One of the most difficult commands to keep

[IKTCA]

Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say,
rejoice.

I find "to rejoice" the most often broken commands of God. I don't have hundreds of enemies to forgive. But I have hundreds of days I wasted in sadness and discouragement. In any Christian walk there are bound to be moments of losing heart to pray, losing heart to give thanks. But I often remain there, breaking the command to rejoice.

Prophet Elijah was so discouraged that he asked God to take his life away. What am I not to be discouraged at all? But I must not remain there, and rise up to give thanks to God in a joyful spirit.

So, I ask you sisters to remind me of this command, as I remind you of the same command.

Let us rejoice!
Let us sing hymns of praise!
Let us read Psalms!
Let us mutually encourage one another!

Rupert

 

[JCroxmysox]

Amen!
Even though I don't SI anymore, it doesn't mean life is always great, and I still get the same feelings that used to make me SI.
Quite a challenge you posted there!

 

[Mayflower1]

[/QUOTE] "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found blind but now I see..... Twas grace that brought my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!"

Or so my choir sings, "Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice greatly!!!!!!!!!!" Music is such a wondrous gift for thanksgiving and happiness. It just has cheered me up so many times before. Best Wishes! Lily p.s. I have no need for the "00" anymore... I realize that now. Does anyone know how to change pen name without losing everything?

 

[IKTCA]

I changed my CF name from iktca to IKTCA. I mean CF staff did it for me. I had to change it for some thought I was a female.

Do you want me to ask CF staff to change your name from lily00 to lily?

Rupert

EDIT: lily and Lilly are taken already.

 

[Mayflower1]

I changed my CF name from iktca to IKTCA. I mean CF staff did it for me. I had to change it for some thought I was a female.

Do you want me to ask CF staff to change your name from lily00 to lily?

Rupert

EDIT: lily and Lilly are taken already.

Thanks but I will keep it this way. It doesn't mean that to me anymore, reminds me more of James Bond! I miss using the double zero on my signature anyway. I am so use to it!!! I just don't think of it the way that I did before... sometimes I might still but mostly no... God is there for me, He has made me something and I can't keep on thinking that I am not. Lily00

 

[rfprewitt]

That's incredible.....

 

[alilsa]

The most difficutl command for me to keep is I'm suppose to love my neighbor as myself. But I don't love myself though. I wouldn't cut someone else but it didn't bother me to cut myself or make myself sick.

 

[rfprewitt]

That's my problem too. I could never do the things to someone else that I do to myself. I wouldn't wish my life on anyone. Not even the very people who have caused my pain.

 

[IKTCA]

Sister Alilsa:

I think you love yourself. You certainly do. The fact that you regret harming yourself proves that you love yourself.

When God creates a man, he writes a law in his heart: love yourself. No man is born without this law of self-prerservation written in the heart. You are not an exception.

But, sometimes, someone other than yourself takes hold of your mind, and makes you hurt yourself. From this, we know that someone is not from God, for God wouldn't make you harm yourself.

Give your mind to God with all your strength. He will gladly receive your mind, and, in return, give His mind to you. And you will understand His plan, His wisdom, and His love.

Rupert

 

[Deamiter]

The most difficutl command for me to keep is I'm suppose to love my neighbor as myself. But I don't love myself though. I wouldn't cut someone else but it didn't bother me to cut myself or make myself sick.

In one of my theology classes a couple years ago (so I don't have references ) I found out something really interesting about this commandment. It's not really saying love your neighbor as MUCH as you love yourself, but love your neighbor AND yourself! It would be technically and literally incorrect to translate it that way, but at the same time, there is a strong implication in the Hebrew wording that indicates the command is to love BOTH your neighbor and yourself. It actually has the same meaning the way it's written (in English) but American English has changed and we don't speak like that any longer.

 

[goldenviolet]

i SIed for years... sometimes it takes alot of practice in exsperiances with our life skills. i've been a slow learner. God is so forgiving, loving, gentle.

 

[plum]

In one of my theology classes a couple years ago (so I don't have references ) I found out something really interesting about this commandment. It's not really saying love your neighbor as MUCH as you love yourself, but love your neighbor AND yourself! It would be technically and literally incorrect to translate it that way, but at the same time, there is a strong implication in the Hebrew wording that indicates the command is to love BOTH your neighbor and yourself. It actually has the same meaning the way it's written (in English) but American English has changed and we don't speak like that any longer.

that's a great point! i had never thought of it this way!