Bondman

Accent, huh! Funny that, but I don't notice any accent! Just checked - nar, Beloved doesn't notice one either! Whereas you Americans! - and especially if "ya'll" come from the deep South... well, what can I say... *hee!*



I'm really glad you enjoyed the concert though! I feel like I've heard of a band called the Newsboys, but I'm not really up with bands. Mooloolaba is a charming seaside resort on our Sunshine Coast only about 2 hours North from Brisbane. I must admit that if I found myself living in such a delightful spot as there I would not be leaving!

Up behind the Sunshine Coast there are some small places in amongst the trees on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, with wonderful views down to blue ocean, white waves, and golden sands! Yep, that's where we'd love to be living!

I always feel 'bad' about writing "The Great Dividing Range", like it's this massively high range of mountains! Nope. Instead it IS very long and it DOES divide the coastal areas where most folks live in Oz, from the rest of the outback where mostly Kangaroos live! - but the whole length of it is really low by most standards. In fact there's nothing high in Australia, which is one of the reasons for our poor rainfall: no high ranges to force the clouds to drop the rain. And in most of Australia's coastline NO ranges at all! Result: NO rain, and much desert country!

Ha, but we are very rich in mineral wealth throughout the vast open spaces of our island continent, one of the three top countries in the world I seem to remember. Maybe that makes up for lack of rain. Maybe!

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Bondman

My experience is that most folks with what we used to call 'a besetting sin' tend to feel guilty about it and so keep it hidden. Not always that easy to get free from such sin either. I think that it often becomes a matter of reaching some sort of desperation point before we'll give up what our flesh loves. Many will go for years or even decades still not free.

Does this ultimately come down to how committed and submitted we are to the Lord do you think?

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Bondman

SCRIPTURE

One of my favourite verses in Ephesians -

Ephesians Ch 2:10 For we are God's handiwork (His workmanship),
recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those
good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us
that we should walk in them.

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Faithwoman

Quote:

My experience is that most folks with what we used to call 'a besetting sin' tend to feel guilty about it and so keep it hidden. Not always that easy to get free from such sin either. I think that it often becomes a matter of reaching some sort of desperation point before we'll give up what our flesh loves. Many will go for years or even decades still not free. Does this ultimately come down to how committed and submitted we are to the Lord do you think? __________________

The answer to that question is YES......when the secrets are continue to be hidden.. well from others (nothing is hidden from the Lord).. i feel folks myself included.. are busy with their minds and the continuation of hiding for fear others would find out.. and through all this junk in the trunk, it does take away how committed and submitted they are to the lord..
Just my two cents from NY..

Faithwoman

SweetSurrender

I am soooo excited because today, one of my prayers were answered. I am talking to this 33-yr. old single parent at work about God. We were talking about the classes she is taking, as she is also going to college to become a nurse. She just broke up with the father of her three boys (although they were just living together), who is a bouncer at a night club. As we talked about her classes, she said one of her favorite is Religion. She also stated that she believes there is a God, but she isn't sure about Jesus. From her religious classes, she thinks she would be a better Jew than a Christian. It makes more sense to her. ?? I thought that rather odd.

Anyway, at my class in church on Wed. night, I requested they pray for Susan and her 3 boys, 5, 3, and 18 mos old. I wanted the Holy Spirit to draw her so that she would hunger more and provide an opening for me to present my testimony to her and what Jesus has done for me.

It went so smoothly today. Not only were we completely alone so she could bring it up, but she asked all the right questions and even said she was just so ready for something new in her life and that she was thinking of going to a church. I told her my story about how I surrendered my life to God, and I suggested she just talk to God about showing her if Jesus was real and if He was, to tell Him how much she needed Him in her life and surrender to Him, everything so that He would be that something to fill her emptiness. Something to that effect. I don't know, it just came out so good. She was very thoughtful and I invited her to church Sunday, knowing that I probably was not going to be there, because we were planning on leaving Sat. to go to Oregon to help my daughter and family move to Texas.

Well, just then, Norm walked in and said we wouldn't be able to make it to Oregon, because we just can't afford the car rental from the Military base in Washington to Salem. They have gone sky-high in prices and the gas being so expensive, we figured it would cost $600, just for the car, which we don't have available and I was so glad he made that decision cause now I can go with Susan to church Sunday. I will see her again tomorrow and will find out if she prayed a life-changing prayer tonight. Isn't it exciting!! It is so much easier depending on God and the Holy Spirit to move, rather than me figuring out what and when to say the right thing.

Also, I am reading another amazing book called The Shack. It's something new out and I don't remember the author, but a tragedy forces a man into a face-to-face encounter with God, Jesus, and the H.S. who try to explain to Him the Trinity and how they are one and always have been one. It makes so much sense and it would be a great book-made-into a movie. You will have to look it up and see what you think.

Man, BM, I hope you and the Missus are doing just a tad better these days. No worries? Love, Sweets

Fluffy

__________________
Be transparent before God, He sees right thru you, anyway!
http://www.likepreciousfaith.org/testimony_val.htm
Please pray for your local emergency responders, daily.

Faithwoman

Sweets,

How exciting and awesome to see how God is moving through you to others! Praise the Lord!

Faithwoman

Bondman

Wow, that's all very wonderful, sweetie!! I'm SO happy for you, and truly thrilled to bits at the place you are with the Lord!

I bless all those who've helped you in your journey and of course most of all the Lord for His grace, care and love!!

- BM

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Bondman

It's a case of 1 up 1 down: Beloved has been able to get at least a little out of her bad time last week, but I'm still on the downward trail physically, was very ill this morning, and my best assessment of the situation is that my body truly cannot go down much further...

However I am relaxed and at peace in the Lord, as I continue to believe God for our total healing. The reason is really quite simple -I KNOW He answers prayer, I KNOW He can and does heal, and I KNOW that we can trust Him always and in all ways!! My trust in Him means that if He should choose not to heal that's okay, because I'm fully ready to meet my Jesus, my Master!!

Bless you for caring, Sweets!

- BM

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Fluffy

__________________
Be transparent before God, He sees right thru you, anyway!
http://www.likepreciousfaith.org/testimony_val.htm
Please pray for your local emergency responders, daily.