Ephesians 2 ... Reading through the Bible

1 And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
 
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
 
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
 
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
 
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Staying free from bondages of man

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Recently, I had doctor's appointment.  I have to go in yearly in order to keep getting that prescription for Ambium (sleep aid) otherwise I would not be going to doctor for yearly checkup.

This is my third appointment with this doctor.  We have worked through the concept that I do not choose to have blood tests ... nor do I choose to do screenings for cancer ... nor do I want vaccinations ... He did ask me again if I wanted these but I just sort of laughed (giggled actually) and declined each.

He accepts my decision.  He said, "You are an adult and while it is not what I would do, what you are choosing does seem to be working for you." 

(Sort of reminds me of Daniel wanting to eat a food other than the king's provision and when they tested this, Daniel and his men were healthier than the men who ate the kings portion ... Dan. 1)

During the time I spent with doctor, I did not mention the Bible but I did share with him some Bible concepts which he seemed to find interesting.

I told him about going to Walmart this week and how a man did something very offensive and I just kept saying to myself, "Charity, Charity, Charity ... act toward this man with charity."

I told this doctor I do not want to hurt anyone.

(Before going to doctor's appointment, I prayed that I would only say that which God wanted me to say.  Also I prayed that he would not do anything to me that didn't need to be done.)

We discussed the pain I have daily as result of the operation on my leg after that accident 5 years ago.

When I described it's problem he said it sounded like cell damage ... cannot be repaired.  I am helped by putting heating pad on my foot and leg and knee ... and by using over the counter roll on, "Freeze it" ... and by taking Aleve.

As a result of my description he wrote in his notes that I cannot take exercise ... One of their sections on the medical information they have you fill out has to do with how much exercise you do daily ..

He said my blood pressure was a little higher ... I replied it was probably due to the pain caused by their blood pressure machines.  One was so bad she had to switch to another machine which was also painful.  He said, "Pain will cause blood pressure to rise."  It seems to me their blood pressure machines are abnormally painful.  (The nurse was a little hostile to me when I mention pain as she tried to take blood pressure.)  Next time (a year from now) I suspect I will decline having the blood pressure test as a result of the pain and doctor's statement that the pain will cause the blood pressure to rise. (so how can it be accurate?)  And I really don't care about blood pressure or even know what they think the numbers mean or care to know what they think the numbers mean.  It just seems to me to be one of their routines. (At one point, after I mentioned pain from their machines, doctor said, "You can go to grocery and take your blood pressure regularily.  They have machine."  I just stared at doctor and said nothing.  (I don't care about blood pressure and wouldn't know what numbers meant anyway.) 

(Or I might even buy the cuff type blood pressure that goes around wrist as dentist uses for it doesn't hurt me, and take it in and if they don't want to use that, just decline blood pressure test)

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The only other issue concerned vegetables ... He wanted me to eat vegetables.

Where in Bible does it mention vegetables?

I like vegetables OK but they are a problem fixing.  You have to peal and chop and it is hard for me to stand in one place or even to move around to get the various things to do this work.  I usually just end up throwing the vegetables away when I buy them.

And do I really want to put myself into this bondage of having to be sure to buy such regularly and prepare them before they rot in my refrigerator?  especially when I see nothing in Bible about vegetables...

I began talking to God this morning about vegetables and here is what God showed me.  Most of it is in Col. 2 ...

understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

God knows everything about our bodies and God is able to communicate with me ... Do I want to go into bondage of this world in what I eat and how often to eat it?  These are ideas of man and are often vainly, puffed up ideas based on knowledge of man which is also often vain and puffed up. 

I think of the children of God wandering in the wilderness for 40 years eating manna ... And I think of John the Baptist living on locust and wild honey ...

What do we eat today ... Our bodies often tell us what we can tolerate at any given moment in time.  I digest pasta very well.  Many other things I have eliminated when I find they do not agree with me.

My dad had heart trouble so doctor required him to lose weight.  He cut back in bread.  But my aunt said, "Bread is the staff of life."  I don't see that exactly in Bible but I feel she was more nearly correct than that doctor.  Certainly the bread of the Word of God is the staff of life.

But my dad did cut back on bread and lost weight and then died.  The weight loss did not prolong my dad's life at all.  God is in charge of the time we live or the times we died.  I see various scriptures on that.  Also honoring father and mother has something to do with long life (Eph. 6) ... and Prov. 3 ... speaks of various thing that help body ...

Prov. 3 ... Chapter 3
1 My son, forget not my law;
but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life,
and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee:
bind them about thy neck;
write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:
fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel,
and marrow to thy bones.

And we know I Cor. 11 where those who mishandle the word of God have for this cause the reason for their sickness and even death.

I Cor. 11 ... 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (die).

I want to build my house on the Bible ... We can believe the Bible and what God says for it is always truth ... while man has his own vision of knowledge based on his own thinking ... but that doesn't mean man is correct in his thinking.

God's wisdom is perfect ...so what does God say about these issues?

Col. 2 ... 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:7 Rooted and built up in him, (In what God has said about the matter) and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

I Thess 4 ... 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Recently I cancelled the lawn care service I have used for the past two years.  I found some of their work troublesome to me and I did point out what I wanted but they never managed to do what I wanted on a consistent basis.  So I gave them sufficient time and then just quietly paid my final bill and discontinued the service with them.

I hired a married couple to do the lawn.  I had been paying $35 per service.  She said they could try that but I didn't want to take advantage of them financially.  I called her and told her I can pay more if I need to do so.  The $35 is what I had been paying but there is no way I would want to take advantage of them in any way.  She said this is very unusual.  She was delighted over my unwillingness to take advantage.  She said to let her do the work for a couple of weeks and see how much time it take.  She said the yard was in very poor condition and it took them much more time to do the work the first time.  She said maybe the previous people hadn't done the work in a few weeks and this was the reason it needed so much attention.  I told her they had cut the yard 6 days ago.  It was just that their yard work was so bad!

(Notice in I Thess. 4: 6 ...
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:)

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I Tim. 4 ... 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Col. 2 ...

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (The Word). 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
 

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

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There was a time, a long time ago, that a woman took on her own health and provision by working out what she needed in vitamins.  She studied vitamins by her own wisdom and began taking a handful every morning.

After  she met me and I questioned this, she stopped but was very afraid in stopping.

Then one day she realized she hadn't had a cold in about 2 years!

Vitamins is one thing doctor asked me ... "Do you take vitamins." ... I replied.  "No."  Doctor didn't say any more about this.

Does God speak of vitamins in Bible?  I want my house build on Bible for it is truth and it will free me from various bondages of men who base their thinking on wisdom of men.

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When my dad was very sick in hospital, I visited him and he said, "What I'd really like is some fried chicken."  I went out immediately and bought some and took it in and he ate it and said it taste so good.  Doctor had him on salt free diet.  The next day doctor came in to examine him and said, "I think you need some salt."  My dad's body had already told him this.

My dad went along with all these doctor ideas ... and then he died at the time appointed by God ...

Eccl. 3 ... 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die;

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I write this in detail so you can wake up if you desire to do so and think about what you are doing and consider is this really what God wants me to do, or is this just a futile plan of man and a bondage of man.

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Concerning vegetables ... I do not plan to alter my life and go into a regimen thinking I have to have vegetables 4 days a week and such ... that is bondage which I believe man sets up and I'm declining that bondage just like I decline blood tests and screening for cancer.

I told that doctor yesterday if I do get cancer, I would just want him to get me needed pain medicine.  I wouldn't try to treat it anyway.  I am 78 years old.

I don't think I would need screening to tell me ... pain would tell me ... and if pain came and wouldn't go away in reasonable time, or if I couldn't tolerate the pain, I told doctor I would contact him immediately for pain control until I could die.

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The world stumbles about in their own wisdom.

But we have the wisdom from God.

But the world would try to impose upon us their thinking.

I don't debate such things with doctor and other worldly people.  How can they know what we know.

I just want to build my house on truth and truth is from God.

I told doctor if I eat or drink something and find it doesn't agree with me, I just don't eat that again or drink that again.

He said this is a very good way to go.

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We do have to reestablish everything with God through prayer and hearing what God would say as I have done in this example.

I am certainly not against medical doctors.  Jesus said it is not the well who need a doctor but the sick.  

Luke was a physician ... and called "beloved physician" in Bible.

I appreciate the fact that we have hospitals we can go to when we cannot take care of ourselves due to accident or illness.

I just want to keep myself free from needless bondages and activities of man and build my life on what God says to me about that which is currently affecting me.  And it takes work to do this and each of us must decide for ourselves the way we want to go on this present earth while we live here.

II Samuel 23 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 Now these be the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse said,
and the man who was raised up on high,
the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
 
2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me,
and his word was in my tongue.
 
3 The God of Israel said,
the Rock of Israel spake to me,
 
He that ruleth over men must be just,
ruling in the fear of God.
 
4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth,
even a morning without clouds;
as the tender grass springing out of the earth
by clear shining after rain.
 
5 Although my house be not so with God;
yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things, and sure:
for this is all my salvation, and all my desire,
although he make it not to grow.
 
6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away,
because they cannot be taken with hands:
 
7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear;
and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
 
8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had:The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite:he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 

9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword:and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. 

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles:and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines:and the Lord wrought a great victory. 

13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam:and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David:


nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this:is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. 

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. 19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain:howbeit he attained not unto the first three. 

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab:he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man:and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard. 

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 

29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 

34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite:

thirty and seven in all.

Ephesians 1 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.
 
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
 
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:

in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
 
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
 
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Great dividends by meditating daily in the Word and by doing that instruction in our lives

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I talked to Barbara Preston twice recently and am so happy to report I didn't have to correct her in any way.  She is taking care of herself now by daily meditating on scripture.  That makes all the difference.  Now I will be able to call her again.  I really missed getting to do that.

When our "fellowship" is with the Father, we have fellowship one with another.

I Jn. 1 ... 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us:and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

When we judge ourselves by the word of God and make appropriate corrections to our lives, "we will not be judged" 

I Cor. 11 ... 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

If you have to correct a person each time you hear that person speak (or you are troubled by remembrance of that person's words), then you can know that person is not judging himself and is not in proper fellowship with God and therefore that person will end up being a thorn to us and we will have to correct that person constantly.  When this is the case and I'm always have to correct a person who says he is Christian, I just withdraw and refrain from speaking to that person knowing I will have to continually bring correction.  He becomes as a thorn or thistle by his words.

But when we correct ourselves by the Word of God, we will not be a thorn to other Christians.

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Concerning Barbara, it is interesting that she heard, concerning meditating in scripture, "This isn't doing any good."

I called her to report the evidence that the meditating is doing good is the fact that we could freely talk and not once did I have to correct her.

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Antichrist ... "This isn't doing any good"

Christ ... Joshua 1 ... 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee:turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee?

Antichrist sends thoughts opposite to way of God.

Flesh also thinks opposite to way of God ...

Flesh:  goes by feelings / emotions

vs. Spirit which operates by faith not by sight ... faith in what God has said.  Focus on what God has said about the issue.  Believe what God has said instead of believing your feelings or emotions.  Choose to believe God.

Must learn to keep focus on that which God has said and not on what we see or feel.

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Recently on TV I heard a young man say, "It is human nature to seek revenge."

That is correct.

Human nature is to hate, to compete to beat others, and such.

Human nature is the natural man that each of us are born with ...

The flesh.

Gal. 5 ... 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law.

As we meditate in the scriptures daily and do these scriptures diligently, we walk in the spirit and not in what our own flesh wants to do.  For the scriptures are stronger than our flesh and if we really want to go in the way of the scriptures and we keep the scripture before us day and night, eventually that Word from that scripture will plant in our heart and rise up in our life just like a seed of a flower rises up to produce a beautiful flower.  We water that seed and care for it and it produces the flower.  We have to keep the weeds away which would choke that seed to death.  But if we do this it will flower.

And the Word is the same way. 

We have to labor to enter into God's rest.  Heb. 3 & Heb. 4

Our labor is meditating in the scripture and doing the instruction and rejecting the ways opposite to the scripture.

Recently I was speaking to Pam Padgett about some pain in my leg.  I said something about the weather causing the pain.  Then I realized that is not in the Bible.  So I retracted my thinking.  If it is in the Bible I want to accept the truth.  If it is not in Bible it may be a doctrine of man and I want to set such aside and not build my house on that doctrine, old wife's tale.

I want to go forward firmly building on what is in the Bible and by judging what I say and correcting myself by what comes from my mouth.

Finding a Bible verse daily and meditating daily on that verse pays very big dividends and is the way to God for the Word is Jesus and Jesus is the Word and no man comes to God but by the Word.

Jn. 14 ... 6 Jesus saith unto him, I (the Word) am the way, the truth, and the life:no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

II Samuel 22 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:2 And he said,
 
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust:
he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge,
my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
 
4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised:
so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
 
5 When the waves of death compassed me,
the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about;
the snares of death prevented me;
7 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
and cried to my God:
and he did hear my voice out of his temple,
and my cry did enter into his ears.
 
8 Then the earth shook and trembled;
the foundations of heaven moved
and shook, because he was wroth.
 
9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,
and fire out of his mouth devoured:
coals were kindled by it.
 
10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down;
and darkness was under his feet.
 
11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly:
and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
 
12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him,
dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
 
13 Through the brightness before him
were coals of fire kindled.

14 The Lord thundered from heaven,
and the most High uttered his voice.
 
15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them;
lightning, and discomfited them.
 
16 And the channels of the sea appeared,
the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord,
at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
 
17 He sent from above, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters;
 
18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
and from them that hated me:for they were too strong for me.
 
19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity:
but the Lord was my stay.
 
20 He brought me forth also into a large place:
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
 
21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness:
according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
 
22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
 
23 For all his judgments were before me:and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
 
24 I was also upright before him,
and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
 
25 Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness;
according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
 
26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful,
and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure;
and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
 
28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save:
but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
 
29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord:
and the Lord will lighten my darkness.

32 For who is God, save the Lord?
and who is a rock, save our God?
 
33 God is my strength and power:
and he maketh my way perfect.
 
34 He maketh my feet like hinds 'feet:
and setteth me upon my high places.
 
35 He teacheth my hands to war;
so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
 
36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:
and thy gentleness hath made me great.
 
37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me;
so that my feet did not slip.
 
38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them;
and turned not again until I had consumed them.
 
39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise:
yea, they are fallen under my feet.
 
40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle:
them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
 
41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies,
that I might destroy them that hate me.
 
42 They looked, but there was none to save;
even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
 
43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth,
I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
 
44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people,
thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen:
a people which I knew not shall serve me.
 
45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me:
as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
 
46 Strangers shall fade away,
and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

47 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock;
and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
 
48 It is God that avengeth me,
and that bringeth down the people under me,
 
49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies:
thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me:
thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
 
50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen,
and I will sing praises unto thy name.
 
51 He is the tower of salvation for his king:
and sheweth mercy to his anointed,
unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

Galatians 6 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
 
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
 
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
 
11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 

14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
 
17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
 
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

How is this justice?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Heb. 10 ... 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

How is this justice? As I was asking this question to God, I heard, "It is mercy."

Think about yourself when God "saved" you ... was it justice or mercy.

I know in my case it was certainly not justice for I was terrible.  It was mercy of God. 

God says ... Romans 9 ... I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

When we think of forgiving someone, that person may not deserve to be forgiven.  That may not seem like "justice" to forgive that person.  It may just be mercy extended on our part toward that person and like God as HE had mercy on us. 

Justice can sometimes be a very hard yoke for us as we hold out for justice in relationships.

Charity is mercy ... 

I Cor. 13 ... 8 Charity never faileth:

II Samuel 21 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. 

And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. 

(God does not forget and in HIS time brings justice... Must remember when we sin, we sin against God ... this is no small matter... If our sin were against man, man dies or leaves that country where we live ... but a sin against God remains no matter where we go.  It must be appeased. )

2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them:and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) 

3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord? 

4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. 

And he (David) said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. 

5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, 6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord did choose. 

And the king said, I will give them. 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord 's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 

8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord:and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
 
10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
 
12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. 14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father:and they performed all that the king commanded. 

And after that God was intreated for the land.
 
15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines:and David waxed faint. 16 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured (supported) him (David), and smote the Philistine, and killed him. 

Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. 

18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob:then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. 

19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 

20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. 

22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Galatians 5 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
 
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.  10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
 
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
 
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
 
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
 
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Why fret over these things you can see?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

There are many things we, as humans, tend to fret over ...

But God tells us a mystery which by faith we believe.

II Peter 3 ... 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  

Do you believe the heavens and the earth will be destroyed?  And if we believe this why then are we fretting over the house that need repair?  or over the ground that needs attention?  

II Peter 3 ...  10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

If we are among those who know all these things we can see with our natural eye will be destroyed, why fret over keeping them up?  Does it really matter?

Dwell in peace, knowing it doesn't matter.  Most people don't know this but we who are of God do know this.  So why fret?  When we are removed from this present house, we will be "clothed" with our new house provided by God.  All this we see now is temporary.  

==========

Twice recently, my cleaning woman has remarked about the poor work my lawn service is doing on the property.

What cleaning woman has said is certainly true.  Their work is very poor.  But does it hurt anyone?  I live inside my house in peace.  Even with the poor work, I am not troubling my neighbors.  The lawn is mowed so I doubt anyone but me and cleaning woman notice the detail work is not good.

And should I complain to lawn service.  I have asked them to correct work but they don't seem to know how to do this.

I've used them as a service for two years.  I do not consider it can be corrected with them.  I just paid my final bill for this season.  If I'm still on the earth next season, I will look for another lawn service.

At this point to complain would not be charity.

My dad used to say, "If you go to eat at cafe and the food is not good ... just pay your bill and don't go back."

I think there is wisdom here.  No need to fret.  Live in peace.

========== 

My house is 11 years old.  It needs to be painted.  It is stucco.  I asked contractor if he wanted to do the job or did he want me to get someone else.  He said, in January, he wanted to do the job.  It is now October and the job has not even been started.

Contractor also told me the south side of house is going to need repair work, not just painting.

We are rapidly approaching winter.  So time is running out on painting season for outdoor work.

Do I need to feel troubled over this ... or do I really understand that all these things are going to be destroyed, and if I understand that, then why am I troubled?

That is what Peter is saying to us in II Peter 3 ... 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Why be troubled?  Live in peace.

Do I allow myself to blame contractor who built the house?  Why do that?  It is going to be destroyed anyway.

So I have taken attitude to live in peace ...If it gets fixed, fine. If it doesn't get fixed, fine.  Does it really matter that heirs will not have the money from the house because it falls down?  Not really, since the entire heaven and earth will pass away anyway ...

Why fret over that which is ordained by God to be destroyed.

And why fret over our flesh?  It is not going to be saved along with our soul.  (Pay attention to soul which is for all eternity.)

Those of us who are of God should know this.

Live in peace. 

II Samuel 20 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite:and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse:every man to his tents, O Israel. 2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri:but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.


(Penalty set by God over David's house ... II Samuel 12 ... 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.)

3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
 
4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah:but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom:take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. 

7 And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men:and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 

8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand:so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. 

(There was bad blood between Amasa and Joab because of the following:  2 Samuel 17:25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.)

So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. 

11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. 

12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. 13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
 
14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites:and they were gathered together, and went also after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench:and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
 
16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. 17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel:and so they ended the matter. 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel:thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel:why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? 

20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so:but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David:deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. 

And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. 

22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
 
23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel:and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:24 And Adoram was over the tribute:and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:25 And Sheva was scribe:and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

Galatians 4 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
 
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
 
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
 
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 

15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
 
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 

18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 

19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
 
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
 
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Building yourself up in your most holy faith

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Jude v. 20 ... 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

I was reminded of this recently and found it in Jude.

What I heard is "build yourself up in your most holy faith" ...

I believe we do this daily as we meditate in the word of God ... and as we think on our relationship with God and those experiences we have had with God ... and we think on the comfort given us by the Holy Spirit as HE has recalled specific words given us by HIM.

II Samuel 19 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. 

2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people:for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 

4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 

5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants:for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants:for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night:and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. 

8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king:for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
 
9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
 
11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh:wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? 

13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. 

14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. 

15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
 
16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. 18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. 

And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned:therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord 's anointed? 22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? 23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
 
24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

(Mephibosheth was Jonathan's son who was lame.)

25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? 26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me:for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God:do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 

28 For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king:yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? 

29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 

32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old:and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 35 I am this day fourscore years old:and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? 36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king:and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 

38 And the king (David) answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee:and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. 

39 And all the people went over Jordan. 

And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. 

40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him:and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
 
41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan? 

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us:wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift? 

43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye:why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? 

And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Galatians 3 ... Reading through the Bible

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
 
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
 
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
 
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
 
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
 
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
 
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
 
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.