I see the hand of GOD in everything.

K J V | o9/18/2012 | Rich Sr

[RichSr]

Am I alone; seeing the hand of GOD in everything? There has/have to be others.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

[presently no screen name]

No time to read all you wrote.

So if God wants us go "go to HIM", but we do not want to, we can thwart his desire ?

Absolutely YES!! Where have you been? .

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to DESTRUCTION, and MANY enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to LIFE, and only a FEW find it. Matt 7:13,14

Those MANY rejected HIM and do not/refuse to HEAR and OBEY HIM!!

This contradicts Scripture. No human wants to "go to him", humans are born into sin. If it were not for God's Holy Spirit, all would reject God.

They reject God, they are rejecting His Spirit. It contradicts nothing! Where did you get the idea ALL will accept Jesus as their Savior? As we see only a 'few' do.

[presently no screen name]

and it didn't bother me horribly

Anyone being an atheist doesn't bother me at all - since they care not a whit about their own eternity. But deliberately being on a PRO GOD site should bother those who care about FR since atheists can go to any site.

Unlike zealots, I don't feel offended when people think differently than I do.

Show me where I said I am offended. You are taking this to a level that shows how lukewarm you are. You are supposedly PRO GOD but...

"So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth". Rev 3:16

You call those speaking TRUTH - zealots? Well, heaven will be filled with zealots - "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Hence there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing". 2 Tim 4:7,8

[GBA]

Jesus loves you anyway. Ever heard of Him? He has a very compelling story.

You seem to be very angry and would benefit from His teaching and His ministry and would do well to follow His example in your dealing with others.

Be well.

[RichSr]

Thanks

[RichSr]

Every person here teaches me more; even as things speak to me.

[PieterCasparzen]

No time to read all you wrote.

So if God wants us go "go to HIM", but we do not want to, we can thwart his desire ?

Absolutely YES!! Where have you been? .

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to DESTRUCTION, and MANY enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to LIFE, and only a FEW find it. Matt 7:13,14

Those MANY rejected HIM and do not/refuse to HEAR and OBEY HIM!!

This contradicts Scripture. No human wants to "go to him", humans are born into sin. If it were not for God's Holy Spirit, all would reject God.

They reject God, they are rejecting His Spirit. It contradicts nothing! Where did you get the idea ALL will accept Jesus as their Savior? As we see only a 'few' do.

Scripture tells us that God is more powerful than man; if God so wills a thing to happen, the thing happens.

The "few" that you reference - in the Bible they are called the "elect". The term the elect refers to those people that God has predordained to salvation. Acts 13:48 makes reference to those who are "ordained to eternal life":

Acts 13

"48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

Note how this is worded; those that were already ordained to eternal life... believed.

Matthew 22:14
"For many are called, but few are chosen."

Note that nowhere in the Bible is it written that a man, of his own volition, can or would make himself one of those whom God has already chosen as his elect; this set of men, the elect, is determined by God's choice, i.e., God has elected to save those that he will. Here are a number of references to the elect, i.e., the chosen few (of course the first reference is to Jesus Christ, firstborn among the elect):

Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 45:4
For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Isaiah 65:9
And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
Isaiah 65:22
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Matthew 24:22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:31
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark 13:20
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mark 13:27
And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Luke 18:7
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Romans 8:33
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Romans 9:11
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Romans 11:5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Romans 11:7
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:28
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
1 Thessalonians 1:4
Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
1 Timothy 5:21
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Titus 1:1
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 2:6
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 5:13
The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

[RichSr]

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[PieterCasparzen]

That’s great to hear; my knowledge is ever so humble.

I notice theology starting to go off the rails most recently around 1800 or so; I try to keep that in mind when reading. I like Matthew Henry’s (1662-1714) bible commentary for a lot of explanations, of course the work done that resulted in the King James original was of superb quality. The two can be viewed side by side at http://www.biblegateway.com by looking up a chapter then clicking on the Show resources link to the right. For some passages, the Reformation Study Bible commentary in “Show resources” seems better. I use a print copy of the King James Study Bible for the cross references it conatains. It also has other doctrinal notes and chapter introductions that give good historical overviews and a lot of good guides, but some of the doctrine is off a bit, IMHO. The original Westminster Confession can be found here http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/. One can read quick overviews of European history at http://www.wikipedia.com, bearing in mind, of course, that it’s community authored; the Reformation information there is good for a quick introduction to important junctures in history. For instance, studying Cromwell and the Glorious Revolution period is impossible without a decent understanding of Christian doctrine because it would be hard to understand the motivations of the people involved. I use this period as an example because a study of it reveals that all the gyrations they were going through were, in effect, a process of determining the balance of power between the Executive and Legislative functions of government, as well as the relationship of the Church and government. IMHO, America’s “founding fathers” would be completely familiar with all of those struggles, and their thinking could not help but be informed by events and outcomes so recent and relevant to them.

Blessings.

[presently no screen name]

You see anger where there is TRUTH. Shows what you are all about - not that there was any question, you simply confirmed it!

I am blessed and highly favored - above and beyond your Be well.

[GBA]

Really? That's not what comes across.

From your posts, you sound as I have described you, angry.

You sound like someone wounded and in pain, and angry about it and the fear it has instilled, especially in that last post to me.

I hope I am wrong, but if not, whatever has happened, I hope you find the healing you claim. That's not what's coming from you now.

I love you, man, just like Jesus said to. Sounds like we both need more of that, especially in the world we're headed for. Remember, we must give to receive.

Be well.

[jusduat]

well I see that you have hijacked the thread and got people
off in different tangent, and sowed discord. This thread
now seems to be about YOU and your questions. Start your
own thread if you want answers or if you want to learn,
then just lurk and learn.

[RichSr]

Pieter,
I am no scholar.
I am a aproaching 70 yr old fossle who believes I see som things which I try to give to others.
God Bless you brother.

I am trying to figure out so0me of the things I picked up from everyones posts.
I pray I am not making any grieveous mistakes, I will have to stand before God for whatever mistakes I maKE.
aND THAT IS NOT SPELLING OR OTHER TYPING ONES.
See how easy to be wrong?
See where I hit my carpel tunnel key?

[RichSr]

Eze 12:27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.
Eze 12:28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.

The words prolonged and done in these sentences work for some.
Time, my brother is in His hands.
Even so; come quickly.

[stars & stripes forever]

...but I don’t see such a thing. Now what?

I had a relative who spent a lifetime priding himself on having a ‘scientific mind.’ He finally made a profession of faith in his late eighties. Afterwards he asked a profound question, “Is that all it is to it?”
Believing in the Lord is a decision each person accepts or rejects. It is an individual decision. I am very thankful that I made that decision. I have seen the hand of God work on my behalf and you can too.

[RichSr]

Anyone remember the hymn “He’s coming soon, He’s coming soon, it may be night or noon....”

[RichSr]

I think it was in the forties and fifties when we were involved with Korea...
Or maybe when we had it so good after WWII, when there seemed to be the land of plenty. (except for as My Mom had to bring up 3 lids when my father ran out on us.
I was a baby when he walked out in 1942. Feb; a cold month .... welfare? Mom still had to work to make ends meet’
I have forgiven him... I think. I met him again when My children were babies.
Yes... I forgave him.
We went to a service where I asked him to go ... He said he got saved... I pray so... never saw any fruit.
I’m runnin on ...

[Joseph Harrolds]

well I see that you have hijacked the thread and got people off in different tangent, and sowed discord. This thread now seems to be about YOU and your questions. Start your own thread if you want answers or if you want to learn, then just lurk and learn.

To put things in perspective:

OP:  I see the hand of GOD in everything.
Reply #1:  So do I!
Reply #2:  Me too!
Reply #3:  You're not alone!
Reply #4:  Glory to God!
Me: I don't.
You:  Hijacker!  Sower of discord!

That about sum it up...?  :-)

[RichSr]

Joseph,
Do you really want to see God?
I think have your answer...
Ask for Him to show yourself to Him.
Pray...I always used that addage...
Knock and it shall be opened unto you...
Seek and ye shall find
Ask and it shall be opened unto you.
If you are sincere... He will show himselfe to you.
Just be sure you are serious... GOD is not mocked!
I will be praying for you...as I am sure many others will be.

[RichSr]

Some preach to give hardship, some seek to be saved ; nevertheless Christ gets preached.

I don’t have my thinking cap on; but I know some still need to be saved, by showing love; if they will not receive you Shake the dust from your feet and then cast not your pearls before swine as when they are done they will trample and rend .

We need to go thru a couple steps first.

[Joseph Harrolds]

I had a relative who spent a lifetime priding himself on having a ‘scientific mind.’ He finally made a profession of faith in his late eighties. Afterwards he asked a profound question, “Is that all it is to it?”

For each such anecdote I could could post one of someone who didn't convert in the end... which would prove, well...not much on either side, actually.

Believing in the Lord is a decision each person accepts or rejects.

I've never understood this one. How does one make the choice to believe something? When told, "You have to have faith" I can't imagine anything less rational.