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Category: Christian Life You have viewing the Christian Life category! We invite you to join our website or login if you are already a member! Blessed Assurance Posted by:  kdrose   (Posted: 07/04/08 6:58pm) Oh, Father this has been the most awful week of my life. I prayed over Kaylin and I asked you not to take her before she was ready to meet you. Her death is tragic and we still don't know what really happened. I have to believe that she had her moment to call out to you before she died. If she didn't and you took her then that would make you a cruel God and I cannot believe that you would be cruel. There is so much we don't know and don't understand but I know you are here. I know that I have cried out to you in anguish and you have heard my cry. When we thought she was missing and I sat to do my devotion you led me to Psalm 23. Later I found out that after we found out she was gone that while Doug was making the trip back that he had a book that had Psalm 23 on it. When we asked our pastor for scripture for comfort her gave us Psalm 23. Three times you confirmed. Before I found out she was gone I prayed for her and felt such peace.... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by allforhim)  - Total Views: 19 Jesus = so much love! Posted by:  chillinwitjc   (Posted: 07/04/08 12:47pm) All my life I have imagined Jesus walking with me just over my left shoulder tight up behind me. His head leaning upon my shoulder, his cheek up against mine. He walks with his right arm wrapped around me, and the other one trying desperately to guide me; if only I'd listen. He is always there, but when I feel connected to Him the most... is when I cry. When I have finally reach my breaking point and can accept His help. And as the tears well up in my eyes and Jesus presses in closer to me, I release the tears and they slide down my cheek. Soon they reach a place on their journey where it divides and begins two paths. One path down the rest of my cheek and one down the rest of Jesus' cheek. The work of my struggle, my challenge, has been divided. I must do the work I have to do to see it thru, and then grow, and Jesus will do His to see ME through. My strength, my hope, my peace. My Jesus! But there are times, like this time, when I can't cry. These times when I cant reach that... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 15 Are we just Fluffy Christian? Posted by:  youaregolden   (Posted: 07/04/08 10:03am) Are we just Fluffy Christians? I have been on CB for a long time. it is going on 2 years and when I first joined we had a lot of deep very good meaty blogs. But it seems that over time, the fluffy ones that just make you feel good show up. I am not pointing any fingers or anything, I am just trying to challenge us to how deep our Christianity goes. I work with a girl who I got the chance to ask if she goes to church. Turns out that her father-in-law is a Pastor of a Baptist church. She goes to church with her husband every Sunday and lives in a Bible believing house. She smokes over a pack of cigarettes a day, cusses like a sailor and uses God's name in vain all the time. She believes she is going to heaven. I cannot judge her heart, maybe she does have a saving faith. But where is it? Do we say it is OK to cuss? Is it OK to smoke? Is it OK to go along with the ways of the world so they will accept us? Do we make excuses to go along... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 6 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by brownpb11)  - Total Views: 67 Psalm 23 Posted by:  kdrose   (Posted: 07/03/08 5:58am) Oh God I need you. This feels to much to bear. How can I get through this? My heart feels like it is breaking in a million pieces only to become whole to break all over again. My faith is tested more then I ever thought possible. I am trying Father, I am trying but I am weak so I have to trust your strength. I have to know my baby rest in your hands my Father. I have seen you at work through this tragedy but my heart, oh my heart. You took my heart. I know you are leading me but this is a road I never wanted to travel. Help me Oh God, help me is my cry. I don't know if I can survive this. You say you will not put on us more than we can bear but I feel the weight of this. I know Satan comes to discourage me and rob me of my peace and I try to remain strong but my weakness is all I have to give you now. I don't understand this. I know that somehow this will work for your good but for now I don't understand this.... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by happytoberestored)  - Total Views: 16 Faith In Jesus Posted by:  jesusmymainman   (Posted: 07/01/08 4:31pm) God is a God of miracles. When you are struggling through the bad times it isn't always easy to see a way out. Yet we must see God in our bad times too. Tomorrow I go for an operation on my knee and have to go under general anaesthetic. I hate the loss of control you feel as you drift into a very deep sleep. Yet I know that if anything happens to me I will be with God. God will be with me whilst I have my operation and He will be with me through all my bad times. Through the bad times we need to stop and think of God. (Hebrews 11:33-38). Faith in God helps us to do wonderful things we would never have been able to without God's strength. With God's strength we can move mountains and we never need to be afraid. When we realise that faith in God allows us to achieve successes we would never have been able to before we realise the wonderful power of God in us. Hebrews chapter 11 talks of faith as the substance of all things not seen. We have faith that a light switch will turn the... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 5 having so much fun!!!! Posted by:  worshiperofchrist   (Posted: 07/01/08 12:39pm) Well im down in springfield with my aunt and uncle!!!! well they go to a church call North Point Church and their worship service is amazing! They are in college now and have a kitty her name is Ella! she is so adorible! well i love being down here! it is so much fun... i miss my family though! we are going to go and sing for the elderly. we are going to sing This Is Me by Demi Lovato but we kind of made out own version of it... my aunt is going to play the guitar while i sing... well my uncle might sing. I am so excited for the 4th of july! i hope that i get to go to my grandma and grandpas because i really want to enter the contest! everyone says i have an amazing voice! well lifes great and i can't wait to go to church camp! well i have got to go! i have to go shopping!!! lol KAYLEE*... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 15 Flirting... Good or Bad? Posted by:  youaregolden   (Posted: 07/01/08 9:26am) So, I decided to write a blog that has been on my heart for a while now. Here I go and I pray that tihs will make sense and be beneficial to everyone who reads. What is Flirting? I have thought about this a lot. According to Wordnet Flirting is: flirting- noun playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest Is Flirting ok? Well, if we stick with that definition, then I don't think so. if we are looking for a "mate" do we want them sinning or lusting in their mind, or do we want to have them go after us persay for who we are in Christ and for our personality. We are told repeatedly to stay away from sexual immorality. We must flee from sexual immorality because it is a sin. But I Flirt Without Knowing it! I have a friend who has been told she is a really bad flirt. And she asked me what to do. She said she doesn't know how to stop. My boyfriend thought the same because he had a problem with flirting, until he realized that (1) he iis taken and flirting is being unfaithful to me, but (2) he was being... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by deaconfarley)  - Total Views: 52 What Next? Posted by:  annar   (Posted: 07/01/08 5:20am) It has taken me some time in deciding whether to post this blog as its so desparing! yet, I will praise him whatever I am feeling. I've just finished my work experience on the farm and am back for the last two weeks of my Job seeking course. The time on the farm was wonderful - horses, dogs, cats, children and helping with the strawberry harvest, as a job perfect, but not possible. I feel like a huge pit has opened in front of me. I walk with the Lord and know this is his plan for me and I trust him. Yet every avenue that I have explored for work and have asked him has come back with No. I cry out to him saying just show me what you want, but the path is dark. How can I serve him being on my own at home all day? I can work on my book, play with my photography, but how is this being useful to him? I dream of publishing and exhibiting the photos and giving the money to him, but also feel this serves no one but myself. I would seek to serve others and show them... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 1 Comment (by graceabounds)  - Total Views: 16 Be Careful of the Company You Keep Posted by:  blessings2you   (Posted: 07/01/08 1:39am) Is wisdom a human with the ability to speak? Of course it is not. Yet, in Proverbs wisdom not only speaks, but also calls and cries out. The "voice" of wisdom is equivalent to the voice of God Himself. God is all wise and when He speaks to us through His Word that which is spoken is His will and "final word" on all subjects. Specifically, wisdom emphasizes the practical application of what God speaks. Wisdom is knowledge applied. There are numerous great "wisdom" chapters in Proverbs which should arrest our attention. Chapter one of Proverbs should not only arrest our attention, it should demand our urgent application. I feel this chapter is perhaps one of the most pertinent in all of God's Word to our present time. The warnings found in the chapter have been ignored and the consequences are starting to manifest themselves more and more daily. Being the first day of the month, I feel it appropriate to start looking into a few highlights of this remarkable chapter. All verses are from the New King James Version unless otherwise stated. Today we will look at the first major section of Proverbs One, which is found in verses... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 4 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by tchable)  - Total Views: 69 Are You Like Patience Or Passion? Posted by:  kreynolds   (Posted: 06/30/08 5:54pm) In John Bunyan's classic allegory Pilgrim's Progress, Christian stops by the house of the Interpreter. In one of the rooms, Christian encounters two children. Their names are Patience and Passion. Patience is sitting quietly in a chair. Passion, on the other hand, is very restless and angry. Christian asks the Interpreter about the children. He learns the children have been told they have to wait until the beginning of the year in order to receive the best the governor of them has to offer. Patience is willing to wait. However, Passion wants everything now. At that moment, in order to pacify Passion, someone rushes in with a bag of treasure and pours it at Passion's feet. Passion is delighted. He even begins to make fun of Patience. Within a short time, however, all of Passion's treasure is gone and he has nothing but left but the rags he's wearing. I have to confess that far too often I am like Passion. I want everything to happen right now. Does anyone else find themselves in a similar situation? I've been pretty impatient lately. I want it to hurry up and be the end of August so my treatment will be over.... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by allforhim)  - Total Views: 41 Waiting Patiently Posted by:  ddkays   (Posted: 06/29/08 6:24pm) Hello everyone in blog world. I am new to this site, so bare with me. I would like views on how you wait patiently on the Lord. It is a tough thing to do...wait. I feel I am in God's will and I am doing what He asks of me. I love the Lord with all my heart and I give Him all the praise and worship. I am in the middle of waiting and I want to do it patiently. I pray and pray some more. I would like to know how others have endured. I started a new business and after a year of planning and prep work it is here. Now I wait to see the fruit. Please leave me comments. Thank you, Mary Ok I am back because I did not complete the total word count, who knew! I am blogging to find new Christian friends to share thoughts and encouragement. I have no clue where this blog will end up, nor do I know where to go to find other peoples blogs on here. If you could leave me ways to do that it would be great appreciated. Thank you all for your time...I look... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by kiwibird)  - Total Views: 20 teamwork, God told me to tell you, and faith Posted by:  throughfaith   (Posted: 06/29/08 5:20pm) You walk into church, prayer group, or Bible study... someone comes up to you and says, "The Lord told me to tell you ...". What do you do? What do you believe? Do you run the other way and make a mental note to avoid them in the future? Do you complain to someone in leadership? Do you thank them and file it away with things you don't need to know? or Do you thank them and pray over it? Do you ask them to pray with you about it? Do you seek scripture to attest to its accuracy and then seek the Lord about it yourself? Why do I worry about this? I have been the one to tell people "The Lord told me to tell you ...". I have been met with all kinds of responses, some good and some bad. Some people tell me I just want that to happen and that's why I'm saying it. Others tell me I couldn't possibly know anything about them. I've had two different pastors who didn't believe the Lord even spoke to anyone so you can imagine their responses ... very negative. And yet ... I never asked to know... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 4 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by papillionkiller)  - Total Views: 38 WHY Do You Believe What You Do Posted by:  blessings2you   (Posted: 06/29/08 4:08pm) Of all the questions a person can ask, there is one which stands head and shoulders above all the rest. The greatest question to ask of anyone, at any time regarding anything is; Why? More can be learned about plans, agendas, motives and sincerity by relentlessly asking "why" questions than by any other route. If reporters asked more "why" questions and less self indulging questions, we would know far more about people and events than we do. It is pretty hard to answer a "why" question without the first word being "because". Therein lies the greatness of "why" questions; they probe and make people honestly state the reason for actions or beliefs. Unless a person is forced into explaining the reasoning behind what they believe, say or want to do; there is no way to find out if it is right or legitimate. "I believe the sky is purple" is a statement that screams "WHY?" Since we all know the sky is blue, if someone sincerely believes it is purple, there must be a reason. When it comes to spiritual matters, this whole subject takes on a much deeper and more urgent tone. We MUST know WHY we believe as... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 9 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by wormwood)  - Total Views: 166 God's unending love Posted by:  poodlelady   (Posted: 06/29/08 3:23pm) God's unending love Have you ever tried to change a situation and it only seemed to get worse, then felt like you had failed to complete your task. Did you consider you did not fail, God just wanted things the way they were for reasons you did not and may never know or understand. I Have There is no failure just God's unending love And new beginnings. Have you ever felt God leading you to do something, but you were afraid you could not do the task so you didn't, then you felt as though you had failed because you didn't try and you so wished you would have. I Have There is no failure just God's unending love And new beginnings. We all know the "Serenity Prayer". Here's a little personal touch I added to it for myself and I'd like to share it with you. Serenity Prayer God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Remind me : My ways are not your ways, and help me to remember maybe it's just the way you planned it. courage to change the things I can; Remind me: I can do all things in Christ who... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 4 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by savedbyegrace)  - Total Views: 28 So... I have graduated... Posted by:  youaregolden   (Posted: 06/29/08 10:03am) Yesterday was my graduation party and I have to say it was one of the funniest times I have had in a long time. I didn't expect all the people to come that did, and I didn't expect all the love from everyone that showed up. I was so blessed to have all my friends from the past years come and a lot of my family there, and the best part was that everyone got a long great. But I think the part that kind of dumbfounded me was... it is over. My school work and those 12 years of pain (as I call it) are over and I am now into the real world. it is time to make choices and walk out on my own. It is truly scary to me, but truly something I cannot wait to do. I have been given an oppuritunity to work full time at my bank with benefits and such. I am going to be moving into the inlaw suite that is attached to my mom's house for now, and save money for my future. I am going to take up some photography and see what I can do with it. I... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 10 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by happytoberestored)  - Total Views: 103 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it (Ps. 24:1a) Posted by:  tealight   (Posted: 06/28/08 3:51am) I guess the Lord sets different passions upon our hearts at different times. In the last few months, one passion the Lord has set upon my heart is for the environment - for the earth that He created and all the things that are in it. After all, the Lord appointed us to care for His world (Gen. 1:28). In the NIV, the Lord says 'Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the ground.' (Gen. 1:28). So, what does this 'ruling over' the earth look like? Looking at the state our world is in, it seems for at least the last couple of hundred years (since the industrial revolution), like the dominant attitude in the West has been that it pretty much looks like us doing whatever we want, however we want. But God created us in his image (Gen. 1:27), and this is a long way from the way God rules over us. So I started small. Reusable shopping bags were obvious, and energy-saver light-bulbs. Finding more eco-friendly cleaning products wasn't hard, as all the supermarkets seem to stock... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 23 Are You FAMOUS? Posted by:  surfersteph   (Posted: 06/28/08 1:52am) My friend Lucy and I were walking through College Green on our way to the bus stop after finishing college. We were just chatting when a woman approached us, she said: ‘‘Next week in this area of Bristol we are filming for the next series of Street Doctor. I was wondering if you were interested in booking an appointment with the doctor? Do you have any aches or pains at the moment'' I thought to myself: - Do I look ill!? - Do I really want my doctors appointment broadcast to the nation!? However, if I was someone who was desperate to be on any TV programme at any cost, I would have jumped at the chance - even if there wasn't anything wrong with me! I would have made something up! In today's society there are people who would do anything just to be famous - just look on all of the reality TV programmes! BUT...did you know that you're famous in heaven and you didn't have to do anything!? You don't have to attempt to impress a panel of judges on the X Factor who then tell you that you're simply not good enough and then point out... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 1 Comment (by cowgirldiva)  - Total Views: 14 Life unfolds Posted by:  karenlea   (Posted: 06/27/08 12:48pm) For those who read my profile, I mentioned a divorce and said I was happily married. Well, there enlies my life change. I dated a dear friend for seven years. We married. We stayed married for seven years. We were friends. I was devoted to my career not my marriage. I saw everything as mine, not ours. I didn't even change my name. He was good to me and my family. He was always there for me, as much as he could be and I would allow. We were never in love. We did love eachother. The divorce is for another blog. I am in love with my current husband. Deeply in love. I had always heard women talk about being in love. I thought they were all crazy. Then he came along. In love is soooo different from love. His love has changed my life. We DO NOT have a perfect marriage. Often I wonder if we even have a good marriage. Sometimes I wonder if our love is enough to hold our marriage together. But I cannot image my life without him. I know God has put us together for a reason. And together our lives have changed,... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 18 Prayers God Really Hears Posted by:  wormwood   (Posted: 06/27/08 12:01pm) Do you realize there are prayers God will not hear? First, lets look at prayer for a moment. I have been convicted in my life because of the foolishness in the way I have prayed in the past. How many times do we pray and then within 2 min forget entirely what we have prayed? How often do we pray for the sake of prayer...because it is expected? What do we normally pray about? Most times it revolves around someones health, or job, or family problem. I find myself that I am more apt to pray when I am in a pickle than when things are going well. Now, I know we are to present all our requests to God, but that does not mean God hears them (and by hears them I mean recieves them and is willing to respond). The instruction to present everyting to God assumes we approach God properly..which we often do not. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6 not to pray like a hypocrite or pagan. Hypocrites pray with others as their audience, not God. The Pharisees prayed so people would see them pray and not because God hears. Jesus said they will recieve no... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 4 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by tchable)  - Total Views: 57 Ignorance Is Bliss...Or Is It? Posted by:  kreynolds   (Posted: 06/26/08 8:04pm) This morning I was nervously sitting in a little waiting room with four other women. The fact that I was draped in a gown and had abandoned my head gear did not make me feel more comfortable. Six months had passed since the mammogram which had found my cancer. They wanted to catch me again before I have radiation as that often leaves scars and lumps. This would give them a good baseline as to what I looked like after my surgery. To tell you the truth, the room and my attire weren't the only things making me nervous. I'd been told the tumor had been completely removed. I'd been told the area around it was negative for cancer. I'd been told all of these things but I hadn't actually seen it yet and since my tumor couldn't be felt, this seeing business was actually pretty important to me. Examinations can be scary. What if you have bad news? It seems like it would be much easier to ignore it. I mean, it can take a tumor years to grow to 1 cm. Of course, then you have a billion cells dividing and things can start moving quickly but in... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by jesusmymainman)  - Total Views: 56 Consider the Ravens (and all other birds) Posted by:  blessings2you   (Posted: 06/26/08 8:00pm) Please pardon my lack of writing anything too "deep". It has been a long few days of a heart stress test and then first preparing for everyone's favorite medical procedure, the wonderful colonoscopy (along with an endoscopy thrown in for good measure); and then the ordeal of it today. At least I am blessed they now use anesthesia; just a few years ago all that was given was a valium pill. So, here is a simple post on the beauty of watching and learning from the birds. When not looking at the computer screen, I look out the window at my three hummingbird feeders. I figured if there were three, there would be plenty for everyone and the birds would stop fighting. No such luck. Hummingbirds (which are fascinating to watch and scientifically intriguing) are notorious for fighting with each other. Birds, as a rule, are very territorial and spend much of their lives defending mates, nests, young and feeding areas. I have watched an exceptionally mean hummingbird chase another hummingbird as far as the eye could follow. I have watched other types of birds fight to the death another bird attempting to intrude on its space. As interesting as... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 1 Comment (by happytoberestored)  - Total Views: 78 Study to Show Yourself Approved Posted by:  wormwood   (Posted: 06/26/08 6:51am) So often I find people to be very defensive when it comes to their faith and understanding of Scripture. Questioning or examining the beliefs of some leads to anger and intolerance. Now, do not get me wrong. There are doctrinal truths that are foundational to the Christian faith. Even so, why are Christians so angry? My belief is that many Christians do not really know the Scriptures. Instead, they have adopted a belief system through a variety of songs, sermons, and traditions mixed with today's culture. I have found that the more someone knows the Word of God and the stronger their faith, the less defensive and controlling they tend to be. When someone is firmly founded in the truth, they are not easily angered or anxious about questions or differing opinions. Do you get angry when your views are questioned? Do you always have to have control? Is your belief-system a power issue that you must dominate? Or are you founded and humbled through the washing of the Word to the point where you can openly discuss matters of faith and eternity without always having to be right or in control. Perhaps the non-Christian would be far more inquisitive... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by kraftykatz)  - Total Views: 48 Opposition Posted by:  kdrose   (Posted: 06/25/08 10:39pm) Satan tried to steal my joy today and I almost let him. I work with a woman who is difficult. She has a reputation in our company and I have to work directly under her so it can be tough. I have been praying for her so I have been trying to be ready should I be tested. I have had to pray many times for God to let me see her through his eyes because through my own I see a very hateful mean person. Today she was in an especially bad mood and the whole office was feeling it. I had to pray several times. I do believe one thing, that as long as I keep working for this lady my prayer life should improve. I feel that God did remind me that he had died for her too. That he loved her enough that he had come to die for her sins to be covered and for her soul to be saved. I have been praying that God will move me or her, but for now I have to accept that I am right where God wants me to be and that there is a reason that... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 15 Transitions are costly Posted by:  oldpaths   (Posted: 06/25/08 10:18pm) Transition Is Costly Luke 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. Transitional times are always difficult times for God's people. It is so in the natural realm, and it is so in the spiritual realm as well. One needs a pioneering spirit to step forward into the unknown. In this, men of the world are often wiser in their generation than the children of light. They readily stretch toward unexplored dimensions and move into new inventions to continue to meet the challenge of the unreachable and the impenetrable. But men in the church are comparatively complacent; they sit back and feel content and satisfied in the realm of the Spirit. On the other hand, Satan along with all his principalities and powers in the world of darkness, is totally active and innovative. Daily he brings new weapons of destruction to destroy the spirits, souls and bodies of men. It is so tragic that God's people can envision nothing better than the restoration of something they had in the church two thousand years ago! The majority in the church are of the conviction, and feel scripturally secure and confident, that... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 11 Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow... Posted by:  singleinthecity   (Posted: 06/25/08 6:52am) This week I am in Shanghai for work. I've traveled a lot this year - I feel like I barely recovered from my last trip with my cancelled flight and frustrating delays, and last Saturday I jumped on another 11 hour flight to go to China. For those who do not travel for work it may sound like a dream - I live in Europe, since last December I've been in China, Thailand, Sweden (ok that was for Christmas), the US twice, Turkey (Istanbul), Honduras and now I'm in Shanghai. And don't get me wrong - I do enjoy seeing new places and traveling for work has been a part of my life for the last ten years or so - it's just been intense this year. And - it's also true that you end up working longer hours than normal, you are tired from jet lag and those flights can just kill you. But - I love my job and this is a part of it. One of the hard things when you are single is the feeling of loneliness that sometimes overwhelm you when you travel - especially if you travel with someone who calls her spouse (and... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 13 Hearing The Knock Posted by:  pop52   (Posted: 06/25/08 6:28am) On the way to the airport with my granddaughter early Saturday morning, she noticed the orange reflectors that are stuck down to the middle of the highway. She asked me, "Pop, are those lights hot and will they burn the car?" I explained that they were not hot and only reflected the light from our headlights to show us where the middle of the road is. As we drove on in silence, I began to reflect back over my life and the time I spent traveling the middle of the road of life. It was always well lit, and though it seemed like a safe place, in truth it was just as dangerous as driving down the middle of this highway would be. What is it about the middle of the road I like so much? Why do I seem so determined to take that path in my life? Without intending to I began to make a mental list of the reasons I want to cling to the middle ground. It seems to be safe there, with no risk. I don't have to get out of my comfort zone. There is no sacrifice involved. No extremes. Never too hot, never... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by allforhim)  - Total Views: 39 Taking Time Off For Yourself Posted by:  blessings2you   (Posted: 06/25/08 1:20am) Four years ago we purchased a home, had a room built, and totally remodeled the entire downstairs and made it 100% handicapped accessible for my mom. The amount of time and money it took to transform this house from what it was to what it became is incredible. Many contractors worked long hours over the space of 4 months to get the house ready for the predetermined date of my mom's arrival. It wasn't quite done when she came, but it was close enough. My mom at the time was 86 years old and although she was still mentally sound as could be, arthritis and other physical ailments had made her dependent upon her walker and wheelchair. She had stubbornly fought the idea of moving in with us, but there was no other option. By the time she had packed and had to endure the long two day drive over here, she was physically weak and mentally about to break. The initial "honeymoon" lasted about a week and then the problems started coming. Mostly they dealt with "territory" and "things". She wanted to put all her stuff all around the house since it was her house too. I wanted her... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by iraqivetsgtret)  - Total Views: 100 I listened to God Posted by:  lilysvalley   (Posted: 06/24/08 7:38pm) My husband has always wanted a garden, I have never wanted one. Since 1992 we have had a garden. Every year around March he will come home from work talking about where and what he is going to plant. Every year I sit in aggravation as I listen to what he is planning. Finally, last year he would come home and I would either walk out while he was talking about it or stand and fight (eventually cry). I don\'t want a garden, I just want grass (been here 7 years with no grass)! And last year, we didn\'t have a garden at all. I had a very relaxing summer last year. I listened to a lecture in early April this year. The lesson was on being prepared for the groom (Jesus) and I always take notes during lectures. The lady started speaking and I have maybe 2 lines of notes taken and then the spirit starts speaking to me. Next thing I knew I had 6 lines of notes explaining why I should help my husband with his garden and that I shouldn\'t be angry with my husband because we have no grass in the yard, and that having... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by poodlelady)  - Total Views: 73 Does a Fish Symbol Make Me Better Than You? Posted by:  blessings2you   (Posted: 06/24/08 5:19am) THE SITUATION I was driving to the hospital yesterday for a lengthy medical test. I generally try to avoid early morning tests and procedures due to the heavy traffic, but this test needed to be done early. Driving in there were two types of drivers. There were those like myself trying to drive 65 instead of 70 to save a few cents on gas, and there were those who insisted on driving 85 because they cherished a few extra minutes of sleep more than the few dollars they waste in gas driving so fast. Even as the traffic got progressively heavier, those insisting on going 20-30 mph over the speed limit formed a solid line in the passing lane. My eye caught one very expensive vehicle in that line of cars for it had a HUGE fish symbol on the back of its tailgate (the vehicle was a high dollar Hummer). I thought at the time; why bother advertising you are a Christian and then blatantly break the law? Amazingly, I watched this vehicle get tired of the "slow" moving traffic going "only" 75 in a 55 mph zone. The vehicle, in a move only a NASCAR driver would appreciate,... Read Full Entry  - Category: Christian Life  - 5 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by iraqivetsgtret)  - Total Views: 222