💥 Jonah

Chapter 1

1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before ME.

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.

12And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.

15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.

16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.

17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

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Chapter 2

1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and HE heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and THOU heardest my voice.

3 For THOU hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all THY billows and THY waves passed over me.

4 Then I said, I am cast out of THY sight; yet I will look again toward THY holy temple.

5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast THOU brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto THEE, into THINE holy temple.

8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

9 But I will sacrifice unto THEE with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

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Chapter 3

1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
 
4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that HE had said that HE would do unto them; and HE did it not.

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Jonah 4

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that THOU art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?

5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.

6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.

7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

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(Comments by Joan Boney)  A few days ago, I re-read the Book of Jonah and really enjoyed reading it.  I thought it would be good to call your attention to this Book of the Bible.

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💥 Sharing with the church daily.

 

 (Listed in alphabetical order:)

Items submitted after 8 pm Eastern

will be published the following day.

💥  Joan Boney

Isaiah 30:9-13  That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

 

10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.

 

11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us

 

12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon

 

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

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💥 Sandra Chupik

 

1Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

 

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 💥 Sandy Kern

 

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

 

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 💥 Beth Martin 

 

Ephesians 1

 

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.

 

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 💥 Pam Padgett

 

This morning Joan and I were talking about the how justice, truth, and morality have declined greatly in the United States since the 1940's.  

 

I was reminded of the following: 

 

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly (what is just in eyes of God), and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

 

When we walk humbly with God, we obey what HE says, rather than following popularity, money, power, and other things highly esteemed by those of this world.

 

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 💥 Barbara Preston

 

2 Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

 

Entangle

 

 - to be involved in something from which it is difficult to escape

 

 - to be involved in a perplexing or troublesome situation.

 

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 💥 Linda Rodgers 

 

Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom; but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.   

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 💥 Cathy Varner

 

Proverbs 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

 

 

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  💥 Juliett Walton 

 

Psalm 5

 
11 But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.

12 For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield. 

 

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💥 Letter to man who identifies himself as a minister in Africa

 

Comments by Joan Boney:  

2-28-2024

This is a copy of an email I just sent to that man in Africa who wanted me to come speak to ministers and churches.  When I told him I could not travel at my age, he then wanted me to do seminars on Internet for their church group.

But now he says he has 200 people who want to participate but they need money from me to pay for the internet costs.

I told him by previous email we could not send money.

Then I sent him this email.

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E-mail to minister in Africa:

 

People often think churches, especially in USA, are big in numbers and have lots of contributors. (I find these big churches are often pretty corrupt ... antichrist in churches today)  

 

I have delivered many message of correction to the big radio/TV ministers. So far as I know, no one has made correction. They just follow after getting more money and more people and more fame.

 

God will judge them and me.

 

God stopped me from doing what other ministers were doing back in 1982 ... THANK GOD ... or I would be corrupt as they are when they seek great numbers of people, big contributions, personal fame.  

 

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We currently have 8 people who give offerings to us. That is enough for me to pay my rent, and minor ministry expenses. I take no salary and live by USA Social Security monthly checks.

 

To date: we have over a million who have downloaded our blog.

 

blog downloads: 1,535,006 (since 3-28-2012)
$0 money contributed from blog readers

 

Podcasts downloads: 102,121 (since 2-4-2020)
$0 money contributed from Podcast downloads

 

I could seek money from these people but I don't and I don't want to do this.

 

Our 8 people are sufficient because we have so little expense. I feel they give as they are able and that is enough and scriptural. 

 

I have everything I need. God supplies all my need just as HE said in Bible HE would do.

 

I have some really critical messages for people but everyone can get those messages on my blog and podcasts and Amazon free e-book programs.

 

I think the people you have spoken to should get the free blog and free podcasts which they can do if they have access to a computer and internet.

I realize some may be too poor and perhaps you could help them get the messages I am providing daily.

But tell everyone the things I share will do no good unless they do the message.

Joan Boney     

 

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Podcast: #10 Life changing concepts shown to me by God through the Holy Spirit and the scriptures

 

 

 

💥   Romans 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

They say "Jesus is Lord".  They say they are Christians.  But are they led by the Holy Spirit of God? Have you seen this in them?  Do they really understand what you are saying or are they pretending?  Do they stare at you blankly, just waiting until you stop talking?  Or do they delight in the Word you speak from God?

Matthew 24:4-5  Jesus said:  Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  

Antichrist in today's church.

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John 14 (Reading through the Bible)

 

 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me (The Word).

² In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

⁵ Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

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 (The Word).

(THE WORD is the way, the truth, the life.  Several months ago, I printed testimonies given by people in our church group.  The one thing in common is when they were truly born again, they had a great desire to read Bible and to learn of God ... going to God through The Word.")

⁷ If ye had known Me (The Word), ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.

⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

⁹ Jesus saith unto Him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me (The Word) hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

¹⁰ Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.

(The Father said:  Let there be light.   THE WORD created light.  But it was God who said it.  God and the WORD are one.)

¹¹ Believe Me that I (The Word) am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake.

¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.

¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.


***

¹⁵ If ye love Me (The Word), keep My commandments.

¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;

¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also.

²⁰ At that day ye shall know that I (The Word) am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.


***

²¹ He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself (The Word) to him.

²² Judas saith unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  

²⁴ He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent Me.

²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

²⁷ Peace I (The Word) leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

***

28 If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for My Father is greater than I.

²⁹ And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

³⁰ Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.

³¹ But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

*****

💥 The day of the Lord's vengeance

 

 Isaiah 34  

7 ... And their land shall be soaked with blood. 

8 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance.

Luke 21  (Jesus says)

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

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💥 Sharing with the church daily

 

(Listed in alphabetical order:)

Items submitted after 8 pm Eastern

will be published the following day.

💥  Joan Boney 

Isaiah 30

 

1 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish ... to a people shall not profit them 

 

 7 For the Egyptians (the world) shall help in vain, and to no purpose ...

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💥 Sandra Chupik

 

Isaiah 43

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

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 💥 Sandy Kern

 

Isaiah 43:1-3 

 

1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  

 

2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  

 

3 For I AM THE LORD THY GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, THY SAVIOUR: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

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 💥 Beth Martin

 

Ephesians 2

1 And you hath He quickened, 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:

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 💥 Pam Padgett

 
John 16:33 Jesus says ... These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me (the Word) ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

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 💥 Barbara Preston

 

Proverbs 10:19  In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

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 💥 Linda Rodgers

 

2 Corinthians 3:5-6  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 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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 💥 Cathy Varner   

 

 Proverbs 31:30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

 

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  💥 Juliett Walton

 

Psalm 37 

 

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 

 

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 

 

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 

 

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 

 

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 

 

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

 

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Podcast: #9 Life changing concepts shown to me by God through the Holy Spirit and the scriptures

 

 

 

 

💥  God taught me:  "Unless you are excited and joyful about the plan, don't do it."

- Radio? Broadcasting exhortations to the church. Yes!

- Job at Christ for the Nations as dean of women?  NO!  (didn't apply)

- Blog? Yes!

- Books? Amazon. Yes!

- Podcasts? Yes!

- Moving from Texas to Colorado in 2019? Definitely, Yes!

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John 13 (Reading through the Bible)

 

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.

² And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him;

³ Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God;

⁴ He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself.
⁵ After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.

⁶ Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto Him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

⁷ Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

⁸ Peter saith unto Him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.

Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me.

⁹ Simon Peter saith unto Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

¹⁰ Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
¹¹ For He knew who should betray Him; therefore said He, Ye are not all clean.

¹² So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
¹³ Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

¹⁶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

¹⁷ If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

¹⁸ I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me.

¹⁹ Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He.

²⁰ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me.

²¹ When Jesus had thus said, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.

²² Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom He spake.

²³ Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

²⁴ Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom He spake.

²⁵ He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto Him, Lord, who is it?

²⁶ Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

²⁷ And after the sop Satan entered into him.

Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

²⁸ Now no man at the table knew for what intent He spake this unto him.
²⁹ For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

³⁰ He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

³¹ Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
³² If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him.

³³ Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.

³⁶ Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, whither goest thou?

Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.

³⁷ Peter said unto Him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy sake.

³⁸ Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice.

*****

💥 If something troubles me unnecessarily, I'm trying to eliminate that from my life.

(Comments by Joan Boney)

When I moved to Dallas in 1960 to teach at Kimball High School, the women in the teacher's lounge invited me to go with them on Saturday to the football game.  

I was shocked that anyone chose to do this when they didn't have to!  In college I was in band and they required us to go to the football games to perform in band at half time.  But they let us leave after the performance.  My friends and I joyfully left the game and went to the little cafe on campus where they sold hot blueberry pie!  It was great!

So I had never seen a football game until I moved to Dallas.  When these women invited me to join them. and I hesitated, one woman said, "It only costs $6.00."  (Another shock!  People paid to go to football games?)

... But I did join them.  And learned to be a football fan.  

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And a professional football team had just started up in Dallas and would be playing on Sundays and they invited me to go to that also ... and I went.  (Dallas Cowboys)  

And sometimes we went to the other professional team in Dallas, The Dallas Texans, (who later left Dallas and became the Kansas City Chiefs.)

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

But in 1960 I wasn't born again.  I was born again in 1975.  

But I kept on going to football after I was born again, but when we began losing after the 1994 season, from time to time I would wonder why I was going through all the agony of the loosing seasons ... but there is always a hope for "next season.")

I really found winning to be a problem also for you sort of became "drunk" with winning ... when in reality it doesn't matter ... but it seemed to matter.  

(Many things are like that... they just don't matter but seem to matter.)

A strong delusion.  We can recognize it when the other people follow things that seem to matter but often we can't recognize our own personal delusions, though they often cause us trouble.

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The apostle Paul said:

* Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  (I Thessalonians 5:21)

This year, I have become really serious over things that trouble me?  Why am I continuing to do this thing if it is not needful... if it really doesn't matter?

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This week was the NFL draft where college players are chosen for the next football season.

(Pam is a Denver Bronco fan.)

We sat down to watch the draft.  (I rather dreaded it.)  It is such a big deal to fans.  They show up by the thousands to see what will happen.  They are football drunks, as I have been but now don't want to be.

The worst team from the previous season gets to choose first to try to help them get better so they can try better to beat the other teams. Then second worst team chooses ... on to the last team which is # 32.

Now days fans often dress up in costumes which represents their team and overall there is a carnival atmosphere.  (We didn't do that in the 1960 era.)

Reality:  As a fan you learn to hate the rival teams in your division and the teams that won over you last year.  Your really good coaches now coach for the rival team because they get more money or get to move to head coach.  This is a great problem!  Now there is something called "free agency" so your players can go to a rival team after their basic contract years if they choose to do so.  Often they leave and go to other team for more money.  The head coach who lost last year and didn't even get into the playoffs with the team, is still head coach for another year and you have to put up with this.  You complain but have no power.  So you learn to complain about the owner of the team who has the power to fire the losing head coach but often doesn't. Your team shows a little promise of winning, and sometimes wins and then starts losing.  Your better players get injured and can't play "the big game".  

And the worst thing of all is your team shows up for the big game and plays poorly because the losing coach from the previous season did not do what was needful to prepare the team and they selected the wrong players and plays ... again!  (Maybe they will fire him and get a good coach ... but that often doesn't happen for about 10 years or so.)

And the worst thing of all is ... "It doesn't matter."  but it seems to matter.

Another big problem ... the season ends ... now what do I do on Monday nights?

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Many times I have wanted to quit football ... (usually this happens as the end of the season when my team lost ... if they win, that is another matter.  

(A real fan can't wait for next year where maybe you will win back to back super bowls ... that doesn't matter either but you think it does, as a fan.)

So you think about it on and off throughout the year!  And are often troubled.  And then are really troubled when the season actually begins!

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I watch the faces of fans and know I've been there where they are!  It is really terrible.  I want out but then the season and all the fun begins again!

This year maybe I really can stop! ... I didn't look to see who the Cowboys drafted this year!  But I did notice our wonderful defensive coach in the team room of one of our rival teams at the draft for now he is head coach for our rival team (trouble)... wonder who replaced him as defensive coach for my team?

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This year ... Maybe I can keep my focus on these scriptures which are truth!  (and do them!)

The apostle Paul says:

I Corinthians 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

John 18:26  Jesus says: My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Colossians 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:

And as I stopped the habit I had of watching evening TV news which troubled me ... stop other things which trouble me needlessly!

And pray for God to cleanse me from all unrighteousness:

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

For when I brush against the world, my heart and spirit are affected and I need help to remove spots and blemishes.  God always answers this prayer when I pray it!

For I really want to stay in the right Spirit of God and share right things with others who are of God!

I Corinthians 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient (not suitable; not beneficial): all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.  (do not cause me to grow in ways of God.)

Galatians 5

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

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft (living in superstitions), hatred, variance (fighting, quarreling debating against others), emulations (trying to win out over other people), 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

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💥 Hebrews 12

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before HIM endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider HIM that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of HIM:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom HE receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

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9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but HE for our profit, that we might be partakers of HIS holiness.

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11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

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14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

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18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

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22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not HIM that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from HIM that speaketh from heaven:

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now HE hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

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💥 Sharing with the church daily.

 

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Items submitted after 8 pm Eastern

will be published the following day.

💥  Joan Boney

 

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

(scornful:  those who look down on other people and make fun of them, thinking themselves to be better than others)

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water (of the Word of God), that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

(A tree that drinks by the rivers of water will not be blown away by every puff of wind that comes his way.  That tree will not be shaken.  That tree will stay the course because he has deep roots that are hard to remove because he is continually nourished by the water of the Word of God.)

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

(The ungodly will not be able to stand among the righteous.)

6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 

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💥 Sandra Chupik

Lk 11:5 And HE said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Importunity: - a plea that is so persistent or demanding that it becomes annoying

 

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 💥 Sandy Kern 

 

ESTHER 4:14

14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

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 💥 Beth Martin

 

 Ephesians 3

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 

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 💥 Pam Padgett

Psalm 139:7 Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.

It is a great comfort to consider that God always knows all that pertains to us, no matter what the situation. Nothing that affects us is hidden from God.

We have the following promise from God:

Hebrews 13:5 ... for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

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  💥 Barbara Preston

 

 Prov. 3:5-6 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.

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 💥 Linda Rodgers

 

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  

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 💥 Cathy Varner

1  Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

 

 O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.

 

2  Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

 

3  Living for Jesus wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

 

4  Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him. 

 

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💥 Juliett Walton

Psalm 62 

 

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (The Word) 

 

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. 

 

7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

 

8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

 

 

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