HOW TO TREAT ME IF I GET DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S

HOW TO TREAT ME IF I GET DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S

Alzheimer's runs thick on Mom's side of the family, so we six offspring descended from her  side worry that we will get it too. Just in case I do get it, I would like to make my loved ones aware of my wishes as to how I am treated. In case you'e wondering, Butch/Bill and Sharon are from Dad's side of the family -- his oldest sister's children. That's why I said "we six offspring" instead of "eight." It's a bit complicated but normal for us. Since this was written, two of my sisters have passed on: Linda and Carolyn. Butch also has passed. He was the first of the eight of us. I chose to share this article with others, too, since Alzheimer's is so prevalent and worrisome, especially among my baby boomer peers. It has turned out to be a much read article.

• I'm not crazy about going to a nursing home because of the odor and the bad food. On the other hand I don't want to be a burden to my kids and their kids and their kids. I trust my kids to make the right decision in view of the circumstances they are having to deal with.
• Please don't talk to me like I'm two years old. It wouldn't please me.
• Please don't take me out to eat. I would embarrass myself and others at the table and even people at other tables. I remember my grandma eating the tulips decorating the table. I would prefer to have food carried into my place where I am comfortable and wouldn't have to "dress up." The food isn't what's important. It's the company.
• If you can carry a tune, sing to me. If you can't carry a tune, read the Bible to me. You can even read some of my poems to me and see if I recognize them.
• Expect me to pick up things that aren't mine and put them in my pocket. Mom picked up some batteries at Walmart and put them in her pocket. She didn't do it because she's a thief. She did it because she no longer knew better.
• I shouldn't be cooking, even with a toaster oven, air fryer or microwave.
• I should no longer have the keys to the car once you realize I no longer always know where I'm going or how to get there. Mom was able to get ahold of her car keys with their rubber Donald Duck keyring attached and took off in the car. She made it home but it could have turned out badly.
• Mom was in the back yard with Dad while he picked grapes one time and she wandered off while he had his back turned. He panicked when he turned around and saw she was gone. I was called to help look for her. I first drove to the house in which we first lived when we moved to Mt. Vernon, which was in the next block. She was "talking" to a little old lady out front. The lady knew enough to keep her occupied until she was found. It can happen so fast and our first response was to panic. But keep your wits about you and think about what would be familiar to me if I should wander off or drive off.
• Make copies of family pictures and let me go through them to pass the time and to help my brain. Give me a flower magazine to look through when you're gone. A home decor magazine or a magazine with pretty dishes would be nice too. Keep my brain as active as possible.
• If I don't want to eat my mashed potatoes, mix some peas in with them. I like them that way. And I don't like the crust on sliced bread. Improvise when it comes to feeding me. Be creative like a mother has to when her kids are very young. No airplanes or childish games, though. I cut my kids' lunch meat and cheese slices into shapes with a Tupperware item. They wouldn't otherwise eat them. That would be acceptable. It is more creative and less babyish.
• Since I am living out my last days/months/years, don't be too strict about how much I eat or what I eat or how much sleep I get. My quality of life is more important. Choose our battles.
• Please don't take it personally if I say hurtful things because it won't be intentional or true. I watched family members and friends get permanently scarred because of things said to them by a parent with Alzheimer's.
• Just know it isn't going to feel or sound familiar to me to cuss, so hopefully I won't be quick to do that. I would be mortified if I knew what I was doing. Jokingly, I wonder if I would spell-cuss. If I repeat a cuss word somebody used while I'm telling a story, I won't say the word; I spell-cuss. That's what comes automatic. 
• If I am in a really bad way, don't let the young ones see me that way or even the ones who cannot handle it. There is always both responses within a family dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer's.
• Keep in mind that I will no longer follow rules, laws, courtesies, and may give into impulses such as hitting. If it happens to me, it is at that point that I may need medication to calm me down. It happened to Mom when she was upset at somebody but she didn't care who she slapped. She just knew how she felt after being chastised by a nurse.
• Limit the amount of stress you endure as my caretaker because prolonged stress will affect your health. Those ailments that have been lying dormant within your system will rear their ugly heads. I don't want that for anyone in my family. What I have to endure in my last days is part of the dying process and won't last long compared to eternity. My offspring will have many days yet to live and I don't want them living it in pain or suffering.
• When bathing me or letting me shower while you observe, when it comes time to bath my privates, put some soap on the wash cloth and point to where you want me to wash. I did this with Mom and it worked. I knew she still had her modesty and I most likely will too.
• If I am moving slowly, don't try to hurry me along by slowly pushing me. Get in front of me and reach out your hand.
• If I end up with Alzheimer’s and then get a life threatening disease, do not treat the disease; let me go. Let nature take its course. Do anything to make my life with Alzheimer’s as short as possible within the law. The same is true if I get dementia.

Becky Wall

beckyowall.blogspot.com

#oldage #oldtimersdisease #forgetful #caretakerstress runawayparent caretakerlimitations

WHAT DOES THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH BELIEVE?

WHAT DOES THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH BELIEVE?

The First Christian Church wasn't named to indicate we are the first, the best or the only Christians. We simply follow the practices of the first Christians, which included the Apostles whom Jesus himself taught. A new day had dawned when Jesus rose from the tomb. The old became new, but the Old Testament was and is still used as a guide, a teacher, a definer of sin.

Why We Meet on Sunday:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, (Hebrews 10:24b-25a).

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread (Acts 20:7a).

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. John 20:1

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20:19

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

Why we have communion every Sunday instead of Saturday:
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Acts 20:7
What we believe is the symbolism and purpose of Communion:

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” (I Corinthians 11:25).

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
What we believe about baptism:

What is baptism? Baptism is preceded by a public confession of true faith, belief and repentance followed by immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins and a receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which was offered by the Lord Jesus Christ as stated in Acts 2:38.

Baptism is a New Testament commandment. It is symbolic burial in recognition of Jesus death, burial and resurrection. Through baptism sins are washed away and the new creature in Christ receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. Scripture compares baptism to Noah's ark: "In it only a few people, eight in all,were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him" (I Pet. 3:21-22).

God cleansed the earth of sin by burying in water the people who were blatantly sinning, but they didn't rise again from their watery grave. Noah and his three sons and their wives were the only ones saved. We who are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins will rise again to a new life. "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4). The choice is ours: rise or remain dead in your sins.

Baptism should be acted on immediately after coming to the full knowledge of your sinfulness. You should desire to make your conversion known to others. The need to act quickly is shown in all of the conversions in the book of Acts: Paul, the jailer and his family, the eunuch to which Philip preached and who was baptized in a "body of water," the 3,000 that were baptized after hearing Peter preach on the Day of Pentecost, etc. Procrastination just gives the devil time to talk a person out of being baptized or to put hurdles in the way. The sooner a person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, the better.

Baptism is necessary for Jesus to fulfill all righteousness. Matthew 3:13-16a says, "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented." We are to follow Jesus's example. Also note that Jesus was likely immersed because the next verse says, "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water." John could have chosen a building in which to sprinkle or pour if he believed that's what Jesus wanted.

Baptism is an act of obedience. Obedience is stressed throughout the Bible but the obedience should be because we want to please Christ and not because we feel like we have to. After Jesus had died, risen, and ascended into heaven, Peter preached a sermon which grieved the hearts of the listeners. When he was finished, the people asked what they must do to be saved. Peter's response was, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). This requirement comes with a prized gift from the Lord Himself, that gift being the third part of Him, the Holy Spirit, who helps us throughout life as long as we don't permanently push Him away. He cannot co-exist with ongoing sin.

Baptism requires humility, a giving up of the pride that prevents a person from going forward to confess and repent in front of others. Vanity must be overcome in order for a person to be willing to get his or her hair wet in front of people. Those who are uncomfortable with being the center of attention must overcome that fear or any other fear long enough to fulfill this act of obedience.

Baptism is understanding that we are unworthy of the price Christ had to pay for our salvation, for His forgiveness of our sins, for the riches we will acquire in heaven and a realization that He loves us that much. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... (Romans 3:23). It is a way of acknowledging that "I get it now, Lord! Here I am; use me."

Baptism becomes void or meaningless if not followed by true love for Christ shown through our actions and obedience, notwithstanding the fact that we are still going to sin on occasion.

If our attention to the Lord ends with our baptism or if we are baptized with the wrong attitude or for the wrong reason, we would still be lost sinners -- just wet ones. Baptism done just for show, such as to win the heart of a Christian girlfriend or boyfriend, is not true baptism. Getting baptized just because friends are or just to get to participate in taking Communion are wrong motives.

A transformation is to occur when baptized. That transformation involves a complete turnaround from our sinful and selfish ways of the past and a striving to become perfect as Jesus was perfect, though that goal will never be altogether accomplished. Jesus was the only one who was, is and ever will be perfect. Though that is the goal, the transformation will not happen overnight. It takes time, discipline, obedience, a change in attitude and thinking, love for the Lord and others, and much prayer. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2) Since all have sinned, it was necessary that Jesus die to cleanse us of our sins. Ongoing sinners could not enter heaven but Jesus made a way when there seemed to be no way. He took our sins to the cross, buried them in his grave and rose again. We symbolically do the same through baptism. Therefore, one need not dispair when that person is caught in Satan's throes.

After baptism we are to follow Christ's teaching and example in our behavior and speech. "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (I John 3:18). "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips" (Col. 3:8). We are to walk by the spirit. "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23 NIV) The King James Version of the Bible translates forbearance as patience. The word "patience" rolls off the tongue easier than forbearance when trying to memorize that verse.

When baptized, you are adopted into the family of God. As a family member you will have the benefits of a family member and will be loved, cared for and offered an inheritance, an eternal home in heaven. Our Father in heaven is like the father in the Bible story of the prodigal son and will welcome us home even in our filth. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are eternal. He (the three-in-one) will never die. Neither will we if we confess our faith, repent, are baptized, obey Him and have a father-son/father-daughter relationship with Him from then on. A relationship with Christ compares to a relationship with your earthly father but on a much deeper level.

What Does It Take to be Saved?

...he one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matt. 10:22),

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved...(Mark 16:16),

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (John 10:9),

...everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21)... There is another aspect to that verse. "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." It is important to study the Bible by subject, compiling all of the verses that have to do with a particular subject. Some verses can stand alone but it is important to do the research to "see the big picture" and to discover the details.

there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12) 

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9)

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)... 

...hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord (I Corinthians 5:5). Note that the point isn't that Satan is allotted his punishment but the intent of punishment is that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (I Corinthians 15:2)

it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:5)

...women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (I Timothy 2:15)

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good. (Titus 3:1) This verse doesn't mention being saved if we follow it but we are repeatedly told in scripture to be obedient.

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” I Peter 4:18

Giving/Tithing:

Malachi 3:8-10 Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Matthew 6:1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Romans 12:8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

2 Corinthians 8:7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Why we don't have an external council:

It is biblical to be governed by elders, but there are no scriptural references regarding having a council make decisions regarding the different churches in its district or division, including decisions regarding the transfer of ministers and whether or not to accept abortion and homosexuality. The elders mentioned in the following verses are not the same as the elders of the Jews. The Jews do not believe in Jesus as our Savior, of course.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23
This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. Acts 15:2

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. Acts 15:22
As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. Acts 16:4
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. Acts 20:17

What are the steps to salvation:

Hear the Gospel. ( Romans 10:17, John 8:32)Believe the Gospel (Hebrews 11:6, John 20:31)
Repent of past sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 17:30)
Confess faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10, Matthew 10:32)
Be Baptized (Galatians 3:27, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
Be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10)

Lent:

The tradition of Lent is people giving up something that they love. It is not a bad tradition but it isn't scriptural.

Why we are called Christians:

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26b).

Why no priest?

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

12 But when this priest (Jesus*) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:12-14 Writer's note: Jesus made a one-time sacrifice for those who are being made holy. He was that sacrifice. No animals were sacrificed after that since animal blood couldn't provide a permanent cleansing of sins.

Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Hebrews 7:27

It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:23-28

Why we don't baptize babies.

Babies cannot confess or repent. They haven't sinned so have no sins to wash away. They are not held responsible for the sins of their parents. There is no need to turn their lives around from worldly ways to holy ones. They have no idea what is going on. 

Do we approve of baby dedications?

Absolutely. Dedicating a baby to the Lord is saying the baby will be raised to learn about the Lord and build a relationship with him. The parents will set the example.

Our motto:

Speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent.

*(Jesus) Heb. 10:12 - my insertion into the verse for clarity

See also:

https://beckyowall.blogspot.com/2023/09/instruments-in-worship-service-pros-and.html (Instruments in the Worship Service Pros and Cons)

https://beckyowall.blogspot.com/2022/07/once-saved-always-saved.html (Once Saved, Always Saved?)

Faith Without Works: James 1

GIVING/TITHING

GIVING/TITHING

Malachi 3:8-10 - Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ 'In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'

Deuteronomy 14:22 - Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.

I Corinthians 16:2 - On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income...

2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Matthew 6:1 - Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:3-4 - But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 23:23-24 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Romans 12:8 - We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is to ... encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

2 Corinthians 8:7 - But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Philippians 4:15 - Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

Compiled by Becky Wall

beckyowall.blogspot.com

WAR IN THE HEAVENS

WAR IN THE HEAVENS

Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

How can we war against the "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms?" The battle is for our souls. My first thought is to send up prayers. Prayers are like ammunition to the "light" angels in attacking the "dark" angels, or the fallen angels. Our prayers weaken the power of the dark forces. Never underestimate the power of prayer or the loss of power without prayers. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (KJV)

Job was tested by both God and Satan to see which one to whom he would remain faithful. I believe there are those who have been tested since the days of Job and there are those of us who are being tested today. We may suffer terrible loss and our friends and relatives may turn against us, but we must remain firm. Where we spend eternity and with whom we spend eternity may be at stake.

We can also do our part in building God's kingdom. Winning people to Christ is the most effective way to do that. Then we need to help those who respond build a relationship with Him. Educate them on the Bible, take them to church, show hospitality, and be an example. Before we can educate others, we need to be well acquainted with scripture ourselves. "Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Tim.2:15 KJV). "... Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," (I Peter 3:15). "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (II Timothy 4:2). Every dedicated convert builds the kingdom.

Satan can make wrong seem right and right seem wrong. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil," (Isaiah 5:20). "Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed" (I Cor. 13:7). We must be well grounded in God's Word. Satan can also make worldly things seem fun, exciting, and harmless. Don't be fooled. He is the father of lies. It is a paradox that when we are disciplined, we are the most free, but when we become “carefree,” we become a slave to our sins. To be free in Christ is to be free indeed!

Like in any war, there will be loss, but the final battle will be won. We must do our part, not because we have to but because we want to and because we want to spend eternity with Jesus in heaven, not Satan in hell. "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14).

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned." John 5:28-29

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9

--Becky Wall

THE POWER OF WORDS

 

THE POWER OF WORDS

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” How many of you believe that? Those words are contrary to scripture.

There is great power in words. They are greater than brute force with the exception that they can’t directly take another person’s life, though they can order it done. One can be a paraplegic and still have great power with the words he or she speaks.

A king of Heracleopolis said to his son, who was his successor: Be skillful in speech, that you may be strong…Words are braver than all fighting.” He said this in 2040 B.C., over 4,000 years ago.

The late Keith Green listed the different kinds of tongues, good and bad, in one of his pamphlets:

Psalm 5:9 – a flattering tongue

 

Psalm 12:3, 73:9 – a proud tongue

Psalm 109:2, Prov. 6:17) – a lying tongue

Psalm 120:2 – a deceitful tongue

Psalm 139:20 - They speak of you with evil intent;

    your adversaries misuse your name.

Prov 10:31, 17:20 – a perverted tongue

Prov. 15:4 – a soothing tongue

Prov. 12:18 – a healing tongue

Prov 17:4 – a destructive tongue

Ps. 10:7 – a mischievous & wicked tongue

Prov. 25:15 - a soft tongue

Prov. 25:23 – a backbiting tongue

James says the tongue is untamable, a restless evil full of deadly poison, used both to bless God and curse men. He also says that a man who doesn’t stumble in what he says is a perfect man. (James 3:2-10) Turn to James 4:11 & 1:26 also.

2 Corinthians 12:20 - “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.” Did you notice how most, if not all, of these vices spawn from words.

MISUSE OF THE TONGUE:

Gossiping is another lesson in and of itself. I tore a clip out of a newsletter that goes like this:

Mrs. Brown: “She told me that you told her the secret that I told you not to tell her!”
Mrs. Blue: “That mean thing! I told her not to tell you I told her.”
Mrs. Brown: “Well, don’t tell her that I told you she told me.”

We’ve all done this, haven’t we? Probably more so when we were young. By now we’ve learned the hard way the damage that gossip does, and we don’t like to be on the receiving end of it.

I Peter 2:1 - Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

James 3:2-10 - We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 4:11-12 - Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?

Matthew 12:36-37 – ...our own words snare us.

Proverbs 6:2 – Ensnared by vows & promises spoken but not kept...

Matthew 12:34-37 – ...by your words you will be justified and condemned...

A verse I kept on my refrigerator for years was this one:

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

One that keeps me from speaking so impulsively is this one:

Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

As a writer, I want to look at the who, what, when, why, where, and how we should speak, as Christians:

To whom: Ezekiel 33:(8)  When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. (9) But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.

Why - Titus 2:7-8 (7) In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness (8) and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

How (& Why) - Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Where: Matthew 28:18-20 - (18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Researched and compiled by Becky Wall  

See also "Foolish & Stupid Arguments"

https://beckyowall.blogspot.com/2024/06/foolish-and-stupid-arguments.html

ENCOURAGING WORDS

ENCOURAGING WORDS

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord...plans to give you hope and a future...You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11,13

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

Have I not commanded you? "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:6-10

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— Joel 2:25a

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely Your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. Amen. Psalm 23

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident. Psalm 27:1-3

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
He delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18

1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:1-16

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Psalm 126:5

21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. Psalm 73:21-26

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Ps. 43:5

IT'S ABOUT TIME
1There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. Isa. 54:6

For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isa. 57:15

DON'T WORRY
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 5:25-27

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 5:28-34

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:16-27

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭5b‬-‭8‬ ‭‬‬

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. I Peter 5:6

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭...

IN LOVE OR IN LUST?

IN LOVE OR IN LUST

(Based in part on I Corinthians 13, the love chapter)

Love is patient, love is kind;

It does not envy or boast.

Lust can’t wait; to sin it is blind,

The devil himself is its host.

Love is never conceited or rude;

It doesn’t think of self only.

Lust is vain; its language is crude,

And it preys upon the lonely.

Love doesn’t keep a score of hurts--

Never a record of wrongs.

Lust keeps a record every time it scores,

And the list may be quite long.

Love never gloats when another sins;

It always delights in trust.

Lust sins, then shamelessly gloats;

Who can trust someone full of lust?

Love can face anyone or thing,

With faith, hope, and endurance.

Lust is weak, but consider its source;

Satan leaves no hope or assurance.

Love will last forever,

For rooted in God is true love.

Lust is fleeting and shallow,

And it comes from below, not above.

Becky Wall

PASSIVE VIOLENCE

PASSIVE VIOLENCE

Malachi 2:16 - “'The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,'” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful."

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." That old saying couldn't be further from the truth. What we normally hear or read as passive aggression, I am going to call passive violence because that is the way Malachi 2 addresses it, though particularly as unfaithfulness. 

Passive violence, also known as passive aggression, is verbally hurting a person, embarrassing that person or humiliating them in some way. There are so many ways that words can hurt, and those words often hurt for a lifetime and shape a person's life in a negative way. The intent of the words makes a big difference. If the person is telling a joke or teasing at your expense, that's a form of violence or aggression that occurs without ever throwing a blow. Physical harm will usually heal within 10 days but often the words that come with teasing hurt deep and long.

I ask the aggressor "Is a response of laughter that lasts less than a minute worth hurting someone in a way that lasts a lifetime?" The one doing the teasing may be hurt just as long as the one being teased. The laughter is often followed by guilt if the person doing the teasing is smart enough and caring enough to realize they have done a lifetime of harm to another person.

Humiliating a person reduces that person's confidence and happiness and may rob the person's peace. That victim may be good at hiding emotional hurt, but may go home and cry his or her eyes out. The person usually never forgets the verbal abuser and how those verbal blows were thrown. The experience plays a role in shaping the lives of the victim but in a negative way. It's like a piece of pottery being lovingly shaped by parents, family and friends but then someone comes along and stabs the pottery with a fork or knife while it is drying so that when the owner comes to that soul's artwork, it is scarred permanently.

Similarly, when a person is cornered when he or she makes a mistake just so that person can be made fun of, that is passive violence. The hurt is there and the damage is done, but with words and not fists.

Other examples of passive violence are dirty tricks like tripping someone, causing a person to drop what the individual is holding, splattering a substance on that person, putting a bug in his or her drink, tying the person up, confining the unwilling person, pushing a victim in mud, abusing a person emotionally such as causing that person to question his or her worth or talent, insulting a person, treating a person like that person is beneath you, roll your eyes when you see a certain person, etc.

Does any of this sound familiar? Unfortunately passive violence, also known as passive aggression, has become part of our daily lives. One could say it falls into the norm. TV shows such as sitcoms build their scenes around passive aggression. Our kids grow up learning such behavior. Parents are surprised when they find out their child or children participated in passive aggressive behavior. Never think it is acceptable to hurt a person in any way, shape, or form.

The worst form of passive violence is to be unfaithful to a spouse. Malachi 2 warns of this kind of violence in Chapter 2, verses 15-16. "Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. 'The man who hates and divorces his wife,' says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'does violence to the one he should protect,' says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful."

--Becky Wall

PSALM 139 IN RHYME

PSALM 139:13-18 IN RHYME

You created my inmost being;

You knit me in my mother's womb.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

In your heart I have my own room.

When I was made in the secret place,

It was you who formed my frame.

I was woven in the depths of the earth;

For that, I praise your name.

Your eyes saw my unformed body,

Before one of my days came to be.

My days were written in your book;

You’ve always known about me.

Your thoughts are precious to me, O God!

Like the grains of sand by each sea.

How vast is the sum of them!

And yet you think of me.

Test me and know my thoughts;

Search me and know my heart.

See if I am offending you,

And may we never part.

Becky Wall

Genesis 49:25
...because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.

Leviticus 18:21
“‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

Deuteronomy 7:12-13
12 If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors. 13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb...

Job 31:15
Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

Psalm 22:9
Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.

Psalm 22:10
From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Psalm 51:6
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Psalm 71:6
From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.

Proverbs 24:11
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

Ecclesiastes 11:5
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Isaiah 44:2
This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

Isaiah 44:24

“This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself...

Isaiah 49:1
Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.

Isaiah 49:5
And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength—

Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;

Luke 1:41
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 1:15
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased...

beckyowall.blogspot.com

THE LAST DAYS

THE LAST DAYS

Matthew 24:3-51 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. (cont'd)

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (cont'd)

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. (cont'd)

23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time."

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather." (cont'd)

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’" (cont'd)

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." 32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (cont'd)

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left." (cont'd)

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 

43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (cont'd)

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Psalm 72:17 - May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun.

Psalm 89:29 -  I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Isaiah 65:20 - “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.

Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

Daniel 12:9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.

Joel 2:11 The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?

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See also: https://beckyowall.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-end-of-earth-and-beginning-of.html