Slower pace and restfulness of this week between Christmas and New Year

Looking from the window from the flat of one of the children in Frankfurt, I notice the quite opposite street with the university building, not many people passing by. At home in Belgium, even living in the countryside, we always have a lot of noise, much more than here in this big German financial city and much more than when I lived in London.

The 24th until the 26th we had one family gathering after the other. Having very good food, having eaten more than we should have done, there was also the business of all chatting and laughing.

Today there were actually not that many people in the streets and shops of Frankfurt city, where the sales were trying to entice people to spend some money anyway.

After the busy, noisy celebration of Christmas, the slower pace and restfulness of this week, between Christmas and New Year’s is for many somehow refreshing.

These days, perhaps many of us shall not follow so much the news events and shall let the world pass the family places. The calmness may come over us. Now we also can think of the man who came to earth so many centuries ago. He preached about the way we better should live. But not so many people wanted or want to listen to him. There were even several people who wanted him dead, and managed to have him killed as a murderer, hanged at the wooden stake.

Several Christians remembered, a few days ago, the birth of that Nazarene man, who shall bring peace to us all. For many, this holiday season is the special occasion that they think of the one who can give peace in our hearts and who can bring peace to the world. Would it be not nice if we could enjoy true peace? Also, being at peace would already be nice. Finding a serene, relaxing, time with no worries. How many of us would not love to get away from the trials and tribulations of everyday life. We should know, we do have to find first peace and love in our own hearts, before we can find peace outside ourselves.

The world is still waiting for that moment of ‘eternal peace’, but for sure it shall come one day.

Finding peace is what most of us would like to do. There is a peace and rest available to us that is deep enough to remain even in the most hectic times, and secure enough to withstand the most severe troubles.

The state we are living in, is man’s own fault. We also have our past, that we should dare to put away and forget about it all. That Nazarene master teacher, some 2 000 years ago, gave us a good example of how to live, but not many want to follow his teachings. In case already all those who call themselves Christian would keep to those teachings of Christ, we would already have a much better world.

Here on the European continent, we have seen many wars, where both fighting parties prayed that God would be at their side and help them to conquer the enemy. Instead of wondering if God would not disagree with them fighting. Some thought after World War II the fighting is now done over, but they are mistaken. The Yugoslavian wars and the recent invasion of Ukraine have proven how fragile peace in our region is.

Even in a part of the world that has been free from open war for a couple of generations, we have increased the security measures and still are not sure, there will be no invasions by foreign troops. We would love to see the space around us free of any danger of intrusion, terrorism, or fear for something bad to happen.

Oh, so often, people point their fingers at another. So many times we do hear that the trouble or fight is there, because of the other. But on the other hand, there are also many who do not believe enough in themselves and are afraid of the other. Such a negative attitude for themselves means that they cannot find peace in themselves. Finding inner peace is very important and necessary to be able to spread peace to others. In these dark days at the end of the year, let’s consider how we may or may not even have disrupted the peace of others, and how we can correct mistakes we have made.

We personally will not be able to do much about the war raging in Ukraine. But we can avoid any small ‘war’ around us and if we see resentment somewhere and find iniquity, we can make an attempt and take a measure to put an end to it.

For many Jews, Jeshuaists and Christians the last few days have been a “time of light”. By more than one miracle God has provided light in the world, and that light we should also show to others around us. Be it Chanukah or Christmas, when we put on the many candles or electric lights, it should be a sign we want to let others know about that light that can shine, because it is the Elohim Who provides the possibility. Both festivals are no holidays for seriousness, but for joy and glory.
And that means spreading light and joy.

These days we best meditate on whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, and whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.  We all have a Book of books offered to us in which we can find the way to the truth and the way to inner but also outer peace. That book should be our guide and give our hope for that peace that shall come, because all promises made in that book have or shall come true.

 

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Preceding

What Are You Seeking?

We all have to have dreams

Christians at War? Christians using violence?

How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace

High time to show the way to peace

As always God has a Plan

Window 190 – The door to our truth, can only be opened from within

True happiness, love and perfection

Being a Light in the World Award

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Additional reading

1. Just an Ordinary Day
2. Identity Crisis By millennials
3. Honest-hearted people are losing faith in humanity and humanity losing faith in God
4. Spark Understanding, Stitch Connections
5. Facilitations of science and loss of peace of mindA new decade, To open the eyes to get a right view
6. Man’s own fault and the choice to flee from fear
7. How much does man wants to be dependent on a Divine Creator?
8. All I want is peace!!!
9. Running away from the past
10. Looking forward to the return of Jesus
11. Give your tears to God
12. Cry out to Yahweh
13. In the night His song shall be with me
14. Fullness of summer and abundance of harvest found in the satisfying plenitude of life in Christ
15. Will There Ever be Peace on Earth?
16. Look It Squarely In The Eye, And Say….
17. Israel, Fitting the Plan when people allow it
18. Memorizing wonderfully 48 John 16:33 That you may have peace
19. Looking for True Spirituality 8 Measuring Up
20. Not daring to show a connection
21. The quest for peace and order
22. Peace not the absence of disturbance
23. Poetry of Peace
24. Today’s thought “The breastplate of faith” (November 18)
25. Today’s thought “What sorrow awaits rebellious people” (December 17)
26. When examining ourselves
27. Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness
28. Come ye yourselves apart … and rest awhile (Mark 6:31)
29. Ambassadors showing hope and a world of peace
30. Being comforted by the Most High and His familyThe World framed by the Word of God
31. Memorizing wonderfully 48 John 16:33 That you may have peace
32. Sings of the times – Difficult moments at the borders of Europe
33. Scripture words written for our learning, given by inspiration of God for edification
34. Not studying an abstract and arcane text of the ancient world
35. Only once and with consequences
36. Christian in Christendom or in Christianity
37. Back from gone #3 Giving worries to God and believing in His promises
38. Humbleness
39. Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark
40. Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.

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Related

1. Christmas at grandma’s
2. Safe Space
3. Peace
4. Peace Prevails
5. Peace and Purpose in A Psalm
6. Finding Peace
7. Darkness
8. Happiness
9. The Peace of the Lord – Sermon for December 29, 2013
10. Strive to Enter God’s Rest – Sermon on Hebrews 4:9-13 (Feb 23/24, 2014)
11. Forgive Us As We Forgive Others – Midweek Sermon (April 9, 2014)
12. Peace Be With You – Sermon for Quasimodo Geniti (April 27th/28, 2014)
13. Keep Away From Mutual Enmity
14. Useful Ways of Leading a Happy Life – Imam As-Sa’dee
15. Guidelines with regard to Criticizing Individuals and Groups – Shaikh Rabee’
16. Christmas Tidings
17. Safe Space
18. Embrace doing nothing.
19. Live Lightly and Peacefully
20. EGW Inspirational Quotes
21. Daily Scripture Series – Dec. 28th
22. Living in the Faith
23. Ukraine latest: Kremlin rules out peace plan that does not recognize annexed regions
24. Give Yourself Permission to Change
25. Wednesday Blessings

To be Thankful for the improbable bubble of peace and prosperity in which we have randomly landed

For most of us, we should be thankful
for the improbable bubble of peace and prosperity
in which we have randomly landed.

I add, it’s all relative, but in broad terms, it’s so.
Let’s pause and take a breath and, maybe tomorrow, (let’s say, Monday,) keep up the good work. For those of you who are the ones responsible in some way for the peace and prosperity of your community, family and various other controlling factors, we are thankful for you, as well.

~From Maudlin Ruminations Regarding the Holiday by Blogorahmah

Living in peace through restoration

In times of war, there exist the danger, people getting frustrated and angry, wanting to do the wrong things against others.

In wartime, the greatest need is for friends.
Here one should not forget Who is always ready to be the Greatest Friend and the Saviour in high need. In times of fear and suffering, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, the Most High and Only True God, is there to guide us through those dark times. Best we give Him our hand and let Him lead us through this darkness to light full of hope.

Susan Reimer

With everything that’s going on in our world the idea of living in peace might seem impossible. But what is impossible for man is possible with God.

2 Corinthians 13:11 says: “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Restoration. I don’t think I’ve noticed that particular word before. Restoration means bringing back to a former position or condition. Rebuilding, reconstructing, renewing or recovering. What would restoration look like in your life? Forgiving a betrayal so that a friendship can begin again? Studying every night for an hour instead of scrolling social media to raise your grades? Sitting down with a counsellor to discuss a hurt that is preventing you from moving forward?

Only you know the answer to that question but restoration is possible and the end…

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Peace To The World

There is no reason to keep strangling life and wounding this earth.

Each of us plays an important role in spreading the message of peace and love.
We should show others there are ways to get to that better place where all of us can live in unison and peace.

(Think about um, the generations
And ah, say we want to make it a better place for our children
And our children’s children so that they, they
They, they know it’s a better world for them
And think if they can make it a better place)

There’s a place in your heart
And I know that it is love
And this place it was brighter than tomorrow
And if you really try
You’ll find there’s no need to cry
In this place you’ll feel there’s no hurt or sorrow

There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space
Make a better place

Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me, and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me

If you want to know why
There’s love that cannot lie
Love is strong
It only cares of joyful giving
If we try we shall see
In this bliss we cannot feel
Fear of dread, we stop existing and start living

Then it feels that always
Love’s enough for us growing
Make a better world
So make a better world

Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me, and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me

And the dream we were conceived in will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in will shine again in grace
Then why do we keep strangling life
Wound this earth, crucify its soul?
Though it’s plain to see, this world is heavenly
Be god’s glow

We could fly so high
Let our spirits never die
In my heart I feel you are all my brothers
Create a world with no fear
Together we cry happy tears
See the nations turn their swords into plowshares

We could really get there
If you cared enough for the living
Make a little space
To make a better place

Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me, and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me, and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me

Heal the world (heal the world)
Make it a better place
For you and for me, and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me

There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me

There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me

You and for me (for a better place)
You and for me (make a better place)
You and for me (make a better place)
You and for me (heal the world we live in)
You and for me (save it for our children)
You and for me (heal the world we live in)
You and for me (save it for our children)
You and for me (heal the world we live in)
You and for me (save it for our children)
You and for me (heal the world we live in)
You and for me (save it for our children)

Bron: LyricFind

Songwriters: Michael Joe Jackson

Songteksten voor Heal the World © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Here and there♥️

 

Try to get it!

The remained time is short
But we do Not pay attention
Yeah
We will be asked about every thing
Important and unimportant
There is a big difference between here and there

There you can Not look back
There you can Not change What has been done by you
But here you still have the chance to look back
You still have the chance to repaire and to change What should be changed
There… We will live an endless peace
Here… we can Create our peace But it is a temporary peace
This peace of ‘here’ needs a lot of work and patience to be achieved
There.. We do Not work Or try to achieve anything
There we only harvest What we did ‘here’…
Our time here is too short But we can do a lot
There.. our time is caculated differently and although it is endless Or long But we…

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Unexpected Blessing

 

Joe Stout Writing

I was hesitant
to explore in the rain,
but having the mountains
all to myself
has been an unexpected blessing.

My thoughts are closer here,
and when my only distraction
is the sound of raindrops
on the car’s roof
my mind is free to wander
and find the thoughts
usually hidden by chaos.

In the process
I get to see
the mountains I love
being restored by rain,
and find peace in solitude.

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Thank you for reading!

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Part of an anthem About Peace on the hill

”

We have no control over the mongers
nor can we bring back the wrongful dead.
We cannot change a bomber’s mission
whose eyes and heart
have long been dead.

We cannot halt a crime in progress,
nor stop a public servant
from breaking his public’s back.
We can only watch a mob turned frenzied,
burning down stores of hard working people.
We cannot choose when the lines are drawn
nor order our neighbor to stand on our side.

We will become discouraged
and question our God,
for we are only human
emotional, mortal beings.
And the darkness is a heavy burden
a worthy opponent indeed.

But if we stand together
each shining an individual light
peaceful protest, speeches given,
solutions sought, hate amended
or however our gifts illuminate,
even when we tire or become weary
or the dreaded voices return…

As long as we remember,
no matter how dark it gets
if we continue to contribute
regardless of how meek it appears,
the next time, or the one after that
when the darkness sees its chance,
and starts to fall across the land
the light will be prepared for battle
and good will halt the march of evil.
allowing PEACE to overtake the land.

”

From: The Anthem: Even PEACE has a hill

Kendall F. Person

Sunday reflection . . . I remember to breathe throughout the day

Dutch translation / Nederlandse versie: Ik herinner me dat ik doorheen de hele dag moet adem halen

Purplerays

I remember to breathe throughout the day. I remind myself that I can choose peace, no matter what is going on around me. Whenever I desire, I can retreat to that quiet place within simply by closing my eyes.

~ Doreen Virtue

~ Image by Bahman Farzad
Text and image source: Nature Heals, Nature Reveals: https:www.facebook.com/NatureHealsNatureReveals/

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The rock on which we stand

People should feel grateful that their Divine Creator always has looked at mankind and even in spite of the two millennia of human failing which have characterised the church, still God continues to faithfully fulfil His promise, calling people to Himself from every nation, tribe and tongue, and patiently waiting until His Word shall be preached all over the world and until all His own are gathered in before He winds up time and ushers in the glory of our then not ending life anymore, being able to enter the small gate of His Kingdom where there shall be no pain or agony, having all suffering being ended and the world full of joy and peace.

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To remember

• path of the righteous = level
• God establishes peace for us (Isa 26.3-4,7-9, 12&15)
• by gospel of Christ you are saved > Christ died for our sins + was buried + was raised on the third day => have hope in Christ
• stand firm + let nothing move you
• Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord <= labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1Cor 15.1-5,19-20,52&54,58)

• good news of our salvation = always true!  >‘rock’ or foundation =  basis of our lives >  freedom + strength + joy
• God demonstrated His divine commitment to fulfilling promise – in spite of the faithlessness of His chosen people, their idolatry + abandonment of His truth
• gospel has not lost its power to transform <= God not been diminished in any way by the increasing sophistication of our world + not weakened because certain leading thinkers + social influencers dismiss the idea of faith

The only flaw in the text underneath may be the confusing saying “divinity of Christ” because by such saying different denominations mean something totally different from it. In case the writer would mean that Jesus is God, we naturally could not agree with that. Always remember that Jesus is the son of God and the one who put his own will aside to do the will of God, giving his life for the sins of mankind.

People have to stand firm, not going by all the human traditions and by the many false teachings or human doctrines, but should be keeping to the Biblical doctrines and keep away of any false worship or pagan rites.

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Preceding

Questions by Isaiah Chapter 26

Christian Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

So many being afraid – reason enough to step in the boat with Christ

“In The Midst Of The Storm”

Covid-19 Psalm 19 Isaiah 26 and the Evangelical Proof-Texters

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Additional reading

1. Today’s Thought “You will keep … in perfect peace” (May 03)
2. Extra memorizing verses Isaiah 26:3-4: Focused on God finding perfect peace
3. Gates to different belief systems in this world

aforgetfulsoul

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal….

The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you…

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us..You have enlarged the nation, O Lord; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land.

(Isa 26.3-4,7-9, 12&15)

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received…

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Death and rest

Lots of people may fear death and be very unrestful when they think about the dead.

Many long for moments without pain and moment where they can be at ease not having to worry about so many things. They are longing for peace and tranquillity. Many also want some time to recuperate and to get some new enforced energy.

Rest is something that most people desire, but are unable to find. Running from morning until night, seven days a week, people struggle to find rest. {Psalm 62:1 Finding Rest}

There are those who are unable to sleep the following night after they dared to take a nap in the middle of the day. Others do not mind falling asleep in their church whilst the priest gives his sermon. Others find it great to have the Sunday free so that they can have a nap on Sunday afternoons.

Every day we are confronted by the world which demands so many things from us; Having the pressure of society on us we often do not dare to have a rest somewhere in-between.

Rest becomes elusive because of the race that people are in to try and satisfy their soul. They fear rejection, poverty, looking bad, and missing out so they run harder to prevent those things from occurring. When they lie down at night, their minds race in fear for the next day trying to determine how to make something happen or to keep moving forward, thus not getting any rest. {Psalm 62:1 Finding Rest}

Lots of people do think when they do not follow the tred of this fast running world, they shall not be respected or recognized for what they do. They would love to please everybody around them, and by doing so sometimes forget what is really right or appropriate in the eyes of God.

The goals of people are for temporary happiness and enjoyment, but often these are missing in the race. People miss out on life striving to run hard after false things, false hopes and false dreams. {Psalm 62:1 Finding Rest}

Most people do think it are the living beings that can provide them with what they need. They do forget that it is the Most High Divine Creator Who is the Sustainer and Provider of all. They forget that salvation they seek can only be found by God.

Every believer needs to realize that it is God who is the true provider for every need he has. Provision for physical, spiritual and emotional needs. There is nothing that God cannot supply. {Psalm 62:1 Finding Rest}

We should not so much honour the dead when we have the Living God to Whom all honour belongs. In Him, we should trust and not in those who are already death. It is God Who deserves our confidence.

Instead of looking to the temporary things that this world can provide, one must look to God for the eternal things. The things that last are forgiveness, love, peace, joy, kindness, mercy, patience, and God’s presence. When a believer has God at the center of his life, he will know the rest that God provides. This will allow him to lie down at night in peace and sleep knowing God is in control and will save him in the end. {Psalm 62:1 Finding Rest}

Instead of partaking all those festivities for the dead, we should choose for God given feasts and choose for more life than  the life most people see in front of them. Our hopes should not come from those in the graves but from That One Who man can not see. We may be sure of it that He provides the most stable ground under our feet. He is The Rock that shall not be broken in pieces or being destroyed. We can wait calmly for God alone, because our hope and expectations comes from Him. He alone is should be our rock our defence and stronghold.

Trusting in God we shall not be shaken. Him being our high tower we who believe in Him and trust Him shall not be moved.

Are you hoping that those people, called saints, who died a long time ago shall bring peace and salvation for you?

Please do know that our salvation and glory depends on God and not on the dead.

⁸ Trust him at all times, you people. Pour out your hearts in his presence.
God is our refuge {Psalm 62:5-8}

 

*

My soul waits calmly for God alone.
    My salvation comes from him.
{Psalm 62:1 GW)

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Preceding

In October-November People often too busy with death and the dead

Looking forward to a year full of Kindness

Tending to develop a genuine confidence in our Higher Power

Confidence…

Pray to thank God

 

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Find also to read

1. Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people
2. The Right One to follow and to worship
3. As Christ’s slaves doing the Will of God in gratitude
4. God Feeds The Birds
5. When things run differently than expected
6. Today’s thought “That my name might be proclaimed” (January 31)
7. Today’s thought “As wax melts before the fire” (February 5)

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Related

1. Psalm 62:1 Finding Rest
2. Rest Time
3. Message of the Day: Trust and Confidence in God Face of Trouble.
4. June 25, 2019
5. Psalm 62:1: Watching and waiting
6. Waiting Patiently
7. Blessed night
8. Lunch with the Psalms
9. God is my Rock
10. Choosing Far More Life

welcomed peace

. . . unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: . . . ongewapende waarheid en onvoorwaardelijke liefde zullen het laatste woord hebben.

Purplerays

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound
to the starless midnight of racism and war
that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood
can never become a reality…
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love
will have the final word.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

~ Image by Micaela M. Bayon
Text & image source: The Garden Of Pensiveness https://web.facebook.com/The-Garden-Of-Pensiveness-367268523352486/

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Share Your Smile

Peace has to grow in ourself first and then when we have that inner peace we may try to spread it by letting the smile coming on our face, letting our peaceful vibrations fill the air.

JanBeek

Mother Theresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.”

I believe it.

Do you?

Shortly after we

Moved to Montana,

I joined the

Madison Valley

Writers’ Group.

Smiles helped me

Make friends.

Shared writing

Helped us

Get to know

One another better.

.

Here is a poem

I wrote back then.

It’s still pertinent

(maybe even more so)

Today… don’t

You agree?

.

A Smile

.

“If you see someone without a smile,” the old saying goes,

“Give ’em one of yours.” It’ll chase away their woes.

It won’t hurt you a bit and it don’t take no time.

Might even be returned, and won’t cost you a dime.

.

If you see someone without a smile, maybe they just need

The kind of cheer you got – to bring ’em up to speed.

You might throw in a handshake, or a “Howdy, how ya be?”

Might be their first friendly…

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Trouble in my brain

Who does not want to be loved? Who is not longing for attention, recognition, acknowledgement and for being recognised as a human being, to be seen and heard and why not for receiving a hug?

E.T.'s blog

I’m so confused.
There’s a big mess in my head.
I don’t know where to start and where to end.
There’s no problem in my life.
The only problems are made by me.
I’ve got no big threats against my life.
Then why is my brain fried?
Problems are problems, if you give them the space to be problems.
Because the only one recognizing those problems, is you.
It’s your brain telling you there’s a problem, but when is it really one?
My brain is fried with problems.
Or aren’t they such things?
Are they just thoughts, which pass my mind too many at the same time, so that I can’t see which one is which anymore?
I can’t differentiate between them.
I want things but do I have the right to?
I’m aware of my past and my failures.
I try to stop myself from doing weird things.
But…

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As always God has a Plan

We should know in life the things that come around us can tackle us. Life at certain moments can look just plain hard! Life at certain moments may even look unfair.

Whatever we dream of, it does not always want to turn out like our aspirations and often we do seem to miss the goal.

 

There are those who know God and dare to argue with Him, because they do not understand His Ways, nor why such horrible things can happen in this world and such bad things happen to them who love God.

How many of us would not like like Gideon a proof from God, Him shoulder tapping us.

You would think an angel would be evidence enough. It’s not like seeing angels were common occurrences. {How to Be All In When Asked to do Hard Things}

Whatever happens in our life, whatever directions we do have to go, we always should remember that we are just little elements in the creation of God. We also should remember that when we are wiling to give ourselves in His Hands, Jehovah God shall be willing to help us. He already showed many times to be there for His people. At all times, even when they were not so honest to God or when they had forgotten Him, He always was prepared to come close to them when they were calling Him, or even when they were not thinking of Him, to remind them of Him or to send them a prophet or messenger.

People had asked God several times for certain things, like food but also kings and judges, and He gave it them.

Gideon from Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum

Gideon seemed a shaky kind of guy for a judge. I always assumed these God-chosen Judges would be natural leaders of the super-hero type. Like Samson, a not so ordinary guy with a hot temper, and Hulk-type strength. Or Deborah the wonder woman whose wisdom was legendary, and to whom men submitted. {How to Be All In When Asked to do Hard Things}

Deborah as portrayed in Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum (1553)

For us human beings we would like to have an easy comfortable life without any problems. Be sure, that shall be possible … but we shall have to work for it …

God never promised me comfort and ease on this earth. He never promised an immunity to change. {How to Be All In When Asked to do Hard Things}

We should remember it was mankind itself which reposted against God. Man did not think God was honest to them and kept something precious behind. In their rebellion they ate from the forbidden fruit to get to know “Knowledge of good and evil” and as such came to know that evil. And that is what we have to feel more than once in our life. The bad things surround us. But we must not always think when there is something we do not like, like having to move places or to go on, that it means that would be bad. It can be a next step in our life which can bring us so much more goodness. Therefore we, when in doubt sometimes do good to switch our prayer like interior designer Loree Johns the wife of preacher Randy does

Ok, Ok, I get it. You are opening the floodgates to a new opportunity, new souls to love and nurture. So help me to find peace about this, because like Gideon, I needed proof you really want to uproot and upend me. {How to Be All In When Asked to do Hard Things}

Asking Jehovah God for guidance and comfort He shall show the way and make sure the proofs of His nearness and His Plan shall become clearer. Coming to trust in Him and hoping to fit in His Way your anxiety shall ease.

The sick feeling abated. And I could feel excitement for a new chapter warring with my pain of leaving those I love. I could do this. So, I met with my other designer and staff, and we figured a way for me to work in OKC half of the time. I’m thankful for such a great team who will keep the business thriving when I am three hours away. {How to Be All In When Asked to do Hard Things}

°°°

God in his infinite wisdom only reveals what we need to know in the here and now.

It seems like God’s plans are rarely our plans, at least not in my world.

As always God has a Plan.

It’s time for that wall to come down once for all, and for me to be real with you. I will share my joys along with my pain and sorrows. I will give you insight into what helps me kept it all together on the rocky road of a broken world. I will open my heart and soul to you so we can complete this hard journey on earth together.
****************************
What I have found on my journey so far:

-God is the only place I can find true Peace.

-He says “BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD,” for people like me who have a hard time sitting.

–Joy is a choice.

-His amazing Grace releases me from my mess and allows me to walk forever free.

–He loves me fierce and reckless.

{How to Be All In When Asked to do Hard Things}

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Preceding

Life

What would you do if…?

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Additional reading

1. What is life?
2. Monotomy of life
3. Your life the sum total of all your choices
4. When you don’t know what to do and hate yourself
5. Struggles of life
6. Good and bad things in this world
7. Trouble is coming
8. Profitable disasters
9. Self inflicted misery #2 Weakness of human race
10. Forbidden Fruit in the Midst of the Garden 3
11. Out of the seed of Eve
12. Suffering produces perseverance
13. From pain to purpose
14. From Despair to Victory
15. Your purpose explains what you are doing with your life
16. Only the contrite self, sick of its pretensions, can find salvation
17. It is a free will choice
18. Choose you this day whom ye will serve
19. The business of this life
20. A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses
21. Thirst for happiness and meaning
22. Major challenges and great things happening in our life
23. Looking to the East and the West for Truth
24. The truth is very plain to see and God can be clearly seen
25. Examining the world around us and of our own life, building up a legacyChange
26. Leaving behind the lives we have touched.
27. Inculturation today calling for a different attitude
28. To create a great journey
29. Power in the life of certain
30. Created to live in relation with God
31. We may not be ignorant to get wisdom
32. Being religious has benefits even in this life
33. Healthy life can be found in sacred books
34. We should use the Bible every day
35. Fragments from the Book of Job #1: chapters 1-12
36. Fragments from the Book of Job #2: chapters 12-20
37. Fragments from the Book of Job #3: chapters 21-26
38. Fragments from the Book of Job #7 Epilogue
39. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #4 Transitoriness #3 Rejoicing in the insistence
40. Dealing with Disappointment
41. Feeling Lost? Read This…
42. Determine the drive
43. Not holding back and getting out of darkness
44. From Winterdarkness into light of Spring
45. Life and attitude of a Christian
46. Two states of existence before God
47. Humility and the Fear of the Lord
48. A Living Faith #8 Change
49. A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
50. Be happy that the thorn bush has roses
51. Life in gratitude opens glory of God
52. Not he who prays most or fasts most is the greatest saint

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Related

1. The roles of Deborah, Gideon, and Jephthah
2. Life & Death
3. Which Way are You Facing?
4. Journey
5. Strangers in the journey of life
6. 50/50
7. What’s Going on, Jarvis?
8. What Kind Of Person Am I?
9. Are you a multipotentialite?
10. Being eighty percent happy
11. Excuses Never = Dreams
12. Life: In Progress
13. Mid-Year Realizations
14. Goals without Plans are just wishes
15. Living within a Battlefield
16. Spiritual life or Spiritual Death and the Zombie Apocalypse!
17. People leave
18. Living Intentionally
19. Ego vs Spirit
20. 1061 Goodness
21. 1062 Badness
22. Dualism – Goodness & Badness
23. Pace
24. If you were God…
25. When Childhood Isn’t Fun or Easy
26. The Key to Successful Living
27. Week 4: How You See Your Job
28. Change for God
29. Thought For The Day The Twelve Steps are foundation stones for the recovery process. Foundation stones are designed for building on.
30. No Fear…
31. Marching orders.
32. God’s Way or Your Way?
33. God’s Way Works
34. God’s Ways Are Perfect
35. The Narrow Roadway
36. Growing in Faith
37. Lift Up Your Heads

What makes you following Christ and Facebook Groups

When we look at the world around us we do find an incredible amount of people who are flying each other in the hairs about controversial versions about their religion and faith.

After the Nazarene master teacher had experienced all of his trials on earth, his impalement and resurrection, we find one of his close friends writing words from above – a final message from Jesus his Father’s side in Heaven to those who are to follow him. Somehow we come to see that the curses in Eden on the earth and mankind are reversed by the end of Revelation and that the dreams and visions in the book of Daniel are confirmed and expanded upon.

• Many of the signs and symbols in Revelation are in fact used in the rest of Scripture so you will find them de-mystified! This means that the message of the book becomes accessible and valuable to you as the Lord Jesus intended his servants to find it. {Revelation Steps}

Who Would Jesus Bomb? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In recent times we have heard a lot about religious groups fighting against each other. All the news about bombings or terror acts, are not exactly a sign for us that there would be soon a condition of real peace. On several Facebook platforms one can find people calling each-other names and using a language which may belong to small frustrated kids and uneducated poor of mind adolescents, though seemingly it would be adults using such ordinary and awful words. Often those speaking at those many platforms or Groups do a lot of damage to the religious group they think they are defending. By their attitude they do so much damage to those groups because can come to believe that those Muslims and Christians are really such hate mongers.

It makes many wonder who might be those who follow the prophet Jesus and those who follow the prophet Muhammad. There are even guys who say the other have no right to claim Jesus, one part saying because he is a Christian and belongs to the Christians only, the other part saying he is a Muslim and belongs to the Muslims. Both groups seemingly to forget that the Nazarene Jesus his real name is Jeshua and was a devout Jew (belonging to the Essenes like his mother Miriam/Mary/Miryam/Maria) and not a Christian.

When those claiming that man from God use such abominable language one may wonder how they can call that man, who was s preacher of peace, as their example and their name bearer?

The Nazarene preacher also asked his followers to unite and to have peaceful fellowship, companionship, and a sense of belonging. One would think those claiming to be Christians to become part of a family, which works together, and looks after all members’ needs: spiritually, materially, and socially (1 Cor 12). When looking at what goes on on many Facebook Groups we do get the opposite impression. Instead of finding people who show their love for each-other and want to help each-other in building up their faith, we can find quarrelling (even nearly fighting) people who do not seem interested in forming a Christian family where it is a place of fun, friendship, and (as with all families) falling-out-and-making-up-again! It more often looks like one enters a battlefield.

Looking at those Groups we only can wonder what makes some of those people calling themselves Christian or Muslim. We also wonder what their real intention might be at such forums; If they think to converse others with the way they are speaking they are totally on the wrong site of the road, and do have no idea about preaching and trying to win people for their camp.

Hearing them speak it also seems to turn more around their own ego and we can not get the impression they ever would like to convince the other what the first and foremost benefit of following Jesus might be, because they concentrate most on blowing fire and showing their hate for the other. Perhaps they think it shall be of a personal benefit for them by threatening other thinkers and other believers!

Clearly lots of those on several Facebook Groups their life is not about surrender to a God-focused life, with all the sense of purpose that brings (1 Cor 10:31). But for outsiders and we should let insiders also know that, this allows Christians to recognise and, in a sense, embrace the futility of life (Ecc 2:11) but also how people behave, how they act and speak, should give others an impression how much they want to be a child of God and in how far they do succeed to become really under that Most High God His Wings.

Let us remember

Peace and forgiveness. Life can be troubling, and Jesus offers us safe harbour, forgiveness of sins, and certainty in an uncertain world (Psa 103:12, Isa 43:25, Col 1:13-14). {Weighing the costs and benefits of discipleship}

And let us know exactly where the boundaries of human decency are and how a person of God, be it a Jew, Christian or Muslim must stand and how to behave.

As human beings created in the image of God we should show to be a worthy image of That Most High Elohim. In case Christ would have still been in his grave he would probably would have turned around many times.

We should be aware how important it is to show others in which way we want to be under Christ and want to be under God. As human beings living in a mixed world, an amalgam of people of all sorts of races and ideas, we should know that there have to be certain rules and regulations to provide a sense of security and a way for living together in peace.
When Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive, offering a generous 7 times, Jesus’ response would have taken him aback I expect (490 times – Matt 18:22). Clearly, this wasn’t a quota of forgiveness – Jesus’ point is that our capacity to forgive should be without limit, just like God’s (Isa 43:25-26, 1 John 1:9). And to forgive so much there has to be a place for an open mind too, and today there are too many who show they are only willing to have a very limited mind with only place for their thought and no other visions.

When looking at several Christian Facebook Groups we can only question where where does all the teaching of that master teacher Jesus Christ leaves those so called Christians in living out their Christianity?

Are boundaries useful at all in terms of our fellowship, worship, and services? There is certainly some guidance in the Bible to suggest that boundaries can be useful in some of these areas – but where we choose to set them may be more a product of our cultural context than absolute ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. {Boundaryless God}

Worldreligion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Please read also:

• Weighing the costs and benefits of discipleship
• Boundaryless God
• “…and they shall dwell safely all of them” Ezekiel 38:8
• The Coming Peace in Israel
• Revelation Steps
• The essence of church

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Preceding

Daring to speak in multicultural environment

Several Christians fail to recognise the Chosen ones of God and are not taking on a Christian attitude

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Additional reading

1. Are you looking for answers and Are you looking for God
2. Notification and news feed for Facebook users

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Further reading

1. Gods & religion
2. Good Without God, or Elite Background
3. Disagreements
4. Islamic State Answers Pope Francis: Ours Is a Religious War and We Hate You
5. 10,000 church members leave the Church of Denmark in 3 months amid atheist
6. ISIS wing claims responsibility for Minnesota mall attack in U.S.
7. Assholes are Overrated
8. Chechnya’s Jewish community is angry at Israel… but doesn’t seem to exist
9. The Storms of Life
10. no one can answer, but the Lord
11. The Olympic Trials of Life…By Faith And Not By Sight by Ciera Rankin
12. In All Things, Give Thanks
13. After the Storm
14. He Lifts Me
15. Gladness in trials
16. The list of wars
17. Revelation: The Sixth Trumpet.
18. Is a Religious War in Europe Imminent?
19. Iraq: Suicide Bomber Strikes At Crowd at Prophet Mohammad’s Grandson Event (Arbaeen) — Islamic State Suspected
20. Contention 62 (Eleventh Contentions)
21. Honor Authority…
22. The Whole Truth (Almost)
23. Can we not be civil and simply disagree?
24. Bias, and Disagreeing with Something
25. How to respectfully talk about deep disagreements
26. What, we agree? Compatible issues in a disagreeable world
27. The more ignorant a person is the more his disagreement increases
28. Reflections on ‘Why I am not an Atheist’
29. How Should I View Others Who Serve the Lord Differently Than I Do? – CCC Discover

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Related articles

• Why is it so difficult to trust God?
• Sermon: When the World Is Against You, Acts 24
• Jesus, Not Our Ministries, Is The Point
• Killed Filipino Jesuit in Cambodia on road to sainthood
• Author Vilma Ramdhar’s Newly Released “The Ten Commandments vs Baal Worship” Guides Readers to the Lord Jesus Christ, His Wisdom, and Salvation
• The Al-Aqsa Fraud
• ARMM gov, imams hit proposed Muslim-only ID
• How a journalist’s journey to being a secular Muslim in India began at home and in school
• The Character of God from the Book of Romans
• In the End, It’s All a Matter of Aesthetics:

Say yes

Say yes

It seems strange to say yes for no reason.
Especially in a world that teaches us to draw boundaries, to say no.
Still, to say yes is the most powerful thing there is.

Not to each question from outside.
That would make us out of control.
But a wholehearted YES to everything you feel.

Yes to love.
Yes to fear.
Yes to pain.

A difficult exercise.
But worthwhile to try.

Because in your YES lies a profound trust.
A warm belief in your own voice.
A soft stone deep inside, a little piece that only belongs to you.
Something that brings you peace.

Say yes to life that embraces you.
Say yes.

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From left to right: Devan Brockenberry; Jahnae Johnson; Kie’Arra Pretlow; and Larry Pretlow II (2006). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Zeg Ja

Related articles

• 4 mistakes new leaders make in the first 100 days of a job – and what to do instead
• Judy Murray says the rivalry between her sons has always been a ‘challenge’ as it emerges Andy did not watch all of Jamie’s doubles victory
• Two arrested as Trump supporters, opponents face off at competing rallies in Hollywood

Darkest just before dawn

Marcus Ampe when looking over the happenings of 2016 told his public that when we should have to choose a colour for 2016 it probably would be ‘black’. Even the darkest black colour you might find.

Certainly here in Belgium and neighbouring countries we have seen many black moments caused by people living very close to us. Hundreds of people who lived in cities like Brussels (Molenbeek district), Verviers, Charleroi, Mons, just to name some of the most mentioned living quarters of those who killed many in Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt and further away many cities in Syria. A so called liberation of human race was on their lips by causing so much agony in name for their sort of Islam which has nothing to do with real Islam, a religion which has ‘salam‘ or ‘peace‘ in its name.

2016 may have been the year where Bad came over Good and brought with it Hate over Love. Though many still may believe in

Good over Bad. Love over Hate. {When it looks like hate is winning}

May we really believe that

“Good always wins”?

When we look around us it seems just the opposite. Those who do not mind to swindle and do whatever they can to make themself rich without taking care of others, seem to win. Marcus Ampe warns us for the political scene which is changing drastically almost everywhere in the world, not for the good. He warns for the populism which is going over Europe and the United States as a virus. As a Christadelphian he likes to look at what is prophesied in the Bible and by looking at that sacred book is not at all surprised of what is going on. In his eyes we can follow the notated signs of those old writings and see that we are heading to a third World War, though it may still many years before us. He likes to compare the last few years with the 1920ies and showed us also how the present days are very much related to the 1930ies, which should sincerely worry us.

He does not speak of an apocalyptic change like certain Christians may do, but likes to warn us to prepare ourselves and our kids for the coming period where very right wing politicians may gain lots of votes and even come into power.

Perhaps Jyoti Chauhan Singh, an Indian lady who reads Tarot cards and came to live in the United States, perhaps thinks on similar lines, saying the same as Mr. Ampe that

it is happening in every corner of this world. People around the world are bringing this change by their votes, by their say, and by their actions. Be it Brexit or current US election, or stimulated political environment in my home country India. This change is too much. Too much for us to handle and accept, and to adapt to. {When it looks like hate is winning}

Is that not the danger we shall have to face in the coming months?

Are not many politicians going to make use of and are going to instigate people against others and nourish the fear many already have?

For Mrs. Chauhan Singh the present President elect in the States was

not elected against a virtuous leader. It was not the fight between good vs evil. It was just bad and worse fighting with each other. You guess which is worse and which is bad. But, it was never a winning situation for USA, no matter who would have won. {When it looks like hate is winning}

speaking at CPAC in Washington D.C. on February 10, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I do not know why Clinton would have been so bad, because honestly her stupidity about the e-mails was not really a criminal act, like so many Americans would like us to believe. If they consider such stupidity already a crime or sin than the many frauds and bankruptcies of Donald Trump which many Americans never seemed to have remembered or noticed, would be “cardinal sins and death penalty crimes”

We also may notice that many people seem to have some nostalgia to some times they had it better, though at those times they ware hoping for better times and for having more material richness. But as we could know beforehand all those modern gadgets they can have today are not making them more happy. The opposite today lots of people are more lonely and feeling poverty more harsh than years ago, though we may see less poverty stricken people. Less tramps on the streets.

With a smiling or is it a sarcastic face Mr. Ampe may tell us that many people would love to go back to a time they are imaging there was, but which has never been so. Mrs. Chauhan Singh alsy pointing to the same fact

With this election, Americans have spoken very clearly that they want to bring back ‘good old days’. Doesn’t matter if those good old days are going to be good for rest of us or not. They want to go back. They want someone with traditional values, traditional promises. Although seeing the lifestyle of elect president I hardly think he is an epitome of traditionalism. {When it looks like hate is winning}

Mr Ampe analysed some body language of Mr. Trump and showed us how clever that man must be playing with his public. This cleverness should make us even be more alert. He also compare certain tactics with the way how Erdogan managed to come in his dictatorial position today. How he was patient enough to go from mayor of Istanbul, even having spent some years in prison after his mayorship to come stronger and more radicalised out of it, imposing the traditional Muslim values and going in against the civil state of the old creator of a dream state Turkey.

We shall have to wait and see  to know how Donald Trump is going to use his power and how Marine Le Pen is going to drive her wedge through France which seem to be the under the spell of Muslim extremism and Islam fear.

Mr Ampe, like Mrs. Chauhan Singh seems to do also says we may not loose hope and contrary to how lots of people are concentrating on their own self, we should look more to others and try to come up for the weaker ones.
Mrs. Chauhan Singh writes

Losing hope is never an option. If we are given this result, we must be hopeful that there must be something good coming out of it. Give him a chance. He has already shocked all of us; he may surprise us too. Do not lose hope. Instead hope for him to change his ways, his words, and his actions, for the betterment of this country. {When it looks like hate is winning}

One of Mr. Ampe his main teachings, also as a retired teacher of ballet history, is that we should learn from history and that we should make others aware of possible traps lots of people in the past did not notice but became victim of. According to him by knowing the past we can avoid the same mistakes, which have been repeated so many times, because people did not know their history.

We always shall look at things and would love to see things changed. Man is not easy satisfied.

One also can wonder when  our world evolves if/ when and how many people would be ready for such changes, and if they are for the better or for the worse. In most cases lots of people are just not ready for the changes taking place.

Problem is not in these major changes but our inability to accept them. {When it looks like hate is winning}

One might also ask whether we shall be able to find enough people who shall be really wanting to pursue peace. To find enough people who really want to “raise awareness that peace in itself,” and willing to take steps with which to motivate others to go that track of peace making is something we should go for. Too many may be very confused and may not be sure which dreams might be the best for them. Though according to Mr. Ampe we should come to work together towards mutual peace and to the broadcasting of hope and positive thoughts, trying to take away the confusion there is today and putting right the wrong ideas about some people, religions and ways of life. He believes the change must come from each of us and that we are responsible for the evolution of the day. According to him, we ourselves are to convey the message and have even to adopt a certain attitude and should form a shining example. According to him, there also should be peace as a base in our own daily lives.

This peace will also make the connection with the other and this will be like a snowball effect to be implemented on this world.

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Preceding articles about overviews for 2016

Donkere periodes en het uitkijken naar vrede

From Guestwriters 2015 in review

Pokémon craziness

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Additional reading

1. Knife-trust in democratic sore back
2. Daesh hits heart of Europe
3. What Associated Press released on Wednesday 23 March 2016
4. Iranian media implicitly accuse Erdogan to have known of the Bruxelles’s attacks in advance
5. Hard questions
6. Terrorist attacks in brussels
7. Social media, sympathy & shocks
8. Europe unites to defeat terror
9. Silence, devotion, Salafists, quietists, weaponry, bombings, books, writers and terrorists
10. Declaration of war against Islam and Christianity
11. Is Europe going to become a dictatorial bastion
12. French authorities have shut down around 20 mosques and prayer halls
13. State of emergency and respect for human rights
14. Paris attacks darkning the world
15. Trump brand of migrant demonization
16. Trump brand of migrant demonization #2
17. Brussels-born Salah Abdeslam key suspect Paris terrorist attacks
18. Muslim Grooming (Rape) Gangs and Sharia
19. Amount of Muslims living in your country

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Further reading

1. Paris Attackers Had Already Appeared in the Islamic State’s Propaganda
   It has already been established that the on-the-ground leader of the Islamic State’s atrocities on Paris
2. Belgium knew in 2012 already that Paris suspects were plotting attacks
   Belgian authorities knew as early as 2012 that terrorists linked to the bloodshed in Paris were plotting attacks in the West. But little was done to disrupt the build-up of a network that subsequently became a cornerstone …
3. Fugitive Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam captured in anti-terror raid
   He was shot in the leg and arrested in a major police operation in the Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek
4. Paris Attacks Suspect Wounded, Arrested In Brussels Raid
   Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in the deadly Paris attacks, has been wounded and arrested, following a raid in the Belgian capital, Brussels, after four months on the run.
5. Hollande Chairs Emergency Security Meeting — France Determining Next Move After Arrest of Suspected Terrorist Salah Abdeslam, a French…
6. Muslims in Molenbeek are on the side of Salah against the belgian police. Take in more muslim immigrants so we enlarge the Salah’s Fan…
   The so called refugees are all muslims, I don’t see why we should let them in. Now that we know the destructive attitude of freemasonry we also know we mustn’t let them do what they ask.
7. One Paris attacker buried just a day before his brother was captured in Brussels police raid
   Brahim Abdeslam, who blew himself up in November’s attacks, was laid to rest the day before his brother Salah was captured.
8. Top Lawyers of Belgium, France in Suspected Terrorists Abdeslam Case — Focus on European jihadists
9. How Recent European Terror Wins Led to Abdeslam’s Capture
10. ISIS Launches Coordinated Attacks in Brussels Airport and Subway
    Early reports from Brussels are that two coordinated attacks have taken place with the first being at the Brussels Airport Departure Terminal and the second within the Brussels Subway system.
11. J’accuse ! L’attentat que les services craignaient
    Avec colère suite aux événements de ce matin, j’accuse la Belgique d’avoir été attentiste depuis des années et de n’avoir jamais donné les moyens aux services de Renseignement de faire leur travail professionnellement pour tenter de prévenir ce genre d’attaques.
    … Outraged about the events of this morning in Brussels, I accuse Belgium of having endorsed a “wait-and-see” policy for years and having never giving to the intelligence services the means to do their job professionally to try and avoid this kind of attack. …
12. Leighton: Terror cells are a lot bigger than Belgium authorities anticipated
13. Terror attacks in Brussels kill at least 34, story developing
    Terrorist bombings at a subway station in Maalbeek and at Zaventem Airport have killed at least 34 people and injured another 170. Two bombs, at least one of which is believed to have been a suicide bombing, struck the …
14. Bombing in Brussels!
    Today, once again, Islamic terrorists have attacked the west. This morning, Brussels became the latest city to come under attack with a bomb detonating on a metro train …
15. Islamofoobikot pitävät terrorismin voimissaan
    Ennen kuin Brysselin terrori-iskuista oli kiirinyt tieto Suomeen, Helsingin Sanomat kirjoitti viime syksyn Pariisin iskujen tekijöiden jahdista. Belgiassa 18.3. kiinniotettu Salah Abdesalam piileskeli kuukausien ajan
16. Islamofoobikot pitävät terrorismin voimissaan
    Ennen kuin Brysselin terrori-iskuista oli kiirinyt tieto Suomeen, Helsingin Sanomat kirjoitti viime syksyn Pariisin iskujen tekijöiden jahdista. Belgiassa 18.3. kiinniotettu Salah Abdesalam piileskeli kuukausien ajan …
17. Het raadsel, Salah Abdeslam
    Op 13 november vorig jaar reed hij zijn vrienden naar de Parijse plekken om toe te slaan. Dood en verderf te zaaien, angst aan te jagen, het leven te vernietigen dat hij met hart en ziel haatte.
18. Del estupor al sopor: atentados jihadistas, habituación europea, y jamais vu liberal-progresista
    Creo que estoy progresando. Esta noche, alrededor de las 3am, fui despertado por el zumbido de mi teléfono celular que se encontraba recargándose, apoyado sobre la mesita de luz.
19. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again
    This morning we awoke to the news of a deadly terrorist attack in Brussels. Isis claimed responsibility for the bombings at the airport and the Metro station.
20. Why Belgium?
    ISIS has claimed responsibility for separate explosions in Brussel’s Zaventem airport and a central metro station that killed 34 and wounded over 200.
21. Don’t Blame Whitey!
22. Belgium’s approach to immigration and security again under fire
23. CAIR Cannot Be Trusted To Police Radical Muslims
24. Brussels
25. Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
26. After Brussels, Europe must abandon its safe space and face reality
27. Hidden in Plain Sight: Salah Abdesalam’s 120 Days on the Lam
28. Waking Up to the Brussels Bombs
29. Aboard the Eurostar to Brussels
30. Two belgian politicians elected in Molenbeek committed themselves to legalize Sharia in Belgium. That’s how Islam destroys Democracy when…
31. Molenbeek’s gangster jihadis – BBC News
32. Europe’s Muslims hate the West
33. CAIR Cannot Be Trusted!
34. Belgian Terrorism Suspect Salah Abdeslam Has Agreed To Provide Police With Full Information on Other Terrorists — “Turns Supergrass”
35. Brussels Suicide Attacks ‘Shocking But Not Surprising,’ Stanford Experts Say
36. The Muslim Problem and How Not To Solve It
37. Look at what I almost stepped in
38. We Are AfraidMerci, Thanks !Revolution: Jesus loves Every Jihadist
39. Perps of ‘Far-Right’ Hit-and-Run on Muslim Woman Were Muslims
40. Why Belgium is Ground Zero for European Jihadis
41. Een falend land, dát is het echte probleem, meneer JambonTerrorism From Brussels: A Report
42. Molenbeek and its cultural and creative dynamism – a (small) press review
43. A Close Look at Brussels Offers a More Nuanced View of Radicalization – The New York Times
44. «Il reste encore des éléments à neutraliser»
45. Europe: Suicide by Jihad
46. How Many Molenbeeks in France?
47. The truth about “no-go” Molenbeek
48. Open brief aan Jan Jambon door Selma Benkhelifa (advocate)
49. Getting Up Earlier.
50. Two Police Officers Attacked With Knife In Belgium, Unhurt
51. Knifeman attacks Brussels police
52. Tent Cities for questionable dwellers
53. L’Arc-en-Ciel presque au complet
54. Dec 16,
55. It has been an eventful year for me 2016
56. The Politically Correct Right
57. Bet you missed this #1
58. 2016- A Reflection
59. 2016 Recapped
60. Summarising 2016-Энэ оныг дүгнэх нь
61. 2016 in review
62. Christmas Countdown Blitz 2016 ~ Day 12
63. Not Goals. Plans.
64. Book Review: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet
65. What India Searched in 2016
66. Saturday 17 December 2016 – Some famous people who’ve died in 2016
67. My 2016: August.
68. Movie Review: Rogue One (2016)
69. Things That Need To End In 2017
70. History tells us what may happen next with Brexit & Trump
71. Look East and Watch for the Light
72. Readjusting Expectations
73. revolutionary reflections | The Crisis in German Politics and the Rise of the Radical Right
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74. Links for 16/12/16
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75. Populist right – the mass appeal of “strict father” framing
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79. The 3 Layers of Authoritarian Thinking
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80. More than just populism: Renzi, the Italian Senate referendum and the perils of second chamber reform
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81. Times of Uncertainty: The Rise of Far-Right Populism
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82. What is anti-establishment according to Donald Trump?
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83. Policy corruption, vote buying and double standards
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84. Cameron names his nemesis populism, but the Westminster set still refuses to accept that it was a rejection of self interest which was…
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A #Prayer for #Peace

Today’s guest, Morgan, is a woman who hopes for a bright tomorrow, whilst she looks with dreams unfurled. She was asked by her pastor to compose a prayer for peace for an evening vespers service her church is holding tonight before the election.

She says she

was so moved by what I was led to write, I simply had to share it.

On her site you may find very beautiful photographs accompanying her very nice poetic language. When listening to language it is important to come to feel straight ahead some magic combination that stirs the heart, mind and spirit and can let us linger away.

God has given us different talents and when we can use it in His honour they even come out to the better. Each word we say, each word we use in the end shall be accounted for by the Most High. We also should try to use our words to make our own prayers and the one Morgan made we love to share with you, our readers and do hope they can bring you and us to a moment of divine inspiration and fire of tranquillity and peace,so that we can hear the Most High Voice, to inspire us more.

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BooknVolume

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Gracious Heavenly Father
Quiet our thoughts so they may Center on You.
You who Knows every beat of our Hearts,
Every Breath we take.
Hush our chaos for Your Love’s Sake
And Speak in a voice Soft and Clear;
Holy Whisperings that drive away fear.

Spirit of Peace, Bless the Weary Heart,
The Sorrowful Traveler,
The Lost and Lonely Soul.
Generous Love, Reach down from on High
To Caress with Tenderness when fear tries to pervade.
Trusting Joy, return like a River of Loving Light
To Reign in Triumph in our Hearts.
Lord of Love, Fill us in Blessed Renewal
Giving us Strength to walk in Abundant Hope.

Blessed Spirit of Life and Breath,
Creator before the foundation of the world,
Master Artist of the Universal Mystery,
You are All in All in All.
Eternal Word of Life,
Giver of Wisdom and Unfathomable Peace,
Guide us to Understand Truth…

View original post 66 more words

High time to show the way to peace

Vagabonds of the Western World (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The world has always known people who had problems with their relationship and even went to fight with each other because they wanted things of the other person. Wars have been a common thing for humanity. In the West we may be pleased after World War II the fighting was less than in previous centuries, but still lots of internal battles make many lives sour.

In the West, though, there are many who call themselves Christian and even say the Western World belongs to the Christians and Is or should be Christian. When they are afraid Muslims would take over they should more question themselves how it is possible that so many people do want to leave Christendom for that other religion.

This year we do remember that it is 2020 years ago that rabbi Jeshua, Jesus Christ, was born. At that special occasion we should better question what mankind made of that man and what they did with his teachings.

Rabbi Jeshua was a man of peace, who did not favour one for the other but thought and treated everybody likewise. For a good or even a bad person this rabbi had always an ear and was always ready to help. All his teachings were about an unmistakably Great Love. The great master teacher, who came to be known in the West as Jesus Christ, was a man of action and not of words only. His words were like balsam. In his words there was no place for hatred or jealousy. He was an example of humbleness, tenderness, full of love and kindness. He was not a bringer of war but a bringer of peace.

When people also would follow his teachings they would have less problems and there would be less friction or peevishness.

This image was selected as a picture of the week on the Malay Wikipedia for the 44th week, 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, we have reached an era of which the Bible warns mankind. We too should take heed and see what is going on, as signs prophesied in the Book of books, the Bible. Noticing all those signs of coming troublesome times we should be fully aware that we best make work of those tidings Christ Jesus has brought to mankind.

When all those who say they are Christian, which should mean they are willing and doing what Jesus asks from them, following his teachings and his example, they should know that as all different body parts together they should make one strong healthy body, the Body of Christ.

When all Christians would start in their own surroundings already trying to create that peace of Christ, also trying to accept other Christians and willing to work together with them, the world would become a much better place.

Christians should show others that Jesus is not only the Way to God but also the Way to life and to  world peace. With Jesus we shall be able to find a (restored) kingdom, where there shall be no grudges, no jealousy, no fighting. One might be surprised how it could still be in reach.

Please do not wait any longer. Do not postpone. Tell others about that man born 2020 years ago and show them why we should put our eyes on him. Let others see why that Nazarene man was so important for mankind and let them understand he is the only working solution for mankind. Jesus is the way, and all should know it!

How more people shall come to Jesus how more people shall be sharing that similar love of Jesus with each other, and as brothers and sisters of each other in the Body of Christ they shall be able to bring soft gently swaying waves of peace. and that peace shall be much stronger than what others try to get with their fighting.

All will have to know that Jesus will conquer, and that he will become the new King of kings. In him we do have our mediator between God and man and our high-priest. He has ear and eyes for us and in him we should trust.

Let us proclaim who he is, what he has done and why the whole world need him. In him is our peace, which we should radiate so that others also become affected with it.

It is really “High time to devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship”, plus “High time to go out telling the world about Jesus” and hight time to join hands for showing the world that those who love Jesus can come together in peace and co-operate with the best intentions to come to a better world, were peace shall reign.

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Preceding articles:

High time to devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship

High time to go out telling the world about Jesus

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Additional articles

1. In a few days time it will be 2020 years ago that the Messiah was born
2. 2020 years since
3. 2020 years ago, the road was opened
4. When Bad Things Happen
5. Redemption #1 Biblical doctrine of salvation
6. Redemption #2 Biblical solution
7. Redemption #7 Christ alive in the faithful
8. Redemption #8 Righteousness by Faith
9. Redemption #9 Only way
10. The Right One to follow and to worship
11. Knowledge of Christ and fear for God
12. Through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe
13. The stone of essential truth
14. the Way to life
15. Relating to God is it possible + Relation with God
16. Man’s plans prevailed by God’s purpose
17. Religious people and painful absence of spring of living water
18. Be humble like Christ
19. Humbleness
20. The first on the list of the concerns of the saint
21. If you want to go far in life
22. Kindness
23. Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair
24. God let my compassionate affection be tolerant and kind
25. Kingdom of God what will it be like
26. True riches

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Further reading

1. God, Alone, Sovereignly Chooses His Eternal Family
2. God’s Marriage: The Father And Son
3. Unraveling Guilt With God’s Holiness
4. Lent Day 23: I Declare My Ways Are Smooth, My Path Is Straight. I Will Not Stumble
5. Only one way out
6. The Way
7. R.C. Sproul quote
8. This is the way
9. The Way home Psalm 56:3-4 Luke 13:22-30
10. Discouraged? Run to Jesus!
11. Jesus sees me as …
12. Grace and Restoration
13. “Flow through Me”
14. “That They May Be One”
15. Jew or Gentile: You Are All One in Christ Jesus
16. Disciplinary Treatises—(4) The Communion of the Body, by Scott Cairns
17. The Body of Christ
18. The Body of Christ : God’s ultimate intention for our life
19. Body of Christ: Nothing Will Be Wasted, by Francis de Sales Wagner
20. The Living, Growing Body of Christ
21. Becoming Community
22. Who Runs the Church?
23. Beware of a Spiritual Cancer in the Body of Christ
24. Has the Church become a pathetic loser?
25. The Apostasy
26. Are We A Healthy Body?
27. Measuring the Fullness
28. Oneness of the Church
29. Unify
30. On marriage for priests.
31. Sometimes, Instead of Bread, I Ask God for Stones
32. What love is this?
33. Until Christ Is Formed
34. Standing in the Gap
35. Prayer For Oct. 22nd
36. “Do I have to pray, read the Bible, go to church, etc?”
37. Revival, or something that looks like it
38. Running Toward The Goal
39. Ignatius of Antioch: “love incorruptible”
40. The Perfect Wheel
41. Spiritual Formation, Gossip and Presidential Campaigns
42. October 26 – I Never Knew You
43. Summing Up
44. Horrendous Things are Under Authority
45. Peace. Comfort. Love. Joy. Over coming the heartache.
46. A Fresh Look at the Lord’s Prayer “Your Kingdom Come”
47. No Matter
48. Sunday Bun! At SAllome Point in the Future
49. Religion vs Relationship
50. Why Christianity Isn’t a Solo Act
51. We have all the answers, we must go and answer all the questions!
52. For the One whose name is higher than them all
53. Kingdom???
54. Thy Kingdom Come
55. Know your saviour
56. Kings and kingdoms
57. 4 Shots From 4 Films: An Epic Birthday Salute
58. Open Wide the Gates
59. The Justice of God – Isaiah 33:22
60. All Glory To Jesus
61. Recapturing The Holy Awe

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