(below this are some thoughts shared also by me)

This is taken from pages 38 – 41 in a paperback edition of the book Charles Spurgeon wrote, entitled _The Limitless Love of Christ_.
The edition I have was published by Whitaker House, Springdale, PA, in 1996.

(if you see words, below, within what I am quoting from the book, that are “inside parentheses,” those were added by me, and are not in the book)

“Would we have loved God if He had not first give His Son to die for us?  Had there been no redeeming sacrifice, would we have had any love for God?  Unredeemed men, left to go on like fallen angels in their sin, would have had no more love for God than fallen angels have.  How could they? Yet, The Son, given to redeem, is the great foundation of Love.  God gives His son, reveals His own Love, and creates ours.  When we remember Calvary (or Golgotha; or Mt. Moriah, to some; that’s where He died in our place), do we not see His Love as the cause of ours?”

“But imagine that you have never heard of Calvary.  God might have given His Son to die for men; yet because you were not aware of it, you did not love Him.  It is no small grace on God’s part that ‘to you is the Word of this salvation sent’ {Acts 13:26}.  The heathen have never heard the message of salvation, but by His gracious providence you have been favored with The Good News.  You have it in your home in the form of The Holy Scriptures, and you hear it every Sunday from the pulpit.  How would you ever have come to love Him if He had not sent His Gospel to you?”

“The gift of His Son Jesus (Yeshua), and the providence that brings the message of Mercy to the saved (believers), are evident causes of man’s love for God.  However, even more than this, Christ (Messiah) died and The Gospel is preached, and yet some men do not love Him.  Why not?  They do not love Him because of ‘the hardness of their hearts’ {Mark 3:5}.”

“But, are the hearts of those who do love Him naturally better than those who do not?  I dare not say so.  There is no believer who would ask me to trace his own love to any inherent human quality.  Rather, I must trace it to the influence of The Holy Spirit.  The revelation of The Love of God in Christ Jesus (Messiah Yeshua) affects the heart, creating Faith and Love and every Grace in the soul.”

“If you love God, it is with no love of your own, but with The Love that He has planted in your heart.  Unrenewed human nature is a soil in which Love for God will not grow naturally.  There must be a taking away of the rock and a supernatural change of the barren ground into good soil.  Then, as a rare plant from another found there, Love must be planted in your heart and sustained by Divine Power, or else it never will be found there.  No love for God in this world is of the right kind except that which is created and formed in the soul by The Love of God.”

“The Combined Doctrines of Grace”

“Put the two truths together — that The Love of God is first, and that The Love of God is the cause of our love — and I think you will understand what are commonly called the doctrines of Grace.  These doctrines are so consistent with the Christian’s (believer’s) experience that the older a believer becomes and the more deeply he searches into Divine Truth, the more he praises The Grace of God for his salvation.  he is also more inclined to believe in those precious truths that magnify, not the free will of man, but the free Grace of The Ever Blessed (The Lord our God).”

“I want no better statement of my own doctrinal belief than ‘We love Him, because He first loved us.’  I know it has been said that He loved us on the foresight of our faith and love and holiness.  Of course, The Lord had a clear foresight of all these, but He also foresaw our lack of love, our lack of faith, our wanderings and our sins.  Surely His foresight must operate just as well as His foresight in the other direction.”

“God did not foresee any love for Him arising out of ourselves.  He only foresaw that we would believe because He gave us Faith;  He foresaw that we would repent because His Spirit would work repentance in us;  He foresaw that we would love because He created that Love within us.  Is there anything in His foresight that can account for His giving us such things?”

“The case is self-evident:  His foresight of what He means to do cannot be His reason for doing it.  His own eternal purpose has made the gracious difference between the saved and those who willfully perish in (their) sin.  Let us give all the Glory to His Holy Name, for to Him all the Glory belongs.  His preventing Grace must have all the honor.”
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This is inspiring!  Am hoping it might encourage you.  God uses men to explain some concepts to us.  But even if our words are lacking, in being as fully able as God’s Words are, to explain a concept, He is still able to use His Holy Spirit, our Teacher He gave us, … to teach us what He wants us to know.
Just thought this might be encouraging.
I believe God’s Love came first.  I believe He gave me the faith I needed to believe in His Son, as my Lord & Savior / Redeemer, in 1970.
I believe He has given me His Grace, so I would believe.  Hard to explain, but I believe it’s a type of “power” He still uses in my life as a believer, and He did use before I surrendered my life to Him, trusting Him to redeem me, and deliver me from the power, the punishment and the penalty for my sins and iniquities.  Grace still helps us, as the apostle Paul shares, because it is “sufficient” for us, as we go through trials, suffering, temptation or testing.  We do not have to reject His Grace any more, because we are true believers in The Lord Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ).  He gives us the Grace we need to give us the desire and the “power” to do His Will.  We need only surrender, again, daily, in every circumstance, to receive the Grace He is already ready to give to us.
I believe He even gave me the ability to understand how it was that Christ Jesus (Messiah Yeshua) died in my place, to deliver me from eternal damnation / punishment.  By Him taking upon Himself all the sins of all the people who have ever lived, He was paying the debt each of us owed, personally, to our God & Father in Heaven.  By enabling us to understand what He did “for us” (in our place), He was helping us to understand what He had done to make the way for us to live for ever in Heaven with Him, one day.  That’s a concept we may be familiar with, ladies, but if we try to explain “how that could be” to an unregenerated person, … they may look at us with a puzzled look, not really understanding.  See?
… He (Yeshua / Jesus) bore our sins, and our iniquities on “the tree.” (as you know)  And He put our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (another concept that is hard for a non-believer to figure out), … so that, with our lives, our souls, our very selves, under The Blood of The Lamb of God,  you and I would be, then, acceptable and “clean enough” to be allowed to dwell in the very presence of YHVH God, The Almighty, El Elyon (The Most High God).  His Name is Holy.
The Lord did it all!  And Yeshua (Jesus) paid it all — He paid the entire debt we owed to God our Father, because of our sins and iniquities, which cut us off from Him, before.  But He has wooed us to Himself, to His Loving Heart.  And He has been The One Who initiated it, and worked it all out, and though He knew the waywardness, the rebellion, the disobedience, and the lack of real love in our hearts, He still chose to love us, with His everlasting, unconditional Love, until we responded, as a result of Him compelling us, by His Holy Spirit.
It’s all an awesome and amazing bunch of truths to consider.
But it is true, from my understanding.
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At this time of year, and all year long, let’s praise His Holy Name for all that He has done for us!  He has loved us, first!  Let’s praise His Name for ever, as (king) David urges us to do in the Psalms!

meant with agape Love, to you all, … from The Lord, …
and me (Kathy)

Modesty is a topic that includes several areas to explore, in thought.

I am a lady. I see things from a believing female point of view, and was raised by certain parents, in a certain area of this country, & came to believe in The Lord Yeshua as my own Redeemer & Lord, some years ago, through understanding that I was much in need of a Saviour / Deliverer from the penalty I deserved, from The Lord, for my sins and iniquities. So, this is written from what I have learned, so far, in my “walk” (life path) with The Lord, through some side roads I’ve taken, though not knowingly, at the time each ‘turn’ was taken. This is also written from my own personal convictions which I believe God’s Holy Spirit has given me, to apply to my own life.

This is not written to condemn anyone, or to sound as if I know more than most, or many. It is also not written as if I were some authority on this topic. It is merely my understanding, from the level of understanding I am at, now, … on the topic that most (in general) call “modesty.”

Modesty is a matter of the heart. Our hearts motivate us. I would generally refer to ‘the term’ *heart* as my mind. It can refer to other areas of my soul, in some cases, but for this article (which may be written in several portions), I am referring to “the mind” when I used the word “heart.”

Modesty is something most children naturally have. Some demonstrate this in appearing to be somewhat shy, in what they do in public, or among strangers. Some demonstrate it even among their own family members, when they are dressing or … bathing.

Some ways most ladies (and men) demonstrate modesty are seen in:

(1) how they clothe themselves, and

(2) how ladies use “accessories” such as jewelry or make-up, as well as

(3) how they adorn or arrange their hair, including how long it may be worn.

Much of the language I will use will refer mainly to ladies, women. That is because this is my focus, for the sake of this article.

Modesty is something The Lord has been teaching me about over many years. He began when I was around age 5 or 6, when I first became aware that my dresses my mom had sewn for me … as I wore some to the government school I attended, … had to pulled down, to keep them “long enough” to cover my knees while sitting down. The short length of my dresses and skirts or jumpers made it difficult to sit, for long, in a school-desk type chair, without feeling like someone was looking in my direction.

I did not realize it, at the time, but these were (I believe) some of the first signs of God’s Holy Spirit making me aware that how I dress does, indeed, have an effect on others. He was making me aware that I should “do something” about making the whole experience “decent” and “honorable” for both them and me.

While young, I was not the one choosing my clothing. (just so you know)

When I was 11, my mom began letting me learn to sew, a little at a time. Soon, I was able to read a sewing pattern well enough to sew some of my own clothes. It became easier, over a few years’ time, so I sewed a good number of clothes for myself, during that time, being allowed by my mom to choose patterns (styles of clothing I liked), fabrics and colors I liked, at the time.

As I was choosing patterns to use to sew garments to wear, I was becoming aware of what “covered the body” more and what did not. I believe, though am not sure I was aware of all that The Lord wanted me to learn from this process, that He was teaching me, in it, … to choose more modest clothing, as the years progressed.

After I finished high school, and began some college training, I continued to sew garments for myself. Once I had met my future husband, and our parents gave their consent for us to be married the following year, I decided to sew my own wedding dress. That was fun to do. It cost only about $50 for the entire garment! (I really like “a great deal,” financially speaking. Am a frugal thinker.) Found out it is not very hard to sew a wedding dress. I had chosen a design I liked very much, and yet, I kept things simple, in how I wanted the final wedding gown to look. So, perhaps others would spend much more in sewing their own wedding dress, nowadays, but I believe I could show a young lady how she could spend much less, and still be happy with what she wanted. But the final decision is hers, as it was mine, over 30 years ago. (by the way, my parents gave me permission to make these choices myself)

After some more years went by, and God, each day, was still faithfully teaching me more and more about dressing more modestly, … the styles of clothing I was wearing began to change, again. I had been raised to think that girls and young ladies wearing “pants” (girls’ style pants, they were called) was okay, even approved. I’d wear dresses, or jumpers, or skirts & blouses to church, or ladies’ style “suits,” with jackets and skirts, plus a blouse, to church, … but we were allowed to wear pants to middle- and high-school, and we might wear shorts in hot weather, in public places, or while riding bicycles on neighborhood streets and public roads (for all to see). Yes, I could hear The Holy Spirit talkin’ to me, at times. Did I always listen and make the right response? No. (… I regret to say)

Though a parent may approve of a certain style of clothing as acceptable, or even okay, or good, or “just fine,” that does not mean that our Heavenly Father fully approves of it. My Lord was building within me a different, set-apart understanding of what “modesty” means.

I have left out a lot of details, so (if you want more details, I plan to write more about this topic in a second article, on this blog / journal / newsletter to ladies) please bear with me. Am speaking somewhat in general, just to introduce this topic, of modesty, because I must make you aware of at least some of my background, to help you better understand “some things, from my past,” that had an affect on my thinking, and influenced me, even as The Lord was at work, in my spirit, teaching me about modesty, by His Holy Spirit’s methods.

God is able to use most anything to teach us, His children, what important truths He wants us, each, to know, and live by. He knows how to do it in a way that He blesses and will benefit us, by how He does it. He has been amazingly merciful, loving and patient with me!

In my own life, He used my family, my relatives, school “dress codes,” fashions being promoted during my years of life from age 11 to 18, and the media, as well as my own heart, to let me learn lessons He wanted me to learn. I must say that not all “those” things I have named had a positive effect on me. Not all of those influences in my life led me to do what glorifies God. And that is why I write this. To help someone else, so they will make wise decisions, and not have regrets, later in life. And some would say even my personality profile affected the choices I made, in clothing.

But God is so rich in Mercy, and so Patient in teaching us, … He helped me along, on His Path of Life in a Loving and Gentle way, never pushing me, or fussing at me. Just talkin’ with me in my heart and working in my spirit to lead me along to a better “place” of understanding, which has brought me much Peace. Thank You, Lord!

He wanted me to learn to do things in a way that *He* calls modest, as it relates to how a lady clothes / covers her body, both in public and at home! He wanted me to learn it well, so I could pass on the truths He was teaching me to my own daughters, after He let me get married. And He has used the lessons, mistakes, disasters and good examples He provided to guide me, so I would be prepared to help my daughters along, … once they were born. And He has been faithfully continuing to teach me more lessons, since then.

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* http://helpnotes.blogspot.com/2008/01/modest-clothing-links-from-jan-8-2008.html

The link just above here will take you to an “article” I wrote on a blog (not this one; I copied it here, though) I began before this one, for another purpose — it is meant to benefit moms who home educate their children, for The Lord’s purposes. The dates on it may seem a bit odd, but I had copied it from another blog I had shared this article on, … when I chose to delete that other blog. You may wish to read more using this link, on the topic of modesty, before reading any more here.

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If modesty is, indeed, an issue (a matter) of the heart, then each of us, as ladies, must decide what kind of “heart attitude” we want others to “see” when they see us. This includes our own personal family members.

Our decisions will also be somewhat affected by our age, and our weight, and our body “type.” But I am speaking only of the overall issue, topic, of modesty.

If I wish to give others the impression that I am a happy-I-belong-to-Jesus (The Lord Almighty, God’s Son), then I should dress my body in a way that I truly believe He would be pleased to see, with His Pure, Holy Eyes. That’s my personal belief. No one had taught me this, on earth, while I was growing up. I was, however, taught that when we “are getting ready” to go to our family’s congregation we fellowship with, for worship, each week, we should “dress in our best” for The Lord. Maybe that was one lesson along the road my Lord put me on.

If modesty is important enough that parents do discuss it, and dads care about what their daughters “dress like,” especially when children are moving from being “little children” to “older children” to being “young adults,” then some moms may, before their children reach that age, wish to learn from other, older moms, some reasons “why” those older moms may dress more modestly than some other, younger moms dress.

This is an important issue. The next generation will be affected by our example leading the young ladies to dress in a way that covers them “more modestly,” or in a way that does not. I was very much affected by all the influences in my life — home life, and standards, friends, “school life,” ladies at churches I attended, and relatives, as well as printed & visual media and images in books I was exposed to, or that I chose to read or look at.

What influences do we want our young girls, our older girls, and our young ladies / young adults to have in their lives, as they grow as believers in The Lord Jesus (Yeshua)?

What kinds of thoughts do we want men, young or old, even boys, to be thinking when they see us, in public, at a fellowship meeting of believers, or at home?

Do we realize how men and boys are affected by how women clothe, and cover, themselves?

Do we have to dress like ladies from another century, or like frumps, to be clothing our bodies modestly?

Do we have to look like we’re wearing sacks, or we’re fat women, or wear loose clothing that looks too large for us, in order to be dressing in a way that pleases The Lord?

Does it make sense to study the culture in the time of Yeshua, or before that, to get ideas about what God seemed to approve of, among His people Israel, … as far as what we can find, to learn from? Would that mean we should dress like women dressed in Bible times? Or can we find ways to adapt that mode of clothing oneself to our day and time?

Are there ways I can clothe myself modestly, without looking “olde-fashioned?” Do I need to fit in with the culture in which I now live?

What will my husband think? my dad? my brother(s)? my friends? (ladies) my casual acquaintances? (men, if I am single) my pastor? his wife? my neighbors? (yes, they do look at ladies when they are at home and can be seen) other folks who see me in public? my business associates? (if I am in business of some kind)

How should I approach changing how I clothe my body? Can I make changes gradually? Will my family think we have to dress like Laura Ingalls and the ladies / girls in her family dressed, in the late 1800s?

How can I wisely discern the best way for me to clothe myself modestly??!

God does have plenty of answers and wise guidance for us to glean from. Ultimately, each of us must decide how we should clothe ourselves in modest apparel. We will each be held accountable, responsible, for how we did clothe ourselves, when we see Jesus (Yeshua) face to Face. We are wise, now, to learn about ways we can deal with this issue of modesty, so that we can “get on” with our lives, and not be “caught up” in the world’s plan to pull us toward its magnet of “fashion” and “style.”

Fashions change, according to what fashion designers wish to achieve, and according to styles and trends they want to “bring in” or have an affect on. Their designs and styles and trends these influential people develop come from their basic beliefs and values about life, and about God. What they believe will affect the standards they use as they develop clothing designs, that you may later see in clothing stores in the U.S.

If you do not sew, you will be limited to which pre-made clothing is available in stores in your area, or online. It will help you to learn to sew, first of all. That offers you more choices that will be modest, by design (your design). Even if you use a pattern company’s patterns / styles, for sewing your own clothing, you still have much freedom, with some sewing experience, to alter the style so that it is modest, and meets the standards you believe The Lord would have you live by.

For those who do now sew clothing for themselves, take heart. God has provided modest clothing through others who sell it at consignment shops and at thrift stores, as well as through church clothing giveaways, and yard sales. (in the U.S.)

Rest assured: God has your best benefit in mind. He knows you. He knows what you want, and what you like. (in clothing) He also knows what He wants and likes. He will guide you. He won’t take anything good from you. He will offer you more options than you may have imagined, when you began pondering this topic! Just follow Him. You can trust Him. He is the first clothing designer — in the Garden of Eden. He made clothing for Adam and Eve, when that became necessary.

I will continue this in the second part of “my thoughts on modesty.”

(for those who were hoping I would share Bible verses to support what I am, or will, share, those will be shared in the second part)

Below are website links to take you to two “posts” on the site known as Stablishing Hearts.

I must say both of these “posts” support modesty and moderation, both in matters of clothing and in spiritual matters.

You may reach your own conclusion, but I happen to agree with what is shared by the posts’ author.

“An Evaluation of Culottes”

http://sh.obeyingthetruth.com/2009/11/an-evaluation-of-culottes/

“The Christmas Spirit”

http://sh.obeyingthetruth.com/2009/12/the-christmas-spirit/

The Lord wants an attitude of moderation, a pure heart and Biblical (worldview) attitude & spirit, working in each of His true children. Philippians 4:4-5

If I allow a worldly attitude any open door into my soul (mind, in this case), I will be affected by what “comes in.” I must stop the enemy at the door, & resist the temptation to follow the way of least resistance (from the world, or friends, or relatives who do not walk closely with The Lord, and who do not understand that a worldly attitude can turn our hearts from The Lord, before we realize it has happened, if we are not vigilant and alert and attentive “enough.”).

If we “work” (not a works-based religious attitude; but if we “make an effort”) to follow The Lord as closely as we can, though we do make mistakes in life, The Lord will give us the spiritual Discernment He wants us to have, to keep us from building up satan’s kingdom, though we would (in our will) desire to build up God’s Kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah).

By “work” I also mean we lie down at night (and awaken) thinking about The Lord, verses we are learning from His Word, and in a prayerful attitude. The Lord’s Spirit dwells in those who are YHVH God’s true children, through faith (belief & trust) in The Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah Yeshua), by Grace. He is our Teacher! He guides us (believers) into all Truth; He is The Spirit of Truth. — John 16:13 The Holy Spirit uses the Bible verses we are studying, reading, learning, to teach us what our Father in Heaven wants us to know, to guide us and help us “along” on our journey on earth, until we come Home to Heaven.

It is good to read posts in which other believers share truths that all believers need to think over seriously. These are not preferences. In my case, they are convictions, personal beliefs.

May The Lord richly bless you as you walk with Him each new day!

We all live very busy lives. We do want to make good, wise decisions.
Regarding vaccinations, and “the swine flu scare,” we all need to know the facts.
Below are a few more website links, and several videos, which should help you in decisions you will need to make.
These websites were shared by folks who are very well informed about this area of information and knowledge. This has to do with American vaccines. If you are in another country, I do not know what is being done in your country. These may help you, but these should be of interest to people in America (the United States, for as long as we may continue to call it that).

Not sure who else is very much aware already of the various medical personnel who are strongly against vaccinating, but … thought you may want to know about the first link (below) to a webpage with several videos on it.
Some of you may already be aware of this. For those who had not yet become aware of this information, am sharing it in hopes it will help someone make a wise, informed decision.

http://www.alfalaq.webs.com/vaccinemedicaldangers.htm

Below is another link with a video which is quite informative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTgyakGAddM

(yes, I do realize the subtitles are in Spanish. But the speakers on the video do speak in English.)

Below are links for two pages on the website of an organization (Natural Solutions Foundation) that has been sharing very helpful, accurate medical information, keeping many informed about the swine flu “scare.”

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=3901

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=219

Please read what you can benefit from on these, for your better health and for the protection of your children.

Some of these sites contain information you or I would not endorse. Please overlook what you disagree with (with regard to requests for money you don’t have, or are not able to send; they are only trying to defend each person’s legal right, under our U. S. Constitution, to choose whether or not to be vaccinated. It is not legally necessary for anyone to receive any vaccination, even those which are supposedly “the law” in many, or most, U. S. states. This is true. The videos will explain this, I trust. I have seen them and I believe some doctors did share this fact.)
For the most part, what is shared (medically and regarding informed consent for medical patients, and regarding making one’s own medical decisions oneself, or parents making these decisions for their own children) on these websites has been proven by other evidence, from others, to be accurate and truthful.

Just wanting to help you and your family.

There are many other informative websites & youtube videos on this topic. These were recent ones.
Those who disagree (on this “issue”), please take it to The Lord on your knees. He alone has all the wisdom any of us needs, to do the right thing.

May God bless you in all you do for His glory!

Knowing the truth will only help you to make a decision you will not regret.
Thinking you have no “other” options, when someone tells you you “need” to be vaccinated, is not the truth.
Please do all you can, by using all available resources you trust, to do what you believe is right, about your and your family’s health decisions.

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update, as of Dec. 5, 2009:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26714

The link above takes you to a webpage entitled:

“Educating the Senate: Do Not Supress Organic and Small Farmers and Ranchers; Natural Food Products”

Please stay informed!

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=183

This link, just above here, takes you to a webpage sharing with you recommendations for what you can do, to continue to learn more about the information I have tried to share with you, through sharing links to other webpages, friends.

This information is both URGENT and IMPERATIVE!  If we, as U.S. citizens, do nothing, as former generations have done, our children and grandchildren, one day, will ask us “why didn’t you …?”

And we will stand before Almighty God and be expected to give an account of our lives.

We may find we are “wanting.”  Not lose our salvation.  But we may be in tears over things others made us aware of, yet we did not do anything effective, or practical, or d0-able, that would benefit and bless the lives of others.  Is that the legacy we want to leave?  Are those the kinds of memories we want our children to have? (in the future)

Please take this information quite seriously, my friends!

God bless you, beloved of The Lord!

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YHVH God hath done marvelous things!
He is clothed with majesty!

His LovingKindness is everlasting!
His Mercy endureth forever!

… what hath God wrought … in your life recently? ….

He has been teaching me some truths, that are being used by Him to mold my character in the way He desires me to “go.”

It is like a path on which He has placed me, … that is a bit different from paths He has had me on, earlier in my life.
The Lord knows all things.
He knows what is best. He only does what is best.
From our perspective, life (at times) does not go the way we wish it would, or think it should.

But God is at work, doing us much Good, that we may not yet see (in its fullness) with our human eyes. In our spirit, with the spiritual Understanding He is giving us, bit by bit, … as we follow in His Way, … He is opening up doors, and … putting us in(to) a “large place,” as David calls it in the Psalms.
He continues to do works, in us, and for us, that our human eyes do not yet behold. But He is still at work doing them, for His glory and for our good, and for the good of those whose lives will be, or have been, touched by ours, because He has arranged it to be so.

He is at work. You (or I) may be going through what we view as painful times, emotionally, physically, or even mentally.
Life may not be going as we think it should, under His justice.
But we lack enough Understanding to see the “picture” He is painting as fully as we will, one day. (in Heaven)

Soon, our Dear, precious Lord Yeshua (Jesus) will call for us to meet Him in “the air” … in the clouds! We will be so thrilled, over-joyed (from our human viewpoint), so filled with awe and … getting to see (fully) His majesty, His glory, … and His blessed Face! Hallelujah!

He will change us, on the way “up,” … to meet Him in the clouds … into our immortal bodies!
He will do such things as would over-fill us, if we could now see what will “be,” that we might feel like bursting, … but then, it will all work out as He has wanted it to, from the beginning.

When He made, created, all things (yes, Yeshua / Jesus was there at the Creation; He was creating, at God’s command, what was being made / formed / created … at the beginning of time, at the time when God was making / setting up / creating the universe as we know it), He was thinking of you (and me)! He has us in mind!

He knew when He would choose to have you (and me) come upon this earth … being born, then growing up, … with things going on in our lives that we would not have chosen, but they occurred, and … in ways we may not now understand fully, He allowed them to occur because He knew “the greater good” He could use those to bring about. Then, He let us learn of Him, at the time He appointed, … because He chose you (and me) from the foundation of the world! Hallelujah! What a blessed thought! He thought of you (and me) from before He made all things, … including the stars in this vast universe of His! wow! He is awesome!

He knew when He would let us (if you’re an adult, or an older young person) become more fully grown, physically, mentally, emotionally, … and He is still maturing you (and me) (if you are a true believer in The Lord Yeshua haMashiach / Jesus Christ) “in Him,” day by day. As you (and I) continue to follow in the footsteps of Yeshua (Jesus), He continues to open more doors of His Understanding to you (and me). That is also a blessed thought! The Lord, Who made all things, and Who holds all things in His Hand, … and Who directs all the events of history, even using the horrible evil done by those who hate Him, and reject His Love, to bring about Good, and to use it draw more men and women into His sheepfold, into His Loving Arms, into His Kingdom of Light, Love and eternal Life! Isn’t it odd?

We think of evil as being so horrible, or so unjust, or so awful and unfair. But God does not approve of evil. He may allow it to occur, since evil is a result of the sins and iniquities of people God has made, who have rejected His abundant, limitless Love, who have thought more of themselves or of something they desire (that will harm them, or someone, on earth, they love) than they have thought of God, … because He knows He can use it / turn it … to produce Good for all.

The Lord is ever thinking about you (and me)!
He has you, if you are truly His child, and have believed on YHVH God (The Almighty God, The One, True God; The Lord Jehovah / YHWH, The God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob; The Holy One of Israel; there is no other!), and in His only-begotten Son, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), … then He has you in the palm of His Loving Hand. He cannot lose you. Yeshua said that those whom The Father hath given to Him, He will in no wise cast out.
Hallelujah!

Yeshua (Jesus) accepts you!
No matter what your past is, what you’ve done — if you have surrendered your life to Him, then you belong to The One Who made you, Who designed you to bring glory to His Name, Who loves you much, much more than you know!
If you believe The Lord Yeshua (Jesus) died in your place to pay the penalty, the debt you (and I) owed to God, our Father in Heaven, … for our sins and iniquities, then you have put your trust in The Lord Yeshua (Jesus). And … you are His! If you have repented (as part of trusting Him),
and you know Him to be your Lord (Master) and Saviour (Deliverer, Atonement-Maker, Your Kinsman Redeemer), then He has accepted you already! If you have repented of your sins (turned away from them, rejecting them as evil, and turning toward The Lord Yeshua / Jesus, for deliverance from the punishment for your sins, which is eternal destruction, damnation, sentenced to living for ever — never dying, but forever suffering, burning — in the lake of fire), then you are His! And He is yours!

When life does not go as we wish it would, … and when things go wrong, … even for good people (people who are true believers, who “are” doing good, at His urging, being compelled by His Holy Spirit to do what they believe He is prompting them to do, for His glory, especially in sharing The Gospel message of how one can find “eternal Life” in God’s Son, Yeshua {Jesus}), please … (please!) remember … the story of Job’s life, … and David’s life, … and Joseph’s life (who was taken to Egypt against his will, and yet, God used him, and the things he chose to do, and the things he chose not to do, to turn to good what would have, otherwise, been used against the people of Israel … and they would have perished in the famine … in the land of Israel, during Joseph’s lifetime), … and Daniel’s life, … and …
… you will be encouraged, that God uses evil rulers, and other people who hate us, … to keep us walking … on His pathWay, … along with our Dear, precious Lord Yeshua (Jesus), Who loves us with His everlasting Love!
And nothing can separate us from The Love of God, which is in Yeshua the Messiah (Christ Jesus), our Lord.

He is King!
But He is also our best Friend!
And He (Yeshua) calls us His “friends” if we do whatsoever He commands us to do.

If you are wondering “what” He wants you to do, please visit
http://iblp.org/iblp/discipleship/dailysuccess/commands/

You will gain something that, on earth, is “free,” but … as you go through your days, it will bless your soul, benefit your life, and will help you get through the hard times … full of (His) Joy!

He wants to strengthen you!
He has been comforting (strengthening) me!
He has been healing me! Hallelujah!
He has been filling me with more of His Shalom Peace!
He has restored my soul!

He wants to fill you with His fullness of Joy!
So, … keep trusting Him (if you already do), to be with you, to show you how to abide in Yeshua, … and how to walk His pathWay … with Him!
His yoke is easy (it fits well, and will not chafe your skin, because you are yoked together with The One Who bears all the weight of it), and His burden is light!
… lay down your burdens at His Feet! He will carry them “for” you!

… I am not done with this race (of life on earth) yet.
But He is so patient to continue to teach me more lessons of life.
I praise His Name for His patient, kind-hearted Love for me!
He has made my life full of Joy! and full of His glory!
Not because I do much that is good.
But because He does much more than I know … that is Good in a perfect (complete) way.

Trust Him! He cannot break His promises! He cannot lie! He cannot change!
He is ever Merciful, Good, Joyful, Loving, Kind, Meek, Humble, (full of) Shalom Peace, … and has Grace to give us, for each new day, to enable you (and me) to do the things He would choose / desire us to do, … that will (in the end) bless us much more than what we wish we could do.
The results are “out of this world” (if we obey what He commands us to do)!!!

Hallelujah!
Praise His Name for ever!
Baruch haShem Adonai Elohenu!
Baruch haShem Adonai Yeshua!
He is Melech ha Olam! — The King eternal.
Hallelujah!
I am so glad I know Him!
I am so glad He chose me to know Him!
He is my first Love!

Do you know Him?
If you want some advice on how to know Yeshua (Jesus), you may visit: http://www.lifeinthebible.org/ or
http://www.utmostway.com/ and look for information on those sites about how you can find deliverance from the bondage to sin (which is a form of rejecting God’s free gift of Love and of eternal Life in His Son, Yeshua / Jesus). If you need help, just leave the site owner a comment or message, through the means provided for that. He will respond to your questions. And God will answer your cries! All who call upon The Name of The Lord “will be” saved (delivered from the power and the punishment of sin)! — from Acts 16: 31 and Romans 10: 8 – 13

http://www.drsmdavis.com/

This website is designed to provide much-needed help, and hope, for families and for relationships!

You will benefit from the many free, audio resources and notes Dr. S. M. Davis shares on this website!

God bless you as you pursue Peace in your relationships with others, especially other true believers, and those within your own family.

We know Dr. Carl Baugh, a God-fearing paleontologist, who is good friends with both Dr. Kent Hovind, of Creation Science Evangelism, in Pensacola, FL, and Dr. Ken Ham, of Answers in Genesis. (plus a number of other intelligent-design and creationist scientists, worldwide)

He keeps abreast of all expeditions, by Christians, to try to locate the remains of Noah’s Ark on the Mountains of Ararat. (most call them Mt. Ararat)

He continues to network with other “intelligent design” scientists, as well as former evolutionists, of which he *was* one (before The Good Lord transformed his life; now he’s been re-born for quite a few years), to learn more about what they are doing, so all can benefit from their shared facts and verified information.

Please visit the CEM website, because you will learn more, and be glad you went there!

Creation Evidence Museum, Glen Rose, TX
http://www.creationevidence.org/

If you happen to live in Texas, anywhere within about 100 miles south of Ft. Worth or Dallas, please visit the museum in person! On the first weekend of each month of the year, Dr. Baugh, or a guest speaker he chooses, will be there, to share “free lectures” on site! We’ve been to some of these, and they are well worth your trip there!

If you’re not able to get there, purchase some of the videos, or video sets, or some of the great books Dr. Baugh offers through his website store. You and your children, those you fellowship with, and those you are related to, and even your neighbors, will all thank you!

We feel quite blessed to have been able to go to his creation fairs, he used to have there, plus the student science fairs he sponsored, and other events, at the Creation Evidence Museum, just outside of Glen Rose, TX. He has a wealth of information!

The “new museum building” has been “up” for a while, and though the large hyperbaric biosphere is not yet functional, as far as I know, the building is being used for speakers, and for special events there, on site, at CEM.

Even the shape of the ceiling, the new museum building imitates the curvature that God built into our universe!

If you get a chance to write a “regular, snail mail letter” to Dr. Carl Baugh, please use it to *Thank him!* He has literally dedicated years of his life, to spreading The Word about the Truth in God’s Word, about the verified evidence /facts, and archaeological data and specimens, he knows about, so that everyone will know there *is* evidence that we can count on, and share with those we meet, that God is real, what He said in His Word is True, and … we have hope that our Creator *is* our Redeemer, and His Son, Yeshua (Jesus) *is* The Mighty God, Who was there at the Creation of the universe!

And it is also True that He (Yeshua / YHVH God, The Father Almighty) still rules the universe, and in the hearts (souls) of men !

As we honor The Lord YHVH (God, our Father in Heaven, Who made all things), He will take care of all our needs. As we see Him for Who He truly is, and “acknowledge Him (thank Him for what’s He’s done),” He will direct our paths. As we choose to Love Him back for the limitless Love He has already shown to us, … and our forefathers, and our descendants, … He works in our lives to do good for all the people He allows our lives to touch, as we go through our days on earth.

And, when we’re in Heaven, He will show us the many souls He used us to bring with us, to be there for ever, in Heaven.

… American Christian Education.

F.A.C.E.

Below is a link to their webpage for home educators, sharing with you what their concept is, for helping parents educate their children with a Biblical worldview, using a tutoring approach.

http://www.face.net/204004.ihtml

You can read more about it at the link, above.