*warm fuzzies*

[goldenviolet]

What keeps you from praying? One of the answers that I hear to this question is: "I don’t pray because I don’t know enough or understand enough about God. When I do, maybe I’ll start to.” The truth of the matter is that no one knows now or will ever know enough or understand enough about God. And besides, even if you could know and understand enough, how do you know when you cross that threshold? This is an all-too-convenient “out” to keep you from praying no matter how far down the spiritual road you travel. All you need to know and understand at this point is that God loves you, has redeemed you in Jesus Christ, and desires to be in a relationship with you..... a relationship that He wants to see get better, deeper, and richer all the time. One of the ways to improve this relationship and make it stronger is to pray. So start talking with God and even begin by sharing with God that, for now, He’s mostly a stranger but that you would like for that to change and, through prayer, it will. The very thing that’s keeping you from praying is the thing that will begin to dissolve once you start praying, because prayer is one of the means by which you get to know better and understand better and draw ever-closer to this God who loves you and wants to be in your life. - van edington

 

[goldenviolet]

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

 

[wackyjo]

I have read a few threads here, you know how to love each other here, I SI and its been nice to read you all encouraging each other, keep it up!

 

[20misti05]

Thanks for the encouragement! It is much appreciated...
Misti

 

[goldenviolet]

for misti.... i'm happy that you feel encouraged

Psalm 26:3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.

Psalm 31:5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

Psalm 51:11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Proverbs 9:6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Mark 14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 15:8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

1 Corinthians 3:16 don’t you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Galatians 3:5 Does God gives you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

Galatians 5:5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.

Galatians 5:17 for the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Galatians 5:25 since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 and you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

 

[goldenviolet]

wackyjo; you are very sweethearted. i'm glad you feel encouraged!

This is a great way to have a devotional journal:

Scripture= fallowing a daily schedule on study/reading God's word. (even if you just open and read)
Observation = taking it in/looking for those things that stick out & speak to you.
Application = based on your observation applying it to your life.
Prayer= pray and meditate on what you learn/ ask for guidance.

you can freewrite to God too, i do both and pray... not all in the same order.
i do this away from my compture. anyway: writing down these things and prayer is an awsome way to pend time in the presence of God and meditate.
this below is an example taken from my journal ....

Dear Lord, i'm really struggling with all the stressful events of the last couple of days. i feel like everyone is against me. it seems like every situation is against me too. maybe i don't belong at new hope. i made a commitment, and they have not let me help with anything but the dishes. some other thoughts are taking over now. i need to be let out to do more because it is part of my spiritual growth. my children need something like this as well. this is about us. my focus should be on us. what we need. practice, practice, practice. thank you for revealling what i need to be doing. i am so relieved and full of joy that would love me enough to wrap your wisdom around my heart and comfort me too. thank you. Lord, help me to be ready and willing for what you have laid out for me with these things. i'm so happy you know me. your yoke is easy and burden light. you are the master builder and Holy with light. Dear Lord bless the church and lisa (celtic camel: she is away in a recovery hospital and camp ) with her family. they too need your wonderful peace and guidance. thankyou. Amen
scripture: ecclesiasties 3:1-8
observation: everything has a purpose. there can be several purposes in "one" situation because everything has a purpose and time.
application: all my rushed thoughts and feelings have a purpose! spending time just the lord has a purpose! more than one purpose! everything that is going on has some purpose for everyone involved. a learning tool, a shaping of our spirits. a purpose - woohoo!
prayer: wow!! Dear Lord, stay with me today. let me walk in your light and meditate on your will/ and words. thank you amen (Hallejuha)

 

[goldenviolet]

prayer and meditation.....
it is the time we spend receiving beautiful spiritual food that not only sustains us, but teaches us the beauty that God intended for His creatures.... and that's spiritual growth.

 

[goldenviolet]

Romans 8:1-6
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

.....​

 

[goldenviolet]

*warm fuzzy*

 

[goldenviolet]

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

 

[goldenviolet]

Numbers 6:24-26....

24 "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."
........

 

[goldenviolet]

life is fragile... handle with prayer... !!

 

[goldenviolet]

Romans 8 Life Through the Spirit

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Dear Father... give us strength through Jesus to live in the spirit accoording to the scriptures that say He has set us free! condemn our sins so we are no longer prisoners of those things. but Lord make us pure; and children of your courts. Amen

 

[goldenviolet]

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[goldenviolet]

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.​

 

[goldenviolet]

Psalm 145:8-9
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
........................................................................................

 

[goldenviolet]

RECOVERY

Realize I'm not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable.
Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.
Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control.
Openly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself, and to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.
Evaluate all my relationships; offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I've done to others; except when to do so it would harm them or others.
Reserve a daily time with God for self examination, Bible readings, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words (fellowship really is growth).

 

[goldenviolet]

you don't need to be perfect... just willing.

God sees us all as children. if you fall, get back up... He will be there ready to love and gently teach. God's methods of teaching are love and understanding with truth.
you can see yourself as God's toddler... no matter how old, wise and mature you become: you are just a babe. the older and wiser, more mature ways only help us live more so. we still struggle and need more of God's will. we still fall down and find ourselves to know so little. if you fall, get back up..... you are learning... so keep seeking His love and truth. you don't need to be perfect, just willing.

 

[goldenviolet]

Self image is the image we believe that we present to others and how others perceive us in the world. We are conscious of this image and will adjust our behaviour to support that image.
Self concept is the inner picture that we have of ourselves, our perception of our strengths and limitations, talents and challenges, traits and patterns of behaviour. It may or may not be an accurate reflection of how others see us.
Self esteem is 'a capacity to see ourselves as valuable and competent, loving and lovable, having certain unique talents and a worthwhile personality to share in relationships with others. Far from being conceited and self-centred it means having a realistic awareness of oneself and of one's rights.'


Synonyms for valuable

• precious, inestimable, priceless, dear, appreciated, prized, treasured, valued, admired, esteemed, respected,, cherished, helpful, important, in demand, relevant, useful, worthwhile, worthy

Synonyms for competent

• capable, good, proper, able, qualified, adapted, adequate, appropriate, clever, complete, decent, efficient, endowed, equal, fit, good, masterly, polished, proficient, satisfactory, skilled, sufficient, suitable

​

SELF ADVOCACY ELEMENTS ​

KNOW YOURSELF

USING RESOURCES

SETTING GOALS

KNOWING YOUR NEEDS

KNOWING THE SYSTEM

KNOWING ENTITLEMENTS

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

ASSERTIVENESS

DEALING WITH OTHERS

PERSISTENCE

Patricia Berne and Louis Savary in Building self-esteem in children

 

[goldenviolet]

Romans 8:26-29 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.