Deb,

I am sure they will appreciate that.. how romantic..

(I posted this in the poem forums but wanted to be sure the 'sisters' see it).

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT........

Sisters are there,

no matter how much time and how
many miles are between you.
A girl friend is never farther away
than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you
have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life
will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,
praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on
your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
beside you...Or come in and carry you out.
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,
Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended
family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and
neither would I. When we began this adventure called
womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or
sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we
would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.



Blessings to the sisters I know.

Good morning everyone, It takes a bit of getting used to the time change, not keen on early evenings.

What is everyone doing at Thanksgiving? I would be interested to know what your traditional thanksgiving dinner is like.

Around the world every year we experience the chaos caused by natural disasters. Floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis destroy lives, homes, and livelihoods. Disaster occurs whenever the sea breaches the shoreline. God Himself has “placed the sand as the bound of the sea” (Jer. 5:22).

God also established boundaries for human behavior. We violate His commands every day, sometimes the results have physical and spiritual consequences.

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, God’s people had stepped out of bounds, using deceit to become rich and refusing to defend the needy (5:27-28). The result was disaster. God said, “Your sins have withheld good from you” (v.25).

God in His kindness simply and lovingly communicated to us the order of things so that we can avoid those consequences.

Howdy all.....Hope this magnificent day finds you all well and good......

To live by faith is a far surer and happier thing than to live by feelings or by works, The branch, by living in the vine, lives a better life than it would live by itself, even if it were possible for it to live at all apart from the stem. To live by clinging to Jesus, by deriving all from Him, is a sweet and sacred thing. If even the most just must live in this fashion, how much more must I who am a poor sinner! Lord, I believe. I must trust Thee wholly. What else can I do? Trusting Thee is my life...



Debbie

Hi Debbie,

Thank you for those uplifting words. Just got back from bible study. We are almost through reading the Book of Acts. We have been using a study guide by John MacArthur. It has been very interesting. It is amazing how no matter how many times you read scripture, each time you find something new.

Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)

Blessings to all

Thats so true britty........Thats why it's always an everlasting quest to understand and gain knowledge of his word....It's an amazing journey if your lucky enough to get to go on it.

Hi Deb, great to see you.

I hope to be on this amazing journey a long time.

aaaah thanks you sweets.......your a love bug....and we will make sure that this thread never dies.....giggle......Im working on some awesome questions for the thread.....just need to get through this week......

I love you Britty

I lead a recovery group on Tuesday evenings and would welcome any helpful advice for topics to cover.
Do you ever go through a phase when you are just not sure which way God wants you to go?

Bry395.

Yes, I think we all do at times. We shall have to discuss it further....

My I ask what kind of recovery group?



There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

For the Love of God is broader
Than the measures of man's mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.

Frederick William Faber 1854

Bry395,

Sometimes it is God's will that we wait, just like God wanted Elijah to wait in the wilderness in I Kings 12:16 to I Kings 17. Waiting might mean that the person is ready for God's purpose, but the time is not right or it might mean that the person isn't ready and they need to work on themselves so that they can be ready. If God is giving no signs of what He wants, then try prayer, reading the Bible and fasting.

Bry395 In answer to your question, there are times when I have wondered which way the Lord wanted me to go and I spend time in prayer, reading scripture like Jeremiah and waiting on the Lord.
The answer may come from the bible, a word from a friend or someone the Lord has sent into my life, or from listening to that still small voice...
==============================
Jeremiah 1-
The Lord gave me a message. He said, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart & appointed you as my spokesman to the world."
I said to the Sovereign Lord," I can't speak. I am too young"
"Don't say that for you must go wherever I send you & say whatever I tell you. Don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I the Lord has spoken."

Then the Lord touched Jeremiah's mouth & said, "See I have put the words in your mouth. I appoint you to stand up against nations & kingdoms, you are to uproot some & tear them down, to destroy & overthrow. You are to build others up & plant them." "Get up & get dressed, go out & tell them whatever I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them...for I am with you & will take care of you. I the Lord have spoken."

=======================
This helps me to know that when the Lord wants us to carry out a certain task He will equip us with the knowledge and the right words at the appropriate time.

There have been times when I have felt that the Holy Spirit has prompted me to say or do something, but have doubted whether I should. (The feeling of is this the right time, etc.)

In time, I have learned that, I would have done well to follow that prompting. Now, I do/say as I feel led by the Holy Spirit and then step back and let Him to do His work.

Bry395,

In answering your question - Yes. That's what consisted of about the first two years of my Christian life. I knew that he wanted me to do something for him, but It took trials, temptations, and a lot of prayer to finally determine what God had in store for me. It took me travelling to Louisiana and working humanitarian aid after Katrina to figure out that -that- was where God wanted me. Now, I'm heading to Bible College in January, and going to Africa in 2009. So yeah, everyone goes through that.

Bry395:

i guess that is part of the human condition. The priest who taught me all what I know called those moments: "The darkest nights of the soul."
I think that the only purpose of such situations is to learn how to be stronger in the faith.
We need to be certain that if at some point we are not able to see God for whatever reason. He always is there with us. He is not going to let anything bad happens to us. He will be our strenght. And when we leave those dark moments we will be able to see life in a better perspective.

Miguel

Thank you for all of the responses, I am leading a Celebrate Recovery group. I have folks with substance addictions, alcoholics, co-dependancy, porn addictions and other issues.
I also help with jail ministry and follow up after inmates are released form jail/prison.

Jer 29:13 keeps coming to me "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart".

I have been praying about this ministry and I can't tell you how times the words "My grace is sufficient for you" I have been saved and clean & sober for almost 13 yrs. I have the desire to serve God and witness to our community. I just don't want to fail God with this minstry.

Hi Bry395,

Thanks for the feedback.

I will agree with you in prayer on this one.

Some things I know for sure, God will give you the desires of your heart and NOTHING is impossible for God.

I will follow up with some topics later...

God bless

Casemu,

Thanks for joining us here. Good luck with your studies and your overseas trip next year.

God bless,

Bry395 said:

“I lead a recovery group on Tuesday evenings and would welcome any helpful advice for topics to cover.
Do you ever go through a phase when you are just not sure which way God wants you to go?

I am leading a Celebrate Recovery group. I have folks with substance addictions, alcoholics, co-dependancy, porn addictions and other issues.

I also help with jail ministry and follow up after inmates are released form jail/prison”

=======================
In response to the topics for discussion:--

Some sites that you might find helpful:

http://www.sexualrecovery.com/resources/articles/partnerfamilychild.php

Discuss effects on the partners, family.and children.

========

http://freeinchrist.truepath.com/

Why is freedom so difficult?
How can one find freedom from addiction
Daily Checklist
Discuss what each person does to keep themselves from the temptation of
Going back to their former addictions.

======

Define sexual sobriety – what that means to each individual

Keep a diary and discuss –

=============

http://www.addictionrecoveryguide.org/treatment/recovery/rational_secular.html

Many practical matters may also become important. People in recovery often face a variety of barriers that challenge their ability to move forward productively with their lives and to maintain their recovery. These include issues such as finding appropriate housing, finding a job, continuing one's education, getting medical insurance, and problems with discrimination.

All of the above topics may be useful to discuss.

Hope this information is of help.

Britty

Hi all:

I have already talked a little about this with Sue...but also wanted to share with you guys. I was called to minister on line about 6 years ago....I'm not sure what all you believe as far as prophets and the gifts of prophecy, but I am a believer in them from experience. I had this prophet named Lola speak to me at a ladies night at our church. Now mind you, I was a major sceptic up to this point. She was speaking to all the elders wives of the church. I remember thinking to myself that this is a bunch of poo poo....Then she came to me.....She started to speak and got this amazing look in her eyes....she stopped looking directly at me and stated God has big plans for you......But before he does anything you have to forgive your brother. Nobody knew the situation except God, myself, and my brother. She went on to say that I was going to be like a paper boy on the streets of New York City....come come hear about God. And that God was going to give me amazing gifts. Well needless to say it changed my life and 10 years to the day I was led by the Lord online...and yes I have had some unbelievable times both good and bad. I even have left prayed for a week and sure enough the Lord God Almighty led me right back. I now have 6 different ministries and I am doing the work I know God had always planned. There are times when I loose all patience in the religion threads and want to take people by the shoulders and shake em.....But I also know that I can't so I leave, I pray, and I ask the Lord for guidance, to which he leads me right back.

I have also done some amazing things with people on line....and just for the fact of stopping one young lady from taking her life makes what I do worth every heart ache I could possibly know.

I love you guys and always feel free to share anything in this thread. Nothing is off limits. And again I want to give Sue a big hug for being the best right hand gal a girl could ever ask for

God Bless you all

Debbie

Thanks Deb,