Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
Thats good granma.. emotionally, yes but physically no..My day was good! My car has a shiny new fender and the paint matches nicely and it looks really good so that made for a good day. Only that would have made it better would have been in the guy who fixed it had said: Oh no I don't want any money. But I'll take what blessings I can get. Now how are YOU doing sweetie? Feeling better now?
LOL granma.. yes I will be a good girlmaybe..
Love you sweetie, I'm going to bed! Have a great night!
Rest the nite I will. Key word being rest.Gabs hugs Mellie...hon grabs some pillows and rest with me ..she hands Mellie a hot chocolate. Rest and then we will pray together ok sweetie.
Love you back I'm ok really just worn out.
Oh Aunt Mellie...you are so cute.
We are all family you see.
We love you too!
I like that Mellie better than what we have Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad Diva hmm I can relate to that!LOLOLOL
Thats good granma.. emotionally, yes but physically no..
Good night.
Well I will keep you in prayer honey. God is able and He wants to heal all your hurts. Love you my dear.
granma dont go yet.. will u tuck me in please??
Aww, thank you granma.. I'm going to sleep good tonight and I hope u do too.. I'm really tired so I'm going to head to bed early.. I love u! Crys hugs an' kisses her granma on the cheek.. Good night!
I'm here sis...not going anywhere God sent me and I'm here to stay. Feel free to pm me anytime. I am here everyday...with my family in Christ. My heart feels the love, AMEN! Good to see you and love and peace be with you.Hey Gabs
Thank goodness I don't have to check my e-mail anymore
I'm just reading this thread...I'm on pg. 5...but I thought I should say "HI"...it may take a while to read thru it all with John, Dustin, Nolan and his friend Emily wanting to chat
Luv ya Gabs
lil sis
's and 
's for you now and always.*puts a big soft comforter over Gabs and lowers the lights, puts on some soft praise and worship music (the kind you can get lost in), strokes her head and says: rest sweetie, rest*Thanks hon I am worn thread bare...emotional day the next 5 months are going to be long ones so keep the prayers coming I need all the strength I can muster. Love you so much Mare.
No my love you are not bad you are the best sister a girl could have.
Nope not tell now or ever my secret and I am keeping it.
Chuck I told you the love of these friends God sent me has been amazing and overwhelming and healing. You cannot come here and be untouched by it.
You are so loved by our Lord and by us as well.
(Still being a Mommy even when I'm 21) I won't get into how far I fell down... came down to either I'm going to die or I'm just going to keep breathing and let God heal me. And that's all I did for a few weeks... just breath. God worked with me and a few years later now, I'm doing alot better. So I know how badly depression kills your body, how your heart rips apart, how the only thing you want to do is either run away in your misery or sleep. But Brother, you know that little bit of light you keep seeing out of the corner of your eye that's the Lord's angels watching over you (they're shy ) and God is holding you when you can no longer walk.
), but I know it's powerful, over-whelming, and amazing. I know it's how our Father in Heaven is and I know it's how Jesus welcomes us into Heaven too.
Hey Gabs
Thank goodness I don't have to check my e-mail anymore
I'm just reading this thread...I'm on pg. 5...but I thought I should say "HI"...it may take a while to read thru it all with John, Dustin, Nolan and his friend Emily wanting to chat
Luv ya Gabs
lil sis
). Please stay awhile and visit often. You're welcome and loved here.
Hehehe... Tati I wasn't hiding I just didn't think any1 would notice since hardly anyone is here!!AP... I see you in the thread. I LOVE YOU!!!
G'nite Hun
Awww, how sweet.. I LOVE U too lil sis **covers Gabby with a blanket to keep her warm, prays a prayer of blessing over her, and dims the lights** night my sweet sister....
I was gone all day, and will be gone most of the day tomorrow, but wanted to check in with my friends.
Mel - I have been where you have been. My earthly father isn't the ideal father, so my view of God, my Father was scewed as well. How could someOne be better than I could imagine. My dad was all I knew. That is where Scripture came in. The Word tells the truth, and It tells us all about our Heavenly Father. He loves you with a completely PERFECT love, something we have never experienced on earth. He will NEVER hurt you, desert you, compare you to others, or stop loving you. Keep in the word, and claim it. It's truth. I have Zeph 3:17 written in my book (I carry it with me to read Scripture when I am faced with the lies of this world). This is it: "The LORD your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." The God of the Universe rejoices over you Mel, and over each one of us. Praying for you girl !
*giggles* I know this wasn't for me but it really spoke to me.. I really needed to hear this.. thanks so much! It really touched, encouraged, and blessed me! Oh, and I love that verse!
I am posting this article I found intresting. I like what it said. I related to it as well.
Be blessed by it's meaning.
In Christ I send my love to you all.
G
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Parable of the Slighted Son[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]by Mark W. Muesse[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]J[/FONT]esus parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the best-loved stories in the entire Bible. Throughout the ages, Christians have viewed the tale as a profound allegory of gods longsuffering and ever-compassionate nature, so willing to forgive an errant child who squanders life and resources in pursuit of selfish pleasures. It is such a beautiful story, so rich in theological meaning, so reassuring to all who have ever sought divine forgiveness. [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The parable of the Prodigal SonI hate it.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Most people like this story because they identify with the prodigal. I guess they regard themselves as squanderers and sinners like the young man. Not me. As a hyper-responsible oldest child, I identify with the elder son. Remember him? Most commentaries and sermons pay scant attention to his role in the narrative. Even though the Bible itself does not give the story a title, tradition calls it the parable of the Prodigal Son, not the parable of the Dutiful Son or even the parable of the Two Brothers. Yet the younger sons antics constitute only the first half of the tale. The rest of the story is about the older son, the one who stays on the farm with his father, tending the cows and threshing wheat while his no-good brother is off whoring god-knows-where. The elder brother [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]has always done what he was supposed to do. He has played by the rules, obeyed his father, and worked himself to the bone.[/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]No wonder he raises hell when the reprobate shows up one day seeking to get back into the fathers good graces. We dutiful older sons know its just not fair. [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Whats the point of always doing what youre supposed to do if it doesnt earn you a few advantages?[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
When the prodigals father decides to throw a homecoming bash for his lost son, my heart goes out to the elder brother. I am furious with his father. The older son gets no party, no fatted calves, no ruby rings. Instead, dad comes outside with a few words for his sulking son: You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found (Luke 15: 31-32). And thats where the story ends. Jesus doesnt tell us what happens next. It might be nice to imagine that the fathers words console the elder brother and convince him to join the party, but I dont think so. The little speech is pretty lame. It reflects a fathers point of view, not that of a dutiful son. Do our parents really expect us to love our siblings as much as they do? It is easy for me to imagine the elders anguish stretching into weeks, months, and maybe years, renewed every time he sees his worthless brother strutting around in his new robe and flashing his fancy ring.
As I said, commentators usually focus on the fathers graciousness towards his younger son, making the story a theological allegory. Thats fine. But forgiveness of a child comes fairly easy for a parent. What loving father would not forgive a wayward son who returns home penitential and humble, no matter how wasteful he has been? There is nothing remarkable in that. [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The real story of forgiveness in the parable comes into focus when we consider the older son. He too must forgive the younger son, and it will be far harder for him than for the father.[/FONT] And, whats more, he may also have to forgive his father.
That contention may make little sense if we only think of forgiveness as receiving pardon for violating a rule or a precept. The younger brother did nothing to harm his elder sibling. His recklessness did not diminish the older ones life in the least. Nor did the fathers joy and spontaneous merry-making at his lost sons reappearance mean he loved the elder any less. No laws were broken, no commandments were violated, no boundaries transgressed. So whats to forgive?
Some years ago I came across an idea that helped clarify and deepen my understanding of forgiveness. Forgiveness means relinquishment. Its that simple. To relinquish something is to release whatever power it holds over us. If I forgive someone for a wrong done to me, I no longer allow that event to determine how I treat the other person. I may remember the wrong or I may forget it, but either way I have disarmed it. It no longer determines my actions, thoughts, or words. Forgiveness in this sense is rarely easy or quick. How often do we say, we forgive another person, but still hold a secret grudge? Because of its difficulty, forgiveness has to be practiced. It is less an act than a way of living, a discipline, a cultivated skill. I think this is why Jesus told his students to forgive seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21). True forgiveness often comes only at the end of an inner struggle.
If we view forgiveness in this light, perhaps we can see why it is necessary for the elder brother to forgive and why it will be so difficult. As long as he regards himself as slighted, that notion will worm its way into his soul and embitter him and make his life a living hell. It hardly matters whether the injustices he suffers were real or imagined. Either way, his struggle is with his own thoughts. The Buddha, a kindred spirit with Jesus on this matter, says it poetically:
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I have been insulted! I have been hurt! I have been beaten! I have been robbed! Anger and hatred never cease for those who dwell on such thoughts (Dhammapada 1:3).[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If we need a reason to forgive, this is a good one. [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]We forgive to be free, to be liberated from the destructive power of anger and hatred.[/FONT] Of course, its a lot easier to nourish the thoughts of indignation. Its hard to surrender the delicious feeling that weve suffered unfairly. But ultimately that sense does us no good. The elder brother might wallow in his hurt feelings, but whats the point of that? How much better for him to let them go, to follow the discipline of relinquishment. Sure, its the harder path, but in the end the rewards are worth it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Id like to think the older brother realized that.[/FONT]
