This Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for our fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here: http://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this intellectual haven that Wolf has created for us.

The Storm is upon us.
Please remember to Pray for our President.

And,

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

God IS in Control

I believe, as God’s Word tells us, that God is in control of the events that happen in this world.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.
. . . for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

The Bible specifically tells us that God establishes the authorities of this world.

For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 
It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings. . .
. . . the Most High has power over human kingdoms. He gives them to whomever he wishes,

Now, we’d like to think that our just and merciful God would put only just and merciful rulers in place, but we know from history that’s not so. Corrupt, wicked, brutal rulers come and go as do just and merciful rulers.

In particular, right now, many of us are wondering what God has in store for us with respect to President Trump’s second term . . . and we start with the options that we can think of . . . but we don’t know, although we may stumble upon an answer that’s close. We just don’t know what God plans for us, as stated in God’s Word:

How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

But, we do have assurances that:

. . . all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

But “work together for good” doesn’t mean that God-loving Christians, by the world’s standards, come out on the top of every situation. If you look at the Tanakh, you’ll see that the Children of Israel didn’t come out on top many times, maybe even most of the time. The most serious of these situations were because they left the only God and they took up with false pagan gods. And masses of Christians and Jews have been slaughtered for 2,000 years.

I think the world looks at survival as saving your life, whereas God looks at survival as saving your soul. And therein lies all the difference.

We may suffer less or more throughout our short life on earth, but if we come through that experience with our souls safely in God’s hands, we have an eternity of Peace, Joy and Wonders to look forward to.

Eternity with God will certainly put the events of this next week into a proper perspective.

But until that time . . .

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.

. . . those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

and attain a mindset . . .

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you . . .

. . . in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ . . . For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Behold, I am coming soon.

To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

And God Bless President Trump and his family.