I John 1 ... Reading through the Bible

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 

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. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
 
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
 
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Time is set by God. What we see as delay in coming of Jesus is really salvation for others

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

In the early 1900's, a meteor fell in Siberia.  My mother was born in 1905 and I heard her tell of how people thought it was the end of this world. 

More than 100 years have passed and the world is still here.

Peter explains that the timing is not slackness but salvation ...

II Peter 3 ... 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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.

It hasn't come yet.  When you think about it, some might be born again tonight... some tomorrow.

But the day of the Lord will come sometime ... no man knows when ... only God knows this.

Until then, salvation ... after that the judgment ... 

While we may long to leave this earth, we rejoice in the salvation of others as the time continues.

But in time of God, the end comes.

This heaven and this earth will pass away ... all works of men will be destroyed ... eternal judgment will then come ... and those who belong with God will receive reward ... and Paul mentioned "a full reward".  We don't know what that means but it surely is very important.

I'm sure "a full reward" has to do with doing the will of God daily with all your heart and continuing in doing the will of God daily as long as we dwell on this present earth.

and after that ... the judgment.

II Cor. 5 ...  9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;

II Chronicles 2 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom. 

2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
 

3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me. 4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. 

5 And the house which I build is great:for great is our God above all gods. 

6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? 

7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. 

8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon:for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants, 9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance:for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great. 

10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
 
11 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the Lord hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them. 

12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the Lord, and an house for his kingdom. 

13 And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's, 14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father. 

15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need:and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
 
17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred. (153,600) 

18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.

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Comments by Joan Boney  

I've always found when God told me to do a work, I had all that I needed to do that work easily.

In approximately January, 1980, in the night as I slept, a very loud voice, like a trumpet, which I now believe to have been the voice of an angel of God, said three words to me, "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS."  

I jumped out of my bed and wrote down these words.  KWJS was obviously call letters to either radio or TV.  (It turned out to be radio.)  I asked God, "Are you telling me to go on radio?  I wouldn't know how."

A gentle impression came to my mind:  "Call the radio station manager."

That same morning, as soon as I felt the manager might be in his office, I called KWJS radio.  I told the manager I thought God might be telling me to go on radio and I asked him how to do that.

The manager told me to make and audition tape 29 1/2 minutes long and send it to them and if I fit into their broadcast they would offer me a contract.

This was so easy for me to do.  I already had a tape recorder.  (In those days we did not have DVD but had cassette tape.)  So I sat down immediately (that same day)as soon as manager told me this, and made a recording and sent it to manager that same day.  

Within one week, I was broadcasting on KWJS radio.

32 years after this, in 2012, in a dream, God showed me a blog and in the dream I was saying, "It's a nice little voice.  It's a little voice but is a nice little voice."  I saw immediately how it would be possible to do these writings to the church.  

Within 3 days we were writing on this blog and have written daily exhortations since that time at the end of March, 2012.

Again, this was so easy to do. (I already had a computer.)  Pam Padgett was a retired computer code writer at Fed Ex and she prayed and set up the blog.  She did a cover page of red/orange just to show me what was possible.  It was exactly what I thought to be good.  And we still use that original design format today on this blog. 

Also writing on the blog costs us nothing ... and it goes all over the world instantly ... and we can even edit materials after they have appeared on the blog.  We can write as much as we want to write without limitation.

It allows us to fulfill the following scriptures:

Heb. 3 ... 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb. 10 ...  25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

It has been (and is) just wonderful ... perfect!

And it is perfect for my current age which is 78 years old.  

I can say my later years are better than my former years as did the Word of God say about Job.

Job 42 ... 12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:

II Peter 3 ... Reading through the Bible

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

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.
 
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
 
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. 

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
 
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The great and terrible day of the Lord

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Joel 2:31 ... 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered:

This week, we had a weather event in Lubbock which cause the mayor to declare a state of emergency for the city and to call out the National Guard.  (I don't know if that has ever happened before here.)

It doesn't often snow here.  No one is prepared for snow.  A blizzard came in on Sunday, December 27, 2015, and in a 24 hr. period of time it snowed 10 inches.  Over 360 cars were stranded just inside the city.  The National Guard had to be called to service to rescue the motorists.

All this caused me to think of how terrible the time would be when the sun turns to darkness.  That would be unthinkable but we, who know Bible, know that time will come.  If there is no sun, there would be no natural melting of snow.  There would be no warmth on the earth and the plants couldn't grow.  I can't even begin to imagine what a few days would be like if the sun became darkness and failed to shine.

I was terrified.

And then I remembered the following promise to us ...

I Thess. 5 ...  9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

II Chronicles 1 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 

2 Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. 

3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.

 4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it:for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 

5 Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord:and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. 6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
 
7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. 

8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. 9 Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established:for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people:for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? 

11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
 
13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel. 

14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen:and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 

15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance. 

16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn:the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. 17 And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty:and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.

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Comments by Joan Boney 

When I was born again, I was so concerned about dealing with scripture.  Every time I picked up Bible to read it, I prayed for God to give me wisdom.  I took my Bible at that time and wrote above each chapter of Bible the following words:  "Pray for wisdom" ... I didn't want to forget to do this.

I still try to remember to do this ... asking God to help me as I start to read Bible.  I know only God can give me understanding as I read and I know I need this understanding.

When I was around people more in past years, in church groups, and they would start to ask me a question, I also quickly prayed silently as they were speaking, "God, please give me wisdom."

The following scripture was a foundation for me.

James 1 ... 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

II Peter 2 ... Reading through the Bible

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.   3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
 
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:   10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
 
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;  13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. 

Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;  14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
 
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
 
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Suffering in the flesh means ceasing from sin: Not allowing flesh to have it's own way in your life

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The apostle Peter said:

I Peter 4 ... 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

To suffer in the flesh means to refuse to allow your flesh to do what it wants to do.

The flesh becomes offended and wants to hate and wants to seek revenge.  This is a work of the flesh.

At one time we did hate and live in malice.

We served our own flesh when we did this.

But after God had mercy on us and took us as HIS own children we learned to put the flesh to death in not allowing the flesh to go the way it wants to go.  We stopped serving our flesh.  Now we serve God, doing HIS will.

And what is it our flesh wants to do?

The apostle Paul told us the works of the flesh.

Galatians 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.




We make the flesh suffer each time we refuse to allow it to do what it wants to do.

We cannot serve the flesh and serve God at the same time for the flesh is opposite to God.

As we renew our mind to the Word of God we see the way of God.

For example:  It is normal to seek vengeance.  That is human nature.  That is the nature of man.  That is a work of the flesh of man.

But the way of God is told us in Romans 12 ... 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed ... James 1  When we are tempted, we are told in James 1 what to do in the midst of the temptation that we might overcome the temptation.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

In the midst of the temptation, we pray ... asking God for wisdom to overcome the temptation... asking God to help us to overcome.  Doing what we are impressed by God to do to escape the temptation.

There are times we want to tell a person off ... putting that person in his place.  We pray, asking God to keep us from doing that. We suffer in the flesh each time we refuse to yield to the flesh.  We cause our own flesh to suffer by refusing to allow our flesh to have it's own way.

This is what it means to "suffer in the flesh".

Jesus did not serve His flesh.  Jesus obeyed God, doing the will of God, even to death on a cross.

We read about the works the flesh wants to do ... Galatians 5 ... Notice that Paul said ... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Now we have the Spirit of God in us to help us.

Paul even said:  Flee fornication (I Cor. 6) ... just as Joseph fled Pontifer's wife, even leaving his garment behind if needed ... run away ... go the other direction ... and pray all the time you are fleeing.

You cannot serve God and your flesh.

Col. 3 ... 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:6 For which things 'sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

We are buried with Christ in baptism.  As we are lowered into the water it is like being buried with Christ ... dead to the world now ... therefore ceasing to pursue the world and the desires of the world ... reckoning our flesh to now be dead with Christ ...

When we come out of the water it is symbolic of being raised with Christ ... so we can serve God instead of our own flesh.

Now we refuse to yield to our flesh, to the many desires of our flesh.

Now we go another way, serving God and doing the works of the Spirit. 

Gal. 5

 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. 

I Chronicles 29 ... Viewing the work of God through scripture

1 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great:for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. 

2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 

3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:

5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?
 
6 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly, 

7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 

8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 

9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord:and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
 

10 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation:and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 

11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 

13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 

14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 

15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers:our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. 

16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. 

17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. 

As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things:and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 

18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
 
20 And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. 

And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king. 

21 And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings unto the Lord, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:

22 And did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest. 

23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. 

24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king. 

25 And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
 
26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour:and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. 

29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, 30 With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

II Peter 1 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
 
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
 
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
 
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
 
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
 
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
 
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Moving forward with joy ... God with us where we go

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Jesus says ... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Mt. 28:20

Pam Padgett and I are working on what seems like a secular project ... The writing of a guide to help users of Kindle Fire HD / Generation 5.


In the most amazing ways, God has surfaced to me during the writing of this project.

One example:  On December 25, I was talking with Barbara Preston by phone.  I had shared a wonderful spiritual understanding God had given me. (printed on this blog yesterday/December 27, 2015)


Then we began speaking of two chapters of the new blog Pam and I are writing.  All of a sudden, I realized we needed to add some pictures to Chapter 21, which strangely enough is pictures of various animals ... nothing really to do with the subject of the Kindle but we have 2 chapters of pictures of animals as a light touch ...

When I began thinking of these 3 additional photos to be added, I said aloud (not necessarily to Barbara but just thinking aloud), "What would we call something like this?"

And immediately I heard: "Menagerie"



I said aloud, "How about menagerie."

Barbara continued talking about something but I was thinking about "menagerie" ... I said to Barbara, "What does menagerie mean anyway."

Barbara looked "menagerie" up on Google dictionary and started laughing ... She said, "You're going to love this definition."

She went on to tell me the definition of menagerie. 

• A strange or diverse collection of animals

• A collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition

I started laughing for this definition perfectly described what we had on those two chapters of the Kindle Internet book we are writing.

I knew God was listening in on our conversation and had entered in by telling me what to call the sub-title!

To see these chapters, tap on the following link and look at Chapters 21-22.

http://kindle5howto.blogspot.com/   

I recognized immediately God leading us in the writing of this Kindle project.

==========

After this, another thing happened showing me God ...

This time, I was praying.  I asked God how we are going to get visibility for this Kindle project.

Immediately, I had the thought:  "AARP"

Then a few minutes later, I thought of senior citizens.

At once I had a vision of this project going into senior citizens centers all over the United States to help people to learn to use a Kindle 5th Generation ... 

I have from the beginning seen what we are writing being for senior citizens, especially for those persons confined by illnesses or handicaps.

In the Table of Contents, I wrote the following: 

"This blog is written for people who have little or no experience operating a computer. ( also it is written by people who have little or no experiencing operating a computer)

The goal is to provide a step by step plan for the reader to have success in operating a Kindle Fire (5th generation) and to experience the many joys and helps that come from this magnificent device."

==========

I can see making an appointment with the director of the local Senior Citizens Center and presenting the project and the writing on Internet and perhaps setting up a test group.

I can picture this spreading from that point.

I also realize a possible starting point with AARP by going to the local chapter director and showing the project.

As I was thinking of these steps, I was reminded of the following scripture:

Isaiah 45:2 ... (God says)  I will go before thee,
and make the crooked places straight:
I will break in pieces the gates of brass,
and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

==========

We have 4 test people from our little church group using this Kindle blog we are writing. 

One person is a woman who is 80 years old and on a walker.  One man is 77 years old and in a wheelchair as a result of a heart attack and a very serious operation.  One of his hands was partially paralyzed and it is now difficult for him to lift his paper Bible. 

If such people can learn to use a Kindle now, while they are still able to take on a mental challenge, they will have a way out of their physical situations and can literally travel all over the world as they sit confined in one chair!

It could mean a great deal to them and bring them help and stimulation of mind.

I believe with all my heart God is in this project.

Again, to see the project, tap on the following link:


http://kindle5howto.blogspot.com/   


 

 

I Chronicles 23-28 (Excerpts) ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

I Chronicles 23...

1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2 And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. 3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward:and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand. 4 Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the Lord; and six thousand were officers and judges:5 Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith. 6 And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

... 24 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and upward. 25 For David said, The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:26 And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. 27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:28 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; 29 Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; 30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even; 31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the Lord:32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the Lord.

I Chronicles 27 ... 

23 But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under:because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.

I Chronicles 28 ...

1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem. 

2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people:As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. 

4 Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever:for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:

5 And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) HE hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 

6 And HE said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts:for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 

7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day. 

8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God:that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
 

9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind:for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts:if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. 10 Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary:be strong, and do it.
 

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, 12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:

13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord. 

14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof:and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick. 

16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups:and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:

18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 

19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. 

20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it:fear not, nor be dismayed:for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 

21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God:and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service:also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.

==========

Comments by Joan Boney  

God ordained the work and when that is the case there will be no lack in materials, workmen, money ... all that is needed to do the work ordained will be there for the work.  (Same in NT church when God has ordained that work and when those ministers are ministers appointed by God:  apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.  Eph. 4)

I Peter 5 ... Reading through the Bible

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
 
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
 
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
 
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.  13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

A healing: Are you jealous because another person had that idea and you didn't

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Does it seem that other people are always seeing things that you do not see and you feel a little "stupid" that you didn't see that  ....

Here is some understanding for you ... some healing for you ...

Where do ideas come from?  How is it that one person "understands" and another does not understand?

Where does understanding come from?

James 1 ...  17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God gives wisdom.  God gives understanding.  God gives to whom HE wills.  God tempers the body as HE chooses.  God explains this in the following scripture.

I Cor. 12 ... 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need:but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

If everyone saw at once, would there be a need for each other?  If we all had the same talents, would we need each other?

And to those who do not understand "why" the others didn't see ... put away your arrogance ... understanding is from God, not of yourself.  God chose to let you see.  God did not choose to let everyone in the room see.  Your understanding is from God by the will of God and not of yourself.

I Cor. 4 ... 6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Let each of us repent!  and change our way ...

Instead of marveling in the person who received the idea, we should be marveling in God, knowing that all good and perfect gifts are from above.

We should be glorying in God and not a human.

Instead of being jealous we didn't have that idea, wanting men to glory in our flesh, we should be glorying in God for giving the perfect plan to us.

Instead of being puffed up, arrogant, even scoffing at others because they didn't see, we should realize God caused us to see so how can we take pride in ourselves and scoff at those who did not see.  How terrible to do this!

Yet God had patience with us and mercy with us in our foolishness and God didn't destroy us.

Now that we are enlightened, we must repent and make immediate change and stop ourselves from ever doing this again, focusing on:

James 1 ...  17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

I Chronicles 22 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. 2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight; 4 Also cedar trees in abundance:for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. 5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries:I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
 
6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the Lord God of Israel. 

7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God:8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars:thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about:for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. 10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. 

11 Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee. 

12 Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God. 13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel:be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. 

14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance:timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto. 

15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work. 16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. 

Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee.
 
17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the Lord your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his people. 

19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.

I Peter 4 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.  6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
 
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: 

on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
 
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

When we are God's children, God is with us everywhere we go

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Genesis 28:15 ... God says ... 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest,

God said this to Jacob ... Does this apply to us also?

David said ... If I Make my bed in hell, behold THOU art there... Psa. 139:8

Here is a promise from God to the NT church ...

Heb. 13:5 ... 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 

And the Holy Spirit said this to me:  "Will you leave your little child that you bring into the world?"

God brought us, the ones HE chose, into HIS kingdom, though we still walk on this earth.

Do you think God would walk off and leave us, HIS little children, while you would not do such with your own children?

Mt. 7:11 ...  11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

I Chronicles 20-21 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

I Chronicles 20

1 And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. 

2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head:and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city. 

3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
 
4 And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant:and they were subdued. 

5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam. 

6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot:and he also was the son of the giant. 7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him. 

8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

I Chronicles 21

1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 3 And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be:but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? 4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
 
5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword:and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword. 6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them:for the king's word was abominable to Joab. 

7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. 8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing:but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
 

9 And the Lord spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things:choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 

11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee 12 Either three years 'famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. 

13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait:let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies:but let me not fall into the hand of man.
 

(You never want to fall under the control of man ... The fear of the Lord and doing what is right in the sight of God puts us under the control of God ... Far better to offend man than God.)

14 So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel:and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. 

15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it:and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 

16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 

17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
 

18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the Lord. 

20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. 21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. 

22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord:thou shalt grant it me for the full price:that the plague may be stayed from the people. 2

3 And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes:lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all. 

24 And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price:for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. 

25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. 26 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. 

27 And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.
 
28 At that time when David saw that the Lord had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to enquire of God:for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

I Peter 3 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord:whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
 
7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
 
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing:but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers:but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
 
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye:and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
 
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

James 1: Things to live by

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Recently, in reading James 1, I was stricken by the number of instructions to live by in this one chapter.

- Continue in patience:   4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

- If you are being tempted, pray for wisdom:   5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

- The rich man will be as the grass that rises only to be withered by the heat of the day:  11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth:so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

- All good things are from God ... wisdom, understanding, talent, good ideas ...  17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

- Salvation is of God and not of our own works ...  18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

- Danger of wrath ... 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

- Be careful how you receive the Word of God ...  21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

- Don't just hear the word / do the word ...  22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

- Those who look carefully at the Bible, and do the Word, and continue to do the Word, are the blessed of the Lord ...  25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

- If you can't control your own tongue, your religion is in vain ... 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 

- To "visit" (judge) the widows and fatherless in their affliction, while they are afflicted, is very important.  To call on them, to help them when help is needed, and to do it in a timely way, is critical and without doing this our religious is defiled and impure ...  27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, 

- And it is critical to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.  To fail to do this causes our religion to be defiled and impure.  Therefore we must take care to renew our minds to the word of God when impure concepts come before us, such as TV ads and TV programs and carriers of unrighteous ways come to bring their wisdom which is contrary to God.  We must diligently uproot their ideas by scripture, by hearing truth from the Holy Spirit, and by choosing truth ... thus we ...  keep himself unspotted from the world. (verse 27)

I Chronicles 19 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. 

2 And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. 

3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land? 

4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away. 

5 Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them:for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
 
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah. 7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle. 

(not good to battle a chosen one of God)

8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city:and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field. 10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. 12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me:but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee. 

13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God:and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight. 

14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. 15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
 
16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river:and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. 

17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. 

18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host. 

19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants:neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

I Peter 2 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
 
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious:and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
 
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:whereunto also they were appointed.
 
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
 
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles:that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
 
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake:whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 

17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
 
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 

21 For even hereunto were ye called:because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:by whose stripes ye were healed. 

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Don't miss the call of God that is on your life

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

When there is greatness, it is God causing that greatness.

James 1 ... 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

How is it that one person has the special talent of a Walt Disney ... How is it that one man can run so fast on the football field ... How is it that one man can figure out electronic devices or mechanical equipment?

I Cor. 4 ...7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 

If we really understand this, how can be be puffed up with pride over that thing we do well.  It is not us doing it, but it is God doing it through us.

We need to stay in our gift.

If you clean house well, clean house.

If you are a writer, write.

If you understand your "gift" is from God, how then can you glory in yourself as if you did this? God did this through you!

I didn't make myself into an apostle ... I didn't create myself female ... I was born as God ordained.

As a Christian, my glory is not in any fleshly accomplishment as if I did something.  My glory is in God who created me to do this thing that I have the gift for doing.  God created me, trained me, equipped me.  How can I glory in myself?  And I hate it when people glory in me, not seeing God, but seeing me, the human.  This happens from time to time and I despise it and shut those people off from me when they do this.

God explains it as follows ... in spiritual ways (but it also applies to secular things)

Romans 12 ... 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

This same principle applies to secular things.

My dad was a mechanic.  He was 8 years old when the first Ford car was put on the market.  My grandfather bought one of the first cars built by Ford.  My grandfather brought it home and parked it outside their house.  They all went in to eat, everyone except my dad.  My dad stayed outside.  When the others had eaten and came outside, they found my dad standing beside that car.  He had taken the motor out of the car and had removed every hose, belt, screw and part and had them sitting on the ground beside the frame of the car along with the motor, neatly in a row.

Then my dad put everything back together.

He loved motors and cars and was very good as a mechanic.

This is a special gift from God!

I once heard my mother tell her sister the following about herself.  "I've never been good at anything ... except cleaning house."  My mother was great at cleaning house.  She never wanted to work outside the home and my dad was glad he could make enough money so she wouldn't have to work outside the home and she could stay home and take care of me.

Both my mother and my dad stayed in the gift given them by God. 

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I've seen assistant football coaches who were wonderful as assistants.  Then they would be hired as head coach and fail ...  and then they would return to assistant coaches and be wonderful again.  One of them said, "I was a lousy head coach ... but I'm pretty good as a defensive coordinator (assistant)."

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I've even heard a minister say he was working hoping "to arrive" at the position of apostle.

... apostles don't arrive through their own labor ... apostles are appointed as gifts to the church along with prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.

Eph 4 ... after Jesus arose, HE gave gifts to the church ...

 11 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
 
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

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II Cor. 3 ... Paul says ... 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit:for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 

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What is your gift from God?

What are you really good at?  Where is your real interest?  What is it that has interested you all your life?  Usually this will seem "easy" to you ... (These help you to know your gift from God and your calling, your placement on this earth, in this present life.)

I Cor. 12 ... 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:so also is Christ. 

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
 
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
 
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need:but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
 
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 

28 And God hath set some in the church (to care for the church), first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 

29 Are all apostles? (no, all are not apostles, some are) are all prophets (no, some are)? are all teachers (no, some are)? are all workers of miracles (no, some do this)? 30 Have all the gifts of healing (no, some do)? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 

We do not all have the same gifts from God... neither spiritual gifts nor secular gifts ... but all gifts, spiritual and secular, come from God.  James 1:17