Christian Chat

[Appleblossom]

You know I really appreciate Sons of Korah and Psalm 1 @DownMoreThanUp 

Yes, @tyme it can be utterly beyond comprehension, all that can be within one human heart.  I often pray to the aspect of the divine with people in my life and for people generally.

@ENKELI Hugs. Figuring you are busy with study.

@heartathome  Long ago, I was challenged to contemplate on the human, and social, political, geographical and historical conditions of the people spoken about in the bible.  All your expansions about greek roots are really evocative and was the way I follow.  Although in my day, it was by looking up lots of dictionaries in the  bowels of a very big uni library. lol I was reflecting reading your posts, on how more it is the language I prefer, when discussing feelings, than these modern feeling wheels.  There is something more contextual in a lot of the ideas you included.  For me feelings need to be seen in context.  What is the age and stage of the person? What are there needs and assets and supports?  What is the history of why they are in the position described?  When is it set?  How are things similar or different for us today?    

 @Realness Love your steady commitment to the word of God. I hope your theological study is helpful.  I am interested in your insights.

[heartathome]

📖Gospel of Matthew 16:24 (ICB – International Children’s Bible)
“Then Jesus said to his followers, ‘If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me.’”

A bit of the original (Greek background)
Written in Koine Greek, this verse carries strong, intentional language:

“deny themselves” (ἀπαρνησάσθω / aparnēsasthō)
To disown or turn away from—not self-hate, but letting go of putting your own will first.

“take up” (ἀράτω / aratō)
To lift up or carry—an active, willing choice.

“cross” (σταυρόν / stauron)
In that time, the cross symbolised suffering, shame, and even death—a costly commitment.

“follow” (ἀκολουθείτω / akoloutheitō)
To walk alongside, accompany, live in step with.

The sense is: choosing to follow means letting go of self-first living, accepting the cost, and walking in alignment with Him.

Who Jesus was speaking to
Here, Jesus Christ is speaking directly to:
His disciples (close followers)
This comes just after He told them He would suffer and die. It was a moment of correction—especially after Peter resisted that idea—making it clear that following Him would not be about comfort or control.

A simple biblical summary
Jesus is teaching that:
Following Him involves letting go of self-centred control
Being willing to face difficulty or sacrifice for what is right
Living a life shaped by His way, rather than personal desire alone
It is about realigning life toward something deeper, even when it comes at a cost. 💚

@Appleblossom @tyme @DownMoreThanUp @Realness @ENKELI @REDLINEZ750 

[DownMoreThanUp]

@heartathome "Jesus is teaching that:
Following Him involves letting go of self-centred control
Being willing to face difficulty or sacrifice for what is right
Living a life shaped by His way, rather than personal desire alone
It is about realigning life toward something deeper, even when it comes at a cost. 💚"

@Appleblossom @tyme @Realness @ENKELI 

I see self-denial as making room for God to grow what is good in us. It is not self-hatred, but loosening the grip of a hotly burning ego, so love, humility, self-respect, gentleness - e.g new growth in God's goodness can take root in us instead.🤗

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZDJtTMjHec&list=RD6ZDJtTMjHec&start_radio=1

[Realness]

Hi @heartathome , @DownMoreThanUp , @Appleblossom , @ENKELI , @tyme , @MissGremlin , @REDLINEZ750 , @Shaz51 ,

II Corinthians 7 (followed by II Corinthians 8 to 10)

- Let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity, of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

- Paul urges the Corinthians to make room for them in their hearts.

- Paul talks about how much encouragement he gets from the Corinthians - how much comfort he received when Titus came back with news about them.

- Paul talks again about the letter in which he reprimanded them - the grief it caused him and the Corinthians.

- But now Paul rejoices because the grief led to repentance and zeal.

- Paul rejoices that he has complete confidence in the Corinthians.

II Corinthians 8

- Paul talks about the Macedonian church giving to poor Christians and encourages the Corinthians to complete their gift to poor Christians.

- Paul assigns two notable leaders to help with the preparation of the gift before Paul arrives.

II Corinthians 9

- More about preparing the gift.

- The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

- Each person should do as they have decided in their heart - not reluctantly or out of compulsion since God loves a cheerful giver.

- This ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows in many expressions of thanks to God.

II Corinthians 10

- Paul defends his ministry.

- Bold letters; meek presence/speech - same person.

- We demolish everything raised up against God - make every thought captive to obey Christ.

- The authority we have is for building you up.

- Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

We know Paul through his letters which are often bold. In person he was a gentle Christian.

[AuntGlow]

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@Appleblossom wrote:

@ENKELI 

@heartathome @AuntGlow @DownMoreThanUp @REDLINEZ750 @

@Realness 

it was in a Lived Experience context with a workshop.  I am not having a career change lol but thought it good for me to work on seeing the funny side of things.  I decided to make it about my life and music journey, and mentioned a lot of Aussie popular rock bands.

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I love everything about this!! @Appleblossom 

Music and humour, alongside play and vulnerability, truly create such a wonderful foundation for healing. 🥰 

[heartathome]

📖 Romans 1:17 (ICV)
“The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself. God’s way of making people right begins and ends with faith. As the Scripture says, ‘The person who is right with God lives by trusting him.’”

Who wrote it
This verse comes from a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the early Christian community in Rome.
Paul is helping them understand the heart of the Christian message — what it means to be made right with God.

Greek meaning (simple “menu”)
Gospel (euangelion) → Good news, a gift, not something earned
Righteousness of God (dikaiosynē theou) → God making people right with Himself
Revealed (apokalyptetai) → Uncovered, brought into the light
Faith (pistis) → Trust, reliance, leaning on God
From faith to faith → Beginning to end, a continuous trust
Will live (zēsetai) → To truly live, not just exist

Biblical summary
This verse is saying that the core of the Good News is how God makes people right with Him —
and it’s not through effort or perfection, but through faith (trust).
That trust isn’t just the starting point;
it’s the whole way of living.
So instead of striving to earn your place,
you’re invited to live in ongoing trust with God — step by step, day by day.

@Realness @Appleblossom @tyme @DownMoreThanUp @ENKELI @REDLINEZ750 

[DownMoreThanUp]

@heartathome You certainly touch the core of our faith saying trust is the key to accessing His saving grace.

@AuntGlow @Realness @Appleblossom @tyme 

For many years, in my ill mind, faith was a feeling i had to have to be able to receive His grace or aid. This in effect meant  that when i was  paranoid, depressed, or angry, i always thought i had no faith for i could no longer feel it, and therefore believed Jesus would not love me or be near to me. The misery i brought upon myself believing this massive lie.😭😭😭

It is trust in the faith of Jesus what  i needed. And so i learned my MOST VALUABLE lesson i do not have to have to feel faith - JESUS HAS DONE IT -  i only have to trust this is so. For i knew full well i could not trust myself, especially not my ever cycling feelings, but that Jesus is completely trust worthy. This is the knowledge that helped me climb out of my pit a depressive illness, all these years ago. And Jesus has slowly been putting me back together again. Letting me rule my sanity/clarity of mind/comprehension  and my trust in His Victory over all sinful lives, mine included, ever since.

A beautiful photo taken this morning out of the window of our down syndrome daughter.

[heartathome]

I love the photo of the sunrise from your daughter's window @DownMoreThanUp I missed the sunrise this morning so your photo put a smile on my face. 🩵

[DownMoreThanUp]

@heartathome @AuntGlow @Realness @Appleblossom @tyme 

i had a very good day until a loved one unexpectedly sent me a message full of old blame and hurt. It reopened years of family pain. I’ve spent a long time trying to take responsibility and seek healing, so being seen only as the problem hurts deeply. Tonight I feel shaken, sad, and alone. Just needing connection and steadiness right now.even slow me down. Although i have no anger at all just deep sadness welling for hours already.

(i'm fine!)

Sadly i do relate to this label given to me so often along with some other impressive ones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGpXxlSjrRE&list=RDyGpXxlSjrRE&start_radio=1

[heartathome]

https://youtu.be/YcfQcmkSTks?si=HlLuCg9neQJMo0aw

@DownMoreThanUp @Realness @Appleblossom @ENKELI @REDLINEZ750 @tyme