Jayne

@PATrobas I can only assume you are talking about The Scarlet and the Black starring Gregory Peck who played the true role of Father Hugh O'Flaherty who helped rescue over 6,500 people in WWII. I understand what you are saying about works not saving, but you seem to be leaning - unless I am reading you wrong - that he was not saved. I don't see how being a "higher up" in religious circles makes you not saved. Maybe I misunderstood you. I don't know if he was saved or not.

My Sunday School lesson Sunday was partially about suffering. From Romans 5:1-5. Paul said we should "glory" in our sufferings. What the dickens does that mean? I know of NO ONE who wants to rejoice or glory in sufferings. Not one single human being. Paul said that our sufferings bring about three things. [1] Perseverance = What's that? It's when you, in suffering, just pick up one foot and put it down in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. Some Bibles translate this word as endurance or patience or steadfastness. No matter, it all means the same thing - just keep moving. Just keep picking up one foot and - unwilling to lie down in defeat - keep putting it down in front of the other. Keep on moving, brothers and sisters. [2] Character = [also known as spiritual maturity]. This is when other people can look at you and SEE you suffering, but yet see you keep marching on and THEY are influenced to do the same. And YOU, yourself, grow and grow in the not quitting and not giving up. No we aren't superheroes and there are days we DO sink to our lowest and give in - but we cannot give up. Not giving up changes us and changes others who watch us. and [3] HOPE! = and HEREIN lies the hope, brothers and sisters. When we persevere in sorrows and lead others also to persevere, THEN we know the grace and mercy of God, Almighty, and we know what hope is. Hope cannot come from fear. Hope cannot come from quitting. We DO get scared and sometimes we do give in. Let's practice STOPPING that. Don't stop moving forward - even if it's just inch by inch.

Figure of eighty = blue Jayne = red "I've been baptized twice. I feel I don't have a true love for God like other people. Instead I'm very angry and hateful towards God( in my heart)" Baptism doesn't save you. We know you are angry and hateful towards God. You keep telling us this over and over. When you repeat something long enough, ad nauseum, it becomes a truth to you. The DEVIL is the father of lies and he has made you believe the biggest lie of all - that you hate God and God cannot and will not help you. "I can't change. " Nope, you can't. None of us can. Only God can change us. "I feel like avoiding any ignoring God so I won't rack up more sins for myself. " "Racking up sins"?!? All it takes is one. That why everyone on the planet is a sinner. "I still remember the dream I had. I don't think church is a place for me anymore ... so now I'm going to willfully self isolate " I had a dream once that my almost perfect and loving father wanted to kill me. He turned into a monster. Another time that a dinosaur was chasing me. This "dream" of leaving other Christians behind and DANGEROUSLY "self-isolating" is NOT from God. God did not send you that dream. "I think once I finish my nursing school and things are less of a struggle with my kids and work ect then maybe I'll go back to God." What makes you think you are guaranteed anything beyond today? None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So you are throwing God in the trash can until YOU "feel" like talking to him? It doesn't work like that. "I can't with my hateful heart right now. " Then STOP convincing yourself that you hate God. You don't! You are alone, afraid, unable to tend to the children, and mentally ill. At least that's what you keep telling us. "So this is my solution. I don't want to be toxic. So I'm just gonna take alot of time to myself and be alone." YOUR solution? I know that this is bringing you a false, FALSE sense of relief. I've been there. I, MYSELF, have "self-isolated", "took a lot of time to be alone", and even self-medicated. I thought i was doing what was best for me, because it made me feel "safe" in that cocoon of "aloneness". I am STILL paying a price for all of that SELF, SELF, SELF to this day. Only God brought me out of it. "I think I'll spend time with God when I'm less hateful." Then you will NEVER come to God. The hate you harbor - that the devil keeps POUNDING and POUNDING like rusty and hellish nail in your heart - cannot be overcome with SELF or when "things" get better. Without God, things will never "get better". I've told you in private before that you are on my personal prayer list. I am NOT going to take you off.

It's a lock with many, that's for sure. We will just have to wait for that day and see. It's nerve-racking to me. I know that God is in charge, but that doesn't stop my worry-meter from running overtime.

Well, there is no law forbidding a person in prison from running for President. Not even a felon. However, even if he is found guilty of any of these charges - which I don't think he will be, but I could be wrong, it's just my thinking that he won't get prison time. The goal is to make him lose face, break him, and "cancel" him. All these things do is to bolster him and his base. As for your question - there is no plan B. Not to my knowledge.

Biden is losing voters by the scores. Black people, Latino people, and women. I'm still praying on what to do. I don't believe my vote will be lost - whether I vote for Trump or someone else. I know that YOU don't hate people. I can tell by your posts that you are not that kind of person.

You've heard that phrase - "that's not a hill i would die on" or "that IS a hill I would die on". For example, I have my opinions about certain Bible versions, but that opinion is NOT a hill that I would die on. I won't go down arguing with a stubborn "fence post" about it. Then again, I have my beliefs about who Jesus Christ is. I would die on that hill. No turning back on that belief. This article is about our conversations with one another and asking us to follow the example of the one who DID DIE on a hill and looking at the way HE spoke from that hill. It's worth the read. Dying On The Hill vs. Attacking Others On The Hill – Proclaim & Defend (proclaimanddefend.org)

I disagree with this, Rick. The President of the United States sets the tone for everything - public discourse, how Americans deal with each other in not agreeing with one another, and much more. Right now - we are in a HOT MESS of hate and vile anger towards the "other side". I know that liberals hate conservatives with a devilish vengeance because I've read it, heard it, and seen it. Obama, Hillary, and Biden/Harris lead that charge. But there are so many conservatives that I personally know that hate with a passionate hate like I've never seen before. And Trump leads the hate brigade for the uber right. He delights in insulting others, exalting himself, and bringing others down. Uber conservatives just follow his lead and it breaks me every time I hear it. We NEED someone in office who can LEAD the NATION. No one will make everyone agree, but there's GOT to be someone who can fight against the hate that is from the devil. America doesn't have much time left if we don't stop murdering each other with our hearts, minds, words, and mindless narcissism. Jesus said that hate was the same as murder.

Just because a devout Christian may or may not vote for Trump does not mean that they intend to vote for Biden. I absolutely CANNOT vote for Biden - too much I oppose there. There are write-ins, abstaining from voting, other minor candidate to vote for and other choices for Christians who do not support Trump to think about.

I do!! A lot!! I pray for Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden. I pray for their salvation, the salvation of their family members, and more. I pray for God to help Joe Biden. I pray a lot of other things. I pray for the unity of our nation - as we are now divided almost to the point of no return.

You are precisely right. Getting "wet" for ceremonial cleanliness/purity was well known by Jews of the Old Testament. The tvilah and mikvah were well known. Baptism would not have come as a surprise to Jews.

TrueFollower - I just can't see everything in this much of a black/white view. Both men - in MY very, very humble opinion are not fit for office. So if I don't vote for Trump, I am not a "true follower of God"? I don't think you meant that like it sounded. I am a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ - and the thought of voting for Donald Trump makes me sick. Why don't conservatives have another choice? Why do you think God WANTS to bless America? We are OVERRUN with porn, trafficking, transgenderism, lying officials, fake churches, dysfunctional families, horrible choices for entertainment, and so MUCH more evil. I can't grasp that some believe that Trump is the answer to all of our problems. If, as a conserative, I do vote for Trump - it's going to take a lot of prayer for me and a lot of Pepto-Bismal. [Not laughing about that at all]

I'm going to let the very scripture you cite answer your question. Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” What this is saying is don't draw dramatic attention to what you are doing. Don't "perform" a starvation act. It's fine to say, "No thanks - I'm fasting today. " And on those days, Jesus says - wash up, perk up, and don't let anyone think you are "suffering". It's fine to tell someone if they offer to take you to lunch or bring a lunch to share with the office.

I'd rather..... pray the same request 10,000 times to God - in brokenness and tears and earnestness..... than to be silent..... and have the devil bask in that silence.

You are either going to focus on the great love of God or you are going keep your mind stayed on your problems. It's your choice. I understand - completely understand the struggle. I've had a BAD, BAD day and it's just 1:00. Keep a few scriptures written down to read when you are overwhelmed and remember what @Tristen said. "God knew exactly what he was getting with you and loved you anyway." Here's a good scripture. Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In "EVERY" situation. With "prayer" and "petition", WITH "thanksgiving".