It was honestly very frustrating to me. The whole point of this was to show that we are studying God's Word every single day. Now, if you have been studying His Word daily for the last 12 months or more, then you don't even need to be part of this anyway! I thought, when we first started discussing this, that both you and Barbara said that you did not study daily. It was for that reason that I started this, so that I could help you both get into the habit of daily study. I wanted it to be fun and encouraging for us all. I wanted us to be able to share with each other. That's hard to do when you don't show up most of the time. The few times you do show up each month, you act like nothing's happened and that no one should be worried or upset that you haven't been here. The only people who would act that way, are people who didn't care about you. Our sin natures pulls us away from God's Word, and it hates correction, just as it hates self control and self discipline. It finds all kinds of excuses to get us away from God's Word and get us away from other godly Christians too. There have been many times when I have not wanted to come here and post, but I did it anyway because I'd made a commitment to both of you. When we make a commitment, we also make it before God, so we don't honor God when we break it. He wants us to keep our word. Our sin nature hates it though and will do all it can to stop us. I don't know if they have this saying in Greece, but here, we have a saying that actions speak louder then words, and it's very true. That you don't post very often tells me that you don't want to be here, and no matter how hard I tried, it hasn't gotten you to come more often. Instead, as you just said, you see my replies as criticism, which they are not. I ask you questions because I'm interested, and because I care. I asked why you were confused because I wanted to help you and I could not do that until I knew what you were confused about. I asked what happened to your computer because I'm often able to fix computers that other people can't fix, so I was hoping I'd be able to help you fix your computer. If you see my posts as discouragement, it's because of your sin nature. It is looking for an excuse to quit, just as it has been all along. I love you and care about you. I don't want to see you lose what you have gained from the Lord. But I'm very much afraid that is what is going to happen. I'm afraid that you either already are backsliding or that you will backslide, because as far as I know you don't go to church regularly and don't have any good solid Christian friends to help you in your walk with God. I don't want to see that happen to you. So I urge you to find a church, any church, and start going to it regularly. No church is perfect, but anything is better then nothing. If you do, then sooner or later, you will find a good godly young woman to be your friend. Being here regularly with us would help you, but you're not here regularly. You let other things come before this. I know you work hard, and I know you get tired and I know you get sick at times. We all get sick and we all get tired. But this is where that saying comes in: "actions speak louder then words". If you really truly wanted to be here, you would find a way to do it. If being here was really important to you, then this is where you'd be. Being sick or tired wouldn't stop you. The same thing is true for me and for Barbara too, and everyone else for that matter. We all tend to do what we really want to do, and avoid the things that aren't that important to us. Barbara and I live with chronic severe pain and have more diseases then we can count anymore! But we want to spend time with each other in God's Word, so we make it here almost every day to do that. Sure, we miss a day or two once in a while and I take Sunday's off now that I'm going to church, as my children and grandchildren come home from church with me, so I have a house full, and can't stop and take time to post here that day. But no matter how much pain we're in, or how sick we are, we generally come here and post something to let the others know that we think this is important too. Obviously if we lose our internet connection and don't have any other way of posting here, then we just have to wait till our internet is fixed. If we could find another way to post though, we would. I wasn't upset that you couldn't be here because of no internet. I noticed one other thing in looking back and reading all the posts including many of Barbara's and my replies to her. I don't think there is anything I said to you Eva, that I didn't also say to Barbara at one time or another. I asked Barbara to explain her schedule, she did and I misunderstood it, and had to apologize for that. I asked her quite a lot of questions over the last few months, but she did not take them as criticisms, she took them for what they were...questions showing that I cared about her and wanted to help her grow in her faith. I'm tired of being the "teacher". I'm no better then either one of you. I really wanted this thread to be a sharing thread for all of us. So we could share together what the Lord had shown us each day about what we'd read. It has become that for me and Barbara. I just wish it could be that with you too. One other thing too. Barbara and I have both learned to give other people the benefit of the doubt. In other words, when someone says something to us, and we think it could be taken as criticism or a put down, we choose to think that the other person probably wasn't feeling too well, or was extra tired, and so what they wrote came out wrong. We choose to believe the best about the other person until they prove us wrong. (well, at least we try to, but we're human too and fail sometimes). You'd be surprised at how often it turns out to be true and the other person had no intention of putting us down or criticizing us. Other times, I'll choose to believe that I'm the one that isn't feeling well, and because of that, I'm taking what they said the wrong way. Again, 99% of the time, I'm right when I do that. So if nothing else, I hope by writing all of this, that you can see that I care about you and love you. It's your choice whether or not you want to participate, just as it always has been. You need to let us know what you decide. In the meantime, I'll pray for you, and I'm sure Barbara is too. I lost my first post to you so had to rewrite it and I simply have run out of time. I hope this answers your questions though. Read more: fresh-hope.com/thread/1767/daily-time-lord#ixzz46D5TpR7IThat tells me that you don't want to participate, and that's fine. You don't have to.
That you don't post very often tells me that you don't want to be here, and no matter how hard I tried,
It is looking for an excuse to quit, just as it has been all along. I love you and care about you. I don't want to see you lose what you have gained from the Lord. But I'm very much afraid that is what is going to happen. I'm afraid that you either already are backsliding or that you will backslide, because as far as I know you don't go to church regularly and don't have any good solid Christian friends to help you in your walk with God.
and avoid the things that aren't that important to us.
One other thing too. Barbara and I have both learned to give other people the benefit of the doubt.
Hello Cindy, From the part in red it seems that you have already decided that I dont want to be here, I am not willing to study Gods Word or go to the church and that I am backsliding, and everything that has to do with the Lord is not really important, and that is why I am avoiding them... Wow! And then you speak about the benefit of the doubt... You know something? The fact that you "know" for me , even though you dont know is what makes me avoid to post. I've tried many times to explain this to you. I am trying now one more time, but I dont know if you are going to see this. Sometimes, its good for us to say that we dont know, if we dont, instead of jump into conclusions. I told you again many times, and as I've seen I ve said you again on February 5th, as long as you posted the whole thread, I prefer to read instead of writing to explain why. That really makes me not willing to post. This is the root of the problem. And if its possible to be solved, it would be easier if you tried not to be so sure about what you think. The benefit of the doubt you wrote... Where is it? And I wrote, that I might be wrong about you wanted to critisize. But, you are so sure... Even though you dont know. So instead of being sure that I dont want to participate and that I want to get away from the Lord and find excuses as you say and that is not really importand, try to think for a while for the strange things I write here... Also, isnt it a bit strange that I dont write anymore much personal things, how I feel , what I am doing etc? Havent ever cross your mind that I might not feel that confortable anymore to post because I might be afraid of the reaction I get? For example, about a year ago , or more you wrote that I normally shouldnt have anxiety-fear problems after all these years, when I posted something I was facing that period. It was at the previous FH , so I cannot find it. And that an example of how I actually stopped sharing my thoughts. I am not blaming you, I am just trying to explain. And because all the above assumptions were wrong, I do want to participate, I am not looking for excuses, but not feeling confortable makes me unwilling to post, not to study but to post, AND I DID mention before that this is something that makes me not to post, and tried to explain. If I was really unwilling, it would be much easier I wouldnt be here trying to explain and wanting to be heard... Also, I am going to my church every Sunday, even though I hate this church because theres no other option. Almost 2 years ago I quitted for 2 months searching for another one, but then I did not find anything and got back, discussed with the pastor, but unfortunatelly things didnt get any better. And that was a story I DID share with you. The only true is that I dont have any christian friends around me. I dont know what else to write |
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Post by fearnot on Apr 18, 2016 22:38:50 GMT -5
Eva I noticed you put in red everything you thought of as criticism from Cindy.
I will come back to that in a moment.
But I noticed that you picked and chose what to put in red, and thus, did NOT put in red these statements that Cindy also said:
..."quite a lot of encouragement in my posts to you
.....'and again kept trying to encourage you'
"you act like nothing's happened and that no one should be worried or upset that you haven't been here. The only people who would act that way, are people who didn't care about you'"
(she was saying that we care very much about you, because otherwise, we wouldn't give a hoot or a holler as to why you were missing.....remember this is the first time you have been specific , so we were in the dark so to speak as to why you were not posting)
Again Cindy wrote:
"I ask you questions because I'm interested, and because I care".
I asked why you were confused because I wanted to help you and I could not do that until I knew what you were confused about.
I asked what happened to your computer because I'm often able to fix computers that other people can't fix, so I was hoping I'd be able to help you fix your computer."
I love you and care about you.
I don't want to see you lose what you have gained from the Lord.
I know you work hard,
and
I know you get tired and I know you get sick at times.
I wasn't upset that you couldn't be here because of no internet.
questions showing that I cared about her and wanted to help her grow in her faith.
I'm no better then either one of you.
I hope by writing all of this, that you can see that I care about you and love you.
So why did you not respond to those words written by Cindy?
Twice she said: "I love you".
Okay now to the words you that you found proved your point"
Your first sentence you picked to put in red:
Cindy wrote:
"That tells me that you don't want to participate, and that's fine. You don't have to. "
She said that because ( my opinion, not that I can truly speak for her) before that she had posted....
"You have hardly posted at all during all these months"
Remember Eva, she did not have all detailed infomation that you have only now been revealing....
So based on the information she did have.......
namely you were not posting almost every day
but rather,
hardly at all during all these months,
she could only conclude based on that....
That you did want to participate.
And
You in fact, did NOT want to participate...
because...
you thought she was criticizing you a LOT and thus you choose to read, but not post.
So what she wrote was in fact, only the truth, you did NOT want to post ( because you felt criticized)
However, you did not notice or admit she posted to you ( and sometimes to me) these words:
"Looks like you're both doing well. "
Then to one of your posts she replied:
"Very nice."
To another post:
"Very good Eva!"
Good Eva!
Then she wrote to both of us!!
"But neither of you have done what I asked concerning the days you don't post here."
Please tell me if you saw this as a criticism
and if so....
How else could she have worded it so it would not have sounded like a criticism, Please.
I will tell you honestly when I first read that (actually she had to say it about 3 times before it sunk in),
I think, I felt like it was a criticism at first,
and I felt hurt....
But then
I prayed and immediately, I realized
It was the 'truth'
Yes, I misunderstood it in part, but nevertheless, I was NOT doing it the way she had asked.
Now I suppose we could have demanded the rules to be changed, but like she has said several times, she started this thread because
I can only speak for me,
I was having a very hard time being disciplined
and I was watching things on youtube and netflix and the news etc etc. and they were taking priority in my life,
and I wanted to be held accountable to put God and His word first in my life.
I was sooooo happy Cindy would take time out of her extremely busy life to help me with put God's word first.
I don't know if you had this problem or not?
If not I wonder why you are here....just to have fellowship with us?
One reply by Cindy to a post you made:
Eva, you have only posted a few times on this thread, January 3rd, 4th, and 12th are your only posts before today, so it's been 3 and a half weeks since your last post.
Because it's been so long,
I certainly don't expect you to write a list of what you studied each day for the last 3 weeks. That would be ridiculous.
I would like to know though whether or not you plan on joining us "
I could continue, but tho I can see where you may have interpreted some things as criticism, but you also ignored where she said:
I love you, I am worried about you etc.
I did read where you said you thought we were doing this thread because quote:
"We are doing this in order to be closer to the Lord and learn His Word."
Actually, it's to be disciplined to study God's Word every day ( that was my issue)....
to be closer to the Lord and learn His Word, would be to go to a Bible study part of this board.
Maybe this is one area of great confusion for both you and Cindy?
See we 'were' doing Bible Studies,
but
Cindy added this 'special' this thread for an issue I was having
and
maybe you were not,
nor
maybe you never ever had the problem I was having?
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 19, 2016 0:11:32 GMT -5
Sunday April 17
Nehemiah 12
Not just the temple should be Holy unto the Lord, but even the walls and the city too was to be dedicated to Him.
There was a Thanks-Giving ceremony and a Purification ceremony.
Things needed to be done in order, decently and carefully planned.
This is something I have needed all my life and have lacked, which is why I am soooo grateful for this thread, at least I am being held accountable for one little area in my life, thank you sooo much Cindy for being a friend, sister, and partner in helping to hold me accountable!!
Monday, April 18th
Nehemiah 13
Nehemiah is such an example to me, because he did not look to people to praise him, but Nehemiah was only concerned in pleasing God.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 19, 2016 0:18:52 GMT -5
Eva:
I did see one area of possible misunderstanding. It was where Cindy wondered why you were jumping around so much in your Bible study/reading.
I read that and wondered if I might have been the culprit for that confusion?
When we first started I was going back and forth one day in the New Testament the next day in the Old.
perhaps you thought that was what we were supposed to be doing?
As soon as I read Cindy's correction to you, I realized that I should not be doing that.
It's not like Cindy's 'rules' are God's rules. I could continue doing it that way, if I chose, but I read her reasoning as why not to do it that way, and decided it made good sense ( something I sometimes lack LOL) so I was fine with doing it her way.
But I am sorry if you were following my lead and then you got the correction and not me!
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Post by Cindy on Apr 19, 2016 10:49:45 GMT -5
After reading it all over again, I'm afraid I do not see any criticism and cannot see why you're disappointed. The only criticism was during the first two months when you were not following the directions. And that wasn't even really criticism, it was simply trying to get everyone to do what we had agreed to do, so that this would work for us. I see quite a lot of encouragement in my posts to you. Do you see that too? I tried to encourage you even though you still were not participating the way we had agreed to. I can see by my replies that I tried everything I could to get you to talk more and to participate more, but nothing worked. You have hardly posted at all during all these months, and half of your posts are about why you can't post. That tells me that you don't want to participate, and that's fine. You don't have to.
I told you several times that you didn't have to participate here if you didn't want to, but each time you came back saying you did want to. So I let it go and again kept trying to encourage you. It was honestly very frustrating to me. The whole point of this was to show that we are studying God's Word every single day. Now, if you have been studying His Word daily for the last 12 months or more, then you don't even need to be part of this anyway! I thought, when we first started discussing this, that both you and Barbara said that you did not study daily. It was for that reason that I started this, so that I could help you both get into the habit of daily study. I wanted it to be fun and encouraging for us all. I wanted us to be able to share with each other. That's hard to do when you don't show up most of the time. The few times you do show up each month, you act like nothing's happened and that no one should be worried or upset that you haven't been here. The only people who would act that way, are people who didn't care about you. Our sin natures pulls us away from God's Word, and it hates correction, just as it hates self control and self discipline. It finds all kinds of excuses to get us away from God's Word and get us away from other godly Christians too. There have been many times when I have not wanted to come here and post, but I did it anyway because I'd made a commitment to both of you. When we make a commitment, we also make it before God, so we don't honor God when we break it. He wants us to keep our word. Our sin nature hates it though and will do all it can to stop us. I don't know if they have this saying in Greece, but here, we have a saying that actions speak louder then words, and it's very true. That you don't post very often tells me that you don't want to be here, and no matter how hard I tried, it hasn't gotten you to come more often. Instead, as you just said, you see my replies as criticism, which they are not. I ask you questions because I'm interested, and because I care. I asked why you were confused because I wanted to help you and I could not do that until I knew what you were confused about. I asked what happened to your computer because I'm often able to fix computers that other people can't fix, so I was hoping I'd be able to help you fix your computer. If you see my posts as discouragement, it's because of your sin nature. It is looking for an excuse to quit, just as it has been all along. I love you and care about you. I don't want to see you lose what you have gained from the Lord. But I'm very much afraid that is what is going to happen. I'm afraid that you either already are backsliding or that you will backslide, because as far as I know you don't go to church regularly and don't have any good solid Christian friends to help you in your walk with God. I don't want to see that happen to you. So I urge you to find a church, any church, and start going to it regularly. No church is perfect, but anything is better then nothing. If you do, then sooner or later, you will find a good godly young woman to be your friend. Being here regularly with us would help you, but you're not here regularly. You let other things come before this. I know you work hard, and I know you get tired and I know you get sick at times. We all get sick and we all get tired. But this is where that saying comes in: "actions speak louder then words". If you really truly wanted to be here, you would find a way to do it. If being here was really important to you, then this is where you'd be. Being sick or tired wouldn't stop you. The same thing is true for me and for Barbara too, and everyone else for that matter. We all tend to do what we really want to do, and avoid the things that aren't that important to us. Barbara and I live with chronic severe pain and have more diseases then we can count anymore! But we want to spend time with each other in God's Word, so we make it here almost every day to do that. Sure, we miss a day or two once in a while and I take Sunday's off now that I'm going to church, as my children and grandchildren come home from church with me, so I have a house full, and can't stop and take time to post here that day. But no matter how much pain we're in, or how sick we are, we generally come here and post something to let the others know that we think this is important too. Obviously if we lose our internet connection and don't have any other way of posting here, then we just have to wait till our internet is fixed. If we could find another way to post though, we would. I wasn't upset that you couldn't be here because of no internet. I noticed one other thing in looking back and reading all the posts including many of Barbara's and my replies to her. I don't think there is anything I said to you Eva, that I didn't also say to Barbara at one time or another. I asked Barbara to explain her schedule, she did and I misunderstood it, and had to apologize for that. I asked her quite a lot of questions over the last few months, but she did not take them as criticisms, she took them for what they were...questions showing that I cared about her and wanted to help her grow in her faith. I'm tired of being the "teacher". I'm no better then either one of you. I really wanted this thread to be a sharing thread for all of us. So we could share together what the Lord had shown us each day about what we'd read. It has become that for me and Barbara. I just wish it could be that with you too. One other thing too. Barbara and I have both learned to give other people the benefit of the doubt. In other words, when someone says something to us, and we think it could be taken as criticism or a put down, we choose to think that the other person probably wasn't feeling too well, or was extra tired, and so what they wrote came out wrong. We choose to believe the best about the other person until they prove us wrong. (well, at least we try to, but we're human too and fail sometimes). You'd be surprised at how often it turns out to be true and the other person had no intention of putting us down or criticizing us. Other times, I'll choose to believe that I'm the one that isn't feeling well, and because of that, I'm taking what they said the wrong way. Again, 99% of the time, I'm right when I do that. So if nothing else, I hope by writing all of this, that you can see that I care about you and love you. It's your choice whether or not you want to participate, just as it always has been. You need to let us know what you decide. In the meantime, I'll pray for you, and I'm sure Barbara is too. I lost my first post to you so had to rewrite it and I simply have run out of time. I hope this answers your questions though. Read more: fresh-hope.com/thread/1767/daily-time-lord#ixzz46D5TpR7IThat tells me that you don't want to participate, and that's fine. You don't have to.
That you don't post very often tells me that you don't want to be here, and no matter how hard I tried,
It is looking for an excuse to quit, just as it has been all along. I love you and care about you. I don't want to see you lose what you have gained from the Lord. But I'm very much afraid that is what is going to happen. I'm afraid that you either already are backsliding or that you will backslide, because as far as I know you don't go to church regularly and don't have any good solid Christian friends to help you in your walk with God.
and avoid the things that aren't that important to us.
One other thing too. Barbara and I have both learned to give other people the benefit of the doubt.
Hello Cindy, From the part in red it seems that you have already decided that I dont want to be here, I am not willing to study Gods Word or go to the church and that I am backsliding, and everything that has to do with the Lord is not really important, and that is why I am avoiding them... Wow! And then you speak about the benefit of the doubt... You know something? The fact that you "know" for me , even though you dont know is what makes me avoid to post. I've tried many times to explain this to you. I am trying now one more time, but I dont know if you are going to see this. Sometimes, its good for us to say that we dont know, if we dont, instead of jump into conclusions. I told you again many times, and as I've seen I ve said you again on February 5th, as long as you posted the whole thread, I prefer to read instead of writing to explain why. That really makes me not willing to post. This is the root of the problem. And if its possible to be solved, it would be easier if you tried not to be so sure about what you think. The benefit of the doubt you wrote... Where is it? And I wrote, that I might be wrong about you wanted to critisize. But, you are so sure... Even though you dont know. So instead of being sure that I dont want to participate and that I want to get away from the Lord and find excuses as you say and that is not really importand, try to think for a while for the strange things I write here... Also, isnt it a bit strange that I dont write anymore much personal things, how I feel , what I am doing etc? Havent ever cross your mind that I might not feel that confortable anymore to post because I might be afraid of the reaction I get? For example, about a year ago , or more you wrote that I normally shouldnt have anxiety-fear problems after all these years, when I posted something I was facing that period. It was at the previous FH , so I cannot find it. And that an example of how I actually stopped sharing my thoughts. I am not blaming you, I am just trying to explain. And because all the above assumptions were wrong, I do want to participate, I am not looking for excuses, but not feeling confortable makes me unwilling to post, not to study but to post, AND I DID mention before that this is something that makes me not to post, and tried to explain. If I was really unwilling, it would be much easier I wouldnt be here trying to explain and wanting to be heard... Also, I am going to my church every Sunday, even though I hate this church because theres no other option. Almost 2 years ago I quitted for 2 months searching for another one, but then I did not find anything and got back, discussed with the pastor, but unfortunatelly things didnt get any better. And that was a story I DID share with you. The only true is that I dont have any christian friends around me. I dont know what else to write Eva I noticed you put in red everything you thought of as criticism from Cindy.
I will come back to that in a moment.
But I noticed that you picked and chose what to put in red, and thus, did NOT put in red these statements that Cindy also said:
..."quite a lot of encouragement in my posts to you
.....'and again kept trying to encourage you'
"you act like nothing's happened and that no one should be worried or upset that you haven't been here. The only people who would act that way, are people who didn't care about you'"
(she was saying that we care very much about you, because otherwise, we wouldn't give a hoot or a holler as to why you were missing.....remember this is the first time you have been specific , so we were in the dark so to speak as to why you were not posting)
Again Cindy wrote:
"I ask you questions because I'm interested, and because I care".
I asked why you were confused because I wanted to help you and I could not do that until I knew what you were confused about.
I asked what happened to your computer because I'm often able to fix computers that other people can't fix, so I was hoping I'd be able to help you fix your computer."
I love you and care about you.
I don't want to see you lose what you have gained from the Lord.
I know you work hard,
and
I know you get tired and I know you get sick at times.
I wasn't upset that you couldn't be here because of no internet.
questions showing that I cared about her and wanted to help her grow in her faith.
I'm no better then either one of you.
I hope by writing all of this, that you can see that I care about you and love you.
So why did you not respond to those words written by Cindy?
Twice she said: "I love you".
Okay now to the words you that you found proved your point"
Your first sentence you picked to put in red:
Cindy wrote:
"That tells me that you don't want to participate, and that's fine. You don't have to. "
She said that because ( my opinion, not that I can truly speak for her) before that she had posted....
"You have hardly posted at all during all these months"
Remember Eva, she did not have all detailed infomation that you have only now been revealing....
So based on the information she did have.......
namely you were not posting almost every day
but rather,
hardly at all during all these months,
she could only conclude based on that....
That you did want to participate.
And
You in fact, did NOT want to participate...
because...
you thought she was criticizing you a LOT and thus you choose to read, but not post.
So what she wrote was in fact, only the truth, you did NOT want to post ( because you felt criticized)
However, you did not notice or admit she posted to you ( and sometimes to me) these words:
"Looks like you're both doing well. "
Then to one of your posts she replied:
"Very nice."
To another post:
"Very good Eva!"
Good Eva!
Then she wrote to both of us!!
"But neither of you have done what I asked concerning the days you don't post here."
Please tell me if you saw this as a criticism
and if so....
How else could she have worded it so it would not have sounded like a criticism, Please.
I will tell you honestly when I first read that (actually she had to say it about 3 times before it sunk in),
I think, I felt like it was a criticism at first,
and I felt hurt....
But then
I prayed and immediately, I realized
It was the 'truth'
Yes, I misunderstood it in part, but nevertheless, I was NOT doing it the way she had asked.
Now I suppose we could have demanded the rules to be changed, but like she has said several times, she started this thread because
I can only speak for me,
I was having a very hard time being disciplined
and I was watching things on youtube and netflix and the news etc etc. and they were taking priority in my life,
and I wanted to be held accountable to put God and His word first in my life.
I was sooooo happy Cindy would take time out of her extremely busy life to help me with put God's word first.
I don't know if you had this problem or not?
If not I wonder why you are here....just to have fellowship with us?
One reply by Cindy to a post you made:
Eva, you have only posted a few times on this thread, January 3rd, 4th, and 12th are your only posts before today, so it's been 3 and a half weeks since your last post.
Because it's been so long,
I certainly don't expect you to write a list of what you studied each day for the last 3 weeks. That would be ridiculous.
I would like to know though whether or not you plan on joining us "
I could continue, but tho I can see where you may have interpreted some things as criticism, but you also ignored where she said:
I love you, I am worried about you etc.
I did read where you said you thought we were doing this thread because quote:
"We are doing this in order to be closer to the Lord and learn His Word."
Actually, it's to be disciplined to study God's Word every day ( that was my issue)....
to be closer to the Lord and learn His Word, would be to go to a Bible study part of this board.
Maybe this is one area of great confusion for both you and Cindy?
See we 'were' doing Bible Studies,
but
Cindy added this 'special' this thread for an issue I was having
and
maybe you were not,
nor
maybe you never ever had the problem I was having?
Sunday April 17
Nehemiah 12
Not just the temple should be Holy unto the Lord, but even the walls and the city too was to be dedicated to Him.
There was a Thanks-Giving ceremony and a Purification ceremony.
Things needed to be done in order, decently and carefully planned.
This is something I have needed all my life and have lacked, which is why I am soooo grateful for this thread, at least I am being held accountable for one little area in my life, thank you sooo much Cindy for being a friend, sister, and partner in helping to hold me accountable!!
Monday, April 18th
Nehemiah 13
Nehemiah is such an example to me, because he did not look to people to praise him, but Nehemiah was only concerned in pleasing God.
; while some versions use the word "fitting" others use the word "decently". It reminded me too of how it's often illustrated as well as said outright all through God's Word. “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints,” (1 Corinthians 14:33) It seem to be particularly said and shown about how we worship. In the OT, God put several people to death for not doing things the way He said to do them! And the passage I quoted at first didn't make sense to me because you'd think it would say God is not a God of disorder but of order or something like that; but instead it says, "peace". It took me awhile to realize that there is never peace in any kind of disorder, and that true peace can only exist within us if we're saved, and if we're saved, that peace, that order, will begin to show itself in other aspects of our life. 1 Timothy 2:9 shows us that this shows itself even in how we dress and Romans 13:13 relates it to how we live our lives in general.
And you know, what you said about being held accountable in one area, is true of course, but you'll be surprised at how this one thing will literally overflow into other areas of your life eventually. It's only natural for it to do so...at least for those of us who are saved. It happens so slowly though that we generally don't even notice it till years later when we look back. I guess it's like the fruit of the spirit, which are all attributes of our God. As His children, we take after Him, and the longer He's spent training us, the more we look like Him. And this too is one of His attributes, so it's only natural for us to begin to take after Him in this as well eventually. Pretty cool, huh?
Eva:
I did see one area of possible misunderstanding. It was where Cindy wondered why you were jumping around so much in your Bible study/reading.
I read that and wondered if I might have been the culprit for that confusion?
When we first started I was going back and forth one day in the New Testament the next day in the Old.
perhaps you thought that was what we were supposed to be doing?
As soon as I read Cindy's correction to you, I realized that I should not be doing that.
It's not like Cindy's 'rules' are God's rules. I could continue doing it that way, if I chose, but I read her reasoning as why not to do it that way, and decided it made good sense ( something I sometimes lack LOL) so I was fine with doing it her way.
But I am sorry if you were following my lead and then you got the correction and not me! |
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Post by Cindy on Apr 19, 2016 10:56:27 GMT -5
Boy did I get ahead of myself yesterday! I thought I'd finished John 3, but I hadn't! I did today though. I read John 3:22-36. I finally finished studying it today, but still need to absorb it and determine how the Lord wants me to apply it to my life now. I'll have to look at it again tomorrow for that, because there's just so much there it's hard for me to summarize what I've gotten from it.
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Post by evafromgreece on Apr 19, 2016 15:01:07 GMT -5
Guys, I would appreciate a thread to discuss this. I dont want to argue, and I dont believe that if Cindy wrote something more on this would be arguing.
I know Cindy wrote more than the things I putted on red colour. Not mentioning those things does not mean I dont see them also or I dont consider them. If I didint see that also, love and care, I wouldnt try to solve this, even late. I believe I should have open this conversation earlier.
But, I will tell you again, one small thing : Please try not to jump in conclusions. Even if the things I wrote might sound crazy, please consider them for a minute.
Anyway...
I studied from Matthew 1-11
In Matthew 11:3 John asks if Jesus was the Messiah. Why? Didnt he know already? Didnt he recognise Him from the baptism in chapter 3?
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 19, 2016 22:35:17 GMT -5
About you wondering why John the Baptist asked if Jesus was the Messiah. I wonder if it was because he was in prison, perhaps thinking he might die there. Maybe being tired he like all humans he had an attack of lack of faith, perhaps satan was planting doubt in his mind, and so John did what we all should do when that happens....
John asked Jesus.
God maybe allowed John to have those very doubts, for all the Christians who would throughout history be thrown in prison about to die.
He is an example to us, showing what we should do when such doubt attacks us.....ask.
John was able to ask the flesh and blood Jesus, we can pray to God the son, who is back in Heaven, who defeated satan and death.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 19, 2016 23:32:08 GMT -5
Today Tue 19th
I read Mark 1: 1-8
I read that Mark was writing to the Romans ( more or less, rather than say the Jews)
So he didn't need to include a lengthy genealogy if it were for the Jews.
Further the action is fast paced sort like the action centered Romans.
Mark does however quote Isaiah in order to introduce John the Baptist.
Now for those who are interested in fashion and food, we get a most unusual image of John who wore clothes of camel's hair, accessorized with a leather belt. ( I think God may have a message for me in this description, that He uses people who are not the most beautifully dressed.....
nor eat the most sumptuous meals)
John ate 'locusts and wild honey'.....I could go with the wild honey, but pass on the locusts!
However, John was also a Holy and humble man.....something even more important.
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Post by Cindy on Apr 20, 2016 11:28:56 GMT -5
Guys, I would appreciate a thread to discuss this. I dont want to argue, and I dont believe that if Cindy wrote something more on this would be arguing. I know Cindy wrote more than the things I putted on red colour. Not mentioning those things does not mean I dont see them also or I dont consider them. If I didint see that also, love and care, I wouldnt try to solve this, even late. I believe I should have open this conversation earlier. But, I will tell you again, one small thing : Please try not to jump in conclusions. Even if the things I wrote might sound crazy, please consider them for a minute. Anyway... I studied from Matthew 1-11 In Matthew 11:3 John asks if Jesus was the Messiah. Why? Didnt he know already? Didnt he recognise Him from the baptism in chapter 3?
About you wondering why John the Baptist asked if Jesus was the Messiah. I wonder if it was because he was in prison, perhaps thinking he might die there. Maybe being tired he like all humans he had an attack of lack of faith, perhaps satan was planting doubt in his mind, and so John did what we all should do when that happens....
John asked Jesus.
God maybe allowed John to have those very doubts, for all the Christians who would throughout history be thrown in prison about to die.
He is an example to us, showing what we should do when such doubt attacks us.....ask.
John was able to ask the flesh and blood Jesus, we can pray to God the son, who is back in Heaven, who defeated satan and death.Today Tue 19th
I read Mark 1: 1-8
I read that Mark was writing to the Romans ( more or less, rather than say the Jews)
So he didn't need to include a lengthy genealogy if it were for the Jews.
Further the action is fast paced sort like the action centered Romans.
Mark does however quote Isaiah in order to introduce John the Baptist.
Now for those who are interested in fashion and food, we get a most unusual image of John who wore clothes of camel's hair, accessorized with a leather belt. ( I think God may have a message for me in this description, that He uses people who are not the most beautifully dressed.....
nor eat the most sumptuous meals)
John ate 'locusts and wild honey'.....I could go with the wild honey, but pass on the locusts!
However, John was also a Holy and humble man.....something even more important.
I wound up reading Jonah today instead of finishing up that chapter in John.  The 4th chapter was part of my devotional and it was so good that I wound up studying the entire thing again. I'd love to share it with you if it's something you'd be interested in. But rather then write it all here, I'm going to start a new thread for it. I'm just going to share about chapter 4 to start with, but may wind up doing the whole book later if I have time, since it's so short. (of course the Lord packed so much into it that regardless of it's short length, you could write many books about it lol)
Anyway, for now, I'll just start a new thread in this forum about chapter 4 and share what some of the commentaries said as well as the devotional. It blew me away and I couldn't believe that I'd forgotten all about it! 
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 20, 2016 14:25:41 GMT -5
Thank you Cindy.
I will go look for your post on Jonah. It already sounds great!! :-)
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Post by evafromgreece on Apr 20, 2016 15:37:20 GMT -5
Ok guys, I believe you both made the issue about John it clear to me.
Yesterday I studied Matthew ch 12 and now I am moving on.
I dont have something to comment
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Post by Cindy on Apr 21, 2016 11:54:42 GMT -5
Thank you Cindy.
I will go look for your post on Jonah. It already sounds great!! :-) Ok guys, I believe you both made the issue about John it clear to me. Yesterday I studied Matthew ch 12 and now I am moving on. I dont have something to comment
I finally finished John 3 and started on John 4. I posted an article, that I'm now convinced that I wrote a long time ago that I found in my notes for John 4.
OK, I have something embarrassing to tell you guys and once my decision is made, may need you guys to hold me accountable for a change...
Here's my problem: I've been studying the Lord's word the same way for the last 16 years. I always start right after I wake up and continue until I have to come here and post, and then I eat and go do my chores around the house when I'm done here. All years this year I've been feeling like I need to curtail my study time so that I have more time to do the things needed around the house. It was never even possible before the Lord showed me that I wouldn't be in so much pain if I slept sitting up, but now, it is possible. I'm still in a lot of pain, but it's nothing like it used to be. Anyway, I've been trying and trying and trying, and I simply cannot tear myself away from His Word!!!! I always wind up running very, very late, (like today - it's almost 1pm now) I usually start my studying by 7am - sometimes a little earlier, depending on when I wake up. If I allowed myself to study as long as I really wanted to, I'd be just finishing up when Bruce got home from work at 3:30. (I've done that a number of times so I know lol) My goal was to finish studying by 10 am. But when I think about it, that's only giving me 3 hours for study and prayer! I just can't do it in that little amount of time! Well, I guess the truth is that I can, but I don't want to stop! If I was positive that the Lord wanted me to quit sooner, I'd do it with no problem, but I'm not sure about it. So I guess that's the real problem. But I always wind up feeling rushed and feeling torn.... I really do want to do more around the house now, but I don't want to give up my time with the Lord! So what can I do? I don't want to study after Bruce is home, because then I won't be able to spend any time with him, and that's important too, and I know the Lord wants me to spend time with my husband, so that's out. I seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's driving me nuts. Somehow I've got to decide what I'm going to do and then discipline myself to do it.
Just writing about my problem has already helped some, because I'm starting to see there's some other alternatives, like maybe only ending my study time early some days and not all of them, or something like that...although, knowing me, I'm not really sure that would work either.... it's hard because before I started sleeping, I used to literally study for hours during the night when I couldn't sleep and then continue to study in the early morning, so that by 9 or 10, I'd often already been studying for 5, 6 or more hours. Anyway, have you guys got any ideas? Could you pray that the Lord would both guide me to the best decision and then help me do it? I'd sure appreciate it!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 21, 2016 21:44:00 GMT -5
I would love to have your problem LOL
In fact, I do want to go more and more to your 'problem'.
Tho in fact, I too need to do more ( a LOT) more housework!!
I have always been ashamed at how little time I spend with the Lord in His Word, and now, upon hearing for years and years 6 hours in what you log on average well sigh!!
It's both a discouragement and a great great example!
I am reminded of Jesus Words to Martha about housework in Luke 10: 41,& 42
"41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
You are already a Mary :-)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 21, 2016 22:01:03 GMT -5
Yesterday Wed. April 20th
I read mark 1:9-12
The baptism and desert testing of Jesus.
At the baptism, all 3 persons of the Godhead are together ( like they were at Creation.
Mark doesn't go into the temptation much, but one thing he did include somewhat slightly puzzled me that it was included.
It said, Jesus was "He was with the wild animals".
The reason it mystified me, was because I just assumed various animals would be out in the desert, and every word of God has a reason to be there....
( like the difference between the word a and the......Jesus said he is THE way....not A way.....A would mean one of many, THE is the ONLY way).
So I wonder at the meaning of wild animals being with him?
Today Thursday April 21
I read Mark 1:14-20
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Post by Cindy on Apr 22, 2016 11:24:34 GMT -5
I would love to have your problem LOL
In fact, I do want to go more and more to your 'problem'.
Tho in fact, I too need to do more ( a LOT) more housework!!
I have always been ashamed at how little time I spend with the Lord in His Word, and now, upon hearing for years and years 6 hours in what you log on average well sigh!!
It's both a discouragement and a great great example!
I am reminded of Jesus Words to Martha about housework in Luke 10: 41,& 42
"41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
You are already a Mary :-)
That's a good reminder about what Jesus said to Martha too. What bothers me though is the Lord says we're to be moderate in all things and so not to over do anything. In other words, Martha's housekeeping was wrong because she was doing that above and instead of all other things. Her sister on the other hand, did help with housework normally, but because she recognized that hearing Jesus was more important, set that aside and chose to listen to Him instead. Even studying God's Word can be done "too much", and that's where I am right now. It wasn't "too much" before as it was all I could do, but now I'm able to do other things - granted, not very much, and not for very long, but still, I can and should be at least trying to do some other things. Therefore I need to put His Word away at some point and get about His business, even if it's only to clean my house a little. I have the sense that the Lord is going to be bringing other people into my life for me to interact with, and I need to be ready for that. It's time now for me to put all He's taught me into practice here at home and at my new church. I don't mean to imply that I haven't put His Word into practice already, but I've honestly had very few people besides my husband and my youngest daughter and her family to practice on. I believe the Lord is preparing me for a new direction or purpose that He has for my life. I have absolutely no idea what it will be, except that I think it will involve seeing more people - but then I'm already seeing more since I've been able to go back to church. I guess what I mean is that I think it will involve having more close personal relationships with more people then ever before. In what way, or how it will happen, or why, that I don't know. And of course, I could be completely wrong about the people part, but that's what I've sensed so far.
Anyway, in order to do it, I need to discipline myself to stop my studying sooner. I gave it a lot of thought after writing about it yesterday and came to the conclusion that I don't need to stop earlier on every day, because the days I have extra pain, I can't do more anyway, so those days I can continue to study later.
So will you pray for me that I'll be able to discipline myself to quit studying earlier and that the Lord would help me determine what my schedule should be and then be obedient to my new schedule?
Once I've figured out what it should be, I'll let you know and then if you're willing you can hold me accountable to it, ok?
Yesterday Wed. April 20th
I read mark 1:9-12
The baptism and desert testing of Jesus.
At the baptism, all 3 persons of the Godhead are together ( like they were at Creation.
Mark doesn't go into the temptation much, but one thing he did include somewhat slightly puzzled me that it was included.
It said, Jesus was "He was with the wild animals".
The reason it mystified me, was because I just assumed various animals would be out in the desert, and every word of God has a reason to be there....
( like the difference between the word a and the......Jesus said he is THE way....not A way.....A would mean one of many, THE is the ONLY way).
So I wonder at the meaning of wild animals being with him?
Today Thursday April 21
I read Mark 1:14-20
You're right that there's a reason for it. Remember, the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the desert to be tempted. It's interesting that all Mark really says about His temptation is that angels attended Him and that He was with wild animals. We know from the other gospels what Satan did, and that Jesus defeated Him with His Word. That He was tested for 40 days, reminds us that Israel was tested for 40 years and failed. Adam and Eve were tested in a garden and failed too, but Jesus was in the wilderness and He succeeded where everyone else failed. When Adam and Eve failed, they lost their dominion over creation (which included the animals) but Jesus never lost that dominion and in fact restored it for those who put their trust in Him. (Heb. 2:6–8) The wild beasts didn't harm Him, which was a kind of preview of the Millennial Kingdom when "the lion and lamb will lie down together" and showed that He had the power to make that happen. The word that's translated "animals" is also translated "beasts", especially in Revelation, and usually is talking of Satan's minions. Mark was most likely letting us know that a hostile, evil, supernatural aura was all around the desert area where Jesus went to be tested. That's quite likely considering that Satan would have gone all out to defeat our Lord and would have used everything he had. The animals, or "beasts' could have also been demons, perhaps demons possessing animals or just the actual demons themselves. So you can get a better idea of it, I looked up some of the times it's translated as "beasts" or (or beast) in Revelation. I think it shows just how evil those wild animals that were around Jesus were:
“I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:8)
“And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them,” (Revelation 11:7)
“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.” (Revelation 13:1)
“It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.” (Revelation 13:12)
So we can see that Jesus was tempted and tried far worse then any of us have ever been or ever will be, because God restrains Satan when he's allowed to test us, but He didn't restrain Satan at all when he came against Jesus! Yet our Lord overcame him! What a mighty God we serve!!!!
I think we discussed this a long time ago when we were doing the study on the gospels. it really helps if you put notes in your bible itself to remind you of things. The don't have to be long - can't be since there's not enough room lol, but even putting something like "animals = beasts; demons, evil"; (or whatever words would help you remember) just enough to jog your memory about what you learned.
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Post by evafromgreece on Apr 22, 2016 16:28:28 GMT -5
Hey guys,
The last 2 days I studied Matthew ch 13-16.
I have to say ch 14:1-12 made me angry, I dont know how to describe it in another way, seeing again how John the baptist die because of one man have sinful lust for a woman. Actually, I see there one woman "making" a man doing something really bad, he could say no actually but he didnt. But, that might be a childish thought, I know its not right and accurate, but what if someone claims that women are "more evil" than men? Another example Adam and Eve. It looks like it, but I know thats not true, because men could have said no and not sin.
Also, the diciples though they have seen in 14:13-21 Jesus feeding the crowd, they have doubts again in 15:32-39 and again they asked Jesus "how we can feed all them"... But in both times the patient crownd reminds me of Luke 12:31
In Matthew 16:4 I don understand what is the sign of Jonah, and I think it was mentioned also before in the book.
I am moving on... I will let you know what I studied and what I think about what I studied
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Post by evafromgreece on Apr 22, 2016 16:37:11 GMT -5
OK, I have something embarrassing to tell you guys and once my decision is made, may need you guys to hold me accountable for a change...
Here's my problem: I've been studying the Lord's word the same way for the last 16 years. I always start right after I wake up and continue until I have to come here and post, and then I eat and go do my chores around the house when I'm done here. All years this year I've been feeling like I need to curtail my study time so that I have more time to do the things needed around the house. It was never even possible before the Lord showed me that I wouldn't be in so much pain if I slept sitting up, but now, it is possible. I'm still in a lot of pain, but it's nothing like it used to be. Anyway, I've been trying and trying and trying, and I simply cannot tear myself away from His Word!!!! I always wind up running very, very late, (like today - it's almost 1pm now) I usually start my studying by 7am - sometimes a little earlier, depending on when I wake up. If I allowed myself to study as long as I really wanted to, I'd be just finishing up when Bruce got home from work at 3:30. (I've done that a number of times so I know lol) My goal was to finish studying by 10 am. But when I think about it, that's only giving me 3 hours for study and prayer! I just can't do it in that little amount of time! Well, I guess the truth is that I can, but I don't want to stop! If I was positive that the Lord wanted me to quit sooner, I'd do it with no problem, but I'm not sure about it. So I guess that's the real problem. But I always wind up feeling rushed and feeling torn.... I really do want to do more around the house now, but I don't want to give up my time with the Lord! So what can I do? I don't want to study after Bruce is home, because then I won't be able to spend any time with him, and that's important too, and I know the Lord wants me to spend time with my husband, so that's out. I seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's driving me nuts. Somehow I've got to decide what I'm going to do and then discipline myself to do it.
Cindy, what if you have some time studying and praying until 10 or 10.30 and then after Bruce gets home continue for some time. For a example, if he needs some time to just relax after work, you will get to have some more study time and then again have the time to spend some time together? I suppose he needs some time to relax? Right? |
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Post by Cindy on Apr 23, 2016 9:42:09 GMT -5
It's great to see such a great post from you Eva! I'm afraid I just ran in here to let you all know that I can't post today as we have family parties to go to and shopping etc. I'll be back as soon as I can though! (hopefully tomorrow, God willing!)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 23, 2016 15:03:11 GMT -5
Yes, I will be willing to hold you accountable. How would that work? Ask you daily or once a week, about how you are doing?
Thank you for the 'animal' info. It reminded that scientists are mixing human DNA with various animals, doesn't strike me as a good thing....and unless Jesus comes soon, I imagine they will continue to perfect this monstrosity.
As usual Eva, I like to leave the 'heavy' work to Cindy LOL
But about Jonah he was in the belly of the giant fish for 3 days and/or nights, and so was Jesus. When Jesus would be buried and raised from the dead ( which symbolically Jonah was), then they might remember and like the people of Nineveh repent and be saved.
As an aside when Jesus said 3 days and 3 nights, it didn't mean a FULL 72 hours, but could and did mean partial parts of 3 days and 3 night.
Unlike America where a day starts at midnight, the Hebrew day starts at sundown.
Eva: I too often wondered why seemingly so many men seem so incapable of saying no to women, but not always because of love, but often because of lust and/or down right hatred.
But of course, woman also harbor resentment against men on all sorts of levels. Actually the ultimate extreme of feminism is to be able to do away with men all together.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 23, 2016 22:50:28 GMT -5
Friday April 23rd
I read Mark 1:21-27
Jesus drives out a Demon ( tho when the demon speaks he uses the word 'us' 2 times, and says I (know who you are—the Holy One of God!)
I have heard those who are worshiping satan and thinking he is the good guy, had better read this, because this demon says clearly that Jesus is the Holy One of God.
And on one level it makes sense the demons know for a fact who Jesus is, because before they fell with satan they used to be angels in Heaven, but now they are demons.
Today, April 24
I read Mark 1: 29-39
Again dealing with demons ( I think this is pertent to our times as we get closer and closer to the end we are seeing more demonic manifestations)
v. 34 "..... He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was."
v. 39 " So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons."
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Post by Cindy on Apr 24, 2016 12:34:59 GMT -5
Hey guys, The last 2 days I studied Matthew ch 13-16. I have to say ch 14:1-12 made me angry, I dont know how to describe it in another way, seeing again how John the baptist die because of one man have sinful lust for a woman. Actually, I see there one woman "making" a man doing something really bad, he could say no actually but he didnt. But, that might be a childish thought, I know its not right and accurate, but what if someone claims that women are "more evil" than men? Another example Adam and Eve. It looks like it, but I know thats not true, because men could have said no and not sin. Also, the diciples though they have seen in 14:13-21 Jesus feeding the crowd, they have doubts again in 15:32-39 and again they asked Jesus "how we can feed all them"... But in both times the patient crownd reminds me of Luke 12:31 In Matthew 16:4 I don understand what is the sign of Jonah, and I think it was mentioned also before in the book. I am moving on... I will let you know what I studied and what I think about what I studied
But I think it makes all of us angry that anyone would do such a thing. I especially hate what the Mother did. She used her daughter for her own wicked reasons, first teaching her daughter to dance in a sexually provocative way, then telling her to dance that way for her own step father -how horrible! And then having her daughter ask for John's head.... what a terrible mother! She obviously had no love for her, just used her like she did everyone else in her life to get what she wanted. But then I have to ask myself if I haven't done the same kind of thing at times.... I'm afraid we all do, just not as openly wickedly as this mother.
If someone told you that the bible says women are more evil then men or more sinful, you can easily answer and show that the bible does not teach anything like that at all.
The crowd does seem to be patient, don't they? They're eager to be healed and to see miracles done and don't want to leave. Sadly, they didn't come to hear His Words about salvation, but to see or receive miracles. If you remember from when we studied the gospels before, right after Jesus fed the 5000 (Matt 14:16; Mark 6:37; Luke 9:13; John 6:8) the crowd tried to make Him their King. It doesn't say anything about it in Matthew, but it happened right after He dismissed the crowd. It explains it in John: “After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” (John 6:14–15) Jesus knew that what they wanted was to make Him King thinking that way He would miraculously feed them and keep them safe. They still were not interested in repenting of their sins and doing God's Will.
About the Sign of Jonah - Jesus first mentioned it aearlier in Matthew, like you said, where He also explained what He meant by it: “He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:39–40) The book of Jonah is very short - only has 4 chapters with an average of 10 verses in each chapter, so it is very easy to read.
You did a very good job of sharing about what you read Eva! Thank you! I'm looking forward to your answer on the other thread too!
OK, I have something embarrassing to tell you guys and once my decision is made, may need you guys to hold me accountable for a change...
Here's my problem: I've been studying the Lord's word the same way for the last 16 years. I always start right after I wake up and continue until I have to come here and post, and then I eat and go do my chores around the house when I'm done here. All years this year I've been feeling like I need to curtail my study time so that I have more time to do the things needed around the house. It was never even possible before the Lord showed me that I wouldn't be in so much pain if I slept sitting up, but now, it is possible. I'm still in a lot of pain, but it's nothing like it used to be. Anyway, I've been trying and trying and trying, and I simply cannot tear myself away from His Word!!!! I always wind up running very, very late, (like today - it's almost 1pm now) I usually start my studying by 7am - sometimes a little earlier, depending on when I wake up. If I allowed myself to study as long as I really wanted to, I'd be just finishing up when Bruce got home from work at 3:30. (I've done that a number of times so I know lol) My goal was to finish studying by 10 am. But when I think about it, that's only giving me 3 hours for study and prayer! I just can't do it in that little amount of time! Well, I guess the truth is that I can, but I don't want to stop! If I was positive that the Lord wanted me to quit sooner, I'd do it with no problem, but I'm not sure about it. So I guess that's the real problem. But I always wind up feeling rushed and feeling torn.... I really do want to do more around the house now, but I don't want to give up my time with the Lord! So what can I do? I don't want to study after Bruce is home, because then I won't be able to spend any time with him, and that's important too, and I know the Lord wants me to spend time with my husband, so that's out. I seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's driving me nuts. Somehow I've got to decide what I'm going to do and then discipline myself to do it.
Cindy, what if you have some time studying and praying until 10 or 10.30 and then after Bruce gets home continue for some time. For a example, if he needs some time to just relax after work, you will get to have some more study time and then again have the time to spend some time together? I suppose he needs some time to relax? Right?
Yes, I will be willing to hold you accountable. How would that work? Ask you daily or once a week, about how you are doing?
Thank you for the 'animal' info. It reminded that scientists are mixing human DNA with various animals, doesn't strike me as a good thing....and unless Jesus comes soon, I imagine they will continue to perfect this monstrosity.
As usual Eva, I like to leave the 'heavy' work to Cindy LOL
But about Jonah he was in the belly of the giant fish for 3 days and/or nights, and so was Jesus. When Jesus would be buried and raised from the dead ( which symbolically Jonah was), then they might remember and like the people of Nineveh repent and be saved.
As an aside when Jesus said 3 days and 3 nights, it didn't mean a FULL 72 hours, but could and did mean partial parts of 3 days and 3 night.
Unlike America where a day starts at midnight, the Hebrew day starts at sundown.
Eva: I too often wondered why seemingly so many men seem so incapable of saying no to women, but not always because of love, but often because of lust and/or down right hatred.
But of course, woman also harbor resentment against men on all sorts of levels. Actually the ultimate extreme of feminism is to be able to do away with men all together.
Yep, the reason for women's resentment against men is because of the curse in Genesis.
Good answer!
Friday April 23rd
I read Mark 1:21-27
Jesus drives out a Demon ( tho when the demon speaks he uses the word 'us' 2 times, and says I (know who you are—the Holy One of God!)
I have heard those who are worshiping satan and thinking he is the good guy, had better read this, because this demon says clearly that Jesus is the Holy One of God.
And on one level it makes sense the demons know for a fact who Jesus is, because before they fell with satan they used to be angels in Heaven, but now they are demons.
Today, April 24
I read Mark 1: 29-39
Again dealing with demons ( I think this is pertent to our times as we get closer and closer to the end we are seeing more demonic manifestations)
v. 34 "..... He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was."
v. 39 " So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons."
Good one!
I'm continuing to study John 4, but don't have time today to write anymore.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,391
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Post by fearnot on Apr 24, 2016 22:46:21 GMT -5
Today Sunday April 24
I read Mark 1:40-45
Jesus heals a man of leprosy
One of the things is people with Leprosy is they are never touched....but Jesus touched him.
He tells the man not to tell anyone ( but the priest), however the man began to talk freely.
J. Vernon McGee tells the story of of a black pastor friend of his who say in reference to this that:
"The Lord told him not to tell anybody, and he told everybody.
He tells us to tell everybody, and we tell nobody"
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but for a minute there, it really threw me LOL. 
The 4th chapter was part of my devotional and it was so good that I wound up studying the entire thing again. I'd love to share it with you if it's something you'd be interested in. But rather then write it all here, I'm going to start a new thread for it. I'm just going to share about chapter 4 to start with, but may wind up doing the whole book later if I have time, since it's so short. (of course the Lord packed so much into it that regardless of it's short length, you could write many books about it lol)
