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Groups > Christians in Recovery from Addictions > Discussions > Topic: Quality of Life
Topic: Quality of Life

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Phyllis P.	Sunday, 3:00 PM Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing Their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver And precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty." Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull." Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the Hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always Remember me." After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a Carpenter, "and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree. I Should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy Because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened Because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come True. One of the Woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my Tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down. When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box For animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not At all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams Of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and They placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event And knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second Tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough To keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and Said "Peace" and the Storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the Streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came To a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the Top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your Way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had Imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best. Please keep this moving... Pass it on, so God may inspire more people on The way. May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you In the palm of His hand. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	WHO INSPIRED YOU IN 2009? December 05, 2009 8:01 AM http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Most-Inspiring-2009.aspx By Kimberly Winston Beliefnet invites you to meet the 10 nominees for Most Inspiring Person of 2009. These are remarkable individuals who have shown heroism, selflessness, and love by doing something extraordinarily inspiring this year. These 10 amazing people have saved lives and bettered our world in ways both large and small. One man landed a plane in the middle of a freezing river, saving everyone aboard. A teen rescued 22 school children from a troubled girl with a gun. Others worked to help people pay their bills, fed the down-and-out, saved people from layoffs, and showed homeless children that someone cares. One couple even danced for the sheer joy of being young and in love. edit post host bulletin \| delete post \| report abuse [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Celebrating Thanksgiving When It's Hard to Give Thanks November 25, 2009 3:08 PM The holiday of Thanksgiving provides us an opportunity to reflect upon all the things for which we are thankful. For most people, the upcoming season is a time for creating fond memories with family, friends, and food. But for many of us, especially those who are out of work, battling health problems, or suffering a loss of some sort, it is a time when giving thanks for anything may seem nearly impossible to do. The years following the day that my beloved 83-year-old grandmother walked downtown by herself, purchased a gun and put a bullet into her beautiful, graceful head, marked one of those times for me. Trying to make sense of her actions tore our family into shreds. Suicide takes death and loss to a whole different level. Those who are left behind must cope with much more than grief. http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11617007/ [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	I KNOW November 21, 2009 12:25 PM I know He is the beginning, so why do I worry about the end. I know He is the creator, so why do I wonder who will destroy. I know He has forgiven me, so why can't I forgive myself. I know He is a healer, so why do I speak of sickness. I know He can do all things, so why do I say I can't. I know He will protect me, so why do I fear. I know He will supply all my needs, so why can't I wait. I know He is my strength and my salvation, so why do I feel weak. I know that everything and everyone has a season, so why when someone's season is over do I weep instead of rejoice. I know He is the right way, so why do I go the wrong way. I know He is the light, so why do I choose to walk in darkness. I know that whatever I ask of GOD, GOD will give me, so why am I scared to ask. I know tomorrow is not promised, so why do I put off for tomorrow what I can do today. I know that the truth shall make me free, so why do I continue to lie. I know He gives us revelation knowledge and understanding, [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	A Closer Look at Veteran's Day November 10, 2009 4:05 PM Cyndy Salzmann Author "I thank my God every time I remember you." - Philippians 1:3 It was the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month in 1918 when the world celebrated as a treaty was signed ending what was to be "the war to end all wars" – World War I. One year later, on what came to be known as Armistice Day, Americans came together to remember and honor the sacrifices of the men and women who served during the war. Soldiers who survived the war marched in parades and were honored by speeches and ceremonies recognizing their contribution to peace throughout the world. Congress declared Armistice Day a national holiday in 1938. By this time, with unrest in much of the world, Americans realized World War I would not be the last war. After the Second World War, which was even bloodier than the first, Armistice Day continued to be observed. In 1954, Congress changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day to include veterans of all United States wars. http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/1295997/ [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Should I Celebrate Halloween? October 30, 2009 4:15 PM Dr. John Barnett "Let everyone who names the Name" Paul said, avoid iniquity. Is Halloween a celebration of iniquity? Read on and judge for yourself! Here are some quotes from what many different people have said over the years concerning the celebration of Halloween. Someone once said, "For a Christian to celebrate Halloween would be as proper as a Holocaust survivor trying to celebrate Hitler's birthday." Yet so many believers continue to do so without considering what they are doing. Excited children masquerading as witches, ghosts, goblins, skeletons, demons, and other grotesque characters skipping through the neighborhood knocking one doors changing "trick or treat" while holding out a sack in which one is to drop a piece of candy or other goodies...the party at school, or church, or Sunday School where they bob for apples, tell fortunes, or go through "haunted houses"...decorations of jack-o-lanterns, witches on brooms and black cats with arched backs...IT'S "HALLOWEEN" - one of the strangest days of the year. The word evokes a number of responses. Every year as October rolls around, there are those that look forward to it with excitement and those that cringe and wish it weren't there. Some argue violently against it, some yawn because they've heard it all before, may just look the other way and go ahead with it. Some view it as an abomination, while many others view it as a harmless tradition. What is Halloween, or Samhain? What does it represent? And, what should the Christian think about it, if anything? Where did this fast growing American tradition come from? History provides the answers. The pagans believed that on one night of the year the souls of the dead returned to their original homes. "There was a prevailing belief among all nations that at death the souls of good men were taken possession of by good spirits and carried to paradise, but the souls of wicked men were left to wander in the space between the earth and moon, or consigned to the unseen world. These wandering spirits were in the habit of haunting the living...but there were means by which these ghosts might be exorcised." To exorcise these ghosts, that is, to free yourself from their supposed evil sway, you would have to set out food - give the demons a treat - and proved shelter for them during the night. If they were satisfied with your treat, it was believed they would leave you in peace. If food and shelter were not provided, or if they were not satisfied, these spirits, it was believed, would "trick" you by casting an evil spell on you and cause havoc. So Where Did The Elements Of Halloween Come From? Trick Or Treat. "The modern custom of 'Trick-or-Treat' began in Ireland hundreds of years ago. A group of farmers went from house to house begging food for the village Halloween festivities in the name of their ancient gods. Good luck was promised to generous donors, and threats were made against those who would not give." 3 Thus these ancient pagan traditions continue today as youngsters, masquerading as ghosts, skeletons, and demons go "trick-or-treating" - begging in a sense for food while promising to refrain from evil deeds... [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Should I Celebrate Halloween part 2 October 30, 2009 4:14 PM October 31ST. Though it was the Roman Catholic church who designated the October 31st date as All Hallow's Eve, or "eve of the holy one's day," in prelude to their November 1st All Saints' Day, it was earlier pagan peoples who gave the annual holiday the sinister meaning and traditions it still holds. It is obvious that the elements, symbols, and traditions of the Halloween observance with its emphasis upon goblins and demons, witches and skeletons, ghosts and apparitions rising from cemeteries constitute a dabbling with the very things, which Scripture forbids to God's people and an open invitation to demonic activity. (Deuteronomy 18:10-13, Lev 19:31) It is at this point that many will say, "But we don't worship demons on Halloween. It doesn't mean the same thing today as it did in the past. It's now just a harmless, innocent time of fun for the children and the young people." Yet, history clearly shows that Halloween is unmistakably a "religious" (pagan and Roman) holiday. Religion is the adoration, obedience, and service rendered to the object of one's worship. It presupposes profession, practice, or observance of whatever belief and practice - in this case Halloween - as required by some superior authority. It is indisputably clear that Halloween is NOT commanded or sanctioned by Jehovah God - the true Christian's Superior, Authority - in the Scriptures. What Should We Do? Sadly enough, the biggest opposition to what has been said invariably comes from within professing Christendom. The witches, the occultists, and the secular sources all freely call it like it is. Note the following quotation from a contemporary witch. "Most of Christianity's holy days have their basis in pagan ritual. I get myself into a lot of hot water when I remind American Christians of that fact. No matter, it's true. But the level of tolerance is rising." If we believe God's Word, then witchcraft is something that exists and is hated by God. It is an abomination. All occult practices are, and they are under the divine condemnation and wrath of the eternal God. Should the redeemed of God, His children, have anything to do with that which presents Satan? Should children who "are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3) be dressed up like witches and ghosts and goblins in light of God's displeasure? 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "Abstain from evil - shrink from it and keep aloof from it - in whatever form or whatever kind it may be." The true child of God should be identified with the pure and holy Jesus Christ. With "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." (Galatians 5:22-23), not with the powers of darkness and evil. The witch, earlier in this article, clearly states that it's their holiday, their celebration. History bears that out. Christians, have nothing to do with this. It can only be dishonoring to the name of our Lord. Today Halloween is the highest of all celebrations for Satan worshippers, witches and the occult. Christians need to be warned so they can take heed and obey the Word of God. The apostle Paul wrote, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" (Eph. 5:11). "Abstain from all appearances of evil" (1 Thes. 5:22). "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). For more resources, visit our website at www.discoverthebook.org. Original publication date: October 21, 2009 [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Christian Alternatives for October 31st October 27, 2009 5:16 PM Kathi Macias Not having grown up in a Christian home, I always celebrated Halloween just like all my other friends--dressing up in funny or scary costumes, going to Halloween parties to bob for apples, and running door-to-door to collect as much candy as possible. Of course, our neighborhoods were more "kid-friendly" in those days, meaning that in all my growing-up years I don't remember ever hearing about a child who had any sort of problem or ran into any type of danger while out trick-or-treating. But I must admit, though my children are all grown and married with families of their own, if I had little ones again now, I'd be hesitant--even if I weren't a Christian--to send them out on their own at night to collect candy from the neighbors. And I know I'm not alone. Nowadays I seldom see children trick-or-treating without an adult accompanying them, which is obviously a wise choice. As Christians, however, Halloween always brings up some of the same questions I faced when I first became a believer in 1974. At the time I had two young children, and my third child was born the following year. Nearly all of our neighbors and our children's friends at school celebrated the holiday, but I no longer felt comfortable doing so. In fact, in response to many of the warnings and cautions I received from more seasoned believers, I decided we shouldn't celebrate the event at all, since it seemed to glorify death and everything dark and demonic. When our church (and many others) began offering Harvest party celebrations as an alternative, I still wondered at the wisdom of it since it seemed we were simply caving in to the season by even acknowledging the holiday. Still, Harvest parties gave our children a viable alternative and made it easier not to argue with them each year about why they couldn't go out and have fun like most of their non-Christian friends and acquaintances. Years later, when my children were all grown and it was no longer a personal issue for me, I found myself dumped back into the middle of it when I served on staff at a large Southern California church. Sure enough, the approaching month of October brought with it the same Halloween celebration questions I'd been dealing with for a couple of decades. The staff unanimously opted for an annual Harvest party extravaganza (including each of us staff members having to take our turn in the dunk tank, much to our chagrin and the children's delight!), and the turnout was always excellent. In fact, it was one of our better outreaches to children, rivaling our summertime vacation Bible school in attendance. Each year we had a few unbelieving families who brought their children to our festivals simply because it was safer than having them go door-to-door for candy; occasionally those children (and even the entire families) became regular attendees of our church, making the event well worthwhile. Yet despite the positive aspects of the Harvest festival, I still found myself bothered by the fact that we Christians felt it necessary to provide an alternative to what was so obviously an anti-Christian holiday. Now I'd certainly heard of the celebration of All Saints' Day, and I was well aware that Catholics celebrated it each year, but I wasn't clear on its meaning or purpose. Then, a couple of years ago, something happened that sparked my interest in finding out. A dear friend and I decided to meet for lunch one day. We hadn't known one another long, but we had connected quickly and at a deep level because of our commonalities: We were both committed Christians, both published authors, and both dedicated to the idea of writing top quality stories to educate, entertain, and enlighten our readers. So we got together to brainstorm, to toss ideas back and forth, hoping we would hit on one that struck us both as something we'd like to pursue together. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Christian Alternatives for October 31st October 27, 2009 4:58 PM It worked. Before the day was over, we had decided to collaborate on a fictionalized account of a story that would take place in the third century, during the time of terrible persecutions of Christians, particularly under the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. It is believed by many that Diocletian's wife, Prisca, and daughter, Valeria, became devout Christians during that time. It is also believed (and even memorialized in a monument in France) that an entire legion (6600 men) of Roman soldiers from Thebes, who were also committed Christians, gave their lives in martyrdom rather than yield to the Emperor Diocletian's command to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. And so we wondered, what if Diocletian's daughter and the head of the Theban Legion had met and fallen in love? What a story that would make! Soon we had a proposal put together, and then a contract, and before we knew it, we were hard at work developing this fictionalized account of combined historical events. In the process, I began to learn more than I'd ever realized about some of the early "saints" of the Church, many of whom gave their lives rather than compromise their faith. It was a real eye-opener to me, and suddenly I wasn't quite so willing to toss out the entire idea of celebrating an "All Saints Day." According to Wikipedia, All Saints Day is a "solemnity celebrated on November 1 in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity in honour of all the saints, known and unknown."www.kathimacias.com) is the award-winning author of thirty books, including the Fall 2010 book Valeria's Cross, co-authored with Susan Wales and published by Abingdon Press. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Halloween Should Celebrate Saints, Not Sin October 22, 2009 6:26 PM Halloween Should Celebrate Saints, Not Sin Sarah Jennings "The Church identifies blesseds and saints not for their benefit but for the Church's sake -- to show that holiness is possible in every century, every walk of life, every part of the globe and every circumstance of life." Rev. Pat McClosky, O.F.M. On Oct. 31^st, an estimated 36 million children ages 5-13 will don spooky or silly costumes as they roam neighborhood streets in search for "tricks or treats." While the nation participates in rousing festivities, Christian parents wrestle with how to celebrate Halloween. Are we compromising our children's faithfulness to the Gospel by allowing them to dress as witches and vampires? Are we destroying our witness by showing up at the neighbor's doorstep disguised - thinly - as ghosts and goblins? Are we risking spiritual attack by participating in festivities that make light of sorcery, death, and demons? The modern Halloween celebration certainly does not have the appearance of a Christian holiday. Every October the nation is bombarded with images that in fact, represent the very things the Christian faith warns believers against. Yet with the widespread celebration of Halloween, sitting at home is easier said than done. And opting out may result in even more guilt as parents remember their own innocent childhood revelry on October nights long ago. So many go in a third direction - hosting Christian or seasonal alternatives to Halloween. The truth is, Halloween - in spite of its seemingly pagan appearance - is not only an ancient Church holiday but remains an important feast day in the Christian calendar to this very day. There's no need to ignore Halloween - instead, Christians can celebrate it in a manner consistent with the original purpose. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Halloween Should Celebrate Saints, Not Sin, Part 2 October 22, 2009 6:25 PM The Meaning of "Halloween" In A.D. 741, the Church set aside Nov. 1^st as "All Saint's Day" in honor of the great Christian heroes from the dark and bloody days of the early Church. The feast of All Saints is one of the earliest Christian holy days and was originally set on May 13^th. But officials moved it to November to counteract the popular pagan festival Samhain that dominated Roman culture at that time. In keeping with Jewish tradition, early Christian feast days began at sundown the night before. October 31^st was set aside as "All Hallow's Eve" or the eve of "All Hallows." Over the centuries and throughout various cultures, Halloween festivities have adopted customs and lore from many different traditions. By the time Halloween became popular in America around the mid-1800's, its Christian focus was crowded out by myths, legends, and superstitions. But if we wade past the stories of Jack and his Lantern or witches cackling over brew, we will find real stories of lives lived for good in the face of evil. Celebrating the Feast of All Saints Those who get to "know" the early Christians are often surprised - and comforted - when they see past the old-fashioned robes to discover joys and struggles that sound familiar to our modern ears. Much wisdom can be gained from those who have "finished the race" (2Ti 4:7) and arrived at the finish line. Families can pick a few Christian heroes of interest, and teach their children about their lives as well as the eras in which they lived. Then, as Halloween approaches, parents can throw an "All Saints' Party" to celebrate - requesting that attendees dress as their favorite Saint or Biblical character. Or families and friends can wear these costumes as they venture out into local neighborhoods for some old-fashioned trick-or-treating. Who knows what opportunities to share the Gospel could come your way? Here are some Saints you might want to learn more about: The Early Martyrs The Church faced much persecution in her infancy - and where there is persecution, there are opportunities for heroes to emerge. Countless Christians - young mothers, nobles, slaves, Roman guards, and every day men and women -- gave their lives in the name of Christ. Perpetua, a noblewoman from Carthage, and her servant Felicity bravely marched to an amphitheatre of wild beasts around A.D. 203. Historians consider Perpetua's writings on their persecution, imprisonment, and impending martyrdom the oldest surviving text penned by a Christian woman. Costume: A robe of pretty material accompanied by bracelets, jewelry, and adornments worn in the hair, symbolizing Perpetua's noble status. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Halloween Should Celebrate Saints, Not Sin, Part 3 October 22, 2009 6:24 PM Biblical Characters Noah and his ark. Moses and the Ten Commandments. Rebekah and her watering jar. Queen Esther and her court. John the Baptist and his clothing made of camel's hair. Joseph and his colored coat. There are many fascinating characters in the Bible that could make for some interesting costumes. One mom combined creativity with simplicity by dressing her son as the Apostle Peter. She draped him in a sheet for a robe and gave him a fishing hat with fish lures pinned through the hat, symbolizing his status as a "fisher of men." Another common symbol for Peter is a set of keys, for the Scripture where Jesus gives Peter the "keys of the kingdom." (Matt 16:19) Another fun costume for boys might be St. Joseph, the Carpenter. Scripture, although somewhat sparse on details, reveals he was a compassionate, faithful, and righteous man. When he learned of his betrothed's unexplainable pregnancy, he decided to "divorce her quietly" so as not to leave her to ridicule or even death (Matthew 1: 19-25). When an angel appeared to him in a dream, revealing the true nature of Mary's pregnancy, he was obedient to God. He traveled great distances to raise and protect Jesus, fleeing to Egypt to avoid Herod's slaughter, and living an obscure life in Nazareth. Costume: brown and green robes, carpenter's square, tools. Or, instead of robes, cargo pants and a tool belt with a cross around the neck. The Angels Although the angels are not human saints, their heroic characters are worth emulating. Plus, they'd make for some fun costumes. The archangel Michael appears in the Old Testament and in the Book of Revelation. He is called "one of the chief princes" (Dan 10: 13). Scripture and tradition identify him as a warrior for God, some even considering him the commander of God's angelic army. In medieval times, he also became a symbol of chivalry. Costume: wings, armor, a sword, and a set of scales for justice. Like Michael, Gabriel appears in both the Old and New Testaments. He appears with Michael in the Book of Daniel, and is traditionally considered the messenger who appeared to Mary to announce the conception of Jesus. Gabriel is chiefly identified as God's messenger. Costume: Wings, yellow and white robes, halo, messenger's scroll. Saints from More Recent Eras From the early Church fathers to 20^th century poets, there are countless Christians whose stories weave a vibrant tapestry of Christian history. These three are noteworthy, but barely scratch the surface, so check out the resources at the bottom for more. Maximillian Kolbe (1894-1941) was a Polish priest who came of age in the days building up to Nazi Germany. As a pastor, he boldly proclaimed the Gospel message to the world through his writings and ministry, traveling as far as Japan. He is most known for his final heroic act at Auschwitz where he was imprisoned for his faith. One day, his captors decided to kill ten prisoners as punishment for an escape attempt. Chosen among the ten was a Jewish husband and father who pleaded for his life. Kolbe stepped out of line, offering to take the father's place. He was the last of the ten prisoners to die, ministering to the other nine as they withered away of starvation. Costume: Thick, round-rimmed glasses. Traditional Franciscan robe (A long, dark robe tied with a rope at the waist, sandals). Kateri Tekakwitha, or "Lily of the Mohawks."A Native American, Kateri was born in 1656 in New York.. Her father was a Mohawk warrior. When she was four, her mother died and two aunts and an uncle adopted her. She was baptized Christian at age 20 having accepted salvation in Christ as a teenager. Kateri's faith was a source of suffering for her, but she never abandoned her Christian beliefs. As a young woman, Kateri traveled to a Christian colony of Native Americans located in Canada. She showed much devotion to the Lord through her prayer and service to those in need. On April 7^th, 1680 Kateri died at the young age of 24. Her life and death inspire Christian devotion among the Native American population to this day. Costume: Traditional Native American (preferably Mohawk) dress, braided hair, accompanied with a cross around the neck. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Ghosts and the Gospel October 11, 2009 10:48 AM by Derrick G. Jeter Be silent in that solitude, Which is not loneliness—for then The spirits of the dead who stood In life before thee are again In death around thee—and their will Shall overshadow thee: be still.¹ For many, Halloween is a fun time of telling ghost stories, passing out candy to little ghouls and goblins who come knocking on doors, or getting a good scare at a haunted house. But All Hallows Eve also raises questions for many children and parents. Is it true, as Edgar Allan Poe said in the poem above, that the people who stood around us in life stand around us in their death as disembodied spirits? In other words, do ghosts really exist? And if not, what happens after death? http://www.insight.org/library/articles/parenting/ghosts-and-the-gospel.html [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Are Christians Exempt? October 04, 2009 9:17 AM For reading & meditation - Matthew 5:38-48 ""... He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."" (v. 45) We are meditating on the theme, ""Strong at the broken places,"" and we are discovering that although life deals blows to us all, those who meet life with the right responses and the right inner attitudes are those who turn their weaknesses into strengths. I know some Christians who believe that they ought to be exempt from the cruel blows of life. A young man who was stunned after failing his examination said, ""I cannot understand. I prayed very hard before the examination, and I lived an exemplary life for the Lord. Why, oh why, should He fail me at this important moment?"" Later he confessed to a friend, ""As a result of God letting me down, my faith in Him has been shattered."" I can sympathize with the young man's feelings, of course, but I cannot agree with his conclusions. Suppose prayer alone could enable us to pass examinations - what would happen? Prior to examination time, classrooms would be deserted, and everyone would flock to the churches for prayer and meditation. Not a bad situation, you might think. But what would happen to the minds of young people if prayer alone brought success? They would become blunted by lack of study. I suspect the young man I have just referred to was depending more on prayer than on diligent and painstaking study. Now prayer and study make a good combination, but prayer without study never helped anyone pass an examination. Christians are not exempt from the natural laws that govern the universe. We may through prayer be able to overcome them, but we are not able to avoid them. Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me that even though I am a Christian, I am still governed by natural laws that apply equally to everyone. I cannot be exempt, but through You I can overcome. I am so grateful. Amen. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	A MIllion Little Pieces by James Frey September 07, 2009 11:59 AM pg. 256 As with most diseases the belief is that the cause is genetic. She says that Alcoholics and Addicts are born with a gene or a gene structure, precisely which is not yet known, that when activated, causes the disease to present itself in an individual. Once this has happened, and at this point there is not way to know if or when it will, the Addict is at the mercy of the disease. It cannot be controlled, it cannot be held in check by force of will, the decision to use or not use, to indulge or not indulge, to take or do not take, is not a decision that can be made because the disease makes the decision for you. The Addict always uses, always indulges, always takes, always does. The Addict always wants and always needs and that want and that need is always satisfied. The inability to control and the lack of choice is but a symptom of the disease. A dangerous and horrible symptom, but a symptom nonetheless. It is incurable. If active, there is no way to stop it. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	How You Can Make a Fresh Start August 25, 2009 8:26 PM Whitney Hopler Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Doug Fields' new book, Fresh Start: God's Invitation to a Great Life, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009). Do you feel stuck? Maybe you don't like the way your life has been going lately, but can't seem to change it. Perhaps you're struggling with an unhealthy habit that you know you should stop, yet still continue despite your best intentions to change. No matter how stuck you may have become, you can move forward with God's help. Here's how you can make a fresh start to change your life for the better: Look beyond yourself to God. Your ability to make real and lasting changes to your life is limited, even when you try your hardest. Rather than relying just on your own determined resolve to change and your own positive thinking (which may improve your life temporarily but not lead to permanent change), connect to God in prayer daily and rely on the strength that He will give you to truly change for good. God loves you too much to let you stay stuck; He wants to help you become the best person and experience the best life possible. Invite God to give you a fresh start and cooperate with His work in your life by following where He leads you. To read the rest of the article, go to: http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11607542/page1/ edit post host bulletin \| delete post \| report abuse [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	This is an amazing journey. August 06, 2009 9:08 AM It takes a little time but well worth every second. Read all the instructions before you begin. "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes unto the Father except by me.." Jesus When you enter the Garden (link below,) click on the little lighting bug and follow instructions. Unlock the door with the key by dragging the key to the lock. Follow the bug, open the book... I have never seen anything like this. When you get to the fountain, click on each rock. Try to find the lighting bug to continue. After the fountain, click on each of the sticks on the left. On the table, you need to click on the scrolls. Each scene has something to click on but you should be able to figure it out just by moving your mouse around. It is so beautiful to go through. I hope you all enjoy. http://www.prayerforthenations.com/prayergarden/flash.htm This post was modified from its original form on 06 Aug, 9:09 [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Dear God, July 17, 2009 8:15 PM Teach me love. To love You unconditionally. Then I'll learn To love others despite their conditions. Teach me joy, Thy unspeakable joy. Then I'll learn To spread a "smile" to those who need one. Teach me peace. That surpasses all understanding. Then I'll learn To calm the storm of an anxious soul. Teach me long-suffering. To understand not all paths are always straight; Then I'll learn To walk with You through the winding paths. Teach me gentleness. Like God's gentle lamb. Then I'll learn. To be gentle even to the toughest people. Teach me goodness; To be kind-hearted like Prophets. Then I'll learn; To share the good things You've blessed me with. Teach me faith; To see beyond the circumstances. Then I'll learn; To say, "I'm grateful You're taking over." Teach me meekness; To know what's like to be born in a manger. Then I'll learn; To appreciate the simple things in life. Teach me temperance; To know the meaning of "to wait." Then I'll learn; The rewards of patience are indeed a blessing from You! I've always wondered; Why against such there is no law? Then I realized; To love You is simply to obey Your Word. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Pursue more of Jesus part II June 11, 2009 6:26 AM Pursue more of His hope in your grief. Jesus has given you the hope of heaven in your grief. Let the promise of heaven sharpen your focus to help you see that any difficult situation you're going through now is temporary compared to a joyful eternity with Jesus. Look forward to the reality of seeing Jesus face to face and enjoying the company of loved ones who have gone before you, when it's your time to go to heaven. Pursue more of His fruit in your service. If your service for God lacks the fruit of changed lives, you don't have to try harder, pray more, or claim greater territory in service. Instead, you should examine your personal relationship with Jesus to see how closely you're connected to Him. It's the quality of your connection to Jesus that will determine whether or not you'll have the power to bear good fruit for His kingdom. The fruit you bear isn't produced through your own efforts; it's produced by the Holy Spirit through you as you consistently rely on God. Jesus is the Vine and you are the branches. God may sometimes choose to prune you to bear good fruit by cutting out of your life everything you depend on -- except your relationship with Jesus. When you're forced to pay attention to your relationship with Jesus because that's all you have, your connection to the Vine gets bigger, empowering you to produce more fruit. Trust God when He prunes the branches of your life; He knows what's best to help you grow. Pray for greater fruitfulness in your service, asking God t conform you more closely to the image of Jesus, use you to make others want to know Him better, give you opportunities to share His Gospel and give you the fruit of changed lives as a result, draw others to Himself through a Bible study you lead, or give you one person to share His love with today. Pursue more of His love in your home. As you give Jesus more of your heart, He will fill it with more of His love, and that will overflow into the lives of the people with whom you interact each day. When you let God's love flow through you, it will empower you to love even those people who are difficult for you to love -- those whose personalities or behavior makes them seem completely incompatible with you. Rather than just avoiding or tolerating difficult people, choosing to show God's love to them will bless you in the process because God will use them to grind off the weak edges of your character to make you stronger. Ask Jesus to help you love people sacrificially, as He does. Instead of choosing to love only people who meet your needs, whom you get along with, who make you feel good, who do things for you, who give you things you want, whom respond with love, and whom you like, choose to demonstrate love to everyone, regardless of whether or not you like them and how they respond to you. When you love someone sacrificially, your act of love then becomes an act of worshiping Jesus. Pursue more of His courage in your convictions. Be willing to stand out and speak up for Jesus in all areas of your life, and with whoever you meet. Take a strong public stand for the uniqueness of who Jesus is; for the truth of the entire Bible; and for the necessity of living a life of integrity, purity, and humility in order to please God. Rather than living a lifestyle that simply blends in with that of non-believers, show people the difference that your relationship with Jesus makes in your attitudes and actions. Pray for the courage you need to stand by biblical convictions when others pressure you to be complacent or politically correct. Ask the Holy Spirit to use all of your conversations with others to glorify God in whatever ways He guides you to do so. No matter how much pressure you encounter to compromise your convictions, decide that you will never give up, shut up, or let up, because of your love for Jesus. Pursue more of His nearness in your loneliness. When you feel lonely, remember that Jesus is always with you. Pray for more awareness of His presence close to you, and take comfort in it. Although other people may sometimes disappoint you or abandon you, Jesus will always be there for you. Remember that Jesus is much more than just a man, prophet, teacher, revolutionary, icon, or symbol. Jesus is God Himself -- and He loves you! Pursue more of His answers to your prayers. It's an incredible privilege to be able to go directly to God at any time and in any place with your prayers. Jesus has promised that when you ask Him for anything according to His will and believing in His power to act, He will answer. Whenever your prayers seem to go unanswered or turn out the opposite of what you asked God to do (such as when you pray for your career and get laid off or when you pray for a loved one's healing and he or she dies), trust God anyway. Remember that His ways are not your ways, and He will act according to what's best from His unlimited perspective on every situation. Pursue more of His glory on your knees. Embrace God's purpose for your life single-mindedly and wholeheartedly. Stay focused on what God wants for your life, and do all you can to fulfill that purpose well. Let your determination to do the work God has for you to do lead you to make wise choices like: less sleep and more prayer, less TV and more study, less shopping and more tithing, less eating and more exercise, less talking and more listening, or less work and more worship. Serve God faithfully to glorify Him every day. Ad [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	13 Ways to Pursue More of Jesus June 11, 2009 6:25 AM 13 Ways to Pursue More of Jesus Whitney Hopler Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Anne Graham Lotz's* new book,* Pursuing More of Jesus, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009). Every day presents a fresh opportunity to pursue a closer relationship with Jesus -- and the more you have of Jesus in your life, the better your life will be. So don't settle for just occasional encounters with Jesus in some parts of your life. Keep pursuing more of Jesus until your whole life is saturated with His power. Here's how you can pursue more of Jesus: Go for the maximum, not the minimum. Choose to go after more than just the bare minimum God has to offer you. Make your faith about more than just trying to escape hell and get your ticket punched to heaven. Invite God to completely transform you: bending your will, awakening your conscience, breaking your heart, transforming your mind, overcoming your prejudices, soaring in your spirit, and conforming you into His glorious image. Pursue more of His voice in your ear. Out of the many voices you hear speaking to you each day -- through other people, circumstances, etc. -- you need to learn how to discern what's truly God speaking and what's not. Keep in a mind that any authentic message from God is biblical (straight from God's Word), personal (in the language of your own life), and powerful (resulting in lives either changed for the better or saved). If someone claims to have a message from God for you, test it by making sure that it's in accord with and confirmed by the Bible. Remember Jesus' promise that He would go ahead of you to guide you in every situation. Learn how to recognize Jesus' voice by getting to know the Bible well (reading it, studying it, understanding it, applying it, and living by it) and then trust His guidance when making decisions. Pursue more of His tears on your face. Jesus understands and cares when you're crying tears of pain. Remember how much He suffered on the Cross, and see your own sufferings as opportunities to draw closer to Jesus. No matter what you're going through -- the loss of a job, a friend's betrayal, a health crisis, a spouse's unfaithfulness, a child's rebellion -- Jesus is crying along with you and will meet you in the middle of your suffering with His presence. Pursue more of His praise on your lips. It's easy to praise Jesus when your life is going well, but Jesus is still worthy of praise even when problems and pressures darken your circumstances. Make the deliberate, conscious choice to praise Jesus every day, no matter what, to honor Jesus and learn how to walk by reliable faith instead of shifting feelings. Praise Jesus for who He is by frequently thinking of one His many wonderful attributes and thanking Him for it. Praise Jesus for what He has done by thanking Him for specific blessings in your life on a regular basis. Real praise is affirming your faith even in the midst of desperation when you choose to cling to Jesus alone. Pursue more of His death in your life. Death produces power that leads to more blessings in life. Just as Jesus died on the Cross so you could be spiritually alive, He wants you to die to your own desires and yield to His desires for you so you can experience the best life possible. God uses pressures, problems, and pain in your life as nails to pin you to cross of your own. If you submit to Him while you go through them, you experience what it's like to die to yourself so God's power can live through you. Every kind of brokenness you experience can lead to a corresponding blessing if you're willing to die to your own: will, goals, dreams, desires, expectations, plans, rights, and reputation. If you choose to die to yourself, God will pour out blessings like a character that reflects His own, a witness that leads to other people's lives being transformed, and rewards from God himself. Pursue more of His dirt on your hands. Just as Jesus was willing to get His hands dirty serving others willingly, humbly, obediently, and gladly, He expects you to do the same. Choose to serve other people whenever God calls you to -- even when it's not convenient or when you're struggling with serious problems of your own. Shift your focus from yourself to Jesus and the people He wants you to serve. In the process, your own problems will become more manageable. Never view yourself as being above any particular type of service -- changing diapers, mowing grass, making coffee, visiting prisoners, etc.. When you do any task that God calls you to do, your work -- no matter how humble -- will become important because you're answering God's call. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Its in the Valleys I grow June 02, 2009 8:55 PM http://llerrahmusic.com/viewcard.php?code=102467 [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	5 Ways to Build the Family You've Always Wanted April 21, 2009 9:13 AM Whitney Hopler Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Dr. Gary Chapman's* book,* "The Family You've Always Wanted: Five Ways You Can Make it Happen," (Northfield Publishing, 2008). If the family life you have now doesn't look like the healthy, nurturing family you've always wanted, don't despair. It's possible to create a better family, no matter what your background or current circumstances. Here's how you can build the family you've always wanted: 1. Develop a heart for service. So much work needs to be done in a family -- from household chores like laundry, dishes, and paying bills to errands like grocery shopping and taking cars for oil changes. Make sure that every family member pitches in to help with a fair share of the work. Assign age-appropriate tasks to each of your children. Even very young children can help set the table for meals; older kids can do a wide range of chores like mowing the lawn or organizing closets. If your family learns to serve each other, you'll learn to serve others outside your family, too. Such service pleases God and enlarges your hearts. Model service to your children by letting them see you engaged in service projects that make a positive difference in other people's lives. Give them opportunities to serve alongside you whenever possible. Affirm your children when they complete the work you've assigned them to do; your words will encourage them to keep serving. 2. Start relating intimately to your spouse. If an emotional wall has developed between you and your spouse, break it down by regularly acknowledging your failures, asking your spouse to forgive you, and forgiving your spouse whenever he or she hurts or offends you. Communicate well with each other, sharing your thoughts and feelings openly and honestly and listening carefully to what your spouse has to say. Move beyond simply sharing information (such as when you plan to pick up a child or what you'd like to eat for dinner) and start sharing your deep desires and frustrations with each other. Develop intellectual intimacy by telling your thoughts, develop emotional intimacy by discussing your feelings, develop social intimacy by spending time together and discussing the time you've spent apart, develop spiritual intimacy by opening your souls to each other, and develop physical intimacy by sharing your bodies through sex. 3. Guide your children well. Keep in mind when training your children that they must feel loved in order for your training to work. If they feel loved by you, even poor attempts at training can produce good results. Discover each of your children's love languages -- how you can express love to them in ways they'll best understand. The main love languages are: Words of affirmation, Quality time, Physical touch, receiving gifts, and Acts of service. Look for clues to your children's love languages in how they express love to you, what they request of you most often, and what they complain about most often. Make time to teach your kids creatively throughout every part of life you experience together. Pray with your kids often. Engage in conversations with them regularly, in which you discuss their thoughts and feelings and show a genuine interest in their lives. Encourage your children to take risks as God leads them and to learn from both their successes and failures. Speak encouraging words to your children often and write them encouraging notes or send them encouraging texts messages or e-mails. When you need to correct them for misbehavior, aim to do so in a way that motivates them toward positive behavior. Choose your battles wisely. Correct only behavior that is truly destructive or detrimental to your children's development and let the rest go. Correct out of love instead of uncontrolled anger. Seek your children's wellbeing and choose discipline methods designed to benefit them. Affirm your children for who they are, rather than just for what they do. Let your children know that you notice and appreciate their personal qualities, from how clever their minds are to how their decisions show strong moral character. Accentuate the positive to help your children overcome the many negative messages they sometimes receive from their peers and analyzing themselves. Make time to show your children how to do the tasks you want them to perform instead of just telling them what to do. When they're trying to learn a new skill like reading or riding a bike, teach them how to deal with emotions like fear, anger, and disappointment and emphasize the importance of values such as courage, hard work, and honesty. Aim to be a healthy role model for them as you show them how to do something. Weave your actions in with your words and be consistent with your training to help your children learn best. 4. Help your children obey and honor you and your spouse. While making every effort to make sure your children feel loved, also make sure that your children experience the consequences of their behavior. Think and pray about what rules to set, and if your children are older, listen to their input about what rules should be set and why. When considering a particular rule, ask: "Is this rule good for the child? Will it have some positive effect on this child's life?&qu [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	April 21, 2009 9:12 AM Set consequences -- both good and bad -- for your children's behavior. Tie the consequences as closely as possible to the rules to which they relate. Give older children opportunities to help decide their own consequences for certain behaviors; that will make them more likely to accept the consequences when they break rules. Aim to be consistent, loving, and kind yet firm when disciplining your children. Model what it looks like to honor parents by treating your own parents well if they're still alive. Visit and call them often; help care for their needs. Whether or not your own parents are still living, choose a lifestyle of generous service -- investing your life to honor God and bless other people -- and your children will be inspired by your example and motivated to do the same themselves. 5. Build a family where the husband loves and leads. A healthy husband is crucial to the health of a family, since God has planned for husbands to serve as the spiritual leaders of their homes. A healthy husband: Views his wife as an equal partner and works well with her when making decisions Communicates with his wife openly and in positive ways Makes his relationship with his wife his top priority after God Loves his wife unconditionally Is committed to discovering and meeting his wife's needs, and Seeks to model his spiritual and moral values. A healthy father: Is actively involved in his children's lives, Makes time to be with his children often, engages in conversations with them regularly, Plays with them often, Teaches them his values, Provides for and protects his children, and Loves his children unconditionally. Wives can motivate their husbands to grow by encouraging them and praising their efforts without expecting perfection. If wives share their desires in terms of requests rather than demands, husbands will respond better. Wives should give their husbands plenty of love and try to meet his basic needs -- including his strong sexual needs. When they feel cared for, husbands will be motivated to act in loving ways themselves. Wives whose husbands get defensive also need to learn how to communicate in ways that don't strike at their husbands' self-esteem. Published April 15, 2009 [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	April 20, 2009 10:14 AM Oh my goodness...you made my day. I wasn't sure if anyone was reading these posts. Now I know!!! I am so glad you are getting something from these as well as I am. God bless you!! [ send green star]
Yvonne M.	April 19, 2009 3:50 AM This is a fantastic thread Phyllis. Thank you very much. [ send green star] [ accepted]
Phyllis P.	When I say... "I am a Christian" November 08, 2008 4:34 PM I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'." I'm whispering "I was lost, But, now, I'm found and forgiven." When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak And need His strength to carry on. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed And need God to clean-up my mess. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible But, God believes I am worth it. When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow! [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	October 05, 2008 4:16 PM God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen. - Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	The 7 Best Spiritual Diets October 03, 2008 4:09 PM http://www.beliefnet.com/gallery/spiritualdiets.html?WT.mc_id=NL54 7 new programs to flavor your quest for health and weight loss with holistic wisdom and meaning You could say I've been on a spiritual diet since I was a teen praying fervently to wake up 10 pounds thinner. It took years, a whole lot of learning and legwork, but that prayer is now answered--I do wake up every day a normal, healthy weight, down 100 pounds from my peak of 254 pounds 15 years ago. This miracle was accomplished first by experimenting until I finally found the correct way for me to eat (no sugar, wheat, or flour, and weighing and measuring all my food according to the plan from Food Addicts Anonymous). Then I had to find motivation and fulfillment that did not involve binge eating. Along the way I was blessed with many wonderful mentors, who taught me that leaning on a power greater than myself was vital. [ send green star]
Phyllis P.	Quality of Life September 07, 2008 6:37 AM 8 Steps for Aging Gracefully By Andrew Weil, M.D. The suggestions in this gallery are intended to help you become more aware of your spiritual self. Any activity that makes you feel more alive, more connected to others and to nature, less isolated, more comfortable with change, is beneficial. It will enhance your physical and mental health. It will help you accept the fact of your aging. It will help you to age gracefully. Take the first step to graceful aging.... Andrew Weil, M.D., a graduate of Harvard Medical School, serves as director of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, and is the author of "Spontaneous Healing," "Eight Weeks to Optimum Health," among other bestsellers. [ send green star]