Encourage One Another...

This is something we should all read at least once a week.
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry, God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19.. It's never too late to have a happy childhood but the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21.. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie, don't save it for a special occasion, today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now, don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day, miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time you already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."


Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!

Friends are the Family that we choose for ourselves.

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Here I am Lord,
and I'm drowning
in your sea of forgetfulness
the chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I dont want to end up where you found me
and it echoes in my mind,
keeps me awake tonight

I know you cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
and I stand before you now,
as if I've never sinned
but today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
from you leaving me this way

and Jesus can you show me
just how far the east is from the west
cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest,
cause you know just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.

I start the day the war begins
endless reminding of my sin
time and time again your truth is drowned out
by the storm I'm in
today I feel like I'm just one mistake away,
from you leaving me this way and Jesus can you show me,
just how far the East is from the West
cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
'cause you know
just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.
I know you've washed me white,
turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me through,
to get me through this night
can't live by what I feel
but by the Truth your Word reveals,
I'm not holding on to you
but you're holding on to me,
you're holding on to me
Jesus you know
just how far the East is from the West
I don't have to see the man I've been,
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
'cause you know just how far the East is from the West,
just how far,
from one scarred hand to the other.

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God Wants His Children Well And Joyful

John 14:9
9Jesus said to him, “… He who has seen Me has seen the Father…

Imagine the following scenario: A father tells his little girl, “Come here, girl. Mummy says that you have been playing by the roadside. Is that true?” “Yes, Daddy. I am sorry.” “Sorry? How many times have I told you not to play near the road? Come here! Lie down on the road and stretch out your legs!”
Daddy drives his car over his little girl’s legs. You can hear the sound of bones being crushed and the poor girl screaming in pain!
“Now, darling, you know that Daddy loves you. And Daddy did that to teach you a lesson, that playing by the roadside is dangerous.”
You are probably shaking your head in horror by now, wondering which sick father would do that. Yet, there are many Christians who believe that our heavenly Father does the same thing. They say that He gives people sicknesses, accidents, earthquakes and death to teach them lessons.
But Jesus said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Jesus is the nature of God in action. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus or God going about healing the sick. If God wants some people sick, then there should be at least one incident in the Gospels where you see Jesus saying, “Behold, your complexion is too lovely, receive leprosy,” or “Blindness is good for you. Remain blind.” But no, never once! In fact, Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil”. (Acts 10:38) That’s the heart of God.
As a father, if your child is sick and in pain, your heart just wants him well. How much more your heavenly Father! My friend, God does not give your child a sickness to teach both of you some lesson or to glorify Himself. To think so is to talk out of a warped mind bound by religion! And Christianity is not a religion. It is a loving relationship with your Father in heaven.
Beloved, hear God speaking this to your heart today: “I will never punish you for your sins because they have been punished in My Son’s body. I do not wish you ill. I will not take away your child or give you a car wreck to teach you some lesson. My heart always wants My children well and joyful!”

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Gives you some tools on how to defeat this spirit.. which satan uses through people to shame you.. make you feel worthless.. and accuse you..

I think this would be most helpful to heal us in our Spiritual walk with GOD.. JESUS is greater then any power coming against us.. Halleujah..

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This is how my parable begins. Let me call him John. John had a double story house, five plus five rooms. One day there was a gentle knock on the front door. When John opened it was the Lord Jesus. “Please come in”, John pleaded, “I will give you the best room in my house – it is upstairs. Well, Jesus is a gentleman and said “thank you”.
The next morning someone hammered against the front door. When John opened it who was there? The devil. “No” shouted John, “I don’t want you here” But the devil said “I’m already in” – and a big fight started. Satan poured filthy temptation on him, it was horrible. By the evening John somehow got the victory and threw the devil out. Then he said “wait a minute”. I gave Jesus the best room in the house, why didn’t he come to my rescue?” Jesus said to John “Look, you gave me one of the ten rooms…” John was on his knees and said “I can see my mistake. Sorry, Lord. Let’s make 50/50.” Jesus is a gentleman and accepted. The next day was a repeat of the day before. Somehow the devil got in and out and John was totally exhausted. “Why didn’t Jesus come to my rescue today? I need to go and ask.” The Lord said “My son, why don’t you give me all 10 rooms and then, instead of me staying with you, you stay with me?” John broke down. He pulled the key of the front-door from his pocket and handed it to Jesus. Now, he had given it all.
The next morning, it was still dark, when someone was knocking at the front door so hard that the whole building shook. John jumped frightened and shaken out of bed crying “O, it’s the devil again”, when suddenly he heard footsteps – but this time inside the house. Jesus was marching in majesty and power towards the front door. He had the key. It now was His duty to answer the door. John was wondering what would happen and stood right behind Jesus when the Lord opened the door wide. Who was it? The devil of course. But when the devil saw Jesus standing in the door he bowed low, very low indeed, and said “Sorry Sir, I knocked on the wrong door!”
Some have given 9 rooms to Jesus and on the door of room number 10 they have written “Strictly Private”. It is there where they have their secret sins and live their double life. But Jesus cannot be cheated. C’mon. Let’s sing it together from the bottom of our hearts “Unto Jesus I surrender, unto Him I freely give….I surrender ALL, unto thee my God and Savior, I surrender all.” This is my foolproof recipe for victory! Does it speak to you? Please let me know. With all my love, REINHARD BONNKE.

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so whats the point of this story? give all to Jesus or you get hurt? what about those people with trust issues? will thier locked rooms keep them in pain while Jesus stands by and the devil rips down their down the door enters in ravages them and walks right back out. but Jesus gets to smile and say "I love you" makes everything ok?

what Im getting..is give the keys to Jesus..be forced to serve..dont get hurt? your body controlled by The Spirit? sounds like a solid plan to me..its nice knowing my rooms are taken care of and I dont even have to lift a finger-because not really me doing it isnt it. its Jesus-YA! im lead and taken down roads that really dont suit me- and I don't even have a choice- my house is painted a color whatever he wants rooms decorated the way he wants- if i say anything lift a voice.. the door is opened and right in comes back satan

its nice to know i have a free will..to smile and laugh..is it really though?

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To sustain the belief that there is no God, atheism has to demonstrate infinite knowledge, which is tantamount to saying, "I have infinite knowledge that there is no being in existence with infinite knowledge" --Ravi Zacharias

"God is in the rain."~Evey in V for Vendetta

"The unexamined life is not worth living". ~Socrates

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((Brother)) I am sorry for your pain.. your confusion and your suffering.. I do not know your pain.. All of the horrible things do not make sense I know that.. I know that.. I cannot give you the answers you seek.. I just cannot..

Just recently brother.. my husband left me and the children.. walked out.. only one month ago.. It has been devastating.. absolutely devastating and I do not understand at all.. and I have cried much..

But I cannot hold onto that because it destroys.. it robs and it kills me..

GOD has helped me.. not by taking me out of it.. but by comforting me from within..

If I held onto even a little bit of it.. even a small thought.. I would be totally undone.. I had to give HIM all of it.. there are other issues too.. that I face daily.. but HE has them too..

Brother.. HE can do it for you too.. but trusting HIM is the only way.. yes things still hurt us.. and cause us to stumble.. but HE picks us up.. and helps us..

HE even helps us when we do not realize it.. I continue to pray for you.. you will get through.. you will.. I know it seems impossible.. it has for me too many times.. but I have joy today..

Despite that we are going to have to sell up the family home because I cannot afford to keep paying for it..

((Love you brother.. and so does GOD!!))

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u have to want to know someone and want them to help yo in order for it to work..its nice to say God will help you and carry you through..but you have to be willing and wanting that to happen..

its nice to say ill get through.this isnt about me.its not my thread..i came on.and read post.thought i share something..u know..its nice to be waiting 40 years on the bench..u know smile say I love you..stand right there..people are in pain..u know.nice words dont cut it..Ive had nice words spoken over me all the time.yet backstab me in the end..

everyone speaks of God...yet their lives are in the gutter for years upon years..told to what for "God's timing" ya its nice to day oh i love you youll get through..you dont know that..do you have a direct word from God..if God is a God of free will..then we can choose what why we go..or does the Lord control our feelings and will..like so many christians teach and say..like we have no control on what we desire and feel and have any say in it all

you know.there are people who wish they could grab God out of their hearts and throw him in the trash where they bellieve he belongs..you tell them to wait on the Lord..slap a smile on their faces..say your nice words.pat them on the back..tell them that have peace.

im not saying its easy for people to trust God in hard times..but you gotta admit those who have some type of love have a huge advantage in their dark times for those who dont love Him and cant trust..it can make a huge difference

thats all him saying.im one of them..I wish i could have God out of me..im tired of feeling raped inside my heart by some being..if i wanted to be possessed i would ask the devil to gladly do it..not be forced to have joy or smile whenever i see something "nice" im not someone's blow up doll..nor someones slave

its nice to have faith..if what you believe is true..some of us..dont give a HOOT..we dont believe in your benchwarming ways..waiting upon someone..but go ahead your nice words dont shake us..that all im saying...

some of us.when we sense God or whatever..want Him to get out..dont touch a thing..but whatever..i guess God can use our bodies as He pleases..make us laugh...ya know once hes inside..its hard to get Him out..but whatever..i dont hold it to you to understand

like i said.its nice to say trust in The lord..some peopel cant tell the difference between God and the Devil..its nice to see that they are told that..why dont you try to trust in the Lord when you cant tell the difference..i would rather surgically cut open my heart grab God throw him out.thats how i feel..but whatever..blasphemy or not.. i rather have the Devil..sad isnt it