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Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
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But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.
30 I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!
33 The Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his captive people.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,
35 for God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
Then people will settle there and possess it;
36 the children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will dwell there.
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Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?
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photo credit: Barb Orlowski, Crescent Beach, British Columbia
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Spiritual Sounding Board 
This Sunday morning is starting very early for me. I have been awake since 1 am. Your picture today, Julie Anne, although beautiful, reminds me that it is going to be very cold when I walk outside this morning. I may need it though if I don’t get anymore sleep to wake me up.
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Encouragement:
A couple of weeks ago, I had went to the Winter Jam 2015 Concert at the Tacoma Dome. Winter Jam is a bunch of famous Christian singers/bands. Admission is ONLY $10 cash at the door. As a matter of fact, parking was twice that much. It is an annual event, so if Winter Jam comes to your area, I highly suggest it.
Anyway, one of the singers there, Francesca Battistelli explained that she is in a ministry that helps girls and women deal with serious issues of abuse. I had seen her sing on Fox & Friends a few months ago a song called “Write Your Story”.
But this one is called “He Knows My Name”. The video shows testimony from girls who have been helped by the ministry that she is in. Enjoy!
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“But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.”
Yes, yes. Thank you God for your protection through your salvation despite my afflictions and pain. Please use it to your Glory.
This week gonna be rough. Too many anniversaries. Don’t want to keep regurgitating them but this week the most intense pain. God, please use me and the pain anyway you want to. Please shine through me during Chemo to others despite my ineptness. Please give me the insight to know who and when to comfort in a room full of suffering. Knowing my story, I wonder how many others back story is causing pain this time of year. By looking at the faces and hearing about all the commercialized shopping madness, it seems so many are hiding their pain. Until you reach a point where you just can’t any more. COLOR BLIND, ….I am.
Beautiful picture especially since never seen in Central Fl. God’s blanketing of snow. Unreal verse. Especially the beginning. Wow, thank you Julie Anne.
Chapmaned24, incredible story and song. I don’t watch much tv unless in the hospital as it is a trigger for work things and my family leaving me sick when I needed her and my kids the most. But I remember seeing something about this when I was last in. Beautiful Ministry. Touched me deeply as in my job I only saw these innocent abused ones until trial if there was one and always wondered who was helping them in the aftermath. It is simply amazing to see what God does through people like this, doing what Jesus did for the downtrodden and castaways. So many people talk about it but do nothing. It’s really cool to see someone doing something, not just saying “praying”. Very encouraging , thank you for sharing.
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Chapman24, your video was amazing. It was just the type of thing that carries me through the week. To see where God can meet us in our pain, right where we are. No number of “Sunday Sermons” can reveal God to me compared to the love, compassion and slow victories shown in these women’s lives. Will they have setbacks? Who doesn’t? But we can help each other experience the love of God in sharing both our struggles and and our hope for our future. Thank you for posting this!!!
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Has anybody here tackled NT Wright’s “Paul and the Faithfulness of God?” If so, any thoughts? It’s the sort of thing that appeals to me, and I am persuaded Wright does much to correct a great deal of error that has resulted from a misreading of Paul. Still, I’m hard pressed to think how the investment of almost $50, not to mention the time it would take to read some 1600 pages, would yield a sufficient return where things that matter are concerned.
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Ed,
Great video. Winter Jam did come to MI last year but not close enough. They do have “Rock the Island” in the summer time right here in town. It is at a park which is its own island. I believe Francesca Battestelli was here last year. Love that song and the testimonies of the young women.
John,
You will be in my prayers this week during your painful time and chemo. I would be happy to send some of our snow from Mid MI down to you!!
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Ed, I really enjoyed learning about Mercy Ministries and looked them up. I love what they are doing and that it is free.
Ever since the demise of Doug Phillips and hearing one too many stories about women who have been living with abusive Patriarchal husbands, I’ve wished for something similar for wives and children who are trying to escape their abusive husbands. So many of these moms do not have any education beyond high school, no outside job experience. I think that is why many abused wives remain in their homes that serve as their emotional/spiritual prison. Not only that, but when they stay, their children now are learning this bad system: boys learn they get to rule over women, girls learn they have no rights/value. Sadly, I have been in touch with quite a few ladies who are living like this.
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I have discovered through the years one of the things that an abuser most often does is to try and lower the victim’s self image and worth. The song and Mercy Ministries is a great song and ministry that builds that self image by teaching that God knows my name. What a friend we have and not only does He know my/our/your name. but He loves us enough to die for us to be able to have that relationship. Praise God, He knows my name!
Jim
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Brenda R, thank you very much! The snow would be awesome, lol!!
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John,
The next time I come down to visit my daughter, I will try to bring a box. : )
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Julie Anne, you are right on target. There is so much of that. I was very fortunate that I had a coach who lived on our street and I worked for doing brick and concrete work from age 12 on. Toughest, yet most gentle kind man I ever knew. He taught me through example how he treated and loved his wife and children. Thankfully that outweighed what the “church” and my parents were modeling. Unfortunately you are correct. And unfortunately it is changing in some churches where roles are reversing. Sad that I have heard what were Christian friends trash their loving husbands in front of friends and children and pastors joining in. It’s sad all the way around. I find myself believing the old cliche is true, nice guys finish last. I’m sure guys are interchangeable with girls/women. I worked so many disgusting criminal cases of “religious patriarchal” abuse so horrifying I still have nightmares. Some are on death row. Some are still abusing. Sick.
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Brenda R, lol that would be cool. Have to put it in the freezer. Was 92 here the other day!
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Here’s my entry for praise-n’-worship music. It’s very old-school praise and worship music.
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I guess I might as well come out and say it. I probably shouldn’t be writing. I am overcome with grief especially this Weekend preceding the anniversaries. I don’t know what else to do. I feel too absorbed in myself but I can’t stop seeing the images of them leaving while I was too weak to get out of bed. The unknown of the hundreds of hours spent with extremely extremely new age type pastors, in particular one. Just can’t get it out of my mind.
I pray for everyone else in pain and suffering. Me, I’m Color Blind.
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Muff Potter,
That is a beautiful song. I love Bach, especially when it is played well.
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John,
You are free to pour out your heart sorrows here. It’s completely appropriate for you to be feeling pain during this difficult week of anniversary dates. That’s what this place is for. Not many will ever understand the depth of pain you have faced – losing spouse, losing family, devastating medical issues, cancer, cancer treatment, spiritual abuse, etc. Please don’t apologize, just know that others are seeing your comments, lifting you up in prayer as you come to mind.
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Brenda R,
Much agreement here. I think that this guy knows what he’s doing. In my opinion, many people play Bach way too fast and it tends to come out clipped and staccato. On the other hand, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata can get butchered by being played too slow and dirge like, maybe that’s why he penned it in cut common time?
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Muff Potter,
I wish I could make my fingers work like that to play Moonlight Sonata. As soon as I saw it written here I turned it on. Such a gift he was given not only to play this son but to write all of that. I am onto Fur Elise, which is my all time favorite.
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Who cannot be but deeply moved and edified by this conversation here…and the music. Oh, thank-you Muff Potter for that amazing rendition by Bach and am in agreement with Brenda R. There are times when the tones of the musical notes minus the words just soothe the soul.
I just love how all of you are loving on John here and I find it so humbling. What friends of Jesus, in that all of you are “being the church” to one another minus the buildings made with human hands, in ministering to the hurt and the pain of those believers who are left behind. I praise God for you, John, that you are being real and human in addressing your personal situation here, and whether you realize this or not, you, yes you are ministering to many of us here at Spiritual Sounding Board. The internet provides a wonderful venue for the ministry God, the Holy Spirit, has called you too, in spite of your circumstances.
A friend of ours visited our home last week. His wife has an incurable disease and ministers to others via the internet in sharing the Gospel and His Words of hope with others who have the same condition. While she rarely leaves her home due to her illness, she has been used as an instrument of our LORD in helping those who feel “hope-less” and see no reason for moving on with this life. Praise God, Praise God that He uses the least of these to minister to those of us who are rich, and yet so very poor. May Jesus be glorified here.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:10 Would like to join the saints here in praying for you, brother John.
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I just finished listening to Beethovan’s Fur Elise, the 1 hr version. That was as relaxing as a hot bubble bath, a massage or possibly even a pedicure.
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I’ve got to say that I am deeply moved by all of the comments here. Very humbling to me. Thank you John, for sharing your story. Your faith is strong amidst the pain. We have an amazing God. I think about that a lot, that God loved us so much, that he made himself low to lift us up. We are important to Him as He is to us. God Bless you John.
And, to Julie Anne,
Amen sister!
Ed
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John, as believers, we are called to share in each others’ burdens. You have been carrying a very large load! How can we as a community help lighten it? I am thankful that with all of your deep pain, you are here. You exist in our lives. You count.
I am hopeful that we are each here, at this time to be the tangible, though imperfect love of God for you. Also we each have healing occur in our own time and way. However, please don’t isolate yourself, even if it is a daily walk out the front door. Keep coming back or I will miss you. Maybe one day you will grow to miss me. Love to you, Ann
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Julie Anne, thank you again, so much for your encouragement, compassion and genuine kindness. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for and old post on your old site that Google found that in my desperation God led me to. Amazing. I went dark for the rest of the day and came back to find love and acceptance in more comments. That is a huge blessing for me. Thank you again.
Katy, thank you for your prayers, and your encouragement, love and understanding. It is such a blessing to get to know others here. Thank you
Chapmaned29, thank you also for the encouragement, acceptance and compassion. Thanks for the comment about faith. Strange, I consider myself falling short on faith, or so I have been told and feel. Your comment means a great deal to me.
Ann, you are such a blessing. Praying for you also, that things help that you were talking about the other day. It’s a battle, a tough one that is very misunderstood. I do feel accepted here. Amazing, blows my mind to find so much acceptance and love here in the church, Gods church with no walls. I did walk out the door (had to sit down every so often, lol) and went dark for the day. But I’m not missing, I came back. Thank you for you for your love and concern. I’ll be checking to see if you come back, lol
To everyone, as Julie Anne said, reading my rambling and praying and accepting. Incredibly different and such a blessing. If I pass my blood test tomorrow (studying hard) then I get to be with the Chemo nurses who are so compassionate and caring. They are a blessing to spend the day with. Mine is about a 7 hour process and they really help me. I pray for all in the medical field, it’s seems those in oncology have such a calling that they experience so many ups and downs and sadness yet remain encouraging and sensitive to what’s going on.
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Ann, sorry forgot. About what you can do. Being accepted by you and everyone, I feel loved and blessed so much here, that is more than enough. I thank you
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John
You write to Ed…
“Thanks for the comment about faith.
Strange, I consider myself falling short on faith,
or so I have been told and feel.”
Was wondering…
Did The Kingdom of God, The Kingdom of Light, tell you…
John, you are falling short on F. A. I. T. H.?
F.orsaking A.LL I. T.rust H.im.
Or, was that the kingdom of satan?
Or, are you listening to, and beliveing, some Mere Fallible Human? 😉
When you believe the Lie – You start to Die…
And, which FAITH is it that “you think” you’re falling short in?
1. Your Faith – Thy Faith – 2. The Faith – 3. Of Faith – Faith Of
4. By Faith – 5. In Faith – Faith In – 6. Their Faith – Our Faith
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1 – Your Faith
Mt 9:29 According to your faith
Ro 1:8 your faith is spoken of
1Co 2:5 your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God
2Co 10:15 your faith is increased
Eph 1:15 your faith in the Lord Jesus
Php 2:17 service of your faith
Col 1:4 heard of your faith
Col 2:5 the stedfastness of your faith
1Th 1:8 your faith to God-ward
1Th 3:2 concerning your faith
1Th 3:5 know your faith
1Th 3:6 good tidings of your faith
1Th 3:7 we were comforted… by your faith
1Th 3:10 perfect that which is lacking in your faith
2Th 1:3 your faith groweth exceedingly
Jas 1:3 the trying of your faith
1Pe 1:7 the trial of your faith
1Pe 1:9 the end of your faith
1Pe 1:21 your faith and hope might be in God.
2Pe 1:5 add to your faith
———-
Thy Faith
Mt 9:22 thy faith hath made thee whole
Mt 15:28 great is thy faith
Mr 5:34 Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole
Mr 10:52 Jesus said unto him… thy faith hath made thee whole
Lu 7:50 woman, thy faith hath saved thee
Lu 8:48 Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole
Lu 17:19 Arise … thy faith hath made thee whole
Lu 18:42 And Jesus said… Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee
Lu 22:32 I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not
Phm 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith
Phm 1:6 communication of thy faith
Re 2:19 I know thy … faith
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2 – The Faith
Ac 6:7 obedient to the faith.
Ac 14:22 continue in the faith
Ac 16:5 established in the faith
Ac 24:24 concerning the faith
Ro 1:5 obedience to the faith
Ro 4:11 righteousness of the faith
1Co 16:13 stand fast in the faith
2Co 13:5 be in the faith
Ga 1:23 now preacheth the faith
Eph 4:13 unity of the faith
Col 1:23 continue in the faith
Col 2:7 stablished in the faith
1Ti 1:2 my own son in the faith
1Ti 3:9 mystery of the faith
1Ti 3:13 great boldness in the faith
2Ti 4:7 I have kept the faith
Tit 1:13 be sound in the faith
Tit 3:15 Greet them that love us in the faith
1Pe 5:9 stedfast in the faith
Jude 1:3 contend for the faith
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3 – Of Faith
Ac 6:5 full of faith
Ac 6:8 full of faith and power
Ac 14:27 door of faith
Ro 3:27 law of faith
Ro 4:13 righteousness of faith
Ro 9:30 righteousness which is of faith
Ro 10:8 word of faith
Ro 12:3 measure of faith
Ro 12:6 proportion of faith
Ro 16:26 obedience of faith
2Co 4:13 spirit of faith
Ga 3:2 hearing of faith
Ga 3:5 hearing of faith
Ga 3:7 they which are of faith
Ga 3:9 they which be of faith
Ga 6:10 household of faith
Eph 6:16 shield of faith
Php 1:25 joy of faith
1Th 1:3 work of faith
1Th 5:8 breastplate of faith
2Th 1:11 work of faith
1Ti 4:6 words of faith
1Ti 6:12 fight of faith
Heb 10:22 assurance of faith
Jas 5:15 prayer of faith
———-
Faith Of
Ro 3:3 faith of God
Ro 3:22 the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ
Ro 4:12 faith of our father Abraham
Ro 4:16 faith of Abraham
Ga 2:16 the faith of Jesus Christ
Ga 2:20 the faith of the Son of God
Ga 3:22 that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ
Eph 3:12 faith of him
Php 1:27 the faith of the gospel
Php 3:9 through the faith of Christ
Col 2:12 the faith of the operation of God
Tit 1:1 the faith of God’s elect
Jas 2:1 the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ
Re 13:10 the faith of the saints
Re 14:12 the faith of Jesus
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4 – By Faith
Ac 15:9 purifying their hearts by faith
Ac 26:18 sanctified by faith
Ro 1:17 live by faith.
Ro 3:28 justified by faith
Ro 5:1 justified by faith
Ro 5:2 access by faith
Ro 11:20 stand by faith
2Co 1:24 by faith ye stand
2Co 5:7 walk by faith
Ga 3:11 live by faith
Ga 3:24 justified by faith
Ga 3:26 children of God by faith
Ga 5:5 the hope of righteousness by faith
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith
Php 3:9 righteousness which is of God by faith
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated
Heb 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please him
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah … prepared an ark
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham … went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise
Heb 11:11 Through faith … Sara herself received strength to conceive seed
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, NOT having received the promises
Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham …offered up Isaac
Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21 By faith Joseph… gave commandment concerning his bones.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses… refused to be called son of Pharaoh’s daughter
Heb 11:27 By faith he (Abraham) forsook Egypt
Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down
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5 – In Faith
Ro 4:20 strong in faith
2Co 8:7 abound in every thing, in faith
1Ti 1:4 godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1Ti 2:7 a teacher of the Gentiles in faith
1Ti 2:15 continue in faith
1Ti 4:12 be thou an example of the believers… in faith
2Ti 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words… in faith
Tit 2:2 sound in faith
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promise
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith
Jas 2:5 rich in faith
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Faith In
Mr 11:22 Have faith in God
Ac 3:16 faith in his name hath made this man strong
Ac 24:24 Felix … heard him concerning the faith in Christ
Ro 3:25 a propitiation through faith in his blood
Ga 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus
Eph 1:15 your faith in the Lord Jesus
Col 1:4 heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
Col 2:5 the stedfastness of your faith in Christ
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6 -Their Faith
Mt 9:2 Jesus seeing their faith
Mr 2:5 Jesus saw their faith
Lu 5:20 he saw their faith
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Our Faith
Lu 17:5 Increase our faith
Heb 10:23 hold fast the profession of our faith
Heb 12:2 Jesus the author and finisher of our faith
1Jo 5:4 this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
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Ps 138:6
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly:
but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Ps 40:4
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,
and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
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@ Brenda R :
Beethoven’s Fur Elise (pronounced correctly as Ah-leeza) is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written.
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Muff Potter, Thanks you for the correct pronunciation for Fur Elise. I have the song in sheet music in a much shorter version. I don’t think my hands could take the full hour, but haunting does seem an appropriate description. I felt every muscle relax while listening to it.
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