Joshua 24:15

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve * the LORD, choose you this day * whom ye will serve; whether * the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or * the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve * the LORD. (KJV Strongs - sent from CadreBible)

Israel's hope

7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Social Networking Creating New Adultery Risk, Author Says

from Washington Times...

Dave Carder, a California pastor and psychologist who has studied adultery prevention and recovery for more than 30 years, spoke last week at a Smart Marriage conference in Orlando, FL. In his latest book, Close Calls: What Adulterers Want You to Know About Protecting Your Marriage, he details a new adultery risk created by social networking, such as Classmates.com and Facebook. "There's a new phenomenon—the idea that you can locate and recapture old romances, old flames, old boyfriends and girlfriends from adolescence…in (this) case, the infatuation is already stored in your brain. So if you get back in touch with a person like that—a person you dated, that you kissed, maybe a first-love experience—some 10, 15 years later … Well, the saying in my field is, 'Thirty days of regular contact with an old girlfriend/old boyfriend and you create an infatuation explosion. And in 30 more days, you will find a way to be with each other.' So it's 60 days from the start, because infatuation is a mood-altering experience. It's a huge drug of choice and will sweep you off your feet." Carder warns that, especially in times of unusual or sustained stress, a "surprise adultery" can occur where the affair is really an attempt to heal, distract or support yourself from the stressful situations. He encourages couples to watch for the danger signs and "risk factors—certain seasons of life, certain ages, certain life experiences, certain marital stages, personal histories you bring to the marriage—that can set you up for an affair. That doesn't mean you are going to do it, but like in the disease model, there are risk factors."

The Washington Times 7/8/09 ...and what Scripture says...

(Leviticus 20:10) And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

(Proverbs 6:26) For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

(Romans 7:3) So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians. Romans 1:14

Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent himself to express it. The great inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that sense of indebtedness to Christ in regard to every unsaved soul? The spiritual honour of my life as a saint is to fulfil my debt to Christ in relation to them. Every bit of my life that is of value I owe to the Redemption of Jesus Christ; am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His Redemption into actual manifestation in other lives? I can only do it as the Spirit of God works in me this sense of indebtedness. I am not to be a superior person amongst men, but a bondslave of the Lord Jesus. “Ye are not your own.” Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ. He says—‘I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the Gospel of Jesus; I am free to be an absolute slave only.’ That is the characteristic of the life when once this point of spiritual honour is realized. Quit praying about yourself and be spent for others as the bondslave of Jesus. That is the meaning of being made broken bread and poured-out wine in reality."--

Chambers, Oswald: My Utmost for His Highest : Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI : Discovery House Publishers, 1993, c1935, S. July 15

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Thanks for the accountability and interest in what God's doing in my life!

from Chamber's 'Utmost for His Highest'

from the 25th devotional reading, 'The Test of Self-interest'

As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and luxurious prospects will open up before you, and these things are yours by right; but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God choose for you.

...if you are [living the life of faith], you will joyfully waive your right and leave God to choose for you. This is the discipline by means of which the natural is transformed into the spiritual by obedience to the voice of God.

Many of us do not go on spiritually because we prefer to choose what is right instead of relying on God to choose for us.

Chambers, Oswald: My Utmost for His Highest : Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI : Discovery House Publishers, 1993, c1935, S. May 25

I am black, but comely.

BEHOLD, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.--Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

I am a sinful man, O Lord.--Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair.

I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.--Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

When I would do good, evil is present with me.--Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.--Ye are complete in him.--Perfect in Christ Jesus.

Ye are washed, ...ye are sanctified, ...ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.--That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

CANT. 1. 5. Ps. 51. 5.--Eze. 16. 14. Lu. 5. 8.--Ca. 4. 1. Job 42. 6.--Ca. 4. 7. Ro. 7. 21. Mat. 9. 2. Ro. 7. 18.-- Col. 2. 10; 1. 28.  Co. 6. 11. 1 Pe. 2. 9.