Hello Manofprayer777 (Craig)
God bless you this day.
Blessed news about restored relationship with your Mom. Hallelujah! Jesus is Good...all the time. Amen!
That is truly fantastic, Craig. God loves you both so very much.
Before I try to answer some of the questions you asked/posted over the weekend, I want to correct something I posted in my very first response to you. I had a typo in my first response where I said I had been a member at this site for 20 years. That is incorrect, and I'm going to edit my post after I finish this post. I actually joined this site in October 2005, so it's been 14+ years. My intension was to type 10+ years. After re-reading all our posts, I discovered my error.
On the topic of killing, murder, etc., golly...that's a tough question. I know God is our defender. I also know that according to the laws of the land, we have a right to defend ourselves and others for that matter. However, just as with so many other things in this life, often God's law and the law of the land differ. I cannot offer up any scriptures that specifically excuse the taking of a human life whether it was due to murder or an act of defense. I trust the blood of Jesus to cover our all sins, but I wouldn't deliberately commit a sin using God's grace as a get out of jail free pass. I think it is a matter of heart...the intent of the heart and mind of the person who commits the act. God knows our hearts and our every thought and intention that we may or may not act on.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.Blessed Word of God. I'll try to share some of my thoughts about this. We live in a sin-fallen world. Our salvation in Christ guarantees us an eternity...eternal life. We still have to get through this temporary life here on earth. We have the assurance of God and His Word that whatever we go through here on earth, that He has us securely in His heart and hand.
I don't think it means we will never have to deal with hurt, pain or victimization here on earth in this portion of life. I can rest easy though knowing God is with me through whatever I'm going through -- be it pleasant or unpleasant. Satan knows his time is running short, and his evil intent is to try and separate us from The Lord...to try and convince us that there is no hope. That is where our faith comes in...
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Notice the words hope and hoped.
Also, let us not forget that one of the fruits of The Holy Spirit is
faith.
Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.The Holy Spirit indwells us and we need only talk to Him to access all that blessed fruit and dine on The Word of God.
Here is a good Word to dine on:
John 10:27-29 King James Version (KJV)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.I hope I've addressed some of your questions. Have a blessed day, Craig. Jesus loves you.
God bless and keep you,
Mack