Showers of Blessing

Ezekiel 34:26 - And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

Hebrew Prayer for Healing

I am reading a chapter out of this every weekend:

An Understandable History of the Bible  - read it, your eyes will be opened

Fighting Back!  - this will help answer some questions and reference to questions if you to are a KJV reader may get asked

Last year as I was using the yellow booklet called the Disciple's Guide to read thru the Bible in a year, I started with the Bible I had on hand - NIV student bible.  Then my son got a NLT with  a metal cover and magnetic clasp, so I started reading my daily chapters in it.  Once I decided to start posting my notes I took while reading the Bible on this xanga site, I used biblegateway.com to copy and paste the verses I jotted down as wanting to post.  I noticed that the publishers version of the NLT at biblegateway and the version we had - even the verses didn't always read word for word - and that sent up a huge "red flag".  So then I decided to go back to the NIV I was using, until I read the NIV was missing verses.  It's true.  And sure, the NIV has footnotes that say some or early manuscripts say... but seriously how many people really read the footnotes, especially if you have 3+ chapters to read?  I personally find footnotes distracting.  Sure sometimes I like to look at the additional info but most of the time the additional info doesn't address the question I was thinking of any way.

Which verses did the NIV delete?  Here

SO I decided to dig out of my childhood box my KJV with the picture of Jesus and the children all around HIM on the cover.  Sure I may have looked silly carrying a "child's" Bible around, but at least it was correct.  And yes, at first it was a good challenge to read it...ya know actually having to chew on something instead of having liquid poured into me...but well worth it.  I know that just by reading it (and also reading Charlotte Mason's writings) my brain seems smarter.

I'll leave you with a drawing/picture:

06/26/2007 Chapters 1-5

1:13-17 - Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

2:3 - Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

2:5b -   so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

2:19 - Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
{Samuel was blood of an Ephramite but adopted into the Levite clan...cool}

2:21 - And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

3:1 - And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

06/27/2007 Chapters 6-10

8:13 - And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

10:6 - And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

10:9 - And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

10:24-25 - And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

06/28/2007 Chapters 11-15

12:18 - So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
{people today would just say, " oh that's just 'mother nature'"}

13:19 - Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
{sorry J & M...LOL luv ya!}

14:7 - And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
{talk about submission}

{(ok so JOnathan is fighting battles at this point, so he must be at least 20 years old...yet isn't David a boy about 14-16 years of age when he slays Goliath?  and yet Jonathan and David end up as great friends...even though one must obviously be older...I always pictured them around the same age and that's why they hung out together...guess there was an age difference, maybe since David had older brothers he was used to being around older guys?)}

15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
{link to audios on this subject...go to http://graftedin.com/sabbathpod.html and look for Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft parts 1, 2, and 3}

06/29/2007 Chapters 16-19

17:47 - And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.

{This chapter confuses me....people tell Saul they know a lad who can play the harp for him who is a man of war in 16:18 and in that chapter Saul loves David and asks him to stay on to play harp for him...then in the next chapter Saul goes to war and David is sent home and yet when David comes and defeats Goliath, Saul has the nerve to ask him who he is and who his dad is?  What like he can't remember the lad he supposedly loves?}

18:14 - And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

06/30/2007 Chapters 20-23

22:2 - And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
{all you who are weary...Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.}

07/01/2007 Chapters 24-27

25:21 - Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
{sneaky?  No deal first that if he protected their sheep and homestead he'd be fed in return...so what w/o your known consent I could cut your grass and then expect payment??? KWIM} ***update 07/15/2007****  I read in a book earlier today:

When David, the anointed king of Israel, was living in exile, fleeing from king Saul, he created an army of men and trained them as a police force to protect the people of the land in which they were living.  This militia depended upon the farmers and ranchers to supply them with food-remuneration for the protection they provided.  {knowing this it makes it sound less like David just decided to “keep watch” over someone’s livestock expecting pay in return, without first making such an arrangement. }

07/02/2007 Chapters 28-31

29:6 - Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
{so even when David was under the authority of an enemy, he did what was right.  Good tip there, you may work in a "secular" field but do right as unto Yeshua}

Talked about food earlier...now to talk about ...

Last night we went ahead and had home Church early since in the summer many people get to bed early and rise early...so instead of being done and starting to visit by 9pm, I was already home.

Our 10 month old kitten started to vomit on the floor and I tried to catch her to take her into the bathroom with it's ceramic tile floor - easy to clean up than the carpet.  I missed and she took off for under my son's bunk bed...I could only grab her tail so I did and yanked her out.  She had left a spot in the hallway and dining room already by the time I got her to the bathroom - and wouldn't ya know she was done.

So when I went in to let her out, she was scared of me since I grabbed her like a rat by the tail...but hey quit barfing on the carpet...I understand cats gotta barf sometimes, why can't it be on an easy to clean surface, they have a knack for vomiting on the hard to clean areas.

Flash forward to 11pm...DS is tucked in and about to fall asleep - yeah we stay up late, so what.

I have my night clothes on and about to get in bed when DH says did you check for cat poop because it smells everywhere....So I go in the hallway and look to my left into DS's room and the kitten is starting to clean herself and I see poop hanging out her rear.  SO I grabbed her and put her in the bathroom again.  Got some paper towels and was going to see if I could clean her up. 

Grabbed and started to pull on the turd hanging out and something else came out...I cried for DH to come have a look because I was afraid I may have been pulling her intestines out or something.

DH said it looked like a worm or a string.  But when I pulled there was resistance and the poor thing cried out.  SO I looked up an emergency vet.

They say I can just wait it out but there's a chance that with the resistance it could be snarled up in the digestive track and no longer smoothly working it's way out and it could tear her intestines if we or she pulls on it.

So I got to the vet's around midnight fifteen.  Blue (the kitten) tred to pull the string out...animals can't leave things alone...and she cried and sat up on her hind legs quivering.

They gave me the worst case estimate - $1087 if the cat needs surgery....I said no way...it's only a cat.  Then she gave me the best case estimate - $243...so I signed for that one and hoped for the best.  Got home at 1pm...and fifteen minutes later, they called to say Blue was doing fine...they sedated her and got the string out and the vet wanted to speak to me.  I thought he was going to berate me for letting her eat a string...he just restated what the assistant said and then told me she'd be ready to be picked up in 30 minutes...I was like I just got home - a good 15-20 minute drive - and am going to sleep.   I went to  bed at 1:30am...didn't fall asleep right away cuz DH also came to bed and it seems he likes to be chatty when it's sleep time...don't mind talking to him but I am usually already asleep by 11:15pm and had been up since 5:55am....so I was tired.

5:30am -after tossing and turning all night-more so than sleeping - I got out of bed, brushed my teeth, threw some clothes on and left to go get the kitten because she had to be picked up by 7am and since it's morning the people who do the "9-5" would be jamming up the roadways.  I got back home by 7am.

It's 2:20pm and I've been going non-stop since.

Took DS to camp applause
Went to Save-A-Lot and Dollar General (for cat litter, there was none at Save-a-lot)
boiled potatoes to make dill potato salad.
posted the save-a-lot entry
talked to my mom on the phone- she's traveling- somewhere near wyoming
Picked DS up from camp applause
Came home and finished the potato salad
grilled some steak
shaped my Challah dough that has been rising/resting since yesterday
baked the Challah- and it looks yummy, can't wait to give thanks for it and some grape juice and try it tonight**
heated up some green beans...
served my DH a plate full of homemade food
put the peanut plant in full sunlight
did some dishes
and now posting this

still to do:
*Read I Kings 8-10 and jot down anything that comes to me while reading
*home educate DS - no official "summer break" don't want to spend more time than necessary to refresh his letter sounds and numbers and such and in our state "official" school year is July 1-June 30th so we are in Year 1...but just doing some fun things that we wanted to do that aren't listed at AmblesideOnline (My Little Prairie Primer -Laura Ingalls Wilder easy readers and activities and trying to finish 100 Easy Lessons book and CLP nature reader)
*clean the leu
*take DS back to camp applause by 6:30pm for his "Recital" - gotta go charge the digicam batteries
*come home and give thanks and welcome the Sabbath - I can use it!

Save-A-Lot

I have shopped here before...and again today...each time the store is so confusing to me...I know low overhead so that means they don't organize?  I really can't properly shop in an unorganized store.

I was only going to get enough groceries for 3 days.  I read in a magazine about a family who does this.  For them it cut down on produce and other perishables going bad before that weeknight they were to be cooked was made.  I know some can't do this because that many trips a week with small ones would drive them insane- and I don't blame you...but my son will be 6 in a little over two weeks and surely by now 2-3 trips to a store less than 2 miles away should be no big for him...and if it is, then we have serious discipline/attitude issues that need to be worked on.  Plus it's summer and we head that way once or twice a week anyway to go to the library and the free events they have...

So I made my list. 

21 things....should get us through monday night...go shopping on monday or tuesday for the next 3-4 days items.

I found 17 of those things- many of which I am counting but they are really just a substitute or would work for the item I specifically wrote down.  And one I found but decided not to buy because I don't need 8 hamburger buns...too many for a family of 3.

Some of their items were no cheaper than they are at Hyvee...a store that is organized...and has things specifically like I wrote on my list.

So if you shop only at Save-A-Lot for your families food, would you mind sharing a typical week's worth of meals and/or a grocery list? 

For example the one I went to only had white flour and sugar...and a bunch of sugar substitutes...but what if I wanted whole wheat or rye flour or even brown sugar? 

Oh the total for jusr 16 items = $29.80 plus tax

07/05/2007

Titled: As Many As I Love

Is corrections supposed to be painful?
How are we chastened?
What is true repentence?

Revelation 3:19a - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:

Notice it doesn't say who HE hates or who HE puts up with....but who HE loves.

Hebrews 12:5-6 - And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Chasten - to correct or discipline

MASTIGOO - greek for scourge - physically with a whip and it can be severe

Chastening is extremely painful inside - you'd rather prefer an actual whooping.

Hebrews 12:7-8 - If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

When you feel the chastening say, "Praise YHWH I'm saved!"  "I am a true son!"

{he talked about like sermons in church where you feel the conviction/chastening...I thought pastors weren't suppose to preach every sermon as a guilt trip...PRESENT PERFECT anyone?!}

Hebrews 12:9-10 - Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Hebrews 12:11 - Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Painful - HIS first way to chasten is speaking to us in a stern matter through HIS Word {are you reading the Word? it would be wise}.  If we ignore HIS Word HE will use affliction and hardship to chasten us.

OT verses for proof: Psalm 119:67-75

NT verses for those who say "but that was OT times": I Corinthians 11:30-32

When you are chastened, just listen and be quick to repent.

Hebrews 12:12 - Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

Hands are for service and feet ar for your walk/manner of living.

Jeremiah 23:22 - But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

Isaiah 35:3-8  Highway of Holiness, a higher level of living.  {He said the NASB gave a "better" translation because it said fools will not travel this highway...but KJV also uses the word fool...hrm..}.anywho a fool sees his thought and life as a measure of wisdom and is deceived.

Hebrews 12:14-15 - Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

More verses describing a fool: Proverbs 12:15; 14:16; 18:2

Laodicea thought they were ok, but YHWH rebuked them.

If you are not willing to heed correction then you will miss the road to Holiness.

***Correction without repentence is of little value***

Revelations 3:19b - be zealous therefore, and repent.

A passionate desire to change from where we are to where HE is.

Complete change of mind, thought and heart.

Not an emotional thing.

He said that I John chapter 2 tells us to be like HIM.  This means that one of us has to change and it ain't gonna be HIM so we need to be corrected.

Embrace the correction of YHWH.

Isaiah 35:10 - And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Hebrews 12:18-23 Remember only Moses (and Joshua) could get on Mount Sinai...but we can go to Mount Sion.

Verse 22-23: But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

angels= angels

General assembly = OT saints

church of the firstborn = saints who have already died

spirits of just men made perfect = us....we enter HIS throneroom when we pray.

verse 24-25 - And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Moses heard the crystal clear voice of YHWH while the Israelites heard only thunder and a great shaking.  And yet they didn't escape...so much more we won't.

Some get the revelation preached as hearing a clear voice....others don't get it because they only hear noise or static.

Verse 26 - Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

to shake=remove that which is not built on the proper foundation or that which is dead.

verse 27 - And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.   (Eternally)

Verse 28 - Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

He points out again that he is reading from the NT!

This is how this verse is preached today, "so like dude I'm saved by grace it's so cool cuz it means I can live however I want to live, it's all gooood"

II Corinthians 7:2 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Teases for Part XII

What keeps us from being chastened?
YHWH's greatest attribute
How to receive the fire of YHWH upon your life

Staye tuned....

I signed DS up for something called Camp Applause...Stomp class.

Well it's been 2 days and he says all he does is play with instruments...so I am wondering what he will be doing at the recital on friday....?

Also they gave him a devotional book and memory verses I am suppose to work with him on...all in NIV...and even some "traditional" hymns written in "old fashioned" terms for him to re-write in today's words....

Well if we do the memory work, it will be in KJV...less words for a child and more accurate.

also they put in there that David rebuilded the temple....and I know those of you who know your Sword (Bible) know that is an incorrect statement...and yes I pointed it out to them and they look at me like I had 2 heads or something....

Also it is at the church I have been going to on sunday mornings...the place is so huge, I go in one door, and walk to the other side to drop off/pick up DS....it is very disorganized...I paid $30 for this...we will not be doing this next summer.

Remember this post? 

Plagues of Egypt

Revelation

Do you see anything?

07/03/2007

Difficult Days

-the perilous times prophesied for these last days
-why we will experience them {I don't think he really talked about this...I was looking forward to it}
-who it is that Yeshua calls a lukewarm christian

II Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

what are the promises?
-Dwelling with us
-Walking among us
-Being our God
-We are HIS people

Good way to put it:
the love of YHWH keeps us from legalism
the fear of YHWH keeps us from lawlessness

ok How do we get cleansed?

II Corinthians 6:1 - We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

remember that Grace empowers us, it is not just a big cover up

knowing this should explain next passage

Hebrews 12:14-15 - Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

if you think Grace is just a cover up you would think, how could you fail, right? but when you understand Grace can be received in vain (remember the story about the man given the car to get away from the volcano but he doesn't use the car?) then you can see how one can fail.

II Timothy 3:1 - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Have to be spiritually blind to not know we are living in the last days.

Why is Paul saying then will be perilous, after all he lived through some perilous times himself see II Corinthians chapter 2...so if he is saying our day will be perilous we better watch out!

II Timothy 3:2-5 & 7 -  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

we have more preaching than ever before and yet verse #7....???  don't use the Grace to go from being unthankful to thankful, unholy to holy, and so on.

Lukewarmness or a compromised lifestyle is a contagious disease.  He had a concern for his children - how to keep them from getting infected.

He said "christian" high school kids are the hardest to reach....there's lots of compromise there.

He said there is 2 main theories on the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation. 
- all letters apply to us today
- they are chronological order of the churches since Yeshua's departure

IE: first "church" 304AD constatine "legalized" christianity...by 404 AD 90% of rome was "christian"...but they forgot their first love.  7th church - time just before Yeshua's return

Revelation 3:14 - And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Notice it doesn't say city....

Faithful - tells you the truth every time

True - tells you whether you like it or not

Revelation 4:1 - After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. {I think he was using this to back up the chronological viewpoint, that 7th church age will be the last one, because again he never got around to saying why we'd be living in the last days}

He said the trumpet says, come up here, baby.

America has religious freedom but not spiritual freedom.

the enemy uses a life of ease to get christians lukewarm

People want preachers to tell them only what they want to hear. {I'd add that many only believe those parts of Scripture that they agree with}

Exodus 23:8 - And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

Flattery deceives - think used car salesman telling you how much you are the back bone of America, how nice you look, in other words flattering you more than even your wife does...but the salesman is only trying to get your money.  Your wife loves you.

Revelation 3:15 - I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

It says works not intentions

Cold = person in the world, they know they are a sinner, they do not need to be convinced of this
Hot = passionate for YHWH, serving and obedient to HIM

either is better than being lukewarm

Why cold?

verse 16 - So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Lukewarm = blends in with Hot - knows the lingo etc
                blends in with Cold - may not "cuss/drink/smoke" {the "taboo sins"} but got enough of the world to fit in, they do and live for self.

Yeshua says that HE's gonna vomit those out of HIS Church that really don't belong to HIM {no more "safety net"}

DO NOT CALL A LUKEWARM christian A BELIEVER!!

the answer to why cold is better than lukewarm = again a Cold knows they are lost and need a Savior, no convincing needed.  But a Lukewarmer in the church says to themselves "I said the prayer so I am fine"  and they are hardest to reach.

Preaching nice and comfy messages do not help...that is not real love.

He would rather have people scream at him here while they are coming to their senses so to be ready to enter into the Kingdom of YHWH, then to have their blood on his hands later.

So to those preachers who preach easy and light sermons saying to themselves that people will come around John Bevere asks, "Do you want that much blood on your hands?" -- OUCH!

Vs 17-18  Buy From Me   This is something not obtained for just acknowledging HIS LORDship  read more about this in Part X

Proverbs 23:23 - Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Isaiah 55:1 - Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Matthew 13:45-46 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 

In other words he Gave his entire life.

II Corinthians 5:15 - And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Matthew 25:1-13  Parable of the 10 virgins.  They were all looking for HIS second coming.  Had their lamps(Light). Half were foolish (remember Many will say unto me Lord, Lord...and yet they will be told to depart).  The wise have vessels of oil to fuel the lamp.  (he who endures to the end will be saved)  It's midnight the light is going out.  The wise tell the foolish to go to those who sell and BUY.

Modern visual - 10 go into a camping store.  5 foolish go to the counter and lay down some money to buy the lamp, they don't want to go to hell DYK...they go away feeling relieved they are safe.  {said the prayer}.  5 wise go to the counter and take every cent they have from change, cash, savings, checking, all assets, etc and say I want a lamp and with every penny leftover, I want the oil.

the wise gave their entire life.

the foolish only gave what they thought was required to be saved....kept back part of their life.  {just enough to squeek by mentality}

Another visual:

Man asks a lady, "will you marry me?

She replies, " I will serve you breakfast in bed every morning, treat you to a picnic in my upkept garden everyday for lunch, and I will have the kids tucked in and a romantic candlelit gourmet dinner prepared every evening that I will serve wearing only lingerie.  I will also keep a spotless and gorgeous home for you. I'll do all this 364 days a year but 1 day a year I would get to sleep with as many men as I choose."

He says, "No way."

She offers, "ok just 4 hours a year to sleep with my many lovers?"

All his buddies say, "come on man, she is a super model, smart, and can cook to boot.  What you'd rather have a slob for a wife, peanut butter on the counters, jelly on the curtains, dirt and grime on the floor? Why not accept her deal?"

He says, "I expect all of her, no room for other lovers in her life."

None of us want a spouse like that.  What makes us think Yeshua will go for a bride like that?  Do we think HE wants a bride with just a "little" of the world in her?  If we do, then we are more deceived than thinking a guy would say yes to the above scenario.