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Post by cwood85 on Oct 15, 2017 22:28:19 GMT -6
Before anyone says anything in defense or takes offense about the title, hear me out please.
These last few weeks after September 23rd, I have been noticing something a little sad and something I have been praying about, but I think we all need to do this together.
Some very amazing and insightful people have been leaving, without saying anything and maybe in offense... I have noticed a definite uptick in disagreements and bickering back and forth regarding scripture, opinions, whatever. Way more now than a month ago.
Don't let the enemy win, don't let him in here. Because he will push our pride and puff us up, let us take offense, and not act in love, and in all this, take the focus from Jesus and put it to ourselves, our feelings, our knowledge, our depiction of scripture, you get what I am saying.
I am not accusing anyone of anything at all. Just submitting my personal observation. We all sin, and are all guilty. My mouth and passion is my strength and weakness. Luckily I have a 6'2" husband who unfortunately is sometimes the muscle behind my mouth lol... 😜
We are in amazing times. We are witnessing things people dreamed and spent their whole lives longing for. We may not know the time or the date, but man o man every fiber inside me is still screaming that Jesus is so close! Look at the world, so much is happening so fast and furiously. Wait on Him, trust in Him, and talk to Him ☝️Let's pray for this group!
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Post by yardstick on Oct 15, 2017 22:35:09 GMT -6
I noticed an uptick as well cwood85. Though I wouldnt categorize it as with disagreements or bickering, but as something else. PM me any time you want to vent about something. I welcome the conversation. The invitation is also made to others who wish to chat on the side. I welcome the conversation. Lately, I haven't felt much like there was something I could contribute on the boards, but maybe I might be a bit more useful in PMs. |
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Post by cwood85 on Oct 15, 2017 22:39:01 GMT -6
I noticed an uptick as well cwood85. Though I wouldnt categorize it as with disagreements or bickering, but as something else. PM me any time you want to vent about something. I welcome the conversation. The invitation is also made to others who wish to chat on the side. I welcome the conversation. Lately, I haven't felt much like there was something I could contribute on the boards, but maybe I might be a bit more useful in PMs. I am honestly not the best with words. Maybe a better one than disagreements or bickering? Really being genuine about this, because I know I am not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to writing and expressing myself  |
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Post by cwood85 on Oct 15, 2017 22:48:09 GMT -6
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Post by sawdy on Oct 15, 2017 22:52:15 GMT -6
I agree with what you wrote. Praying and keeping Him in focus is a definite challenge as time keeps passing.
Might I suggest that it may not be one persons comment as a fault as to drive away some of the membership. Perhaps some have left because, with moving forward, they want to spend more time praying, focusing on his word and their relationships offline.
I have found although I have desired to spend less time online, I frequently have been checking in for updates. And in that itself lies some frustration. Questioning viewpoints (pre,post and all the rest), checking world events and yet still trying to live a normal everyday life of a believer are beginning to take their toll on things like my normal non-prophecy bible studies, keeping in touch with my believing friends that are not into Tribulation research, and of the time I have left until the rapture or the day of my death, whichever the Lord has chosen will come first.
Oh how I long for the rapture, but longing to see my Lord doesn't make it come any faster. On a positive note, each day I still have here has seen my home becoming tidier, my possessions becoming more decluttered and my awareness of being in the moment with the interactions I am a part of has been more thought-driven as to carefully convey witnessing for Christ.
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Post by Natalie on Oct 16, 2017 7:32:45 GMT -6
I haven't had the time to post much lately. We took last week off from schooling, my husband had the week off and so we just had time to relax. We also had a wonderful women's conference Saturday at my church. We go to a small church (like 50-60 people on a Sunday) and so it was such a blessing to have time with these women. The theme was "Tune my Heart" from the hymn "Come Thou Fount". So, to carry that on, I encourage everyone to continue to let God tune your heart towards Him. Jesus is coming soon!
And pray for this board and the people here. That's probably the most important thing we can do right now. Oh, and to encourage each other as we see The Day approaching. Maybe He will let us know the exact day or maybe not, but it's coming.
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Post by MikeTaft on Oct 16, 2017 9:48:56 GMT -6
We are human and we're not always going to get it right. However there are too many evident and converging signs of Christ return. Those who scoff and show hatred only reveal how they are not walking in the Spirit if they are in fact born-again believers. While we may get it wrong every now and then I just want to let you know that our Lord is still coming! Most of us can agree very soon. We just gotta keep running the race and keep our eyes on the prize which is our Lord Jesus Christ. Encourage those who hang onto the Blessed Hope, and for those who wish to reject that truth then we must dust of our shoes at the city gate and keep moving. I pray all believers humble their hearts and seek what the Spirit says in these final days. Remember, today could be the day!
Love you all brother and sisters!
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Post by mike on Oct 16, 2017 17:30:04 GMT -6
Your words brother MikeTaft are a breath of fresh air! Thank you, keep it coming |
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Post by watchman35 on Oct 16, 2017 18:36:09 GMT -6
We must not forget the many, many converging signs that have not changed one iota even though some very high watch dates have passed. Israel is still back in the land 70 years. The Ezekiel 38 alliance is still taking shape on Israel's northern border right before our eyes. Damascus could become a ruinous heap literally any day. The technology for the one world economic system of Revelation 13 is here, as is the ability for the whole world to live stream the 2 witnesses dead in the street. Nuclear weapons provide the apparent reason why the Lord will have to cut the days short for the elect of the 70th week. There is much more I could say, but typing on my phone is not ideal for longer posts. My main point is that there are still many reasons to believe we are in the season of the harpazo. Now is not the time to go back to a "normal" existence, imho, though I can understand the temptation to do so. Press on brothers and sisters. Our redemption draws near. Maranatha!!!
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Post by MikeTaft on Oct 16, 2017 19:58:29 GMT -6
Your words brother MikeTaft are a breath of fresh air! Thank you, keep it coming I'm glad my words are of encouragement mike. I hope that we can forgive all who have sinned against us for we ourselves have been forgiven by our Father through the amazing and redemptive blood our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope that we will continue to walk in one Spirit as the Apostle Paul encourages us to do so! |
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brian
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Post by brian on Oct 16, 2017 23:09:19 GMT -6
Just want to say I appreciate all of you!!
Posting, conversing, whatever . . . on the internet is not something I usually do. This site, is the first place I have ever done this, I am a social media hold out, I prefer human to human interaction. I'm not judging those who use this medium, just saying that is who I am. I have never come across a group of people like the ones on this site. People who encourage each other, teach each other, in love correct each other, and no matter our small differences we all agree on the important stuff, and that 'stuff' holds us together.
Recently life has been a bit of a rollercoaster with all that is going on in the world, and the signs, and dates coming and going, etc. I love coming here to see what new ideas someone has come up with (I have to monitor my time on the computer).
I have learned a lot, hopefully I have contributed something that has at least made someone think.
I know that it is easy to get discouraged and sometimes we vent. Lets keep our priorities straight and Him in focus. Nothing changes the fact that the bible is true. It will never be proven false, we may not understand how it all fits together but it will, and most importantly the tomb is still empty!!
I think we can all agree that the world has hit a point of no return, we are heading home, hold on just a little longer.
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Post by rt on Oct 17, 2017 12:59:40 GMT -6
I see it too. Though I am not surprised.A big portion of those who recently joined were intrigued by the whole 9/23 celestial event and anticipating the rapture. I am not laying any blame to those who viewed these signs as significant prophetically and I know that the moderators went out of their way to make it clear that the sign did not necessarily mean the rapture would happen coincident with the sign. But....as I read posts it was clear that many folks were expecting it to happen. The "downtick" may be due to that disappointment factor, and not necessarily pride or offense. I saw this happen on another site I still frequent, many years ago now, they believed that certain events in the European Union were going to pan out to begin the 70th week, when it didn't happen a lot of folks moved on.
When we focuses too narrowly on a subject that involves prophecy and a potential fulfillment, it draws people in like bees to pollen. But when the flowers fail to bloom, the bees fly off in search of others. Let's face it, as believers we are excited about the idea that we could soon meet our Savior, it's nothing new and in fact that is the way God wants us to live, eagerly awaiting His return for us. So when something as significant as this celestial event happens we all want to believe that it coincides with a fulfillment of prophecy. And I still do believe that the sign was significant and may still be a fulfillment of what John related to us in Revelation 12, however what that fulfillment might mean isn't clear, and how it might reflect on the rapture timing is also not clear. We need to remember that Jesus said He was coming soon. "Soon" being a relative term, almost 2000 years later we are still waiting, but in light of an eternal God, 2000 years is not much time at all. Sadly even though this site never claimed the end of the world was going to happen or even that the rapture would happen, it still remains that a result of it was that it led to mockery of the whole idea, mockery of those of us who do eagerly wait for our Lord. It is a sad and undeserved consequence.
Sometimes I think our problem is that we get tunnel vision and sometimes we lose sight of the bigger picture. We focus so intently on prophecy that we don't focus on the other important work that God has for us to do. God wants us to live for Him, not just wait for Him. He wants us to engage in service to Him, by living among those who are lost and being a light that shines in this dark world. Trust me when I say, that I am not just saying this for the benefit of others, but am saying it as much for myself, because I too, often get tunnel vision. I was called to study prophecy and it is easy to get very wrapped up in it especially when I see world events setting the prophetic stage. Many believers especially those who are less mature are easily discouraged when things don't go as they thought they would or as they were told that they would and they can end up walking away from prophecy. Those of us who who recognize that events may not pan out as we think, and can move on when they don't, need to realize that for some folks it isn't as simple. This is why I speak words of caution when people say this or that will happen. We need to be careful especially for the sake of those less mature who grow discouraged and may turn away to wrong teachings or from the faith altogether as a result.
Please ...I don't mean to be critical of anyone here at all, I was enthusiastic about the celestial event too, it is what led me to this site. I also don't mean to disparage others who were disappointed by the lack of the rapture. I have been there myself before, it was a learning experience for me, and I have become more cautious about declaring dates, and if I do get excited about the possibility I keep it to myself. When we see what we believe is prophecy being fulfilled, I believe we absolutely should talk about it and share it with others. However we need to be overly cautious about what the implications are because the world is watching and we do not need to supply them with another excuse to mock us or our blessed hope.
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Post by yardstick on Oct 17, 2017 13:19:23 GMT -6
I see it too. Though I am not surprised.A big portion of those who recently joined were intrigued by the whole 9/23 celestial event and anticipating the rapture. I am not laying any blame to those who viewed these signs as significant prophetically and I know that the moderators went out of their way to make it clear that the sign did not necessarily mean the rapture would happen coincident with the sign. But....as I read posts it was clear that many folks were expecting it to happen. The "downtick" may be due to that disappointment factor, and not necessarily pride or offense. I saw this happen on another site I still frequent, many years ago now, they believed that certain events in the European Union were going to pan out to begin the 70th week, when it didn't happen a lot of folks moved on. When we focuses too narrowly on a subject that involves prophecy and a potential fulfillment, it draws people in like bees to pollen. But when the flowers fail to bloom, the bees fly off in search of others. Let's face it, as believers we are excited about the idea that we could soon meet our Savior, it's nothing new and in fact that is the way God wants us to live, eagerly awaiting His return for us. So when something as significant as this celestial event happens we all want to believe that it coincides with a fulfillment of prophecy. And I still do believe that the sign was significant and may still be a fulfillment of what John related to us in Revelation 12, however what that fulfillment might mean isn't clear, and how it might reflect on the rapture timing is also not clear. We need to remember that Jesus said He was coming soon. "Soon" being a relative term, almost 2000 years later we are still waiting, but in light of an eternal God, 2000 years is not much time at all. Sadly even though this site never claimed the end of the world was going to happen or even that the rapture would happen, it still remains that a result of it was that it led to mockery of the whole idea, mockery of those of us who do eagerly wait for our Lord. It is a sad and undeserved consequence. Sometimes I think our problem is that we get tunnel vision and sometimes we lose sight of the bigger picture. We focus so intently on prophecy that we don't focus on the other important work that God has for us to do. God wants us to live for Him, not just wait for Him. He wants us to engage in service to Him, by living among those who are lost and being a light that shines in this dark world. Trust me when I say, that I am not just saying this for the benefit of others, but am saying it as much for myself, because I too, often get tunnel vision. I was called to study prophecy and it is easy to get very wrapped up in it especially when I see world events setting the prophetic stage. Many believers especially those who are less mature are easily discouraged when things don't go as they thought they would or as they were told that they would and they can end up walking away from prophecy. Those of us who who recognize that events may not pan out as we think, and can move on when they don't, need to realize that for some folks it isn't as simple. This is why I speak words of caution when people say this or that will happen. We need to be careful especially for the sake of those less mature who grow discouraged and may turn away to wrong teachings or from the faith altogether as a result. Please ...I don't mean to be critical of anyone here at all, I was enthusiastic about the celestial event too, it is what led me to this site. I also don't mean to disparage others who were disappointed by the lack of the rapture. I have been there myself before, it was a learning experience for me, and I have become more cautious about declaring dates, and if I do get excited about the possibility I keep it to myself. When we see what we believe is prophecy being fulfilled, I believe we absolutely should talk about it and share it with others. However we need to be overly cautious about what the implications are because the world is watching and we do not need to supply them with another excuse to mock us or our blessed hope. No criticism taken, other than the constructive type! |
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Post by mike on Oct 17, 2017 13:23:46 GMT -6
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Post by Joecool on Oct 18, 2017 6:04:56 GMT -6
Awesome thread. I have noticed that although the world seems to be groaning with all the natural disasters, for the most part everyone is still carrying on like normal. Also has anyone else been getting more weary lately? Sometimes its a fight to keep the focus on Jesus, but when I do keep the focus I am happier even if my day goes off track. Sorry if this rambling I woke up 8 times in 7 hours last night, but Praise the Lord Yahweh gives rest to the weary. Psalm 4:8 "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety."
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