Bed, Bath, and Bowls

O.T. #150  "Bed, Bath, and Bowls
Oct. 18, 2013
Exodus 8-Part 1
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD."
Exodus 8:8 NIV

LET IT GLOW

When I was a child, my neighbors had a secluded pond I the woods next to us. My brother and friends would go frog giggin' at night to kill bull frogs. He used a long handled wooden pole with three metal prongs, a spear, on the end. Off they would go frog hunting in the hot summer night with the moonlight, a flashlight, and a burlap sack. They would clean the catch by cutting off their hind legs and skinning them. Mom would fry the for supper the next night. Mmmm. Lest you say yuck, frog legs taste like a white piece of chicken. In fact, some catfish restaurants around here have them on their menu.
That's my experience with frogs, croaking on a hot summers night. I can't imagine green, slimy frogs croaking and hopping in your bed, bath, and bowls like the Egyptians had.

Plague #2-Frogs

God sent Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh so he would let the Hebrew slaves go to serve Him. Pharaoh was given another chance to repent, for he was forewarned about the frogs, but refused the request again. Maybe the plague of water turned into blood didn't effect the king very much. Perhaps he had milk or fruit juice to drink. The Word doesn't say.

According to verse 3, frogs were hopping everywhere:

• in the bedroom,
• their beds,
• servants' houses,
• upon the people,
• in the ovens,
• in the bowls, kneading troughs for bread,
• and of course in the Nile River where they bathed, though Scripture doesn't say so in this verse, but does in verse 11.

Ladies, can you think of having these critters in your house and kitchen? What a noise! It would be worse than a cricket in the house. You couldn't sleep, eat, or even talk without frogs.

These sacred frogs were not killed either. Yes, I said sacred. The Egyptians worshiped the frog. God showed them the foolishness of worshiping a frog-god. If they wanted to worship frogs instead of Him, God would give them all the frogs they wanted. Doesn't God have a sense of humor.

Here's what David Guzik had to say about this frog-god:

• It was a female goddess named Heqt.
• Frogs reproduced rapidly.
• Frogs were common around the Nile River.
• Being amphibians, they are a part of two worlds, land and water.

I can't figure out why Pharaoh's magicians would want to duplicate the act, making more frogs for them to endure. I suppose it was to prove their power.

LET IT GROW

What happened next? Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. He said it all in our key verse 8 above.
Did he just acknowledge that God had the power to take away the frogs when he told them to pray to the Lord? Did he make a deal with God-take away the frogs and he would let the Hebrews go to offer sacrifices unto God?

Do we make deals with God-if You will...then I will ...? Isn't it a dangerous thing to do? Can we make a deal with God? Perhaps God knows and understands our finite minds and reasoning.

Back to the story-Moses left it up to Pharaoh as to when God should rid them of the frogs.
Tomorrow. Really? Why not today? Why not now? Tomorrow get rid of the frogs. How ridiculous is that when the opportunity is the present?
Aren't we like Pharaoh? Instead of taking advantage of God's blessings by obeying Him now, we put it off until tomorrow. Ouch! Pardon me while I spend time on my knees confessing my sin of half obedience.

Moses asked Pharaoh to set the time for the termination of the frog plague so that Pharaoh would know that it was God who ended it. (Falwell)

It happened as Pharaoh said, so he would know that there is no one like the LORD our God (verse 10).  The sudden death of millions of frogs. What a stinky stench all over the land. Only frogs remained in the Nile River, where they should be.

Pharaoh did not keep his word to release Israel, but he hardened his heart instead.
Do we keep our word to others, to the Lord Jesus? How merciful our Lord is! It doesn't take frogs in my house to show me my disobedience, just on a page.

How about you friend? Have you told the Lord you would do something when He asked you, but you have yet to do it, like me?

By the way, Revelation 16:13 mentions three evil spirits that look like frogs.
Revelation 11:6 mentions the waters being turned into blood when the two witnesses prophesy for Jesus. some of these plagues will occur again in the end times.

LET IT GO

of worldliness and pride and turn to God for mercy.

Obey what He asked of me, not tomorrow, but today.

Maybe I should buy a ceramic frog to remind me that half obedience is actually disobedience.

No Water

O.T. #149 "No Water"
Oct. 17, 2013
Exodus 7-Part 3
And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.  Exodus 7:21

LET IT GLOW

There have been times that  we had no water for our house nor for the cattle to drink on our farm. Sometimes it was due to an electrical outage.  Several times the electricity was off to the pump due to ice and snow storms, and a tornado. A couple of winters it was off for a week at a time, so we used a generator. Then there were a couple of times that our pump stopped working and we had to replace it or parts. That was when we quickly called the man who fixes pumps. He was so good to come as soon as possible. In the mean time, we either hauled water from our son's house or we just stayed with them in their upstairs. When I didn't have water, I seemed to be thirsty a lot. I couldn't bathe, wash clothes, nor flush. You don't miss it until it is gone.  It is rough being out of water for 7 days. The Egyptians experienced it, too. Why?

After the staff and snake episode, Pharaoh did not let the Hebrews leave Egypt. He hardened his heart. God told Moses to take his staff and go down to the Nile River and wait for Pharaoh there.

Apparently Pharaoh habitually went to the river for washing or, more likely, for the performance of some religious rite. Three times Moses would meet him at this early morning rendezvous to warn of plagues, the first, fourth, and seventh. The Nile River was the sacred waterway of the land, whose annual ebb and flow contributed strategically and vitally to the agricultural richness of Egypt. Hymns of thanksgiving were often sung for the blessings brought by the Nile, the country's greatest, single economic resource.  (John MacArthur)

So the warnings of the coming 1st, 4th, and 7th plagues occurred at the river bank. the Warnings for the 5th and 8th plagues happened at the palace. (An interesting tidbit)

Moses was to say the same thing to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt-God said for you to let His people, the Hebrews, go into the desert to worship Him. This time, it was added, "But until now you have not listened. By this you will know that I am the LORD." (verses 16c and 17a NIV)

In verses 17-18, Moses spoke God's warning of the water turning into blood and the fish dying.
Pharaoh said nothing.

Do we listen and know that God is the Supreme God, Elohim and Almighty God, El Shaddai?

If we listen to what He has to say to us, we might receive a warning of something to come.


LET IT GROW

Then Aaron struck the water of the Nile with his staff and it turned into blood in front of Pharaoh and his officials.

The Nile River was worshiped as a god since it was the source of life in Egypt (Deut. 11:10-12), and when Moses turned it into blood, God showed His power over the river. (Wiersbe)

It wasn't just the Nile River that was changed into blood; the streams and canals, ponds and reservoirs, wooden buckets and stone jars of water, also; even areas not touched by the natural flow of the river. The Egyptians could not drink the water for seven days. That's how long the plague lasted. It was virtually impossible for the people to find fresh water to drink (verses 18, 21, 24) during those seven days.

The word blood (dam in Hebrew pronounced dawm), refers to that which when shed causes death of man or an animal; it can also refer to the juice of the grape, fig. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)

In Liberty Bible Commentary, Jerry Falwell said:

The word blood occurs over 150 times in the Pentateuch, and is always used of real biological blood, except in two passages (Gen. 49:11 and Deut. 32:14) where it speaks figuratively for the "blood" of the grape. If Moses had simply meant that the Nile would turn "red," he could have used any of several words to signify that color.

The Egyptian magicians did the same thing and Pharaoh's heart became hard, then he went back to his palace. He did not even take it to heart. He didn't even contemplate what he saw happen.
Do we listen to what God's Word has to say to us and take it to heart? God means business. He cannot lie. His Word is true.

the Egyptian people even tried digging around the Nile River for drinking water. When the blood turned back into water, in a single day, it should have been a miraculous thing to Pharaoh, but his hard heart took no notice.

I hope we do not have such a hard heart that we can't see God's miracles around us.

Here is some new information which I found out and wanted to share. 

John Phillips, in his book, 100 Old Testament Sermon Outlines, concludes:

Pharaoh hardened his own heart long before God hardened it for him. The hardening process is traced to Pharaoh up through the first five plagues. After the sixth, God hardened Pharaoh's heart for him. Space was given him for repentance after the seventh plague; thereafter, Pharaoh proving adamant, God hardened his heart until He met him in judgment at the Red Sea.

That is plague #1, water turned into blood. How many plagues or miracles does it take to turn our heart to God? It took 9 more for Pharaoh.

LET IT GO

Listen to God and know that He is LORD.

Look for warnings and heed them.

Maintain a soft heart.

Modern Plagues

O.T. #148 "Modern Plagues"
Oct. 16, 2013
Exodus 7-Part 2
The LORD told Moses to speak to Pharaoh for Him:
For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Exodus 9:14

LET IT GLOW

Do you ever wonder if aides, cancer, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wars, are the judgment of God upon our nation? I do. Are these modern plagues to soften our hearts and turn to Him? After all, we allow abortions, marriages of homosexuals, abuse, etc. Is our nation becoming a modern Sodom and Gomorrah? What is next? God has been so patient with us, yet are we turning to Him in repentance and mercy?

When God speaks, He expects His subjects to sit up, listen, and obey. If they stubbornly refuse, then they risk becoming objects of His wrath. Because Pharaoh elected to rebel against the divine King, he opened the door for ten destructive expressions of God's fury. (Swindoll)
We call these expressions plagues. The word is not used until 9:14, but we call them the ten plagues.

In Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, plague refers to a pestilence; defeat; slaughter; or stroke.

What do we already know about the plagues that are coming?

• God predicted the plagues to Moses back in 3:19-20 at the burning bush.
• He revealed that Pharaoh would refuse to let the Hebrews go free.
• God would strike Egypt with a series of miracles, thus they were a part of God's plan before Moses returned to Egypt.
• Pharaoh's nature required the plagues. God prophesied the Pharaoh would reject the plea to let the Hebrews go worship God in the wilderness (5:1-2).
• Pharaoh's heart was stubborn in 7:14.
• In order to get Pharaoh's attention, God delivered devastating wonders, due to his deep-rooted rebellious nature.
• Staunch disobedience of Pharaoh called for a severe judgment of God.
• At the end of the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally heeded Moses' words for God, "Let My people go."

The obvious miraculous nature of the ten plagues cannot be explained by identifying them with natural occurrences to which Moses then applied a theological interpretation. The specific prediction of, as well as the intensity of, each plague moved it beyond being normal, natural phenomena.
(John MacArthur)

Have we been given fair warning? We know that eternity is coming when we die. Then we will stand before God as our Judge or Savior. Our soul will either enter Heaven or Hell for all eternity, forever. Sweet friend, are you prepared for that day? You can avoid the judgment by asking Jesus to be your Savior, to come into your heart, to forgive you of your sins. Then you will be in heaven.
Will you make the choice right now?


 LET IT GROW

As we prepare for the ten plagues to come upon Egypt, we observe that each plague affected all of the Egyptians, not the Hebrews in Goshen (except for the 10th). None of the plagues softened Pharaoh's heart. though he finally let the Hebrews leave after the last plague, he later pursued them so he could bring them back. Thus, Pharaoh never did repent of his disobedience to God.

Does this make us realize that our sins effect others and our loved ones? Is our heart soft or hard because of our sins?

LET IT GO

Keep my heart soft, confessing my sins.

Love God with all my heart, soul, and mind.

Witness with a kind heart, not a judgmental one.

Pray for our nation, families, each other.

Who is the Greatest One of All?

O.T. #147 "Who is the Greatest One of All?"
Oct. 15, 2013
Exodus 7-Part 1
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "When Pharaoh says to you 'Perform a miracle,' then say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,' and it will become a snake."

LET IT GLOW

Who is the greatest one of all? We don't need a mirror to tell us who is the greatest one of all, as in the children's story Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
No, we know and believe that God is the greatest one of all. But not all people know and believe that. Certainly God proved it to Moses, Aaron, the children of Israel, and Pharaoh and his magicians. Want to know how? Read on, friend.

God showed His power in performing a miracle of turning a rod or staff into a snake. He did it before Moses (4:2-9), He did it for Israel and Aaron (4:30-31), and now to Pharaoh in 7:10. It was God's sign of His authority.
This was the second time that Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, trusting and obeying God. Of course, Moses already knew ahead of time that Pharaoh would not let the Hebrews leave Egypt without the plagues being performed by God.

So when Pharaoh requested a miracle through Moses and Aaron, they knew what to do. God had already given them directions-throw down Aaron's staff, rod, before Pharaoh, and it would become a snake. That's just what the brothers did. However, that wasn't proof enough for this king, that God was all-powerful and King of the universe. Nope, he had to bring in his wise men, sorcerers, and Egyptian magicians to perform the same act. Can't you see his cocky head move as he gave the order? Perhaps he loved a challenge or had seen what his men could do through the power of Satan. I don't know.

Magic and sorcery played a major role in the pantheistic religion of Egypt. Its ancient documents record the activities of the magicians, one of the most prominent being the charming of serpents. These men were also styled "wise men" and "sorcerers," the learned men of the day and the religious as well (2cor. 11:13-15). The loss of the magicians' rods in this fashion gave evidence of the superiority of God's power when Aaron's rod gulped their down.  (John MacArthur)

Does God have to prove to us His power in our lives before we trust and believe in Him? He wants us to love Him not for what he can do for us, but for Who He is-El Shaddai, Almighty God, Elohim, Supreme God, our Savior.

LET IT GROW

The story didn't stop there. Oh, no. Something happened that these proud onlookers did not expect-God caused Aaron's staff, which was a snake at the time, to swallow up the other ones. What a magnificent performance by God!
Yet seeing was not believing, for Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the Hebrews leave Egypt to worship this Almighty God.

Now keep in mind, this happened before the 10 plagues. Pharaoh had his chance to change his mind. Come to think of it, the Word does not say that any of his people tried to persuade him, either. Hmm.

Do we not see the great wonders that God performed when He created the things of nature which are all around us? Who made the trees, the flowers, the oceans, the sun and moon, the mountains, the grass, the dirt we walk on? Better yet, who made the us? Jehovah God, the only One.
Will you believe in Him today? Have you surrendered to Him today?
the God who spoke everything into existence loves us and wants a relationship with each of us. I can't comprehend it, but by faith believe in Him.

Psalm 136 repeatedly says, O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.

LET IT GO

Thank You heavenly Father for all the beautiful things You have made and blessed us with.

For all that You provide, I thank You.

Bless Your holy Name.

Never Too Old

O.T. #146  "Never Too Old"
Oct. 14, 2013
Exodus 6-Part 3-7:5
Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them.  Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.   Exodus 7:6-7


LET IT GLOW

In my mother's family, her dad lived to be over 90 years of age and her sister lived to be over 100 years of age. They endured so much hardship during their lifetimes-the depression, 2 world wars, Korea and Viet Nam wars. Yet they raise their families through them. However, I don't recall them sharing things that the Lord Jesus did for them. Oh, I know they were believers, reading the Word and attending church. I don't want it said of me the same thing. I want my grandchildren to hear of the many ways God has worked in my life and my husband's life. How about you? We are never too old to share Jesus.

Moses spoke to God about their circumstances. He felt like a failure since Pharaoh refused to free the Hebrews the first time Moses and Aaron confronted him. So Moses went to the Lord in prayer.
What was the Lord's answer?

• I am the LORD.
• Speak to Pharaoh all that I say.
• I have made you (Moses) a god to Pharaoh and Aaron thy prophet. Moses stood before Pharaoh with divine authority, as a god in Pharaoh's eyes when Jehovah did all those miraculous signs.
• I command you and you tell Aaron what to speak to Pharaoh.
• The message is for Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land.
• I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.
• Pharaoh will not hearken unto you.
• I will stretch forth My hand upon Egypt and their people will know I am the LORD.

Does the Lord ever tell us to speak to someone about all the wonderful things He has done for us?
Do we pray for our family, neighbors, state, nation, and church? Are we watching for signs of God working around us?

LET IT GROW

We are never too old to work for Jesus, nor to tell of all the great things He has done in our life.  Moses was 80 years old at this time and Aaron was 83 year old. Moses lived to be 120, so his life was only 2/3 over. Man's normal life span was 70-80 back then.
The Egyptian records show that service beyond 100 was not uncommon. (Falwell/Connell)

Look at all that these two men accomplished during the later part of their lives. What is our excuse?
If I only have 10-20 more years to live, I want to do my best in serving God and share what a wonderful, faithful, merciful God He has been to me.
We are never too old to share Jesus. Let's not waste another day, hour, or minute, dear friend.

By faith Moses and Aaron did what God commanded them. They went back to Pharaoh a second time. We will see what happened not posting.


LET IT GO

No more excuses, share my experiences with Jesus.

Tell how He has worked so wonderfully in my life.

Do what God commands me and leave the results to Him.

Love people to Jesus today.

A Stick Up

O.T. #145 "A Stick Up"
Oct. 11, 2013
Exodus 6-Part 2
And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD.  Exodus 6:2

LET IT GLOW

Last spring, I came up with a unique idea for collecting money for our home missions offering. I dressed up in a western, cowgirl outfit, covered my mouth with a pink bandana, and got a big stick. I went around to our Sunday School classes dressed like a bandit, holding my stick up in the air, saying, "This is a stick up for home missions offering. I am part of Annie's gang (Annie Armstrong) and empty your pockets for our missions offering." We met our goal and more for the offering, while everyone got a big laugh out of my performance. I said all that to say, sometimes we have to stick up for what God wants accomplished, even if we do look silly. Moses needed reassurance so he could stick up for God's plan.

Moses wanted to give up after the first setback. God wanted Moses to keep plugging away; not looking at Pharaoh, the children of Israel, nor even himself, but to look to God and God alone. God had some work to do in Moses, for discouragement was ahead of him. God was building endurance in Moses, the ability to stick with God's plan and even when it doesn't seem to work. This is faith; that is patient endurance in the LORD.
Moses had to understand that this was God's will, not merely a few suggestions for Israel and Pharaoh. This was His divine command that would be accomplished one way or another.
[Resource: David Guzik's Bible Commentary]

God reminded Moses that He is the I AM and that He will do what He said, deliver his children from slavery in Egypt. Of course, it is easier for us to understand since we can read the rest of the story, but Moses was living it.

Less we point our finger at Moses and tell him to cut it out and get going, we become discouraged too when things don't turn out like we thought, even when we obeyed God. That's where we have to walk by faith and not by sight. We need to remember that God is the Great I AM and what He says He will do, He will do. I don't think I am alone in this.


LET IT GROW

In the rest of chapter 6, we read of the families of Jacob, called Israel. They were among the 70 who went to Egypt during the famine, when Joseph was second in command and the agriculture administrator. The Word focuses on the tribe of Levi, whose sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Bringing down the generations of Kohath, Amram was his son, the grandson of Levi. Then Amram is mentioned as the father of Mariam, Aaron, and Moses.

Israel spent 440 years in Egypt before Moses returned with a message from God.            
           

Falwell says there was probably another Amram, which fathered Moses and Aaron. However, it is possible, by my calculations, that this Amram, who lived 137 years, is the father of Moses and Aaron. Levi lived 137 years, Kohath lived 133 years, and Amram lived 137 years. Their sons could have been born-if each were 130 years old when each son was born, then 130 x 3 =390 years. Although, Moses was 40 when he left Egypt the first time.

Anyway, God had Moses write this genealogy down in chapter 6. If you are interested in history, you can read what happened to some of these men later on by going to John Gill's Commentary at lightsource.com.

We also read about Aaron's family, of the Levi tribe, who became priests later.

Well, the stage is set: Pharaoh refused God's command, and now God would send His judgments on Egypt. He would fulfill His promise to judge the nations that persecuted the Jews (Gen 12:3). He would reveal His power, His wrath, and His greatness, showing that the gods of Egypt were false gods, and that Jehovah alone is the true God. (Wiersbe)

Get ready. The ten plagues are coming in chapter 7.

Do we need reminded of what a powerful God we serve?

Proverbs 18:24 says, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

That friend is Jesus Christ. Is He your best friend, Savior, Redeemer, Provider, Almighty God?

LET IT GO

Keep plugging away, doing God's will, even when it looks like nothing is happening.

Stick to God's plan so He sticks to me.

Walk by faith, not by sight, with our focus on Jesus.

Who is to Blame?

O.T. #144 "Who is to Blame?"
Oct. 10, 2013
Exodus 5-Part 4, 6-Part 1
And they said, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."  Exodus 5:21

LET IT GLOW

Blame. Who is to blame? Does it really matter who's fault it is? Love doesn't hurt others. When she made fun of me, to the max, I was stunned, speechless. I considered her a friend. Words can stab you in the heart, even cut it out. Later, I thought of a come back, but glad I didn't think of it at the moment nor say it. It would have brought me down to her level. Love is kind. She was low on love and kindness that day. So I pray for her. It is God who can change hearts. I want to be an over comer, as the song goes. I want to love in spite of the ugly way others treat me.

How did Moses handle it when he and Aaron were blamed for the Hebrews added burden?
Moses went to the Lord for answers. Why did You send me? How will Pharaoh listen to me when the people won't? The Lord didn't leave Moses in the pit of despair.

Charles Swindoll, in his Bible study guide, Moses, God's Man For a Crisis, shares ways that God consoled and counseled Moses with these truths:

• "I Am." It was 5 times that God reminded Moses "I am the Lord (YHWH)." (verses 2, 6, 7, 8, 29) Moses needed to stay focused on Him. When times turn from bad to worse for us, we need to focus our attention on the Lord (Heb. 12:1-3). Dwell on His sovereignty, goodness, power, justice, compassion, love, and wisdom. Because of who God is, we can be confident that He is in control of our circumstances.
• "I will." It was 7 times that the Lord addressed Moses' need by zeroing in on how He would intervene in his situation. 
• God promised Moses that He would: 

           -bring him out from under the burdens of the Egyptians;
           -from their bondage; redeem him with an outstretched arm and with great judgments;
           -take them for His people; be their God; bring them to the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac,  
            Jacob;
           -give it for them to possess. 

Swindoll summarizes God's message to Moses: "Because I am who I am, I will always do what is best for you."
God expected Moses to accept this truth and get back to his appointed mission (verse 10-11).

Isn't there always enough blame to go around? Who is to blame? Bring it on down to home-am I to blame? Or am I suffering for the cause of Christ, doing His will?

The Israelites looked to Pharaoh for help rather than to the Lord who had promised to deliver them (5:15-19). Believers who are out of fellowship with God bring grief to their leaders instead of help.
(Wiersbe)

                 
LET IT GROW

So what do we do when life gets us down? Don't retreat into a pit of self-pity. Stand fast on God's nature and His promises. Look to Him for strength and victory. Tough times are designed by God for our good, not for our detriment.

Swindoll gives us some principles:

• Circumstances that turn against us force dependence.
• Circumstances that force dependence teach us patience.
• Circumstances that teach us patience make us wise.

Are our struggles building character in our life? What lesson is God trying to teach me through this problem?

Matthew 5:11-12 says, Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

The word revile means defame, rail at, taunt in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance; abuse in speech or writing in Webster's Dictionary.

Is there anyone who is abusing you with words, making fun of you, or defaming you?

In I Peter 2:22-23, Peter is referring to Jesus: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.

I Peter 3:17 tells us It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Sometimes comments don't deserve an answer or defending, just prayer.

I hope you are encouraged, friend. I know I needed it.
Jesus loves you.

LET IT GO

Trust in the God who can do all things.

Bring my troubles to the foot of the cross and leave them there.

Let God take revenge for the wrong done me.

Work on self control, keeping my mouth shut.