xjwsforChrist

Wow, dear 'Mom (peace to you!). So, not only can we allow our "salt" to become "diluted" by "water" (from a different Source than Christ), we can ALSO experience a change in our taste-buds?? So that we can no longer TASTE salt... or so that becomes repulsive and so we prefer a DIFFERENT "flavor"? Perhaps something "sweet"? Wow.

Somethings to consider, truly.

Interestingly, I think I shared that I had been CRAVING salt for some while, until my return from Africa. I thought, good, I'm over THAT, whatever that was. But... no, once the anti-malaria "demon" was "out" of me (J/K!! LOLOL! Once all of that horrid medicine was out of my system)... it returned. I know you're not talking about literal salt, here, but spiritual... but I find the metaphors quite interesting, considering what I AM craving, physically - LOLOLOL!

Thank you for sharing that, though. I thought salt could lose it's "saltiness" pretty easily. Go stale, perhaps. Now I see that something has to MAKE it lose its strength. VERY interesting.

Peace!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shellama

Lot's wife, dear P (peace to you!)? I don't think his daughters had a problem with salt. A problem with keeping their chonies on, perhaps, but no salt involved there.

Peace!

Your servant and a slave of Christ,

Shellama

I knew it was one of them ;P

_________________
To fear me is to love me....

Too funny!

Justmom

Thanks sis ( winks)

Justmom

I am simply stating that if ANYONE knows how to get through to me (us), it is HIM.
If that means using A or B or C so that I (we) may come to Him, isn't that what He has always done?

ONLY in the case of one that is hard-headed, hard-hearted, and stiff-necked, dear one (peace to you!). Like Pharaoh of Mose's day. Or King Hezekiah. Or Nebuchadnezzar. Or Saul of Tarsus. Those who "kick AGAINST the goads" (he, being the one goading them)... those whom JAH implored:

"Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you." Psalm 32:9

Christ said, "Come to me!", yes? Must he goad us to do so? Must he use a bit and bridle to CONTROL us so that we do so? He is a SHEPHERD, not a cowboy, dear one. He wants us to HEED his call... and come, so as to be led by him; not require "breaking" and then bridling so as to be led by him.

Yes, he did have to "get through" to some. How'd that work out for them, though?

If he has to "get through" to us... then are we not like hard-headed, hard-hearted, STIFF-NECKED ones of Israel? Why not make it EASY... on oneself... AND on him... and simply OBEY?

Dear P, you are a husband with a wife, yes? How would your life be if your dear wife repeatedly ignored you, did not listen when you called/spoke to her, disregarded your requests of her, etc. Would you not, at some point, question her love for you? So does Christ, with those who PROFESS to be of his body, but keep showing that they are not:

"Why do you call me Lord... AND DO NOT DO THE THINGS I SAY?"

He SAID:

"All who LOVE me will do what I say."

And he SAID:

"... the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they do not know the voice of strangers. ... them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; ... MY sheep know MY voice."

Yet, if those sheep keep listening to ANOTHER man's voice... not just the voice of strangers but of just ANOTHER man... while NOT listening to HIM... isn't that tantamount to your dear wife listening to... and obeying... the voice of some other man... WHILE IGNORING YOU?? How would that make YOU feel, dear one? When YOU are the one she SAYS she loves? How can you BELIEVE that? You wouldn't.

With Christ it is the SAME thing, dear one: we are all BRIDES, WIVES... NOT husbands in our relationship with him. Whether we are women OR men... we are in the "womanly" position. Yet, if we listen to some OTHER "man", are we not doing the same thing... ignoring our OWN husband's voice/words?

I realize that, given all of what "religion" has taught and fomented about "God" and "Christ" and "Jesus," etc., it may be a bit difficult TO give oneself completely to Christ... so as to hear HIM... and follow HIM... and NO other. So as to be able to leave off resisting but just hear and obey. To... TRUST (him). But that is where faith comes in, dear one. And faith... is a FRUIT of JAH'S holy spirit... so that if anyone is LACKING in faith (and that does NOT mean does not have ANY faith, but perhaps not ENOUGH faith)... one can always, always ask. Yes?

When we stop making excuses for ourselves, for our obstinance, hard-headedness, hard-heartedness... our OWN error... and stop expecting JAH and Christ to accommodate US... but turn to accommodating THEM... will we not be more readily received? Which child will a father/mother respond to with the MOST joy? The one who demands that THEIR needs are met... or the one that seeks to fulfill the desires of the father/mother?

True, the child who throws the tantrum MAY get his/her parents attention... but it is not attention given with joy. It is given with exasperation and resignation. "To keep the peace." But it also comes with some measure of resentment on the part of the parent(s), does it not?

Just some things for you to consider, dear brother. The TRUTH is that in making it hard upon JAH and Christ TO communicate with us, we also make it so upon ourselves. We don't HAVE to, though.

I hope this helps, truly.

As always, dear, dear P... peace to you!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shellama

As a father I could never do that, I could never base my joy over my children on what they do or don't do to make me happy.
I certainly hope that God doesn't either, that wouldn't make Him worthy of the title God in my opinion.

Human can be fickle and conditional in their love and joy based on how others treat them or what is don for them BUT I would hope that God is far superiour to that.
I would hope that God doesn't "measure" His love and joy based on "good works".

Christ's parable of the prodigal son comes to mind...

As one writer put it, " the story isn't just about two sons or about God being happy when we are lost and found again, it is also about ALL of Israel, about ALL of the Body of Christ, how we are ALL those two sons".

In that parable the "good" son, the one that did all that His father demanded, that did all to give His father joy, was NOT loved and given MORE because of what he did. The Fathers great joy was more for the one that came back KNOWING what he had done was wrong and that nothing he could do would "earn" his fathers love, as opposed to the son that believed he HAD earned it through his "good deeds".
Love and joy given based on how OTHERS make us feel or on what others DO for us or on others doing what we want them to, that love is superficial and far too human to be God.

I am painfully aware of my failings towards Christ and maybe that is why His Grace means SO MUCH to me.

Obviously, your children must be under age 14, then - LOLOLOLOL! (Peace to you, my brother!)



I'm thinkin' perhaps some of ancient Israel must have felt the same way - they certainly put Him to the test, didn't they? And it CERTAINLY affected HIS joy as to them. Perhaps their problem was the same as many today: they want the MOST HOLY One of Israel to be how THEY wanted Him to be... and not how He IS. Hence, they apparently didn't feel Him worthy to be THEIR God, either... and so asked for a human king to be over them. "Like the nations." Then, when He sent the king HE proposed for them... well, that One didn't measure up to their expectations, either, did he... and so wasn't deemed "worthy" to be their king.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem..."



Indeed.



He IS, but losing His joy when His children disobey and rebel... to their OWN detriment doesn't make Him fickle or His love conditional (although, His love IS conditional, make NO mistake about that. There ARE "grounds" and "rules" for receiving His love, mercy, and forgiveness - including but not limited to one must LOVE... and BE merciful and forgiving).

I would hope that God doesn't "measure" His love and joy based on "good works".

No, He bases it on... wait for it... obedience, dear one. As Christ SAID:

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:23

Now, I can understand that that might not comport with all, including perhaps you, dear one. I am sure that some if not much of the Law didn't comport with all of Israel. Which is WHY most rebelled. Didn't change their requirement to keep it, though, did it? Nor did it change the consequences of NOT doing so...



So, you think the father had JOY while his son was away? OR... did he have joy WHEN HIS SON RETURNED?? Do you not think his joy would have been GREATER... had his son never LEFT... than it was while he was away? You don't think that father WORRIED about and was ANXIOUS for that son? And that such worry and anxiety may have ROBBED him of some of his joy?

I can't tell you what to do, dear P, not at all. I can only offer as to what you MIGHT do... to make things easier for yourself. Israel, though, almost always lives up to its name, does it not? "Contender/fighter with God." Because they want to be like Jacob and "wrestle" with God, FORCING Him to bless them ("Hey! YOU'RE God! I'm just the lowly worm YOU created! So, don't tell me to listen to YOU - YOU listen to ME! YOU must bless ME... EVEN if I don't listen to YOU!").

They tend to forget, though: that only worked for Jacob... AND he came out of it with a bum thighbone, for which he walked with a limp (so as to REMIND him of his contending, EVERY minute of every DAY)... the rest of his life.

Again, peace to you, dear, dear brother!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shellama

I think that making God overly human and, to a certain extent, inferior to humans, is not a good thing.

If God is NOT the pinnacle (and beyond) of what can be known by Us ( since we are made in His image) then He isn't God, is He?

That the ancient Hebrews gave Him human qualities like anger and hate is understandable since they did not KNOW Him as we have come to know Him, in His Son, Our Lord.

If God puts conditions on His love then He can't, by the very limited human notion of love, be God.
If God bases His joy for Us on our works or ability/desire to make Him Happy, then He is not God.

Unless of course God is far less than we can conceive.

I am not one to ask God to fix what WE can fix, nor ask God to fix what IS because it IS.
I have never asked God for anything other than the strength to DEAL with what IS.

That said, it has become clearer and clearer over the past few weeks that MY view of God (and Christ) is quite different than some here.

What has been happening here as of late has caused me to re-evaluate many things...

I am not sure where things are heading BUT they seem to be pushing me away from here...

I have much to think about.

I am not sure I know what you mean, dear P (mornin' and peace to you!).



Okay, please forgive me but you know I must share the truth. I am NOT trying to be arbitrarily contentious, as I'm sure you know, but I do want to make it clear that I'm not for those who might not know that. I am not sure what you mean by God not being the pinnacle but the understanding I received from my Lord is that, for us, while in the flesh, Christ is the pinnacle. HIM we can FULLY know; JAH, we can only know THROUGH knowing Christ, but never FULLY. Here is what my Lord gave me to show you as to that:

"We, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,

“Who has known the mind of JaHVeH
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

As I have shared before, Christ IS that Spirit, dear one, the Spirit whose mind we CAN know... so AS to know (the mind of) God. Such declaration is, as dear Paul wrote, foolishness to those who do NOT have that Spirit, Christ... IN them. Now, of course, Paul wasn't always right in what he wrote, so how can one know if he was right in this? I can only offer that this is what my Lord directed me to share with you. And as I've also shared, I do not test what HE says to be true by the "scriptures"... but whether what is written is true by HIS voice. You have to decide for yourself, of course. And of course, he is available to help you do that...

Also, I am to share with you that we are not made in God's image; Adham was made in God's image, and Christ's... from the gate. WE are made in ADHAM'S image... AFTER he sinned... and WILL be REMADE into God's image by means of being recreated into CHRIST'S image. I offer:

"When God created mankind (Adham/Eve), he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” (Adham) when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he (Adham) had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth." Genesis 5:1-3

And...

"... it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man." 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

By the time Adham had Seth, he (Adham) was NO LONGER in God's image, to any degree. So, he couldn't have passed ON God's image TO his son Seth. The only image he could pass on was the one he possessed at the time: "his own." Which was NOT the one God FIRST gave him, but the one he had as a result of the "long garment of skin" given him.



This is TRUE. They COULDN'T know Him, because they COULDN'T know Christ... because Christ was "hidden" from them by means of the LAW. That law was like the veil Moses put over his face: "so that the sons of Israel MIGHT not gaze on the END of that which was to be done away with" (i.e., the Law). Christ was the END of the Law by means of his FULFILLING it so as to have it replaced by the NEW Law. Israel, however, rather than learning to SURPASS the Law, which they would have done had they looked to Christ... Whom they could have seen had they walked by FAITH... and in LOVE... were blinded by it. So that the glorious GOOD new... that is Christ... could not shine through.

The Law, which they meticulously sought to adhere to, as well as bind others to... blinded them. IT was the "veil." It was a means for them to JUDGE. But judgment is only necessary where there is a quest for vengence. And vengence is result of a lack of two things: mercy and forgiveness. If one is merciful, one will forgive. And if one forgives, there is no NEED for vengence. So, in order to JUSTIFY their LACK of mercy/forgiveness, they had to paint their God, the MOST HOLY One of Israel, JAH of Armies... as angry; hence, HIS "need" for vengeance.

But JAH is NOT like that, at all: He is slow to anger, merciful, and ABUNDANT in loving kindness! How do we KNOW? By looking at the "scriptures"? No, for the false stylus of the secretaries bear the responsibility for the "color" He has been painted. No, we KNOW... by LOOKING AT HIS IMAGE: the HOLY ONE of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah). And NOT at the Law, which stands as a veil so that Christ CAN'T be seen. I offer:

"Now if the ministration that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministration of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministration that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministration that brings righteousness! For what was glorious (the Old Law) has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory (of the NEW Covenant). And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away (the Law Covenant). But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18



He does, though, dear one; He MUST. But it really is only one and it is not even loving HIM. It is what one does to OTHERS. If one is MERCIFUL, one will be SHOWN mercy. If one FORGIVES, one will be forgiven to the EXTENT one forgives. So if one does NOT forgive, one will not BE forgiven. Those are "conditions," dear one.



If He didn't, dear one, then why send His Son to SHOW us anything? Why HAVE a "teacher"? To TEACH... what?? Works... that bring JAH joy: mercy, forgiveness... faith...



It is not that He is far LESS, but far GREATER! We keep trying to limit HIM ("Well, if He doesn't, then He's not..."). If He doesn't fit into OUR paradigms of "what" [a] God "should" be... rather than trying to know Him... AS HE IS... by KNOWING the One He sent to SHOW us how He "is." And WHAT He "is."



I understand and agree; none of us should be. Why ask God to do what we can... indeed, SHOULD, do?



And that's commendable; however, there is more that we can ask the MOST HOLY One of Isrel for, MUCH more. Particularly things pertaining for HIM... and NOT for US. Such as HIS name being sanctified, HIS kingdom to come and be established in the physical realm... so that HIS will is done... HERE... AS it is (now) in the spirit realm... to CONTINUE providing His "bread (of Life)"... which is also His Truth, His Wisdom, His Way... His SON... and to protect us from temptation (by the Adversary or even our selves!). And more... like fruits of His (holy) spirit... and even gifts of that spirit. All things that comport with HIS will... not ours.



That can be, dear one. But if your view of God is not FROM Christ... and based on what HE has shown you... then is it an ACCURATE view? Do you CARE if your view is accurate? I only ask because I have come to know that most don't. Most don't care what Christ has to say about God OR himself... but only what "certain men" have to say, including some ancient Hebrews and modern scholars/theologians. But if THEY didn't/don't know Christ, HOW can THEY know God??? Yet, if you asked any one of them how they "know" God, each one would tell you, "Well, here's what I think/believe...". Not "Here is what Christ, the Son of God, has revealed to me ABOUT God and before that GOD revealed to me that Son."

Nope, not gonna hear that. WHY??? Because it is not the case with them. If it were, they could NOT deny it... without denying Christ himself. Yes?



I understand. Perhaps that is what was supposed to have happened, dear one. Perhaps you were SUPPOSED to take a look at some things... hold them up... to the LIGHT... and examine them. More closely. And perhaps you did that... and saw some cracks/fractures you'd never noticed before, outside of the Light. Or, perhaps the Light is proving too "bright" so that your eyes "hurt" and you don't WANT to look anymore. Both things can occur. Both did with me, years ago. But I "girded up my loins"... and said, "Okay, Lord - I'm not necessarily liking what I am seeing/hearing. But I DO want the truth. TRULY. So, please... give it to me. I will remove my hands. You, though, open my ears and eyes... and help me NOT to turn away/close them again!"

I cannot tell you what you might do, dear one - only you and Christ know. I can only share with you what I had to do. And yeah, sometimes it was like having a wound carterized: very painful, initially... but the wound DID heal and much better and sooner than if left to itself to do so.



I am very sorry to hear that, dear one. Let me ask you, if I may, something I've never really asked anyone before: what do YOU need to hear... in order to stay? What do you WANT folks to tell you?



Of course. Been there, so totally understand. Whatever you choose, please know that MY love and wish for peace, for you and your dear household... remain. I recently shared some information with you that I was directed to. As I shared, it was not mine but what was given me. I promise you, it is from the SAME Source as all that I share with you. I think you know that.

Again, peace to you, dear P... and may JAH bless: you and your entire household, to time indefinite!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shellama

Nothing anyone can say can push me away from Our Lord, no Shel, it's this site I am being pushed away from and what it is going on here as of late...

Yikes! I never said that nor even thought/implied that, dear one, not at ALL! I took you to mean this site, absolutely! I read your words "from HERE." My sincere apologies if what I stated caused you think I meant anything OTHER than here; I did not. Truly.

YSSFS of Christ,

Shellama

LOL, I know that, I just wanted to be clear that I was speaking about the site

Honestly, its the constant bickering and the "tone" in some posts, it's just reminding me a bit too much of the other site...
Maybe it's just me...I don't know....

Whew, glad we cleared THAT up - LOLOLOL! I also don't like the tone and bickering, dear one (peace!) for the SAME reason. Unfortunately, it's not really respected that this ISN'T that board, that it isn't a PUBLIC board but that folks ARE actually guests, and so the same kinds of things are being brought here. Unfortunately, somes' issues with ME (either personal, due to my standing up for others... or spiritual, based on my profession of the HOLY One of Israel, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah) as my Lord, as the Holy Spirit, and as the One who leads, guides, speaks to, and teaches me) seem to be contributing to the kind of "spirit" most of us were trying to get away from.

I would gladly concede to engaging in calm, courteous discussions, even if those include disagreements of sorts. But I find it difficult to let folks publish falsehoods, even lies, while false accusing others, including me. I did ask my Lord about that, about whether I should be "kinder" and his response actually helped strengthen my resolve. He said, "I have made YOUR forehead hard as flint for a reason, child. There will come many ridiculers and opposers throughout your life and you WILL be able to stand as to them all."

So, my "hardness" is not necessarily my own doing, dear one. It serves as a shield... so that I can continue sharing what I am given with those who WISH to hear... and wish to have ears to hear HIM. Were I to shrink back, then, yes, some's feelings might be preserved, yes. But, as has been for close to two millenia... the ridiculers and opposers will only get louder, their boisterous voices overtaking and drowing out, for those TRYING to hear... with their lies, rhetoric, and propoganda. When I am directed to comment, however, it is not for them; it is for those who wish to hear.

And so I am told that I must push THROUGH their "noise" in order to reach those "wishing" and "thirsting." Doesn't matter if there is only one - our Lord says he will leave the 99 so as to find just the one.

I hope you can understand that, dear one. And I hope you can continue to give me the benefit of the doubt you ALWAYS have, that I am only trying to listen... and follow... Christ... and "feed" those he sends me to. Sometimes the "meal" is caviar; sometimes, porridge, yes. But nourishing, still. I do it, NOT because I want/need anyone to listen to me, as you well know. I don't know these things. I do it so that when the time comes and he ASKS me what I did with the "minas" he gave me, I can say I did the work. To the saving of MY household.

Because, although I DO love you ALL... it is the salvation of my own household that I am most concerned with. So, although Rahab, if found out, would most probably have met with the disapproval of her OWN people, if not been killed by them... STILL hid the Israelite spies. Because of her FAITH.

I hope this helps and, as always, peace to you!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shellama