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Post by james on Aug 19, 2022 3:01:31 GMT
Yes, was the serpent a created being thus in the garden by creation or was he put there after garden creation. Man was created outside of the garden, and we are told that “there he put the man whom he had formed”. This is the history of creation from the angle of man is that why we are told nothing of the serpents history at this point. Why oh why if Adam was divided to release his female side, are the minds different? Traditionally it is accepted women don’t think like men, is this just tradition or spiritual fact? 1Tim 2:24. I am sure that we need to accept the mind of Christ. There is far to much “ I might have misunderstood”, “I wasn't aware” and all sorts of ways to excuse our actions. While the mind of Christ always knows what the father wants and how to move in the spirit. Can this be achieved in this life?
Saturday. 1Sam 2:35 a faithful priest. Jesus not Samuel because just like Eli Samuel did not govern his sons. The faithful priest knows all that is in the mind of God, therefore his mind is as the Lords mind and his knowing is as the Fathers knowing. The mind of Christ, knowing the mind of the father and doing it, every action taken in the knowledge it is God prescribed. So we have Eve trying to have a mind better than Good by the serpents help and the disciples able to access the knowing of God via Friendship through Jesus. Does walking in the spirit, knowing the walk of God begin with faithful acceptance that we are friends and have been told “all things known of the Father”. We may not think we know all things, but that’s because we are not letting “this mind be in you”. Like the song says “I believe i’m Perfect until I become what I believe”.
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Post by Dave on Aug 20, 2022 16:26:17 GMT
Good thoughts there Rob' definitely ruminating material, as to the serpent, imho only God IS, everything else ain't, as they say, he turns up in some form pretty much in all of our life's rich pattern, created for the purpose of!!!!!! One thing that's interesting to me is, in the reading of the planting of the garden, God made every tree 'to grow' every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, then there is He adds the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil, did they also grow? We know the serpent knew of the death penalty hanging on one tree, he then uses an interesting line on Eve, ' For God (not him) doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened---------' and after that line the wo-man 'saw' the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eyes but she doesn't see the death, if there's one thing the adversary is good at, it is disguising death. My question is, what mind was 'in Eve' at the time that she 'saw' she needed to better it? is this what happens in the departing from the simplicity that is in Christ maybe that Paul refers too? Ruminating is being interrupted now by the cares of this day unfortunately. GtG but still chewing .
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Post by ritab on Aug 23, 2022 5:39:24 GMT
Hi there, sorry I have covid again and been unwell all week, my dad had a fall just prior to me getting sick- so it’s not been the best of weeks. Dan got covid first ( can only think he caught it from Amazon delivery driver/parcel as he had not been out !! ) I have brain fog at the moment, but just wanted to say ‘ hello ‘ xx
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Post by Dave on Aug 23, 2022 16:11:20 GMT
Rita sorry to read of your covid issue, we will be praying for you and Dan for a speedy recovery and that your Dad keeps safe, tumbling at his age is not fun . The covid thing is certainly a, keep on giving thing, "swine covid" leftover from watching the Pink Panther series. Our weather has broken from heat,heat and more heat to a more comfortable showers, storms and more showers. We've got Odd on happy pills for her hip problems, I'm thinking of poppin' a couple too, as she's been quite frisky on them . My squash mate had a funny turn when we played at the weekend, he came over dizzy and said he felt funny(always an odd saying imho) so we had to quit, I did explain, if he 'face plants' I said I would oik his tongue out but no mouth to mouth is included in Dave's health care on the spot treatment plan, .... and could I have his new squash shoes. . TBC , got a phone call....don't want to lose this into thin air.. Well that was a 'gospel' call, my mates older daughter who I think had given up on the marriage scene, looks like she has found a companion and maybe there's going to be a wedding!!! so he vetted the maybe future 'in law' last week and did not disapprove. Had a good discuss on, is the church in a famine time like in the story of Ruth and Naomi, old husband providers have died and it's the time of having to choose our path in the walk of faith. As I'm having a Robin Mark revival and I need to get lunch I'll leave with this.
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Post by Dave on Aug 31, 2022 14:59:33 GMT
In what is termed the sermon on the mount verse 48 seems to set a standard that Jesus lays before his hearers, my question to myself is, was it possible then and what about now??
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Post by ritab on Sept 1, 2022 6:41:21 GMT
In what is termed the sermon on the mount verse 48 seems to set a standard that Jesus lays before his hearers, my question to myself is, was it possible then and what about now?? Bible gate has Lev 19:2 ‘ Be holy , for I the Lord your God am Holy ‘ and 1 Peter 1:15 ‘ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct ‘ as reference points. The law was given as directives but we know that it showed us all that actually it’s impossible to keep ( we wouldn’t need a saviour if we could achieve the goal and stand before God without blemish ) Ther sermon on the mount very much takes the Law much further and deals with actions as well as attitudes……..well once again we know that it’s impossible in the here and now to be perfect. The Pharisees ( hearers ) were very much of the opinion that all the rules and regulations they laid down, and all the sacrifices they put in place, kept them Holy ………….well they weren’t as Jesus often used them as an example of ‘ how not to do things ‘ However unreachable the laws and sermon are it doesn’t mean we should not strive to be Holy in our attitudes and deeds. Inwardly our souls are cleansed through the blood of Jesus, but outwardly our words, actions and attitudes are still in the process of being perfected. A kind of future and present reality …….. Some waffle as I drink my tea xxx
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Post by Dave on Sept 2, 2022 14:18:42 GMT
Rita I hope the tea was as good as the waffle, as that was the best waffle I had for the day. I shall have to get back on the thought of being 'perfect' when Jesus tells his disciples, as I think it could tie in with the 'broad and narrow ways' and 'let this mind' be in you, how's that for a confusing friday's thoughts, but I hear a voice saying come up higher, stripping is calling, my daughters house is at the top of the hill .
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Post by james on Sept 2, 2022 20:06:25 GMT
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. I started by thinking about looking up the verse to find the original translation. This then made me check myself because I realised that I was looking for the words to not mean what they say. I then moved on to considering what these words really mean to us if we dare to believe that Jesus meant what he said. Where does that take us if Jesus meant, be perfect not like a Pharisee but just like your father and be so now in this life. I believe we are far to ready to accept “ it can’t happen in this life, but we can believe for perfection in the next life”. That gets very close to the rapture, salvation is not for now it’s for the world beyond. Jesus by illustrating what not to do confirms he expects his true followers to be doing something to demonstrate perfection here and now. Perfection means not wanting anything. If something is perfect it requires the addition of nothing to enhance it, perfection is! Actions without any agenda and no expected reward, God motivated by love acted we can be as him and do the same.
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Post by ritab on Sept 9, 2022 4:45:05 GMT
I meant to add the other day James that I found your post quite thought provoking x
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Post by james on Sept 9, 2022 5:15:58 GMT
Yes Rita, the spirit has provoked me to wonder where I would be if when first coming to Jesus I had taken his words at face value. I don’t blame anyone or make the excuse that the then church did tend to have set ideas that certain thoughts were in the “don’t expect it now realm” ! I had my bible and access to Gods spirit I could have pushed ahead with “he who hears my sayings and does them” . Truth is I was happy to go along with “this will be fulfilled in glory” . It gave me wiggle room. My prayer “what now Lord I’m old and grey have I missed the best”? He is gracious so there is hope that I shall be “fat and flourishing in old age” praise the Lord.
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Post by ritab on Sept 10, 2022 4:32:58 GMT
Hi James, I would suspect that we can all look back and see how much we followed things because we just trusted those who had been Christians the Longer than us I actually think that looking back with regrets because we didn’t grasp something shows that we are never too old to learn new prospectives…….. Rita
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Post by james on Sept 10, 2022 6:11:59 GMT
Wonderfully put Rita, very encouraging. I believe that we may have missed the starting pistol as we sat and did little, as we were told “wait these are your training days”. Not so the disciples who got on the job training by Jesus. Never to late, for now is the time.
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Post by Dave on Sept 11, 2022 22:41:30 GMT
I was thinking yesterday of JOHN 21 the disciples fishing crew we’re having as it were not the best fishing trip, but a lordly dish of breakfast awaited them when they got in, but it was what Jesus speaks to Peter that caught my attention, the triple admonition to tend his lambs and feed his sheep, after Jesus challenging him on the “love” relationship, and He ends the discourse with the same calling from the beginning, which was “follow me” Was Jesus just telling Peter let your eye be single, and my love to be shared. To me the disciples never were the best for understanding the lord's words at the best of times, so what did Peter an ex-fisherman relate too in the words concerning the Lords lambs and sheep, I wonder if he actually knew any shepherds, he would have known King David’s exploits as a shepherd, and that natural sheep are just led to the places of where food is, in essence the sheep feed themselves, but the lambs are tended until mature, so how does this fit in with Peter after Pentecost being called to natural Jews with the gospel, we know how Pentecost brought a radical change to the disciples in “follow me” I did wonder what food Peter brought to the table other than what we read in the scriptures, it didn’t seem the Lord was setting a precedent but Christian pastoral ministries have taken it to heart, a feeding frenzy every Sunday, good for the week, is the church time of “tend my lambs” changed and it’s time for the babes to find their own food for maturity. Maybe just my afternoon waffle instead of a 😴.
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Post by james on Sept 16, 2022 3:55:55 GMT
Follow me. A bit like Mary at the wedding with her remark to the servants, whatsoever he says to you do it. Which remark would seem too eliminate all thinking and focus on straight forward obedience.
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Post by Dave on Sept 18, 2022 19:10:46 GMT
Had this odd thought on the way to the forum, it was on Lots wife looking back, Luke in the midst of of Jesus answering on when the 'Kingdom' should come, pens "Remember Lot's wife" 'remember' is a word meaning 'to keep in mind'; Interestingly on the Gen' story it says that God "remembered Abraham" there is much speculation on what Mrs Lot was actually looking at or was it all in her mind if so; what was really on her mind? she was behind Lot at the time, not a seeming 'lot' of regret on Lot's part at her demise; at least she was preserved and not destroyed, but now comes the question, what should we 'remember', what was on her mind or how she ends??? In a sense she represents like Eve did for Adam' Lots flesh, the flesh will always have us looking back at the wrong tree, rather than "Yes God hath said" In Luke 9 Jesus says "Follow me" and the man looks back concerning his dead father, another just wants to say farewell but Jesus reply is, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom. One would assume these to be legitimate reasons, we don't know that Lot's wife did not feel she had a legitimate reason, Eve too, both legit's did not end well unfortunately, Paul kept his eye on the prize, no looking back for him, grace and faith are there to enable us to not look back even in these stressful times. I find it easier to think back than to value the prize at times. Leeks and garlic are always available it seems. There is still a price to "follow me" How's this for a profession of faith? .
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Post by james on Sept 22, 2022 3:36:39 GMT
I wonder why the speculation on Lots wife looking back! The words look not behind you or tarry in the plain, do not to my simple mind have any room for speculation on her part legitimate or otherwise. In fact don’t look back, just like follow me, on the face of it seems pretty straight forward. Just how would one reconstitute don’t look back to mean anything other than, DO NOT, look back! I think that on that great day when we all stand before the Lord the words most heard will be “ yes I know, but I thought you meant”. A lesson I am still learning.
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Post by Dave on Sept 22, 2022 13:52:42 GMT
Thanks a lesson learnt, no more speculation.
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Post by james on Sept 22, 2022 19:38:18 GMT
It is inconsistent to want discussion yet when I comment you do take it very personal. I happen to think not taking the Lord at face value has a history of suffering and loss to any and all who have tried to bend the word to their own agenda.
I say again it’s a lesson I am seeking to learn.
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Post by ritab on Oct 11, 2022 6:20:07 GMT
How are you Dave ? Send my ‘ Hello’s ‘ to Helen. Dan mentioned that book yesterday ‘ love wins ‘, I think he read it after he came to faith but Helen sent it to me quite a few years before when Jeff passed away. He says it’s a great book……..just reminded me of Gods timing and provision x
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Post by Dave on Oct 12, 2022 16:15:49 GMT
"How are you?" what an interesting question but thanks for asking Rita, I think Helen replied to you on that question, at the moment I'm engaged in the yearly battle of the 6000 year war of the blowing leaves, which is a burr in my saddle as I have no leaf dropping trees in my garden. We had a family gathering at my grand daughters to celebrate Thanksgiving and it was a kill and eat affair with Turkey and smoked ham and we all brought the extra's to go with them, a good time was had by all and we blessed my grand daughter and hubby with, may this be the start of a long time tradition . What is of interest to me is that as I've prayed for my little part of the 'hood here, all of a sudden I'm finding some of the 7000 are living nearby,(I might start a gathering of the 7000,) no, just joking, there's another geriatric I chat with I just got on first name chatting with him, he had this old framed brass rubbing outside for pick up, so I picked it up as it was getting rained on, dried it out, repainted the frame, it now adorns where my full length mirror used to be in my bedroom, it belonged to his parents who are long gone and either came from a Irish or Scottish church rub. We are not sure if its a male or female, a bit like of what is happening today maybe? I liked this sign outside a pub (not here) that advertised an Irish 7 course meal as, "6 one pints of Guinness and a cooked spud," definitely my sense of humour. Mulling on the scripture in Matt 6 - 24 'No one can serve two masters-------' a good muller I'm finding, GtG, the day is at hand, love and blessings to you and your house, Love does win in all things.
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