going through the many called few chosen steps . . .

[comfy]

But, what you have to know is that this man is a very wise man in the Word and he loves the Lord...yet at times he allows himself to fall into prideful situations.

Ok, so a person can get dumpy, even though he is wise and loves God. We can get so busy with things we are doing, and get our attention too much into what we are doing, and our struggling, maybe, and interacting with people . . . so we are not staying attentive to the LORD and staying in His flow; and then we are weak enough to get taken down by a degrading spirit. Jesus says, "'He who loves his life will lose it," in John 12:25 > I think we can get dumpy when we get concerned about how we want things in our lives > we can "lose it", emotionally. So, a president maybe can get into what he wants to achieve, how he wants to control . . . is there the success he wants?

Talking about looking for success > in our church, I suspect we could be looking too much at "results" that ones are saying will show by numbers of new Christians showing in our ministry. But this can't come unless we grow in love enough to sustain new converts, by being strong members of them, in the Body of Jesus. The members already present need to grow strong enough to have new converts be able to attach to them . . . to us. And this includes we need to be submitting to God and guided by Him personally, so this can be spreading . . . ministering to new babies in Jesus. What is in us is spreading to make others the same way. So, unless this is happening, no new ways of doing things is going to work, really.

So . . . the president may get away from the Holy Spirit, by getting busy with business without making sure he stays prayerful and submissive. And then he can be weak enough to get caught in dumpy stuff brought in by the wrong spirit. So, we always need to be watchful, not just worrying about a wrong thing coming to get us, but watching for how You, LORD, have us becoming and have us sharing and moving with You, please . . .

[mlg]

So very true comfy...thank you for those reminders.

luv ya

[comfy]

It looks like I'm still in Step 5. In the lesson, we have >

"when you're called by the Lord, nothing is impossible."

"your own talents are not a concern", meaning, I think, that it doesn't matter what we now have for human talents > God will have us with greater capabilities than what are human. I'd say I got D's in junior high school so the teacher wouldn't have to deal with me again. Then in senior high I had a choice of taking music > bye-bye music, plus I never listened to music; so I grew up not bonding with any kind of music. So . . . I'm at my mother's, twindling with the piano > she says never do that when anyone is in the house. So . . . alone, I'm plunking keys. And it comes to me, something like, "Just play and be beautiful in your spirit - - - in 'the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God' (in 1 Peter 3:4 written to women), and you will see what happens to the music." And after years . . . ones say they like what I play, but no one can identify the composer or the style I note how it says this beauty is "incorruptible"; and Jesus says we are "the salt of the earth", in Matthew 5:13 > well . . .

In this evil world . . .
yes, we can be in quite a stew >
things can get pretty hot,
so that people of
this world's character will
become more and more
soft and mushy; but - - -
you can't overcook salt

Ah . . . I have been through this Step Five, already; I just didn't recognize it, this time.

To http://www.christianityoasis.com/ManyCa ... tepSix.htm we go >

Ok . . . so You are the One who chooses who You ordain, and for what.

Once I got a word, possibly, that I am a pastor. But I'm not even married, and we have 1 Timothy 3:1-10 about what qualifies a man to be just *considered* to be trusted to "take care of the church of God." And > > go through seminary, with my reading speed > > maybe five times slower than a usual college student. Think of me reading what you can read in an hour > five hours, for me. If a seminary gives me an evening of reading to do > from maybe six to eleven > fives hours for you . . . fifteen hours for me Fun. And I've heard of a seminary with a rule that you must turn off the lights at eleven What a miracle to be reading my books and notes while I sleep with my eyes closed

But studying the Bible, by actually experiencing what it is talking about . . . can work better. Seminary in real life. And God sharing Himself with me so I see how He is in love . . . kind of makes it clear how He means for me also to be in love while doing what His word says to be pleasing to Him and loving of all people. There are things words can't tell, that can make His word very clear.

So . . . to be told I'm a pastor, and shown the basic quals of a pastor . . . and I'm not qualified . . . I "like" how God works > keep it challenging, keep it interesting > and I can simply submit to You and see what You actually do with me, as Your meaning of whatsoever You say to me. You bring me to better than I could have understood Your word to mean >

"to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19)

And right now . . . I seem to have been getting better about just saying no to and rebuking immoral feelings and stuff when they get started in me, and the paranoid and criticizing stuff > I'm like not buying into how that stuff can feel so convincing. And, with this, I am finding I am so better for praying for people and caring first about ones I think of who are a temptation or real or imagined paranoid problems etc. And it's better with the LORD. So, I'm seeing, that it's not really so important to know what I'm called to do, but it really helps just to get clear of nasty and sinful-pleasure stuff so I am with God, instead, so I can discover at each moment all You wish to share and do with me . . . and with *us* as one in the Body of Christ > I am not alone, just with my own self as an issue, but we are together, all as one. Loving, caring, sharing with You while in this loving and caring together with hope for anyone else to also get clear of any wrong stuff degrading, and getting with You in Your love so unbelievably beautifully wonderful in pleasant peace having Heaven's goodness and rest with power against nasty and seducing stuff of Satan. So, the main thing is to get with You, so we can discover doing what is better than what we thought You want us to do . . . all the time > even practically, I have been finding You have me doing better than I might have been thinking, even moments before

So . . . rest and ride, in how He guides, and abide and enjoy. Please make me humble, not just showing off words and knowledge and counsel; so I can stay with You and all these ones who are obeying You in Your peace . . .

http://www.christianityoasis.com/ManyCa ... pSeven.htm > > >

[mlg]

Wow comfy your last words touched me....the part where you said please make me humble..not just showing off words. I think we all can relate to wanting that. That it's easier said than done kinda thing. We all have shortcomings, and yes we might can tell others what they need to do, and even tell ourselves, but putting it into action is when we face the real test of where exactly we are putting our Lord in our walk.

Keep working on the study comfy.

luv ya

[comfy]

Step seven > "THE HOLY SPIRIT" >

if we listen, we can hear the tender voice of the Holy Spirit.

Gifts are not for me to use to build up my own reputation.

http://www.christianityoasis.com/ManyCa ... pEight.htm >

[mlg]

AMEN!!

luv ya

[comfy]

Here we are > step eight > "SPIRITUAL GIFTS" > what are my spiritual gifts? Well, a truly Holy Spirit gift is what I can act in only if and when the Holy Spirit wants to have me operating in this gift. So, I of myself can not control it . . . start it operating . . . etc. But I may have a special gift, and then try to copy-cat it at others times when the Holy Spirit isn't operating it . . . maybe because I enjoyed getting the attention and praise I got while doing something so well, and maybe because I'd like to do what it does, more often. Or, I can be imitating other people's gifts and positions. So, I need to make sure I am really always doing what the Holy Spirit has me doing.

My spiritual gifts help me find out how to love. They are humble. Not for status but because I so need them.

But > I can be wishing to have a certain gift of function in the church. Or be wishing my gift will do something God does not want. So, a gift can be telling me not to go a certain way . . . calling me back to being prayerful and submissive to God so I can do what the gift is for. This can teach me to do better at making sure I am always in the leading of the Holy Spirit. So, the gift can also help me learn how to be led all the time with the Holy Spirit.

Ones can seem like they are saying we should find out what our gifts are so we will know what we are supposed to be doing for the LORD. But there is the risk of not understanding what your gifts really are, and then limiting yourself to what you and others are mistaken to think your gifts are. So, it doesn't hurt to keep checking to make sure with God about what You want, LORD Or we can limit things with our own present understanding of what our gifts are, maybe be copy-catting what others are doing, who are supposed to have the gift we think we have.

Also . . . as we grow in Jesus, we grow in His love which has *all* His capabilities and gifts. So, by growing in His love, we grow in how Jesus Himself is, who has all capability (Galatians 4:19). But these capabilities of love's growth are not good and perfect like our perfect gifts (James 1:17) are, but we have them all at the level we are in our growth and development, more and more. Not to mention, how ones with gifts minister the grace of these gifts (1 Peter 4:9-10) . . . so we all also have the grace of each gift, but for how we in our own personal and unique lives will need these gifts' grace abilities. So, as we grow in Christ, we gain more and more abilities, according to the level of our growth in God's all-capable love. And the good and perfect gifts we have will be able to work through us in more and more mature ways as we grow You might have noticed how ones with gifts can be limited while not mature, but then can be used in more and more significant and mature ways as they develop > their gifts, then, can be ministering the gifts' grace to the people themselves who are operating in these gifts, to make them themselves more and more perfect in love like their gifts are > a gift can work with me at my present level, then bring me up.

Example > if I have the teaching gift > at first, I may be able to give good teachings of information and explanation and insight and perspective. But then I grow and get experience in loving, and so the teaching gift may then use me and my experience for illustrating and demonstrating what the Bible means about how to love. I might have used Jesus' parables, at first, then I can use my actual real-life experiences for teaching what God's word means. And the teaching gift, then, is more about teaching me how to love, versus only teaching ideas about what God's word means. When people do not accept what I teach, for example, this is when my teaching gift can deal with me about how to love ones who reject me so I learn how to love better . . . thanks to my teaching gift doing this with *me*.

And we have "but, speaking the truth in love, may
.
. . . . . . . . . . .grow up in all things into Him

who is the Head---Christ---"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Ephesians 4:15)

So . . . in all things, it clearly does say, we in Jesus are growing up. Jesus growing in us has all the capabilities of love.

[mlg]

Comfy, I believe our gifts evolve as we evolve in becoming close to the Holy Spirit, and knowing Him. See if we reach within to find Him, in situations where gifts are needed, He will give us the gifts that we need, and He will also use those gifts for His glory. But....we have to be walking in Him for this to happen. As you said if we are trying to use our gifts for self edification...uh uh no go...cuz we are shaming God.

Gifts also allow us to reach out to others in our calling. For example as you discussed if we have a gift of teaching, we should use this gift to teach others about God and His love. Idle gifts are no use to God...and if we don't use them for Him, He just might decide we don't need those gifts after all....sorta like use them or loose them.

So gifts are from God, for God's glory, and He wants us to allow Him to use them through us.

luv ya

[comfy]

http://www.christianityoasis.com/Keywor ... Wisdom.htm

"SPIRIT OF WISDOM" > "And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore." (1 Kings 4:29)

"like the sand on the seashore" it says was Solomon's "largeness of heart" > earlier, God had told Abraham that his descendents would be "as the sand which is on the seashore", in Genesis 22:17.

I see a connection > the descendents of Abraham are as the sand of the seashore; so God gave Solomon largeness of heart big enough with wisdom for loving people so numerous as the sand of the seashore. Each individual grain of sand is unique . . . not all alike; so the wisdom for personally loving all these people > one grain of wisdom won't be enough Because people aren't clones, all alike like Satan's kingdom tries to make all people be the same.

The lesson says,

. . . . . . "So WHY did God give Solomon this Wisdom?

. . . Cuz that is what Solomon asked for and it pleased the Lord."

But God did not give Solomon enough wisdom just for dealing with the people of Israel > Solomon had asked for wisdom for judging God's people that was so great. But Abraham's descendents are more than those of Israel . . . as the sand of the sea; and God gave Solomon wisdom as the sand of the sea. So, I can see God gave Solomon *more* than he asked for . . . possibly, God was not going to be outdone by Solomon asking for equal to or more than God could and would give to him

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality and without hypocrisy."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . (James 3:17)

This description of wisdom from above seems like Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. So, the real wisdom is not only intellectual or involving physical ability, but it has to do with how God's love is.

[mlg]

yep you've got it. God's wisdom comes from God's love

luv ya

[Dora]

Great incite comfy. Glad you are sharing.

[comfy]

Still in the wisdom thing . . .

quoted in the lesson > "without partiality and without hypocrisy," we have in James 3:17, about how wisdom is; so I need this . . . in God's love . . . "partiality", I think, means favoritism . . . in my case, favoritism for certain women because of their charm and smart talking and what doesn't have anything to do with being attracted to God or with real love.

So, I need to make sure this kind of thing also is not what has a lady attracted to me. And being nice to people and smart talking the Bible does not make me called . . . like ones suppose, who judge by image and looks. And I have seen how ones judge themselves by how well they can talk or sing or play an instrument, in order to decide if they are called to speak or to music. Ones may love the piano, but judge themselves in comparison to someone who sounds good, then decide they must not go near a piano. But what is or is not God's will for us is not decided by how good you sound in comparison to people; and I consider > "For we dare not class ourselves our compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12)

And we are Jesus Family. How does a family get a child to talk? By getting excited and praising the child about any sound, at all, the child makes, as the child first discovers talking. So, I'd say we can do this in church > encourage people to share God's word and sing and play musical instruments, etc. > not to discriminate and compare about outward showing of talent, but > "without partiality", draw each other out. Fame does not make me called. I need to be famous by loving someone personally, be famous with the one person who needs a real Jesus friend. And be this friend to each and every person, like Jesus was. He did not isolate Himself with just one person, in an isolated relationship.

It's not about outward beauty of talent, now > "rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4) "And in His beauty we find out what He has us doing, unashamed of how we look or sound." Remember that? > how the LORD said, "Who told you you are naked?" So, why are we judging ourselves by what we outwardly look like we have? That knowledge of good and evil, in a disobedient spirit, has us judging good and evil by what is outward, instead of first being concerned with all we have in our hearts. It's not that it is bad to know good from evil, but Adam and Eve approached this fruit in a disobedient spirit witch had them in an aborted and perverted way of understanding good from evil . . . including how ones can condemn themselves for not having outward talents, etc. that make them look good in comparison with other people. Just sing, just write the way you can, how God blesses you (o:

Also we have, "that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God" > a lesson quote of what is in 1 Corinthians 2:12. I notice how God's things are "freely given" > we don't have to pay for these. And I myself need to be freely giving > not just by not making people pay me, but also by freely loving all people > available to any and all people, so that I am free from favoritism for some one lady or church group that may indeed be a real Jesus people church. If God trusts me with a real lady of Jesus and a real Jesus church, much is required > He does want me to love all people, not just to isolate myself with favorite people. You are *trusting* me to love all people . . . "without partiality".

The lesson talks about Proverbs 8:12-36 > part of the lesson quote is "Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and rghteousness." The riches of wisdom are "durable"; so these riches are not just money and material things > > > one scripture that has been with me, recently is >

"For wisdom is better than rubies,
.And all the things one may desire
. . . . cannot be compared with her." (Proberbs 8:11)

And the lesson gives >

"The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way,
.Before his works of old." (in Proverbs 8:22)

So . . . there was wisdom before there was anything material. And I understand there is wisdom before any words. So, in love's wisdom we are with God Himself, deeper than the words and works, in deeper communication with intimacy with Him Himself > "one spirit with Him," we have in 1 Corinthians 6:17 > "flowing with Jesus in us in His Spirit holy and anointing."

This anointing oil of the Holy Spirit can soak through and through us to soften us in love to become *more and more* how Jesus is so gentle and lowly in love for all people, and make us oily so we can give things of this world the slip

So, now we go on to Step Nine > http://www.christianityoasis.com/ManyCa ... epNine.htm

And the title of this is "JUDGE NOT" > interesting, that we just had about not judging people by the outward show of their ability, in order to decide who is to sing and write and play and speak, and now we have this lesson about not judging. But I think this not judging lesson will have more to do with not condemning people who really are wrong. But have hope for all people > love "hopes all things", we have in 1 Corinthians 13:7. God bless you thank You, God, in the name of Jesus