Twin_Trip_Mommy Said:

I don’t know if I would call it assumption or interpretation. I guess some would. My understanding of these verses is He knew me before I was born. He created me, He knit me together. All my days were planned. I don’t think anyone should have the right to end that life that God created. So therefore All life from conception to natural death belong to Him the creator of life and no one has a right to take that life.

AMEN SISTER! - That's the facts and much more. God knew you before the foundation of the world, and he also knew the number of hairs on your head before the foundation of the world. It's not interpretation or assumption - JUST FACTS.

Love In Christ,
Tom

THE PERKS OF BEING 50+ .....sigh...

1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

3. No one expects you to run - anywhere.

4. People call at 9 P.M. & ask, "Did I wake you?"

5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

7. Things you buy now won't wear out.

8. You can eat dinner at 4 P.M.

9. You enjoy hearing about other peoples' operations.

10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

11. You have a party & the neighbors don't even realize it.

12. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

13. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

14. You sing along with elevator music.

15. Your eyes won't get much worse.

16. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

17. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.

18. Your secrets are safe with your friends, because they can't remember them either.

19. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.

20. You can't remember who sent you this list.



Chapter 1:  GAMES FOR WHEN WE ARE OLDER

1. Sag, You're it.

2. Pin the Toupee on the bald guy.

3. 20 questions shouted into your good ear.

4. Kick the bucket.

5. Red Rover, Red Rover, the nurse says Bend Over.

6. Doc Who.

7. Simon says something incoherent.

8. Hide and forget why you're there.

9. Spin the Bottle of Mylanta.

10. Musical recliners.


Chapter 2:   SIGNS OF MENOPAUSE

1. You sell your home heating system at a yard sale.

2. You have to write post-it notes with your kids' names on them.

3. The Phenobarbital dose that wiped out the Heaven's Gate Cult gives you four hours of decent rest.

4. You change your underwear after every sneeze.

5. You're on so much estrogen that you take your Brownie troop on a field trip to the Mall.


Chapter 3:  SIGNS OF WEAR

"OLD" IS WHEN..... Your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes & you're barefoot.

"OLD" IS WHEN..... A sexy babe catches your fancy & your pacemaker opens the garage door.

"OLD" IS WHEN..... Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face

"OLD" IS WHEN..... You don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along.

"OLD" IS WHEN..... You are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.

"OLD" IS WHEN..... "Getting a little action" means there's no need to take any fiber today.

"OLD" IS WHEN..... "Getting lucky" means you find your car in the parking lot.

"OLD" IS WHEN..... An "all-nighter" means not getting up to go to the bathroom.

Hello Guys,

Here's the warm-up. The real knee-slapper is next.  

_____________________

We're having a dinner catered at our house this week end.  The chef is "Wheels" Pierre.  He's the chef at the local Road Kill Cafe (you kill it we grill it).

The Menu Choices:

    Center Line Bovine
        real good right from the hood
    Chicken
        that didn't cross the road
    Flat Cat
        single or in a stack

Dessert
    Road Toad Ala Mode

They also have a daily special
    "Guess That Mess"
        free if you can guess what it is

Hoekstra Devotion - March 25

Once More on the Resurrection and Sanctification:

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.  (2Co_1:8-10)

Our passage speaks again of the Lord's resurrection power operating in our daily Christian lives, in the process of sanctification and spiritual growth. The setting in which the Lord did this resurrecting work was in the midst of trials while serving God.

Paul did not want other believers to be unaware of his difficulties. "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia." Too often, we are tempted to keep our struggles totally private. Thereby, we rob glory from God, when He delivers us. Also, we keep others from learning important lessons that come from watching God fulfill the faithful promises of His word.

Paul's battles were severe on this occasion. "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves." Spiritually speaking, these trials were killing Paul and his missionary team. They were pressed down, overwhelmed, helpless, and hopeless. When we are in hopeless despair, our sufferings seem to be pointless. Yet, our difficulties (like Paul's) have this invaluable purpose built into them: "that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead." We have frequently noted that living by grace requires humility and faith. God gives grace to the humble, and faith accesses grace. Well, in the trials of life, God is working on developing these relational realities (spiritual realities that become real through a growing relationship with Jesus).

Trials and difficulties become occasions to be humbled before God. We are provoked to cry out to God in helplessness. Also, trials present new opportunities to trust in the Lord. When the trials are intense, God is purging us of the primary obstacle to trusting in God, and that is self-trust. "Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead." Thus, convinced that we cannot handle it, we call upon God, who faithfully resurrects us from our circumstantial death. "Who delivered us from so great a death." Thereby, faith grows that He will continue to rescue us: "and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us."

O Lord, my Deliverer, come to my aid in the trials that bury me in despair. Show me where I am trusting in myself. Purge me of self-trust. I want to embrace humility and put my trust in You. Resurrect me, Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.

Hoekstra Devotion - March 24

Still More on the Resurrection and Sanctification:

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  (Phi_3:10-11)
As we are getting to know our God of resurrection (by learning about and then partaking of His resurrection power, Christ's sufferings, and conformity to His death), our lives are being changed. We are attaining to "the resurrection from the dead."

This phrase brings to mind the final resurrection of the redeemed in the last day. "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just" (Luk_14:13-14). Yet, the final resurrection cannot be in view in our meditation verses. The overall teaching of the scriptures would lead to this conclusion. One's place in the final resurrection is determined by one's relationship to God. That issue is settled through exercising saving faith in Jesus Christ. Those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior have a part in the last resurrection, unto eternal life.

Furthermore, the immediate context of Paul's statement indicates that attaining to "the resurrection from the dead" was something he was reaching out for now, hoping to grow into it increasingly during this life. "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me" (Phi_3:12). Paul confesses that he had not fully gained the type of resurrection about which he is writing. Yet, the final resurrection was already his expectation, through justifying faith in Jesus. So, Paul is pressing on for something else.
Earlier, the Apostle had revealed what He was seeking after. "I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ" (Phi_3:8, Phi_3:10). This is why Paul wrote, "that I may know Him." This was the one passion of his life. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do" (Phi_3:13). The one thing that Paul was aiming at was a growing acquaintanceship with his resurrected Lord. He desired to know His risen Lord so well that he might attain to "the resurrection from the dead." He wanted his developing relationship with the risen Christ to produce a resurrected lifestyle in him. He wanted to face each situation of life with a heavenly, resurrected perspective and attitude, a way of life completely different from the dead and dying world all around him.

Dear Jesus, my resurrected Lord, I praise You for providing for me a place in the final resurrection. Now, I pray, help me to get to know You better, that I might live a resurrected life day by day, in Your mighty name, Amen.

Oklahoma Howdy to Allinall,

Amen Brother! That portion of Scripture and your thoughts speak volumes. The world is still pushing and pulling on us to do things contrary to HIS WORD, and this would not be a leading of the Holy Spirit.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to AJ and The Crusader,

Thanks Brothers.

I've been studying Bible prophecy just about every waking moment for the last weeks. I'm almost convinced we are seeing a preview of the end times. I felt a leading to stop and write something that might help those who still walk in darkness decide to seek Jesus.

I also feel a leading to witness. I pray that God will give HIS children many opportunities to witness. Tomorrow, next month, or next year may be too late.

Love In Christ,
Tom

I want to know when he's talking to me and to learn to do what he's telling me to do.

I lean on his word and his direction so much and alot of times that's all I have. I fully trust in him and I just need to know when to listen and how to follow his directions for my life.

Hello Chipaha38,

Each Christian will answer this question according to their maturity in Christ and their personal fellowship with Christ. I think you have already addressed the primary concerns: reading HIS WORD and prayer. I would add that it is many times also a matter of waiting upon the Lord for guidance and the path HE wants us to take to do HIS will. Regardless, more reading of HIS WORD and more prayer are always the best course.

The answer might be in the reading of HIS WORD, or it might be the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT living in your heart. The more yielded you are to Christ, the more stronger the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT may be.

There is no hard definition of this question or answer, as the quality and quantity of fellowship between the believer and Christ is a key issue. The maturity of the Christian and what they ask for is also a major issue. I know this answer is pretty vague, but I hope it helps some.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to CountryCat,

I'm sorry to hear about your pain and problems. I will be praying for you.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to WolfBrother,

I sincerely hope you enjoy Christians Unite.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Chipaha38,

I sincerely hope you enjoy Christians Unite.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to JetHeelz,

I sincerely hope you enjoy Christians Unite.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Tibby,

I will be praying for you. I hope you are praying regularly for guidance and strength to do God's will. Place your burdens at the feet of Jesus, pray, and try to walk in the path HE gives you.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Hello Corpus,

Thanks for telling us about this. I will definitely be praying for the innocent children around the world and those who give of themselves to care for them. There are numerous missionaries in my family trying to make a difference. Some of them have spent their entire lives in dangerous places, and some are just starting their young lives in the same effort.

We need a regular reminder to pray. Many Americans have no idea how difficult it is in many parts of the world to get food, medicine, and just stay alive. I give thanks for those who dedicate their lives in trying to make a difference. Daily prayer from all of us is critical. God does hear our prayers.

Love In Christ,
Tom

DovesWings, I will be praying for you and your family.

Love In Christ,
Tom