Come Into The Deep End... with ImHisServant (2)

[ImHisServant]

Welcome Surrender... I am so glad you decided to subscribe

Today has been an unusual day here... it's the first day back after the Christmas break... and so it's been chattier then normal... which is nice!!

Normally I post a topic in the morning, then ladies talk about it all day long - posts usually remain on that topic.

Anyone can PM me at any time to suggest a topic - or to let me know they want to type up the topic on a particular day. Which I love when others help me out!!!

Well heck... let me just copy and past my original post from page one of this thread so all the newcomers can see what this is about...

My name is Gina, aka ImHisServant. I hope this thread comes to life as I have it invisioned in my head.

I find myself craving deeper conversations sometimes... and deeper levels of friendship. I love playing games and light stuff... but also want to balance it out by going deeper with my friends too. Let's talk about our struggles, victories and every day life... along with a healthy dose of thought provoking scripture.

I'd like to bring up a topic each day for us to talk about openly to learn from and about each other.

If anyone who subscribes posts in this thread is going through a personal problem that day... let's stop the main topic and make that person's problem the subject for the day by coming together to help her/him by sharing our expierences, strength and hope in that area. We can also go to the chat area if enough of us are on and have a group prayer.

If this sounds like a thread you would like to be a part of... then make a quick intro post so you will be subscribed.

Please do not post a simple "Good Morning, Good Afternoon or Good Night post... again this is about going deeper in our walk with God and deeper in our friendships with each other.

Quote:
Originally Posted by isaiah5213
but i get uncomfortable about... debating... i don't see that debates are what you are looking for.. am i right?

I'm glad you brought that up... I definately DO NOT like debates either... they don't sit well with me... always make me sad and hurt. I hope this is a place to us to come and feel loved, accepted, encouraged & uplifted... no matter what we've done and how we are doing that day. Yet also a place where we get sound advice even if it's not what we want to hear. Friends who speak the truth in love... but not let it be hurtful or get out of hand.

 

[JPPT1974]

I hate debates too as well as
Having a debate get into a shouting contest
You aren't the only one as I do my best
To be a person of peace.

 

[Gidgx]

Well I avoid debating myself. Mainly because I don't know how to debate, so I just avoid it altogether. Maybe someday I'll learn and eventually get on some forums around here and start debating. But until than i'll just have fun on the forums.

 

[JPPT1974]

Keep up the good work
Gina as you always do
And that the Lord will bless you
In everything and all things that
You do so well my friend
Here are hugs and kisses your way.

 

[It's Mee]

Gina
Thanks for giving me this opportunity to come here to have fellowship with you.

Now I will have to read through all the posts.

BTW I would like to know whether man can still posts in this thread or is it for ladies only

Mee

 

[ImHisServant]

Men have been known to post here... but they have never stayed long. Yes... they are welcome... yet I kinda like that it has turned out to be a women's group.

 

[ImHisServant]

Wednesday 1/3/07
Living in Today
​

Today's topic is from "Courage To Change"

I suspect that if I reclaimed all the minutes, hours, and days I've sacrificed to worry and fear, I'd add years to my life. When I succumb to worry, I open a Pandora's box of terrifying pictures, paranoid voices, and relentless self-critcism. The more attention I pay to this mental static, the more I lose my foothold in reality. Then nothing useful can be accomplished.

To break the cycle of worry and fear, I'm learning to focus all my attention on this very moment. I can turn away from destructive thoughts and concentrate instead on the sights and sounds around me: light and shadows, the earth beneath my feet, the pulse of everyday living -- all pieces of the here-and-now. These bits of reality help rescue me from "what-if's" and "should have's" by anchoring me in the present. Prayer and meditation, the slogans, and phone calls to Christian friends are other sources of serenity that bring me back to this moment. As I shut out the noise, I am more receptive to God's will, and therefore much more able to work my way through difficult times.

Today's Reminder:

This day is all I have to work with, and it is all I need. If I am tempted to worry about tomorrow's concerns, I will gently bring my mind back to today.

"The past has flown away. The coming month and year do not exist. Ours only is the present's tiny point." Mahmud Shabistari

How often do you find yourself living in the past or worrying about the future?? What has helped you remain in today?? When the fear or worry is about today... what has helped you through it?

Is there anything worrying you right now that we can pray for and with you about??​

 

[LilGeorgiaPeach81]

I don't mind debating but with some people here (not in this thread, of course) it's like bouncing a ball off a brick wall. It upsets me when people insult and denigrate God and Jesus because they think it makes them look 'cool' and 'rebellious'. It surely makes them look a fool in the eyes of the Lord. I'm glad there's this thread where we can all join in discussion instead of argument, and in prayer to God instead of arguing about whether God is there. And I love that it's mostly a women's thread.

 

[cristianna]

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome to everyone!

Today's Reminder:​

This day is all I have to work with, and it is all I need. If I am tempted to worry about tomorrow's concerns, I will gently bring my mind back to today.​

"The past has flown away. The coming month and year do not exist. Ours only is the present's tiny point." Mahmud Shabistari​

How often do you find yourself living in the past or worrying about the future?? What has helped you remain in today?? When the fear or worry is about today... what has helped you through it? ​

Is there anything worrying you right now that we can pray for and with you about??

At times not worrying is much easier said than done. Generally I'm not a worrier, which drives hubby bonkers! Prime example: our house was on the market and we were building another home. We needed the proceeds from our sale to help with the down payment of the new home to keep our mortgage payment in line with what we were accustomed to.

Our house sat on the market for MONTHS with nothing. Hubs wanted to cancel building the new home and forfeit it's deposit, but I refused because I knew God was going to bring us through this if that was truly where we were to be.

About a month and a half before our new home was to be finished we took our house off the market to paint it top to bottom and do just a few little things- put more in storage which removed more clutter, plant more flowers and change the ugly foyer flooring. When we finished we relisted $30K higher than our original asking price; a week later we accepted a contract for $10K less than what we listed it at.

Even though I am great at pawning off current worry or fear to God, I do worry and often think about the future. I feel as if I'm aimlessly meandering on this path of life. Because I let it bother me, it leads to worry, wonder and a million and one "what if's".

I often fight the temptation to sit down and calculate projections of approximately how much college funds the girls will have when their time comes. During the summer and fall I worry if that will be the season of the final, fatal bee sting my husband will encounter as he barely survived the last one. I wonder if I'll ever satisfy my selfish heart with a career I actually want to do and will enjoy.

The only thing that helps me to stay in "today" is God's Word. Then I am able to convince myself my only true career for now is raising my children and supporting my husband; knowing if my world was turned upside down that God would bring me through it; and God has never failed to provide for us regardless of who's timing it was delivered on.

When the worry or fear engulfs "today" I have to remind myself it's not me who is in control-- drop it at the cross, pray for guidance and move on. But like I said, the majority of the time I'm not a worrier and can roll with the punches regardless if I know they are coming or if I am blindsided by them.

 

[jenrenee]

I think that I tend to worry too much about the little things - that in time, don't really matter as much as I thought they did. In the past year, I have seen much bigger things that have made me realize that I need to stop looking at and worrying about the petty things in life, but be thankful for all of the wonderful things I do have. Before I got married, I bought a house, was paying on a car and a college loan - and numerous other bills. I broke down one day and just started praying - and asking God why I was struggling so much. Well... I opened up my bible - just flipped it open and read the first verse that I saw. It was amazing. The verse I had opened up to was Matthew 6:25-34.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

It really opened my eyes to what is important - I felt as if God was speaking directly to me. These verses, particularly the one about the birds, is my dad's favorite bible verse. He constantly repeats this verse and so I am reminded all the time about what is important.

In the past year I have seen or experienced:
two miscarraiges (in two years)
my best friends dad was killed in a car accident (her family had been my second family growing up)
my husband's good friend died in an accident
a good friend of ours committed suicide
my sister attempted suicide twice where she ended up in the hospital
my cousin and his gf were in a car accident just this past weekend - lucky they were not hurt worse
many, many family illnesses and injuries

And I was worrying about money before? When you look at the whole picture, it's easier to see what is more important - not money or material items - but faith, family, friends. Now I try to take my mom's advice she gave me a long time ago - to take each day one at a time. Like the bible says - do not worry about tomorrow... for each day has enough trouble of it's own.

Another awesome thought is that we don't have to do all the worrying - we can take our worries to God, and he will carry them for us. My favorite hymn is What a Friend we have in Jesus - this sums it up really well: take all your worries to God in Prayer!

 

[LilGeorgiaPeach81]

jenrenee, I am praying for your 2007 to be free of any incident that causes you upset, and also that God will carry you through any times that do cause you upset!

 

[Hisbygrace]

Hello everyone....

May your New Year be filled with peace, love and happiness!

 

[burn97]

I think another thing that we overlook when we worry or when we become anxious is that we are in reality, questioning God's Lordship.

Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
Surely He will save you from the fowlers snare and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pstilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plaugue that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling
even the Lord, who is my refuge
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will comand his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up with their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and serpent.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord," I will rescue him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in toruble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

When we look at this verse we see the Lord, in all His Awesome Glory, promising so much.... the words I will ... He will... are repeated over and over... giving us who worry so much to depend upon.
One thing that I want to make a goal... for it is hard.. is to learn to totally depend upon Him, totally put myself in His hands, knowing that it is there that I am safe. It is there that I will find joy and happiness, for He blesses those that trust Him. It's easy sometimes to depend on Him for the little things... but when push comes to shove.. how much do we really trust God. When the bills are due and there's no money coming in... how often can we honestly say, I Totally and Truely Trust You Father To Provide For Me.
That is my hope. I want to know that God will provide for me, not only financially, but physically, mentally, spiritually. And God wants me, and all of His children to know that HE WILL!
When anxiety flares... I know it's because I've stepped out of His Protection, out of His Lordship, trying to do it my own way, because I stumbled... I worried that He didn't care, or He had other things to do which were more important.. and as I grow in my faith... as I walk with Him each day, I'm learning, that that just isn't true.. nothing is more important than His Children. We limit God, because we ourselves are limited.. We who cannot do everything, who cannot be everywhere, forget that God isn't limited that way.... He helps me, and at the same time, aids millions of others... in that same second He speaks to me, He's speaking to others.... He isn't like us in the way that He always has time for us... if it's big if is small, it is all important to Him.. The more we take the time to be with Him, the more He gives to us, the more He shows us, and teaches us, the deeper our faith grows, for we know that He is Always There!
And I've found, that the things that I've worried about in the past... aren't the giants that I've made them. When I stop, and I remember that I'm not facing this world alone, this day is not left to chance, but is the product of My Father's Will, it makes the choas become peaceful. O That I would constantly remember that... that I would constantly stay in His presence, not trying to do things on my own...

 

[Surrender2Win]

​

Today's topic is from "Courage To Change"


How often do you find yourself living in the past or worrying about the future?? What has helped you remain in today?? When the fear or worry is about today... what has helped you through it? ​

Is there anything worrying you right now that we can pray for and with you about??​

I hope you all don't think I'm some sort of basket case ...I've been through a lot of things in my short lifetime and I've also come a long way. It hasn't been an easy road, but I've learned a lot along the way!

I am a worry wart! This is an area that I really struggle with. I'm either worring about the what if's or regretting something from the past. I have always been this way, even as a child. I am a recoverying alcoholic, and this is a topic that has come up often in AA meetings...staying in today...and one of the biggest things I always heard in AA was when worrying, think about 'is this something that I can do something about right now?' and if it is...then do something about it, if it isn't, then let it go & let God. Though that is easier said then done, it is something that I continuously work on. And when I'm able to do it, it is amazing the peace that I feel from being able to let go.

Yesterday, I was looking through some old pictures and I saw one of me when I was sick with an eating disorder. I started going back in my mind about how much time I wasted worrying about my weight and how much I missed out on with my kids (my oldest one in particular) by not being there emotionally. I do thank God that He helped me through that and that my kids didn't have to grow up with that their whole lives. I regret a lot of things in my life and even though I have given it over to God many times, I seem to have a bad habit of taking them back. I carry a lot of shame...but I guess that is an issue for another day!

I was getting a lot better with my irrational fears & worries, and being able to let go of things quicker and not worry so much. Then last fall I got pregnant, and for some reason, having a baby brings back so much of the anxieties...always worrying about 'this' or 'that'.

I try to remember that God will take care of me and my family, no matter what...with God we can handle anything. And it doesn't do me any good to regret or worry. I wish that praying & asking for God to take away my anxieties was the first thing that come to mind, but sadly, most times I sit in it for awhile before I get to that.

Thank you so much jenrenee for posting that scripture too, that was helpful for me today.

I'm so glad that I was brought to this thread, I think it's going to really help me focus more on where my mind should be.

Thank you Lord, for always giving me what I need...you never let me down.

 

[Sennaria]

Oi boy Gina, have you hit it on the head here with this one. I used to be a horrid worry wort, but with God's help that has gotten to be much better...much much better...by focusing on just the scriptures as above etc.
In fact, I have a particular mountain that I keep getting taken around by Him, which is in a trial by fire way working on it even more. That is the financial aspect of this business and being able to pay bills on time and one day even be able to pay ourselves.
He has worked on me in so many different aspects of this over the past couple of years...one, to not dwell on the bills more than Him....two, don't worry about tomorrow thank Him for what He has provided for today. It's not always easy. Finances seems to be the one weakness I have in which I can faulter in faith, I am not sure why but it is.

The Lord is bringing this up more and more of recent...worry..in many threads I've been in even in shows I've watched. One thread, and I think they have a point, said that the root of worry is fear. And I think that could be true. Sometimes I wonder if below my worry is the fear that God's Word and promises won't hold true for me and I have GOT to cast that over to Him. Sometimes, like right now, it just seems down right impossible that we will get through what we are going through right now. Thanksgiving week was slow, very slow and we are very behind personal and business. I run a cash only business, I have no credit and want no credit to rely on, so a slow week takes double or triple in cash sales to catch it up and here in a tourist town in the winter, that isn't known for happening.
The holidays were very hard for me because of this....and I opened the door a crack and let the enemy in to torment me all through the holidays. I so wish I hadn't done that.
The Lord is giving us signs that this year things will turn around. Yesterday for example, you would have thought it was summertime for all the business we did. Praise God!

The nighttime is hardest for me, for if I wake up that is when the enemy attacks, I pray over my sleep now, and if I wake up, I wake up praising and worshipping and thanking God as that helps me to NOT worry in the middle of the night. I try to pray more for others when I am more tending to worry as that helps strengthen me also.

Yesterday was a good day as I was more back on my normal routine and schedule than I had been for a few weeks due to the holiday disruption...prayerwise, study wise etc. I felt and still feel stronger spiritually than I have in weeks.

Anyway....each time He takes me around this mountain though....He works mighty deeds within me....many changes and I look forward though to the time when it is the last trip around this mountain and through Him it is finally conquered.

Prayers for strength and continued growth and victory in us would really be appreciated.
The main verse that carries us through.....Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. If we continue to seek Him over everything else...He will make sure we have all that we need when we need it.


p.s. oh and you know one of the most recent changes? No matter what happens.....I still have my Jesus. I can lose everything else and He is still there...waiting with His arms open, no matter what anyone else thinks or does. He has a plan for me.
Sennaria

 

[jenrenee]

jenrenee, I am praying for your 2007 to be free of any incident that causes you upset, and also that God will carry you through any times that do cause you upset!

Thank you so much for your prayers! If there is anything that can get you through the tough times, it is faith in the Lord and the support of others. God Bless You!

 

[Smileyill]

Originally Posted by ImHisServant

Today's topic is from "Courage To Change"


How often do you find yourself living in the past or worrying about the future?? What has helped you remain in today?? When the fear or worry is about today... what has helped you through it?


Is there anything worrying you right now that we can pray for and with you about??

I Don't live in the past or worry about the future because of what He has done for me. He's never let me down for more than a few years at a time.​

 

[ImHisServant]

I've had my share of worry and fear... but all in all I know my faith is very strong and I don't dwell there too long... praise God!!

I've had a good example in my mother... she absolutely lives moment to moment... she is a recovering alcholic - 27 years sober!!! So she has applied all she learned at meetings to her life and I am in awe of her in so many situations. Like in Oct when her husband died. Or when she totally depends on God to pay the bills.

The main area I struggle with worry with is my daughter Dayna... she is the one in college - and she has strayed from God and expierencing being away from her parents and having freedom for the first time. She admits that she drinks on the weekends - she is 18. For the most part she does what is right... but the drinking is a road I don't want to see her go down because her father and his whole family are alcholics... then my mom and her sister were as well... so it is on both sides of the family. She doesn't want to go to church or pray anymore because she doesn't want to seem hypocritical. So I cling to the promise and the truth that the Word that was planted in her growing up will not return void... and that verse in Proverbs that says... "Train up a child in the way they should go... and when they are older they will not depart from it." I am confident that she will return to God when this season in her life is over. But how long will that be and what kinds of bottoms will she have to hit to get back?? Also... will she marry a man while she is away from God?? That is what happened to me and I've regreted that for many years. I want her to have a good life and a happy marriage with a man who will treat her right.

It's out of my hands now... so worrying won't help a bit.

 

[rosiecotton]

Wednesday 1/3/07

Living in Today​

Today's topic is from "Courage To Change"​

How often do you find yourself living in the past or worrying about the future?? What has helped you remain in today?? When the fear or worry is about today... what has helped you through it?

Is there anything worrying you right now that we can pray for and with you about??​

I have never been much of a worrier. I've always known God would take care of us and He always has.
However, I get sooooo discouraged over money. We've been married 20 years and it seems that every year we have struggled with money and never gotten ahead. In the early years of our marriage we were really stupid in how we handled our money and we're still paying for it. And at times, still making the same stupid mistakes. It's not that I want a lot of money, but would like to just get rid of a lot of our debt!! It upsets me that we've been sooo stupid and are still struggling.
I think of our boys going to college and how we've not saved any money towards it. Our oldest is 16. I know there are loans and grants, just wish we'd saved some towards their college.
I also tend to get upset at times because I didn't want to work outside the home. But, I now have to. Thankfully I was home for 10 years, until both boys were in school fulltime. But I miss being home and would love to be home, and just work on my art.
What's funny is, I get upset about our money situation and my husband tells me God will take care of us. I used to always be the optimistic one and he was the opposite. Now he's telling me not to worry about it!!

 

[sunshineray]

Hmmm, it's interesting. There are days were I am so worry and carefree, and there are other times where I worry about everything. I think I am slowly getting a grip on my worrying. I worry less frequentely and to not as an extreme degree as I used to, but it still creeps up on me every once and a while. I know that through God I can overcome this worrying and anxiety. I slowly am, because of Him.