Pam Padgett ... Member of body of Christ
There have been times when I've been aware of wanting to do something very much. It has concerned me that I might deceive myself into thinking I was following God, when I was really following my own desire.
When I've been aware of a such a desire, I've often told God about my desire, and that I don't want to be led by my desire and ideas. I want to be led by HIM to do HIS will.
I have asked God to help me with this, to protect me from my deceiving myself, and to lead me strongly in what HE wants ... YOUR will, Lord, not my will.
One example happened a few years ago when my niece called and told me my mom was very ill and had been taken to the hospital. She lives in another state, about a 12 hour drive from where I live.
It seemed so strongly to me that I "should" go be with my mom. Immediately thoughts came about what I would need to do to get there.
But I stopped and prayed, laying what I thought I should do before God, willing to set this aside if it was not HIS will for me. And I asked God to strongly show me HIS will in the matter.
By a thought I heard that to go to where my mom was would be like stepping into a hill of fire ants, and that my mom had all the help she needed.
I tried this thought, and believed it was from God.
So I didn't travel to where my mom was.
My mom recovered. When I spoke with her after she returned home she told me of the very good care she had received at the hospital, having all the help she needed.
She also told me of the many people who had gone to visit her at the hospital. Some of these people are very difficult for me to be around because of the ungodly things they say and do. They "sting" me with their words and actions, just like fire ants.
I was so glad I had been kept from my own desire and led in the way of God for me in the matter.
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Some people who pray are like Balaam ... they keep asking God, hoping God will change HIS mind and let them be approved in that which they want.
Numbers 22:9-12 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
But Balak, king of Moab, offered Balaam something he really wanted. So each time Balak repeated the offer Balaam prayed again because in his own heart he wanted the thing Balak offered him ... He hoped God would change HIS mind ... God finally turned Balaam over to his own desire... and finally destroyed Balaam ...
Numbers 31:1-8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.
So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.
And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
Another example: As God led the children of Israel through the wilderness, they complained against God for all they had was all that manna and they lusted for meat.
Finally God gave them meat to their own desire ...
Psalm 78:26-33 HE (God) caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by HIS power HE brought in the south wind. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And HE let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
So they did eat, and were well filled: for HE gave them their own desire;
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for HIS wondrous works.
Therefore their days did HE consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
Some of you pray ... You hear nothing from God ... You keep asking to get to do what you want to do ... Finally God gives you up to your own desire.
You then go forward thinking wrongly that God has approved you in your desire.
You never realize that God, by His silence to your prayer is saying, "No."
Harm comes upon you by your own lust.
When you pray and hear nothing, sometimes God is saying, "No."
When you hear nothing, you need to back off and commit your will to God asking God to do HIS will in the matter at hand.
"Not my will, but THY will be done."
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Recently I noticed that Peaches, our bird (a type of small parrot called a conure), was destroying her favorite toy quite rapidly. It is shreddable and she loves to take her beak and tear little wood-like strips off. Eventually it becomes too small for her to play with. She can stay quite busy with it and obviously enjoys shredding it.
Drew, my son, who had owned the bird for twenty-some years before we took her, has been ordering her food, treats and toys from Amazon and having these “care packages” mailed to us.
I thought I would just go to Amazon and order her another one of these toys as she was shredding this one so fast. I wanted to order a couple of things for myself so I thought I would add her toy in with my order.
But when I looked on Amazon I saw that there were 4 different sizes for this particular toy and I didn’t know which one to buy.
I called Drew to get this information and waited for several days but he did not return my call which is unusual.
In the meantime Peaches was continuing to shred her toy. I wanted to get her a new one before this one was destroyed.
Normally I think I would have just called Drew again. But this time, with the emphasis lately in our church group, so strongly on turning to God instead of just darting ahead in our own wisdom, I thought I should pray and ask God what I should do….call him (Drew) again or not call.
After I prayed, I didn’t hear to call him and felt that I should just wait and not do anything at that moment. So that’s what I did.
But after a few more days I became concerned about how to handle this before she chewed up her toy.
I talked to God again. Telling Him about my concern and asking if I should call him (Drew) again but don’t remember hearing anything at this time. So I again waited.
(JB ... When you pray and hear nothing, it is good to do nothing.)
But very soon after this, I had the thought to go to Amazon and look at some of the reviews people had written who had bought this toy for their birds.
And to pay attention to what people said about the type of bird they had and what sized toy they had bought.
I believed this thought was from God so I did it.
It was a quick and easy thing to do and when I did, I saw a clear pattern. People who had said they bought this toy for a conure (Peaches is a conure) had bought the “original” sized toy. So I ordered this size because I believed God had led me to do it this way so that would be the correct way and would work.
The toy arrived a couple of days later and it was the size of the other ones that had been bought for her in the past...her size.
Drew called soon after this and said he would send her another “care package.”
But the important part of this story for me is how I was reminded to turn to God instead of going forward in my own wisdom and to see how God instructed me in finding the right sized toy for her.
Peaches doesn’t like people putting their hands in her cage. She became agitated when Barbara reached in to get her toy and started saying ... “What you doing? What you doing?”
HERE IS A PICTURE OF PEACHES AFTER A RECENT BATH:
PRETTY BIRD!
Barbara's response when asked if she gives Peaches a bath:
No!
Presently she takes baths in her water bowl. Usually she takes them in sink but that is when Drew handles her. I would love to pick her up but she frequently tries to bite anyone she can.
ALSO BARBARA SAID ...
Peaches makes me laugh sometimes with her antics.
For a while I had been putting a shelled pecan half or pieces of pecan on top of her food when I gave her fresh food in the morning.
A couple of days ago I thought she might like a change so I bought a small bag of walnut halves and put one of those on top of her food the next day.
She looked at her food bowl and started squawking. I knew she didn’t want that walnut and was letting me know.
I took it out and replaced it with a pecan and Peaches’ world was happy again.
Peaches makes me laugh sometimes with her antics.
For a while I had been putting a shelled pecan half or pieces of pecan on top of her food when I gave her fresh food in the morning.
A couple of days ago I thought she might like a change so I bought a small bag of walnut halves and put one of those on top of her food the next day.
She looked at her food bowl and started squawking. I knew she didn’t want that walnut and was letting me know.
I took it out and replaced it with a pecan and Peaches’ world was happy again.
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Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet ...
Concerning the people of God being taken into heaven by Jesus:
Concerning the people of God being taken into heaven by Jesus:
The "rapture" in the church world usually refers to the church being taken out of this world before the great tribulation comes upon the world and the complete destruction of the heaven and earth as we know it.
(The word "rapture" is not in the Bible.)
I Thessalonians 4 ... Here is what God says will happen to those who believe in God...
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).
16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
I Thessalonians 4 ... Here is what God says will happen to those who believe in God...
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).
16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
*****
Yesterday I went to hospital to visit 86-year-old woman who fell in her home and was found unconscious and was taken to hospital.
I wanted to take her some money so she wouldn't feel so void of possessions.
I took just a little money, $20 in small bills ... mostly $1 bills.
I told people at nurses station that I just wanted her to have some money and it really wouldn't matter if someone stole it so not to worry about it.
Unknown to me, Betty had called her neighbor to ask her to bring her purse ... Betty was likely concerned about staying at hospital without any money and with no possessions.
*****
A very unexpected thing happened while I was in Betty's room.
Two other people came to visit Betty. They quickly identified themselves by the name of the church they attended ... Church of Christ.
(I don't think these 2 people knew Betty. I heard them say one of Betty's neighbors sent them ... I think their church group still believed themselves to be the only church so of course they would want to convert Betty to their group saving her soul.)
It turns out this woman and I were attending the same college at the same time ... ACC (Abilene Christian College ... a Church of Christ school. 1954-57)
The woman immediately asked me if I believe in the "rapture."
I replied, "Yes, according to I Thessalonians 4."
This woman said they studied the "interpretation" of I Thessalonians 4 this past Sunday, and did not believe the church would be removed as the rapture doctrine indicates before the great tribulation.
The apostate church who fails to believe what scripture says will not be removed but the believers in Jesus, the WORD, will be removed before the appointed wrath of God that is ordained to come on this present world.
She then said, "We'd better not discuss I Thessalonians 4."
I said "That's probably better for both of us"
She replied, "I don't know about that!"
(I think she felt I needed to hear their doctrine but she didn't need to hear what I had to say.)
*****
Later I was talking to God about this and was reestablished in doctrine by God bringing the following two scriptures to my mind.
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I Thessalonians 5 ... Paul says: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
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II Timothy 1 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know WHOM I have believed, and am persuaded that HE is able to keep that which I have committed unto HIM against that day.
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Also ... I Corinthians 3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
(Carnal: one says, "I'm Baptist" ... another says, "I'm Methodist.")
You either belong to Jesus or you do not belong to Jesus it has nothing at all concerning a church you attend.
We, who belong to Jesus, are "Christians."
If you identify yourself as Church of Christ, or Baptist, or Methodist ... you are carnal!
*****
Later I was getting coffee and these 2 people came by the coffee area and stopped to talk with me.
The woman asked, "What have you been doing since college."
I told her I write books telling about God and about Bible.
She was shocked!
She said she would look that up and see what she thought.
She has already judged what she thinks without looking at my writing.
*****
The Great Tribulation:
Revelation 8 ... that which comes from God upon the people of this earth to judge them before this heaven and earth are destroyed completely ...
And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
11 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
*****
After The Great Tribulation, God will destroy this present heaven and earth:
II Peter 3:10-13 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.
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.
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Luke 21:36 Jesus says: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
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We encourage you to share with the body of Christ times God has helped you.
Send to:
joanboney37@gmail.com
Or to:
Jesus Ministries
9201 Genoa Ave.
Lubbock, TX 79424
USA
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