2016 Christian Random Thoughts

Fr Mike ROCKS!!!!

Can women pee in peace, alongside other women and men pee in peace alongside other men? Shower at the community pool or as part of physical education requirements with the same born-SEX? I mean, really!!!! sighhhh

Duly noted.

May 13
I Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (New King James Version)

I feel the need to add a bit of clarity to this verse. So often we use it to correct believers. In one sense, we can certainly take caution about being over confident in our ability to discern spiritual things. However the context in which this was written involves the children of Israel. They thought because they were in the right nation that God was "obligated" to bless them. You need to know that God has always been a personal God even though He has a national plan for Israel! Why do you think He still required each person to bring a sacrifice? You can never expect to walk in favor with God as part of a select group. The relationship you have with God is just that: a relationship! The children of Israel had priority with God, but they still needed to approach Him as individuals. They had to offer individual worship, individual praise, and individual allegiance. Think about it the same way you think of your own family. Although you have the same general standards when it comes to raising your children, you don't use a template. You have to know what works with each one and build unique intimacy and understanding.

Pastor S R Henderson

mz.rae said:

I decided on tonight I am no longer going to be throwing pity parties for myself. Time to get up and dust myself off to get back to work!! There is too much life to live to waste time wallowing in my failures. No more looking to the left or right, but now I will only look ahead in front of me. The Lord is my strength and with Him on my side I can accomplish anything!! I am ready to get back on my feet and claim what is rightfully mine!!!

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Don't let the enemy get you into the vicious cycle because it's just one of the many ways he slowly pulls us away form God and our God given mission. It's ok to look back and say oh well in hindsight I should've or could've done this or that and use it as a learning tool but don't get stuck and caught up in it.
God will always uses what's meant for your destruction and turn it around for good.

Deuteronomy 20:4

For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.

Deuteronomy 30:18

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Gen 50:20

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Isaiah 54:17

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. — Genesis 50:20 NASB

In God’s hands intended evil becomes eventual good. - MAX LUCADO

^^It's funny you posted that on the New AGe, I'm going to watch some of it. I was coming in just to say that the new Independence Day movie is based upon "fighting a g-d." ???? Nice try. SMH.

Lucia said:

It really bugs me that the lgbt movement rode the coattail so of racial civil rights to get where they are now. They should have done it on their own and most people stood npbepy and let it happen. Smh

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Yeah, just like #BlackLivesMatter smh. It's truly racist to do that type of thing. They will never admit to it, though. And our church has nothing but compassion for them. Recognizing that the ACT of homosexuality is the sin, we don't condemn them as sinful for being of the persuasion because we recognize that we don't have all the psychological/biological (chemical) answers and remain prayerful and open to the leading of the H-ly Spirit concerning it. Most everybody desires sex but unless you do it outside marriage, you haven't committed it yet. Of course, homosexuality is a very disordered state outside the purpose of creation, existing from the fall of man. Well, we also have diseases and earthquakes as well. Shrugs. We require compassion and not condemnation but likewise, the faithful are to gird themselves against committing the act to celibacy. It's a difficult cross to bear. Sex outside marriage is wrong, period and marriage is between a man and a woman. Everything else is counterfeit.

kanozas said:

Yeah, just like #BlackLivesMatter smh. It's truly racist to do that type of thing. They will never admit to it, though. And our church has nothing but compassion for them.

Recognizing that the ACT of homosexuality is the sin, we don't condemn them as sinful for being of the persuasion because we recognize that we don't have all the psychological/biological (chemical) answers and remain prayerful and open to the leading of the H-ly Spirit concerning it.

Most everybody desires sex but unless you do it outside marriage, you haven't committed it yet. Of course, homosexuality is a very disordered state outside the purpose of creation, existing from the fall of man. Well, we also have diseases and earthquakes as well. Shrugs. We require compassion and not condemnation but likewise, the faithful are to gird themselves against committing the act to celibacy. It's a difficult cross to bear. Sex outside marriage is wrong, period and marriage is between a man and a woman. Everything else is counterfeit.

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Hi @kanozas and to all of those reading...

It is imperative to weigh in on this statement (bolded above). God's Word -- The Bible is quite clear that not only is the 'ACT' of homosexuality sin, but even the thought of it. God is very clear about the thoughts of man, as sin starts in the mind and then becomes manifested into the act of it.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Psalm 66:18)

For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:21-22)

Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)

The Bible is clear that...'whatsoever a man 'thinketh' so is he." If a person 'thinks' they are gay, eventually they will 'live' it and not seek deliverance from it. For one to say that there is no psychological/biological (chemical) answer(s) is a lie straight from hell. There is an answer, it's sin...period. The statement above is very dangerous to one's soul, as it is the devil's deception of giving 'approval' to it, to keep one in bondage and it actually gives way to one having 'permission' to be a part of that lifestyle. Therefore, this concept is not from God. It never was, nor shall it ever be. The Truth is that it is not 'okay' to be gay. not even in thought. One has to know that it is sin and will always be sin, and that God does not approve of it, nor it's thoughts.

homosexuality is not an entitlement which is how it is being exalted. It was not eliminated from the Cross. It is not exempt from redemption. It is a sin that was indeed nailed to the Cross along with every other sin. Therefore, it is not true, that it is acceptable to be gay just as long as one is physically abstinent. One has to accept it as sin and to accept the redemption from it that Jesus so lovingly paid for...in Full.

I've shared this with compassion.

To God be the Glory... Amen.

Shimmie said:

Hi @kanozas and to all of those reading...

It is imperative to weigh in on this statement (bolded above). God's Word -- The Bible is quite clear that not only is the 'ACT' of homosexuality sin, but even the thought of it. God is very clear about the thoughts of man, as sin starts in the mind and then becomes manifested into the act of it.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Psalm 66:18)

For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:21-22)

Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)

The Bible is clear that...'whatsoever a man 'thinketh' so is he." If a person 'thinks' they are gay, eventually they will 'live' it and not seek deliverance from it. For one to say that there is no psychological/biological (chemical) answer(s) is a lie straight from hell. There is an answer, it's sin...period. The statement above is very dangerous to one's soul, as it is the devil's deception of giving 'approval' to it, to keep one in bondage and it actually gives way to one having 'permission' to be a part of that lifestyle. Therefore, this concept is not from God. It never was, nor shall it ever be. The Truth is that it is not 'okay' to be gay. not even in thought. One has to know that it is sin and will always be sin, and that God does not approve of it, nor it's thoughts.

homosexuality is not an entitlement which is how it is being exalted. It was not eliminated from the Cross. It is not exempt from redemption. It is a sin that was indeed nailed to the Cross along with every other sin. Therefore, it is not true, that it is acceptable to be gay just as long as one is physically abstinent. One has to accept it as sin and to accept the redemption from it that Jesus so lovingly paid for...in Full.

I've shared this with compassion.

To God be the Glory... Amen.

Click to expand...

Shimmie, you speak Biblical truth!

Thanks for this.

.......................................................................................................

kanozas said:

@Shimmie

It's what our Church teaches and it is what I trust being that it is what is taught and why I say this in a catholic thread. Lusting is one thing and a specific thing. But if a thought crosses the mind that you want to rob because you lack money, you are not guilty of robbery until you do it. One can be of the nature of a musician and another not. One person can be born of the sensual nature and another frigid (ex. for marriage). Where is the condemnation until they sin, either mind or body? I think there is a very fine thread of difference between that persuasion and lusting, not being of that persuasion and acting it out...that is a chasm of distance and difference. As a catholic, this is what is in our catechism and I'm standing by it. It is a disordered nature, brought on by the fall of man. I stand firmly in the catholic faith. I am never going to condemn someone to hell because they have that imbalance. If I were, what about serial baby mommas? Abortionists (uually, people don't just have one), serial thieves and other types of fornicators? Yes, the action is the grave sin and error. Based upon the sacrament of reconciliation, it is what you commit. If you entertain thoughts (probably, to a masturbatory level), then you have most likely sinned.

Our catechism on the issue:

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm

Offences against chastity
2351 Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes.

2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."138 "The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved."139

To form an equitable judgment about the subjects' moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.

Chastity and homosexuality

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection. ​

This is why I, as a catholic, stress that it is the act and I am providing proof as to where I'm getting it What about those on this board who masturbate? Did they know it is disordered and removes salvific grace if they are aware it is grave sin? What if the hormones makes them want to do it, that is a condition of mindset, they desire to do it. Are they guilty until they do it? No. And I'd like to say that there are those who think I'm promoting homosexuality. Well, I'm not. It surely is a sore spot in this culture, though, and I attribute prejudice to that. We are to have compassion for them....for all. This issue is no different than catholic devotion to Our Blessed Mother, which I will not change because it is not understood by others. With everything, prayer and supplication.

Being in this forum means that my expression of my faith will remain faithful to the Magisterium and I won't change up something to placate another denominational viewpoint. I give this respectfully. You know I am grateful to you for dousing many fires in the CF.
I hope it is understood that I realize you and I do not see eye-to-eye with this. This is the way to disagree with each other, lladies, with respect. And Shimmie has always shown it in a very gracious manner.

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Thank you for sharing the information above. It is quite stirring. I also thank you for acknowledging that it is your 'Church's doctrine'' for this makes it clear that it is a theory from 'man' and not from God's perspective. You've also helped to make something else quite clear by putting strong emphasis on the words 'homosexual ACTS'. This clearly shows that homosexuality is not inborn, it is not a mystery, it is not exempt from redemption. These acts are manifested by what began in one's mind which takes us back to the scripture where sin is conceived in the mind...first...then the 'actual act' itself.

Again, the doctrine above is not showing deliverance but a suppression and protection of those which dangerously give way to 'acting' upon those thoughts of homosexual engagement. The Word of God tell us to give no place to the devil... no place. When sin is not acknowledged, it is giving a sure place to the devil. Period. The Church theory above has not made any mention of God's deliverance for the sin of homosexuality. This can only serve as spiritual entrapment for one who is struggling with this sin.

As for masturbation, I haven't seen anyone in our Christian forum defending it. Sooooooooooo, why is it being mentioned? Sin is sin. The Cross included that too.

This gay theory is very dangerous which is why it has to be addressed.

Thanks again for posting it for as I shared above, it shows all the more that it is 'man's theory and not God's.

kanozas said:

But I'm not defending homosexuality....I'm giving explanation based upon our catechism how we are to see it and deal with it. M. has been discussed before. Defending is something different. Being mentioned as examples of real world human problems. Our catechism covers everything, from A to Z, so we know how to live. Of course, it's based upon scripture and holy tradition (that which Jesus taught the disciples and revealed throughout time from the H-ly Spirit). They should not be things we are afraid to talk about and they do put this whole thing on human sexuality in perspective.

One never knows who in lurkdom is appreciative that these issues are covered and discussed. It's not dirty, it's life to talk about it so as to avoid it and why.

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At the bolded: You are absolutely correct which is another reason, I had to make it clear so that anyone lurking would not have the wrong concept.

Also, I've moved our conversation to the Christian Random Thoughts.

Shimmie said:

At the bolded: You are absolutely correct which is another reason, I had to make it clear so that anyone lurking would not have the wrong concept.

Also, I've moved our conversation to the Christian Random Thoughts.

Click to expand...

Ok, I understand you moving it but I won't further participate as a faithful catholic. I cannot bring myself under your umbrella of understanding of scripture and the Church. I can only give catholic responses to the said topic. In order to respect the viewpoints of the other ladies who are not catholic, I usually refrain from such topics in the general CF because of these distinctions in theology. Basically, if one studies the catechism, I do not get how one would arrive at that conclusion about protecting the sin. This is not an argument and I hope you don't see it as such but my obedience is under Christ, in his Church, and not to anyone else.

Feeling great!!! This past Sunday's message was exactly what I needed!! Ready for the week! Hallelujah!

I want to encourage our Non-Catholic Christian Members to PLEASE continue to post your threads / messages of encouragement in our Christian Forum.

Continue to share the beautiful gift of God's love that lives and grows within you... share it to keep our faith going strong.

"Don't ignore your gift..."

"Iron Sharpens Iron..."

Please be encouraged and please continue to share what God has given to you.

mz.rae said:

Feeling great!!! This past Sunday's message was exactly what I needed!! Ready for the week! Hallelujah!

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@mz.rae....

This is a wonderful Testimony. Please continue to share your heart. You are beautiful and very encouraging. Your 'struggles' have become your 'Victories'.

I feel lost. I love worship service at my church but, I am not able to attend my bible study group meetings most times. I need to be around others trying to walk the same spiritual path.

Shimmie said:

@mz.rae....

This is a wonderful Testimony. Please continue to share your heart. You are beautiful and very encouraging. Your 'struggles' have become your 'Victories'.

Click to expand...

Thank you so much Shimmie!!! I'm just learning as I grow!

I'm not sure what happened but for those who celebrate it, today is Corpus Christi, when we celebrate the holy eucharist - the body and blood of Christ.

I won't be going to a procession but I'll do my own observations at home.

@Shimmie

Here's more info on homosexual issue
This is a very tricky subject for all Chrsitians.

End of article

The modern arguments in favor of homosexuality have thus been insufficient to overcome the evidence that homosexual behavior is against divine and natural law, as the Bible and the Church, as well as the wider circle of Jewish and Christian (not to mention Muslim) writers, have always held.

The Catholic Church thus teaches: "Basing itself on sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2357).

However, the Church also acknowledges that "[homosexuality’s] psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. . . . The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s cross the difficulties that they may encounter from their condition.

"Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection" (CCC 2357– 2359).

Paul comfortingly reminds us, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

Homosexuals who want to live chastely can contact Courage, a national, Church-approved support group for help in deliverance from the homosexual lifestyle.

Courage,
Church of St. John the Baptist
210 W. 31st St., New York, NY 10001

(212) 268–1010
Web: http://couragerc.net


Full article here these scholars are better versed in this topic than I am.

http://www.catholic.com/tracts/homosexuality

At bolded just want to add that in no way does the Catholic Church or the CCC say it's OK to be gay.

It is acknowledging that like a thief will be tempted to steal more than someone who is not a theif, a fornicator tempted more to have relations outside of marriage to fall into that sin, so will a person with homosexual tendencies be tempted more than a heterosexual person to fall into this sin. The devil knows our weaknesses and always uses them against us. Now only God knows what's in our hearts and minds and He judges not us.
But someone must know the truth if they are to ever seek God and healing if He wills it. Not everyone is quickly delivered from things. It is that way so they can serve as a testimony on how to live righteously even while having to bear a heavy cross.

But these people (as well as all of us ) can have redemption through Christ. But in the meantime while they are "waiting" to be delivered from it (i.e. attaining Christian perfection) they should strive to abstain from their sin and get closer to God and further from their inclination, by trying to live a rightly ordered life, through prayer fasting having an a Preist, family and friends, parish and or deliverance group to pray for them, sacraments etc. then it is Gods will if they will be delivered or not.

We are called to have compassion treat them with respect and dignity that is due to all human beings.

Also to aid and assist the best we can because It is not an easy cross to bear and the CCC gives a clear statement on how homosexuals should conduct themselves before God delivers them if it is Gods will, and how they should be treated.

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm

I'm sharing this awesome info!

SermonIndex Fellowship Gatherings (June-August 2016)

Saints,

The main goal and vision of the meeting is to encourage believers in North America to connect, meet and gather in house church small gatherings. As part of this intention many house church leaders and house church networks have shown interest to participate. We also see this as a time of unity and a place where the Holy Spirit can connect us as fellow believers. We desire this to be a time of encouragement and equipping, and a place where believers can meet and learn more of what it is to be a part of the vibrant witness and fellowship of house churches around the world.

Anyone is invited to the gathering time and they do not have to be meeting in a house church. We pray it can be a time to encourage believers to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ (James 1:22).

Note: SermonIndex is endorsing these events as good places to go to connect with like-minded believers, find fellowship to start meeting, start prayer gatherings, small house meetings etc. We encourage saints to attend these meetings in replacement of the annual SermonIndex events.

“Around the world there is a movement that some estimate of over 1 million new house Churches in the last 40 years! God is doing a new thing.”


“Christianity was birthed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and will only continue as we have this empowering from above. God is always looking for the willing vessels that will trust Him afresh for the impossible.” from the Principles free ebook: http://housechurchbook.weebly.com

--
From June to August of 2016 there will be (God willing) 10 regional meetings:

1. June 4th - Lancaster, PA
View Brochure with details: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7438118/gf1-lancaster.pdf?raw=1

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OLATHE, KS, 66061

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....the remaining info:

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Organized by

Shimmie said:

Hi @kanozas and to all of those reading...

It is imperative to weigh in on this statement (bolded above). God's Word -- The Bible is quite clear that not only is the 'ACT' of homosexuality sin, but even the thought of it. God is very clear about the thoughts of man, as sin starts in the mind and then becomes manifested into the act of it.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Psalm 66:18)

For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:21-22)

Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)

The Bible is clear that...'whatsoever a man 'thinketh' so is he." If a person 'thinks' they are gay, eventually they will 'live' it and not seek deliverance from it. For one to say that there is no psychological/biological (chemical) answer(s) is a lie straight from hell. There is an answer, it's sin...period. The statement above is very dangerous to one's soul, as it is the devil's deception of giving 'approval' to it, to keep one in bondage and it actually gives way to one having 'permission' to be a part of that lifestyle. Therefore, this concept is not from God. It never was, nor shall it ever be. The Truth is that it is not 'okay' to be gay. not even in thought. One has to know that it is sin and will always be sin, and that God does not approve of it, nor it's thoughts.

homosexuality is not an entitlement which is how it is being exalted. It was not eliminated from the Cross. It is not exempt from redemption. It is a sin that was indeed nailed to the Cross along with every other sin. Therefore, it is not true, that it is acceptable to be gay just as long as one is physically abstinent. One has to accept it as sin and to accept the redemption from it that Jesus so lovingly paid for...in Full.

I've shared this with compassion.

To God be the Glory... Amen.

Click to expand...

Amen and Amen to all this @Shimmie. I couldn't have said it any better. Besides anyone who says that they 'feel' they were born gay, I say to them,

"Well we were all born and shaped in iniquity and you are no different, but Jesus declared that we must all be born again, that there is another birth we must attain through Him. That old nature we were born with must die when we accept the new birth. They cannot take up residence in the same body."

"We must die to the deeds of the flesh to obtain Christ and a new life in Him if we want to be with Him throughout this life and all of eternity. It is described as denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following hard after Christ Jesus."

My soul hurts deeply for the lost and those that are deep in the deception of satan, so deep that they have taken the time to rationalize their evil ways so that it sounds acceptable to them.

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, there is a way that seems right to a man but at the end, there is only death and destruction of his soul. Choose Jesus' way of thinking (biblical view), not the world's (secular view). Don't allow yourselves to get caught up in secular thinking. It is a lie from the devil.

Always love it when things easily fall into place in life when I don't worry. 1 Peter 5:6-7

“ Worry is like a rocking chair—it's always in motion but it never gets you anywhere. ”

When God descends his peace on my mind.......what a wonderful feeling.

I tend to let the little things get to me.

For the past couple of months I have been thinking about Sabbath keeping. What it means and what it entails. There was a time a few years ago when I tried to observe the Sabbath I visited two different SDA churches, and then started visiting a church that is Hebrew Pentecostal. At the time those were the only two Sabbath keeping denominations in my city, but now a non denominational Sabbath keeping church started up a few months ago and I am interested in visiting it. I also plan on revisiting the SDA churches I went to a few years ago.

June 4

Luke 2:25 5 And lo, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [is] Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him (YLT)*

If I were to ask you which word in this verse says the most to you, many would say righteous, devout, Messiah, maybe rescue, or even eager. Guess which word in this verse means the most to me? WAITING! It would startle you to know how much of life is spent waiting. In Simeon's case, he was told by the Holy Spirit that wouldn't die until he saw the Christ. He had a great sense of anticipation. You think he waited a long time? In this same chapter the prophetess Anna served God daily as a widow with prayers and fastings in the temple for 84 years! She also confirmed the words Simeon spoke to Joseph and Mary concerning Jesus. I can't speak for you but I am currently waiting for God to do a specific work. It isn't easy to wait. It seems like a tragedy to be waiting when you see so many areas where you could be working! After all, doesn't God know I'm not getting any younger? Let me encourage you and me. God knows everything there is to know about our waiting. He also knows the "why." When God continues to wait, it must be because we will need aged wisdom more than we will need youthful zeal!

Pastor S R Henderson