_________________
Diane

First - just a note - MeAgain... thanks for your invitation on the previous screen page to correct the attribution of my quote. It is now done. :-)

Hi Dorcas and Diane,

The reason I posted 'at all' on both of your threads, is because I trusted you both when I was here last.
I made sure to even say good-bye personally, when having the ISP pull the plug, so please don't feel offensed by anything I've written now on your 3 threads (1 was Dorcas').

If I didn't feel that kinship with you both back then and wasn't "happy to see you both still here", when I first came back on, I wouldn't have posted to any of the threads, because I can't do big debates with what physical stuff I'm blessed with. :-)
Only if God gave me strength and the urging of a lifetime would I even attempt that.

RonB answered well on page one here and the reason I wouldn't have said that 'quote' that was mistaken as mine, is because as I understand and wrote on page 2, we 'do' or 'act' first, then God blesses.

The more we step out on faith to "do what He commands" (WWJD) the more we are fulfilling or obeying "His Words" and that is when we have Fruit and grow ... no other way according to the N.T..

That's why I like to post Scripture and can show that what I just now said is 100% Bible.

We "[u]walk[/u] by faith" and "[u]walk[/u] in the spirit" and we must be "Doers" of the Word and not just hearers .... there is no other way to Grow ... and I could post another large post of Scripture to prove that again with as many as the Love Verses I gave, but I know that you all have your own Bibles and could do it yourselves.

I really do love you and have always considered the both of you as friends. You knew what I was going through, last time I was on with the M.E. and all and gave me understanding and kindness.

But there is nothing at all wrong with WWJD ?
If used properly, we can ONLY learn about Him through His Word ... and we are told to model Him ... so that means "take pause and think what He would have done or would be doing and do it".

Paul even said for folks to model himself... "follow me "as" I follow Christ."

To be "SELF-Less" is the goal {"His Image"}. That's what He was. Just a Doer of the Word.

Jam 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glassJam 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jam 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

I tried to explain it on the other thread yesterday and I think this one too.

God "is" Love. He does not just love or is loving, but He IS love, so we can only define Love by His 'actions'.... because Love is an action/verb, just as is faith, hope, mercy, kindness, patience and all that He "is"... those are HIM and not just "virtues".

Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jam 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

He blesses the sincere asking and doing WWJD ?
His Ears perk up when He hears that asked from a sincere searching heart, who seeks His Word first with the desire to "do".

Bless ya's and I am happy to see you both.
Love.
Annie

Dear Annie,

Thank you for your warmth, when I know you are feeling anything but well. I appreciate the posts you've made.... let me say more....

One thing I've noticed on SI, is, if one reads enough threads, the Holy Spirit is moving through all of us, as He would in a church meeting (where each person is free to speak what the Lord gives them there and then); if one has the brain for it - which I do now, but didn't used to - or, maybe because I've been in that sort of church meeting, I can 'visualise' the 3D of it - one finds the same theme coming through.

In this case, it is the theme of love, and how is it defined. One person has posted scripture and refuted that what we do matters less than what we believe - which, Annie, is exactly what you are saying; you are saying just get out there and DO love - that's being a doer of the word.

This is echoed in Frank's thread on dying for God - the need to take the knife to our own idols and slay them, so we are free to obey His will - that is, to be doers of His word.

Probably, there are other places where this thought is coming through...... I know I've posted, recently, about 'those who do the Father's will' and 'those who hear His word and keep it'..... Also, that the person who hears the word and builds his house on it, is building on THE ROCK.

The more these thoughts are presented, the more I see it is but one single thought. Yesterday, I was arrested by Luke's amazing quotation from Jesus, where He has just told the Pharisees they are too bothered about the outside of the cup.

(YLT) Luke 11
37 And in [his] speaking, a certain Pharisee was asking him that he might dine with him, and having gone in, he reclined (at meat),
38 and the Pharisee having seen, did wonder that he did not first baptize himself before the dinner.
39 And the Lord said unto him, `Now do ye, the Pharisees, the outside of the cup and of the plate make clean, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness;
40 unthinking! did not He who made the outside also the inside make?
41 [b]But what ye have give ye [as] alms, and, lo, all things are clean to you[/b].

As I read v 41, I was amazed at this connection - GIVE ALMS [u]and all things are [b]clean[/b] unto you[/u].

Reminds me of 'Now you are clean through the word I have spoken unto you.' (John 15:3)

Isn't this what you're talking about... that [u]doing[/u] 'the word' is THE ONLY WAY we can be justified..... the only way we can be [i]believed[/i] to have 'faith' - and therefore [i][b]love[/b][/i].

(KJV) Galatians 5:6, 13

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; [b]but faith which worketh by love[/b].

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, [b]but by love [u]serve one another[/u][/b].

Annie, I'm sure you know this.... but it was good for me to 'see' it too. Thank you for your ministry. Be encouraged.... you're getting through...... :-P

Dear Annie,
Welcome back. I remember that we have some delightful private messaging back and forth before you left, sharing some of our experiences with M E, and mutual understanding about life. I think once I called you GrannieApple by mistake instead of GrannieAnnie (not sure if that is was a residual effect of M E, but it makes a good excuse)

There is something that is speaking to me through our dialogues here: While it is good to share Scripture as much as possible, and discuss Biblical terms, that doesn't always help us see each other as real people.

I wonder if that's why I get comments from time to time for using too much Scripture in my articles (on my site). It seems that most would rather just hear a point spoken with a very few words, or an illustration about life. I've also discovered that most would prefer to get to know me as a real person rather than as a theological mouthpiece. I need to learn to be sensitive to people where they are at... As has been said, It's not what you know that counts....

I plan to share some experiences on the Mercy thread, because they fit better there.

But just for now, I can say, that even though I have not always been able to understand where you are coming from or where you are trying to go, I do really love you, and value you as a fellow pilgrim on this disorderly walk of life.
Diane

_________________
Diane

Dorcas said,

_________________
Diane

Hia Diane, I wonder if Paul was concerned about folks getting to know him as a real person or just that he taught the Scriptures or Truth.

For some reason, the verses about the tree that bears fruit and the one that doesn't keeps going through my mind all since last week.
And how Gal. talks about the "Fruit" of The Spirit {singular} and not the "fruits". Makes sense in that it all centers on the one and only Image of Christ Himself. Glory !!!


I'm happy to be seeing many still here and I certainly have noticed also some new Fruit that God has led to post here. Neat !!!

Happy to see you as always Dorcas.

Walk in the Light.
Love y'all both.
Annie

Annie said,

_________________
Diane

Hia Diane,
I see ya got the verse from Galations well enough and what I meant there.

But the translation of 1Th 2:8 is off some, because of the version you're using.

1Th 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were [u]willing[/u] to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

If ya have e-sword or something, that would help.
The many-many commentaries on this one verse alone would tell ya, they were saying that they were "willing to even give up their lives" for the Thessalonians.

The dying to self message is so strong through-out the N.T., that there isn't a verse around that would contradict that teaching.

But when Paul said, "he becomes all things, to all men" ... that would be the love, that one would show in a Secular circle to win the loss, but without actually "sinning" for them.

TTYL
Love
Annie