Matthew 5 v 4.
"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted".

I should like to have a word with you about this text.
In the first beatitude, v 3, Jesus had a comforting word for all those, who were poor in spirit. But Jesus promised them full richness, when the Kingdom of the Lord broke through with all its treasures of God the Spirit with his gifts and fruit, if they had open hearts for it.

Now...in this second beatitude there is full salvation for those mourners who go to the Lord in prayer for his comfort.
The right way to go for every mourner, is not to remain mourning,
but it is this:
- ascertain it. Bring into words of prayer, what is the difficulty with you, as far as you can define it.
What are your damages. What is your deepest wish , your longing for recovery in body, soul or spirit or in all of them.
- Then take your refuge in Jesus Christ. Place your feet on the way of salvation
- Jesus is no longer on earth. But he sent ' God the Holy Spirit'. Jesus is the Baptist with the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit comforts us, because he is helping man in recovering.

We now live in the times Isaiah speaks of, when he says in 61 v 2:
"This is the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our Lord"
This is the time, that the Holy Spirit assists mankind in the chasing away of evil powers. Now the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit is raising dismayed man.

Now is the time says Isaiah 61 v 2 and 3:
".....to comfort all who mourn
and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair".

So, my readers, if you have lost contact with God
by sin, illness or other circumstances....
God the Holy Spirit, ( Isaiah 57 v 15), says:
"I live with him, who is contrite and lowly in spirit
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the concrite".

Like there is a way of escape for the ' poor in spirit', there is also a way for the ill people, for the sinners, for the spiritually disturbed and for the mourners.
They all can go on the way from darkness to light, to the bliss of the kingdom of the Lord.
This way was scarcely to be seen in former years, but now there is full light on this ' high road'.
No blessedness after death, but bliss NOW.

And still greater bliss in future.
For Isaiah 52 v 9 says:
" Burst into songs of joy together
you ruins of Jerusalem
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem".

All you mourners....bring your mournings to Jesus. Handle with your mourning in a positive way....and you will be greatly comforted.

Greetings
Ger

In Luke 15 we find three marvellous stories.
They are of 'the sheep, the coin and the son'.

You know them all. But I advise you to read these stories anew.

There was a shepherd, having lost one sheep from the herd.
He did not rest and when he had found it, he took it to his house and had a big FEAST.

There was a woman, having lost a coin from her bracelet. She made light and went seeking in all corners.....
you all know that a woman can seek for things much better than men
.......and when she had found it, she warned her neighbours and there
was a big FEAST.

There was a son, who left his father and who went back to his father , when he was totally poor and exhausted and at a loss what to do.
And he wanted to say many things, but his father ran down the road, embraced him, kissed him , gave him new clothes and there was a big FEAST.

With all those things Jesus is speaking to all of us:
- with that rough, strong shepherd: to the men
- with that cunning seeking woman: to the women
- with that son: to all children.
....and of course to you and me.

We all were: the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. And our dear father, Abba, God, enabled by the sacrifice of his son , Jesus , seeks for us through his Holy Spirit. He seeks for us with that strong, eternal love of his.

Some of us were sheep, gone far away. We saw already the glowing eyes of the wolf, who waited for his chance.
Some of us felt like coins. They lay in such a dusty corner, that they thought perhaps:
"No one can find me here. I am really lost".
Some of us had squandered all their capitals of thinking and intellect with things of nothings and teachings of no value and so on. And they were sitting down in total emptiness and spiritual hunger for what they had lost and things were absolutely hopeless.
And they trudged homeward in their shabby clothing, thinking :
"Perhaps dad has something as a job for me, be it what it may be, but at any case, that I have something to eat".

And the sheep, the coin and the son were the centre of a big feast.
For the bible says in Luke 15 v 7:
"I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents".....
and vers 10
"There is rejoice in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents"

Now my loves, the angels have rejoiced before the throne of God, when you converted. And there is always joy in heaven, when you come further with the Lord.

But there may be a slight possibility, that you say to me, with sorrow in your heart:
"O Ger.....I have wandered away again from the Lord. My coin now lies in such a dusty corner, that God can never find it this time. And Ger....I am too sad and too tired and too hopeless and too dogged, I am in such a mood, that..... Ger...
(I nearly dare not to say it)
....I do not want God to find me anymore, I am by purpose creeping still deeper in the dust, to prevent his shining on me.
I want him to find me and I do not want him to find me...
And I was that son refound...and anew I slipped away and I did the same stupid things ".

But I say to you.
"Jesus' love is so wonderful..
Jesus' love is so wonderful
Jesus' love is so wonderful..
Oh ....wonderful love..."

So high...can't get over it
So deep...can't get under it
So wide....can't get around it
Oh wonderful love".

Don't wander further. Give at least some weak bleatings, some ashamed prayers, to make it easier to find you.
Do not go further in the dust from a certain self-destruction. Try to pray once more.
When you cannot stand up and go to your father....try to drag you forward, praying:
"I am so absolutely exhausted Jesus, come and find me here, at this swine- sty".

And Jesus will come and help, if your heart has anywhere some room, where you are still longing for him.

But for all those , who are steadily going on with him and who enjoy their saving so much, that they want never, never, never to go astray, I say:
"Let us enjoy the feast, which becomes bigger and bigger, greater and greater".

Greetings
Ger

HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME, ( Matthew 6 v 9).

There are so many thoughts tied to these four words.

You all know the wider context, in which they are standing:
" Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10: your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven".

But let us turn back to these two words: "Hallowed be..."
The name of God is the expression of his being. He is high and not to be reached by our human thoughts.
But in the bible God tells us so much about himself, that we can form an idea, what it is: to hallow his name.

Our dear Lord Jesus Christ gave us an example of this.
In John 17 v 4 he says:
"I have brought your glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do".

Of course the hallowing of God will be far more stronger in the 'thousand years'to come and in the time after, but the hallowing of God began when Jesus began his work on earth.
And he completed his part of the work.

But the Holy Spirit makes it possible also for all of us to complete the work God has ready for US.
Many of my readers are reborn and filled with the Holy Spirit. But what I am going to say is valid also for those, who are only converted and know that the great work Jesus has done, makes them free of sin, because he has carried away our sins.

Now listen: Galatians 5 v 22 teaches us , that there is a fruit of 'God the Holy Spirit' and this fruit is divided in nine wonderful pieces:
- love, joy, peace
- patience, kindness, goodness
- faithfulness, gentleness
- self-control.

Your work on earth consists of: love.
You can have the love of Lord Jesus in your heart , the Holy Spirit can give it to you, when you ask for it.
He can give it in permanency, in bad and in good days, so that it is streaming from you like a fountain.
Then you are a light for people around you, so that at least they get an idea, that you have something they want to have. And in the best case they will be drawn to you and through you to God.

And when you have joy, you are like a magnet. Indeed, some people will flee from you, because they seek darkness. But there are many people, longing for something else than the surrogate-joy of this world, that 'vanity fair'.

And when there is an innerly peace, you are also a catalyst. People have to make a choice, flee away from you, because they love darkness more than light, or sharing you.

And kindness; there is so little kindness in this world and so much bitterness and hatred. Many people are so tired from all agression and even assertivety, that they are happy to hear someone, who is at last kind, with the kindness, given by the Holy Spirit.

Not more about the fruit.

Some words about the gifts, 1 Corinth 12 v 8-10:
- wisdom, knowledge,
- gifts of healing
- miraculous powers
- faith, prophecy
- ability to distinghuish between spirits
- different kinds of tongues
- interpretation of tongues.

They lay all ready for you.
You can exercise in the fruit.
You can exercise in the gifts.
And so for your part you can hallow God's name here and now, already beginning now with the glorious times to come.

Greetings
Ger

May I read with you some textes from the bible ?

Revelation 20 v 7 - 10:

"Whwn the thousand years are over , satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth. - Gog and Magog-to gather them for battle. In numbers they are like the sand of the seashore.They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people and the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever".

These words find their pendant in the old testament in Ezekiel 39. Some people think, that Ezekiel 39 handles about the Israelites . They say:
"These people have had already so many bad experiences. But the worst things for them are still coming.
I am against this opinion and believe that this is mentioned.
.................
When Jesus comes back, with this glorious moment 'the thousand years' begin.
And because satan cannot be active in that period , there is all the time to teach the whole worldpopulation about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The citizens of 'the thousand years' are:
- those Christians, who had not reached the full knowledge of the fulness of God at the moment Jesus returned. They have very good times and can prosper to always more knowledge.
- the whole further world-population, who now get all possibilities to learn always more about salvation.

The governors ( Isaiah 32 v 1) are those Christians, members of the congregation, who at the coming back of Jesus had reached the full wisdom and went up in the air, ( 1 Thessalonians 4 v 7).

But in these happy days there ARE people, who say in their hearts "No", in spite of all these delightful possibilities. They are not 'public, they are only 'undercover', ( Deuteronomy 33 v 29), but their heart is not with the Lord, even then.

And that is the reason, that satan is released for a short time. And all the ' no-sayers' follow him in his last desperate offensive.

But it is all in vain and all the enemies of God, man and demon , are annihilated.
And when all the enemies have at last been unmasked, the earth can be pured of all last tracks of sin, ( see also Ezekiel 39).

I have the strong opinion, that we have to do here with
'God's victory at the end of time', just as the recovering of the earth, after satan had made it 'formless and empty' ( Genesis 1 v 2) was 'God's victory at the beginning of time'.

Greetings
Ger

___

Magdalena wrote:

Can't God just remove the mechanism that creates unforgiveness and roots of bitterness? What if you have wrestled with these already, done the work, seen the results, and you just don't want to have to hassle over it anymore, but your flesh keeps making it happen. Some of us seem to be more sensitive to getting hurt or offended than others, not by choice but just its in our natures. What if you don't want to be like that. It seems really silly to keep having to wrestle with the same thing when you've already learned the "lesson" and decided you don't want or need it going on anymore, but it keeps happening.
Doesn't God ever take garbage like that away for good? It seems kind of mean to keep testing you over and over with that when you've already passed the test and made up your mind on the issue. Sometimes God seems very hard to understand in this regard. He wants us to trust Him; doesn't He trust us?

My answer:

Yes...God can remove the mechanism that creates unforgiveness.He orders us to forgive and he is a good God.
He should never order us to something that we cannot do.

But this is the solution. We should use all the weapons that he has given to us.
Your flesh will not be capable to forgive.
- Some of us have in their character revengfulness. This can has come there by inheritance. In the course of many generations this bad character-element may have come in as a following of the ongoing spoiling of mankind by the devil.
- Other people are revengeful, because they import this bad habit in their mind themselves.
But also in these two cases God can help you to abstain from these bad things.

When people have difficulties with forgiving, this may be caused:
- by their own character, as explained above
- by a damage done, which is so big, that the wound is very deep.
But also in these cases the command, the lovecommand is this: go on with your holy struggle, not spasmodically , but trusting.

God takes away that garbage. He makes every thing new. He is trusting us. He gave us his Son to take all sins away from all people, that would trust him, in the past, now, in the future , everywhere.

But where are these weapons. Let us first go to Luke 6 v 37: in my dutch bible it reads as follows:
"Release and you will be released."
In English it reads :
"Forgive and you will be forgiven".
I feel much comfort in the dutch version. I read it like this. When you pray God for a thing and - for example- ask:
"O Lord...can you help me to get this to the background of my memory...that dreadful moment that that car hit my child and killed it. I want to get free of this terrible sight...not that it may go away...but that it will be softened. "

And then there is a secret... patience...patience. And you will see, that the Lord comes with his heavenly balm and softens the wound.
And from there the way to forgiveness to the drunk driver is not an easy way, but it is to go. But before you already have the relaxation, that this bad happening itself does not longer terrorize you and make you ill.

But of course there are other means. A very high percentage of the readers of this forum have been converted. Others have even been reborn. Still many readers are filled by the Holy Spirit. And this is the ultimate way God is using to set us free from unforgivance.

I do not know your spiritual situation. But of course in my 86 years I have undergone many bad happenings and there are people, who have wounded me....just as I have wounded other people, perhaps without being aware of it. But anyway....the Holy Spirit has grandly helped me to do all revenge feelings away, also to the benefit of my own health.

It is not possible to say all things at the same time, but I hope, that I have made an opening for a good discussion.

Greetings
Ger

In this psalm David is looking back on a bad time.
The last period at the court of king Saul had been a time of 'going down'. He was an important man, general in the army, close friend of Jonathan, the intended throne- follower.

But now that king Saul was against David, all good things had gone.
- Former friends, now having become enemies, press their attack,1
- Slanderers are pursuing him all day long,2
- proud people, now seeing their chance, are after him,3
- everyone, formerly listening to him, is now twisting his words,
- the plotting to harm the general becomes more and more dangerous, 5
- all those courtiers, formerly so respectful, have changed into conspirers, who watch David's steps like a group of hungry lions, chasing an old, lost, doomed elephant, 6

And now it had all become too threatening. he had to run for safety. And now , fled to the court of a enemous king....
a man does queer things, when he is at a loss what to do
....the officials of that king have recognized him and brought him to the king. And only a trick has brought him into safety.( 1 Samuel 21 v 10- 14).

And now he is recovering from all this, from his loss of position and all that followed.
And he recapitulates:
- when I am afraid I will trust in you (God),3
- I praise your word, 4
- I shall no longer be afraid,
- what can mortal man do to me
- you, my God..you list my tears on your scroll
- are they not in your record,8

My dears; you also have your enemies. Not the kind of enemies David had. Kings of those days were not sure about their lives, they lived a dangerous life.

But also common citizens of our days in peaceful countries as most of us live in,....they also have enemies
- pursuing, slandering, word-twisting.
- plotting, harming, conspiring,
The devil and his demons are watching you. They can however do nothing, if they find nothing in your personality, in which they can put their crows, their climb-irons, their jemmies .

And if there are manco's in your personality in spite of all your prayers, if there is too much 'eye for the world', there are God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to watch over you. And they send their angels, ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation, (Hebr. 1 v 14).

So, my dears, take courage. Your tears are known to the Lord, Ps 56 v 8.

Greetings
Ger
,

__________________

Hello Yeaux yeaux,

What you saw in the sudden friendliness of your oldest son is the fulfillment of a bible text.
Proverbs 16 v 7 says:
" When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord,
he maken even his enemies live at peace with him".

This glad happening with this boy of yours says to you.
"For the moment you are in a good track with the Lord".

Why do I say: '
"for the moment".

Sometimes it is so, that we are slackening with our way with the Lord. We get distracted or forgetable, a danger threatening us all.

Go on with this good way, Yeaux-yeaux.
The Lord showed you one of his treasures. There are millions of treasures more.

Mind Yeaux; I never promised you a rose-garden. No roses without thorns. Hold on, when there is such a thorn. Your future is glory ...with the Lord.

Greetings
Ger,