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I can tell you for a FACT that when I go back and read my very early postings on this thread, I won't recognize myself. Thanks and Praise be to God.

Isn't God's plan amazing to behold?

"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world" -- 2 Corinthians 1:12

Scripture tells us God even chooses our adversaries for us, like He did for Solomon, in order to accomplish His will.

"And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom...
And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah" -- 1 Kings 11:14;23

Apparently God's been "stirring up" this thread so that He could bring you to the place He wants you to be.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." -- Romans 8:28

And to prove how wondrous God is, I just realized for the very first time what Romans 8:28 actually says, even though I've posted it a hundred times.

"...to them who are the called according to his purpose."

I've always read that verse too quickly and assumed it said "who are called according to his purpose." But "called" is a noun here, not a verb. God's sheep are "the called." And apparently this is not universal, nor is everyone "the called," or else why make a distinction between "the called" and the "not called"?

So by this thread God has brought me, too, to a different place than where I was before it started.

"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter." -- Acts 17:22-32

Well, I was already changing a little when this thread began, but since, I'm finding that I need Help! (I think) I'm going hyper!

Very moving Scriptures, Dr. E., thanks.

Isn't God's plan amazing to behold? ... Apparently God's been "stirring up" this thread so that He could bring you to the place He wants you to be.

I have not the slightest doubt in either case. :) Thank you so much, Dr. E., for those wonderful passages. I truly feel that this whole experience has been such an incredible blessing.