Thursday, January 30, 2014
WHAT HAS CHICK-FIL-A DONE NOW??? A LINK FOR YOU.....
I do love Chick-Fil-A, and here is another reason to give them all the business I can!! I just wish there was one of their restaurants closer to me!!
http://madworldnews.com/guess-what-chick-fil-a-is-forcing-on-people-now/
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Joel Osteen Preaches Universalism
Joel Osteen is pastor of one of the largest churches in our country, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He has written numerous books, travels all over the world speaking and 'preaching'. There is a website for his church, as well as his personal blog/web page. Whomever his publicist is, is a creative, blinded, genius! Osteen has been marketed in such a way that he has become a multi-millionaire while preaching the 'prosperity' message.
According to http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3059879/posts ... Osteen has recently decided that the Bible has errors in it and that the apostles Paul, Peter, and John are mistaken about some things, and they should be corrected and rebuked! I will let you read the article for yourself! When you finish reading it, please leave a comment sharing your thoughts on this article. I am very interested to see how others interpret what has been said by Osteen.
HERE IS THE ARTICLE....
Joel Osteen Rebukes Apostles Paul, Peter, and John
United for Awakening ^ | 8/27/13 | Peter Michael Martinez
Posted on 8/28/2013 2:22:54 PM by Sopater
According to Joel Osteen – Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, these first century apostles are wrong and outdated and he has come out boldly to infer indirectly that Apostles Paul, Peter, and John whom wrote much of the New Testament were wrong and need to be corrected and rebuked.
When asked directly if people whom are openly practicing homosexuals are accepted into the Kingdom, Joel Osteen responded with “Absolutely, anybody is.”
We all need to listen carefully to the words that this “man of God” speaks as he goes on interviews so we too can find the errors in the preaching of the first century apostles.
Joel does acknowledge that some things are “sin” but says, “I don’t address these things from the pulpit. They only come up in interviews.” When asked if openly practicing gay/homosexual people will be accepted into heaven, Joel Osteen responded, “I believe they will.”
He makes no mention of the need for repentance.
This is a new version of the “good news” that is MUCH BETTER than the message the Jesus and the Apostles preached 2,ooo years ago which was far too narrow according to the way Joel Osteen explains his “message.”
“I’m for everybody” says Joel Osteen, “I’m not into excluding people. Jesus can reveal himself to anybody.”
The idea is that since no one would be accepted if we are called to be “holy” then all have to be accepted. So goes this logic. This doctrine also believes that all roads lead to heaven so there is no one “way, truth, and life that leads to the father.”
According to Joel, “sin means to miss the mark” which, while technically correct, stands in contrast to the teachings of many writers of the Bible that teach that sin is violation of God’s Holy Laws so if by missing the mark Joel means violating God’s ways, then yes, sin is missing the mark.
According to the out of date writers of the Bible, the “wages of sin is death” for which blood is required and for which a sacrifice was presented.
It sounds a lot more harsh to say SIN is TREASON punishable by death than to say it is “missing the mark” which is a bit incomplete. Sin is also “to incur guilt, incur penalty” which according to the scripture is death.
So by contrast, Apostle Jude is “bashing people” when he said:
Isn’t that so awesome! They are all about the people! They want you and I be accepted without having to discuss anything like repentance or righteousness. These are “judgmental” subjects that we just don’t need.
These modern day ministry giants have gone on national television to essentially correct Apostles Peter, John, and Paul to say … they are wrong … if you listen to Joel Osteen. So many across the nation are so proud of this Pastor and his courage in confronting the church fathers!
According to Joel Osteen, Apostle Paul erroneously stated to the Corinthians …
In saying this, according to Joel Osteen, Apostle Paul is being “exclusionary” and should be rebuked and corrected. He is obviously wrong and should never have said these things to the Corinthian church.
Corinth was known for its sexual openness and promiscuity so for Paul to “condemn” all these “good people” was completely out of order and he needs to be rebuked.
When Paul wrote to the Romans he also was in complete error in stating the following in the first chapter of his letter, according to Joel Osteen.
Joel goes on to point out the additional errors in the words Apostle Paul wrote.
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Paul went on to write in the first chapter of Romans, which according to the words of Joel Osteen, he is deeply misguided and mistaken.
Apostle Paul should repent for saying such things according to Joel Osteen. A growing number of people in America agree with Joel that Apostle Paul should be rebuked for ever saying such things because Paul isn’t accepting of people like Joel Osteen is.
Equally misguided and incorrect according to Joel Osteen is Paul’s words to the Galatian church. In his writings, Apostle Paul made stunning comments that were clearly exclusionary statements concerning the Kingdom and those whom are accepted, and in so doing has made grave error according to Joel Osteen.
See if you can detect the absolutely false statements that Apostle Paul made to the Galatian church according to the stated doctrine of Joel Osteen.
Joel Osteen’s God loves everybody and there are no exclusions because then, according to Joel, “none of us would be saved.” So again, Apostle Paul was completely incorrect and should never have written such harsh and insensitive words to the Galatian church according to Joel.
I imagine Joel Osteen would say “shame on Apostle Paul for ever writing such hateful words!”
Now, not only is Joel out to correct the misguided Apostle Paul, but Apostle Peter was also brought into serious question for clearly being exclusionary when he wrote these words.
Additionally, Apostle Peter goes on to say things that are completely against the Lakewood Church Pastor’s God when he stated the following.
Joel Osteen indirectly implies (subtly) that these apostles were false and were critical and judgmental and should NOT be listened to in America today. We all need to listen instead to Joel Osteen and Oprah Winfrey.
Now Apostle John made even greater errors if the benchmark is Joel Osteen’s “message” when he stated some of the thing that he wrote which, according to Joel Osteen, is just plain and simply not true.
It takes a lot of courage for Joel to stand against these writings but he believes strongly in his “uplifting and encouraging” doctrine that does not endorse such harsh and judgmental statements as written by these ancient Apostles.
We should all pray for Joel Osteen because he needs our prayers if he’s going to continue to champion the cause of those oppressed and condemned by the writings and statements of Apostles like Paul, Peter and John.
Apostle John doesn’t know what he’s talking about and we need to listen to the wisdom of Joel Osteen. Apostle John clearly was in error and should be rebuked for suggesting that people who tell lies are going to have their part in the lake of fire.
What was Apostle John thinking writing such judgmental things???
That’s a terrible thing to say and no one, certainly not Apostle John, should be allowed to say such things. As Joel says, “there’s enough condemnation in the world” and we don’t need anymore.
Additionally, in his letter, Apostle John says things like …
Apostles Paul, Peter, and John listen up. Joel Osteen rebukes you all.
Now listen, Joel Osteen and his ministry in Houston are all about people. He is standing up for your rights! He is taking a REALLY BIG RISK because … if he’s wrong, and Apostle Paul is right … then he stands to be cursed! So he needs your support in prayer NOW!
There is no exclusive path to the Kingdom. According to Joel Osteen, we need to hear this message because it’s the right message and anyone that says that there is an exclusive path to God is wrong.
Joel would know, look at the size of his church! He is clearly telling you the truth more than anyone in history.
2 Timothy 3:1-7 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 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. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
As I said I am very interested in your opinions of what you have just read. So please, leave a comment and let's have a calm and focused discussion!
To be fair, I did go to Osteen's webpage and do a little reading. I don't know if the website just needs to be updated to correlate with what Osteen has said he believes, or if the article above is completely false. I do know that something is stinky in Houston though!!
I will let you discern for yourself. Here is a link to Osteen's webpage and a description of what their beliefs are, or were! http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/WhatWeBelieve.aspx
So I guess my question comes down to, just what is Joel Osteen up to?
United for Awakening ^ | 8/27/13 | Peter Michael Martinez
Posted on 8/28/2013 2:22:54 PM by Sopater
According to Joel Osteen – Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, these first century apostles are wrong and outdated and he has come out boldly to infer indirectly that Apostles Paul, Peter, and John whom wrote much of the New Testament were wrong and need to be corrected and rebuked.When asked directly if people whom are openly practicing homosexuals are accepted into the Kingdom, Joel Osteen responded with “Absolutely, anybody is.”
We all need to listen carefully to the words that this “man of God” speaks as he goes on interviews so we too can find the errors in the preaching of the first century apostles.
Joel does acknowledge that some things are “sin” but says, “I don’t address these things from the pulpit. They only come up in interviews.” When asked if openly practicing gay/homosexual people will be accepted into heaven, Joel Osteen responded, “I believe they will.”
He makes no mention of the need for repentance.
Joel Osteen Brings Us Universalism
The doctrine of universalism is the belief that all people are “saved” no matter who you are or what you’ve done.This is a new version of the “good news” that is MUCH BETTER than the message the Jesus and the Apostles preached 2,ooo years ago which was far too narrow according to the way Joel Osteen explains his “message.”
“I’m for everybody” says Joel Osteen, “I’m not into excluding people. Jesus can reveal himself to anybody.”
The idea is that since no one would be accepted if we are called to be “holy” then all have to be accepted. So goes this logic. This doctrine also believes that all roads lead to heaven so there is no one “way, truth, and life that leads to the father.”
According to Joel, “sin means to miss the mark” which, while technically correct, stands in contrast to the teachings of many writers of the Bible that teach that sin is violation of God’s Holy Laws so if by missing the mark Joel means violating God’s ways, then yes, sin is missing the mark.
According to the out of date writers of the Bible, the “wages of sin is death” for which blood is required and for which a sacrifice was presented.
It sounds a lot more harsh to say SIN is TREASON punishable by death than to say it is “missing the mark” which is a bit incomplete. Sin is also “to incur guilt, incur penalty” which according to the scripture is death.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”When asked about people who live in open sin, Joel smilingly said, “I’m not going to bash those people. I’m not going to be against those people. They’re good people.”
So by contrast, Apostle Jude is “bashing people” when he said:
Jude 1:14-16 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”Joel’s wife recently said to Piers Morgan. “It’s the people that we’re after. We’re not trying to judge their sin. We want to encourage them and love them. You’re only going to win people by reaching out to them.”
Isn’t that so awesome! They are all about the people! They want you and I be accepted without having to discuss anything like repentance or righteousness. These are “judgmental” subjects that we just don’t need.
These modern day ministry giants have gone on national television to essentially correct Apostles Peter, John, and Paul to say … they are wrong … if you listen to Joel Osteen. So many across the nation are so proud of this Pastor and his courage in confronting the church fathers!
According to Joel Osteen, Apostle Paul erroneously stated to the Corinthians …
1 Corinthians 6:8-10 “Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
In saying this, according to Joel Osteen, Apostle Paul is being “exclusionary” and should be rebuked and corrected. He is obviously wrong and should never have said these things to the Corinthian church.Corinth was known for its sexual openness and promiscuity so for Paul to “condemn” all these “good people” was completely out of order and he needs to be rebuked.
When Paul wrote to the Romans he also was in complete error in stating the following in the first chapter of his letter, according to Joel Osteen.
“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”According to Joel Osteen, Paul was absolutely incorrect and to state that being a homosexual is a sin is being “judgmental” and should not be tolerated. It is just wrong according to Joel Osteen. Many people agree with Joel Osteen today and so, Apostle Paul is apparently misguided and incorrect in his letter.
Joel goes on to point out the additional errors in the words Apostle Paul wrote.
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Paul went on to write in the first chapter of Romans, which according to the words of Joel Osteen, he is deeply misguided and mistaken.
Apostle Paul should repent for saying such things according to Joel Osteen. A growing number of people in America agree with Joel that Apostle Paul should be rebuked for ever saying such things because Paul isn’t accepting of people like Joel Osteen is.
Equally misguided and incorrect according to Joel Osteen is Paul’s words to the Galatian church. In his writings, Apostle Paul made stunning comments that were clearly exclusionary statements concerning the Kingdom and those whom are accepted, and in so doing has made grave error according to Joel Osteen.
See if you can detect the absolutely false statements that Apostle Paul made to the Galatian church according to the stated doctrine of Joel Osteen.
Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.“You can clearly see what has Joel Osteen so unhappy that he’s gone on national television to correct this! It is this type of rhetoric, according to Joel Osteen, that is completely false and misrepresents the God he serves.
Joel Osteen’s God loves everybody and there are no exclusions because then, according to Joel, “none of us would be saved.” So again, Apostle Paul was completely incorrect and should never have written such harsh and insensitive words to the Galatian church according to Joel.
I imagine Joel Osteen would say “shame on Apostle Paul for ever writing such hateful words!”
Now, not only is Joel out to correct the misguided Apostle Paul, but Apostle Peter was also brought into serious question for clearly being exclusionary when he wrote these words.
1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”According to the doctrine Joel Osteen has now shared with us all as “his message,” being clearly more evolved and enlightened than the archaic Apostle Peter, no one can be holy. We are left to conclude that Peter is misguided and is being judgmental. What a terrible yoke and condemnation Apostle Peter is trying to put on the good people he is writing to.
Additionally, Apostle Peter goes on to say things that are completely against the Lakewood Church Pastor’s God when he stated the following.
2 Peter 2:6-8 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”According to Joel Osteen’s public comments, one could conclude that Apostle Peter was in complete error and deceived when he wrote such things. What a terrible condemnation. He clearly did not know the doctrine that Joel Osteen preaches or he would never have said such awful and critical things.
Joel Osteen indirectly implies (subtly) that these apostles were false and were critical and judgmental and should NOT be listened to in America today. We all need to listen instead to Joel Osteen and Oprah Winfrey.
Now Apostle John made even greater errors if the benchmark is Joel Osteen’s “message” when he stated some of the thing that he wrote which, according to Joel Osteen, is just plain and simply not true.
It takes a lot of courage for Joel to stand against these writings but he believes strongly in his “uplifting and encouraging” doctrine that does not endorse such harsh and judgmental statements as written by these ancient Apostles.
We should all pray for Joel Osteen because he needs our prayers if he’s going to continue to champion the cause of those oppressed and condemned by the writings and statements of Apostles like Paul, Peter and John.
Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”You see, according to Joel Osteen in a recent interview, “God doesn’t see any sin as worse than another” and all are going to heaven. Apparently in Joel Osteen’s bible, he has redacted the unpardonable sin. So if you’re a follower of Joel Osteen’s then this statement by Apostle John must seem just plain wrong.
Apostle John doesn’t know what he’s talking about and we need to listen to the wisdom of Joel Osteen. Apostle John clearly was in error and should be rebuked for suggesting that people who tell lies are going to have their part in the lake of fire.
What was Apostle John thinking writing such judgmental things???
That’s a terrible thing to say and no one, certainly not Apostle John, should be allowed to say such things. As Joel says, “there’s enough condemnation in the world” and we don’t need anymore.
Additionally, in his letter, Apostle John says things like …
1 John 3:8-10 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”Now according to Joel Osteen and the thousands that agree with his “message,” this entire passage should be removed from the pages of the bible and no one should be saying such things. In fact, Joel goes on to share that it is this exact kind of preaching that will hinder “church growth.”
Apostles Paul, Peter, and John listen up. Joel Osteen rebukes you all.
Now listen, Joel Osteen and his ministry in Houston are all about people. He is standing up for your rights! He is taking a REALLY BIG RISK because … if he’s wrong, and Apostle Paul is right … then he stands to be cursed! So he needs your support in prayer NOW!
Galatians 1:9 “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”Instead, you all need to listen to his message of universal acceptance and lawless living without any condemnation so we can all “lift our spirits” and be “encouraging and loving” to all people no matter what lifestyle or choices they make. After all, according to Joel, God loves us all and everyone is going to heaven so lighten up!
There is no exclusive path to the Kingdom. According to Joel Osteen, we need to hear this message because it’s the right message and anyone that says that there is an exclusive path to God is wrong.
Joel would know, look at the size of his church! He is clearly telling you the truth more than anyone in history.
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”Exactly how much error is too much?
Sources:
- Overview of Joel Osteen/Oprah deceptions:http://youtu.be/weEWl52wevI
- Joel Osteen meets with Larry King … Here’s the link: http://youtu.be/KwL1DThtxYg
- Joel Osteen meets with Piers Morgan … Here’s the link: http://youtu.be/tgCpRNfBzys
- To his credit, in this interview Joel does call out sin, however, he softens it and backs away from talking about repentance … and when he is asked “what would you say” his comment is that he doesn’t understand. You’re leading the largest church in America and you don’t understand REPENTANCE?
2 Timothy 3:1-7 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 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. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
As I said I am very interested in your opinions of what you have just read. So please, leave a comment and let's have a calm and focused discussion!
To be fair, I did go to Osteen's webpage and do a little reading. I don't know if the website just needs to be updated to correlate with what Osteen has said he believes, or if the article above is completely false. I do know that something is stinky in Houston though!!
I will let you discern for yourself. Here is a link to Osteen's webpage and a description of what their beliefs are, or were! http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/WhatWeBelieve.aspx
So I guess my question comes down to, just what is Joel Osteen up to?
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
But God, I can't handle all of this!!
How many times have you heard the phrase, “God will never give you more than you can handle” and wondered why He thought you could handle so much? I know I have tons of times!
I know the people telling me that when I am going through a tough time or some hardship all mean well, but I have to remind myself that they must not be studying their Bible very closely if they truly believe that! Why? Because it just isn't true!
You see, I know that God DOES give us more than we can handle, on our own. There is something key in that last statement, 'on our own'. It did take me a very long time to realize this, but now that I have, it seems like those tough times have gotten a little easier. I
know that no matter what I am going through, if I will put all my trust in God to get me through it, He WILL! The reason He lets us go through difficulties is so that we will pull closer to Him. Maybe not always, but most of the time, when He allows something that we feel we just can't handle to come into our lives, it is because we have made the decision to distance ourselves from Him. Remember, God will NEVER leave us nor forsake us, but we are always leaving Him. There is always some area of our lives that we just don't want God 'butting into'! Right?
If we will turn to the scriptures when we are feeling overwhelmed, we will find exactly what God has in store for us! We can search and search for the scripture that tells us He won't give us more than we can handle, but we will never find it. It just does not exist!
The scriptures never say that the Lord won’t give you more than you can handle. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it does speak of God giving us an escape from temptations so that it’s not too much to bear. But, when we have to deal with pain, trials, heartache, and burdens– not once does it say it won’t be more than we can bear. Instead, it beautifully says this instead:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28-30)
The words struck my heart, as you can imagine. Christ is speaking to those of us who are carrying burdens much too heavy for our own shoulders. And in that one verse he simply states the reason why we are given more than we can handle: It’s so we can come to him. It’s so we can trust him enough to hand over our heavy, crippling burdens and let him carry the load.
You might be heavy laden right now, searching for some kind of relief. You are probably full of questions. Maybe you are wondering why you have to be full of sadness or drowning in debt, why did that person at church say that to you, why are you stuck raising your children all alone? Perhaps you have recently discovered that you are not able to have biological children, or an adoption you had your heart set on has fallen through, and you know that as a result, the child or children you were planning to give a loving home to, will continue to suffer. Someone you know and love, or maybe yourself, is dealing with a terminal illness and you question what is going to happen to the children or spouse when the inevitable happens. You know that you need someone to help you through these difficult times, but you really just don't want to depend on someone that you cannot see or hear or touch. You know that you should have faith that God will do what He has said He will, but it is so hard to blindly trust! He does promise that He will carry us through those difficult times, so why can't we trust Him to do what He promises?
Maybe it’s because of pride that we believe we can do it our self. We know we are strong and tough and that we always help others through their difficulties while keeping our own hidden from sight. However, when we become overwhelmed we realize that we are so totally wrong with this way of thinking!
We don't really understand exactly what God is capable of until we totally trust Him to get us through whatever we are dealing with, when we have no other choice. Knowing that He will get us through when we have no other avenue for help, why don't we just trust in Him from the beginning? Why do we insist on making everything much more difficult than it has to be?
Did Daniel hesitate to trust in God when he was placed in the lion's den? Did Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego hesitate when they were placed in the fiery furnace? We have these examples, and many more, to look at and compare our present circumstances to, so why are we still so hard headed?
We need to stop and remember that, no matter how difficult life gets, God is always right there with us. He is always ready, willing, and able to help us through. He just wants us to trust Him.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Friendships really can last a lifetime
Over recent days and weeks, I have been reminded of just how valuable really good friendships can be, as well as just how easy it is to take these friendships for granted. I know the usual school of thought is that a truly good friendship just happens, does not require any work. However, I believe that just isn't true. Much like vegetables in a garden, friendships must be fertilized, watered, and tended to so they can grow and flourish! Unfortunately, sometimes those friendships have to be pruned from your life as well.
Over the past couple of years, I have been very fortunate to rekindle some dear friendships, some from as far back as over 30 years ago! Talk about a real blessing!! The person I have always felt was my very best friend ever, I had not seen or talked to since I graduated high school!
I am so thankful that I found her one day, several years ago, as I was surfing through facebook posts. When I found her name and realized that it was truly HER, I was beside myself! I was so excited that I had found her, even though she wasn't actually lost - except by me! I found her shortly before she was going to be married, and as luck would have it, I was unable to attend her wedding. I was, however, able to go and spend some time with her not too long after that horrible marriage ended!
You see, this wonderful friend of mine has had to deal with feelings very similar to my own over the years, of inadequacy and insecurity. We have both had times over the years of not being good enough for the people we loved the most, feeling as if we were not loved by our family or friends unless they found themselves in need of something we had. Feelings like that are not only sad, but also very but lonely as well. Even though we may have tons of people around us at any given moment, we could never feel that closeness with others. When the friendship was rekindled though, we both began to bloom once again!
Now, we still do not get to see each other as often as we would like, but we each know that if we are ever in need, the other is only a phone call or text message away. Even if I cannot physically go to be at her side, I can still make sure that she is reminded of just how much I truly love her, and how badly I want to be there with her, to help her through a difficult time. I know that she would do the same for me in a heartbeat!
To say I am thankful for this precious friendship would be an understatement! Simple words of thanks just do not do the feelings and good times that we have shared any justice.
When we were reunited, the smiles could not be burned from our faces and the laughs could not be stopped! Of course, we shed a great number of tears as well, but we were there to hug each other, and give that comforting message of "I'll always be there for you and you will never have to feel that lonely feeling ever again!"
As I said, we don't get to be together very often because we live a distance apart. However, each of us knows that the other is ready and willing to drop everything and come running to be by her side if the need is there. I know that I can call her at 2:00 am on any given day and she will wake up and talk to me. She may not be happy about being woken up at that hour, but she will still make herself available, and I will never hear her complain about my waking her up!! It would be the same if the roles were reversed.
To have a friend like that is absolutely priceless! I cannot show enough gratitude for this precious gift God has chosen to give me through this friendship. All I can do, is to continue to work hard for the Lord and keep sharing Him with her. The most beautiful part of that statement is that I know she is doing the same for me!
I love you Rhonda and I am so glad that God pulled us back together to share our 'golden years'! LOL
Over the past couple of years, I have been very fortunate to rekindle some dear friendships, some from as far back as over 30 years ago! Talk about a real blessing!! The person I have always felt was my very best friend ever, I had not seen or talked to since I graduated high school!
I am so thankful that I found her one day, several years ago, as I was surfing through facebook posts. When I found her name and realized that it was truly HER, I was beside myself! I was so excited that I had found her, even though she wasn't actually lost - except by me! I found her shortly before she was going to be married, and as luck would have it, I was unable to attend her wedding. I was, however, able to go and spend some time with her not too long after that horrible marriage ended!
You see, this wonderful friend of mine has had to deal with feelings very similar to my own over the years, of inadequacy and insecurity. We have both had times over the years of not being good enough for the people we loved the most, feeling as if we were not loved by our family or friends unless they found themselves in need of something we had. Feelings like that are not only sad, but also very but lonely as well. Even though we may have tons of people around us at any given moment, we could never feel that closeness with others. When the friendship was rekindled though, we both began to bloom once again!
Now, we still do not get to see each other as often as we would like, but we each know that if we are ever in need, the other is only a phone call or text message away. Even if I cannot physically go to be at her side, I can still make sure that she is reminded of just how much I truly love her, and how badly I want to be there with her, to help her through a difficult time. I know that she would do the same for me in a heartbeat!
To say I am thankful for this precious friendship would be an understatement! Simple words of thanks just do not do the feelings and good times that we have shared any justice.
When we were reunited, the smiles could not be burned from our faces and the laughs could not be stopped! Of course, we shed a great number of tears as well, but we were there to hug each other, and give that comforting message of "I'll always be there for you and you will never have to feel that lonely feeling ever again!"
As I said, we don't get to be together very often because we live a distance apart. However, each of us knows that the other is ready and willing to drop everything and come running to be by her side if the need is there. I know that I can call her at 2:00 am on any given day and she will wake up and talk to me. She may not be happy about being woken up at that hour, but she will still make herself available, and I will never hear her complain about my waking her up!! It would be the same if the roles were reversed.
To have a friend like that is absolutely priceless! I cannot show enough gratitude for this precious gift God has chosen to give me through this friendship. All I can do, is to continue to work hard for the Lord and keep sharing Him with her. The most beautiful part of that statement is that I know she is doing the same for me!
I love you Rhonda and I am so glad that God pulled us back together to share our 'golden years'! LOL
Friday, January 10, 2014
ALL MY BLOGS......
I have more than just this blog that I SHOULD be writing on. I always have good intentions of keeping my writing up and then something happens and I just let it go. I am going to attempt to be much better at keeping at least this one up this year! With that in mind, I am going to provide a link to my other blogs, both in this post as well as a more permanent location on one of my sidebars!
I have so many different things that I like to talk about that I easily confuse myself! With that in mind, I think I will attempt to keep each blog going, and have each one with a certain topic 'focus'. For example, this one would be more about the aspect of my life related to any kind of work or job.
Now, since I am presently unemployed, I will have to be creative with this. I won't be including only discussion about a job in which I am being paid! (Although, if that does occur, I will most certainly be telling you all about it!) I have a couple of things in the works so hopefully you will be seeing, and enjoying, more written works from me in the very near future!
In the mean time, I invite you to take a look at my other blogs as well! Please, feel free to like or follow each one! I can certainly use all the followers I can get!! Isn't that one of the reasons that bloggers write in the first place? So people can read their words?? I know it is for me. I do hope you enjoy them and will provide me with some feedback through the comments!!
I will be sharing stories of my family life on http://fghallfamily.wordpress.com/ . Please, check us out and, yes, you can go ahead and tell me just how crazy you think my family truly is!! Trust me. I already know this!!
My walk of faith and belief in Jesus Christ will be documented (for the most part) here: http://simplewordsofachristianmom.wordpress.com/ . I am most certainly not a Biblical scholar, in fact I consider myself a mere infant when it comes to Biblical knowledge, but I do have bits and pieces that I have learned that I like to share. I am also typically very anxious to share when I learn something new! So, beware!! LOL I am always excited to read other people's opinions or interpretations of God's word. However, I will NEVER tolerate anyone bashing my Christian beliefs. While I do believe in religious freedom, to me that means that if you do not believe in Jesus Christ, you are free to express that fact elsewhere other than on MY blog! Thank you very much!!
One of my hobbies is scrapbooking. I love to document special moments and occasions through the decorated pages that hold my precious photos! I also love to share those pages and ideas. Of course, I am also always looking for new ideas! So feel free to let me know what you think about what I am presently working on, as well as to share your ideas on http://msjsscrappin.wordpress.com/ . If you visit this blog today, you will notice that it is in dire need of work! In fact, it is in need of more than just a title!! Please check back, or subscribe, so that you will know as soon as I get some stuff posted there!!
You may be asking what is going to happen to this blog, other than to be a relay site for my others. Well, this blog will be my 'everything else' blog. I have always wanted to write, (and preferably be paid for it!), so hopefully something that I write about, or say here will be noticed by someone in the publishing world, or even just a small paper or magazine! Who knows? It sure doesn't hurt to dream now does it? Please leave words of encouragement, advice, or just share bits of your dreams here. I truly don't mind. But know that if you get selected to be published through my blog, I will expect an autographed copy of whatever you have published!!
So, with all that being said, I look forward to staying busy with these various blogs in different aspects of my life. Will all these blogs have new posts each day, or week? I honestly don't know! That depends on what I have to say, and how busy I am in other areas of my life. Just know that if I haven't posted on your favorite recently, you are welcome to respond on my most recent post on one of the others and let me know that you miss me!! Trust me. You won't hurt my feelings telling me that!!
God bless and have a beautifully blessed day!!
I have so many different things that I like to talk about that I easily confuse myself! With that in mind, I think I will attempt to keep each blog going, and have each one with a certain topic 'focus'. For example, this one would be more about the aspect of my life related to any kind of work or job.
Now, since I am presently unemployed, I will have to be creative with this. I won't be including only discussion about a job in which I am being paid! (Although, if that does occur, I will most certainly be telling you all about it!) I have a couple of things in the works so hopefully you will be seeing, and enjoying, more written works from me in the very near future!
In the mean time, I invite you to take a look at my other blogs as well! Please, feel free to like or follow each one! I can certainly use all the followers I can get!! Isn't that one of the reasons that bloggers write in the first place? So people can read their words?? I know it is for me. I do hope you enjoy them and will provide me with some feedback through the comments!!
I will be sharing stories of my family life on http://fghallfamily.wordpress.com/ . Please, check us out and, yes, you can go ahead and tell me just how crazy you think my family truly is!! Trust me. I already know this!!
My walk of faith and belief in Jesus Christ will be documented (for the most part) here: http://simplewordsofachristianmom.wordpress.com/ . I am most certainly not a Biblical scholar, in fact I consider myself a mere infant when it comes to Biblical knowledge, but I do have bits and pieces that I have learned that I like to share. I am also typically very anxious to share when I learn something new! So, beware!! LOL I am always excited to read other people's opinions or interpretations of God's word. However, I will NEVER tolerate anyone bashing my Christian beliefs. While I do believe in religious freedom, to me that means that if you do not believe in Jesus Christ, you are free to express that fact elsewhere other than on MY blog! Thank you very much!!
One of my hobbies is scrapbooking. I love to document special moments and occasions through the decorated pages that hold my precious photos! I also love to share those pages and ideas. Of course, I am also always looking for new ideas! So feel free to let me know what you think about what I am presently working on, as well as to share your ideas on http://msjsscrappin.wordpress.com/ . If you visit this blog today, you will notice that it is in dire need of work! In fact, it is in need of more than just a title!! Please check back, or subscribe, so that you will know as soon as I get some stuff posted there!!
You may be asking what is going to happen to this blog, other than to be a relay site for my others. Well, this blog will be my 'everything else' blog. I have always wanted to write, (and preferably be paid for it!), so hopefully something that I write about, or say here will be noticed by someone in the publishing world, or even just a small paper or magazine! Who knows? It sure doesn't hurt to dream now does it? Please leave words of encouragement, advice, or just share bits of your dreams here. I truly don't mind. But know that if you get selected to be published through my blog, I will expect an autographed copy of whatever you have published!!
So, with all that being said, I look forward to staying busy with these various blogs in different aspects of my life. Will all these blogs have new posts each day, or week? I honestly don't know! That depends on what I have to say, and how busy I am in other areas of my life. Just know that if I haven't posted on your favorite recently, you are welcome to respond on my most recent post on one of the others and let me know that you miss me!! Trust me. You won't hurt my feelings telling me that!!
God bless and have a beautifully blessed day!!
Monday, January 6, 2014
Jesus....THE ultimate Christmas gift
Putting away my Christmas decorations every year always makes me a little sad, and yet a little excited as well!
I love Christmas and everything that it represents, at least, what it represents to me. I know the Christmas holiday and season means something different for lots of people. To me, Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus, the chance at eternal life for all mankind, and unconditional love. Unfortunately, for many folks, Christmas is all about the presents, decorations, food, where to go for a Christmas vacation, who's house to go to for Christmas dinner, and where to go for Christmas eve, which family are you going to upset this year by not going to their house, and so on. So many lose the pure joy and excitement that Christmas can bring!
I think it is safe to say that I have been in the later category in some recent years, unfortunately! I can remember a time when gift buying (and receiving!) was more important than remembering and celebrating a savior! I know I am not alone when I reminisce about times that I fretted over whose parents home we would visit this year, and what food we would cook at our house or take elsewhere. I can remember agonizing over the names I had drawn for gifts and trying to choose the perfect, and inexpensive, gift for them! Then the agonizing would continue until way after the opening of gifts because I would be questioning my choice, wondering if the recipient even liked what they had gotten! I drove myself crazy at times over things like this!! Boy am I glad those days are behind me!
The past few years I have discovered what the most important thing about Christmas is to me. That would be remembering and celebrating what a precious gift was given to me, and anyone else who chooses to accept it, one very cold, lonely night a couple of thousand years ago. This gift is one that so many people choose to deny or forget about that I just cannot understand. There are tons of folks who profess to love the Lord Jesus Christ, yet when it comes to Christmas they become like crazed maniacs in search of the 'perfect' gift, or planning the latest, greatest vacation, or any number of other things so way off base of what Christmas is all about that I begin to wonder if they will ever find their way back!
Every year I read any number of emails, or Facebook posts, written by someone who wishes to argue the point that Jesus was not born on December 25 and that Christmas is just a holiday that was created by pagan business owners to increase their sales revenue!
Well, I'm going to be honest with you. I don't know if Jesus was born on December 25, 26, or April 15! I have grandchildren that have rarely, if ever, had their birthday celebrated, at least by the entire family and a host of friends, on the actual date of their birth! What matters is the celebration, the remembrance. Don't you think?
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, who is the main character in our 'text book'? How do you honor and remember him? Don't you think that remembering His birth on the same day every year makes more sense than for every person alive to choose their own date to celebrate? Well, I do. Even at that though, there are still people who do celebrate Christmas at different times, or on different days. What about the times you have attended a Christmas party with friends? Wasn't that a celebration of the birth of Christ? Or office/school parties? Christmas with the in-laws? You see where I'm going with this?
My point is that it really doesn't matter exactly what date Jesus was born on. What matters is the state of our hearts!
Are you celebrating Christmas just because everyone around you is? Maybe it's time that you consider what many other folks know, that Jesus, the Son of God, was born to a virgin, lived a sinless life, then was tried and convicted of crimes He did not commit, crucified on a cross, and rose on the third day from that grave! He did this to provide you and I with a means of salvation from our sinful lives!
Why not accept such an awesome gift?
I love Christmas and everything that it represents, at least, what it represents to me. I know the Christmas holiday and season means something different for lots of people. To me, Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus, the chance at eternal life for all mankind, and unconditional love. Unfortunately, for many folks, Christmas is all about the presents, decorations, food, where to go for a Christmas vacation, who's house to go to for Christmas dinner, and where to go for Christmas eve, which family are you going to upset this year by not going to their house, and so on. So many lose the pure joy and excitement that Christmas can bring!
I think it is safe to say that I have been in the later category in some recent years, unfortunately! I can remember a time when gift buying (and receiving!) was more important than remembering and celebrating a savior! I know I am not alone when I reminisce about times that I fretted over whose parents home we would visit this year, and what food we would cook at our house or take elsewhere. I can remember agonizing over the names I had drawn for gifts and trying to choose the perfect, and inexpensive, gift for them! Then the agonizing would continue until way after the opening of gifts because I would be questioning my choice, wondering if the recipient even liked what they had gotten! I drove myself crazy at times over things like this!! Boy am I glad those days are behind me!
The past few years I have discovered what the most important thing about Christmas is to me. That would be remembering and celebrating what a precious gift was given to me, and anyone else who chooses to accept it, one very cold, lonely night a couple of thousand years ago. This gift is one that so many people choose to deny or forget about that I just cannot understand. There are tons of folks who profess to love the Lord Jesus Christ, yet when it comes to Christmas they become like crazed maniacs in search of the 'perfect' gift, or planning the latest, greatest vacation, or any number of other things so way off base of what Christmas is all about that I begin to wonder if they will ever find their way back!
Every year I read any number of emails, or Facebook posts, written by someone who wishes to argue the point that Jesus was not born on December 25 and that Christmas is just a holiday that was created by pagan business owners to increase their sales revenue!
Well, I'm going to be honest with you. I don't know if Jesus was born on December 25, 26, or April 15! I have grandchildren that have rarely, if ever, had their birthday celebrated, at least by the entire family and a host of friends, on the actual date of their birth! What matters is the celebration, the remembrance. Don't you think?
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, who is the main character in our 'text book'? How do you honor and remember him? Don't you think that remembering His birth on the same day every year makes more sense than for every person alive to choose their own date to celebrate? Well, I do. Even at that though, there are still people who do celebrate Christmas at different times, or on different days. What about the times you have attended a Christmas party with friends? Wasn't that a celebration of the birth of Christ? Or office/school parties? Christmas with the in-laws? You see where I'm going with this?
My point is that it really doesn't matter exactly what date Jesus was born on. What matters is the state of our hearts!
Are you celebrating Christmas just because everyone around you is? Maybe it's time that you consider what many other folks know, that Jesus, the Son of God, was born to a virgin, lived a sinless life, then was tried and convicted of crimes He did not commit, crucified on a cross, and rose on the third day from that grave! He did this to provide you and I with a means of salvation from our sinful lives!
Why not accept such an awesome gift?
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